All posts by Ozzie

Customer Loyalty Inspires 2017 Enclave Sport Touring Edition

(This article originally appeared on Buick.com)

2017 Buick Enclave Sport Touring Edition. © General Motors.
2017 Buick Enclave Sport Touring Edition. © General Motors.

Expressive new look for brand’s SUV cornerstone

DETROIT – Buick today announced the 2017 Enclave Sport Touring Edition – the latest addition to the brand’s design-focused Sport Touring Edition lineup and an expressive and athletic appearance for the popular Enclave mid-size luxury SUV. The Sport Touring is highlighted by a Satin Black Ice-toned grille and 20-inch chrome-clad wheels with Satin Black Ice accents.

The Sport Touring Edition brings the brand’s newest design theme to a vehicle with Buick’s most loyal customers. In 2015, 33.4 percent of Enclave sales came from returning customers. That’s the highest loyalty rate among all Buick models and one of the top model-to-model loyalty rates in the crossover SUV segment, topping key competitors such as Audi Q7 and Acura MDX, as well as vehicles like the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Toyota Highlander.

With timeless exterior design, Buick’s signature QuietTuning, and three rows of premium, first-class seating designed to comfortably hold adult passengers, Enclave has helped make Buick one of the industry’s most successful SUV brands. Since Enclave’s introduction in 2007, SUVs have jumped from 31 percent of Buick brand sales to 61 percent in 2015.  It has remained a strong and consistent seller through eight years of sales and since 2013 has been paired with Buick’s small SUV, the Encore, which has since become the brand’s best-seller. The Envision compact SUV also joins Buick’s SUV lineup in North America this summer.

“The industry doesn’t have many success stories better than the Buick Enclave,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global Buick. “It has created a new generation of Buick customers and delivered on their expectations again and again. The Sport Touring Edition is a great update for our flagship crossover SUV as the Buick family continues to grow this year.”

Read the entire article on Buick.com!

 

Buick Shapes Up for Summer With Tracy Anderson

(This article originally appeared on Buick.com)

Celebrity fitness expert Tracy Anderson collaborates Buick to share tips for getting summer ready. © General Motors.
Celebrity fitness expert Tracy Anderson collaborates Buick to share tips for getting summer ready. © General Motors.

Partners with fitness expert for exclusive health and wellness video series

DETROIT – Buick today announced a collaboration with fitness expert Tracy Anderson to celebrate the newBuick Cascada, a thoughtfully-designed luxury convertible, perfect for top-down weather. The two have produced an exclusive video guide with tips on achieving a summer state of mind behind the wheel of a Buick.

Creator of the wildly successful Tracy Anderson Method, Anderson trains some of the world’s biggest stars, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Lopez. Her wellness tips for Buick, inspired by the sleek and athletic look of the Cascada convertible, will cover five key areas of summer – Skin, Songs, Sweat, Style and Snacks.

“The road to getting fit and healthy for summer starts by taking the right lifestyle steps now,” said Anderson. “The tips Buick and I have developed are so easy to follow, and we hope they will inspire people to take better care of themselves this summer – and beyond.”

“There’s a cultural movement around taking better care of ourselves in both mind and body,” said Molly Peck, director of Buick Marketing. “Working with Tracy Anderson to create the videos celebrates Buick’s values of vitality and well-being.”

Each Buick feature is thoughtfully included, such as the whisper-quiet interior that gives drivers a sense of peace; and the active safety features for enhanced awareness on the road.

Here’s how Buick is preparing for summer using Tracy’s five key areas of summer:

  • Skin: Just as your body needs sunscreen to block harmful UV rays, Buick has designed the all-new 2016Buick Cascada convertible with leather-appointed seats with UV-reflective materials for sunny days of top-down driving.
  • Songs: The Buick Enclave offers 4G LTE connectivity, the most current and fastest mobile data network, giving passengers the option to connect and download their favorite summer tunes on the way to the beach or the gym.
  • Sweat: Similar to the recommendation of walking 10,000 steps a day to enhance your quality of life, Buick engineers tested various features on the all-new Buick Envision 10,000 times to ensure the vehicle stands up to daily wear-and-tear for its entire life.
  • Style: The Buick Encore provides a compact riding experience designed with flexible interior seating and rooftop rails that accommodate bikes or kayaks for plenty of outdoor adventures.
  • Snacks: With the help of thinner, yet stronger, press-hardened materials used in the structure, the all-new 2017 Buick LaCrosse has dropped nearly 300 pounds from previous models.

For more information on the Cascada and Tracy Anderson’s guide to a Summer State of Mind, Click Here.

Read the entire article on Buick.com!

2016 GMC Yukon Named Best Large SUV for Families

(This article was originally posted on GMC.com.)

2016 GMC Yukon Denali. © General Motors.
2016 GMC Yukon Denali. © General Motors.

Spaciousness, Comfort and Family-Friendly Features Make Yukon the Best Option for Families

DETROIT – U.S. News & World Report today announced the 2016 GMC Yukon is the Best Large SUV for Families, praising the vehicle for its capability, features and comforts.

“The Yukon has the most family-friendly features in the class,” said Jamie Page Deaton, managing editor for U.S. News Best Cars. “The Apple CarPlay and in-car Wi-Fi are really cutting edge, standout features. The Yukon also won because it has such a high US News score – it gets really positive reviews not only for its space and comfort, but also its performance.”

Evaluation and methodology for the award included: overall sentiment of professional automotive reviews, safety and reliability ratings, seating and cargo volume and the availability of family-friendly features.

“The GMC line-up is designed with the expectation of premium comforts, utility and unique features for any passenger,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of GMC Sales and Marketing. “The Yukon is no exception as it is highly sought-after for its styling, spaciousness and family-oriented design. It is an exceptional honor to be named the best large SUV for families by U.S. News & World Report in a category so important to our customers and our brand.”

The Yukon also was recently ranked highest in its segment for the third-straight year in the 2016 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study.

GMC has manufactured trucks since 1902, with innovation and engineering excellence built into all GMC vehicles. The brand is evolving to offer more fuel-efficient trucks and crossovers, including the Terrain small SUV and Acadia crossover. GMC’s highest-volume vehicle, the Sierra pickup, is the most powerful light-duty pickup on the market, and the first full-size pickup to receive the highest-possible five-star Overall Vehicle Score for safety since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration changed its New Car Assessment Program for the 2011 model year. Details on all GMC models are available at http://www.gmc.com/, on Twitter at @thisisgmc or at http://www.facebook.com/gmc.

How Do You React When Pulled Over By The Police?

If you get pulled over for any reason, know your rights. What you say and what you do matters and can mean the difference between a routine traffic stop or something much worse.

I found a couple of videos that I wanted to share that give really great example of what to do and what not to do during a traffic stop. Remember, you may have had a bad day, you may be really angry, but that Officer is already on edge, don’t give him any reason to be more wary of you than he should be.

Part 1:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmrbNLt7Om8

Part 2:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKPutNg88bA

Basically what it boils down to is common sense. Use your head, be polite, be cordial, be willing to cooperate, but don’t forget your inalienable rights. The burden of proof always is on your side. Good luck.

Can anyone give us any pointers for an experiences you may have had?

Why is Car buying Hard? Part 3: Financing

Shaking hands car dealer

In my previous two blogs, we covered two of the three components of what makes car buying difficult:  price and trade in.   The last piece of the puzzle is financing, which is the biggest variable in purchasing a vehicle and here’s why.

Every customer’s financing history is different.  Maybe a customer has never bought a car before, has no credit history and needs a co-signer.  Perhaps a customer had a very long, excellent credit history, then was laid off and forced to get a job at a significant salary reduction.  Maybe a person has had steady employment for many years, recently got divorced and just doesn’t make a lot. The bottom line is that each person’s needs in regards to financing are different.

Whether you have a good financial history including paying off creditors on time & every month, your monthly income and how many outstanding balances you have, all affect your credit score.  Make no mistake, a customer’s credit score is the biggest component of financing.

A car dealer’s relationship with its lenders is also important.  If a Fort Worth dealer has been in business for many years, they probably have a good rapport with their financial lenders, often making it easier to get a customer approved.  Dealers who work with several banks might be able to offer a wider variety of financial programs to accommodate the array of customers’ financial situations. This will benefit the the shopper immensely.

Want to know the foolproof way to get better financing? Make a larger down payment.   The simple fact is the more money you can put down on a car or SUV, the less that will have to be financed.  The less you have to finance, the easier it will be to get approved.

Here’s a good video to check out:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxTIUY2mlt0

But no matter what your situation, a good dealership treats every customer how they would like to be taken care of:  with respect.  Remember that the next time you’re car shopping.

News Wire: GMC Expands Android Auto Availability

(This article originally appeared on GMC.com.)

GMC Expands Android Auto Availability. © General Motors.
GMC Expands Android Auto Availability. © General Motors.

Software upgrade available for consumers of compatible models

DETROIT – A software upgrade enabling Android AutoTM phone compatibility for 2016 GMC Canyon, Sierra and Yukon models equipped with the 8-inch IntelliLink system will now be offered in the U.S. The upgrade will be performed by GMC dealers at no cost to consumers.

Android Auto joins Apple CarPlay, which was unveiled last year, offering phone compatibility via the available IntelliLink screen.

“Providing Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility ushers in a new era of staying connected in a convenient manner,” said Duncan Aldred, U.S. vice president, Buick and GMC.

GMC’s availability of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay will continue to expand this year with the arrival of the all-new 2017 GMC Acadia when it arrives in showrooms this spring.

Each system builds off select features smartphone users rely on most. Android Auto is built around Google Maps, Google Now and the ability to talk to Google, as well as a growing audio and messaging app ecosystem that includes WhatsApp, Google Play Music, Spotify, and podcast players. A full list of supported apps is available at Android.com/auto.

Many system features can be controlled by voice commands through a button on the steering wheel, helping drivers keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.

Connectivity has become a central component of GMC’s interior technology features. Just last year, many GMC vehicles also began offering available OnStar 4G LTE connectivity and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. The connection allows occupants to connect up to seven personal devices.

This new compatibility stands to make connectivity even stronger. Specific market availability for Android Auto can be found here. Current Apple CarPlay markets can be found here.

Read the entire article on GMC.com.

 

News Wire: 2016 Buick Regal, LaCrosse Get Android Auto Update

(This article originally appeared on Buick.com)

2016 Buick Regal, LaCrosse Get Android Auto Update. © General Motors.
2016 Buick Regal, LaCrosse Get Android Auto Update. © General Motors.

Software update now available for owners of compatible models

DETROIT – Buick is now offering Android AutoTM compatibility via software update to U.S. owners who purchased a 2016 model year Regal or LaCrosse model equipped with an eight-inch IntelliLink system. The update is available now exclusively through Buick dealers.

Earlier this year, Buick announced it will offer Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility in the 2016 LaCrosse and Regal, with Apple CarPlay included as standard equipment from the start of the model year and Android Auto available later. Customers who purchased those vehicles and use Android phones will now have the same level of smart, simple smartphone integration.

“Innovation at Buick means investing in features that contribute to the well-being of our customers, meaning features that contribute to a better in-vehicle experience,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Buick and GMC Sales, Service and Marketing. “Our commitment to Android Auto is such a strong proof-point of that strategy and we’re delighted to make it available to new and existing Buick customers.”

Buick’s availability of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay will continue to expand this year with the arrivals of new products to the brand’s showrooms. For the 2017 model year, availability will include the Regal and the all-new LaCrosse, as well as the Envision compact crossover and redesigned Encore small SUV.

Android Auto requires a phone running the Android Lollipop 5.0 operating system or higher, while Apple CarPlay requires an iPhone 5 or later. The user interfaces themselves are designed and developed by Apple (for Apple CarPlay) and Google (for Android Auto).

Compatible third-party apps need to be downloaded to a phone before using. Apple and Google’s privacy statements and terms of use apply. Data rates will also apply.

Read the entire article on Buick.com

 

News Wire: GMC Introduces 2016 Sierra with eAssist

(This article originally appeared on GMC.com)

Starting this spring, the new eAssist system is exclusively available on the already well-equipped 2016 Sierra 1500 SLT crew cab 2WD model with the SLT Premium Plus package.
Starting this spring, the new eAssist system is exclusively available on the already well-equipped 2016 Sierra 1500 SLT crew cab 2WD model with the SLT Premium Plus package. © General Motors.

Technologically advanced premium truck offers greater efficiency, capability

DETROIT – Building on GMC Sierra’s advanced powertrain technologies, new eAssist technology enhances its position as one of the industry’s most innovative and capable trucks, helping it achieve up to 13 percent greater city fuel economy – and solidifying its segment-best ranking for V8 efficiency.

Starting this spring, the new eAssist system is exclusively available on the already well-equipped 2016 Sierra 1500 SLT crew cab 2WD model with the SLT Premium Plus package. For 2016, we will monitor the market closely, producing 200 Sierra eAssist models for California, and adjust as appropriate moving forward.

“Innovative technology that enhances capability is at the core of everything we do at GMC and the new Sierra with eAssist takes it to a higher level,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of GMC Sales and Marketing. “Its advantages are delivered in a compromise-free package that enables real-world fuel savings with premium content that provides a very high level of refinement, comfort and connectivity.”

Compared to a comparable Sierra 1500 with a 5.3L/eight-speed powertrain, the Sierra with eAssist offers an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city – a 2-mpg improvement – while highway fuel economy improves 2 mpg to 24 mpg. The combined estimate improves 2 mpg to 20 mpg. The 5.3L eAssist V8 has a GM estimated 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque.

The new eAssist powertrain is available in the Sierra SLT crew cab with the up-level Premium Plus package, a package that is also available with the standard 5.3L non- eAssist engine and the 6.2L V8 engine.  The SLT Premium Plus package includes an extensive list of premium technologies and features:

  • High-performance LED headlamps, LED taillamps and thin-profile LED foglamps
  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility (subject to their terms, privacy statements and data plan rates, as well as a compatible smartphone)
  • IntelliLink with navigation and 8-inch-diagonal color touch screen
  • Bose premium audio system
  • Wireless phone charging
  • Heated and vented leather-appointed seats
  • Heated steering wheel
  • Lane Keep Assist and Forward Collision Alert
  • IntelliBeam headlamps
  • Front and Rear Park Assist
  • Rear Vision camera.

The max trailering rating is 9,400 lbs. and the Eaton locking rear differential is standard, for sure-footed traction on slippery surfaces.

eAssist details
The Sierra’s eAssist powertrain is a light electrification system leveraging General Motors’ latest electrification technologies. It builds on the advanced technologies of the 5.3L V8 engine, including direct injection, variable valve timing and Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation), complementing them with a compact lithium-ion battery pack to enhance efficiency through:

  • Stop/Start capability: Additional fuel savings are achieved by turning off the engine when stopped at a stop light or heavy traffic and restarting the engine when the driver lifts his or her foot from the brake pedal
  • Electric power boost: The on-board electric motor provides a power boost during acceleration and passing, while enabling the engine to operate in four-cylinder mode for longer periods, for additional fuel savings
  • Regenerative braking: By using the on-board electric motor as a generator, the energy recovered while braking is converted to electricity to recharge the onboard battery system
  • Aero enhancements: A 6 percent improvement in aerodynamics contributes to fuel economy due to a standard soft tonneau cover and automatic grille shutters, which can close at speeds over 30 mph in order to further reduce drag and fuel consumption.

The eAssist system includes a 24-cell, air-cooled 0.45 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, located under the center console (or front bench seat). It adds only about 100 pounds to the vehicle’s curb weight.

Read the entire article on GMC.com!

 

Why Is Car Buying So Hard? Part 2: Trades.

In my previous blog, I discussed the three parts of buying a car price, trade and finance. The last time I talked about how negotiating the price really is the easy part.  What I’ll cover today in this post is trading in your car.

It goes without say, if you trade in a vehicle, your gonna want the best price for it. They key points to take into consideration is the year, make, model, mileage and condition of the vehicle you are looking to trade in. There are a couple of great resources for looking checking the value of your vehicle on sites like Kelly Blue Book or NADA guides to get a rough estimate before bringing it to their dealer. One thing to remember is that this is not an exact science, that these sites do have the tendency too mislead you into thinking your trade is worth more than it really is. Most dealers will assess your car and look for signs of any body repair, painting, misalignment, and flooding. Dealers often also run a car history check accidents.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2InqXnqwqRg

Other aspects that affect trade-in value include whether the dealership has a strong used car operation, or if they have to sell the vehicle at whole sale.  This matters because a dealership that has a good used car operation will often need a wide variety of makes and models. This usually leads to a better price for the consumer market of the vehicle.  Fort Worth, if the dealer has to sell the vehicle for wholesale, it may be because the cost to repair the vehicle is not worth paying, or simply have no demand for the brand and model.

As I said, the negotiation of your vehicle is more difficult than pricing. When you buy a new car, do you trade your old car or sell yourself? How was your experience? What do you think the dealer could have done better?

We’re always trying to improve the value for our customers, so your feed back would be great!

News Wire: Buick Verano Named Industry’s Most Dependable Vehicle

(This article originally appeared on Buick.com)

2013 Buick Verano. © General Motors.
2013 Buick Verano. © General Motors.

J.D. Power Dependability Study SM ranks Buick third overall

DETROIT – Buick today was recognized in the J.D. Power 2016 Vehicle Dependability StudySM (VDS), coming in third overall with the Buick Verano outperforming every other model as the industry’s most dependable vehicle.

Sixty percent of the brand’s 2013 models ranked highest in their respective segments.  In addition to theBuick Verano topping the Compact Car segment, the Buick LaCrosse was recognized as the segment leader in the Large Car segment for the second year in a row.  The brand’s top-selling vehicle, the Buick Encore, ranked highest in the Small SUV segment.

“Buick’s ranking is a demonstration of our mission to provide the best in reliability, quality and customer service,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global Buick.  “As we enter an exciting year of vehicle launches, we will show both new and returning customers that quality continues to be a top priority for the brand.”

The J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability StudySM (VDS) examines owner-reported problems in the past 12-months by original owners of 3-year-old vehicles. With its most recent J.D. Power accolade, the 2013 Buick Encore has now been recognized in all three studies for which it is eligible, including awards in the Initial Quality Study (IQS) and the Automotive Performance Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study for the Sub-Compact CUV segment.

Last year, Buick ranked highest among mass market brands for the second consecutive year in the J.D. Power 2015 U.S. Customer Service Index StudySM.

Read the entire article on Buick.com!