10 • May 22, 2013 • Snoqualmie Valley Record
www.valleyrecord.com
Experienced Car Care With Hometown Service
Keep on rolling
How to reduce the cost of owning a car
Some things change, some things stay the same at Fall City’s Model Garage By Seth Truscott Editor
Keeping the Valley’s cars on the road has been the way of things at Fall City’s Model Garage since 1923. Dennis Musga has owned and operated Fall City’s Model Garage, backed up by his manager and a crew of six mechanics, since 1985. The auto repair business is Musga’s career. Out of high school, he attended trade school at Renton Tech, training to be a mechanic. Musga served an apprenticeship at Ford and worked at the Ford dealership at Eastgate for 20 years. Then, he partnered with his Valley-resident brother-in-law to buy the Model Garage when the owners were retiring. Plenty of customers followed from the dealership, Musga said. “It’s always been ‘treat a customer like you want to be treated,’” Musga explains his business philosophy.
Seth Truscott/Staff Photo
Steve Ramsey, Dennis Musga and Dylan Phifer, part of the team at Fall City’s Model Garage, continue the shop’s 90-year tradition of automative service, in a new era. That philosophy has paid off. You can usually find the Model Garage by the many cars lined up outside, awaiting attention. Customers roll in from Issaquah, Redmond, Carnation, North Bend. The team, whose mechanics range from apprentices to 20-year veterans, gets to know many of them pretty well.
“All our customers become our friends,” says Musga. In the old days, all cars, whatever their make, ran on a simple set of systems: distributor, carburator, engine, radiator. A lot of that simplicity has changed. See MODEL GARAGE, 12
Voted Best in the Valley 2012
(StatePoint) The cost of car ownership is on the rise again this year, according to a new report from AAA. And if you’re a family on a budget or a senior on a fixed income, you may feel the impact already. But it doesn’t have to be this way. From avoiding unnecessary insurance costs to reducing pain at the pump, savvy drivers can take practical steps to make driving a more economical mode of transport: • Shop around for better insurance rates. If you have a good driving record, talk to your insurance company about reducing your premium. And if you are a senior and take a refresher course in driver safety specifically designed for seniors, you may be able to negotiate lower insurance rates. • Make sure your tires are inflated to the correct pressure as indicated on the sticker on the inside of your door, not the number on the tire sidewall. Underinflated tires car can increase fuel consumption by up to 3 percent. • Preventive maintenance, such as changing your air filter, can go a long way toward smooth, efficient performance. A clogged air filter can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10 percent. • Keep a record of your vehicle maintenance, including oil changes. Try using a high performance synthetic motor oil, as opposed to conventional oil, to allow for more miles between oil changes. Premium synthetic motor oil, such as Royal Purple, can reduce maintenance costs and time spent out of service. To learn more about the benefits of using synthetic lubricants in your vehicle visit www.RoyalPurpleConsumer.com. North Bend • Issaquah • Black Diamond Redmond • Seattle • Gold Bar • High Rock
North Bend Automotive's aim is to insure that your car or truck is operating 100% throughout its lifetime and your ownership. We take pride in our work and our service to our customers.
Free Shuttle Service www.northbendauto.com
Mon - Fri 8am - 5 pm Located just outside of downtown North Bend past Mt Si Road
43306 SE North Bend Way • 425.888.4522
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We Specialize in all Foreign, Domestic & European Vehicles
www.valleyrecord.com
Snoqualmie Valley Record • May 22, 2013 • 11
Experience Good Old-Fashioned Service CHAPLINS SERVICE DEPT
North Bend Chevrolet
Mon-Fri 8:00am - 5:30pm • Sat 8:00am - 2:00pm
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Free Local Shuttle Service
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Up to 5 quarts of oil. Excludes diesel, hybrid and synthetic oil. Some vehicles higher. Tax and disposal fees extra. Not to be combined with any other offers. Not valid on previous service or repairs. Present at time of write-up. See service advisor for full details.
for most models! Offer expires June 19, 2013
• includes oil and filter change • includes multi-point inspection
Interior detail - $129.95 plus tax Exterior Detail - $159.95 plus tax Full Detail (Int & Ext) - $259.95 plus tax ***NEW***Mini Detail - $99.95 plus tax * hand wash (Most Vehicles)
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Call to schedule an appointment and we will inspect the following items for free! * windshield * windshield wipers * windshield washers * tire tread depth * tire wear * tire inflation * visual brake inspection * all external bulbs Plus, get 10% off of any approved recommendations made!
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25
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Up to 5 quarts of oil. Excludes diesel, hybrid and synthetic oil. Some vehicles higher. Tax and disposal fees extra. Not to be combined with any other offers. Not valid on previous service or repairs. Present at time of write-up. See service advisor for full details.
Not to be combined with any other offer. Hurry offer expires 06/22/2013.
Brake Special
199
Front or Rear
$
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• Replace Front Brake Pads or Rear Brake Shoes • Machine Rotors or Drums Included • Check Connections and Lines for Leaks • Adjust Parking Brake • Add Brake Fluid as Needed Packing of wheel bearings caliper/wheel cylinder service additional charge. Some models may be slightly higher. Coupon must be presented when vehicle is dropped off for service. Not good with any other offer. Expires 06/22/2013.
9065 Railroad Ave. SE • Snoqualmie • Tel:425.888.4568 • Fax:425.888.0742 • email:rdrhammer@yahoo.com
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(by appointment)
12 • May 22, 2013 • Snoqualmie Valley Record
www.valleyrecord.com
MODEL gARAGE FROM 10 “Cars now are all modules and relays,” says Musga. “Everything’s computer controlled.” Instead of an oscilloscope, mechanics use scanners, and upload computer diagnotic programs into cars. And, along with electronics, we’ve entered the era of the electric car, for good this time. Musga has waited a long time for this moment. He recalls the dawn of electrics in the 1980s, and figured they were right around the corner. Instead, Detroit abandoned the electric car for 20 years—until today, when the industry has embraced the technology. “I don’t think they had the tech then,” he said. “They
talked about it many years ago. I never thought I’d be working on cars when it came out.” For mechanics to transition to the new tech, all it takes is training—just schooling, says Musga. “These cars are made by man,” he says. “We’re human. We can figure it out. Just give us the training.” He sends his mechanics to class every month for the latest techniques. The one car that Musga would love to get a chance to work on is the new Tesla electric sedan, the Model S. “It is the future,” he says. “Here’s another thing that’s going to be the future: Plug-in charging stations. They’re going to be everywhere. You won’t have to worry about gasoline damaging the environment.” • The Model Garage is located at 33805 Redmond-Fall City Road. Call (425) 222-5751 or visit www.modelgaragefallcity.com. Courtesy photo
We believe every child should be treated the way we would like our own children to be treated.
Pictured above, circa 1930, Fall City’s Model Garage has a long history of auto service in the Valley, going back to 1923.
Art Walk planned for Friday The next Snoqualmie Art Walk is 2 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 31. Find food, music and entertainment in downtown Snoqualmie, with artwork from Mount Si High School’s Festival of Arts featured at City Hall and the Chamber of Commerce. Artists from the Mount Si Artist Guild will have a show upstairs above the Candy Factory in Snoqualmie. Recently voted “Best Photographer of the Valley,” Mary Miller will be unveiling her “Heart of the Valley” photo taken last weekend at Centennial Fields. The public is invited to all events.
It is our goal to implement the highest standard of care at every patient encounter whether it is a child’s first visit to the dental office, a teenager who is headed off to college or a special-needs adult patient we’ve been seeing for decades.
WE HAVE 2 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU
758181
Tree City USA for third year
Now preferred provider for Premera.
WATCH FOR THE SNOQUALMIE VALLEY VISITORS GUIDE
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources recognized 82 cities that have been chosen as a Tree City USA in honor of Arbor Day, observed last month. Snoqualmie is one of them. The Valley city has been a Washington state Tree City USA award winner for three years. DNR recognizes cities that earn the Tree City USA title for their efforts in keeping urban forests healthy and vibrant. To be acknowledged as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, a city must designate staff to care for trees, appoint a citizen tree board to advocate for community forestry, establish a tree ordinance, spend at least $2 per capita on tree care, and celebrate Arbor Day.
Summer Fun At Music Works Northwest
Publishes: Wednesday, May 29th The guide is a great place to brand local businesses and promote products and services to entice both local resident and tourist alike to shop in your unique store or venue.
790982
Distributed to over 12,500 homes and businesses in the Valley, an additional 7,000 issues are also handed out throughout the year at key tourism venues, gathering places, restaurants, hotels and coffee shops in the area.
The Visitor Guide is a supplement to the Snoqualmie Valley Record.
VALLEY RECORD
SUMMER MUSIC CAMPS Circus Music Camp, A Musical Trip to the Zoo, camps for children with special needs and more! www.musicworksnw.org
SNOQUALMIE
Coming up, we also have our ever-popular ‘Snoqualmie Valley Women in Business’ section, and the Valley Summer Festival pages.
425.888.2311
8124 Falls Ave. • Snoqualmie • www.valleyrecord.com
A nonprofit community music school
425-644-0988 14360 SE Eastgate Way Bellevue, WA 98007