Press Releases
This article was in the Import Auto Trader Magazine in
Arizona in the month of April 2003.
_______________________________________________________________
This article was posted in the Motoring News Section of the Tribune on Saturday, May 18th,
2002.
Excellent values found off the beaten path at Lesueur Car Co.
by Kristin Jekel Tribune Automotive
You will not find LeSueur Car Company in the Tempe Autoplex or
along the Motor Mile on McDowell Road, or anywhere where there are rows of shiny car
dealerships blending together under the shimmering sun. No, to find LeSueur Car Company,
you will have to go off the beaten path, onto the short stretch of Curry Road that just
reaches from Scottsdale Road to Hayden. You will see old dwellings and some dubious places
of business before you turn into the short, dirt driveway. There won’t be a lot of
parking spaces to choose from because the lot is covered with cars, mostly sparkling clean
Volkswagens, some sporting bright candy-colors of red, blue and green. More than likely, a
friendly young man, and maybe a dog or two, will greet you on your way into the office, a
well-used room in the old house that sits in the front of the lot. It is known as the
Carlot House.
You will definitely think to yourself that you are embarking on a rather unusual used car
purchasing adventure. And most likely, you will be glad you did. The LeSueur Car
Company is all about values, of both the economical and family kinds. The
LeSueur’s will work very hard to do what it takes to enable you to drive off the lot
with a car you feel good about.
"The number one thing is customer service," Warren LeSueur, the Founder, Owner
and President explained. "We try to help the customer feel like they’ve made an
intelligent decision." The 1987 State Quality Dealer of the Year offers considerably
lower prices than its new car competitors and also lower interest rates. Because the
dealership technically sits in an urban blighted area, you will not have to pay city sales
tax, and the LeSueur Car Company will charge you only 6.3% in state tax, which can result
in significant savings.
The family owned and operated LeSueur Car Company bills itself as Arizona’s largest
unauthorized dealer of used Volkswagens, Audis and Hondas. The LeSueur’s hope to
become officially authorized by Volkswagen, and are confident it will eventually happen.
The dealership has owned and restored 5000 VW Bugs over the span of its nearly
thirty year history. Their inventory includes more pre-owned Volkswagens than the
Valley’s franchised new dealerships. "We’re really the headquarters for
pre-owned VW’s," said Warren. He personally puts a lot of research, experience
and care into selecting the VWs and other imports that will be sold on the lot. The cars
he purchases typically have very low mileage -- often under 10,000 miles -- a new car
warranty, and absolutely no body damage beyond surface scratches. Minor paint restoration
is performed on site by Cameron Marino of Ultimate Auto Touch-Ups. Warren makes the point
that he is not in the business of repairing and reselling wrecked or mistreated cars by
joking that if a car with any frame or severe paint damage were to come Mr. Marino’s
way, "Cameron wouldn’t know what to do with it." Warren adheres to advice
administered by his father. "Merchandise well bought is merchandise half
sold."
Warren’s father, James Kay LeSueur, was a well-known and beloved figure in the Mesa
and Phoenix community. He descended from a family who helped found Mesa around 1878 and
who also produced a long line of city mayors and other political figures. Kay’s
legacy to his family was a portfolio of invaluable life philosophies to enrich their lives
and the people they touched. He also passed on the love of
Volkswagen, particularly the Beetle.
Warren vividly recalls his father’s side job, a labor of love to supplement the
income he made as a high school teacher. Kay LeSueur would get up early to scour the
newspaper, searching for the perfect used VW and classic cars to restore and sell for
a profit. Volkswagen was and probably still is, the vehicle of choice for
teachers and other intellectual-types who appreciate the round car’s unique and
economical qualities.
The VW Bug figures just as strongly in Warren LeSueur’s life story. As a young
man, Warren drifted, taking jobs like digging palm trees, and surfing in Hawaii.
He also promoted rock bands such as Grand Funk Railroad, Janis Joplin and
José Feliciano. When he finally buckled down and concentrated on his education
he did well and earned a degree from ASU Business School.
His well-received case study focused on Volkswagen. After graduation he worked
as a carpenter, earning $2,000 to start his business. He started restoring
VW cars, one at a time, as his father had done, and the LeSueur Car Company
was born, at the same location in the same house that the business runs out of now.
The birth of their first-born son Kris prompted them to move residences, but the business
remained and expanded.
Kris, who now acts as General Manager, knows all the ins and outs of the used car
business. He enjoys working on a daily basis with his family. "We have a lot of fun
working together," he said. His brother James handles the finances and manages the
in-house designed website, www.LeSueurcarco.com. Steven, the middle child, helps with
sales and is preparing to go on a mission to the Philippines. The youngest children,
Kelsey and J.T., both hold student council positions and excel at track. In fact, many of
the employees, all of whom Warren is clearly fond of and treats like family, are
high-achieving athletes and college students, and Warren makes it policy to work around
their sports and school schedules. Another policy he has stuck to, even though it has
meant selling fewer cars, is to close on Sunday’s so he and his employees can spend
some quality time with their families.
"That’s just having good values."
The family, for all of it success, has suffered its share of tragedies. Kay LeSueur was,
ironically enough, struck and killed by a red light runner, in front of Mesa High School.
Long-time Mesa residents surely remember that sad and shocking day. His widow, Maxine, has
been strong for her family and dedicates herself to charity,
particularly "Save the Family". She is known to drive around town with a
truck full of clothing donations in her Cadillac. (You can’t
fit quite as many charitable goods in a VW Bug.) Carolyn LeSueur, who
has logged many hours contributing to the family business, recently graduated from
nursing school and is enjoying her new career.
She is a breast cancer survivor, and teaches breast health classes for the American
Cancer Society.
Warren LeSueur’s life motto, which undoubtedly came out of his father’s
teachings, has helped his family weather misfortune and rejoice when times are good.
He lives by the words, "Always be kind, have a good attitude and never give up."
Those are the types of values, along with really good car prices, you can find off the
beaten path at LeSueur Car Company.
(1- 877-SELLSVW)
The LeSueur family & staff members pose in front of the
sign which has stood at the entrance to LeSueur Car Co.
since 1973 on Curry Road in Tempe.
The Volkswagen Beetle line at LeSueur Car Co.
These unique logos were designed by Warren LeSueur and a buddy
as part of a college art class project. They continue to represent LeSueur Car Co. today.
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