Skoda wins out over Citroen on Teesside

On a very wet day in March, it was cheering to see smiling ‘Happy” customers taking delivery of their new Skodas from Derek Slack Motors on Teesside.

When Mr. and Mrs. Britton from Marske, where handed the keys to their sparkling new Skoda Fabia 2 1.2 Estate by Ged Thirkell, the rain seemed the last thing on their minds as they were taken through the pleasures of the nimble Fabia - a car that delivers so much without the need to break the bank!

Mr. and Mrs. Britton have been Derek Slack customers for several years, 

and we really appreciate their custom in returning to us!

So we were delighted when they decided to buy their second Skoda Fabia from Derek Slack Motors, trading in their old Skoda Fabia for a new estate model. Mr. Britton explained why he’d decided to choose Derek Slack Motors. “I used to drive past the garage everyday but had always been a loyal Citroen driver. However, after becoming increasingly dissatisfied by the lack customer focus by my local garage (who were swallowed up by a much larger plc), my wife and I decided to look elsewhere. Derek Slack Motors are a family run company, and have proven to be a worthy choice. In fact I remember having my last car serviced, and when requiring a lift back into work, I was cheered no end to find that my driver was in fact Derek Slack himself! If that doesn’t speak volumes for customer care then what does”. 

The happiness of our customers is central to us here at Derek Slack Motors, so if you’re a returning customer, or a first timer- we’d like to say a big ‘thank you’ to all!

Thanks for reading

Tony Slack

Middlesbrough Golf Club’s-'Derek Slack Motors Trophy’

Middlesbrough Golf Club’s annual ‘Alliance Golf Tournament’ recently took place with Derek Slack Motors once again delighted to offer their support as main sponsors.

Golfers from throughout the North East and North Yorkshire turned up to what has become a regional showcase event, as each competed for the coverted title ‘Derek Slack Motors Trophy’ winner! The 2010 tournament attracted over 180 very good golfers, with PGA professional Gordon Cattrell amongst them.

Derek Slack gave Gordon a pretty good game putting up a tough challenge, but the pro’s skills were always going to prove too much, with Derek finally beaten on the day. Next year Gordon!

Derek Slack Motors had several vehicles on display throughout the event, attracting a great deal of positive feedback from the participants. It was a great day and everyone really enjoyed themselves. We’re already planning the next tournament, so if you like to find out more, contact us here at the Derek Slack Motors blogspot!

Thanks for reading

Tony Slack

Happy Darlington Couple head for Subaru on Teesside

Tuesday 30th March was a cold, foggy day here on Teesside, and even though the clouds didn’t break, a ray of sunshine did manage to appear on our forecourt when a delighted Mrs. Scott from Darlington, took delivery of her stunning new Subaru Forester XS Automatic. This was Lynne Scott’s second Subaru and she was over the moon when Sales Executive - Ged Thirkell  handed over the keys! There was no question in Lynne’s mind which vehicle was going to replace her old Subarau Forester and that was a new Subrau Forester. So after doing her homework, Lynne decided Derek Slack Motors, (main dealers for Subaru on Teesside), was the right choice. We’re delighted Mr. and Mrs. Smith choose Derek Slack Motors for their new Subaru, as we wish them both many years of safe, happy motoring! What lovely people!

Thanks for reading

Tony Slack

Guy Wilks Celebrates!

As many of you already know, we’re keen followers of Guy Wilks - Skoda UK’s rally driver who recently helped Derek Slack Motors official launch of the new Skoda Superb Estate at our Middlesbrough dealership. It’s great to see Guy and co-driver Phil Pugh doing so well, finishing a close second in ‘Rally Argentina’ with Skoda celebrating a sensational 1-2-3 finish.

Skoda’s 1-2-3 finish on one of the world’s toughest rally circuits, is the first time a single manufacturer has taken all three honers since Lancia way back in 1989.

Having also taken second place in Brazil two weeks ago, Guy was over the moon to have scored 16 points on the IRC’as South American doubler-header! He said, “We’ve had two fantastic rallies in South America and the Skoda UK Motorsport team has done a fantastic job.”

We’ll be following Guy Wilks in the next event and keep you posted on results!

Thanks for reading

Tony Slack

Isuzu has the farm factor in North Yorkshire

Many of our Isuzu customers will be interested to read that 10 UK Farmers were recently invited to go head-to-head in tasks that tested their practical skills on the farm as well as their knowledge of the industry.  Each week one of the competitors was sent home, with only one man left standing.  The prize was an Isuzu, which was featured throughout the series featured on TV.

The winner was not only delighted with winning the competition, but he’s also a big fan of his new Isuzu: “We now prefer driving the Rodeo to our traditional family car,” said Aled Rees - the lucky winner.  “It’s a fantastic vehicle that’s a real asset around the farm.  They gave us a demonstration of its off-roading ability during the filming of the series and we were all really impressed.”

Derek Slack Motors are all too familiar with the on - and - off road capabilities of the Rodeo. Many of our Isuzu customers also live in rural locations including North Yorkshire, the North York Moors, Whitby, Stokesley, Helmsley, Northallerton, plus, County Durham and Darlington. It’s not only rugged enough to deal with the rough-and-tumble nature of farming life, but it’s also proved to be the perfect solution for business users, including Mr. Russell of C. W. Russell Ltd of Middlesbrough who took delivery of his new Isuzu Denver Max LE from Derek Slack Motors on March 16th.

Derek Slack Motors Prize Winners

Mr. P. Jackson of Stokesley North Yorkshire, was the lucky winner of a fabulous flat screen TV at the recent Derek Slack Motors Open Evening on 24th February 2010. Mr Jackson, the proud owner of a fabulous Octavia Scout was delighted with his prize which was drawn on the evening by Skoda’s very own UK Rally driver, Guy Wilks from County Durham. Other winners on the evening included, Mr. A. Findlay of Eston and Mr. G. Short of Stockton on Tees, both winners of Skoda & Isuzu jackets. It was a great night and I’m so pleased everyone who attended enjoyed themselves. We’ve now firmly established ourselves in the region as the number one dealer for Skoda, Subaru and Isuzu on Teesside, plus the message seems to be spreading far and wide as we see customers traveling from even further afield. It all goes to prove that if you look after your customers they’ll come back and not only that, they’ll tell their friends too!

We’ve enjoyed lots of positive feedback from the event and are already in the process of planning a similar open night in the not too distant future. 

Thank you for reading.

Tony Slack

Derek Slack Motors named 2nd in North East in Motor Codes Golden Garage competition.

We’re proud to announce, Derek Slack Motors in Middlesbrough, main dealers for Skoda, Subaru and Isuzu, have been voted 2nd in the North East in the ‘Motor Codes’ Golden Garage’ competition. The top five garages in the North East will now progress to the final stages of the national competition, designed to find the UK’s best workshop!

It’s testimony to the high levels of customer satisfaction we achieve here at Prospect Place, A66 Cargo Fleet in Middlesbrough. Coming second shows how much customers appreciate our efforts, so this is some reward and the entire after sales team led by  Craig Parry are over the moon!

The full list of garages can be viewed online where members of the public can continue to vote in the final public voting stage, deciding on the top garage per region. So if you haven’t already done so and you’re one of our many satisfied customers reading this blog, please offer your support. We’re aiming for top spot, second isn’t good enough!

It’s sad to read research by Motor Codes found over 14 million motorist feel short changed by their local service and repair garage, however, over 90% using a Motor Codes garage were satisfied.

Motor Codes operates a self regulatory code of practice for garages across the country with the aim of giving motorists consistently high standards of service.

The Golden Garage competition is intended to champion garages, also raising the profile of Motor Codes in Britain to get more garages on its books and more consumers to use its website. If you’re interested in finding out how well Derek Slack Motors progress in the competition, you can follow on the Golden Glob website at www.motorcodes.co.uk as well on Twitter!

If you’ve already voted- can I offer a big ‘thank you’. Our desire to continue at this level is driven by you our customers!

Thank you for reading

Tony Slack

STELLA EV Plug-In

Continuing the ‘green’ theme, from the Geneva Motor Show, Derek and I were impressed with the new Subaru Plug-in STELLA EV. The progress of green car technology is something we’re really behind at Derek Slack Motors and the lithium-ion battery-powered, 90km-per-charge, 40kW, electric vehicle is paving the way!

It can be recharged up to 80 per cent of its capacity in about 15 minutes when using its quick charging system. Under normal circumstances the city car is fully rechargeable in five hours when using an AC240V power outlet. I’m confident the day isn’t too far away when motorists of Middlesbrough and the North East, will be driving to work in electrically powered vehicles such as the STELLA AV!

Thanks again for reading

Tony Slack

Subaru Boxer Hybrid Tourer Concept car

It’s been a few days since Derek and I returned from the 80th Geneva Motor Show which featured the world’s first ‘Boxer’-hybrid powerplant and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, Hybrid Tourer Concept car, making its European debut at the show. The show car marries Subaru’s design DNA with an opulent and spacious cabin accessed through elongated gullwing-style doors, and an eye-catching, sculpted body. It will be exciting day when our Middlesbrough dealership sees the arrival of this vehicle!

The absence of B-pillars affords a heightened sense of light and space to the interior, providing occupants with a less obstructed view of the outside world- all very clever stuff!  The swept-back panoramic windscreen and a height-adjustable dashboard afford the driver a similarly unhindered vantage point. I was definately impressed, the attached picture shows the Concept car in all its glory!

The innovative hybrid system uses Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and a 2.0-litre horizontally-opposed, direct-injection, turbocharged petrol ‘Boxer’ engine, allied to two electric motors – Subaru remains the only company to mate this engine layout to a hybrid drivetrain. The electric motors are powered by lithium-ion batteries – a 10kW item at the front and a 20kW unit at the rear.

In normal driving conditions the direct-injection petrol engine is used, but at lower speeds and start-up, the rear electric motor drives the car. The forward electric unit, which is mainly used as a power generator, kicks in to assist performance and efficiency while tackling inclines. Subaru’s in-house designed Lineartronic automatic transmission is featured, further boosting fuel efficiency and driving performance. In short breathtaking performance with beautiful styling! I’m just looking forward to getting behind the wheel!

Thanks again for reading

Tony Slack

80th international Geneva Motor Show

On the 8th March, Derek and myself visited the 80th International Geneva Motor Show, where over 150 world premieres took place, including the Subaru Hybrid Tourer concept car, the Stella Plug-in, plus, some new faces from Skoda including the Roomster Magic, Roomster Scout. In addition, the Fabia Combi,  Fabia  Ambiente, Fabia Elegance, Fabia Combi RS and Fabia RS. 

The halls of Palexpo was the venue for this the 80th Geneva International Motor Show and there was plenty to keep us drooling, with numerous green car additions. 

To qualify as a ‘world premiere’ the product must be an entirely new model. Furthermore, it must not have been presented to the public before or be on sale in the world, (even though Derek Slack Motors as official main dealers for Skoda, Surbaru and Isuzu on Teesside had snippets of inside information on some of our franchise premieres).

The great strengths of the Geneva Show have always been neutrality, representativeness and annuality. This explains the quantity and quality of the worldwide premieres that are presented each year by the greatest manufacturers. 

 A large number of new models, prototypes, and concept cars presented at the motor show showed the trend towards a future of more ecological and economical automobiles, which we at Derek Slack Motors fully endorse! Specialists and luxury marques, have always been a special attraction of the show, and this was to be no exception, with a number of streamlined concept cars. All in all it was another great show and one we hope to visit again. We look forward in seeing some of these new models arrive in our showroom in the very near future.

Thanks for reading.

Tony Slack

Open Night

We recenlty held one of our most exciting motor events marking the launch of Skoda’s exciting new Superb Estate with a VIP open night, that saw the dealership jam packed with both Skoda, Subaru and Isuzu customers! Established back in 1973, we were known as the region’s largest Skoda dealer. Even though tough times fell upon the industry during the credit crunch, we were busy expanding, adding Subaru and Isuzu into the fold, so the open night was an ideal opportunity to mark the opening of the new showroom. The event got underway with County Durham born rally driver Guy Wilks - Skoda UK Motorsport’s new exciting rally prospect, opening the proceedings speaking to customers about Skoda’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge. 

It was a terrific evening,we met lots of new faces, along with many familiar ones too! Many people came to see the new Skoda Superb Estate, but we also featured many new exciting models for the event including, the new Subaru Impreza TDi, the new Legacy and Outback, plus the popular Skoda Yeti and Octavia VRS.’

It was also great having Guy Wilks here representing Skoda UK’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge. Guy really is an exciting prospect for Skoda motorsport and you can be sure that Derek Slack Motors will be supporting him all the way!

Subaru UK also did their bit, to support the evenings entertainment with the delivery of a fully deckled Subaru Impreza police vehicle. Music was provided by local live Jazz act, ‘After Eight Jazz’.The evening climaxed with some exciting prizes and giveaways, drawn by Guy Wilks. ‘We are all really pleased with the huge turn out for the event. The weather forecast was poor with snow falling earlier during the day, but it didn’t deter our loyal customers, and we’re already busy planning out next event.

High Power collaboration sets new performance standard

Two of the biggest names in automotive performance have come together to work on a very special one-off project and the results promise to be out of this world! Subaru UK Ltd and Cosworth have enhanced the performance, handling and styling of the acclaimed Impreza STI, creating a car that will raise the bar for all-wheel-drive, high performance motoring. More information about performance, specification and pricing will follow closer to the vehicle's March on sale date- so follow the Derek Slack Motors blog for more news!