DWYER & SONS VOLVO-SUBARU

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and today the dealer-
s you step
ship specializes in
. into Dwyer
Volvos and Subarus,
and Sons
the family values and
Volvo-
quality of the cars the
Subaru, you
Dwyers have sold for
can't help
43 years remain the
but feel like
same.
you're among family.
"The Volvo is a
The dealership is
European
brand and
.owned and operated by
with
that
you
get
brothers Pat, Jim and
European handling performance and quality. The average life of a.
Frank Dwyer and they're always on hand with a handshake and a
Volvo is 14 years and with Volvo you have a high emphasis on safety.
smile, ready to answer even the toughest questions.
They were the first to patent the lap and shoulder seatbelt design,
"Today people are concerned about their time. It's even more
long before safety was a buzzword in the industry Volvos also have
important than the money" Pat Dwyer, the dealership's general man-
what's called safety cage construction, which controls the forces of a
ager pointed out. "They've got the demands of their job and their
collision, maintaining the interior integrity of
kids and they know they can come in and we'll take care of them and
the occupants. The Subarus are equally as safe
be fair with them."
and often referred to as the "Japanese Volvo".
It's a reputation that's been built over time.
During the dealership's
They're known for their engineering and
While the brothers will celebrate their 10th
durability, as well as their all wheel drive."
anniversary in Commerce Township this May,
10 year anniversary
What started out as a 2-car showroom has
they've been around the business since they
now
grown to a 28,000 square foot dealership
celebration
this
May,
Jewish
were toddlers.
on Maple Road, west of Haggerty Road, easily
"My father, Joseph Dwyer, started the business
News readers who bring in accessible off of the new M-5 connector.
in 1959 with our Uncle Al Dittrich. Dad was a
Brother Pat serves as general manager, while
Chrysler sales rep at the time, calling"on dealer-
this article will be eligible Jim runs the Subaru Franchise and Frank over-
ships for the factory. It was a time when a lot of
-
sees parts and service.
the imports were trying to get representation in
for
special
deals.
"There
are
a
lot
of
people
that
don't find
the U.S. market and you didn't need that much
buying
a
car
particularly
pleasant,
but we try to
capital to get yourself going. Having been
make
it
fun."
Dwyer
said,
his
passion
for
the
cars
clearly
apparent.
exposed to so many different dealerships, he thought it was
"Once
a
customer
has
bought
a
car
from
us,
they
know
they're
going
something he could do himself."
to get a fair deal, so they can concentrate on the vehicle itself. We'd
The dealership opened its doors at Grand River and 7Mile in
rather make people feel like they're winning when they come in,
Detroit in a much different way than you'd see today. There were
than hold out for the last dollar."
two Fiats for sale and as soon as one sold, they would call up the
What many people don't know is that Volvo is owned by Ford. In
company and put in an order for another.
turn, Ford employees and their families, as well as Ford suppliers are
"At that point, you had to pay cash for every vehicle. You had to
eligible for special plan privileges.
build up your inventory, before you'd get a line of credit," Pat said,
And for customers looking for a little adventure with their
smiling as he reflected back on conversations that were commonplace
purchase, the Dwyers can arrange to have you pick up your car
in this dealership family "There was a port set. up in Detroit where
right off the line in Sweden. Volvo has special packages that
they would process them, so Dad and Uncle Al would call up and say
include not only a car, but reduced rates on airfare and hotels,
we need a Fiat 124 Spider, go down, pick it up and add it to the
even tours of Scandinavia. And at the end of your vacation, you just
inventory, then turn it around and do the same thing again and again.
get on the plane and Volvo will have your car shipped straight to the
Within a year to 18 months, they still had that 2-car showroom, but
Dwyer's lot.
20-30 cars on the lot."
"When a customer comes into Dwyer & Sons, we try to ask the
And more than just Fiats. The family added Triumph to their line
right questions to find out what's most important to them. Whether
that same year and by 1960, a Volvo franchise. Soon the family had a
it arranging a trip to Europe or giving them the best possible service
factory authorized service department and a collision center, set up to
for their car, our goal is to do what we promise to do and the three
care for cars of any make or model.
of us are always around to make sure that happens."
"I just delivered a car to a family in Birmingham that's been buying
Dwyer & Sons offers extended sales and service hours on Monday
cars from me for 20 years. Now his children are buying the cars!
and
Thursday nights until 9:00 p.m. The dealership and service
There's something to be said for the fact that many of our sales and
department
is also open on Saturdays. For more information, call
service people have been with us for years. There's a trust level that
)
624-0400
or visit the Dwyer & Son's web site at
(248
comes along with knowing the people who are caring for your car."
www.dwyerandsons.com
While Dad stepped aside last year to let his sons run the business

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4/25
2003

58