Introducing the Todd Wenzel Platinum Program!

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

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!

Chevy Celebrates 100 Years In Song with Pandora Station

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!

First Chevy Volt up for auction, proceeds to benefit charity

The first commercially available Chevrolet Volt is up for auction with all the proceeds to benefit math and sciences education in Detroit. Currently, the bid is$185,000!

If you want to be the first to own this exciting vehicle, you can register to bid at the Volt Charity Auction website. The auction closes December 14.

If you’d like to learn more about the Volt, or have your name put on our waiting list, please leave your comment below.

It’s not your grandfathers Caprice.

Better watch out speed demons because Chevrolet is launching an all new 2011 Caprice PPV. That’s short for “Police Patrol Vehicle” and this Caprice is going to be one of the toughest vehicles on the road. In a recent article, the Detroit News Autos Insider said the Caprice is the fastest among the 2011 PPV’s.

Chevy: “Our goal was to be the leader”

In preliminary testing, the Caprice placed first in the 0 to 60 mph along with the 0 to 100 mph and had a top speed of 148mph! Dana Hammer, Chevrolet manager of law enforcement vehicles said, “We have the fastest car, best brakes, largest interior and most comfort.”

The Caprice plans to accommodate police officers to the fullest with a 355-hp, 6.0L V8 Engine; curtain air bags; a high-output alternator; auxiliary coolers for engine oil, transmission fluid and power-steering fluid; 18 inch steel wheels; four-wheel disc brakes and heavy duty brake pads; and police calibrated stability control. Two batteries are mounted in the trunk; one for the engine and the other for the computer, lights and radar guns.

 Be on the look out, these machines will be on the road in 2011. And if you want one, you’ll have to consider a career change, as there are no plans to offer a civilian version of the Caprice. For more updates and information, check out the links below.

Detroit Autos Insider

Car and Driver

Just In: The New GM Launches Today

Source: gmtv.feedroom.com

The new General Motors Company launches today with a new corporate structure, a stronger balance sheet, and a renewed commitment to make the customer the center of everything new GM does.  The new GM company is created from GM’s strongest assets and includes four core brands (Chevy, Cadillac, Buick, GMC) backed by the nation’s largest and strongest dealer network.

General Motors President and CEO Fritz Henderson hosted a press conference this morning  to update the media on GM business activities.  To watch the press conference click here.

TW Celebrates the Fourth and Reflects on American History

Celebrating the Fourth of July is so much more than fireworks, food and fun.

It’s a simple expression of America’s deep-rooted history, a celebration of the United States’ independence.

Remember the Beginning

On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. Originally separating from Great Britain on July 2, it took two days for Congress to revise and approve the Declaration. It was later declared a national holiday in 1941. Independence Day has come to mean so much since that day 233 years ago; it celebrates America as a whole.

The Fourth of July honors all things Americana.

The Backbone of America

An integral part of the American history is the emergence and uprise of its automobile industry, specifically General Motors. On September 16, 1908, William Durant incorporated Buick Motor Company to form General Motors in Flint, Mich.

A year later, GM went on to acquire other companies by purchasing Chevy and GMC. Chevy joined the GM family in 1918 and the first Chevy truck was sold. GM created GMAC to finance its trucks and cars one year later. In 1942, Chevy stopped production of civilian vehicles and became one of the most important single suppliers of the World War II effort. By 1954, GM’s market share had reached 54 percent of the U.S. automobile market and produced its 50-millionth vehicle, a 1955 Chevy Bel Air Sports Coupe.

This year, GM has recently reinvented itself to form a “New GM” to begin its plan of becoming America’s top car company again. A “New GM” to be built from only the strongest parts of GM’s business-award-winning vehicles, advanced green technologies and always making the customer a priority.

Todd Wenzel Automotive is honored and extremely excited to be a part of the “New GM.”

TW’s History & Secrets for Success

Though the TW Automotive family is located in West Michigan, it did not begin there. Wenzel was able to purchase a Chevrolet dealership in Portland, Maine and turn it into New England’s largest volume GM dealership. He also owned a Chevrolet Olds Cadillac dealership in Connecticut.

After selling his dealerships in New England, Wenzel set his sights on returning to his hometown and owning dealerships. Growing up in Wyoming and attending Kelloggsville High School, he had always planned to own a business in West Michigan.

“I was very enthusiastic about coming back to my hometown and buying a local dealership,” Wenzel said.

In 2001, he made the move and purchased Todd Wenzel Buick Pontiac GMC in Grand Rapids. Just four short years later he purchased the former Serra Chevrolet dealership in Hudsonville.

 The TW team knows what it takes to build a customer base.

“In my 25 years of being in this industry, there is one thing I have learned; times change, but the fundamentals do not,” Wenzel said.

According to Wenzel, focusing on the basics entails more of a relationship-building sales process that is solely focused on finding out exactly what the customers’ needs and wants are before even looking at a vehicle.

TW’s sales aren’t the only focus; providing great service is among them. Wenzel has an eye and ear for the customers.

Always seeking to please the customer, TW Automotive offers you coffee and Plasma TVs to entertain you while you receive your $19.95 oil change and free 26-point inspection. TW Automotive guarantees the best price on its vehicles, free service loaner, on-site service/body shop with certified ASE technicians and superb financing department.

“We are solely in the business of taking care of our customers,” he said.

The history of Todd Wenzel Automotive and GM is a part of America’s history.

From the evolution of the auto industry to the pursuit of the American dream of ownership, Todd Wenzel Automotive embodies all that the Declaration of Independence sought to achieve: freedom and success.