West Side Reliable a big community booster

Housed on a site that carves out a massive 19 acres along Coors NW near the Cottonwood Mall, Reliable Chevrolet Nissan commands a large presence on the West Side.

And managing general partner Mike Mamawal knows that means the business has a large responsibility to support its surrounding community.

	Reliable Chevrolet Nissan What you didn’t know The dealership: Mike Mamawal began working in Albuquerque in the restaurant business Favorite car: Corvette or the Volt, because of its low fuel usage Upcoming promotions: Several Internet specials at: www.reliable-chevrolet.com/specials/new.htm

“If you don’t have a healthy community, you’re not going to have a healthy business,” he said. “If you don’t healthy businesses, you’re not going to have a healthy community.”

That means giving back by supporting organizations like the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer,” Peanut Butter & Jelly day-care centers, Casa Esperanza, local Little Leagues and area schools.

“Basically, if it has to do with little kids or sports, then we want to get involved,” Mamawal said.

Doors are also opened for the local Camaro and Corvette clubs to meet on site, he said.

It also means taking the lead in being more energy-conscious, Mamawal said, by reducing water usage around the site, using electricity conservation methods – including some solar – and providing the most fuel-efficient vehicles possible.

Reliable first opened on its site in 1988 and Mamawal took over several years ago after spending more than five years owning a dealership in Las Vegas, Nev.

But Mamawal and his wife wanted to return to where she has deep roots dating back five-plus generations.

He originally planned on retiring but when the opportunity at Reliable opened, Mamawal said it was too good to pass up.

Particularly since Reliable is part of a national auto group that provides expertise and volumes of scale in many areas of the business.

“Our goal is to sell in volume,” Mamawal said. “If you sell in volume you can offer better prices.”

That’s especially important in Albuquerque, he said.

“New Mexico is not like any other place,” Mamawal said. “We want to be able to offer the best value. For instance, I think being able to get into a Chevy Malibu for under $300 a month is a great value. If you can get a new car for less than a used car and have a full warranty and have better gas mileage, it’s a no-brainer.”