Being a former General Motors dealer, it would always rile me up when the news media would come up with their "most stressful" shopping lists. One year the report said that most folks would rather go to the dentist than shop for a car! My dad always told me "you earn your reputation so remember how important it is to take care of customers!" We have one important rule at the Motorplex: The most important person in the Motorplex is the one who just came through our front door! You see, growing up in the auto industry I learned of a "sixth sense" that every car sales person posesses. Before a prospect gets out of their car, every lurking salesperson knows: if they can buy, how much they owe on their trade in, what their credit score is, and if they are just wasting time at the dealership.
At VanDerZee Motorplex we truly respect the fact that you chose to visit our dealership and spend time with us. We know that you most likely have done research on the Internet not only about our products, but about our reputation as well. You have expectations of us that can range from how you are greeted to the comfort factor that you have with the Motorplex Team. We took all of these factors into account when we built the Motorplex. No one will demand to know " what can I sell ya today" or claim that "I'm gonna give you a deal I wouldn't offer my Grandmother!" You will not be cornered in a little closing booth and pressured to make a decision. The Motorplex Team works at your pace, not ours. We truly do want to earn your business. In our 21 years as a South Haven powersports dealership we have built wonderful relationships with so many diverse clients. I think my dad would be pretty proud of us.
Our clients are great folks and we appreciate the opportunity to provide them with fun powersports products for the entire family. The Motorplex team thanks you for your business!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
Tesla Trouble? What will Washington do???
The news today is not good for Tesla Motors, you know, the folks waiting to launch their S line electric sedan? Just months before the long heralded start of production, the company announced the departure of their Chief Engineer and the Director of Chassis and Engineering? No matter how you paint it, that can't be good news. Isn't this a company that has never produced or engineered a vehicle from the ground up? One would think that this is a very critical stage for a car with promised production right around the corner? Investors didn't think so either as the stock dropped 19% on the news. I don't recall how much of our tax dollars are loaded into this one, but I'm sure the concerns of yet another "alternative" industry shows signs of trouble.
We all need to share environmental responsibilty. Just look at the improvements made with internal combustion engines in the last 20 years. Small displacement 4 cylinders are the current focus of the auto industry for economy with more than sufficient power. A Chevy Cruze will get nearly 40mpg on the highway with a 20K price. It is a vehicle that will need minimal maintenance over a 5 year / 100,000 mile lifespan. Is a $43,000 Volt a better buy? While it is truly an innovative, quality vehicle, it's not an economical family "daily driver" based cost and projected, even unknown, maintenance. It is also propped up with a $7,500 tax credit. When your son or daughter is ready for that "first" car, will you invest in a 5 year old Cruze with 100,000 miles or a Volt? I like the odds with the Cruze. Interesting times for the auto industry. Let's see how this Tesla news plays out with Washington DC.
We all need to share environmental responsibilty. Just look at the improvements made with internal combustion engines in the last 20 years. Small displacement 4 cylinders are the current focus of the auto industry for economy with more than sufficient power. A Chevy Cruze will get nearly 40mpg on the highway with a 20K price. It is a vehicle that will need minimal maintenance over a 5 year / 100,000 mile lifespan. Is a $43,000 Volt a better buy? While it is truly an innovative, quality vehicle, it's not an economical family "daily driver" based cost and projected, even unknown, maintenance. It is also propped up with a $7,500 tax credit. When your son or daughter is ready for that "first" car, will you invest in a 5 year old Cruze with 100,000 miles or a Volt? I like the odds with the Cruze. Interesting times for the auto industry. Let's see how this Tesla news plays out with Washington DC.
Are we getting SOFT about winter weather?
I've lived in Michigan all of my life. A wise man once told me that if you live in Michigan the four seasons are dramatic. Each has its own way of affecting our lives. He said, you don't have to LIKE all four seasons, but you'd better be able to tolerate the ones you don't like. The Motorplex sells every powersports vehicle except one: snow machines. I guess part of the reason is that I really don't embrace cold weather! The other part is economics. It just doesn't snow as much in West Michigan as it used to. Our motto is: "There's always water in Michigan. It might not be WARM water, but there is always water!" Snow machine folks sometimes have to drive north hundreds of miles just to find snow cover. That brings me to one of my pet peeves: Over reactive weather forecasters!
Have you noticed that whenever snow is predicted it comes with great fanfare by the media. Winter storm watch; winter storm warning; Lake effect warning; Blizzard warning. Just today, South Haven was to be the "hot spot" with up to 16" of snow predicted. Any responsible South Haven resident who didn't rush to the store for bread, milk and toilet paper was sure to be caught "unprepared" by the impending, paralyzing onslaught of snow! The 11:00pm news last night had "team coverage" of 2nd storm of the season. One eager reporter was set up along side of US-131 citing how she observed that the snow flakes seemed to be getting larger as the storm covered all of West Michigan. It was amusing as the camera panned to the expressway, cars were traveling by on wet pavement and cruising at 60 to 70 mph! She did make a nice snow man, though, and asked viewers to send in more photos of their creations. Next we were told that roadways were snow covered and slippery and that the morning commute would be a hum dinger! Let's see. We live in Michigan, beside a big, warm lake, and it snows. THAT certainly is "breaking" news. With earth shattering wisdom, the news crew advised that if we MUST go outside, we were to slow down and take extra time for our travels! What a revelation. Not that's what I call useful news coverage.
A local TV weatherman's blog was describing in detail the approaching storm. He said conditions would deteriorate in the late afternoon with falling temps and snow. A person responded and asked if she should change here 3:30pm doctor's appointment or did he think that the "storm" would hold off 'til later in the day? In this day of "instant" news coverage, one would think that Mother Nature would be prompt and keep her "appointments"! My grandfather would only say "your generation has gone soft". It's Michigan. It's winter. You dress warm, you shovel, you plow and if at all possible use some common sense. PURE MICHIGAN! Enjoy the pure, fresh beauty of new fallen snow.
Have you noticed that whenever snow is predicted it comes with great fanfare by the media. Winter storm watch; winter storm warning; Lake effect warning; Blizzard warning. Just today, South Haven was to be the "hot spot" with up to 16" of snow predicted. Any responsible South Haven resident who didn't rush to the store for bread, milk and toilet paper was sure to be caught "unprepared" by the impending, paralyzing onslaught of snow! The 11:00pm news last night had "team coverage" of 2nd storm of the season. One eager reporter was set up along side of US-131 citing how she observed that the snow flakes seemed to be getting larger as the storm covered all of West Michigan. It was amusing as the camera panned to the expressway, cars were traveling by on wet pavement and cruising at 60 to 70 mph! She did make a nice snow man, though, and asked viewers to send in more photos of their creations. Next we were told that roadways were snow covered and slippery and that the morning commute would be a hum dinger! Let's see. We live in Michigan, beside a big, warm lake, and it snows. THAT certainly is "breaking" news. With earth shattering wisdom, the news crew advised that if we MUST go outside, we were to slow down and take extra time for our travels! What a revelation. Not that's what I call useful news coverage.
A local TV weatherman's blog was describing in detail the approaching storm. He said conditions would deteriorate in the late afternoon with falling temps and snow. A person responded and asked if she should change here 3:30pm doctor's appointment or did he think that the "storm" would hold off 'til later in the day? In this day of "instant" news coverage, one would think that Mother Nature would be prompt and keep her "appointments"! My grandfather would only say "your generation has gone soft". It's Michigan. It's winter. You dress warm, you shovel, you plow and if at all possible use some common sense. PURE MICHIGAN! Enjoy the pure, fresh beauty of new fallen snow.
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