2012 GMC Acadia Wins Best Retained Value Award

2012 GMC Acadia Wins Best Retained Value Award
Edmunds.com names full-size crossover to top of its class
 

DETROIT – The 2012 GMC Acadia has the “Best Retained Value” for SUVsbetween $35,000 and $45,000 according to the consumer automotive research website Edmunds.com.

Retained value is defined as the projected residual value of a vehicle after five years of ownership, expressed as a percentage of the Edmunds “True Market Value” when sold new. Acadia should expect a 5-year-old vehicle to maintain 46 percent of its original cost.

“This accolade from Edmunds verifies what many of our customers already know – that GMC vehicles continue to deliver great value,” said Brian Sweeney, U.S. vice president of Buick GMC Sales and Service.
Acadia had its best sales year ever in 2011, with sales up 16 percent compared with 2010. Through its life, nearly half of the crossover’s customers have been buyers new to General Motors. 

Source: Edmunds.com

Buick sheds its image as a brand for the elderly

Buick sheds its image as a brand for the elderly

New products help automaker reduce average buyer age by 6 years
BY MELISSA BURDEN / THE DETROIT NEWS

General Motors Co.'s Buick brand did something over the past five years that no other automaker did in the
U.S.: It lowered the average age of its customer.
In an industry that from 2007 to 2011 saw its average customer age grow by three years to 51, Buick's
average customer's age fell from 62 to 59, according to market researcher R.L. Polk. & Co.

"They've changed their product portfolio, they're discounting the Lucerne — and the Regal has done quite
well and they're targeting it toward a younger customer," said Tom Libby, a senior automotive analyst for
Polk. Still, Buick has the second-highest average customer age, behind Lincoln. "Also the Verano was just
introduced and is targeted toward a younger customer," Libby noted.
Buick no longer wants to be known for gray-haired drivers in mundane sedans. The brand's own marketing
research shows an even more dramatic fall than Polk's numbers — from age 65 to 59 over five years. And
that age continues to fall.

Buick executives and analysts say the brand is reaching younger and new-to-GM customers through the
compact Verano sedan that launched in December (the average customer age is 57, but is trending down)
and the Regal, including its GS performance model. A Regal GS customer on average is 43 years old,
according to Buick.
More new products are on the way that could help drive that average age even lower. A turbo Verano with
an optional manual transmission will be available for the 2013 model year, and Buick's all-new 2013 Encore
crossover hits dealer lots early next year. Libby said Buick will win customers with the Encore, as the
compact crossover segment "tends to appeal to a younger demographic in general."
But more importantly, some at Buick and GM say, is that 41 percent of Buick buyers are new to the brand.
Chris Dawkins, 31, of Southfield is young and new to Buick.
"I don't look at Buick as an older person's brand any longer," said Dawkins, who last week leased a whitediamond
2012 Regal GS for four years, trading in a 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T.
Dawkins, a human resources manager, husband and father of two, said he loves the Regal GS for its
European looks and its manual transmission. "The Regal just caught my attention," he said. "The regular
version Regal is pretty nice, but when I saw the GS, it really drew me in."


Source: GM

2012 GMC Acadia Wins Best Retained Value Award

2012 GMC Acadia Wins Best Retained Value Award

The 2012 GMC Acadia has the “Best Retained Value” for SUVs between $35,000 and $45,000 according to the consumer automotive research website Edmunds.com.
Retained value is defined as the projected residual value of a vehicle after five years of ownership, expressed as a percentage of the Edmunds “True Market Value” when sold new. Acadia should expect a 5-year-old vehicle to maintain 46 percent of its original cost.
“This accolade from Edmunds verifies what many of our customers already know – that GMC vehicles continue to deliver great value,” said Brian Sweeney, U.S. vice president of Buick GMC Sales and Service.
Acadia had its best sales year ever in 2011, with sales up 16 percent compared with 2010. Through its life, nearly half of the crossover’s customers have been buyers new to General Motors.

Source: [GMC]

Top Ten Fuel Savings Tips to Live by!

Top Ten Fuel Saving Tips

1. Avoid High Speeds
As your speed increases, your aerodynamic drag increases in an exponential fashion. Driving 62 mph (100 km/h) vs 75 mph (120 km/h) will reduce fuel consumption by about 15%.

2. Do Not Accelerate or Brake Hard
By anticipating the traffic and applying slow steady acceleration and braking, fuel economy may increase by as much as 20%.

3. Keep Tires Properly Inflated
Keep tire air pressure at the level recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. A single tire under inflated by 2 PSI, increases fuel consumption by 1%.

4. Use A/C Sparingly
When the air conditioner is on it puts extra load on the engine forcing more fuel to be used (by about 20%). The defrost position on most vehicles also uses the air conditioner.

5. Keep Windows Closed
Windows open, especially at highway speeds, increase drag and result in decreased fuel economy of up to 10%.

6. Service Vehicle Regularly
Proper maintenance avoids poor fuel economy related to dirty air filters, old spark plugs or low fluid levels.
7. Use Cruise Control
Maintaining a constant speed over long distances often saves gas.

8. Avoid Heavy Loads
Remove the sand bags from your trunk in the spring and pack lightly for long trips.

9. Avoid Long Idles
If you anticipate being stopped for more than 1 minute, shut off the car. Restarting the car uses less fuel than letting it idle for this time.

10. Purchase a Fuel Efficient Vehicle
When buying a new vehicle examine the vehicle’s rated fuel efficiency. Usually choosing a small vehicle with a manual transmission will provide you with great fuel economy.

Source: [Gas Buddy]

Did you Know May Is National Barbecue Month?

May is National Barbecue Month! What better way to enjoy the outdoors after a hard day at work, than to get the Barbie lit and the sausages sizzling. It brings family and friends together in a relaxed atmosphere. There’s something adventurous about cooking outdoors. Is that why a lot of men have no interest in cooking by traditional indoor methods, but when it moves outside they jump at the chance to get behind the tongs? So ladies, whenever the chance arises, suggest a BBQ as you may just get a night off from cooking. I’m not by any means suggesting that a woman typically does the cooking and men don’t. You just have to look around at the number of celebrity male chefs there are today to see that times have changed. We’re living in a fairer society today so male or female get behind the BBQ! As May is National BBQ month, why not make this the opportunity to kick off the BBQ season. Every BBQ Master needs his Tools You’re making the preparations; getting everything organized, so should the day be right, you’re good to go. Here’s a BBQ Master’s Tools Checklist: 1. Quality BBQ Tool Set Look for something with long handles so you avoid burns. If you buy quality now they’ll last you longer. There’s lots of choice. Some sets even come in a briefcase style case so you can transport them easily and store them away neatly until the next BBQ season. 2. BBQ Mitt You’ve heard of the oven mitt but have you heard of the BBQ mitt? Protect those hands. Look out for a heat-resistant, fire-retardant glove. 3. Saucing System A practical way to apply BBQ sauces – the mess free saucing system. No more brush tumbling on to the ground. A must for anyone who likes to apply BBQ sauce. 4. Grill Brush and Scraper A handy brush for removing stubborn residues from the grill. Gets the BBQ ready for the next time. 5. The BBQ That’s right…you can have the tools but if you don’t have the smoke there’s no BBQ. Decide where you’re going have the BBQ. If you’re heading to the beach you might want to think about a portable one. You can buy a disposable BBQ or you could opt for the compact BBQ that you don’t throw away. If you’re BBQing at home I’d imagine you’re looking for a larger BBQ but now you have to decide between gas or charcoal. I’d much rather have the traditional charcoal one. The size of the BBQ is important too – how many mouths do you have to feed? 6. Lighter Make sure you don’t forget something to light the BBQ; whether it be a match or a lighter. 7. Other If you’re not having the BBQ at home you’ll want to think about gettin a cool box to keep the meat and drinks chilled on the journey to the beach, forest or park. Will you need rugs to sit on? What about portable chairs? These can be purchased cheaply at Walmart. You might also want to consider a tray or pan to transfer ‘ready’ food to so the crowds can come and help themselves when they’re ready. This avoids burning the food by leaving it on the grill too long. Source: [Hub Pages]

How to Keep Your Car Looking New

How to Keep Your Car Looking New

Our cars reflect our personalities. From a cute lime green bug to a powerful black SUV to a sexy red convertible, what we drive says a lot about who we are. But this good impression can be quickly ruined by a tarnished finish.

"Your car's exterior is constantly being assaulted by all kinds of potentially hazardous substances -- many of which you can't even see," says Glenn Canady, president of 5 Star Technologies, a company that makes vehicle maintenance products.

Canady says that dirt and grime from the road are just the beginning: "The dangers are everywhere, tiny droplets of sticky sap from trees that get on your car and will not only attract dirt and dust, but will bake into the paint surface and leave stains. And what we may think of as innocuous bird droppings are actually highly acidic substances which can erode paint and clear coat finishes," he adds.

Airborne contaminants such as by-products from construction and manufacturing and other floating elements can also threaten your finish. Add to that salt from the sea and from snow trucks and daily exposure to moisture, sometimes from acid rain, and you have a lethal combination.

Even the hot sun beating down on your car is problematic: it causes the paint pores to expand and absorb more dirt and moisture.

The most critical step you can take to maintain your finish is frequent washing, yet it is surprising how many people don't take this precaution.

A recent survey by carlove.org found that 52 percent of car owners wash their cars less than once a month and 15 percent never wash their cars. Here are a few suggestions from Canady on how to keep your finish glossy:

*You should wash your car at least once a week. Keeping your exterior consistently clean will lessen the impact of damaging dirt and chemicals that build up on your car's surface. In parts of the country that experience the use of road salt in the winter, frequent washing can reduce the corrosive effects of salt that cause body rust-through.

*Polish your vehicle with a product that provides durable protection as a final step after washing. Car waxes do not provide the long-term protection necessary to keep your paint looking new. They are made from inexpensive carnuba waxes, which melt and get sticky and attract dirt and pollutants.

"People can actually be doing more harm than good," says Canady, whose company makes a two-step polish called 5 Star Shine that uses PTFE (the same substance that makes nonstick cookware so slippery) and durable acrylic elements that create a chemical fusion that seals paint from the elements.

"This is not like ordinary waxes and polishes that simply lay on top of your paint and wear off in a few weeks," says Canady. "It actually bonds with the molecules of your paint." The slick coating repels dirt and will remain durable for at least 150 washes.

* If you drive on muddy, messy roads, consider an undercarriage treatment every time you wash your car. This will remove caked-on mud that holds moisture to metal and causes rust and body rot around wheel wells and door sills.

- courtesy of ARA Content

Use Your Turn Signals, People!

Use Your Turn Signals, People!

Stop being lazy and start using your turn signal. That's the message of a new study that found that drivers who neglect to use turn signals cause more accidents than distracted drivers.

The Society of Automotive Engineers say that drivers who don't use their turn signals or fail to turn them off are a real problem and the result is about 2 million crashes each year, reports MSNBC. In contrast, the U.S. Department of Transportation reports that distracted driving causes around 950,000 accidents annually.

SAE and study partner RLP Engineering say their investigation is the first of its kind and yielded alarming results: Motorists don't signal when changing lanes or forget to turn off the signal 48% of the time. Although turn signals are easy to use and effective, some people don't signal out of choice, but Richard Ponziani, president of RLP Engineering thinks "all drivers have an ongoing duty to use it, just as they have a duty to stop at a stop sign or at a red light."

One possible solution, according to the study, is implementing a smart turn signal system that would automatically shut off a turn signal after a set delay time or after it senses that the lane change is complete. It also could act as a visual or auditory reminder for people who habitually neglect to use them.

The technology would be "the perfect complement to the stability control system since stability control predominately prevents single-vehicle crashes, whereas the smart turn signal prevents multivehicle crashes," Ponziani said in the report.

Tell us, do you signal before you turn, and if not, why?

Turn signal neglect a real danger, study shows (MSNBC)

Source: Cars.com

Top Service Tips Every Women should Live By

At Borcherding Buick GMC we are committed to empowering women with the knowledge and know how when it comes to buying and servicing a vehicle.
Here are some great service tips to live by:

1. To extend the life of your car and avoid costly repairs down the track, have your car serviced at the recommended intervals and keep your service book up to date. Regular servicing makes good motoring sense for safety, performance and resale value for your vehicle.

2. Know where your hood release is located.

3. Make sure you know where to find the wiper fluid, coolant, engine oil and power steering fluid and check them regularly.

4. Familiarize yourself with the correct air pressure for your front and rear tires and know where the details are kept.

5. For your own safety and security, ensure you're confident enough to replace a flat tire.

6. Find out how to replace your windshield wipers and light bulbs.

To schedule service now, or for any questions please call us now: 513-677-9200

Sincerely,
The Borcherding Team