Introducing the Todd Wenzel Platinum Program!

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When you drive a Todd Wenzel vehicle, we want you to have a premium experience. That’s why we are excited to announce that starting today, all new and certified used vehicle buyers will be automatically enrolled in our brand new Todd Wenzel Platinum Program! This program offers our customers a buying and ownership experience unlike any other dealership in West Michigan. The exclusive benefits include:

  • FREE vehicle detail by appointment every time your vehicle is in service.
  • FREE service pickup and delivery within a 50 mile radius of our dealership.
  • New loaner vehicle available by reservation with any service appointment.
  • $19.95 oil changes for as long as you own your vehicle.
  • Exclusive promotions and special offers reserved only for our Platinum VIP customers.
  • Lowest Price Guaranteed – find a better price on a new or certified used vehicle and we’ll beat it.
  • Guaranteed highest trade-in value – we will give you more for your trade-in than any other dealer.
  • Rebate Protection – if GM increases their rebate offer within 30 days of your purchase, we will credit the difference to you.
  • FREE Certified Vehicle Maintenance Plan on every certified used vehicle. This two-year/30,000 mile standard vehicle maintenance plan includes oil changes based on your vehicles Oil Life Monitor System, tire rotations and Multi Point Vehicle Inspection. Plus a comprehensive 12-month/12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.

Are you ready to be treated like a VIP? Visit Todd Wenzel Chevrolet in Hudsonville or Todd Wenzel Buick GMC in Grand Rapids!

The Volt Experience – week 3 and 4

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In the final two weeks of our experiment, Ric and Leandro share their observations through written and video journals. Ric has definitely adjusted his driving style when he’s behind the wheel and Leandro is pleasantly surprised by the creature comforts the Volt affords. After a month of running on electric power and saving big at the pump, they regrettably return the vehicle to Todd Wenzel Chevrolet. Thank you Ric and Leandro, for sharing your Volt Experience with us!

From Ric
A favorite feature of the Volt is the touch screen display over the central console.  It is VERY EASY to change or select any display feature available, but I find myself changing very little while focusing on my driving.

I have virtually retrained my driving style to eliminate “jack rabbit starts” and screeching halts at braking.  I find myself taking it a bit more easy in my overall driving habits, particularly due to the fact that every move I make is shown in simple graphics on the display screen.  I feel a bit guilty if I am wasting energy by flooring the gas pedal or pumping on the brakes rather than downshifting into “low” for slowing or going through curves or when cornerning.

On my continued trips out of town for court appearances or meetings, the Volt consistently pleases me…a two hour trip to the east side of the state costs just a few dollars in gas and electricity…a far cry from the $100 plus fill up cost of my Mercedes SUV, diesel powered and very expensive to operate.  I have not forgotten to turn off the car when parking since my first mistake during week number 2.

We have had continued mild weather, and there has not been enough snowfall to coat the roads, at least in West Michigan. I was looking forward to seeing how the Volt handles on snowy roads. Entering into my final week of the Volt Experience, I might get a chance to see how it handles in the snow.

Trips to the mall and to various retail outlets over the past week after Thanksgiving has given me a lot of opportunities for short trips, always on electric power. The Volt still draws stares and comments from fellow drivers and shoppers. It’s with a sense of pride and environmental responsibility that I have enjoyed this unique vehicle for the past month.

This past Sunday afternoon, we went to Squires Tree Farm in Rockford for a Christmas tree. Not wanting to mess up the spacious interior with pine needles or the roof with pine pitch, a friend accompanied us and we put our tree in the back of his GMC pick up truck. Two 7 foot Frasier fir Christmas trees were gulped up in the spacious truck bed, and I was glad that we did not try to use the Volt as a truck. But for shopping trips and lots of packages, whether to Costco or to Macys, the Volt has an amazing amount of cargo space, plus room for additional passengers, or one lucky Scottish Terrior named Barney who loves the ride!

The battery problems are dealt with by GM with a buy-back program, but in a recent Grand Rapids Press article, one featured owner has no plans of returning the vehicle. If I were an owner at this point rather than driving the Volt as a demo, I would most certainly stick with the Volt. It’s been a great experience.

From Leandro
For a month I drove the Volt from Grand Rapids to GVSU in Allendale. In the beginning I was quite nervous because I did not understand the fact that the car would stop running on battery power and switch to electricity generated by gas after 36 miles. That happened the first time I drove it and it went so smoothly I almost did not realize it. I find many people like the design of the Volt, as I got lots of compliments from people at GVSU and while driving around Grand Rapids. I feel fortunate for having had the opportunity of driving the car of the future.

The overall experience could not have been better. While I was driving it I felt secure. It did not take me long to figure out how the car works, because it shares similarities with my other car, a Chevy Equinox. It is really cool to drive and you feel you are not contaminating the planet! The Volt hardly makes any noise when it’s running on battery power, and when it switches to gas there is a vibration, but it’s minimal.

The navigation system is nice, and so is the sound of the stereo. The touch screen has the same logic of my iPad, so it is quite handy. The car has two digital screens, but only one is touchable. I thought that issue was going to be somehow distracting, but that did not happen at all.

I was concerned to hear about the battery issues, but our experience was without issue. The car worked as promised 100%. It is a great car to travel in…I drove pretty fast regularly and I did not feel the Volt was any slower than other cars. Of course, as an electric car, it takes a couple of seconds longer to increase the speed, but nothing considerable at all.

The interior space is great, and there is room for 4 adults. The electronic system is also great, for example you can program the car to heat up the seats every time you start the car. The graphics of the screens are tasteful and sleek, which is exiting to watch. I would buy it no question at all!

Buick Continues to get Rave Reviews!

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Today, Detroit News columnist Scott Burgess reviews the all new Buick Regal GS. This high- performing luxury car is sporty, fun to drive and unlike any Buick you’ve been in before! They’re on our lot, so stop by for a test drive!

Strong Buick Regal GS makes up for lost time
European-inspired car is a beast under the hood, a beauty inside and out

SCOTT BURGESS

The 2012 Buick Regal can perform all of those daily duties with class and aplomb. It’s a fine ride indeed.

But, really, it’s when you find yourself behind the clock, running late to a meeting across town, that the Regal GS shows its true stripes: Tiger stripes. This car is a beast in Buick sheet metal.

First, allow me to backtrack. I hate being late. Nothing is more disrespectful than to show up after an agreed-upon time to meet someone. But now and again, we all try to do a little too much and get behind. So at noon one day, I found myself racing north along Interstate 75, one eye tracing the shoulder of the road up ahead, the other watching my rear-view mirror for that certain group of people sworn to protect and serve me a traffic summons.

The Regal GS, created as the sporty edition of the midsize sedan, knew its role. The 270-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 295 pound-feet of torque lets this car glide at high speeds. Drop it down to fourth gear with the extremely smooth gear shifter and this car pounces on the nearby cars.

Touch a single button and the four-wheel independent suspension goes from firm to aggressive. The Computer Dampening System continuously adjusts the suspension to handle any road input and smooth out the ride. The CDS is part of the drive-control system that has three settings: Standard, Sport and GS. As you adjust it, concrete seams disappear. The suspension system was also designed to help eliminate torque steer — that awful twist of the steering wheel caused by too much power getting to one wheel first. Torque steer has always been one of the worst features of front-wheel-drive performance cars. The Regal GS hardly has any.

When this Regal is in GS mode, even the steering tightens up to provide a firm, steady feel; you zig when everyone else is zagging. Even on those solid-line curvy parts of I-75 north of Hamtramck, the Regal GS holds its lines perfectly at higher speeds. At times, it felt like a video game. Acceleration at speed was just a push of the pedal away.

But the Regal GS needs a pilot’s deliberate hand to make it fly. Look far ahead, see the space between two cars, downshift, keep a steady hand and gun it. The car will clear the gap — every time.

There’s a reason the Regal has such a strong European feel. It’s a European car, otherwise known as the Opel Insignia. And this Regal is just as good as that Insignia, with only minor changes and a change in badges, because most Americans associate a big lightning bolt with Shazam — the superhero, not the app.

But there are some top-notch American qualities to this machine as well. It’s luxurious and well-appointed once you cross the stainless steel sill plate and step inside. Sitting in the leather 12-way adjustable driver’s seat, the fit is firm but comfortable, though I recommend tightening the bolsters to help you through sharp cornering or big exit ramps. The thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel, complete with a number of buttons to adjust the radio’s volume and operate the cruise control, also feels good in your hands — though the bottom of the wheel feels almost too thick.

The 336-watt, nine-speaker Harman Kardon stereo will blast any soundtrack you need for speed. (My list includes the songs “Planet Claire,” “Living for the City” and “Been Around the World.”)

True to its roots

While this Buick delivers on performance, it stays true to Buick’s luxurious roots. The look and feel of all of the materials are of high quality. And there are little surprises, such as the 120-volt outlet that allows you to plug in anything and recharge batteries.

There’s Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free phone operation and a USB connection for playing music. Buick also features its new IntelliLink system, which allows occupants to play apps such as Pandora and Stitcher through a seven-inch touch-screen instead of the phone. IntelliLink uses icons on the main screen and is easy to operate, either by touch-screen or a rotating knob and buttons on the center console. It’s simple to control, and that means your eyes stay on the road.

One feature I looked for but didn’t find was a rear-view camera. Visibility out the back was not very good, so there was concern, even though the Regal GS has sensors that beep as you approach objects.

Buick also features a smartphone app through OnStar that lets you start the vehicle remotely, unlock it without your keys, and monitor car information, such as oil level, tire pressure and other items.

The app is easy to use, but mostly it’s used to show off that you can unlock your doors from Paris.

Classic sedan lines

The exterior looks just as comfortable in Paris, Texas, as it does anywhere else in the world.

This car has those classic sedan lines. It’s low to the ground, well-planted and elegant at the same time. (Buick lowered the Regal GS about four-tenths of an inch compared to the regular Regal.)

Special front and rear ends give it a more racer-like look and the bi-xenon headlamps are standard.

The front includes more aggressive intakes below the bumper, and the steep windshield gives the car a fast look even when it’s parked.

The Regal GS’s backside includes dual exhaust tips that are flush with the back fascia and just look cool.

At first glance, this car doesn’t look like any Buick from this brand’s past.

But that’s the thing — this brand has already left that past behind. The Regal GS shows where Buick is heading. It’s sporty, fun and good looking. It’s a young person’s sedan. It belongs to someone who is busy, has a schedule to keep and likes to arrive on time.

And just during those few times it looks like you might be late, the Regal GS lets you steal a few minutes and spend them elsewhere.

This car doesn’t turn back the clock — it’s the future.

sburgess@detnews.com

(313) 223-3217

Additional Facts

Report card

Overall: ★★★★
Exterior: Excellent; Sharp-looking sedan with strong lines and a beautiful back end.
Interior: Excellent; Nicely appointed with lots of high-tech features. Feels well-crafted throughout.
Performance: Excellent; Lots of power and excellent suspension allow this Regal to roar.
Pros: Feels nice on the road under regular driving; feels even better when the car’s limits are pushed.
Cons: Starting price will catch some off guard, but it’s worth it.

The Volt Experience – Week 2

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Week 2 of the Volt Experience has our driver enjoying his electric vehicle and avoiding the pump!

Week Two:

Routine trips around Grand Rapids challenged me to keep the battery charged as I tried to avoid gassing up.
My daily commute to my office 3 miles from my home resulted in a nearly seamless electricity experience.
I always thought it humorous to see the Volt in my garage each morning, orange 110v power cord plugged in and fully recharged each morning. I’m not sure why it looked so funny other than it’s such a novel sight to see a car plugged into an electric source.

Just a normal workday for Ric. The Volt got him to a live interview on legal topics for the Fox 17 Morning Show.

The weather stayed unseasonably warm, no threats of snow and very little icy roads through the week. The Volt continues to handle well and continues to impress me with it’s silent ride, consistent power, and overall great transportation consistency. When the battery runs out of charge and the gas engine takes over, it is imperceptable and seemless. I rarely notice when the change-over takes place unless I remind myself to look at the graphic display showing power usage. The overall mileage averages about 140 mpg which is unheard of.

5 Travel Tips for Thanksgiving Day

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Did you know that on average, 38 million Americans travel at least 50 miles for their Thanksgiving destination? So we decided to give you a few tips to ensure safe travels.

1. Check your tires prior to departure. Make sure you have enough tread and your tires are properly inflated. Properly inflated tires not only increase your fuel mileage but help your vehicle’s traction to dry, wet or snowy pavement.

2. Although the weather report for Michigan looks mild for this Thanksgiving, moving into winter it is a good idea to pack a mini-emergency kit in case you become stranded, lost or broken down. These items include a flashlight and extra batteries, jumper cables, window scraper and a shovel. Also carry warm clothes, blankets, a First Aid kit, matches, extra food and water.

3. If possible, secure food dishes in your trunk or cargo space using a few bungee cords and the tie-down anchor points in the cargo floor. A small laundry basket lined with towels behind the back seat is another good option.

4. If you don’t own a travel casserole dish, try securing casseroles with a grippy drawer liner to prevent them from sliding around.

5. Tinfoil is your best friend when transporting pies. If you’re transporting just one pie, take an extra metal pie tin, flip it upside down and use it to tent the pie. To transport two pies, place them side by side on a baking sheet, wrap tinfoil around the pies and baking sheet, and then secure the tinfoil around the baking sheet’s edges.

The staff at Todd Wenzel Automotive wishes you a safe & happy Thanksgiving.

The Volt Experience – Week 1

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Ric Roane at Todd Wenzel Chevrolet with the Volt he's driving for the next 30 days as part of the Volt Experience

Ric Roane, friend of our dealership and attorney in Grand Rapids, has parked his personal vehicle for the next 30 days to participate in the Volt Experience. We’ve asked him to put the Chevy Volt to the test – to complete missions around the city – and report his stories, observations, photos and videos.

Read on to see how week one with the Volt proves to be a pleasant surprise for Rick…

Day One

Picked up the 2012 Chevy Volt at Todd Wenzel Chevrolet in Hudsonville. After an hour orientation with Bob and I think I can operate this complex vehicle. I’m quite excited.  Driving carefully away from the dealership, the control and video panel displays my every move and habit…no more jack rabbit starts or slamming on of brakes. The battery is fully charged and has a capacity of 35 miles. It’s about 30 miles to my house, and I decide to take the expressway rather than surface roads. Pulling onto the e-way, the car has great power and pick up as I merge into traffic. I set the cruise control at 65 miles and cars whiz past me, but I happily drive on electricity the whole way home. Bit by bit, the battery gauge shows depletion and I pull off at my regular exit. My nightly routine usually includes a stop at the grocery store on the way home for just the right item for dinner. I pull into the Family Fare parking lot, dash in for a few things, and come back out to the Volt, gleaming black under the florescent lights of the parking lot. The gauge shows 2 miles of battery life left, and I am one mile from home. I pull into the garage and shut the car down at 1 mile remaining. Using the handy 110v power cord, I plug the Volt into my wall outlet for the night. One display feature tells me that the car will be fully charged by 8 am on 110, or by midnight on 240v which I do not have (yet). What a ride!!!

Ric's Volt, looking sharp under the lights at Family Fare

Day Two

Eight a.m. and it’s time to leave for my three mile one way commute to work. Sure enough, the battery has fully charged and is ready to go. I drive down Fulton Street into downtown. The Volt handles beautifully, giving power when needed. I am re-learning how to drive, using the low gear for slowing down, cornering and coming to stop lights. I park in the Ellis lot at my office in the Warner/Fifth Third buidling and wish that I could plug the car in to an EV charging station as I work all day. Something to put on my to do list…ask Mike Ellis to insltall an EV Charging Station in the parking garage.

Day Three

I have a two day seminar in Plymouth, MI, a 141 mile drive away. I carpool with one co-worker, and she is fascinated by the technology and the concept of a green drive across the Motor State…I called ahead to the conference center asking if they have an EV Charging Station on premises. They do not, but suggested that I fill out a suggestion card and leave it for their management. I ask politely when are they going to get into the 21st Century…The back cargo space has enough room for two suitcases, two briefcases, and two suit bags, with plenty of room to spare. Of course, we are on gasoline power most of the way to Plymouth.

Day Four

I grab three conference attendees and we head out for dinner after a day long conference.  We drive through the neighborhoods into the commercial district of Livonia, and park at Mitchell’s Seafood restaurant. The Volt is the only in the crowded lot. The valet attendant is fascinated by the car, and it gets a lot of additional stares from other diners. After dinner, we head back to the conference center. The temperature has dropped dramatically and I turn on the defroster and heat and the car warms us up in about 1 minute.

Day Five

Conference ends at noon and we head back to GR on gasoline power. I am becoming more familiar with the features, and particularly enjoy the display of power usage and the navigational system which is light years ahead of the Nav system in my 5 year old Mercedes SUV.

Day Six

Sunday and the weather is 60. We did yard work and left the car in the garage all day long.  Fully charged but we drove nowhere all day. That was a really green day!

Day Seven

Roadtrip to Court in Charlevoix. Smooth on the expressway, great mileage, gas power the whole way. I stopped to refuel and spent $28.00 for a 9 gallon of premium. A far cry cheaper than filling the 27 gallon tank on the Mercedes SUV with Diesel which topped $4.19 a gallon this week. I parked the car at the lot at the courthouse, and 3 hours later came out and the car was running. It is so quiet that somehow I forgot to turn it off and it sat there, running in silence all that time. Dumb, but it worked out.

Where will Ric and the Volt show up next? What are his favorite features? Stay tuned for more updates from Ric and his Volt Experience!

Chevy Centennial Celebration

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Todd Wenzel Chevrolet in Hudsonville will be celebrating 100 Years of Chevy on Saturday November 5th from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Stop by to see vintage Chevrolets and our 2012 vehicle line-up, including the amazing Centennial Edition Corvette, all new Chevy Sonic and the electric Volt. While you’re browsing, enjoy a complimentary slice of apple pie, glass of apple cider or a delicious donut treat from Post Family Farms.

We’ll be raffling off special Centennial edition prizes from 1:00 – 3:00 while JQ99 broadcasts live from our showroom. Plus, West Michigan Whitecaps mascot, Crash will be here from 1:30 – 2:30 helping us raffle off 2012 Whitecaps tickets!

Find out more about Chevy’s Centennial here.

Chevy Celebrates 100 Years In Song with Pandora Station

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Did you know that there are more than 600 songs that mention Chevrolet, Chevy or the name of a Chevy vehicle in their lyrics? How many can you think of?

The good news is that you don’t have to spend too much time trying to remember, because Chevy has teamed up with Pandora and created a dedicated station featuring the Top 100 songs mentioning this iconic brand. This effort is just one of the many ways Chevy is celebrating its 100th anniversary, which is officially on November 3, 2011.

Among the Top 100 songs are “American Pie” by Don McLean, “Crocodile Rock” by Elton John, “Little Red Corvette” by Prince and “Tim McGraw” by Taylor Swift. To access the station, simply visit www.Pandora.com/chevy100. And let us know your favorite song!

October is Storm Chasers Month at Todd Wenzel GMC!

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As the official vehicle partner for the Dominator Team from the Discovery Channel series, Storm Chasers, we thought October was a great time to celebrate our partnership, our vehicles, and the debut of the new season!

Throughout the month, Todd Wenzel GMC will feature contests, giveaways and events with Reed Timmer and Chris Chittick – founders of TornadoVideos.net and stars of the popular TV show.

If you’re a fan of the show,  you’ll appreciate the opportunity to interact with Timmer and Chittick on our social networks, including Facebook (facebook.com/toddwenzelautomotive) and Twitter (@toddwenzelauto).

Every Monday, Timmer will post a question on our Facebook page about the previous night’s episode. The first 5 correct answers will win an autographed 2012 calendar that features stunning photos of the teams’ extreme tornado intercepts. Plus, Timmer and Chittick will host a Q&A event on our Facebook page on October 20 at 11:00 a.m. EST, giving fans the opportunity to post questions directly to the storm chasers. The top five questions – as chosen by Timmer – will receive an autographed copy of his new book release, “Into The Storm”.

In addition, we are holding a special Drive a Dominator Test Drive Promotion. And while you won’t need to drive our Yukon’s into extreme storms to gauge performance, when you test drive it, or any new Todd Wenzel GMC vehicle, you will be entered to WIN a 32” flat screen TV!

Finally when you lease or purchase a 2011 or 2012 GMC Yukon Denali or Yukon Denali XL – the brawn behind the extreme storm chasing vehicle, Dominator 2 – you will receive a special gift from Todd Wenzel.

The month-long campaign will culminate on November 14, when we host a special open house event  with Reed Timmer and the entire TVN team as they bring the Dominator 2 to Todd Wenzel GMC!

For additional information and event updates, please visit our website or Facebook page.

History with a Mystery

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Recognized today by global consumers, the Chevrolet bowtie logo was introduced by company co-founder William C. Durant in late 1913. But how it came to be synonymous with the brand is open to wide interpretation.

As the Chevy Centennial celebration kicks off, we want to give consumers a little history behind the Chevy bowtie.

Durant’s version of how the logo came into existence is well known. The long-accepted story, confirmed by Durant himself, was that it was inspired by the wallpaper design in a Parisian hotel. According to The Chevrolet Story of 1961, an official company publication issued in celebration of Chevrolet’s 50th anniversary, “It originated in Durant’s imagination when, as a world traveler in 1908, he saw the pattern marching off into infinity as a design on wallpaper in a French hotel. He tore off a piece of the wallpaper and kept it to show friends, with the thought that it would make a good nameplate for a car.”

However, conflicting accounts have emerged, each of which is plausible enough to deepen the mystery and suggest it may never be solved. Two of the alternate origins come from within the Durant family itself.

In 1929, Durant’s daughter, Margery, published a book entitled, My Father. In it, she told how Durant sometimes doodled nameplate designs on pieces of paper at the dinner table. “I think it was between the soup and the fried chicken one night that he sketched out the design that is used on the Chevrolet car to this day,” she wrote.

Our body shop can customize your Chevy bowtie!

More than half a century later, another Bowtie origin was recounted in a 1986 issue of Chevrolet Pro Management Magazine based on a 13-year-old interview with Durant’s widow, Catherine. She recalled how she and her husband were on holiday in Hot Springs, Va., in 1912. While reading a newspaper in their hotel room, Durant spotted a design and exclaimed “I think this would be a very good emblem for the Chevrolet.” Unfortunately, at the time, Mrs. Durant didn’t clarify what the motif was or how it was used.

That nugget of information inspired Ken Kaufmann, historian and editor of The Chevrolet Review, to search out its validity. In a Nov. 12, 1911 edition of The Constitution newspaper, published in Atlanta, an advertisement appeared from by the Southern Compressed Coal Company for “Coalettes,” a refined fuel product for fires. The Coalettes logo, as published in the ad, had a slanted bowtie form, very similar to the shape that would soon become the Chevrolet icon. Did Durant and his wife see the same ad – or one similar – the following year a few states to the north? The date of the paper was just nine days after the incorporation of the Chevrolet Motor Co.

One other explanation attributes the design to a stylized version of the cross of the Swiss flag. Louis Chevrolet was born In Switzerland at La Chaux-de-Fonds, Canton of Neuchâtel, to French parents, on Christmas Day 1878.

Whichever origin is true, within a few years, the bowtie would emerge as the definitive Chevrolet logo. An October 2, 1913 edition of The Washington Post seems, so far, to be the earliest known example of the symbol being used to advertise the brand. “Look for this nameplate” the ad proclaims above the emblem. Chevrolet customers have been doing so ever since.

Many variations in coloring and detail of the Chevrolet bowtie have come and gone over the decades since its introduction in late 1913, but the essential shape has never changed. In 2004, Chevrolet began to phase in the gold bowtie that today serves as the brand identity for all of its cars and trucks marketed globally. The move reinforced the strength of what was already one of the most-recognized automotive emblems in the world. More than 4.25 million Chevrolets were sold in more than 120 countries and regions during 2010!

Which Chevy bowtie is your favorite?

Todd Wenzel Automotive Celebrates 10 Years in West Michigan

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Wow! Today we are celebrating 10 years as West Michigan’s premier General Motors dealer! When Todd Wenzel set his sights on moving back to Michigan in September of 2001, he purchased Todd Wenzel Pontiac GMC (formerly known as Orson E. Coe) on 28th Street.

This photo takes us back…do you remember when?

Three years later, in June 2004, Todd Wenzel purchased Todd Wenzel Chevrolet, in Hudsonville, from previous owner Serra Chevrolet.

We updated our Pontiac GMC facility in Novermber 2005, building a new customer lounge in the Service Department. And due to tremendous growth, we had the opportunity to add our Buick franchise in December of that year, which changed the store name to Todd Wenzel Buick Pontiac GMC.
In 2007 we expanded our Chevrolet store – adding a new Used Vehicle building and new state-of-the-art body shop. In June 2009, both Todd Wenzel Chevrolet and Todd Wenzel Buick GMC were selected as preferred dealers to represent the New GM. Also, in June 2009, came the announcement of the loss of Pontiac.

Finally, in 2010 we remodeled both of our dealerships to reflect the new GM, and provide you, our valued customers, with a environment that makes the purchase and maintenance of vehicles a more comfortable experience. This is how we look today…
We’ve come a long way in ten years, and are looking forward to the next ten. It has definitely been exciting and rewarding, and we owe it all to our talented staff and our wonderful customers! 

New 2012 Buick LaCrosse V-6 arriving soon!

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The 2012 Buick LaCrosse is on its way to Todd Wenzel and is now available with a new, more powerful and fuel-efficient version of its direct-injected 3.6L V-6 engine! And, this engine is a no-additional-cost alternative to the standard 2.4L four-cylinder on select trim levels with eAssist.

The 3.6L V-6 with variable valve timing delivers a SAE-certified 303 horsepower (223 kW) on the front-wheel-drive LaCrosse – an increase of 23 hp (17 kW) – and 264 lb.-ft. (358 Nm) of torque.

The change engineers made were simply refinements to an already amazing vehicle. They used lighter-weight components and made enhancements to improve the luxury sedan’s performance with no loss in fuel efficiency (17 mpg city / 27 highway).

Are you a LaCrosse owner? If so, tell us why you love your LaCrosse. And if you haven’t driven one yet, visit us to experience the performance and luxury enhancements for yourself!

GMC’s Residual Value Performance Outpaces the Competition

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Great news out of Detroit! The overall residual value of GMC vehicles - what a vehicle is worth after three years on the road - is outpacing the competition and reducing the total cost of ownership for GMC owners.

According to General Motors’ Residual Value Management’s performance report based on ALG’s 36-month data for July/August, the forecasted depreciation for GMC vehicles is lower than its competitors and lower than the same time a year ago.

The importance of the resale value of our GMC vehicles is crucial, as it can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your vehicle.  Vehicles like the Acadia, Terrain and Yukon offer great residual value.

2012 GMC Acadia SLT

GMC’s 2011 model year residual values beat its competitive set by 0.6 points and improved by 0.5 points over the brand’s 2010 average. The improvement is due in part to a strong performance by GMC’s smaller SUV and crossover models, Terrain and Acadia.

Acadia earned a 3.2-point improvement compared to the average of its competitors, including Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot and Ford Flex. Terrain earned a 1.2-point lead over the average residuals for its competitive set, including Nissan Murano, Hyundai Santa Fe and Ford Edge.

2012 GMC Terrain SLT

GMC’s improved residual value performance has been acknowledged externally as well. Kelley Blue Book named the Acadia the best resale value in the full-size utility vehicle category for 2011.

In addition, GMC earned the top truck brand honor in Vincentric’s seventh annual “Best Value in America” awards, based on calculations of total cost of ownership relative to price within industry segments. Vincentric also recognized Sierra 2500HD as the top heavy duty three-quarter-ton pickup, beating such models as Ford Super Duty F-250 and Dodge Ram 2500.

In February, Yukon earned IntelliChoice’s “best value” pick among full-size SUVs, based on its analysis of ownership costs, including depreciation, maintenance, repairs, fuel, fees, financing and insurance.

If you’re driving a GMC product, tell us why you love your vehicle!

Storm Chasers Timmer, Chittick to appear at Todd Wenzel GMC July 15, 2011

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Be sure to stop by Todd Wenzel GMC this Friday, July 15 to meet Reed Timmer and Chris Chittick from the Discovery Channel series, Storm Chasers and founders of TornadoVideos.net. The team will be on site from 11-2 with the Dominator 2, their brand new tornado-chasing machine – a Todd Wenzel Yukon GMC XL.

Todd Wenzel provided the TVN team with the 2011 Yukon XL, which was transformed into the Dominator 2 tornado-chasing and storm research vehicle. Modifications include a state-of-the art armored shell to protect it, and passengers, from 100+ MPH winds and flying debris. In addition, various radars and probes have been installed to help them collect important data and insight into the destructive twisters they eagerly drive into.

Timmer and Chittick both hail from Grand Rapids and have had great success chasing extreme storms in a GM product. The team has driven over 50,000 miles every year from the Mexican Border to Canada, and has captured over 200 tornadoes on film. In addition to storm chasing year-round, Timmer is currently working toward a PhD in meteorology at the University of Oklahoma. Timmer has been invited to the Jay Leno show multiple times, and the teams’ storm video footage can be seen on networks nationwide.

Meet the team, check out some merchandise and get photos with your favorite storm chasers!

When:  Friday, July 15 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where:  Todd Wenzel GMC
2727 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids

Find out more at:  www.toddwenzelgmc.com

If You Love Cars, You Don’t Want to Miss This Event!

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Our annual Classics and Camaro’s show is coming up on Saturday, July 16 at Todd Wenzel Chevrolet! Join us from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. as we showcase beautifully restored classic cars and custom Camaros.

Just look at some of the amazing vehicles from last year…

We have a great day planned for everyone – The Winchester’s What The Truck will be on-site serving lunch to our participants,  JQ 99 will be broadcasting live from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with morning show hosts Chris and Emilee, and the Grand Rapids Social Diary will be here to capture amazing photos of all the cars and participants.  We’ll even have an ice cream truck serving up the sweets, raffle items, giveaways and so much more! And remember, this is a FREE event!!

If you have a classic car you’d like to show off you can easily register on our website. We hope to see you on the 16th!

Todd Wenzel Chevrolet Chosen as Location for GM Photo Shoot

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Yesterday was an exciting day at Todd Wenzel Chevrolet! Our store was chosen as the location for a General Motors photo shoot! GM’s agency, Jack Morton Worldwide,  was on-site shooting photos that will be used in dealership training materials across the country! We’re told that the photos taken yesterday will be released later this year. Here is a sneak peak behind the scenes….

Demonstrating a new vehicle delivery, and vehicle overview

Setting up a shot in the service lane

Reviewing a repair order with the customer

We had a great time with the Jack Morton staff. They shot throughout the day in all areas of our newly renovated facility, and it was so interesting to see how a project of this scope comes together. We can’t wait to see the finished product!

Todd Wenzel Buick GMC a sponsor of Grand Rapids’ largest street party!

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Mark your calender for the 8th Annual Local First Street Party presented by Founders Brewing Co. - a celebration of all things local, featuring the best of local food, beer and music!

Join us on Saturday, June 11 from 4 p.m. to midnight, outside Bistro Bella Vita on Weston and Grandville Avenue downtown for this must-attend event! We’ll have the hottest GM vehicles on display AND one lucky person will have a chance to win a $250 Todd Wenzel Gift Card!

More than 10,000 people attended last year’s Local First Street Party, and we expect this year to be even bigger!

10 Tips That Could Save You $100 a Month at the Pump

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OnStar data shows mileage of drivers in identical cars can vary by 75 percent!

With Grand Rapids residents paying an average of $1 more per gallon of gasoline than a year ago, many drivers are looking for ways to improve their fuel economy during the Memorial Day weekend – the unofficial start of the summer driving season.

To demonstrate 10 common mistakes drivers make that affect their fuel economy, we recently partnered with Chevrolet to drive two identical compact cars on a typical workday commute. The results show that sweating the small stuff could save you as much as $100 a month at the pump.

For the drive, GM fuel-economy engineers Ann Wenzlick and Beth Nunning drove identical Chevrolet Cruze LTs, which the EPA estimates get 27 mpg city, and 36 mpg highway. For the route, they drove both cars for 20 minutes, including city and highway driving as well as a coffee stop.

Wenzlick averaged 37 miles per gallon using efficient driving habits in a properly maintained Cruze. Driving inefficiently and ignoring common maintenance, Nunning managed only 21 miles per gallon.

The difference means Beth would get 250 fewer miles per tank of gas, while Ann would save $100 a month – or $1,200 a year – assuming 15,000 miles and $4 a gallon for gas.

Here are five things Ann did to drive more efficiently in her Cruze:

  1. Get out of the drive-through lane. “While Beth waited in the drive-through with her car running, I shut off the engine and went inside for my morning coffee. Idling for 15 minutes burns through an average of a quarter of a gallon – adding another $1 to the cost of your latte.”
  2. Take it easy. “In the city, I accelerated smoothly while Beth demonstrated one of the most common mistakes we see on the road, jumping on the gas at every light, only to hit the brakes as she caught up with the traffic ahead. Such aggressive driving isn’t going to get you home any faster, while driving smoothly can improve your mileage by 20 percent.”
  3. Driving 70, not 80. “On the highway, I drove 70, compared to Beth’s 80. Again, a 10-mph difference likely won’t add much time to your daily commute, but it will save you up to four miles per gallon on the highway.”
  4. Use cruise control. “I tried to maintain a constant speed during our drive, while Beth’s fluctuated with traffic. Try using cruise control when possible, and maintaining a constant speed over time, which is much more efficient than speeding up and slowing down over and over again.”
  5. Roll up the windows. “One of the most common questions we get is ‘is it better to drive with the A/C on, or off?’ At slower speeds, turning off the air conditioning can save you a little, but I always roll up the windows on the highway. Beth was driving with her windows down, and the increased air pressure acted like a parachute trying to slow her down – consuming much more energy than air conditioning ever will.”

Five Vehicle Mistakes That Hurt MPG:

Here are things that contributed to Beth’s poor fuel economy:

  1. Low tire pressure. “All four tires on my car were five pounds under their recommended air pressure. That’s not enough to change how the Cruze drives, but it does make the engine work much harder to turn the wheels. Check your tires at least once a month, as a tire that is 10 pounds under pressure can cut your fuel efficiency by more than 3 percent.”
  2. Using roof ornaments. “To show support for my favorite sports team, I put up window flags on my Cruze for every home game. But when the team is on the road, the flags will come down. At highway speeds, up to a third of your fuel is used to overcome wind resistance, so even small changes to your vehicle’s aerodynamics will have a big impact on fuel economy. “
  3. Carrying extra junk in the trunk. “I had six bags of water-softener salt I bought on sale at the hardware store in the trunk. But according to EPA estimates, every 100 pounds of weight can reduce fuel economy by 2 percent. While I saved at the checkout, that 240 pounds of salt added almost 5 percent to my fuel costs for the trip.”
  4. Ignoring the “check engine” light. “I called OnStar to run a remote diagnostics check on my Cruze, because the check engine light was on. Turns out the light was on because the gas cap was loose. More serious engine problems can cut your fuel economy by up to 40 percent.”
  5. Not bundling errands. “An engine at operating temperature is up to 50 percent more efficient than a cold engine. So when possible, it’s much better to run five errands in an afternoon than running one errand every day of the week.

What are you doing to save at the pump? Any tips on where to find the best gas prices?!

Transforming a GMC Yukon XL into a “Dominator”

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A few months ago, our storm chasing friends Reed Timmer, Chris Chittick, and the entire TornadoVideos.net crew, picked up a half-ton, four wheel drive 2011 Yukon XL SLE from our GMC store in what other color – Storm Gray Metallic! It has a Vortec 5.3L V8 SFI FlexFuel with Active Fuel Management, capable of running on unleaded or up to 85% ethanol. And, at just over 222″ long, the Yukon XL offers ample room for the team’s numerous computers and research equipment. Lovingly renamed the “Dominator 2″, this Yukon has since undergone quite a transformation!

Here is what a brand new Yukon XL looks like:

Here is what a Yukon XL looks like after being transformed into a storm chasing machine!

Want to see how they did it? Check out the video!

Todd Wenzel Chevrolet celebrates Military Appreciation Month

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Did you know that May is National Military Appreciation Month? In honor of this, Todd Wenzel Chevrolet is happy to announce the expansion of the GM Military Discount Program – which will now include military retirees and active military spouses, in addition to active duty military personnel.

Recognized as the best program in the industry, it is available to the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, National Guard and Coast Guard. The discount is available on most Chevrolet, Buick and GMC models with discounts typically ranging between $500 and $4,000 off the suggested retail price of the vehicle purchased.

Plus, those who utilize their discount this month to purchase, lease, order or take delivery of a new vehicle will also receive an exclusive Chevrolet Honor emblem at no charge!

We salute our Armed Forces and military retirees and encourage you to leave a comment to say thank you to the men and women that serve our country. Thank you for all that you do!