Tip Top Towing

We’ve heard the buzz about the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado for some time now.  The roominess of the cabin makes the family trips more of a delight. What will you do in your new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado?  If you said tow your family boat or camper, then today’s post is for you. 

This should go without saying, but the best way to get your family safely to the vacation getaway while towing, is to adjust your driving.  No need to put unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle by speeding.  Take turns slower than you normally would and last but not least, merge with the consideration of the additional length your tow adds.  Safety is just as important as the way you attach the cargo to your vehicle.

Size matters in operating a vehicle for a specific task.  Make sure you have the proper size truck for the weight of the tow.  If you are looking for a truck to tow something already in your possession, be sure to bring along the specifications to the dealership while you are shopping.  Your consultant will be able to better assist you with your needs.  If you have a truck and you’re looking for a boat or camper, make sure to research what your vehicle is capable of handling before a major purchase. 

The hitch on your truck is just as important as knowing the tow capacity.  A class III hitch can handle up to 5,000 pounds in towing capacity and a class IV hitch can handle up to 7,500 pounds.  The hitch will have a receiver bar that you connect the drawbar to.  Then a pin slides through both pieces and then holds them in place with a clip.  If your vehicle is too tall, you have the option of purchasing a drawbar that drops so your tow is level.

If you need further assistance we are always here to help: http://bit.ly/18DYR4O

Safe Travels

Travel Tips

There are a few weeks left for a family road trip before the kids go back to school.  Here are some recommendations for your family to make it to the vacation destination safely. 

First things first, make sure you have up to date maintenance performed on your vehicle.  Vacations are no fun with a broken down car.  Even if you are up to date, you might want to swing in to the service station and double check your belts, fluids and especially breaks.  This is for everybody’s safety and there is no such thing as being too safe. 

Plan your route wisely and also plan an alternate route in the event that there is major construction or road hazards that plague the way.  In the event of bad weather, be aware of the major flood zones that could disrupt your direct route.  Sometimes the shortest route could be laced with obstacles that you didn’t plan for and present an issue in travels. 

Kids tend to get antsy having to sit still for hours on end and preparation for their impending boredom is fundamental to an enjoyable ride.  Bring plenty of road games to tickle their brains; this will help everybody’s minds stay active and alert.  I Spy is always a great game to play or What am I Thinking.  It’s a trip, so the ride should be as much fun as being there.

If you would like to schedule your service inspection, click here for more details: http://bit.ly/18DYR4O

Wishing you safe travels!  

It's a Love Story

Here is a wonderful story about a man’s love for his Chevy.  It’s a love story where a man finds the perfect Chevy, man loses his Chevy and man gets his Chevy back again.  What are some of your favorite memories in a Chevy?

http://bit.ly/17dUWL7

 

Yes!

Throwback Thursday Video

Throwback Thursday video is coming your way with a beautiful message.  A car is more than transportation, it's a lifestyle.  Tell us about your favorite Chevrolet of today or yesterday.

Hi Hybrid

If you ever wanted to be a hybrid owner, we are making it easier for you to become one.  Take a look at this month's event page:http://on.fb.me/1bpnaFA

Kudos

Congratulations Tom Bell team for another raving fan!

"From the moment I walked in there. The staff was extremly professional and kind. They asked me about my needs first then talked business. They were very accomodating to my specific needs and never tried to badger me into a "deal"..." - Heather B.

If you would like to read this review and others, click here: http://bit.ly/1abqnHl

Most Fuel-efficient Sports Car

DETROIT- When it arrives in dealerships this fall, the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is expected to be the most fuel-efficient sports car on the market.

General Motors Co. today said the highly-anticipated sports car will deliver an EPA-estimated 17 miles per gallon city and 29 mpg highway equipped with an all-new, seven-speed manual transmission. A driver-selectable “Eco” mode will be capable to deliver 30 mpg highway, officials said.
“The Corvette Stingray establishes the benchmark for modern performance cars by using technologies to deliver more performance and more miles per gallon,” said Tadge Juechter, Corvette executive chief engineer. “We expect more and more performance cars will follow Corvette’s example.”

The highway is an 11 percent increase in fuel economy over the previous Corvette, while the all-new 6.2-liter LT1 V8 delivers 455-horsepower, a 6 percent increase over the previous Corvette. Chevrolet estimates the Corvette will run from 0 to 60 mph in less than four seconds.

The estimates are an average fuel economy in both the default “Tour” mode, which delivers 28 mpg highway and the “Eco” mode. Stingrays equipped with the seven-speed manual transmission, Eco mode enables "Active Fuel Management," or cylinder deactivation, which disables four of the cylinders for improved fuel economy when the power isn't needed.

For Corvette Stingrays equipped with the six-speed automatic, cylinder deactivation is active in all drive modes until the driver engages the manual-shift mode using the steering-wheel paddles.
GM said fuel economy estimates for Corvette Stingrays equipped with the six-speed automatic transmission will be finalized soon.

The 2014 Corvette Stingray coupe goes on sale this fall, with a convertible following by the end of the year.

- Courtesy of Mlive

Talk to Your Teen about Safe Driving

Watching a teenager get behind the wheel of a car for the first time can be a scary experience as a parent; you don't want to think about what might happen . . . but you have to. In fact, you have to do a lot more than that. You have to talk to your teens about safe driving habits.

Car crashes are the number one killer of teens. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 3,000 teenagers are killed in car crashes every year - that's about 8 young lives lost in motor vehicle accidents each day. And summer months bring the greatest risk. In 2010, the American Automobile Association (AAA) analyzed crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and found that 7 of the top 10 deadliest days for teen drivers occur between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA, the risk factors that contribute to teen-related crashes include inexperience and immaturity, speeding, and distracted driving triggers like texting, loud music, and other teenage passengers.

While only time will take care of a teen driver's inexperience and immaturity, there's plenty of opportunity to educate teen drivers about avoiding risky behaviors. To increase the likelihood that the message will sink in, here are some tips on how to approach this important topic with your teen:

• Start early. Speaking to your teen before they get their license is the best time to start, even better is talking about safety before they're behind the wheel at all. If you can, start talking about driving safety when your child is old enough to sit in the front seat with you and learn from your safe driving habits.
• Narrate your drive. Use the times when you're driving with your teen as a passenger to impart safety lessons with a technique called "narrative driving." Point out other drivers' unsafe practices (not signaling a turn, for instance) or hazards in the road. Talking out loud about what you're seeing and doing shows your teen there's a lot more going on in the driver's seat than they may have realized.
• Set a good example. Research shows that two-thirds of teens believe their parents follow different rules behind the wheel than they do. And studies show that teens mirror parents' driving habits; in a survey of 1,700 teens, 90 percent reported observing their parents speed, talk on cell while driving. So don't just talk about safe driving, show them through example.

The bottom line: Teens whose parents talk with them about driving safety are less likely to crash. Effective parent-teen communication is critical to helping teens recognize and choose safe driving behaviors. A Parent/Teen Driving Contract can be both a conversation-starter about teen driving safety issues, as well as a customized agreement that lets you create and uphold family driving rules.

But no matter how you choose to discuss safe driving with your teen, this is one conversation that, no matter how difficult, can save lives.

- Courtesy of Liberty Mutual

Fun Friday

We know a lot of people have hit the road for this holiday weekend. Here is a little game you can play with the family during a long car ride that will keep everybody alert and having fun. We have posted the legend to the license plate game, simply cross off each plate you find on the open road.

Declare Independence

We want to wish you a wonderful Independence Day tomorrow.  Be safe and don't forget to find your designated driver if you plan on drinking.

‘Strong’ 2014 Chevy Silverado Anthem Debuts July 4

DETROIT – The all-new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado will be celebrated in a marketing campaign created to speak to the heart of the full-size pickup market. The campaign, featuring an original song by Grammy-nominated recording artist Will Hoge, begins exclusively in Texas, where one of every six pickup trucks in the U.S. is sold.

“There is no more appropriate place to launch the new Silverado campaign than in Texas, the heart of truck country, and no better way to launch it than through music,” said Tim Mahoney, Global Chevrolet chief marketing officer. “The song “Strong” celebrates Silverado owners who are as dependable and capable as their trucks.”

Originally developed as a song, “Strong” will debut July 4 as a music video, digital download and in a television ad.

The Silverado anthem was created with pickup truck drivers and their values in mind.  Most of the people who appear in the video are real Chevrolet owners, not professional actors. The lyrics to Hoge’s song speak to the strength of hardworking, honest and dependable men and women. Also, a tone of American pride is reflected in the launch date of July 4.

“Chevrolet has a long-standing relationship with music, and Chevys have been mentioned in more than 800 popular songs,” said Mahoney.  “The lyrics to ‘Strong’ were inspired by the Silverado and the people who drive them. We think this original song and our all-new Silverado harmonize perfectly.”

The Silverado marketing strategy begins with the song, but rolls out both in Texas and throughout the country during the second half of 2013. Interactive Silverado displays and ride-and-drives began in June across Texas. Nationally, Silverado marketing plans include customer activities at NASCAR races, music venues and sporting events, as well as a partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council.

The Silverado campaign fits within Chevrolet’s brand platform, Find New Roads. Future ads will focus on the features of the Silverado, including its class-leading V-8 fuel economy and towing capability.

The 2014 Silverado 1500 is an all-new version of Chevrolet's best-selling vehicle in the U.S. All-new from hood to hitch, Silverado is designed to be the best-engineered and more refined full-size pickup.  With its trio of new EcoTec3 engines, it offers the best fuel economy of any V-8 pickup with class-leading payload and towing capabilities.  Silverado crew cab models are arriving at dealerships nationwide.  Regular and double cab Silverados will go on sale later this summer, followed this fall the Silverado High Country premium model.

- Courtesy of  Media GM