New Skoda Karoq Launch and SUV Event

On Wednesday 10th January Derek Slack Motors played host to The Škoda SUV event and the Launch of Škoda’s newest model, the KAROQ.

It was also a chance to pay tribute to one of Škoda’s most successful models,  the Yeti of which over 600,000 have been produced since its launch in 2009.

Kim Bradley, Community Fundraiser of Teesside Hospice, unveiled the two Karoqs which are now available for test drive. Kim was also there to receive a cheque for funds raised last year by Derek Slack Motors staff and donations from Derek Slack Motors customers.

Invitees of the VIP event were entered into a prize draw for a range of Skoda goodies including a state of the art dash-cam, which was won by Anne Smith of Longnewton. Other prize winners were Mr Ingram of Guisborough and Mr Robert Trewhitt of Stockton.

Equipped for all of life's adventures, the All-New Škoda Karoq sits alongside its larger stable mate  the Škoda Kodiaq in the Škoda SUV family. This flexible and spacious SUV is a fitting replacement for the much loved Yeti. Available to order now from £20,875 OTR. Contact us now to arrange a test drive and be one of the first to experience this exciting new model.

The new 2011 STI WRX is back in Middlesbrough

Following last week’s post on the return of the new Subaru WRX STi saloon, we enjoyed so much interest we thought we’d publish another post to the blog. In case you didn’t know the new Subaru WRX STI is unlike anything else on the road. With a choice of 4 door or 5 door, it combines power, precision and performance with everyday practicality, putting it in a class of its own. This difference begins with the supreme balance and control that comes from Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and the Subaru Boxer engine. These two work perfectly together to create a harmony of power and control that extends to every component found on the WRX STI. Combined with

Subaru’s legendary spec.C suspension, the result is a vehicle that excites in every corner, exhilarates with every rev of the engine, and inspires every time you take hold of the wheel. Call into Derek Slack Motors, Prospect Place, A66 Cargo Fleet, Middlesbrough, Teesside, TS3 8AR for a closer look.

New Skoda Fabia vRS in Teesside

Well it’s finally here, the new Skoda Fabia vRS has just roared into our showroom at Derek Slack Motors, main dealers for Skoda in Middlesbrough and Teesside. Such was the huge pre launch demand, we’d already taken several orders long before it arrived, so this will be the first opportunity for most people to have a peep. If you fancy getting behind the wheel for a test drive, why not pop along to our launch weekend on 29th July - 1st August, to fully appreciate the 1.4 TSi Turbo DSG 178bhp. I have to warn you, this vehicle squares up to all the hype- it’s truly awesome and not to be driven without due care, consideration and safety. Have fun!

Thanks for reading

Tony

VAT FREE SKODA-MIDDLESBROUGH

Derek Slack Motors, main dealers for Skoda on Teesside, are pleased to announce a fabulous new offer available on brand new Skodas. Excluding the Yeti and Superb, you can drive away a new Skoda from our dealership in Middlesbrough VAT FREE! Yes, VAT Free on Fabia, Roomster and Octavia, that represents a saving of up to £3,500 with the saving equivalent to 17.5%. We’ve already seen many repeat customers taking advantage ahead of the closing date of September 31st 2010. So if you live in Stockton on Tees, Middlesbrough, Redcar, Yarm, Whitby, or Darlington and you’re looking to buy a brand new Skoda, now is definitely the time to buy. Plus compare a new Skoda, to a new Ford, Citroen, Renault,Vauxhall, Seat or Toyota and you’ll see how much further your hard earned cash will go. Think more car for less money and Skoda comes out top for value in Teesside.

Thanks for reading

Tony

Subaru Impreza WRX S Teesside, Co. Durham, North Yorkshire

An iconic Subaru special edition has arrived in our showrooms at Derek Slack Motors, Cargo Fleet, Middlesbrough (main dealers for Subaru on Teesside) in the shape of the iconic Subaru Impreza WRX S. The head turning special edition Impreza, series tuned by Prodrive, has an aggressive body styling with Prodrive 18” GT1 alloys, Anthracite alloys, STi front and rear spoilers, STi black honeycomb grille and a Prodrive exhaust system. Offering 255bhp the symmetrical all-wheel Drive (AWD) ensures superb handling and stability even in the very worst of conditions. We have a limited number available at only £19,995, that’s a saving of over £2,000 on RRP. So if you live in Teesside, Durham, or North Yorkshire and you’re looking for a new Subaru Impreza, this is a rare opportunity to get your hands on a superb specification Impreza at a surprising price. Our Subaru sales team just love it!

Thanks for reading

Tony

Skoda Fabia Greenline II Estate Middlesbrough

One of the most environmentally friendly models ever produced by Skoda has just arrived at Derek Slack Motors, Middlesbrough in the shape of the new Skoda Fabia GreenLine II Estate. Offering fantastic fuel economy of 83.1mpg  and low C02 emissions of only 89g/km, the new Fabia GreenLine II Estate is also packed with advanced technology including Skoda’s new, ‘stop-start and energy recuperation systems’.

Our car sales co-ordinator Phil Cross, is so taken with the new Fabia Greenline II Estate, he’s jumped in to finish this blog post!

Even though the new GreenLine II costs just £555 more than the outgoing model, customers actually benefit from £800 worth of extra standard equipment. In particular, the new ‘stop-start’ system automatically stops the car’s engine when the vehicle comes to a halt, and the driver selects neutral and release the clutch pedal. When the driver presses the clutch the engine then restarts immediately. It’s also worth mentioning that the potential fuel saving based against a Fabia 1.4 16v petrol is a staggering £865 per year on 15,000 miles per annum, that’s a saving of over £70 a month on fuel alone!

I think the Fabia GreenLine’s green credentials combined with new advanced technology, makes the price tag of only £13,740 on the road seem just as remarkable as the vehicle. itself.

Skoda win ‘Best Car Manufacturer’ title in the annual Which? Awards

The awards really seem to be following us around these days! Not content with

being nominated as one of the top 50 dealers in the UK and in the top 5 in the region, now Skoda have received their own prestigious award from Which ?

as ‘Best Car Manufacturer’ title in the annual Which? Awards, presented at the British Museum on the 19 May. Škoda trumped the competition – including premium brands – thanks to their outstanding customer service and products.

 

Škoda UK Director, Robert Hazelwood, said: “We’re really pleased to win this award. It shows just how highly Which? rates our products and service.  We’re very proud of the excellent engineering and great value in every one of our cars, and pleased that Which? has recognised the outstanding personal service our retailers give their customers.”

The Which? car test team and Which? members were impressed with Škoda’s reliability, customer care and the quality of its retailers. Škoda achieved above-average marks for its retailers (79 per cent) and its service (81 per cent), and the brand had a reliability score of 79 per cent. Four Škoda models were judged to be ‘Best Buys’ or ‘Worth Considering’.

 

Which? Chief Executive, Peter Vicary-Smith, said: “Škoda is a car company ideally suited to the times, as people demand more but want to pay less. It offers a great range of reasonably-priced, well-built cars.”

 

Announcing the awards, he added: “The winner of this award is a car brand much praised by its customers, with high scores on dealer satisfaction for both sales and servicing. Owner satisfaction is also high, with most Which? members rating it as very good. The company also achieved a number of best buys for the various models we tested, making Škoda an obvious choice for Best Car Manufacturer 2010.”

 

Editor of Which? Car, Richard Headland added: “'People might know Škoda as a purveyor of value, but what they might not know is that this brand should be equally recognised for its quality of product, its reliability and its excellent retailer network.”

We at Derek Slack Motors fully endorse all of the above comments and look forward to see customers new and old over the May Bank Holiday Weekend.

Thanks for reading

Tony Slack

Isuzu Denver Pick-ups in Middlesbrough

Sorry for the self promotion, but I thought this little story might be of interest to those familier with the true power of the internet!

Derek Slack Motors’ recently ran an online promotion targeting Denver Pick-up customers, which brought admiring glances from all corners of the country as we sold and delivered (free of charge), three Isuzu pick-ups in 24 hours. Recognising that a shortage of UK stock was leaving some customers frustrated we decided to help out by introducing a ‘Free UK Delivery Package’ on all orders placed within 24 hours of the online advertisment going live. Nothing happened until around mid-day, when the phones started to ring and the Isuzu promotion got into full swing.

Our furthest delivery was in Kent, but would have been happy to go further.

We still have Isuzu Denvers in stock, for immediate delivery with a choice of metallic colours and prices starting from as little as £14,995 for the Denver 2.5 Twin Cab.

As the main dealers for Isuzu in Teesside, Middlesbrough, Stockton on Tees and Darlington

we’d be happy to extend the same offer indefinitely! Just give us a call on 01642 256101

or visit us online at www.derekslackmotors.co.uk

Thanks for reading

Tony Slack

What Tow Car?

With more people choosing to spend their holidays at home this summer, it’s only natural

to see families searching for a vehicle that offers towing capabilities as people

look to caravaning and camping for their jollies!

Thanks to the growing number of ideal towing options now available from Derek Slack Motors, it was inevitable we’d build up a growing list of keen caravan and camping customers, all looking for the same practical solutions from Derek Slack Motors on Cargo Fleet in Middlesbrough. In particular, the Skoda Octavia Estate received 5 Green Stars from ‘What Tow Car’, the highest possible rating indicating a perfect match between car and vehicle. ‘What Tow Car’ has developed several online programs which can predict and compare the pulling performances of any car hooked up to a caravan. The programe also calculates the top speeds on flat roads and gradients, making the Skoda Octavia Estate the ideal towing car for you and your family.

The new Skoda Yeti 2.0 TDi, with the Skoda Octavia Scout and Subaru Forester, also make ideal vehicles for towing and come with a variety of purchase options, making your money travel as far as you do! Visit our website at www.derekslackmotors.co.uk to view the full range of vehicles.

We’re always delighted to offer our own free advice, so if you’re contemplating a holiday at home this year, or even a camping trip abroad, be sure to drop into Derek Slack Motors and we’ll see if we can hook you up with the perfect towing solution!

Thanks for reading

Tony Slack

Derek Slack Motors - first choice for Subaru in the North East England

Desirable becomes more affordable. Every once in a while an offer comes along

unlike any other offer and to follow Subaru’s own advertising strap line...’a car unlike

any other car’, now we have an offer to suit! 

Order a brand new Subaru Impreza WRX 2.5 230ps, from Derek Slack Motors, (main dealers for Subaru in Teesside) and you can drive away with 0% finance. Sounds almost too good to be true, so here's how it works....

Cash price: £18,995 Deposit 50% followed by 24 months @ £395.72. 0% APR. So all you pay for

is the uncommon engineering, uncommon roadholding, uncommon stability and uncommon sense. No finance fees! 

If for some reason you’re not familier with the WRX’s features, here’s a taster...Driver/front & passenger side/curtain airbags, SVDC (Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control), Thatcham Cat 1 alarm, Xenon Headlights, Rear privacy glass, Climate control, 17” alloy wheels.

We believe this is the best Subaru Impreza offer in the North East, and if we’ve learnt anything overs the years, it’s customers will drive that extra mile to get the car they want at a price they can afford! In fact, we’re now seeing new Subaru customers arriving at our dealership not just from the locality, but also nationally too! We think we must be doing something right!

Derek Slack Motors - first choice for Subaru in the North East England

There's a Yeti on the road

Not content with producing all round value-for-money vehicles for both large and small families, the executive driver and those just looking to make their money go further, the New Skoda Yeti 4x4 is also proving to be a huge hit with the national motoring press!

So it was good to read Martin Love’s article in Sunday’s Observer supplement on the 25th April singing the praises of the Skoda Yeti - and I quote...‘this serious piece of kit’.

Here at Derek Slack Motors  (Main Dealers for Skoda in Middlesbrough), we already knew Skoda were on to a winner with the Yeti, and now it seems the whole world is talking about this reliable and affordable to run, 4x4. Offering 45-mpg the Yeti is a likable alternative to ‘’big over the top 4x4s’ and starts from only £13,775. Compare that price to your average 4x4 monster!

So if you’ve yet to see the Yeti in the flesh!, call into our showroom on Prospect Place, Cargo Fleet in Middlesbrough and we’ll set the monster loose!

You can read Martin Love's article by following this link...

Martin Love, Observer

Thanks for reading

Tony Slack

Derek Slack Motors Help Drivers Keep Their Cool

Tony, our dealer principle has asked me to remind customers about the benefits of checking their air conditioning system. I'm a bit new to this blogging, but here goes...

Here's how Derek Slack Motors can help clean up your car air conditioning before hot weather hits. 

Bacteria in air conditioning systems can cause unpleasant smells and allergies which can become a real problem.

A Bi-annual check should prevent expensive breakdowns and enhance performance.

It’s unlikely that many drivers will have thought about their car’s air conditioning over the past few months. As spring brings the warmer weather we at Derek Slack Motors recommend an air conditioning clean-up to prevent the system from harboring microbiological growths that can cause unpleasant odours.

During the life of a car, micro-organisms can get trapped in the evaporator fins of a vehicle’s air conditioning unit.  Left to their own devices these can breed and will often cause a very nasty smell and, in some cases, an allergic reaction. 

Although some high street stores sell deodorising products, most simply mask the smell and don’t tackle the root cause of the problem.  At Derek Slack Motors, however, our expert aftersales team lead by me Craig Parry, is offering customers a treatment that eradicates the micro-organisms as well as the unpleasant odour. Yippie!

In addition to the clean-up treatment, Derek Slack Motors also recommend that drivers have their vehicle’s air conditioning serviced every two years to ensure the system is operating at optimum performance.  For only £79.95 inc. VAT, our comprehensive, multi-point service covers the following areas...

1. Drain, evacuation and recharge of refrigerant gas, including a visual check for air conditioning oil contamination.

2. Checks to make sure the cabin is being cooled, warmed and dehumidified correctly, that switches and controls are in working order and that clean, cool air is distributed through all vents.

3.Visual checks of the key air conditioning components such as cooling fan and plenum chamber.

4. A visual check of ancillary components such as lines, hoses pipes and connectors.

5. Visual inspection of the pollen filter, housing and seals.

6. System decontamination to remove any bacterial or microbiological build-up.

7. Record in the service book.

Available on most makes and models

I've already had my air conditioning serviced, so the only bad smell you'll find in my car this summer will be my feet!

Thanks for reading

Craig Parry

Aftersales Manager

Cosworth Impreza coming to Teesside

Derek Slack Motors, main Subaru dealers for Teesside, based in Middlesbrough, are now taking orders for the new supercar, the Cosworth Impreza STI CS400. Boasting nearly 400bhp, this much anticipated automotive collaboration, will roar into our showroom sometime in June.

The Cosworth Impreza offers a breathtaking 0-62mph in only 3.7 seconds, that’s even faster than the Impreza WRX STI (296bhp and 5.2 seconds). This collaboration has produced arguably the quickest 4WD hatchback ever seen and will also feature a bespoke brake package – with six-pot callipers and 355mm discs at the front.

There’s still a press embargo preventing Derek Slack Motors revealing to the media images of upgrades to the exterior and styling, but that hasn’t deterred order enquiries coming in from all over the North East, in particular North Yorkshire, Teesside and County Durham.

We’ll keep you posted on developments and will share images of the new Cosworth Impreza in all its glory very soon!

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