Jimmy Vasser Toyota dealership steers into new digs on Soscol Avenue
Jimmy Vasser Toyota opened its doors to the car buying public on Dec. 2, and its sales and service departments were on hand ready to greet customers on Monday morning. This is the first new dealership in 37 years on Soscol, said the senior Vasser, whose son, Jimmy Vasser, was the 1996 Champ Car World Series champion winner and one of 14 drivers to make 200 career Champ Car starts.
The new tan-colored building capped by a red roof, measures 25,000-square-feet and sits on 3.5 acres on the east side of Soscol Avenue, backing up to the Silverado Trail. Vasser s new dealership has been designed by Gensler Architects of San Francisco. New cars parked on the diagonal, point toward the front doors facing Soscol Avenue. Toyota s old home was a mere 4,000 square feet and it shared the service area with the Chevrolet dealership.
Vasser describes the building as high a state-of-the-art dealership as there can be … that is also customer friendly. In the service center, customized red mechanics tool boxes are all identical. All the latest technology from front-end alignments to the lube center and car wash feature the most modern equipment possible, according to Vasser. The floor is painted in a material that almost looks like marble, he pointed out. Everything in here is new, he said.
Bob Kleis, general manager, said the new Toyota dealership has 200 cars 150 new and about 50 used. At the old location there were about 75 cars on the lot. We carry the full Toyota line from hybrids to trucks … and mid-sized sedans like the Camry, the 2007 Motor Trend Car of the Year, Kleis said, adding that the Camry also comes in a hybrid version. The move will allow Jimmy Vasser Chevrolet to spread out a little bit. The old Toyota portion will become a GM certified Used Car Center.