Dune on Cape Cod near Provincetown (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s almost summertime, and Colonial Auto wants to help you find the best beaches in Massachusetts!

Massachusetts has some of the best beaches on the east coast. There’s an abundance of sand ripe for sunbathing on Cape Cod, south of Boston, and along the North Shore. Given the wealth of options, it’s difficult to know where to set up your beach chair.

Fortunately, at Colonial we’re happy to share our local knowledge about with you.

Here’s Colonial Auto’s guide to the best beaches in Massachusetts.

Best Beaches North of Boston

Crane Beach, Ipswich: One of the most beautiful beaches anywhere in the Bay State is in Ipswich. This jewel of the North Shore features clean, white sand and a variety of food vendors. With dunes reminiscent of Cape Cod and abundant parking, Crane Beach is truly one of the best beaches anywhere in New England.

Singing Beach, Manchester-by-the-Sea: Fabulous views are one of the hallmarks of this North Shore treasure. Although parking is reserved for locals, the beach is extremely accessible by public transportation. The sand is amongst the best on the North Shore, and the rocky cliffs are reminiscent of Maine and regions further northward.

Good Harbor Beach, Gloucester: Regarded as a local favorite amongst residents of Gloucester, Good Harbor Beach is also one of the better swimming beaches on Cape Ann. Huge expanses of sand and captivating views of the shoreline and fantastic homes that dot it make this spot one of the best on the Bay State’s other Cape.

Best Beaches South of Boston

Horseneck Beach, Westport: Cheap parking is just the tip of the iceberg at the Westport gem. With clean sand aplenty and ample birds for watching, Horesneck is a great spot south of Boston.

Duxbury Beach, Duxbury: The aptly named Dubury Beach in Duxbury is incredibly expansive and features an iconic boardwalk that is a must-see. A unique and fabulous spot below Boston.

Nantasket Beach, Hull: The Paragon Carousel is a bonus at this appealing beach just south of the B. The beach has been a favorite of Bostonians since the 19th century and features a summer concert series.

Best Beaches on Cape Cod

Coast Guard Beach, Eastham: A favorite of Dr. Stephen Leatherman (AKA “Dr. Beach”), Coast Guard Beach features some of the best sand in Massachusetts. Part of the Cape Cod National Sea Shore, this Cape Cod beach will not disappoint.

Cahoon Hollow, Wellfleet: Awesome views and spectacular cliffs are hallmarks of Cahoon Hollow. This beach is quintessential Cape Cod, and the nearby Beachcomber restaurant is a fantastic dining spot.

Race Point Beach, Provincetown: The last beach in our Cape Cod section is also the furthest down the lower Cape. Also part of Cape Cod’s National Sea Shore, Race Point offers phenomenal views of the Atlantic (as you’re basically standing in the middle of it on the beach) and the sunsets are spectacular.

There are many more great beaches in Massachusetts than the few listed here (and more still in the rest of New England). However, we think this is a great list of beaches to visit that present the entire spectrum that the best beaches in Massachusetts have to offer.

Along with running and walking in the event Colonial South Chrysler Jeep Dodge is a Bronze Sponsor for the event.

Mary Durocher who is our Office Manager at Colonial South Chrysler Jeep Dodge ran point on getting the dealership involved in the West Island 5K which is in its second year has ran in several 5K’s in the past and was thrilled to rally team Colonial South Coast to run in the event this weekend.

Time to meet Team Colonial South Coast

Our Service Manager Paul Sutherland who is a Marathon Runner and will be also participating in the Megatransect Challenge in September 2013. Megatransect is a 26+ Mile hike/trail run that is in Central Pennsylvania and it not for the faint of heart.

As I have already mentioned Mary Durocher has ran in several 5K’s events in the past was responsible for coordinating the team. She is in some ways by default the team Captain.

When asked, ” How did you get involved with the West Island 5k? ” Mary replied, ” The dealership wanted to get involved in the community.  As a part of that effort I hopped on Google and started looking for local events that we could get involved in. I saw the West Island 5K and knew that Paul was a marathon runner, I asked him if he would be interested and of course he was and the team grew from there. ”

The 3rd member of Team Colonial South Coast is our Finance Manager George Simone. George trains Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as well as MMA. While this is George’s first 5K he is looking forward to as it is a great augmentation to his existing training.

For Team Colonial South Coast Team members 4 and 5, Keri and Sarah will be walking the race course. This is the first event for each of them and they are excited to get involved and be a part of the team efforts.

Colonial South Chrysler Jeep Dodge General Manager, Mark Babineau had intended to Run in the race but there was so much interest from other team members, he quickly realized that if he did there would be no one to open the store this Sunday from 12-4.

" Colonial South Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Dartmouth is committed to being involved with the South Coast community. We are a part of this community and are proud to have supported the Lions Club recently by sponsoring and allowing them to use one of our vans for trash pick up efforts on Faunce Corner Road." Mark said " It is really important to give when we can, whether is time, donations or general support for local events and schools. Colonial is committed helping out when are able to " he added.

Here are details if you are interested in participating in the West Island 5K on April 28th.

After a particularly mean winter, it’s more important than ever to give your vehicle some TLC, and Colonial is here with some spring car care tips to help get your ride back to looking and running as nicely as iced tea on a sunny May afternoon.

And if our tips have you particularly concerned about your vehicle, you can always take your car into any of our Massachusetts car dealerships for service, repairs, or parts.

April is National Car Care Month, so there’s no time like the present to get started on prepping your vehicle for the big thaw.

Let’s start with the basics:

1. Tires – Start by doing the classic quarter test on your tires. Put Washington into the grooves of your tires to see if his head disappears into them. If our first president’s head is fully visible, then the tread is dangerously low, and you should consider a new set of tires. Even if the tread is okay, you should check the pressure to make you’re not burning extra gas driving on under-inflated tires.
2. Salt – The salt from the roads does more than melt ice; it wears away at the undercarriage and can lead to serious damage if left unchecked after a few winters. The good news is that there’s an easy remedy: a good old fashioned car wash. Take your vehicle in for a thorough cleaning, or do it yourself, but don’t forget to spray down the undercarriage.
3. Battery – Cold weather and batteries don’t get along. After a long winter, your battery might not have much juice left, especially if you notice dimming lights or slow power windows.
4. Brakes – Just like with your undercarriage, salt can wreak havoc on brakes over time. If you’re hearing grinding noises or a lot of squeaks when you press the brake pedal, it’s probably time to get them checked out and maybe replace the pads.
5. Fluids – Finish up with an easy one: top up your washer fluid!

There are a couple of other important items that you’ll want to get checked out, but you’re likely going to need the help of a professional to do it. Check your belts and hoses to make sure that there aren’t any cracks. And get your cooling system flushed to ensure your engine doesn’t overheat and burn out when the summer months roll around.

If checking your belts, hoses, and cooling system sounds intimidating, don’t worry: visit any of Colonial’s dealerships and we’ll take care of it for you!

Both Colonial Volkswagen of Westborough and Colonial Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Hudson were singled out for outstanding customer satisfaction in 2012 and took home awards for the best Volkswagen and Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram dealers in Massachusetts.

Read on for the complete scoop!

DealerRater uses its Dealer of the Year Awards to “recognize a select number of car dealerships throughout the United States and Canada for outstanding customer satisfaction as expressed through customers’ online reviews posted on DealerRater.” In order to qualify, a dealership must have at least 25 reviews written during the previous calendar year, and it must have an average rating greater than 4.0 (out of 5.0).

In other words, Colonial VW of Westborough and Colonial Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Hudson  were up against the cream of the crop on DealerRater, and they still came out on top! For the Massachusetts Volkswagen dealers and Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge dealers that deliver the highest customer satisfaction, the verdict is in, and it’s Colonial!

New owners, now’s your time to prepare for extending the life of your vehicle and ensuring your vehicle goes the distance!

Colonial South Chrysler Jeep Dodge’s service manager Paul Sutherland and his team will present a series of hands-on demonstrations to bring you up to speed on how to take care of your new car and how to respond to your car’s engine warning lights.

In addition to the new car maintenance tips, Colonial South Chrysler Jeep Dodge will be raffling off a flat-screen TV – and entry is free! Refreshments will be served.

For more information, contact Colonial South Chrysler Jeep Dodge at (508) 984-1900 or get directions here. And for more dependable Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge service, schedule an appointment at our Dartmouth dealership and get the work done right the first time!

See you on February 7th!

And while there will probably never be a clear victor in this debate, the general consensus is that leasing a car can make a lot of sense for some people, and buying a car makes sense for others. So which camp do you fall into? Let’s see if we can help you figure out whether you should be buying or leasing your new car!

Weighing the Pros and Cons

First, let’s start with the advantages of leasing a car.

You can look forward to paying little to no money up front, which is a big advantage for those in need of a new car but without much cash in the bank to use for a car. Next, you’re looking at lower monthly payments than if you purchased the car outright. And finally, you can turn in your lease when the deal is up, assuming you’ve taken good care of your car, and either get a new lease or decide to buy a vehicle at that point.

Now, let’s look at the disadvantages of a lease. First, your payments don’t go toward owning anything, which means that you don’t have something to sell later on if you need to. Also, you’re limited in your options if you want out of your lease. Chances are that you’re going to pay a large sum of cash – sometimes as much as six months of lease payments. And lastly, you may be limited by mileage or risk paying more for every mile you go over your yearly limit.

Take The Quiz to See If You’re Better Off Leasing

Curious to see where you fall on the spectrum between leasing and buying? Take this quiz below, but be aware that the answers labeled as wrong are not actually wrong! It’s simply the way the quiz widget is configured, so there has to be a “wrong” answer. But, in this quiz, there are no right or wrong answers!

Other Resources

For more information on car lease vs. buy analysis in Massachusetts, check out this Lease Calculator from SmartMoney.com as well as these helpful resources from the Massachusetts DMV.

The deals are almost as good as the cars, so don’t get yourself to a Colonial VW dealer and see for yourself how easy it can be to drive away in a new Jetta, Passat, Tiguan or CC.

VW Sign and Drive Deals in MA

Whether you need a big family sedan or a compact commuter, now’s your chance to get a new ride for next to nothing. The VW Sign and Drive lease deals start as low as $169 per month for qualified drivers.

Here’s a quick rundown of some of the deals:

• 2013 Jetta Base
• $169 per month for 42 months
• $0 down
• See Colonial dealer for details
• 2013 Passat S
• $199 per month for 42 months
• $0 down
• See Colonial dealer for details
• 2013 Tiguan S
• $249 per month for 42 months
• $0 down
• See Colonial dealer for details
• 2013 CC Sport
• $279 per month for 42 months
• $0 down
• See Colonial dealer for details

There are more great VW lease deals for MA drivers available, so be sure to inquire at the dealership when you arrive.

Colonial VW Dealer Locations

Colonial has three locations, so you can be sure that we’re nearby:

Central MA/Worcester:

Colonial Volkswagen of Westborough

Norfolk/Middlesex:

Wellesley Volkswagen

Boston Area:

Colonial Volkswagen of Medford

Get a jump on the deals and get into there now before they’re all gone!

That’s right it’s Halloween and that means that Movember is upon us. If you have followed the Colonial Automotive Group Blog you may recall that I participated in Movember last year. It was my first year and I was asked by a someone I had connected  with on Google Plus. Together our team raised nearly $2,300 with a generous donation match of $500 from Colonial Volkswagen of Westborough.

This year, I decided to head up a team and I am proud to announce that I am the Captain of Movember team G+ and Beyond Mobros. I chose that name due to the fact that if it wasn’t for Google Plus I would not have ever participated in Movember. Also, the majority of the members of the team are people that I have met on Google Plus.

Together as a team we hope to raise both money and awareness for mens health issues. Through connecting on social media we have come together with a united common goal; To grow some incredible Moustaches and that is what we are going to do.

To join or donate visit our team page http://us.movember.com/team/520749 every little bit helps. We hope to raise more than last year. Check back for updates on my Moustache as well as other G+ and Beyond Mobros for that matter. This year I am going with the Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation so be sure to stop by to see my progress.

In the meantime watch a video from Ron Swanson on the proper way to participate in Movember.

On Tuesday, October 23rd 2012, WWE Champion Sheamus visited Colonial Honda of Dartmouth to sign autographs and take photos.

The line began at 7am this morning when the public began arriving. Over 300 people were able to meet Sheamus and get photos and autographs.. however, I realize many people also did not. My apologies on this matter.

Unfortunately these visitation events work around the WWE’s Performance Schedule. The Sheamus event was from 12n – 2p, and being the great guy his is, he stayed signing until well after 2pm to try and meet as many people as he could. Due to WWE time Constraints, we had to stop the line at 1:45 so he could leave by 2:00 or 2:15 to get to the Dunkin Donuts center to Wrestle The Big Show tonight.

To anyone who did not get to meet Sheamus, please email me at nsurdis@buycolonialhonda.com, and when we have another WWE Event this Spring, I will do my best to get you preferred placement in the line then.

Thanks,

Nick Surdis

General Manager

Colonial Honda of Dartmouth

Bring your family on Saturday, November 3rd, from 1-5, and get the first look at Subaru’s brand new vehicle, the XV Crosstrek. Expect to take part in plenty of fun events, check out some classic cars, and dine on some lip-smacking BBQ.

North End Subaru has commissioned the Advanced Art students and teachers from Lunenburg High School to immortalize the life of a Subaru across the face of a giant 60-foot exterior wall. Students will get the chance to showcase their artistic skills, and all visitors at the Crosstrek unveiling on November 3rd will get to see the new mural project proposal! The design will features ideas from students under the guidance of artist Nathan J. Di Perri.

Also on display will be classic Subaru cars like a 1960s Sambar 360 and a 1973 Subaru GL. Take a look inside and a trip back in time! Plus, you’ll also be able to explore the new 2013 Subaru Crosstrek and the new 2013 Subaru BRZ.

Special gifts and barbeque will be available for all who attend. North End Subaru is calling everybody to come by and get in on the fun. For more information, visit North End Subaru’s Facebook page, choose events and then Crosstrek. Or, call Bob Waite at North End Subaru at 978-785-5110.

Update 10/19/12: you can also get tickets here http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4572141398#

See you on the 3rd!