Photo/Jane Keller Gordon
By Jane Keller Gordon, Contributing Writer
Marlborough – Mega-Watt owner Rick Paré wants to make your car more fun to drive. At his Route 20 location in Marlborough, Paré and his insured technicians retrofit a variety of mobile electronics.
They install remote starters, back-up cameras, dash cams, tinted windows, LED lights, and audio, video, navigation, alarm and device integration systems. At Mega-Watt, they work on a wide range of vehicles, including sports cars, family cars, hot rods, commercial vehicles, boats, motorcycles and even golf carts.
Paré and his general manager, Don Woody, are both enthusiastic about the products they sell, as well as the customers they serve.
“With a happy customer life is just better. I try to give them exactly what they want,” Woody said.
Paré added, “Things are quickly evolving. The name of our game is seamless integration and operator convenience.”
A life-long resident of Marlborough, Paré graduated from Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School. After graduation, while working as a certified welder for 10 years, his hobby of installing electronics in cars grew.
“My cars were out of control with stereo systems and motorized panels,” Paré said. “I had 600 hours into my show cars.”
Requests for installations from friends, and then friends of friends led Paré to open his shop in 1993. Originally self-taught, Paré earned a license from the Mobile Electronic Certification Program (MECP).
“Back in the day, I was the first certified security specialist in the area,” he said. “Working on cars today is like solving a Rubik’s Cube. What was once done with switches and relays is now done with highly sensitive sensors and microprocessors that send info across a high speed Can Buss. Now we need to know programming along with installation.”
Remote starters are the most popular product sold by Mega-Watt. The basic model by COMPUSTAR costs $299, installed. Paré is able to install remote starters in cars with and without push-to-start systems.
Both Paré and Woody are big fans of the DroneMobile, a Smartphone remote starter, security, and tracking system. The basic model enables you to remotely lock and unlock your car with your Smartphone, from anywhere.
A more advanced model sends alerts to your Smartphone when your vehicle has moved an inch, has travelled outside a prescribed “geofence,” or has exceeded a specified speed.
“This model is great for parents of young drivers,” Paré said. “Or if you dropped your car off to be worked on, you can tell if it’s inside or outside the shop.”
Kenwood sound system installations done by Paré are customized. His first question is always, “What kind of music do you listen to?”
Working on a 1955 Ford Fairlane, Paré installed a state-of-the art radio that looks retro but mirrors a Smartphone. He created a custom mount, without drilling holes.
“With older cars, you can’t just cut stuff up – that will devalue the car,” said Paré.
For a 1991 Corvette, he added tinted windows, keyless entry, and a complete booming sound system that connects by Bluetooth to a Smartphone.
Mega-Watt works on more than cars.
“I installed a sound system and cabin LED lights on a 55-foot yacht in Falmouth, a 300-watt sound system on a Honda Goldwing motorcycle, and even tricked out a golf cart with sound, LEDs and Bluetooth connectivity,” Paré noted.
“Doing something that I enjoy doesn’t feel like work,” said Paré. “Most of my customers get in their cars to get away from life. It’s great making them happy.”
Mega-Watt is located at 87 Granger Blvd. (Route 20) in Marlborough. It is open Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Fridays, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. For more information call 508-229-2233 or visit megawatt-car-audio.boston-biz.com/.
