Pictured from left to right: Mike Zorn, Eric Hall, Ken Thompson, Dave Nottoli (Regional Director Chevrolet South Central Region, Tom Durant (owner Classic Chevrolet), Eric Bryant, Tim Hughes (Zone Manager Chevrolet), Johnny Broderick
The saying that “records are made to be broken” has never been more true than in the case of Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine, Texas. For the 6th consecutive year, Classic has led the nation in Chevrolet sales, an accomplishment never before achieved by any other Chevrolet dealer. In a ceremony at the dealership on Tuesday, Classic Chevrolet was presented with their 6th #1 Volume trophy from General Motor executives. “Now it’s about breaking our own record and keeping up the pace,” said Tom Durant, owner of Classic Chevrolet.
Dave Notolli, Regional Director Chevrolet South Central Region was on hand to officially present the award and personally address the employees. “Despite the challenges of the highway construction [DFW Connector], you guys have managed to come out on top yet again. It’s like winning six Super Bowls in a row!” said Nottoli. “All of us at General Motors are incredibly proud of you and the thing we are most proud of is how you act as a team.”
In an industry where there is typically a great deal of employee turnover, the Classic staff has stayed remarkably stable, with many employees enjoying 13+ years of tenure. “We know that it takes teamwork to achieve this kind of success,” said Durant, “and we rely on each other for support and continually challenge each other to do our very best.” The proof is in the numbers. In six years, Classic Chevrolet has sold 28,426 new Chevrolets and also leads the region in certified preowned sales. Tom Durant acknowledged the fact that the continued construction of the DFW Connector project will pose the biggest challenge ever for his team. “This will be the toughest year we’ve ever had, but everyone in this room knows that we can make it seven in a row with all of us working together.”
When it comes to getting a Texas car, the first thing you need to decide is whether you want to buy new or pre-owned. If this is your first time getting a car on your own, there are a few things you should know. As with all things, there are advantages and disadvantages.
Let’s start with the positive. Obviously, you’re going to pay less money up front. This just so happens to be the biggest appeal to buying a pre-owned car for most. The reason your car is going to cost a significant amount less than a new car, is because someone else has already depreciated the car. While the car will continue to depreciate, it won’t depreciate as fast as a new car from year to year.
With a used car, you’ll also be saving a fair amount of money on taxes and insurance. Because property taxes are based on retail value, that lower vehicle amount will result in a lower tax.
On the flip slide, you don’t really know what kind of life the car has lived. Of course you can always check CarFax (which I strongly recommend), but you can never be too sure. Keep in mind that CarFax won’t tell you much about the interior of the vehicle.
Another thing about used cars… options. If you’re looking for a specific color, make, model and mileage, it can not only be hard to find, it can also restrict your options once you find one. Let’s say you find the exact car you are looking for, but you’re not so sure about the price. It may be hard to walk away and find another one with your exact requirements.
Lastly, a pre-owned car is well, pre-owned. The vehicle may already be halfway through it’s life which means there’s only that much left. It may also have some visible damage on the interior and exterior. Fact of the matter, a used car will not last as long as a brand-new car. It’ll also likely need more maintenance than a new car.
Regardless, there isn’t a right or wrong choice. It’s all up to you and what you’re willing to spend and what you’re hoping to get out it. If you’re still on the fence, you can always head down to Classic Chevrolet and take a look at both new Chevrolets and used Chevrolets. Any of our expert salesmen would be happy to help you decide.
Awhile back, I told you guys about the new fuel economy labelsthat the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently modified. Leave it to Chevrolet to take these new revised labels a step further.
On January 26, Chevrolet announced that its vehicles sold in the US will have Ecologic™ environmental labels on the windows, starting with the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, that will let customers see some of the environmental features of the vehicle relating to manufacturing, driving and recycling.
Chevy is the first of the automakers to introduce this new type of label that can be seen as early as March on the rear driver-side windows of Sonics followed by other Chevrolet models later this year.
In a press release, General Motors North America President, Mark Reus, said, “Customers want companies to be honest and transparent about their environmental efforts and sustainability goals, and rightly so. Putting an Ecologic label on each Chevrolet is just one more way for us to share our environmental progress.”
The new label communicates vehicle-specific features to customers in the following areas:
Before the road: Environmental aspects related to vehicle manufacturing and assembly.
On the road: Fuel-saving features such as advanced engine technologies, aerodynamics, lighter weight components or low-rolling resistance tires.
After the road: How 85% by weight of the vehicle can be recycled at the end of its lifespan.
Eileen Claussen, president of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), said “Chevrolet’s goal to invest millions in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other lower-carbon projects to reduce U.S. emissions by up to 8 million metric tons demonstrates innovative corporate leadership. With this new labeling program, Chevrolet not only gives easy access to information customers want, it again shows its commitment to the environment.”
I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t agree more with Eileen. As a lover of Chevrolets in Dallas Ft Worth, isn’t it nice to know how focused Chevy is on ways to save fuel and alternative energy sources? Not to mention how important the environment is to the company.
Over the past decade, road trips have become much less painful for backseat passengers due to all of the handheld technology (Gameboys, iPhones, DVD players, etc.) we now have, but according to GM, psychological studies have indicated that car passengers often feel disconnected from their environment.
In response to these studies, the GM Research and Development department challenged researchers and students from the FUTURE LAB at Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Israel to conceptualize new ways to help rear seat passengers, particularly children, have a richer experience on the road. Thus, the Windows of Opportunity (WOO) Project was born. And believe me, Texas Chevrolet owners, you’re going to be blown away with what they came up with… interactive car window displays.
In a GM press release, Tom Seder, GM R&D lab group manager for human-machine interface said, “Traditionally, the use of interactive displays in cars has been limited to the driver and front passenger, but we see an opportunity to provide a technology interface designed specifically for rear seat passengers. Advanced windows that are capable of responding to vehicle speed and location could augment real world views with interactive enhancements to provide entertainment and educational value.”
Before you get too excited, I must tell you that GM currently doesn’t have any plans to put this into production. The Bezalel students were given free reign to create applications for this interactive window without having to worry about whether it could be mass produced or not. So it’s uncertain whether this idea will ever come to light. Still, the design and idea is pretty incredible.
The apps the Bezalel students developed include:
Otto, an animated character projected over passing scenery that responds to real-time car performance, weather and landscape. With Otto, passengers can learn about their environment in fun, playful ways.
Foofu, an app that allows passengers to create, explore and discover through finger drawing on window steam.
Spindow, an app that provides its users a peek into other users’ windows around the globe in real time.
Pond, an app that allows passengers to stream and share music with other cars on the road, download favorite tracks, and share messages with other passengers on the road.
GM released this awesome video detailing the project and showing us how the students simulated a vehicle environment. Check it out, Dallas Ft Worth Chevy lovers.
The Corvette has been around for what seems like decades… six to be precise, and this year, GM has something special planned to mark the Corvette’s 60th anniversary – a special edition 2013 Corvette 427 Convertible. A lot of times, “special editions” usually just mean a different trim, paint job, wheels or little logo. But that’s hardly the case here.
The 427 Convertible borrows hardware from the Z06 and has the same rear axle as the Z06 along with magnetic ride control. Under the hood, the 427 sports a 427-cubic-inch LS7 V8 under its hood producing 505 horsepower and 470lb-ft of torque. You know what that means, don’t youDallas Ft Worth Chevrolet lovers? If you guessed that this is the most powerful Corvette Convertible ever produced, you are correct. The 427 Convertible blends elements of the Z06 and ZR1 models to create the fastest and most-capable convertible in Corvette’s history. Excited yet?
The 2013 model is more than just a “special edition” for Corvette’s 60th anniversary. It also marks the final year for the current ‘C6′ generation. In a press release last week, Vice President of Global Marketing and Strategy for Chevrolet, Chris Perry, said “We couldn’t think of a more fitting way to celebrate these milestones than bringing back one of the most-coveted combinations in the brand’s history – the Corvette convertible and a 427 cubic-inch engine.”
Like the Z06, the 427 Convertible is only available in a six-speed manual transmission (as it should be in my opinion) and also features several carbon-fiber components that help reduce weight, including a carbon fiber raised hood, carbon fiber Z06-style fenders and carbon fiber floor panels.
Now lets talk power-to-weight ratios. This is a calculation that measures actual performance of an engine. It’s also used as a way to compare overall performance between vehicles. The ratio is the engine’s power out divided by the weight of the vehicle. Here’s a few ratios from some of the well-known speedsters out there:
Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet – 6.90
Audi R8 5.2 RSI Spyder – 7.58
Aston Martin DBS Volante Convertible – 7.82
Ferrari California Convertible – 8.31
With the weight reduction, the 427 Convertible’s curb weight comes to 3,355 pounds (1,522 kg). Combined with its 505-horsepower LS7 engine, it gives the 427 Convertible a power-to-weight ratio of 6.64. In case you didn’t notice, that’s better than all the mentioned above.
According to Chevrolet, the combination of low mass and high output will make the 427 Convertible one of the fastest convertibles in the world, delivering estimated 0-60 performance of 3.8 seconds, quarter-mile performance of 11.8 seconds, lateral acceleration of 1.04 g and a top speed of more than 190 mph.
The 427 Convertible will makes it’s first public appearance on Jan. 21 at the Barrett Jackson collector car auction in Arizona, and is scheduled to arrive at Chevrolet dealerships early this summer. I’ll be sure to post more updates as they come, DFW Chevy fanatics.
One of the most common things used Chevrolet car owners have to deal with is an issue with the battery. The average life span of a battery is between three and six years. However, a battery’s life is unique to the owner and their driving habits and also the quality of the battery.
When you find yourself with a dead battery, odds are you’ve either left your headlights on by accident or you’ve had the key on the ACC setting listening to the radio for too long. In this case, all it will take is a simple jump start and then some recharging.
However, there is another reason you’re battery may be malfunctioning. When you go to look under the hood, the first thing you need to check are your battery terminals. If you see grimy deposits (usually white) on the battery terminals, they are corroded. Corrosion can also be the reason your battery has been performing poorly (slow rolling windows, dim interior lights, etc.)
So how do terminals become corroded anyway? The main cause is an overflow of sulfuric acid from the battery, but moisture build-ups can also cause it. Not to worry, cleaning terminals is actually very simple, and I’m speaking from personal experience. Once you’ve finished, you’re battery will most likely restore to its proper performance level.
What you’ll need:
a flat-head screw driver
a can of Coca-Cola (you can also use baking soda and water)
water
a metal bristle brush ( a toothbrush will also suffice) and Vaseline
What to do:
Make sure the car is off and pop the hood. Remove the negative battery cable by loosening it with a flat-head screwdriver and then lifting it off the terminal. Set it aside, and remove the positive battery cable the same way. Make sure you set the positive and negative cables away from each other. It’s very important that they don’t have contact.
Pour the Coca Cola or baking soda and water on the battery terminals and the battery cable ends. Scrub with the toothbrush or metal bristle brush until all of the corrosion is gone.
Use the water to wash off the Coca Cola or baking soda and water.
After the terminals and battery have dried, apply a thin coat of Vaseline to the terminals and slide the terminals back on and tighten (first the positive, then the negative cable)
Corroded Terminals
Cleaned Terminals
When you finish, test out your handy work. You should be able to get the car started. You might have to try and jump your Chevrolet again. If you're still unable to get the engine to turnover, you may want to give Classic Chevrolet's service department a call.
Before you start thinking to yourself how carpooling is not the “cool” thing to do, let me ask you one question, Dallas Ft Worth Chevrolet owners: Do you know how much gas the US could save per day if the average commuter carried one more person? 33 million gallons!
According to RideShare.com, our average passenger car consumes 550 gallons of gas a year and an SUV consumes 915. Using Texas’ average gas price of 3.08, that comes to $1,694 for cars and $2,818 for SUVs. That’s only if gas prices were to say at three dollars for the entire year… and let’s be honest, we know they’ll rise again. Just think of how much you’d save by carpooling! Not to mention, carpooling helps decongest the roads, reduce pollution and can even relieve stress for those not driving. Let’s not forget about the benefits of designated carpooling lanes (HOVs). I know I wish I had a carpool every morning on my drive to work as I sit in traffic and see the carpoolers flying by in the HOV.
CarpoolConnect points out some other beneficial reasons to carpool including:
Higher occupancy rates also can reduce consumption of oil thereby reducing corresponding political and economic risks, emissions of greenhouse gasses, common pollution.
Carpools save considerable expenses from gasoline, oil, tires, car depreciation, tolls, parking, and in some cases insurance.
Carpools may provide social connections in an increasingly disconnected society. New online carpooling services are offering new ways to make social connections through discussion sites and custom ride-sharing services.
Still think carpooling isn’t the “cool” thing to do? If you’ve recently purchased a new or pre-owned Chevrolet,wouldn’t you love to show it off and save money at the same time? I know I would!
When it comes to picking out a new car, color ranks high on the list for a lot of people. I’ve driven three cars in my life, and they have all been black by choice. I never really thought there was more to it beside the fact that I just love the color, but believe it or not, the color of your car actually says a lot about you. Have you ever wondered why you were dead set on your next Chevroletbeing blue? Or perhaps you’ve only bought cars in one color your whole life like I have.
After doing a little research, I found that a lot of psychologists said the same thing about what the different colors mean. Here’s what I found.
Black Equals Empowerment
According to research, black cars are preferred by empowered people who are drawn to elegance and can’t be easily manipulated. It also indicates a mysterious and two-sided personality. Drivers of black cars tend to be more aggressive on the road (guess that explains my road rage). Some researchers even claim that black cars have the highest accident rates.
2012 Chevrolet Camaro
Dark Blue Equals Loyalty
Owners of dark blue cars are typically considered loyal, calm and practical. They are seen as dependable people with credibility. Research also shows that owners of dark blue cars drive more carefully and are much more cautious than owners of black cars.
2012 Chevrolet Tahoe
Red Equals Energetic
This should be a no-brainer for car enthusiasts out there. Red has always been the go to color for sports cars and that’s probably because owners of red cars are energetic, drive fast and are considered showy people who want to get people’s attention. Drivers of these cars are also seen as outgoing, aggressive, sexy and dynamic and typically take more risks on the road.
2012 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
White Equals Innocence
Drivers of white cars tend to be fastidious, refined and safe. White symbolizes innocence and purity, and also says a lot about the drivers’ need for perfection. Let’s face it, dirt has no where to hide on a white, and a clean white car shows that you pay attention to minute details and care a lot about upkeep.
2012 Chevrolet Cruze
Silver Equals Elegance
These drivers are generally calm, cool, elegant and love futuristic looks. It’s said that silver cars represent prestige, wealth and luxury and speak of a sophisticated driver who likes to show off the vehicle’s design.
2012 Chevrolet Impala
Grey Equals Pragmatic
Owners of silver or gray cars have calm and cool personalities. Some research says that they are practical and often corporate and they tend to be pragmatic and intelligent, but most likely boring. On the upside, they are very less likely to engage in car accidents.
Though I hate to admit it, I am completely obsessed with the navigation system in my Chevrolet. It’s hard to believe that there was a time when I drove a car without one. This was also the before the iPhone era, so I had to solely rely on folding maps. I’m not saying that I’ve completely forgotten how to use a map or that they are completely useless, but navigation systems and smart phone applications are by far superior in my opinion.
If you’re currently relying on your iPhone’s standard GPS application (the maps icon) or you’re still using folding maps, it might be time to jump on board with the latest advancements technology offers us. I know that going out and buying a new Chevrolet Cruze equipped with a navigation system may not be the most economical choice for some of you, but as I mentioned before, there is a wide array of apps available to smart phones users. The question is, how do you choose the right/best one?
I read a really great article from consumer reports this morning describing the two ways to turn your phone into a navigation device: server-based navigation or an all-inclusive app. The server-based navigation is where the map data for your route is sent to your phone as needed. The all-inclusive apps store entire maps on your device. As with all things, there are advantages and disadvantages to both and the best option will vary depending on your personal preferences, needs and budget. Let’s take a look at how Consumer Reports breaks down the two choices.
Server-Based Navigation
Some cell-phone service providers, including AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon, provide GPS navigation and traffic information that customers can access for a daily or monthly subscription fee. With this option, mapping data is not stored on the phone, and is instead accessed wirelessly over the cellular network as needed. Cost is typically either $10 a month or $3 a day. Another server-based solution, Google Maps, provides similar functionality for free, but only for users of Android devices. Compatibility limitations restrict iPhones to Google’s static maps only, without turn-by turn directions.
With the Google and iPhone exception, server-based navigation provides menus and features similar to those of navigation apps or portable systems, including spoken and onscreen turn-by-turn directions, traffic info, and a point-of-interest menu of destinations like restaurants, gas stations, and stores. Advantages of server-based navigation include automatically updated databases for map info, freeing up more phone memory without the need for storing map data on board. But the server-based option does consume bandwidth, something to consider depending on your data plan.
GPS-Capable Smart Phones and Apps
Smart phones have GPS receivers and mapping software, allowing users to download an app that gives them all the functions and features of a dedicated GPS unit.
Navigation apps are available from a variety of smart phone platforms through their online app stores, including Blackberry, Android, and iPhone. Prices vary from free or close to nothing to around $60 dollars. During the holiday season, apps can be found for a discount, making this a great time buy.
Bear in mind that with navigation apps, you tend to get what you pay for. Our testing has found the best apps come from known GPS device makers like Garmin, Magellan, Navigon, and TomTom, all of which provide reliable directions and easy-to-use menus that mimic the look and features of their portable GPS units.
So there are your options, Dallas Ft Worth Chevy owners. Which one seems right for you? Don’t forget, if you are in the market for a new vehicle and are thinking about a built-in navigation system, head down to Classic Chevrolet and check out the systems in the new2012 Chevrolet models.
I love almost everything about the holidays – the gift giving, the baking, the family reunion, etc. What do I hate about the holidays? The crowded Dallas Ft Worth highways and roads. Everyday on my drive home from work, I sit in traffic. I’ve tried to time it out to see if leaving earlier or later helps, but the red lights are always inevitable. Traffic is irritating enough to Chevrolet owners in DFW, but when you throw in the terrible drivers and holiday clutter, it’s just plain miserable.
I’ve narrowed it down my top three types of drivers who drive me the most crazy and also slow traffic down. The next time you find yourself stuck in traffic, remember the following and don’t be that guy.
The Traffic Weaver - This is the category I see the most. People weaving in and out of the various lanes trying to get ahead. Sure they gain one or two car lengths in the process, but they’ve now also cut off six people and given another four anxiety that that car is eventually going to cause a wreck. I love when the guy behind me thinks he could get ahead of me and gets stuck behind a car going twice as slow. Though it’s not very “high-roadish”, I tend to make sure that I don’t leave that guy any room at all to cut in, forcing him to lose two more car lengths. If I’m in the fast lane, I’m there because I want to go fast, and if I could, I would be going faster. But obviously you thought otherwise and decided to try and squeeze ahead of me. As far as I’m concerned, that guy can pass go and not collect $200.
The Pointless Passer – In addition to the previous little rant about the guy who weaves through traffic, is the guy who pointlessly passes. If you are going to take the time to pass me, then you better not cause me to slow down.. Especially if you are in the fast lane. That’s all I have to say about that one. you If you’re going to pass me then you better not start driving slower than I am. What’s the point of that?
The Rubbernecker – If you’ve ever listened to a traffic report on the radio, I’m sure you’ve heard something along the lines of, “Stalled vehicle has 75 N backed up, as well as on-lookers backing up 75 South. These “on-lookers” are what I like to call Rubberneckers. I know that we all do this, some subconsciously, and I’m not saying it’s a terrible idea to slow down a little bit. But anything over five miles per hour is going to seriously cause traffic. There’s almost nothing I can’t stand more than sitting in traffic for fifteen minutes only to find out the traffic was due to rubbernecking.
The next time you are sitting in traffic, remember to not be that guy. After all, it’s the holiday, folks. So let’s also try and keep the road rage to a minimum. Happy driving, Dallas Ft Worth Chevrolet owners!
Hi, I'm Hagen Durant, General Manager of Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine, TX - I am a huge car and truck enthusiast and love talking cars. I'm a cyclist, health nut, father, geek, and drummer. I look forward to giving you great information about cars and trucks, driving tips, maintenance and so much more.
If you have any questions or would like to make suggestions feel free to email them to me at hagen@classicchevytexas.com
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