Belanger Walk Away: Unmatched protection for our customers.

We love our customers and today, more than ever, we want you to know we are looking our for your well being as valued member of the Belanger Automotive family (or soon to be member). 

GM is going through massive changes that will ultimately make them a much smarter and better company for customers, dealers and shareholders, but it’s going to take some hard decisions and hard work. Our vehicles are now some of the best built, most reliable vehicles on the road today, there is still a bunch of hard work ahead for the company, and as a result, for us as dealers.

We’re up for the challenge and our sales figures seem to back our efforts. That’s one of the reasons that we are so pleased to offer our customers even more in the way of ultimate  protection when it comes to buying or leasing a beautiful new Pontiac , Buick or GMC Vehicle from us. 

Belanger Walkaway Protection makes certain should the current tough economic times ever get the best of you, you can have the peace of mind of knowing that you have a plan that allows you to return your vehicle without penalty, should you need to. We offer it without charge and it really is outstanding value. It’s backed by the most trusted insures in the country, and when you add to this the fact that GM warranties are guaranteed by the Canadian Government and that right now you can receive 3 years of no charge GoodWrench Service as well as 2 years of XM radio and 1 year of OnStar without charge, there has seriously never been a better time in history to buy from GM.

Like I’ve said many times, the upside of the downturn is that the market becomes a buyers market. If you are a buyer or even thinking about it, it will never be a better time to get into a new GM vehicle than it is right now. Ironic, but 100% true.

Here is the link to our exclusive Belanger Walkaway Protection program. Check it out and you’ll see why we’re excited by it.

Safe driving, and remember: we’ve got your back.

Luc

Smart road travel includes a bit of safety planning

These days, safe road travel is easier than it’s ever been. Roadside assistance, superior car design and construction and more stops and stations between points all contribute to making road safety better than it has ever been. Still, we share the road with with thousands of other drivers and weather and road conditions can change pretty quickly, so it still makes sense to plan ahead.

Here’s a short, but smart article from Consumers Reports that is hosted here at MSN Autos:

http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=435579 

It pretty much gives you the “plan ahead” playbook. If you would like further assistance or advice on being ready for what the road ahead might throw at you, feel free to call our service department. They have tons of experience and will happily share their thoughts with you.

Safe driving,

Luc

10 ways you can improve gas mileage this summer

I found these easy to apply, but valuable fuel tips on GM’s Goodwrench site. I think you’ll like them.

1. Drive the speed limit and use cruise control, if you have it. 
 Speed limits are calculated for maximum safety, but they also reward you with much better gas mileage. You can get up to 20 percent more mileage traveling 85 KPH instead of driving 110 KPH.

2. Drive smoothly. Quick starts burn more gas and hard stops wear out your brakes earlier. Ease your foot on and off the accelerator and coast a bit earlier instead of slamming on your brakes.

3. Avoid idling. You can burn up to a 4 litres every hour just idling in rush hour traffic.

4. To stay cool, open windows at slow speeds and use A/C on highways. Around town, turn your air conditioning off and roll down the windows. On the highway, open windows create drag at speeds of 40 mph or more, so at high speeds, they can be harder on fuel consumption than you’re A/C.

5. Clean out your trunk. The added weight in your vehicle affects fuel economy; don’t use your trunk as a storage locker.

6. If you can, fill up when it’s cool and before holidays. 
 Cooler temperatures in the early morning or late evening create fewer vapors, so you’ll notice more fuel in the tank. Also, getting a fill-up three days before a holiday will help you save on the price at the pump.

7. Don’t top off gas, and remember to tighten the cap. When buying gas, stop when the pump shuts off automatically. And always remember, your tank needs both fuel and fumes, so tighten the gas cap after every fill-up.

8. Use the fuel grade recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. In addition, Detergent Gasoline is even better for your vehicle. It is a class of gasoline with enhanced detergency that exceeds detergent requirements imposed by the EPA.

9. Don’t accelerate when driving up hill. Instead, build up speed before an incline, and then maintain it on the way up. Remember to coast on the way down, for this will also improve fuel economy.

10. Avoid rooftop carriers. Approximately one quarter of each gallon of gas is needed to overcome wind resistance, so avoid carrying things on your roof. If necessary, use an aerodynamic carrier to help minimize drag.

I guarantee you’ll notice a real improvement in fuel efficiency if you practice these tips.

Safe Driving,

Luc

8 Pages you can’t afford to miss

In my last post, I shared some concrete examples of how car buyers today have never had it better from a value to cost ratio than you do right now. Again, if you had told me in 1998 that I could buy newer, better-built vehicles for thousands less a decade later, I would have laughed you out the door. No one’s laughing now, for the deals are just that incredible. As I’ve also said several times before, the downward pressure on the industry and the world can ironically produce some exceptional buying opportunities. 

That leads me to our new April Automotive catalogue. It’s 8 pages of amazing deals on cars, trucks and RV’s. There’s information on Pontiac’s amazing “All-in-one” promotion which features 3 years of essentially no-charge service as well as 2 years of free OnStar and XM Satellite radio. And you’ll also find information on vehicle financing and warranties as well. It’s 8 pages you can’t just afford to miss, and you can find it on our web site. Do yourself a favour and take a few minutes to check it out on our current promotions page:

Safe driving.

Luc