Although the price of gas has dropped recently, many of us have been finding ways to put fewer miles on our cars. Even if you are driving less, properly maintaining your vehicle is still important to maximizing fuel economy and vehicle life.

We found a brief article with four essential maintenance tips to help keep your vehicle in top condition--no matter how much you drive.

The most obvious way to conserve cash in uncertain times is to postpone large purchases. And except for a home, new cars are usually the biggest purchase that most people make.

Runzheimer International compared the cost of keeping your current car with buying a new one.They found that keeping the current car saved an average of $10,894 over four years.

If you do need to make a change, buying a quality used vehicle from Prestige Imports makes a lot more sense than buying a new one.

Technology has come to the aid of parents concerned about teenage drivers. You can now get a Personal GPS Locator at a reasonable price. This lets you monitor a vehicle's location from your computer or cell phone.

You can set up safety zones around schools and other approved locations. Then you'll get a text message or email alert whenever the car enters or exits one of these zones.

You can also set it to send you a message when the vehicle exceeds a designated speed limit.

Cars often give their owners plenty of warning -- in the form of new noises, odors and other signs -- before a mechanical failure occurs.

We found an excellent article that classifies these danger signs into Noises, Smells, and Drips. Then it tells you what each one may mean.

I want to remind you of an opportunity for you and your friends to save significant money.

I'm talking about our Referral Program. If you're happy with Prestige Imports, you can honestly and enthusiastically tell your import-driving friends about us. They save 10% on their first visit and you earn a matching credit toward your own service work.

Don't wait until the subject comes up. Make a list of everyone you know that drives an import and call them now.

While the maximum credit per customer is $100, there is NO LIMIT to the number of people you can refer. Become a part-time cheerleader for us and you might never have to pay for your own car service again!

This month's featured vehicle is a 2005 Volvo XC70 Cross Country. Edmunds called this model an "excellent snow vehicle with superb seat comfort, an extensive array of safety equipment, solid construction, and strong brakes."

This particular vehicle has the hard-to-find 3rd row seating with rear booster seats. It's in excellent shape, fully loaded, with service all up to date and brand new Michelin tires.

Call Joe or Phil Licari to arrange a test drive or just come in. Priced at $19,900.

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If you had a vehicle serviced at Prestige Imports or came in to shop for a car, we need your feedback. Please visit the survey section of our web site and take a two-minute survey.