Armed Forces Day 2013

Tomorrow is a day to honor and remember everyone that has served for our country.   We would like to thank you!  Is there anybody you would like to thank and honor personally?

Throwback Thursday

Here's some eye candy for Throwback Thursday! It’s a classic Chevrolet commercial that aired during 1956.

Kudos

Congratulations Chris and Dick for another raving fan!

“Chris and Dick made buying my Volt a simple process. They worked hard to answer all my questions and to have all the paperwork ready for when we came in to sign.Love them! Dana” – DanaF

If you would like to see this review and others, click here: http://bit.ly/10PgIVr

Sustainable Cruze

Check out its “Ecologic” Features. Here at Chevrolet, we believe in being a responsible steward of our environment. Recently, we’ve developed a new way to communicate some of the environmentally significant features of each vehicle we make. We call it “Ecologic.”

Every aspect of Ecologic is audited by Two Tomorrows, an independent third party sustainability auditor.

Fuel-Saving Technologies

Continuously Variable Valve Timing (VVT) adjusts airflow in and out of the combustion chamber under all engine speeds, which makes for better fuel economy and lower emissions. Smart alternator technology (Regulated Voltage Control) lowers the alternator voltage when the battery is fully charged, which improves fuel economy.

A six-speed transmission allows the engine to operate at a lower rate of speed as compared to transmissions with fewer gears, which results in better fuel economy. Electric power steering uses an electric motor instead of an engine-driven belt, which results in a lighter overall workload and better fuel economy.

The Cruze Eco uses a host of fuel saving technologies to help achieve an EPA-estimated 42 MPG highway. Active air shutters, underbody aero panels, an aero blade, lowered front fascia air dam and a decklid spoiler reduce drag, which lessens engine workload and saves gasoline.

Responsible Manufacturing

The 1.4L engine facility and the transmission facilities are landfill-free. These facilities use a process to reuse, recycle or convert to energy all waste created in their daily operations, which conserves resources.

The Lordstown, OH, assembly facility and Toledo, OH, transmission facility feature designated habitat areas certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council, which provide ecological benefits.

End-of-Life Recyclability

After the vehicle’s useful life, 85% of it is recyclable. The majority of its components can be broken down and recycled, which conserves resources and reduces landfill deposits.

- Courtesy of Chevrolet.com

2014 Chevrolet Silverado

There was cause for consternation when the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado pickup made its first auto show appearance in Detroit earlier this year. It was given barely a mention at GM's press conference before being shoved awkwardly into GM's booth like last week's bagels. It gave the impression that the company wasn't confident in its new full-size baby.

We now know that with the 2014 Silverado, GM is lifting a page out of Porsche's playbook. No, Chevy's full-size pickup isn't getting a flat-6 in the bed. Rather, the new Silverado is an example of GM honing the core values of its most important model, resulting in a new version that makes purposeful, measured yet undeniably tangible improvements over the outgoing model. Evolution, not revolution. Sound familiar?

New Cabins, Familiar Size
At first blush, the overhauled 2014 Chevrolet Silverado doesn't look all that different from the 2013 version. But when we examined the new truck side by side with the old one (in truck-loving San Antonio), the differences became obvious. The old truck's slab sides are gone, and the new truck's wall-o'-chrome front-end treatment and bulgy-er hood make it look extroverted by comparison.

All-new cab structures for the three configurations (standard, double and crew cabs) bring improved structural stiffness and crashworthiness to the 2014 model. The cabs' basic dimensions are unchanged since they ride on the same frame geometry as before (strategic regauging of the frame's steel has shed some 33 pounds). However, a smidge more rear legroom was liberated by reshaping the back of the front seats, and the front passengers have more fore/aft seat adjustment range.

Gone are the awkward reverse-opening rear doors of the previous extended cab; the newly minted double cab has a traditional B-pillar layout to help the truck meet upcoming side-impact and rollover standards. All doors are now inset into the body rather than overlapping the roof, a move that makes for a quieter truck. The new cabin also rides on improved body mounts that further hush things up, and clambering into the bed is made easier by clever steps and handholds built into each rear corner.

Crew cabs now have the option of a longer 6-foot-6-inch bed in addition to the standard short bed, and there are a variety of axle ratios available ranging from 3.08 on 5.3-liter V8 variants all the way up to 3.73 in the optional Max Trailering package.

Direct Injection for the Masses
Its engine lineup, too, has been thoroughly massaged. The bread-and-butter 5.3-liter pushrod V8 now kicks out 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. A new 4.3-liter pushrod V6 — essentially the V8 with two cylinders sliced off — produces 285 hp and 305 lb-ft of torque. Later this year, a range-topping 6.2-liter version of the V8 of as-yet-indeterminate output will be available.

Don't be fooled by their carryover displacements. All engines in the 2014 Chevy Silverado are members of GM's new Gen 5 small block family, called Ecotec3, which shares its fundamental architecture with the outgoing Gen IV but has almost no parts in common. A primary goal of the Gen 5 engine family is to boost efficiency, so the engines sport direct injection and cylinder deactivation. Elsewhere, efficiency gains were found in the new body's improved aerodynamics and, predictably, by ditching hydraulically assisted steering in favor of electric power steering.

And the results? So far, the only fuel economy data released for the 2014 Silverado is for the 5.3-liter V8. Two-wheel-drive versions earn EPA ratings of 16 city/23 highway mpg (16/22 for 4WD), which is a gain of 1 and 2 mpg respectively over the outgoing 5.3-liter V8. It may not sound like much of a difference in absolute terms, but it is a meaningful gain on a percentage scale.

Top-Shelf Refinement
All those efforts to reduce noise have paid off. In practice, the new Silverado exhibits impressive refinement, with road noise snuffed out and only a whisper of wind noise at freeway speeds. It's a genuinely civilized cabin, probably the quietest in the full-size pickup business according to our eardrum dynos. And the electric steering is well-weighted and natural enough that nobody will mind its lack of feel.

The suspension geometry has been carried over, though tuning changes were implemented to take advantage of the stiffer cab structure. Front springs are stiffer, stabilizer bars are larger and the dampers were revalved. As a result, the new truck feels robust yet compliant, capable and comfortable. It shudders less when bouncing off of rocky trails, maintaining better composure than ever.

The 5.3-liter V8 delivers solid thrust with good manners. Throttle tip-in is a bit softer than we remember from the previous truck, and there's still a bit of shake in the steering when you give it the beans. More seamless than ever, however, is the cylinder deactivation system, which swaps between V8 and V4 modes often and with complete transparency.

Meanwhile, the 4.3-liter V6 engine exhibits similar traits, just with the capability turned down a tick and the volume up a commensurate amount. Another indication of this engine's all-around legitimacy is that it will be available in all trim levels rather than relegated only to work truck variants, as was the case with the old V6.

The sole transmission available in all 2014 Chevrolet Silverados is the six-speed automatic carried over from the outgoing truck. It's a respectable and capable gearbox, but the ratio jumps are still too wide when towing, despite the huskier new engines. The anticipated (but not confirmed by GM brass) upcoming eight-speed transmission will be a welcome addition.

All-New Interior
Cabin materials have been upgraded in many areas, and there are noticeably more bins and cubbies in the new truck. A vast array of equipment is available, from a factory spray-in bedliner, lane departure warnings and forward collision alerts (that can, thankfully, be switched off) to a trailer brake controller, a Z71 Off-Road package and beyond. Fancypants LTZ models can even be equipped with heated and cooled seats and have up to five USB ports.

Higher trim levels also offer the impressive new MyLink multimedia interface, sporting a clear, sharp 8-inch display and intuitive screen flow. And because touch-sensitive screens aren't always the best (think bumpy roads) there are redundant knobs and buttons, as well as a truly effective voice command interface.

Towing ratings rise to a maximum of 11,400 pounds with a Max Trailering package, though if we were going to tow something that heavy with any regularity we'd step up to a brawnier 3/4-ton truck. We towed an 8,600-pound skid-steer with a 5.3-liter V8 Silverado, and while there was plenty of reserve grunt and no sweats broken, the ride would probably grow tiresome on a long haul.

More Truck, Same Money
Crew cabs will be the first to launch, available sometime this month, while the V6 rolls in shortly thereafter. Despite the list of changes for 2014, GM has held the line on pricing for the base trucks at $24,585 for regular cabs, $28,610 for double cabs and $32,710 for crew cabs. There are a few adjustments up and down when it comes to equipment, but no real "gotchas" to speak of.

That's welcome news considering the bump in civility and capability garnered by the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado. Loyalists to the brand will welcome the new truck with open arms, as it is demonstrably better than the outgoing Silverado in every meaningful way. Whether it's enough to fend off the accomplished new Ram 1500 and EcoBoost-havin' F-150s among cross-shoppers is a matter that will take time to sort out.

-Courtesy of Edmunds

Rain Weather Proof Your Vehicle

When it comes to driving in rain, there is nothing more important than having a good set of wiper blades. Windshield wiper blades are not meant to last forever. Most experts believe they should be changed at least twice a year or every 6,000 miles. But studies have shown that the average motorist changes his or her wiper blades just once every two or three years. As a result, many drivers are using blades that are cracked or frayed and not able to properly clear rain from the windshield. 

The rubber blade portion of the wiper is replaceable -- either as a rubber refill or a complete blade assembly -- and has a limited lifespan of just a few years. Leading wiper blade manufacturers like ANCO, Bosch and Trico, sell a range of blades for different weather conditions. Use their handy replacement chart to find the right one for your passenger car. Most consumers can replace the rubber refill or put on a new wiper blade assembly themselves by carefully following the directions on the package.

Goodyear engineers invented the original Aquatred tire over 10 years ago after listening to consumers who said they wanted longer tread wear and improved traction on rain-slick roads. Goodyear is now on its third version of the tire that helped define the "rain tire" category. Aquatreds range in price from $72 to $1,100, depending on tire size. Almost all tire manufacturers have at least one tire with wide center grooves and a tread pattern designed to remove water efficiently. 

Last year I participated in a tire demonstration sponsored by Bridgestone/Firestone. One test had us slamming on the brakes at nearly 55 mph in a wet traction zone. From that experience I learned that having good tires that can stop quickly on rain slick roads is essential and potentially life-saving.

When looking for rain tires, there are a couple of important things to consider: wet-traction handling and wet-braking distance. Take time to compare results among the tire manufacturers to see how they stack up. You can find additional tire care and consumer safety information by visiting the Department of Transportation (www.dot.gov) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (www.nhtsa.dot.gov). 

A good rain repellant will help give you a clear view of the road ahead. It is sprayed on your windshield before driving, providing an invisible film to repel rain from your window. The most popular brand is Rain-X, but other good alternatives are Amsoil Rain Clear Windshield Protectant and Aquapel Glass Treatment from Automotive International. 

Another rain accessory you might consider buying is Weather Flectors. Made of lightly tinted cast acrylic, the product installs inside the top of the window channel using a precision-machined, micro-thin mounting flange. On rainy days you can partially open your window without getting soaked, allowing an added bit of ventilation to remove stale or smoky air. Expect to spend about $80. 

- Courtesy of the Weather Channel

Mother's Day Wishes

We would like to wish all moms a Happy Mother's Day! What is your favorite memorable moment with your mom?