Deep Thoughts by Jeff Wondra
Snell Motors sales consultant Jeff Wondra shares his opinion on the MotorTrend comparison of the Buick Regal GS versus the BMW 328i. Take a look!
Patiently Waiting…
Set to arrive early 2013, we’re all anxiously awaiting the Buick Encore’s arrival. Take a look at this beauty!
Protect Yourself Against Auto Theft
Security technologies are an important part of protecting your valuables in your car and your car itself, but drivers are the primary defense against break-ins and thefts. To better keep you and your vehicle secure:
- Do not leave valuables unattended in unlocked cars, or in plain sight
- Park vehicles in well-lit areas or inside locked garages
- Don’t leave cars running with the keys in the ignition.
- Do not defeat the ignition/key cylinder immobilizers with aftermarket remote- start systems
- Always lock your vehicle with the key fob, which also sets the alarm system
- Use wheel locks with premium wheels
- Do not leave driver’s license, registration or insurance certificate in your car
- Purchase a vehicle with OnStar or the aftermarket OnStar FMV mirror, which will enable your vehicle to be tracked if stolen.
Friday Fun Facts
GMC is one of the longest-running brands in the General Motors portfolio, the second-largest of the four GM brands in U.S. sales, and a standard bearer for engineering in pickup trucks, SUVs and crossover vehicles. Here are 10 GMC fun facts for your Friday!
1. The GMC name turns 100 years old in 2012. In 1912, Rapid Motor Vehicle Company was merged with two others – Reliance and Randolph – to become GMC.
2. On August 1, 1909, a Rapid F-406-B – a GMC predecessor – was the first truck to reach the 14,110-foot summit of Pikes Peak.
3. If GMC was a standalone manufacturer, it would be the tenth-largest automaker in the United States in terms of total vehicle sales from January to November of 2011.
4. GMC built some of the world’s earliest electric vehicles from 1912-1917. These trucks had single-digit model names, each denoting load capacity, from one-half-ton to 12 tons.
5. GMC’s luxury-focused Denali trim level currently outsells the entire product lines of some premium automakers, including Land Rover, Jaguar, and Porsche.
6. GMC was tasked with engineering and production of the 1936 Parade of Progress vans and the 1941 Futurliners, which toured the country carrying mobile road shows.
7. Today, GMC and the Denali trim level are among the fastest-growing nameplates in the U.S. with respective sales increases of 22 percent and 91 percent year over year.
8. During World War II, GMC manufactured approximately 584,000 military vehicles, including the CCKW-353 “Deuce-and-a-Half” and the amphibious “Duck.”
9. The GMC Sierra – the brand’s top selling model – outsold the Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan combined, with 40,000 sales to spare, through the first 11 months of 2011.
10. From 1973-1978, GMC produced motorhomes in 23- and 26-foot lengths. They appeared in Bill Murray’s 1981 movie, Stripes and the 1996 blockbuster, Twister.
Buick Ecotec 2.0L Turbo Lands on 10 Best Engines List
WardsAuto World recently recognized the 2012 Buick Regal GS by placing its Ecotec 2.0L turbo I-4 engine on the Top 10 Best Engines list for 2012. Possibly the kicker for this Buick to enter the ranks? Its power-to-displacement ratio. The Ecotec 2.0L turbo’s 270 horsepower is teh highest specific output of any GM production engine. ANd at 135 hp per liter, it’s the most power-dense engine certified by the Society of Automotive Engineers.
Looks like the Regal’s revving into the New Year!
Check out the full article here.
United Way Campaign Tops the Charts
Every year, Snell Companies participates in the United Way campaign to raise funds for the Mankato-area organization. The United Way funds quality nonprofits and builds partnerships to raise awareness and address key community issues – as part of Snell’s corporate responsibility, this is a key organization we focus on.
This year in our 2011 campaign, we topped our own charts by raising the most dollars to date! Snell employees raised a total of $11,763.84, and owner Todd Snell matched that, bringing the total company donation to $23,527.68. Through a combination of payroll deductions, one-time donations, a silent auction and chili cookoff, employees raised a significant amount to reach a new goal and top past fundraising efforts. It was a fun time and a great cause!
Erin Rohrer sampling one of the many chilis for the Chili Cookoff Competition
Over a dozen employee entries and judges paid to eat/vote
Steve Wright won the grand prize getaway - part of the United Way campaign efforts
Todd Snell presenting the check to the United Way's Laura Bowman
Campaign Chairs Melissa McGraw and Erin Rohrer from Snell with United Way's Laura Bowman
GMC Acadia Recognized for Lowest Cost of Ownership
Own a new 2012 GMC Acadia crossover vehicle? Thinking about buying one for Christmas? Turns out it might be one of your best investments yet. This full-size crossover tops its competition by costing less to own, and was recently recognized for the lowest cost of ownership with the 2012 Residual Value Award in November.
This award reveals that after three years of ownership, the Acadia will be worth a higher percentage of its original sales price than any vehicle in its segment, including Toyota Highlander and Ford Explorer. An article from GM states that resale value is one of the most important considerations for consumers when shopping for a vehicle, as it can save them thousands of dollars.
What are the top factors for you when shopping for a vehicle? Does resale value play a role?
A Successful Grand Opening Event for Snell PSE
The Snell Powersports & Equipment Grand Opening on Thursday, November 17th was a HUGE success! With more than 1,200 people through the door, we unquestionably had the perfect opportunity to show Mankato the many aspects our newest division has to offer from sales, service, parts and apparel.
We offered food and drinks from Dino’s Pizzeria, Special Event Pricing and even gave away a winter vacation package to our lucky winner, Barb Johnson! Our entire staff and even some additional volunteers were “geared-up” in Snell PSE apparel the entire evening, showing off the extra goodies Snell PSE has in-stock! Overall, the event helped us gain traction as a new business in the community, and we’re excited to see where this new journey takes us! Thanks to everyone who helped make this night so successful and most importantly…fun!
Safety First with the 2012 Terrain
Though the Terrain is in it’s second year in the GMC lineup, it’s boasting a first for the 2012 model. The 2012 GMC Terrain features the industry’s first crash avoidance system that exclusively uses a single camera to help drivers avoid front-end and unsignalled lane departure crashes. GMC News’ article explains how it uses a high-resolution digital camera mounted on the windshield ahead of the rearview mirror that looks for shapes of vehicles and lane markings. The system uses audible warnings and a high-mounted visual display to warn the driver if he or she is following another vehicle too closely, when a collision is imminent, or when departing a lane without signaling first. This system is especially important, as rear-end crashes account for approximately 28 percent of the nearly 6 million police-reported incidents that occur annually.
In addition to the Terrain’s new safety system, what other safety features do you like in vehicles?
Get Ready for the Verano
As we wait for the arrival of the 2012 Buick Verano later this year, anticipation builds for this new compact sedan. And the latest news on the Verano front is the price. Buick just announced the price-point of $23,470. Wondering what that gets you? The base price gets buyers a long list of standard features, including leatherette seating, seven-inch color touchscreen radio, Buick ItelliLink, 10 airbags, automatic climate control and remote start.
The 2012 Buick Verano - available later this year
The Verano adds to the Buick remodel portfolio of the Regal and the LaCrosse. Each offers different sizes, features and price points, providing driving solutions to a wide variety of drivers.
Verano Base Price: $23,470
Regal Base Price: $27,530
LaCrosse Base Price: 30,820 (*includes eAssist system)
How do you think the Verano will do in the compact sedan market when it arrives?
Faust in the Fast Lane
