Motoring - February 2013

FREE motoring February, 2013

Voyager Media Publications, Inc.

motoring Auto show takes you to the

2014 Corvette Stingray

The Joliet Bugle The Plainfield Enterprise The Shorewood Sentinel www.buglenewspapers.com

INSIDEFeatures n Dealer profile Tyson Motors > page 5 n Dealer profile Bill Jacobs Auto Group > page 7 n dealer profile Chignoli Auto Sales > pages 8-9 n Auto show Feature > page 10 n Monthly Motoring Winter Driving > page 11 n old car classic The Car Bazaar > page 13

2013 SRT Viper

n dealer profile Rod Baker Ford > pages 14

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See the Stingray & Viper at the Chicago Auto Show Februrary 9-17, 2013.

There will be a host of concept cars, hybrids, electrics and crossovers.

Manufacturers take consumers’ wants and needs into consideration when developing concept models. The trend to provide environmentally sound vehicles has been a theme throughout these designs. Many of these vehicles are feature hybrid powertrains or are electric vehicles. Others highlight the use of renewable materials or energy-saving technology.

The show runs Feb. 9-17: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Feb. 18 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are available at McCormick Place ticket booths or online at https://tickets.drivechicago.com.

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Look for the details in your community newspapers – the Joliet Bugle, Shorewood Sentinel and The Plainfield Enterprise.

Local dealers served by our publications will be well represented at the Auto Show, so make sure you drop in say hello.

Nearly 1,000 different vehicles will be on display, along with accessories and auto-related exhibits, antique and collector cars.

America’s sports car is sure to attract a lot of attention at the show. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Chevrolet Corvette. Check out the powerful 427 Convertible and beautiful 2014 Corvette Stingray. Be among the first to see the visually stunning ‘14 and its sculpted lines. The 7th generation sports car goes further than ever, thanks to today’s advancements in design, technology and engineering.

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The largest auto show in North America, which first made its debut in 1901, runs Feb. 9-18 at McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive.

Produced by the Chicago Automobile Association (CATA) – the country’s oldest metropolitan dealer organization – the show boasts more than 1 million square feet of the McCormick Place complex.

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DealerSpotlight

The

NewAge

Exciting product lines, value-added service let Tyson Motor prosper in lean economic times.

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f you look at the sales figures of Tyson Motors in Shorewood, and listen to the upbeat tone in general manager Jim Kinney’s voice when you talk to him, you might be inclined to believe that the current economic downturn is a myth.

Not true, unfortunately.

Times are still lean, the competition has never been more keen, and any prosperity the Chrysler dealership experiences is due to vigilance when it comes to customer service; not to mention the meticulous eye that’s kept on the design, manufacture and marketing of its product.

The result has been an impressive rise in sales that saw Tyson move 2,200 new vehicles in 2012, compared to 1,500 in 2011. When you experience a 47-percent increase in sales, you have got be doing something right.

Today’s motorist is still willing to pay for a new car. He or she, however, is also aware that every known manufacturer is putting out vehicles that provide good bang for the buck.

Old-fashioned brand loyalty is not so much on the customers’ minds. One of their top priorities is the quality of value-added after sales services.

Tyson has responded to this with parts and service departments that are open from 6:30 a.m. until 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

“There was a time when the garage dictated the hours you could bring your car in,” Kinney

explains. “Now it’s the customer who does the dictating.”

The 35 to 40 people who comprise the staff of these departments are constantly being upgraded in their training to ensure a vehicle is getting top-notch care when it enters one of Tyson’s 30 service bays.

“I’m seeing customers trading in BMWs, Lexuses and Mercedes. People are doing their homework and they’re coming back to North American cars.”

Such painstaking attention to details is paying off; the Tyson sales figures testify to that.

What is equally important, however, is that North American car companies are finally shedding a stigma that was built up over the 70s and 80s.

Namely, the largely unfair perception that foreign makes were superior to North American products when it came to engineering and craftsmanship.

“I’m seeing customers trading in BMWs, Lexuses and Mercedes,” says Kinney. “People are doing their homework and they’re coming back to North American cars.”

One example is the 2013 Dodge Dart; the rebirth of a reputable Chrysler car that is being well received by a compact-buying public that may have once automatically conceded that the class of that category was the Toyota Corolla.

Built on an Alpha Romeo platform, the Dart offers the choice of a 2.0L 16-valve Tigersharkfour-cylinder engine, a 1.4L 16-valve intercooled Turbo with MultiAir, or a 16-valve 2.4L Tigershark MultiAir II four-cylinder engine.

It generates up to 184 hp, yet it’s a gas sipper that gets 40 mpg.

Top all that off with a very competitive base price of under $16,000.

“As soon as we get them, they’re driving off the lot,” claims Kinney. “Sales have skyrocketed.

We’re moving about 25 of these cars a month.”

Meanwhile, pickup trucks are one area where the foreign makers have not made a major dent on North American dominance.

This has not caused Chrysler to rest on its laurels, however. Thanks to state-of-the-art four-cylinder shutdown multi-displacement, the heavy duty V-8 Dodge Ram is somewhat of a fuelefficient marvel with its 25 mpg consumption.

It all comes down to a simple formula at Tyson…sophisticated sales and service equals continued sales to an increasing sophisticated car buying public.

n Written by Dan Pelton

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DealerSpotlight

Climbing Jacobs’ Ladder Newly renovated facilities in tune with the growth of the Bill Jacobs Auto Group “We have all been very proud to be a part of this community and its continued development.”

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he Bill Jacobs Auto Group has been helping the Chicagoland community find quality reliable transportation at prices they can afford for over 60 years. It has been exciting to have seen the Plainfield grow over the past 26 years. With 3rd generation Jacobs’ developing into leadership roles at our dealership we’ve always tried to maintain a family friendly atmosphere for our guests. We have all

been very proud to be a part of this community and its continued development.

Part of this includes our recent multimillion dollar renovation to help better serve our guests. This includes our all new covered and heated service driveway with adjacent consulting offices that allow our guests to comfortably discuss their concerns with our certified technicians. Furthermore we have an all new, easily accessible parts and accessories counter. We remodeled our guest lounge as well and have done our best to create a relaxing environment with all the comforts of home. Our lounge features HDTV, free WiFi, and complimentary snacks and beverages.

It’s not just our dealership that we’ve helped renovate but the community too. We’re proud to be a continued sponsor of Plainfield’s River Days which helps their Riverfront Foundation help to beautify and make use of a previously neglected area. Our desire to help the community doesn’t stop their either. We continue to take pride in helping to sponsor Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’s annual 5k walk at the

Chicagoland Speedway. We’ve also continuously run promotions that give our guests service discounts for donating to Great Harvest of Plainfield which helps stock area food banks.

One of the best motivational speakers of the past few decades, Zig Ziglar would always suggest that, “You can have everything you want in life if you just help enough people get what they want.” We’ve really taken that saying to heart because we realize that choosing who you buy from is often as important as what you buy. We hope that all our guests appreciate our comfortable, relaxed, no-hassle environment we strive to create and that they continue allow us the privilege of helping them find the car of their dreams without the price of their nightmares. n Written by William Havican

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DealerSpotlight

I

t is sometimes rare to find a business that embraces new technology and still boasts good, old-fashioned customer service but Chignoli Auto Sales does just that. The dealership has been serving the south and southwest suburbs of Chicago, selling and servicing quality, luxury automobiles since 1974. That is the year that Bob and Eva Chignoli opened their original location on Fairlane Drive in Jolliet. Through 3 subsequent changes of location, the dealership has grown but hasn’t really changed much at all. What has changed over the years is the manner in which people buy cars.

We no longer live in a world where families looking to buy a vehicle automatically drop into the local dealership to “kick a few tires. More and more, buyers have started to rely on computers or smart

“We have a whole system set up online and on-site, where we can look for the exact car you want across the country.”

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Old Fashioned

Customer Service meets Modern Convenience

Get the best of both worlds at Chignoli Auto Sales phones to help make purchasing decisions – doing their searching from armchairs and offices; more and more shoppers prefer to do internet-based research, which often means they end up making purchases from locations outside the local shopping area to save some money. All this new technology makes it easier to price-shop but can leave us very vulnerable to those who would use our reliance on electronic technology against us.

The Chignoli family addresses this situation head on. Customers searching for a vehicle can visit the Chignoli Auto Sales website and experience 24/7 shopping. The showroom offers similar custom shopping opportunities. ``We have a whole system set up online and on-site, where we can look for the exact car you want across the country,” explained Rick Chignoli, noting, “If the vehicle you want isn’t immediately available, we can make you aware of when it does become available.”

Of course, customers can still drop by the dealership to experience the first-rate personal service that Chignoli Auto Sales is famous for. Although Bob & Eva Chignoli both passed away in the mideighties, they left behind a solid reputation in the community. Over the years, 5 of the couple’s 9

grown children (Jim, Jack, Rick, Lori and Bill) have all ended up working for the dealership, coming on board one at a time as the business grew. Several nephews have also joined the business (Ray McCabe, Gregg Chignoli, Joe Chignoli and Marc Chignoli) and together with the siblings, this second generation of Chignoli’s has remained devoted to customer service and quality service.

Daughter Lori, a certified public accountant and the only sister - came on board in 1984.

“I’m not out on the floor the way my brothers are,” Lori pointed out when asked how she feels to be the lone female sibling working in such a male dominated field. “It was always around us, so it was a natural thing to do. We were growing and we needed someone full time, so I came on full-time.”

The dealership continues to receive such accolades such as the Will County Retailer of the Year (2005) and Illinois Independent Dealer of the Year (2009). They boast an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, support numerous local charities and have served the community over the years by sitting on the boards of quite a number of local organizations, including the Private Industry Council of Will County, the Joliet Area Community Hospice, the Easter Seals Fundraising Committee and

the Cornerstone Services Steering Committee.

As well-known for their expert finance department as they are for a great used car selection, Chignoli Auto Sales would love the opportunity to help you find the used luxury car of your dreams with a payment that will fit your budget.

Drop by the showroom at 1850 Essington Road, Joliet, visit the website (www.chignoli.com) or give them a call at (815) 439-2233. Visit Chignoli Auto Sales via social media at https://www. facebook.com/pages/Chignoli-Auto-Sales-Inc or https://twitter.com/ChignoliAuto n Written by Shelly Sargent

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Autofeature

2014 Corvette Stingray Visually stunning, the 2014 Corvette’s sculptured, aerodynamic two-door hatchback exterior and track-capabilities is deserving of the “Stingray” image. A new 6.2 liter (376 cubic inch) LT1 V-8 engine that pumps out 450 horsepower and 450 lb.-ft. of torque to the rear wheels. Equipped with a six-speed paddle-shift

automatic or seven-speed manual gearbox with Active Rev Match & 0-to-60 mph in less than four seconds. There is an all-new frame structure and chassis that shifts weight rearward for an optimal 50/50 weight balance. Features include a carbon fiber hood and removable roof panel, composite fenders, doors and rear quarter panels.

2013 Dodge Dart The All-New 2013 Dodge Dart expresses an impressive level of visual drama. Clean lines from nose to tail form its curvaceous silhouette.

Reedefining performance by pairing the widest range of gasoline engines in its class with the most advanced line of transmissions in its class. Choose from a 2.0L 16-valve TigersharkTM four-cylinder engine, a 1.4L 16-valve intercooled Turbo with MultiAir, or a 16-valve 2.4L Tigershark MultiAir II four-cylinder

engine (late availability).

The class leader in safety. Starting with advanced high-strength, hot-stamped steels, Dodge Dart offers an incredibly stiff overall structure and a safety cage with outstanding protection. Along with 10 standard airbags, reactive front head restraints, and available options like Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path Detection, the 2013 Dodge Dart is among the safest vehicles in its class.

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT The transmission has been bumped up to a new 8-speed automatic in an effort to imporve fuel economy. The new transmission alsoimproves towing capacity, which has been pumped 44 percent up to 7,200 pounds (3,266 kg). The engine features the 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 with Fuel Saver Technology, delivering 470 horsepower (351 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 465 lb.ft. (630 Nm) of torque at 4,300 rpm. In-

side an 8.4 inch Uconnect touchscreen. It also come with a built in 3G connection so users can share data. The new version of Uconnect also includes a feature that allow streaming from the user’s phone to the car. It also provides access to Bing searches and cloud-based voice to text messaging. Also new, a 7 inch multiveiw gauge cluster which allows the driver to customize the data seen while driving.

2013 Ford Fusion The 2013 Fusion also will come with such key technologies as lane keeping, adaptive cruise control, active park assist, blindspot information and the revamped MyFord Touch system.

The new Fusion gets fresh sheet metal and will be offered in S, SE and Titanium trim levels.

In addition to hybrid and plug-in hybrid systems, a dizzying array of powertrain choices includes a standard four-cylinder gasoline en-

gine and a pair of turbocharged EcoBoost fours, mated to either a six-speed automatic or manually shifted automatic. Front- and four-wheeldrive configurations are available.

Ford said Fusion’s 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine will deliver 26 mpg in city driving and 37 mpg on the highway, while the Fusion Hybrid, with a new 2.0-liter gasoline engine and a lithium-ion battery pack, will return 47 mpg in the city and 44 mpg on the highway.

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MonthlyMotoring

How to stay safe on winter roads S

nowy weather can be a time for fun, especially for avid skiers or children who relish spending days off from school tossing snowballs and building snow forts. Many adults, however, do not look forward to the snow as much as youngsters do. Snow can be hazardous when driving, but putting snow tires on a vehicle can improve vehicle safety.

According to information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, roughly 115 people die every day in vehicle crashes in the United States. Each winter, snowfall compounds treacherous road conditions, increasing the risk of accidents.

It is important to know how to drive when weather conditions are dangerous. It is also wise to outfit a vehicle to reduce its risk of slipping and sliding on icy, snowy roads. Here are some tips to follow.

Limit time spent driving in the snow. Avoid driving during snowstorms or directly after whenever possible. Snow not only makes roads slick, but falling flakes can impair a driver’s visibility and reduce his or her response time. Try to wait until snow-clearing teams have salted, plowed and sanded roads before venturing out.

Be sure you can see clearly. Clear off the snow from the windshield, side mirrors and windows

so it does not compromise your view. Also, top off the windshield fluid so you will be able to clear snow and salt kick-up from your windshield. Look for a washer fluid that has an antifreeze component, otherwise, your washer jets and wiper blades could be rendered useless.

Drive slowly. Reduce your speed when driving in inclement weather. It can be more difficult to stop or maneuver around a potential obstacle when conditions are less than ideal.

Traveling at a high speed will increase the risk of accidents.

Leave enough room between you and other motorists. Tailgating is responsible for many accidents, even when there is no snow on the ground. In inclement weather, it can take longer to stop the car after pressing on the brakes.

Steer your car into the skid. Remain calm and do not panic and jam on the brakes if your car starts to skid. Slamming on the brakes will only exacerbate the skid. Rather, take your foot off the accelerator, allowing the car to naturally slow down as you turn your wheels into the direction the car is skidding. This should help right the car and get you back on track.

Be aware of black ice, which gets its name because it is so thin and hard to spot, it just looks like the black asphalt of the road. Black ice tends to form in areas that have had snow or ice melt, which then refreezes at night when temperatures drop. Be extra cautious on turns and on highway exit and entrance ramps, where black ice frequently forms.

Invest in snow tires. Those who live in especially snowy climates and do a lot of driving would be wise to purchase snow tires. Snow tires, also called winter tires, have special tread patterns that offer better traction in snow and ice. They also are made from softer rubber compounds than regular tires that retain their flexibility in cold weather, allowing the tire to conform to the surface of the road. Although many vehicles

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come with technology to prevent accidents, they cannot do their jobs if tires are not maintaining their grip on the road.

All-season tires are not a replacement for snow tires. All-season tires are designed to work in all sorts of conditions, from rainy weather to dry roads. Therefore, it is better to invest in a set of snow tires that will offer you better protection. When putting snow tires on a car or truck, be sure to do so on all the wheels -- not just the driving wheels. Otherwise you may still risk spin outs or uneven gripping of the road.

It is not a good idea to keep snow tires on all year. Because they are softer, snow tires tend to be more noisy and can wear out faster in warmer weather. Therefore, switch out the tires at the beginning of the snowy season and then before the spring arrives anew.

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r a a z a B r a C The From a vintage British roadster to a plain old Taurus wagon, John Leach loves ‘em all

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here’s a certain commonality that can be found among automobile collectors.

They have a tendency to focus on a certain make, (vintage Corvette Stingrays, for example), or a certain period in time (like Oldsmobiles from the 20s or Chevys from the 50s).

John Leach bucks that trend.

The retired homebuilder from Joliet has a vast collection of cars that is eclectic, to say the least.

His diverse automotive fleet includes Cadillacs and Lincoln Continentals, Audis and Alpha Romeos, Maseratis and a Porsche, Jaguars and Rolls Royces; and Leach is equally fond of them all.

In fact, Leach proudly places his 1988 Ford Taurus wagon – about as common a vehicle as one could imagine – among the favorites in his collection.

Car collectors, as a rule, obtain vintage au-

tos for a number of reasons They can range from collecting cars as an investment, to a desire to own a piece of a bygone era.

Leach’s motivation behind acquiring a vehicle is more intrinsic that all that, and his criteria is simple. Why does he decide to choose and pick up a particular vehicle?

“Because I like them,” he answers bluntly.

Rest assured, though, that Leach’s proclivity to gather automobiles is not going to make him the subject of an episode of Hoarders on the A & E network.

Last year, he pared down his collection by selling 16 of his vintage vehicles.

That said, his current fleet is not without its gems.

There’s a 1954 Jaguar XK 120. With its alloy cylinder head, twin side-draft dual overhead-cam 3.4-liter straight-6 engine, this car was ahead of its time when it rolled o ff the line.

Leach also owns a rare 1996 Panther. The

Panther is a product of a Panther Westwinds, a British company that had a run of success designing and manufacturing retro-styled cars based on the mechanical components of standard production cars from other manufacturers.

Leach’s enthusiasm is contained to the British Isles. His French made 1972 Citroen SM was voted Motor Trend Car of the Year award in the U.S. that year.

He owns two Maserati Spiders, as well as a Maserati coupe. Yet, just when you slot Leach as a high-performance sports car enthusiast, he will throw you a curve by pointing out that he also owns three Volkswagen Beetles.

Some of his vehicles have a multi-cultural, international flavor.

While it’s common, nowadays, for domestic cars to be built on the platform of foreign cars and vice versa, it was far less common in the 1950s when Facel of France introduced the Vega

HK500; a car that used a Chrysler V-8 engine, could go from zero to 60 in less than ten seconds and had a top speed of nearly 120 mph.

Leach owns two Facels, Leach also has an “Americanized” Austin. It’s a British car rebuilt with American components, and that’s something a vintage auto aficionado might frown on.

There’s also a facet of Leach’s car collection that might also have other collectors gasping.

Not only does he own this wide selection of cars…Leach actually drives them all.

“It gets a little pricey,” Leach understates.

“Especially with the insurance and plating, but…I like them.”

It must be concluded that any onr of his cars that he drives on the road is the automotive equivalent of the mother lode.

n Written by Dan Pelton

To share your love for Classic Cars, please send your contact information, photos and story to Heather Erwin at heather@caledoncitizen.com.

We will be including feature stories monthly in Motoring in our Old Classic Car Column.

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DealerSpotlight

Shifting into overdrive

In a tough economy, sales soar at Rod Baker Ford in Plainfield.

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oday’s car dealerships can take a line from Bob Dylan and make it their own: “The times they are a changing.”

Yet, Rod Baker Ford in Plainfield is thriving in an era when drivers are holding on to their vehicles for four to five years, instead of three to four, before trading them in for a new ones.

Sales are up 58 per cent, (80 per cent in new car sales), since the new management team came into place two years ago. These impressive numbers have been garnered in a time when every manufacturer is turning out top quality vehicles in a competitive market.

Anthony LePore, Rod Baker’s general sales manager, points to Ford’s innovative product line as one of the prime factors in the dealership’s success.

He is also aware that the car companies cannot rest on their laurels.

For example, Ford received a boost in consumer confidence when it was the one major North American carmaker that didn’t need a government bailout when the economy went for a dump in 2009.

“That (advantage) is wearing off now,” says LePore, adding that quality and service are

the keys to success in the business.

“Everything made in the automotive industry has got to be a quality, well-built vehicle. One bad product line can put an entire company back five to six years. That’s about how long it takes to win back consumer trust.”

While LePore sees the “bread and butter” vehicles like the popular Ford 150 pickup continuing to have good sales, he is excited by the latest in the Ford Fusion and Focus lines.

The Fusion is aptly named. Its design blends sporty lines with the dependability of a family sedan, has an available six-speed manual transmission – something you don’t often find in the sedan category – and optional all-wheel drive.

Power train options range from a 2.5-liter four cylinder to a novel 188-hp hybrid that comes with a 7.2-kilowatt hour lithium ion battery pack.

Its conventional hybrid system, with its 2.0-litre turbo/direct four, generates 240 hp and 270 pound-feet of torque, while sipping fuel at an EPA rate of 47 mpg, which is best in the sedan class.

The Focus, meanwhile, has quietly supplanted the Toyota Corolla as the compact vehicle that sets the standard.

It has an eye-catching, contoured exterior and its impressive array of features is winning over the consumer.

The S model, for example, is the most basic. Yet it still includes air conditioning, CD sound, and a tilt/telescopic steering wheel.

The fully loaded, top-of-the-line Titanium features dual-zone climate control, a ten-speaker Sony sound system, HD Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio, sport seats, and a sport suspension.

A touch-screen system combining audio, connectivity, and navigation features is standard on the Focus Titanium.

The Focus ST model is Ford’s entry in the small, gutsy sports car, or “hot hatch”, segment and is receiving favorable reviews when compared to such popular vehicles as the Volkswagen GTI and Subaru BRZ. “Both (the Fusion and the Focus) give us a real shot in the arm,” concludes LePore.

The overall improvement in quality and service has led motorists to hold on their vehicles longer, as well as be more confident when it comes to buying a used vehicle over a new one.

With pre-owned car sales increasing, LePore is confident the new car niche will grow when

the fleet of cars out there reaches the age of seven or eight and begin to cost more to maintain than their trade-in value justifies.

As well, when new models come on to the scene, LePore says the consumer is no longer taking the stance of “let’s wait a year to buy one, just in case.”

Today’s cars go through a religiously rigorous checkup before they see the light of day.

“The consumer doesn’t really have that on his mindset, any more. For all intents and purposes, a new line has already been out there for a year before it hits the dealership.” n Written by Dan Pelton

“Everything made in the automotive industry has got to be a quality, well-built vehicle. ”

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