Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Importance of Regular Transmission Service

GM recommends regular maintenance of the transmission. The standard maintenance includes checking the transmission fluid level and adding fluid when needed, and replacing the fluid when necessary and at regular intervals. Learning why it is important to change your transmission fluid will help you better maintain your vehicle's transmission, possibly avoiding costly repairs in the future.

Transmission fluid keeps the transmission working properly. A well lubricated and properly functioning transmission keeps the vehicle in the proper gear for the driving conditions. If the transmission fails to execute the gear changes in a manner intended by the vehicle's design, the engine will undergo undue stress as it strives to maintain speed in an improper gear. Transmission fluid that is weakened by tens of thousands of miles of use is less capable of maintaining proper transmission performance, which takes a toll on the vehicle's engine. The key to saving gas is to have a vehicle performing in as efficient a manner as possible. Transmission fluid that does not properly lubricate the transmission will lead to an inefficient motor. Changing the transmission fluid regularly will ensure that the vehicle is operating in the proper gear, and the engine is running smoothly and efficiently, thus increasing the vehicle's gas mileage.

Without transmission fluid, the operation of a car would not be possible, or at least not at the speed and efficiency to which we have become accustomed. Like so many other marvels of the modern world, transmission fluid serves a purpose that basically (and literally) keeps the wheels turning, yet goes unnoticed by many people.

Jacob Kellenbarger
Parts Specialist
Hilltop Buick GMC
3230 Auto Plaza
Richmond, CA 94806
510-222-4141 Phone
510-758-8632 Fax

Monday, April 18, 2011

2011 Buick Regal

It was a cold December. Since I sold the dealership I no longer had a "demo" to drive. I needed a car. My daughter, Jen, came home from college for the winter break. She said since she shares the car with me on her break, she wants to help me pick the car. You know how a 17 year old thinks. She does not want to drive a "grandma" car around town. I reminded her that we will only buy a domestic product to help keep jobs in this country and I was a GM dealer so we should consider a GM product first. She said she totally agreed and "how about a CTS V?" No, no, no, no my little one! Can you imagine a 17 year old driving a CTS V? It would only take her 4 seconds to go from 0 to 60. How about a Hummer II? "I don't mind driving a used Hummer," Jen said. It came to my mind right away that she was going to swipe every single parked car along downtown Vacaville. No way! Not in a million years! She just got her driver's license a year ago and she is not the best driver. Let's go to the dealership and you can help me pick a car.

"Mom, Mom, this is the car you should buy," Jen exclaimed with excitement. She pointed at a beautiful brand new 2011 Buick Regal on the show room floor. This teenager likes a Buick? I guess it's not your grandfather's car anymore. "We just got this new Regal in and it has been very popular", said the Sales Manager Gil. Jen got in the car and the stereo was turned on right away. Gil smiled, and told me that it is a 4 cylinder vehicle and with around $700 out of pocket total drive off I can lease this car for less than $290 per month. I love the idea of a 4 cylinder, for the great gas mileage, and it will take more than 4 seconds to get to 60 miles per hour, which translates into a much lower insurance rate. "Sold", I said.

It has been four months since I leased the car. I only have two words to describe the car: "love it". It gets 30 miles per gallon on the freeway. Jen and I took a trip to the central coast. 740 miles round trip and it only cost me $100 on gas. The "butt warmer" for the cold, wet, winter driving has been my best friend. Best of all, the 4 cylinder has more power than I had anticipated. It had no problem at all keeping up with the traffic and cruising Highway 101. It had great handling on the winding road and easy parking in a tight parking space. On Star turn by turn navigation directed us to the fun points we asked for. Jen loves to connect her Ipod to the stereo. Whenever her heavy metal got on my nerves, I switched to XM. With a few hundred XM channels, we easily found common interests. This fantastic Regal made the trip extra wonderful. Jen, you did good choosing this car!

Eleanor Felbaum
Owner-Vacaville Buick GMC
350 Orange Drive
Vacaville, Ca 95687
Phone: 707-453-1137
Fax: 707-453-1138

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

All Sales People Are Untrustworthy Hustlers!

This is the mentality that potential buyers, even people who have no interest in purchasing, have towards sales people in the auto industry. It is an unfortunate stereotype that all new generation sales people have to overcome. It is very tough for sales people to overcome this, a task even the old generation sales person struggles with. How do you make a customer with that mentality trust you and become comfortable enough to purchase from you? That is the question I get all the time, be it from sales people, friends, even family.

I've been doing sales now for ten years, six of which were spent in the construction business. Before I arrived into the automotive sales industry, I myself had this same mentality! Like others, my own experiences mixed with stories I heard over my lifetime led me to the same conclusion that the majority of people have about sales people, hustlers, and crooks!

It wasn't until three months into my employment here that I realized that this business is no different than any other business! Things have changed from the old days, and they continue to change as I write. This business that at one point may have been the land of crooks and thieves is now, I believe, as customer friendly as you can possibly be. That's not to say there aren't bad apples here and there. Every business has them. But as manufacturers continue to implement more rules, regulations and standards for selling, those bad apples will eventually disappear! It will take time for people to realize all the changes this business has gone and continues to go through. GM, I'm happy and proud to say, is one manufacturer that is taking customer service to another level! Every month it seems they have something that benefits the buyer, be it standards for selling or customer incentives. Day by day more and more GM dealers are realizing the only way to survive will be to go with the trend, and that trend is "customers first!" It will be a tough mountain to climb, but one worth the ever drop of sweat! GM is on a speed-train to the top of the industry, and they know, and we know, the only way to get to the top is the customer!

Alejandro Morales
Sales Manager
Hilltop Buick GMC, Inc.
3230 Auto Plaza
Richmond, CA 94806
510-222-4141 Phone
510-758-8632 Fax