The weather is warming up and more and more people are getting ready to take to the road this spring and summer season.
Ed Levy of Golling Pontiac GMC-Truck said the dealership’s top sellers are the Grand Am, the Grand Prix and the Vibe.
“Close behind is the Aztec, it does well for us,” he said. “For GMC Truck, it’s the Envoy, the Yukon, Yukon XL and the Sierra Truck.”
Levy said the company’s truck products are popular right now, particularly the mid-size utility.
“People want all the luxury features and upscale interior,” he said. “Keyless remote is now taken for granted. I don’t think we even sell anything that does not have air conditioning anymore.”
Levy said the upscale versions of vehicles are the better sellers.
“For 2004, we have the Pontiac Grand Prix…it’s all new,” he said. “The last design was in 1997. We’re just getting the 2004.”
Also out this year will be the XUV, the new version of the Envoy.
“It converts to a truck and a utility vehicle,” said Levy. “The 2004 Grand Prix is a great car, wonderfully priced. It can accommodate a nine-foot ladder…the right front passenger seat, and back seat fold down.”
At Skalnek Ford, Steve Skalnek said the Explorer is Ford’s number one seller.
“Even during these times, it still is,” he said. “Behind that are the F Series and the Taurus.”
Skalnek is also a new SVT Dealer for Ford.
“It’s a special vehicle team,” Skalnek explained. “We’re getting the SVT Focus…it’s all souped up…170 horsepower. We’ll have one of those in 2-3 weeks.”
SVT is a special program for Ford, and in 2005 will include the Lightning Pickup and Cobra.
“It’s a progression type of thing,” said Skalnek. “In two years we’ll be a full-blown SVT dealership.”
Ford also has the new Thunderbird out, available in hard top or convertible, with hard top being optional.
“I only stock at premium level,” said Skalnek. “Every option you can get.”
The all new 2004 F Series will be in dealerships by October.
“You’ll hear a lot about that,” he said. “It’s a major model change. That’s the number one selling vehicle in the world.”
At Milosch Dodge, the number one selling vehicles are the pickups, mini-vans and Durango utility vehicles, according to Kirk Shubert.
“The features people want are power/adjustable pedals, and in the mini-vans, quad seats.
Shubert said Dodge has already launched everything new that will be out this year. Some of the big things are the Hemi V8 engine in the truck line and the redesigned 3-quarter and 1-ton pickups.
“Those are the truck of the year,” Shubert said. “The Durgano has the largest tow capacity for mid-size utility vehicles, and the Dakota has the largest pay load and interior capacity for mid-size pickups.”
Shubert said now is the time to buy.
“The incentives are fantastic,” he said.