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March 28, 2003/Adar2 24 5763, Vol. 55, No. 31
Thrifty opens Scottsdale location
JESSICA BARBER
Staff Writer
Consumers seeking pre-owned vehicles have another local option in the used car market.
Thrifty Car Sales celebrated its grand opening in Scottsdale on March 1, with a promotion to benefit Boys and Girls Club of Scottsdale. The dealership donated $100 from every vehicle sale to the club, resulting in a $300 dollar total donation.
The dealership, located at 3220 N. Scottsdale Road, operates under an agreement with Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group and Southwest Dealer Sales, Inc., says Ken Elias, president of the Southwest Dealer Sales company. The agreement is exclusive for Arizona and Colorado, although Thrifty has approximately 55 locations nationwide.
"We approached Dollar Thrifty about becoming an exclusive operator for the Thrifty Car Sales brand in the Southwest because we believed that the branded used car dealership is serving a niche in the market that is currently not served," explains Elias. "It's a place where people can buy - with confidence - a certified used car."
The dealership plans to open a Phoenix location during the summer, although the agreement has not been finalized, says Elias.
Elias, a native of Philadelphia, became involved in the auto industry via the Internet in the mid-1990s.
"I was recruited to run Price Line's automotive division and I did that for three years," he says. "They eventually closed their car division only because it was realized that the Internet works for locating customers to buy cars, but cars can't be sold on the Internet."
After working with Price Line in Connecticut and California, Elias relocated to the Valley. While doing consulting work in the industry, he met Dave Thomas, a former car dealer from Oregon.
"We teamed up and landed on this concept," recalls Elias.
The lot has about 75 cars for sale, including vans, SUVs, domestics, imports and more. Thrifty will also offer a $500 gas card promotion during the month of April.
"The key thing is that people, even if they are thinking about buying a new car, should also take a look at a pre-owned car," says Elias. "When you look at some of these cars, you would never know they were pre-owned. They look that good."
Elias graduated from Dartmouth College with a bachelor's degree in government. He has been living in Scottsdale for about three years, and has no plans to move on.
"I'm never leaving Arizona," says Elias.
Elias stresses that Thrifty customers can enjoy a low-pressure sales environment and reasonably priced vehicles.
"We cherry pick what we put on the lot, and if we find anything wrong we fix it," he says. "When customers get here, they know they are getting a good value."
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