Maguire Automotive Group
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Below are the 10 most recent journal entries recorded in the "Maguire Automotive Group" journal:[<< Previous 10 entries]
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11:29 pm
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Car reviews: 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt
First it was the Chevrolet Cavalier from the 1980’s, now 20+ years later came the Chevrolet Cobalt. I know that the Cobalt will be discontinued after this year, but that does not mean that I have nothing good or bad to say about this car. After the Cavalier’s 20-year run from its debut in the 1980s, Chevrolet had made it clear that it will be replaced by something a bit more…retro, shall we say? Well, from the first moment I looked at that car, I thought to myself, “Hmm, this would be a great first car for me. Know what? Turns out I was right, and I was wrong at the same time. Why was I right? I currently have a Honda Civic, so I am used to driving more compact cars, but let’s just say that my Civic does not have as many amenities as the Cobalt.
First off, the Cobalt’s powertrain warranty (the bumper-to-bumper is still the same at 3yr/36k like my car) is higher than my car (5-year/100k vs. 5-year/60k miles), and the engine displacement is bumped up to 2.2 liters with 155 horsepower rather than my 1.8-liter 140 horsepower. Second, The Cobalt’s rear legroom is a bit more than my Civic, but not that much, though. Unlike my Civic which has just a split-folding bench seat, the Cobalt has a standard 60/40 split rear seat on all trim levels. Like what I have stated on one of my other articles on automotive technology, Chevrolet is part of General Motors, so OnStar is standard for the first year, which gives turn-by-turn directions and voice-activated concierge service as well as emergency roadside by the push of a button.
Chevrolet has added the MyLink Package particularly for the Cobalt which includes hands-free Bluetooth and a USB port for your iPod or iPhone. If you want to get the Bluetooth as a stand-alone item, then you will have to step up to the 1LT or 2LT trim. Of course, Chevrolet’s MyLink might not be as user-friendly as Ford’s SYNC system to some drivers, but I think we’re seeing some major competition between these two Michigan-based automobile companies. The only criticism that I have for the MyLink is the placement of the USB port. If you have a one-foot USB cord for your iPod, and the USB port is placed right on the radio instead of in the center console or the like, you will not have a descent place to put your iPod or iPhone, and the gear lever will be caught tangled by the USB cord.
No car in history has been developed so openly in the public eye as the forthcoming 2011 Chevrolet Volt. All other cars are designed and engineered behind tightly locked doors, with styling and mechanical details kept under wraps like those alien flying saucers held up in Area 51. Occasionally camouflaged test vehicles will be snapped by spy photographers in Death Valley, but otherwise, an all-new or completely redesigned car will remain concealed until shortly before going on sale. Not the Chevy Volt.
From the original concept car's unveil in January 2007 to today, the Volt's progress has been diligently reported by a GM desperate for positive news, and followed by not only automotive enthusiasts, but the world at large. Rarely has a car that isn't even sold yet enjoyed such instant name recognition. Now, after years of engineering testing and development, the 2011 Chevy Volt is just around the corner in its production form and we've finally gotten a chance to drive it.
Though there are still real-world tests to be conducted and further questions to be answered — cost, range and gas mileage being the 300-pound gorillas in the room — our view of the Volt is starting to come into focus. Below you'll find our initial impressions as well as the basics about what the Volt is and what makes it so different. You've certainly heard about the Volt. Now it's time to find out the story behind the hoopla.
Performance
The 2010 Chevy Volt is not an electric car in the traditional sense. It is not a hybrid in the traditional sense, either. Instead, the Volt is an entirely new type of automotive creature — technically known as a "series plug-in hybrid." It behaves like an electric vehicle with 150 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque until its lithium-ion battery pack is depleted, at which point a small 1.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine acts as a generator. That engine never directly drives the wheels, as in a conventional hybrid like the Toyota Prius, and it can only recharge the battery in very limited quantities.
The transition between the Volt's electric-only and gasoline generator modes is surprisingly unnoticeable. Though the pavement during our test-drive was admittedly quite poor and caused louder-than-usual road noise, it was difficult to tell when the gasoline engine was on. Not only is it rather quiet under normal driving, but there's no telltale shudder like in a Honda Insight, for instance. Only under aggressive acceleration in Sport mode (which adds about 30 hp to the electric motor) or when coming to a stop is the Volt's gasoline engine perceptibly noisy. And even then, turn on the radio and air-conditioning and you'll be hard-pressed to tell something out of the ordinary is happening.
However, should your commute home and back stay within the Volt's estimated low-speed cruising range of 40 miles, the gasoline engine would only ever come on once every few months — to maintain itself and the fuel system. In that scenario, though, you'd have to plug the Volt into a household 120-volt (estimated 8-hour recharge from drained) or 240-volt circuit (3 hours) every night.
What will its fuel economy be? GM was quick to advertise an estimated mileage number of 230 mpg, but that figure is highly suspect. Because of the Volt's dual nature and ability to run solely on electricity, you could theoretically achieve infinite miles per gallon by driving 230 miles over the course of a week, but recharging in your garage every night. However, if you travel 230 miles in one go on a road trip, you would achieve an estimated 38.3 mpg because the gasoline engine would be running almost constantly for 191 miles. Furthermore, the electric-only range depends on driving conditions such as traffic, grades and your driving style. "Your mileage may vary" has never been more true.
So how did GM get its number? Well, it is what's called an mpg equivalency. Should you drive the Volt in a very prescribed manner, it would achieve the equivalent of 230 mpg based on the actual gasoline burned as well as the energy produced by the power grid and consumed by the car. It's more of a mathematical equation than a real testing number. The important thing is that the Volt will use substantially less petroleum than a similarly sized vehicle under typical driving conditions. Its highway range is estimated to be 340 miles, though its gas tank size has yet to be finalized.
Beyond the powertrain, the Volt again seems pretty darn normal. The ride is a bit firmer than in a Prius, and its electric power steering is linear and well-weighted. This is in contrast to that of other Chevy vehicles (the Equinox, for instance), which tend to be numb in feel and overly light in effort. While we wouldn't call the Volt fun to drive, it seems like one of the more involving among alternative-fuel and hybrid cars.
Comfort
The Chevy Volt is roughly the same size as a Toyota Prius, but its cabin seems smaller. There are also only four seats, as the spot normally reserved for a rear middle passenger is taken up by cupholders and a bin placed atop part of the T-shaped battery pack. There is unfortunately no center armrest. This obviously makes it less versatile than a traditional sedan or the Prius. Head- and legroom up front are generous, while the rear seat is acceptable. There's about the same amount of headroom as in a Prius, though occupants' heads will be positioned under the hatch's glass. When the sun is behind the car, they will get hot, and there are no rear-seat air vents to cool them down.
Function
The Chevy Volt has a decidedly futuristic-looking cabin, but thankfully, its usability doesn't suffer for it. Its center stack controls for the stereo, climate control and other systems are touch-sensitive, but their layout is similar to that of the pleasantly functional new Equinox. Similar to that in the Cadillac CTS, an actual touchscreen houses radio presets and more in-depth functions, while displaying all pertinent information and the back-up camera.
The gauges take a bit more getting used to, as they aren't gauges, so to speak. An LCD screen shows all the usual information (speed, gear selection, turn signals, warning lights), plus a graphic that encourages energy-efficient driving. A battery life meter is displayed while in electric mode, but once the battery is depleted, that meter is replaced by a gas gauge. In general, this setup could be construed as a little busy and distracting, but on our initial test-drive, at least, the LCD didn't seem to be adversely affected by sunlight.
As for cargo space, the Volt features 10.6 cubic feet under its hatchback. This is much less than the Prius offers and even a bit less than the similarly sized Honda Civic sedan. But since it's a hatchback, carrying around bulky items should be relatively easy.
Design/Fit and Finish
Forget that sleek, coupelike vehicle that was originally introduced to the world as the Chevy Volt. Reality has dictated that it needs to be a more traditional, practical shape for aerodynamic reasons and to accommodate people and their stuff. The resulting sedan is still handsome and arguably has more flair than the similarly shaped Prius and Insight.
The interior is noteworthy for its unique trim options. Our test car featured an iPod-like white center stack and steering wheel trim, while the front doors were adorned with 3D graphics. There will be different trim and graphics available. As this was a pre-production vehicle, it was impossible to determine what sort of materials quality and construction will be in the final version.
Who Should Consider This Vehicle
The 2011 Chevy Volt is an intriguing vehicle that could radically change cars and the way we drive, but there is still a lot to learn about its range, gas mileage, final interior quality and price tag before we give it our full endorsement.
Tags: car dealer nj, chevorlet, chevy, maguire auo group
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05:01 pm
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GM gives $6.66 million in stock to top executives
General Motors Co. gave stock valued at $6.66 million to 14 top managers, including $1.33 million worth to CEO Ed Whitacre.
The 123,347 shares were valued at $53.98 each, a price determined by a third party, the company said today in filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
GM gives executives salary stock units and restricted shares to augment their compensation, which is constrained by government rules because the automaker is 61 percent owned by the U.S. Treasury Department. The company must disclose the shares it grants in filings every quarter.
The company's equity should be worth $70 billion, according to a May 20 report by Eric Selle, a JPMorgan Chase & Co. debt analyst who projects a return of 47 cents on the dollar for holders of bonds issued by GM's predecessor, General Motors Corp., that will be converted to stock and warrants in new GM.
GM's implied equity value is about $47 billion at today's bond prices. Assuming 500 million shares, that would equate to about $94 a share. At that price, the shares granted today would be worth a total of $11.6 million.
Whitacre, whose stock would be worth about $2.31 million based on GM's bonds, also receives a $1.7 million annual cash salary.
Chief Financial Officer Chris Liddell was awarded 15,979 shares worth about $862,500 under GM's valuation and $1.5 million at market rates. Liddell receives a base salary of $750,000 a year.
Some executives sold shares back to the Detroit-based company. Managers sold 7,924 shares for a total of about $427,700, according to the filings. Vice Chairman Tom Stephens sold the most, 1,460 shares for about $78,800. Whitacre and Liddell didn't sell shares.
source: autonews.com
Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100702/OEM02/100709962/1178#ixzz0siDcvrfd
Tags: auto news, automotive, bob maguire, chevrolet, chevy, general motors, gm, maguire auo group, trenton
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04:29 pm
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Free home charging stations for 4,400 early bird adopters
With the production Chevy Volt set to debut later this month and sales to start by the end of the year, General Motors is announcing that up to 4,400 early adopters could receive free home charging stations. Its not GM that will provide the charging stations, but rather the U.S. Department of energy, with two companies, ECOtality and Coulomb Technologies having agreed to install 1,600 and 1,800 chargers, respectively. In total, the DOE is planning to install 15,000 plug-in chargers across the country.
Buyers be ware, however, as the charger might not be entirely free. A more detailed analysis of the Chevy press release reveals that that chargers are expected to cost around $2,000 – while the DOE project is likely to save Volt owners anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000. In other words, Volt buyers could be left covering the difference. Still, any discount is a good discount.
Tags: bob maguire, bordentown, chevrolet, chevy, chevy volt production, coulomb, doe, ecotalit, general motors, gm, volt
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06:32 am
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1931 Chevrolet 5-Window Coupe
Take a peek in to the captivation story of the vintage 1931 Chevrolet 5-Window Coupe. This car at its release in 1931 boasts an array of features to suit the low budget with great mileage and features. The initial ad aired in 1931 features, the car manufactured with a hard wood and steel body, its ‘free wheeling and great gear shifts. The original commercial can be viewed on Youtube.1931 Chevrolet 5-Window Coupe)
The main feature of this vintage classic is its 6 cylinders engine contrary to the four cylinders of the Ford Model A’s and Model T’s. The 6 cylinder engine prevented the car from stalling when thrust to high or low speeds. The price of this vintage beauty now a days of course is next to priceless but in 1931 the car cost a staggering $445 and with spot delivery at all Chevy Dealerships with a 14 models choice.
The car was marketed for women as its was a 5 seater with great fuel efficiency and weather resistant and trouble free 4-wheel brakes making it a great for women.
The first Chevrolet manufacturing plant opened its doors on 3rd Nov 1911 and with production of the 4 cylinder sedan and the following year the “Classic 6” made its debut with a six cylinder engine and a seating capacity of five suitable for touring. There was stiff rivalry between Ford and Chevrolet during this period. The Chevy promised better speed with the Classic 6 which ran at a speed of 65 miles per hour versus the Ford Model T which ran at 45 mile per hour, however Ford later introduced the Model A which reached the 65 mile per hour mark. By the year 1929 the six cylinder engine was a standard for all cars manufactured and Chevy introduce its new and improved six cylinder engine.
The 1931 Chevy was called by the Ladies Home Journal as ‘a smart and colorful automobile with plenty of spirit and dash.’ This was the year that Chevrolet out performed the Ford in terms of its sales and its signature slogan “The Great American Value.” The cars were also available in many sporty colors like Ravenswood Brown, Boatswain Blue, and Cellini Green. However 1932 saw Ford rise to the competition with the introduction of its 8-cylinder engine that caused a drop in sales for Chevrolet.
The history of the early Chevrolet is quite insightful as told by Sharon and John MacDonald from oldcarandtruckpictures.com and from the writers at timelessrides.com.They state that Detroit Michigan was the birthplace of the very first Chevy drawing and were made sometime in March 1911 and the first cars were built between August 1911 to 1913. It is quite fascinating to note that cars back then could move at speeds of 65 mph. The year 1912 saw the first time release of the 4.9 L 6 cylinder Classic Six which could accommodate 5 people and reach a maximum speed of 65 mph.
The name Chevrolet has very interesting story. Louis Chevrolet was as very famous Swiss race car driver and William Durant the then head of the Classis 6 prototype took a liking to the last name “Chevrolet” as it has become a ‘ prominent name in motor sports.
Tags: bob maguire, bordentown, car dealers, chevrolet, chevrolet car dealers, chevy, chevy new jersey, maguire auto, maguire auto group, new jersey
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06:28 am
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Writer's Block: Cheating with a side of bacon
yes i have changed to non veg for my love relationship with my wife. It did not last long as our relationship
Tags: writer's block
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03:22 pm
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Limited Inventories
GM also plans to revise its limited inventory of all its 2010 launched Chevrolet vehicles like and plans an increase in its production during the course of the year as announced by Mark Reuss President, GM North America, in a conference call press meet on Wednesday. He also said that as per the present UWA contract the company would require to employ new workers at lower wages. He however did not disclose specific timelines for the projected production increase, or the hire of new employees and at which facility.
Mr.Reuss also said “I honestly don't have all that figured out yet because we're growing the company back in a very responsible and disciplined way,” and “We want to do it in a way that we're sure that what we're doing there is needed by the company for a long time.” He also turned down the question whether the investment for the Next Generation Malibu would see a hike in capacity or give way to new employees. His only statement was to measure the sales success of the Malibu regardless of the capacity constraints of the Kansas City plant. “And I would tell you that the next-generation model is even better,” he added.
Tags: auto news, automotive, certified car dealers, chevrolet, chevy, chevy cars, consumer news, gm, kansas, malibu, new cars, used cars
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04:43 pm
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Review on Chevy Traverse
Chevy Traverse is one of the most popular affordable mid-sized SUVs. This automotive with eight passenger seating arrangement is stylish in its own way. It is very spacious, with good space for cargo as well as passengers. This is the reason it is considered as a good, great family SUV.
Chevy Traverse came in market in 2009, and became Chevrolet’s first large crossover SUV. Basically it replaced one of Chevrolet’s products Uplander minivan.
It is much compared to its compared to its counter parts like GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave. However, it has been found that it’s best among them. If one is planning to buy a mid-sized SUV, Chevy Traverse with large cabin is best option one can look through.
Space is the most important part of this SUV; it has a standard third-row seat that makes eight adults fit in very comfortably. Apart from this the cargo space (even when people are sitting) provided by Chevy Traverse is great, in fact no other SUV, in same class can match this space. It is economical in fuel usage as compared to other SVUs. It has smooth driving dynamics. You can say its star on pavement. It provides with stable and smooth ride along with good and decent acceleration.
The present day model that is 2010 Chevy Traverse is available at various trim levels like LS, 1LT, 2LT and LTZ. These models are present in front or all wheel drives. There has not been much change in the model since 2009 as it has been a year; the new addition to 2010 model is addition of USB ports. It is very much identical to its base model released in 2009.
It has been awarded with five star rating by federal government where safety is concerned. The crash tests were conducted by federal government in all the seating positions for frontal and side impacts
It has got four star rating for preventing rollover accidents. Along with this it has many other standard safety features that include OnStar Automatic Crash Response and Roadside Assistance, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, driver and passenger airbags, rear body airbags, thorax side impact airbags, Traction Control System, StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control System and Rear Parking Assist (an option in base model).
One gets all this at a very affordable pricing. It is averagely priced around $29,000 that comes out to be good value for money.
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Current Location: Bordentown
Tags: auto reviews, chevrolet, chevy traverse, general motors, gm, new jersey, nj
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09:50 am
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GM Announces Marketing/Sales Shake Up
GM Announces Marketing/Sales Shake Up:
8th March 2010
Detroit-General Motors today announced a restructured North American Organization with a number of key leadership changes.
GM North America gearing up towards improving the company’s brands and products. This is planned through combined sales and marketing organization by engaging experts in that particular area. Flatter structure and accountability will be main agenda.
Susan Docherty is appointed is appointed as vice president marketing, U.S. marketing, reporting to Reuss. Similarly Jim Campbell is U.S. Marketing Vice president Chevrolet, Don Butler, U.S. marketing Vice President, Cadillac, and John Schwegman, U.S. Marketing Vice President Buick-GMC.
Similarly sales organization, Alan Batey, Vice President Sales and service Chevrolet, Brian Sweeney would be Vice president, U.S.Sales and Service, Buick-GMC and Kurt Mc. Neil as U.S.Sales and Service Vice president Cadillac.
North American team is also supported with executive from key functions including human resources, legal, information and technology, and communication.
Reuss concluded this with his words as “This is my team, leaders with exceptional talent from around the world, combined with strategic thinking from outside. They are the right team for GM North America now, hand-picked and put in place to win”.
Current Location: Bordentown
Tags: auto news, automotive news, bob maguire, bordentown, chevrolet, chevy, general motors, gm, hamilton, new jersey, nj
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07:53 am
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GM confirms round-the-clock shift for Cruze at Lordstown
GM expects annual production of the Cruze to exceed 200,000 units. General Motors is going to announce that Lordstown will be getting a third shift. The Chevrolet Cruze small car arrives at dealerships in the third quarter.
Lordstown , Ohio is the plant where GM is going to be building its new compact Chevrolet Cruze, and apparently they think the demand is going to be pretty high for this handsome little sedan.
Lordstown was supposed to be a round the clock plan when then GM CEO Rick Wagoner announced a third shift and $350 million investment in the plant. That was way back in August 2008, By september, the industry and the whole country found themselves in a free fall. By January 2009, two shifts were eliminated at Lordstown, idling some 2,800 workers. Last April General Motors idled the whole plant for three weeks to cut supply and lower operating costs.
The addition of a third shift should bring a number of union employees back to work building the all-important new Cruze, with the highly efficient, 40-mile-per-gallon Cruze arriving in dealerships this fall.
The factory currently makes the Chevrolet Cobalt, with production scheduled to end in June. Since then, GM has ramped up production at three other plants. Factories in Ingersoll , Ontario , and Kansas City , Kan. , are running three shifts, and GM’s SUV plant in Arlington , Texas , is running 20 hours a day, five days a week.
General Motors has said it will implement third shifts this spring at plants in Delta Township , Michigan . “Cruze is the perfect example of how GM’s turnaround is focused on the right products at the right time,” Reuss added. This is a global car already reached in 60 international markets. Based on that reaction, we expect the plant will be busy for North America .
Tags: auto news, chevrole hot list, chevy, chevy modells, chvrolet, cruze, new jersey, nj, nj car dealers
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10:47 pm
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We regret to inform you.....
I regret to inform you of our family’s decision to permanently close our Saturn Dealership in Toms River, NJ. I want to begin by thanking all of our customers for the tremendous support you have given to our family business and the wonderful team of employees that have worked diligently at Saturn of Toms River over the past two decades. The personal relationships that have developed over the years make this decision that much harder. By now I am sure that you are aware that General Motors has decided to phase out the Saturn brand. As a result, the time has come for us to cease operations out of the Saturn of Toms River facility since we no longer have Saturn vehicles to offer for sales. More so, the decision to allow other GM dealers to perform Saturn warranty repair work has drastically affected our ability to maintain our day-to-day service and parts operations. We tried to go above and beyond in working with our customers by operating as an exclusive service and parts facility for more then 3 months, but the time has come to end this chapter of our business.
I want to assure you that your Saturn vehicle warranty remains in full effect so you will continue to receive service and parts support from GM. While you no longer will see us in our Toms River location, you are still part of the Maguire Automotive Group family, and we invite you to join us at our other dealerships, Windsor Nissan in East Windsor, NJ and Bob Maguire Chevrolet in Bordentown, NJ. In fact, you can still bring your Saturn vehicle to us for warranty repairs since Bob Maguire Chevrolet in Bordentown, New Jersey is a Saturn Authorized Saturn Provider. Your Maguire Loyalty Reward dollars, as always, are redeemable at any of our dealerships locations. You can expect the same high level of service and integrity that has made Saturn of Toms River stand out among all of the brands in the Toms River auto market. Our experienced Saturn technicians will continue to provide you with the best care, honoring all of your warranty and service contract commitments just as they were in Toms River.
I truly hope that we see many of you in Bordentown or East Windsor, as the Saturn stores have meant so much to our organization in developing the way that we do business that has set our stores above the competition. On behalf of everyone that has been involved with Saturn of Toms River, thank you so much for an experience that has truly enriched our lives.
Robert J. Maguire
Chairman
Maguire Auto Group
Current Mood:  cheerful
Tags: saturn, sotr
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