Mattie Staff
Golden touch: Tim Golden says Volkswagens, Audis can't be beat
By By Jeffrey D. WagnerSpecial to The Herald News
Posted May 14, 2008 @ 05:04 PM
Fall River — Tim Golden, service manager of Mattie Imports, has owned some American cars in his lifetime and even favors a few of them.
However, few U.S. cars can compare to foreign cars, especially Audis and Volkswagens, he says.
"In my eyes, I find that they are more detailed in technology and in performance,” said Golden, whose voice rises with enthusiasm at the mere mention of foreign cars. “They are not worried about aesthetics and comfort; they are on the cutting edge of technology all the time. They are very innovative and they are not afraid to try new things."
And when it comes to cars, Golden has also always been innovative, and he has had a willingness to try different cars — although his passion for cars has always led him to makes from across the Atlantic.
Golden said the Mattie family has operated the family-owned Mattie Imports since 1982.
"It’s known for being a family-owned and operated business and giving our customers personal attention,” he said. Golden worked himself up the Mattie ladder, starting in 1984 as an attendant before becoming a service manager in 1990. Golden said he has had an interest in cars since “he could remember."
His love for Audis and Volkswagens developed in the early 1980s, and since then it has never waned.
"That’s pretty much all I know and that’s all I pretty much want to know. To specialize in them is really where the key is," he said.
His dream ride is the Audi RS4.
"It’s probably the most refined race car I’ve ever driven," he said.
Golden graduated from B.M.C. Durfee High School and then attended Bristol Community College, where he discovered something important about himself: he’s a hands-on learner.
"I always liked to work with my hands — seeing things develop immediately while I was doing them," he said.
Golden then attended the former Rhode Island Trade Shop in Providence before launching his career.
A people person, Golden said he was a service technician before he discovered that his calling would involve dealing with customers.
Golden said Mattie Imports — before it began to solely specialize in selling both new and used Audis and Volkswagens — also sold Porsches.
"The manufacturer of Porsches would not manufacturer enough for us. We did well with service and parts but did not have enough cars to sell. They produced very few, and we did not see many in this market area,” he said. “It was a very expensive franchise to own."
However, he notes that Mattie Imports had a big cushion to fall back on: Audis and Volkswagens.
“Volkswagen is still the largest (European) automobile manufacturer in the world — bigger than any company,” he said.
The dealership is located at 80 William S. Canning Blvd., next to McDonald’s.