New Car Smell

Have a look at all the new cars we just rolled into the GM showroom today!


http://picasaweb.google.com/drew.mceleney/HappyHolidays_MAC_12_21_09?authkey=Gv1sRgCJmks7LTvdupugE#5417817492960712050

Toyota Plans a Plug-In Hybrid Prius by 2011

It's more great news from our innovative partner - Toyota. They have for years been the leader in hybrid technology including battery technology. Toyota is taking that know how and using it to build a plug in version of the wildly popular Prius by 2011.



You can read more here.

You can see over 55 new Toyotas or over 60 new GM or great pre-owned vehicles over at McEleney Autocenter.

Also find us on facebook at www.facebook.com/mceleneyautocenter

Genesis Teardown Video

I just saw this time-lapse video of a Hyundai Genesis being disassembled. I can't seem to stop watching it!


http://www.mceleney.com
http://www.facebook.com/mceleneyautocenter
http://www.chevrolet.com
http://www.toyota.com

10 Tips to Winterize Your Car

Remember that McEleney Autocenter has a service department with factory-trained technicians ready to help you get your car or truck ready for winter! Come see us today!



These tips come courtesy of msnbc.com.

Remember you can stop by our service department with your car or truck (any make and model) for help with your winterization.

10 simple ways to get your car ready for winter

If the weather outside is frightful, is your auto ready?

	Tip No. 5: Check your tire pressure. Your tires must be properly inflated to ensure you’ll have the best possible traction as you drive along – and traction is often severely jeopardized in wet, snowy or icy conditions.

Slow down and don't make any sudden moves on ice and snow. Never trust your brakes, slow down way before you have to stop. Leave a little more room between yourself and the vehicle in front of you.

By Laura T. Coffey

msnbc.com contributor

updated 6:27 p.m. CT, Mon., Jan. 15, 2007

Laura T. Coffey • Profile • E-mail

OK, so if you live in Florida or Southern California, you may not need to read this column.

But if you live in a cold-weather state, or perhaps if you are planning to visit loved ones in a colder clime over the winter holidays, the following tips literally could be life-saving!

---

And even if you’ve been living in Alaska for many years now, these tips can serve as handy reminders of simple steps you can take to stay safe and keep your vehicle in good working order this winter.

1. Get the right kind of oil change. Are you approaching the time for a 30,000-mile full service for your vehicle? If so, don’t procrastinate! Among other things, the service should include an oil change, and the oil used should have the right viscosity, or thickness, for your vehicle at this time of year. Oil tends to thicken as it gets colder, and if it’s too thick it won’t do the best job of keeping your engine lubricated. Check your owner’s manual for guidance about which oil to use in different climates and temperatures.

2. Make sure you can see. When’s the last time you replaced your windshield wiper blades? They usually work effectively for about one year, so be sure to invest in some new ones if you’re due. Here’s another important step to take before you find yourself struggling to see in a blinding storm: Fill up your windshield washer reservoir with windshield washer fluid. (Plain water won’t do the trick at this time of year because it freezes.) Also check to see that your heater and defroster are working properly so you can keep the windshield nice and clear.

3. Give your battery a little TLC. This is an ideal time of year to make sure your battery’s posts and connections are corrosion-free and that your battery has all the water it needs. If your battery is more than three years old, have a certified repair shop test its ability to hold a charge. Granted, you might be able to find a Good Samaritan to help you jump-start your vehicle in the middle of a blizzard — but wouldn’t you rather avoid such a scenario altogether?

4. Examine your belts and hoses. When you have that full service done on your vehicle, make sure the belts and hoses get checked for wear and tear — even if you’re driving a modern car. Cold weather can do a number on belts and hoses, so they deserve attention.

5. Check your tire pressure. Your tires must be properly inflated to ensure you’ll have the best possible traction as you drive along — and traction is often severely jeopardized in wet, snowy or icy conditions. The air pressure in your tires has likely dropped as the weather has gotten colder, so it’s important to see where things stand now. (You can generally expect that you’ll lose 1 pound per square inch whenever the temperature drops by 10 degrees Fahrenheit.) Again, your trusty owner’s manual will tell you what your target tire pressure should be.

6. Think about switching to snow tires. Do you live in a hilly place that gets its fair share of snow? Then you might want to improve traction even more by investing in winter tires and using them over the next few months instead of your usual all-season tires. When shopping around for snow tires, ask about all the fees that might come into play, such as fees for mounting and balancing. You can accomplish this easily and make accurate cost comparisons by asking each store for the “out the door charge.”

7. Do you have four-wheel drive? If so, it’s important to check the status of your four-wheel-drive system and be sure it’s working correctly — especially because most drivers don’t use their 4WD systems in the pleasant summer months. Be sure that the system engages and disengages easily, and that all drivers in your household know how and when to activate the system.

8. Get the antifreeze mixture just right. Aim for having a 50-50 mix of antifreeze (coolant) and water inside your radiator. This will prevent the mixture from freezing even at ridiculously cold temperatures. It’s easy to check the status of the mixture with an inexpensive antifreeze tester, which you can pick up at any auto parts store. If the mixture is off, your cooling system should be drained and refilled or flushed. Be sure you’re equipped to dispose of your old antifreeze properly if you do this job yourself. It can’t just be poured down the drain.

9. Prepare an emergency kit. Store this stuff in your trunk during the winter months, especially if a road trip is in your future:

• a blanket
• extra boots and gloves
• an extra set of warm clothes
• extra water and food, including hard candies
• an ice scraper
• a small shovel
• a flashlight
• windshield washer fluid
• windshield wipers
• flares
• jumper cables
• a tool kit
• tire chains
• a tire gauge
• a spare tire with air in it
• tire-changing equipment
• a first-aid kit
• paper towels
• a bag of abrasive material such as sand, salt or non-clumping kitty litter, which can provide additional traction if a tire gets stuck in snow.
• Also, keep the gas tank as full as you can to prevent the gas lines from freezing.

10. Know what to do if you get stranded. Don’t wander away from your car unless you’re completely sure about where you are and how far away help is. Light two flares and situate them at each end of your vehicle to call attention to your plight. Put on the extra clothes and use the blanket to stay warm. If you have enough gas in the tank, run the engine and heater for about 10 minutes for each hour you’re waiting for help. Leave at least one window open a little bit so that snow and ice don’t seal the car shut. Suck on a hard candy to prevent your mouth from getting too dry.

Sources:

• Edmunds.com
• eHow.com
• National Safety Council

© 2009 msnbc.com. Reprints

McEleney Autocenter

Cash for Clunkers WInds Down

A look back at a month supply of clunkers.

Five clunkers met their match, were disabled and towed away. Therefore they do not appear in these photos.

More From the Clunker Front

Uncle Sam's rebates
Consumers are snapping up new vehicles with cash for clunkers. Here's a statistical roundup of statistics released by the government on Wednesday, Aug. 5.

-- Transactions submitted as of Aug. 5: 184,304; value: $775.2 million

-- Top 10 new vehicles purchased
1. Toyota Corolla
2. Ford Focus
3. Honda Civic
4. Toyota Prius
5. Toyota Camry
6. Hyundai Elantra
7. Ford Escape
8. Dodge Caliber
9. Honda Fit
10. Chevrolet Cobalt

-- Top 5 manufacturers of new purchases
1. General Motors: 18.7%
2. Toyota: 17.9%
3. Ford: 16.0%
4. Honda: 11.6%
5. Chrysler: 10.6%

-- Top 10 trade-ins
1. Ford Explorer (4wd)
2. Ford F-150 pickup (2wd)
3. Jeep Grand Cherokee (4wd)
4. Jeep Cherokee (4wd)
5. Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan (2wd)
6. Ford Explorer (2wd)
7. Chevrolet Blazer (4wd)
8. Ford F-150 pickup (4wd)
9. Chevrolet C1500 pickup (2wd)
10. Ford Windstar (fwd)

-- The government says the program has exceeded expectations in removing gas-guzzling vehicles from the road.
Average mileage mpg of purchases: 25.3
Average mileage mpg of trade-ins: 15.8

-- Top 5 states by vouchers requested:
1. Michigan: $44.4 million
2. California: $39.9 million
3. Ohio: $37.7 million
4. Texas: $35.0 million
5. Illinois: $33.7 million

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation

20 Cash for Clunkers Down ... Many More to Go

Not only is the governments CARS program (aka Cash-for-Clunkers) up and running, it now has the official rules written and posted. The rule is a short 136 page document that we have read and re-read at our dealerships.

In any case we have now had 20 customers take advantage of the program and we expect many more to do so over the next several weeks. We have completed the registration process with the NHTSA who is administering the program and are all ready to go.

If you have questions about the program head over to CARS.gov or FuelEconomy.gov. If you'd like to check out our new inventory in Clinton, IA head over here. If you'd like to check out our new inventory in Iowa City, IA, head over here.

Also - both dealership web sites are due for a facelift in the next two weeks so stay tuned!

Waiting is the hardest part

Tom Petty (and the Heartbreakers) may have said it best in their song "Waiting is the hardest part." I'm not sure if they were talking about the government's new Car Allowance Rebate System though...



Tomorrow the rules for the CARS program - aka cash-for-clunkers or cash-for-guzzlers - are to be finalized. McEleney Autoplex has 10 cars eligible for the program that will be delivered tomorrow. Our sister store, McEleney Autocenter, has 7 at last count.

To be honest the response to this new government program has been stronger than we first thought. We are looking forward to selling several more cars that qualify before that $1 Billion pool of cash runs out.

Here is an example of what one of our customers managed via the program...

Sale Price of Hyundai Accent : $13,500
Rebates (good to July 31): $1,500
Clunker Allowance: $4,500
New Price Only: $7,500

We are talking $7,500 for a brand new car with air and a radio AND a 5 year / 60,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty plus a 10 year / 100,000 mile powertrain warranty.

If you think you may be in a similar position please call us to see if your car qualifies!

McEleney Autoplex in Iowa City, IA
or
McEleney Autocenter in Clinton, IA

Pre-Production Chevy Volt - An Introduction

I just found a GM video of the pre-production Chevy Volt over at their FastLane Blog.

The car looks very cool. I noticed the steering wheel looks an awful lot like the wheel in the 2010 Camaro and 2010 Equinox. Well done Chevy!

0% for 72 Monts Just Announced!

Now available at both McEleney Autoplex in Iowa City and McEleney Autocenter in Clinton - 0% Financing for up to 72 Months on all 1/2 ton Silverado and Impala! There's also 0% for up to 60 months on several other Chevys.

Sale ends MONDAY so stop in soon.

McEleney Autoplex is hosting a blood drive for the Mississippi Valley Blood Center on Monday, July 6 from 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM.

Space is limited so contact Patrick Eads today at patrick.eads@mceleneyautoplex.com today. Just one blood donation can save up to THREE lives! Do your part and sign up today - the cookies and juice are on us!

Attack of the Camaros!

One, two, three, four, five, SIX 2010 Camaros have arrived between our two locations - McEleney Autocenter and McEleney Autoplex.

Our latest beauty is a 2SS Camaro with the RS package. Its silver and the black racing stripes are being put on as I type. If you are keeping track, Iowa City has sold 2 rally yellow Camaro both with racing stripes in addition to the 2SS that got dropped off today.

The 2SS sports the 6.2L V8 engine that produces 420 HP with the 6 speed automatic and 426 HP with the available 6 speed manual. 420 horses and 25 MPG highway should put a smile on your face! Top it off with Pirelli tires and Brembo brakes and you have one bad machine. It's certainly going to be the star (again) of the new Transformers movie when it comes out.

I am too young to have remembered the glory days of the Camaro in the late 1960s and I must say I was not a huge fan of the last round of Camaro but this, well, speaks to me. In my opinion this is the coolest vehicle we have sold at our dealerships since I was born in 1980.

Please stop by either of our dealerships to get a first hand look yourself ASAP before they get delivered!

John McEleney - US Senate testimony videos

See below for some video of our dealer - John McEleney - as he testified before the US Senate Commerce Committee last week.

McEleney discussed terminated Chrysler dealers and GM dealers who were to be 'wound down' by October of 2010. While both of the McEleney Auto Group's dealerships (McEleney Autocenter in Clinton, IA and McEleney Autoplex in Iowa City, IA) will be part of the 'new GM' he spoke as NADA Chairman representing the interests of the organizations 19,000+ dealer members.

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/cnbccom-cnbccom-john-mceleneys-statement/3381724

Watch the full video (3+ hours) below.

Congratulations to Dino and Kim Bruce - Owners of our first 2010 Camaro!

In true Bumblebee fashion Dino and Kim Bruce of Wellman recently purchased our first 2010 Camaro.

The couple bought a 2LT with the V6 motor and sunroof and chose the black racing strips for the hood and trunk lid.

Our dealer / owner, John McEleney, on CNBC this morning

Please have a quick look at the 6 minute clip below. It's our dealer, John McEleney, making the case for the American Car Dealer in his role as National Auto Dealer Association Chairman.

Quick Hits

Best New Cars for the Potentially Unemployed
If you're going through tough times but still need to buy a new car, there are programs on the market from three automakers that could help mitigate the risk of such a purchase. Whether you choose the Hyundai Assurance Plus, Ford Advantage Plan, or GM Total Confidence, these programs were created to stimulate the economy and the bottom line for the manufacturers. The L.A. Times took a look at some of the top-rated cars that would best take advantage of these three programs. The result is a list of 10 vehicles that could serve you well as you drive to interviews. One of the best rated cars is the Hyundai Elantra. With a Consumer Reports score of 82, the Elantra provides a lot of bang for just a few bucks. Its base MSRP price ranges from $14,120 - $18,600. Another option is the Hyundai Accent, whose excellent ride, controls, and turning radius are a bargain at under $10,000.


Hyundai Plans American Plug-In for 2012
Hyundai will launch its first plug-in hybrid in the United States in late 2012. According to Automotive News, the vehicle will be based on the four-door Blue-Will sports car concept on display now at the Seoul auto show. Yang Woong-chul, president of Hyundai-Kia Motors' R&D division, said Hyundai's plug-in will target the upcoming Chevrolet Volt and Toyota Prius plug-ins. "We want to be the world leader in fuel economy and alternative fuels," he said. The Blue-Will sits on a 106-inch wheelbase. It is powered by a 1.6-liter gasoline direct-injection engine teamed with a 100-kilowatt electric motor. Hyundai has developed its own lithium ion battery. "Almost every part on this car has been developed in-house," Yang said. "That will make it possible to make this vehicle affordable." Yang said the Blue-Will can travel about 38 miles on electricity only. Hyundai claims a fuel economy rating of 106 mpg in plug-in mode and up to 55 mpg in hybrid-electric mode. The concept car features a panoramic glass roof with solar cells for recharging.


Toyota to Slash New Prius Price to Match Honda Insight
Toyota Motor Corp. is going for the jugular with its upgraded Prius, setting a 2.05 million yen starting price ($20,750) in Japan that is on par with the newly released Honda Insight. Toyota notified Japanese dealers of the cutthroat pricing policy for its redesigned 1.8-liter gasoline-electric hybrid on March 25. According to Automotive News, the move stokes a high-stakes price war between the Prius and the Honda Insight, which went on sale in the United States in March starting at $20,470, including delivery. The third-generation Prius goes on sale next month and had been expected to start around $24,000. Click here for a picture. Bringing the starting price down to Insight levels will steal Honda's thunder as purveyor of world's first affordable hybrid vehicle. Toyota's pricing strategy for the Prius in the United States is still unclear. But if Japan is any guide, it will be very aggressive. In Japan, a bottom-rung Prius at 2.05 million yen ($20,750) would cost the same as a middle-trim Insight. Toyota might use the price to lure buyers and switch them to higher grades.

* Stories from American International Auto Dealers recent report

AWD versus 4WD ... what's the difference?

This post will hopefully shed light on a question I get asked about once per week during the winter months as an auto sales consultant: "What's the difference between All Wheel Drive (AWD) and 4 Wheel Drive (4WD) anyway?"

I'm going to borrow from a post over at consumerguideauto.com here and agree there are really THREE options: Part time 4WD, Full time 4WD, and All Wheel Drive.

Part Time 4WD

This is the most basic 4WD system and is what you will think of when you think of older pickups, Jeeps, and SUVs. There's either a lever on the floor of the vehicle or a push button on the dash allowing drivers to select either "2WD" or "4WD High" or "4WD Low." Everyday driving on dry roads calls for 2WD while driving through snow, mud or rain would call for 4WD High. 4WD Low is reserved for extreme conditions where you first need to stop to engage the system.

Full Time 4WD

Most of the more recent pickups and truck-based SUVs have a version of the Full Time 4WD system. You options are the same as part time but many systems also have the ability to switch into an "Auto" mode that lets your transfer case decide when to lock you into 4WD or leave you in 2WD.


All Wheel Drive

You see All Wheel Drive cropping up all over the Crossover, Car, and even minivan segments. There is typically no selector to tell an AWD system to go to 2WD or to 4WD - the computer senses when you need it and adjusts accordingly. There are some vehicles like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Veracruz that will allow you to lock into AWD. This is a helpful feature if you are towing a boat or know you will need all 4 wheels for another task.




Tradeoffs

Generally a 4WD or AWD system is more expensive than a 2WD option. Since 4WD and AWD add weight to your vehicle it's also usually less fuel efficient but not drastically so. The advantage, of course, is that with 4WD or AWD you can get through the snow, rain, or muck better than with a 2WD system.

As for the new fleet of Crossover Vehicles (think Hyundai Tucson, Santa Fe, and Veracruz or Chevy Equinox or Traverse) 2WD means FRONT wheel drive which is far better than the rear wheel drive options in SUVs of yesteryear.

40 Miles. No Gas.

If you have been living under a rock for the past few years you may not have heard of The General's (a.k.a. GM) revolutionary new Electric Vehicle - the Chevy Volt. There are some undeniable facts about the Volt I'd like to share:
1. The first generation Volt will be able to travel up to 40 miles using no gas, just power from it's battery system.
2. This vehicle is more advanced than any other manufacturer's Plug-In Hybrid. GM may have been late to the game on Gas / Electric vehicles but they lead the pack in plug in technology.
3. The Volt is actually ahead of schedule to be in showrooms before the end of 2010.

But there were some additional announcements around the Volt I also found interesting.
1. The goal of future generations of the Volt is NOT to extend the 40 mile battery only range. Since over 70% of Americans can commute in that distance there is not as much to gain by extending that range. The goal of 2nd and 3rd generation Volts will be to make smaller, lighter, and less expensive batteries that perform as well as the originals.
2. Bose and GM jointly announced that the Bose sound system to be installed in the Volt will be 30 percent smaller, 40 percent lighter, and use 50 percent less energy than conventional Bose sound systems. This might not sound like much but it translates into removing about 50 lbs. of mass from the Volt.
3. The folks over at Goodyear have developed a new tire that is expected to increase the Volt's fuel economy even further.

Any way you slice it GM is betting big on the Volt. I'm proud our dealerships will be among the first to offer this new technology for sale.

Stay tuned for more product updates as they are announced.

Also - if you can't wait for the Volt - remember that GM offers 17 models that will get you over 30 MPG today.

Marketing 101

Today I had one of those "why didn't we think of this sooner" moments. Since we knew the weather would cooperate, the used car department decided to mix up the lot and wash all used cars in the process. Neither move was revolutionary, but a suggestion by our Used Vehicle Manager turned out to be a great idea.

Since we were moving cars anyway, we took the 15 used 'special units' and put them all together in the same row. The special units are generally comprised of cars, trucks, and vans that have been on the lot for a while and therefore receive extra discounts.

There are at least two main benefits:
1. The customer can see all the best deals all in one area of the lot
2. The salesperson knows right where these vehicles are to help the customer get an extra value

The third benefit, arguably, is tying the virtual sales world of our web site specials to the physical layout of our lot. This serves to reinforce that our specials represent great buys.

Let's hope our customers are as excited for the newly cleaned and aligned used car lot as I am!