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Congratulations to Jim Riehl’s Friendly Honda service team, who recently received special recognition from American Honda for exceeding customer service expectations. Leading the team is Jerry Thabet, Service Manager at Friendly’s Clinton Township location. Improving the customer experience has become a top priority for the Honda Service Department, demonstrated by their 5% increase in Customer Satisfaction over the last 12 months. With the service department opening on Saturdays from 8am – 2pm beginning June 6, a quick and convenient visit is more important than ever, and the Honda team is working hard to provide that for our customers.

Customer Service Experience - Award Winner

The Friendly Lease-Return Process

The process of turning in a leased vehicle – especially if it’s a first time experience – might seem intimidating.

“Am I going to have to pay anything extra?” “What exactly am I responsible for?”

At Jim Riehl’s Friendly Automotive Group, we believe the more information you have coming in, the better the experience will be, so providing answers to those types of questions – In Advance – is our way of making the process as simple and stress free as possible.

You may begin receiving letters about your up-coming lease turn-in as much as a year prior to your lease-end date. Nobody is trying to rush you; we just want to make sure you have plenty of time to explore your options. Besides, many people start shopping for their next vehicle a year before they plan to buy.

A few months prior to your lease-end date, we will call you to schedule a vehicle inspection, which only takes five to ten minutes. This will give you ample time before your lease expires to review damages and perform any necessary repairs (especially if the vehicle is still under warranty) at our Friendly Collision Shop at our Warren location.

When your lease ends, you will have three options:
1) turn in the vehicle
2) lease another vehicle
3) purchase the vehicle

Should you choose to either turn in the vehicle or lease another one, a lease turn-in appointment will be scheduled. At this time, your Lease Turn-In Coordinator will check your odometer and walk around your vehicle to check for visible damage. If you had the pre-inspection performed, there should be no surprises. You should have already been instructed as to what to bring in with the vehicle, possibly including;
  • headphones
  • remote controls
  • two sets of keys
  • two keyless remotes
  • tire jack
  • spare tire
  • cargo covers
  • cargo nets
  • navigation DVD’s
  • CD changer
  • Cartridges
  • Owner’s manuals

You will receive your mileage, inspection and final billing statements at the time you turn in your vehicle. If you’re not purchasing another vehicle, you’ll want to make sure to plan ahead for a ride home. Otherwise, we at Friendly will be happy to help you purchase or lease you next new vehicle!

Presenting DaVinci Event

From Weight Watchers’ Cook Book Make it Snappy
Quick Chicken Cacciatore

The classic version of this dish is made with bone-in chicken pieces-using skinless boneless breasts lowers the fat and quickens the cooking time. Serve this dish with orzo or small-shape pasta, or with couscous.
Makes 4 Servings
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 4 (1/4 –pound) skinless boneless chicken breast halves
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 onions, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 (8-ounce) package sliced mushrooms
  • ½ cup dry red wine
  • 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can stewed tomatoes
 Quick Chicken Cacciatore

1. Mix the flour, ¼ teaspoon of salt, and the pepper on a sheet of wax paper or a plate. Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture, shaking of the excess.
2. Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet, then add the chicken. Cook until golden brown, about 4 minutes each side. Transfer to a plate.
3. Add the onions and garlic to the skillet and sauté until softened. Add the mushrooms and sauté until they soften. Add the wine and cook, stirring, until the liquid evaporates. Stir in the tomatoes and the remaining ¼ teaspoon of salt, then return the chicken to the skillet. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 8 minutes.

Per serving: 271 calories, 7 g Total Fat, 1 g Saturated Fat, 69 mg Cholesterol, 555 mg Sodium, 19 g Carbohydrate, 3 g Dietary Fiber, 28 g Protein, 67 mg Calcium. Points per serving; 5

Presenting Check to Goodfellows
Friendly staff presenting check to Darrell Nieporte of the Goodfellows.

Goodfellows Donation
Jim Riehl's employees have always pitched in to purchase a special Christmas gift for him and his wife Janet, but this year they decided to do something a little different. Rather than purchasing an item, the employees collected $574 to donate to his favorite charity, The Warren Goodfellows.

The gift was presented to Jim and Janet Riehl at the company Christmas Party, and he was so overwhelmed with the act of generosity that he added $1,000 to the contribution.

The Warren Goodfellows serves families in Warren, Center Line and Sterling Heights areas who are in need. Jim Riehl's Friendly Automotive Group has supported the Goodfellows for many years, recently contributing four large boxes of toys collected from customers and employees in time for Christmas.

The Warren Goodfellows accept clothing and all types of perishable and non-perishable food items, which can be delivered to their warehouse in the parking lot of the Warren Community Center, located at 5460 Arden, and checks can be sent to Warren Goodfellows at P.O. Box 555, Warren, MI 48090.

Lord Stanley’s CupJoe Riehl with cupJoe Riehl with cup2
Joe Riehl and Lord Stanley’s Cup

Stanley Cup visit
Lord Stanley’s Cup made a surprise visit to Jim Riehl’s Friendly Chrysler Jeep on Thursday, September 18. The cup was accompanied by Red Wings massage therapist Sergui Tchekmarev as part of it’s tour through the Detroit area. Jim Riehl has been a proud supporter of the Red Wings for many years and through many championships, and it was a very special honor to have the opportunity to share the Stanley Cup with the Friendly community.

Fuel Efficiency Tips
With the uncertainty of gas prices and the current finance crunch, it’s important to know that you’re doing all you can to get the most from your vehicle. We’d like to offer a few tips to help you maximize your fuel dollars.

  • Check your tire pressure. Correct tire pressure can give you a 3 percent increase in gas mileage. Some even recommend replacing air with nitrogen to keep a more consistent tire pressure. Ask your service technician for more information.
  • Car pool! You probably live near one of your co-workers. Share a ride and share the cost.
  • Check your air filter. A dirty air filter can greatly reduce your gas mileage.
  • A steady foot on the gas pedal can increase fuel efficiency, so use cruise control when appropriate.
  • Clean out your vehicle. The less your car weighs, the better the mileage. If you don’t need it in the trunk, don’t carry it!
  • Get a tune-up to make sure your car is running properly. A tuned up engine can dramatically improve gas mileage.
  • Watch the traffic lights. Accelerating up to a red light or stop sign is bad for your brakes and your mileage. Coast up and let the car slow down naturally, then let off the brake and accelerate gradually. Less braking and acceleration on a regular basis will be easier on your vehicle.
  • When it’s warm, roll down the windows. Air conditioning uses more fuel compared to the friction created by open windows.

Protect Your Car From Road Salt
By: Marilyn Pokorney

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Every winter drivers should take active steps to protect their car from road salt.
Road salt is necessary for safe transportation when snow and ice accumulate on roads and highways and cause dangerous driving conditions.
Salt was first used in the 1930's in snow and ice control to make roads safe and passable by creating a lower freezing temperature of the water. It is the most available and cost-effective de-icer. It is easy to store, handle, and apply.
Some 15 million tons of de-icing salt is used each year in the U.S. and about 4-5 million in Canada.
Salt keeps snow and ice from bonding to the pavement and to allow snowplows to remove accumulations quickly and efficiently.
Studies show that salt use reduces accidents by 88%.
Washing your car during wintertime is one of the best things you can do to maintain the value of your car. Mud, salt, rain, sleet, and snow can damage your car's clear finish. Mud and salt caked on the undercarriage promote rust, especially in older vehicles, and can also affect how well your car drives.
To prevent winter damage, it is recommended that you wash your vehicle every 10 days. Wash your vehicle whenever the temperature is 40 degrees F. and above. Do it during the day so that it dries completely before freezing evening temperatures begin.
Immediately after washing the vehicle, open and close all doors, the trunk, and other parts of the car with locks several times before parking it to prevent locks from freezing.
Always wash your car right after a snow or rain shower. Rain and snow collect pollutants in the air and drop them as acid rain which can damage the cars protective finish. Snow and sleet also include the corrosive road salt.
Wash the underside of your car often during the winter months in car washes that do not use recycled water.
Avoid driving through large puddles of standing water which is saturated with road salt.
Any paint chips that are larger than the tip of a pen should be taken care of immediately.
Wax your car at least every six months. Put a good heavy coat of wax on your car before the winter storms hit. This heavy coat will protect your paint from the corrosive salt and cold temperatures.
More frequent waxes are needed if your car is red, black or white because these colors are more susceptible to acid rain and UV rays.
When spring time rolls around, treat your car to a good wax job again. Be sure to remove all road grime and salt off of the car before you begin waxing.
For more information: http://www.apluswriting.net/gasmiles/5starshine.html

About the Author
Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the environment. Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net

Disclaimer:
This article is p rovided "as is" for informational purposes only without warranty of any kind. The entire risk as to the results and the performance of the information contained in this article is assumed by the reader, and in no event shall Lee Myles Associates Corp. be liable for any consequential, incidental or direct damages suffered in the course of using the information in these articles.