Things are Changing....

Here at Payne, things are evolving a little bit. We are making changes everyday to make our dealership a better place to do business with.

The first step is a redesign of our website! http://www.paynechevrolet.com/ will look a lot different starting this week. Go check it out!

The second step is that we are optimizing our relations with our Internet customers. Every salesmen here is ready to serve our growing list of Internet-based customers. So if you have a question or want a price quote, go ahead! Submit a request on our website and you will get an email or a call soon, with all the answers you need.

Of course as always, if you want to chat, feel free to call or just come on in. As our customers know, we're not just a dealership, or a body shop, or a service department - we're one of the places in Springfield where people come to connect with one another. We're a part of the community here.

And that, my friends, will never change.

2011 Malibu Walkaround

Check out our virtual walkaround of the 2011 Malibu LS at our Facebook account!

Payne Chevrolet Facebook

Tell me what you think, ok? This is one of my favorite vehicles on the lot!

Video from Camaro Day

Discount!!

For some car buyers, I've noticed that it's a dealbreaker for them if they are not getting a "special deal." The truth is, that's how carbuying has been for years and years - you come in, haggle a bit, a get the "special" price you want, the salesman gets the sale, and everyone goes home happy.

However, the recent collapse of the auto industry has changed things. Buyers enter the dealerships with the same perception as always, but are being met with stony-faced salesman who are shrugging their shoulders, telling them "there's really nothing more we can do."

Buyers are assuming this is because we, the auto dealers, aren't cutting deals any more. That's just not true.

For new cars, we've already discounted them to cost - meaning we're barely making a dime on these things right now. This is for three reasons:

1) We have to sell them as cheap as we can just to get the product moving, since folks are just starting to have faith in the American auto industry again. More new, beautiful little Chevrolets on the road is a free advertisement to the other drivers, showing that Chevy is back and better than ever.

2.) The Internet has given the guy with the cheapest price the upper hand, because often folks can do all their shopping at home, comparing prices and such. To stay competitve, we must offer the cheapest price possible upfront, before you even enter the store.

3.) With the economy being in the state it has been in and everyone pinching pennies, we know that we just aren't going to get a lot of takers on a full price vehicle. So we go ahead and take off everything we can.

Now, with all of this price slashing on our front, you would think folks would be flocking to our doors, right? Well, unfortunately, it seems that some people look at a new 2010 Avalanche that has been marked down $8,000, and still want more of a discount. (Think about that - EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS. You could buy a whole other car just with the money you saved.)

You don't go up to the K-Mart clerk and ask them to cut the price on a bargain bin DVD, do you? Of course you don't, because you know you're already getting a good deal. For some reason, this still hasn't dawned on some new car buyers. Some of them don't want a fixed price on a car, even if the price is really, really good.

Now, a few years down the road when things start picking up (And they will! Believe in the economy! We'll all be alright; no need to panic and start buying heaps of gold, no matter what world-reknowned economist Glenn Beck says.), then you can start asking for discounts again. Or maybe not! Maybe this will become de rigueur for all new car dealers - offering you the lowest price possible, right upfront, no ifs ands or buts. I kind of hope for that option. While it might be fun to haggle, I really enjoy knowing exactly how much I will pay from the very beginning.

Any questions?

The Model Year is Ending! Nobody Panic!

As you might have noticed, the Model Year is on a considerably different schedule than the traditional Gregorian calendar.

The model year (often abbreviated as "MY" in car dealer jargon) begins in late summer, around August, and ends the following summer around July. As of yesterday, you probably realized that July has indeed arrived, and therefore the last of the 2010s will be rolling off the lot any day now.

You're probably thinking, what does that mean for me, the buyer? Is this a good or bad time to buy? Well, you would not be alone in being confused - those are tricky questions.

First of all, I will tell you that this is THE best time to buy if you are looking for a good deal. GM makes their rebates lower than ever, in an attempt to push everything possible off the lot to make way for the new vehicles. Dealers (like us) are also cutting deals, even slashing their own profits to ensure that these vehicles get taken to good homes in a timely manner (gee, I'm making it sound like these cars are puppies). You see, the best way for a dealer to get more inventory from GM is to sell the old inventory! So if you are in the market to get the best prices you can get on a new car, this is the time to strike.

However, the thrill of the unexpected lies ahead! And this is where people get tripped up, because the NEW model year sounds really, really good, and maybe we should just wait until those cars come out to buy? Of course, when that 2011 Silverado gets here, fresh from the factory, it's definitely NOT going to have the $5,000 rebate that the 2010 model has right now. Deals are not going to be cut so easy on the new babies, no matter where you go, because dealers want their new, buzzed-about product to make them some money! (And you can't fault them for that, you know? A guy - or gal - has gotta make a living!)

So here is my advice to you when deciding to buy a car in summertime, the limbo of car buying seasons: know what you want!

Research to see if your favorite model is changing considerably in the next model year - a quick Internet search could often tell you that while the 2011 Impala will not be altered greatly from previous years, the 2011 Malibu is changing. Also, decide whether the fancy new features on that 2011 Malibu are actually features you want to pay more for, or ones you can live without. If you can live without them, or you like the 2010 models better, than get yourself to our parking lot FAST - this is the time to buy, buy, buy! If you decide that the 2011 is the way to go, then you should still get yourself to the dealership soon, because you might find that a helpful salesman can order one for you, built to your exact specifications.

Also something to consider - are you looking for a Chevy Cobalt? If you are, drop what you are doing, NOW, and go get one, because this is your last chance! The Cobalt is being replaced next model year with the new Chevrolet Cruze. Fans of the Cobalt need not weep, though, because the Cruze looks amazing. The only issue with it that I have is that there is no 2-door option. If you were looking for a 2-door compact car, get the 2010 Cobalt 2-door while you still can.

The bottom line here is that you will find the best deals of the year if you shop right now. If you are not looking for a specific new feature or new model, then there is no reason for you to not take advantage of the savings you'll get from the last month of the model year. If you don't go now, you'll likely find yourself in this same position this time next year, because you waited too long for the "right deal" to come along. Newsflash - this IS the right deal, right now!

And if you are one of those people who cannot wait another day for the Cruze, then don't!! Come in TODAY and see what you can do to order one, built to your exact wishes. We're looking forward to that car just as much as you are!

Camaro Day!!

A couple of weeks ago, Payne Chevrolet hosted a Camaro Day. This is the second time they've done it - both were very successful.

Last year, I heard that they got a radio station up here broadcasting - of course they were mentioning the free hamburgers we were serving, so we were swamped with people.

This year was a lighter affair, because since we (wisely) didn't include the radio station this time, we got people coming over who were just interested in the Camaros we had on display.

And they were beautiful. We had really old ones that had been souped up and tickered with over years. We had a Camaro convertible from the 90s that was impeccably cared for. And we also had a couple of our most memorable sales from this year's new, 2010 Camaro.

One of those sales was the Bumblebee Camaro - a new coupe designed to resemble Bumblebee from the "Transformers" series (most of the "Transformers" characters are "played" by GM vehicles in the recent film series). The owner of this Bumblebee Camaro had the most adorable grandson who came with him, who told me how much he loved Bumblebee and how it was his favorite car. His grandfather even told me that the kid would sneak into the garage at night and tell his family, "Shhhh! Bumblebee is sleeping."

Just adorable. They were very nice to talk to and had a lot of fun.

Another new Camaro we had was one purchased by a young local girl, who had us paint the hood, roof, and trunk of her black SS Camaro completely pink. At first, many here were skeptical about the procedure, but since the customer is always right (and hey, she was paying for it!), we sent it to the body shop to get done. And let me tell you, we were all completely wrong, because this Camaro looks AWESOME. If she had gotten it painted completely pink, it would have looked silly, but since she mixed the pink with the black, it ended up looking really cool. My favorite part was where the body shop painted the Chevy bowtie logo in the front pink, too! It tied the whole thing together.

It is wonderful that we have the opportunity to gather the local community and have events like these. Everyone involved had a lot of fun, and it was a great experience altogether, especially for me, since this was the first major event I've been involved with since I started here at Payne.

Hope to see you next year!!

**I'll be posting pictures and video of the event as they are available**

Time is Money!

The way a car sale comes together is really an amazing thing.

So recently, I was put into a conundrum - a customer had to get in and get out very quickly, and we just weren't able to put things together fast enough for what he needed. Everything worked out in the end, but it got me thinking about car sales and about making serious decisions in general: would you ever go into a car dealership to purchase a vehicle on a day when you had an important appointment?

We all say we wouldn't, but then I think about it, and realize that I've made plans before on days when I had important, time-consuming things to take care of (like the day I took the SATs!!).

Buying a car is a time-consuming process - even a simple, in-and-out cash deal takes a few minutes longer than one would expect. Here at Payne, we certainly don't want to waste your time for no reason; we take the steps necessary to make sure the deal gets worked the right way. After all, we'd hate to call you AFTER you've drove off the lot with your new Tahoe to tell you that there's something wrong! (That being said, we still try to get you out of here in a timely fashion.)

A car sale is actually an incredible thing. It's difficult to predict how long it will take to contact the bank that will be loaning you money, or the bank you owe money on your trade in, or for the clean-up department to wash your new car and clean the window stickers off, etc. A good salesman can get you to agree to buy a car, but a great salesman can make sure that all of these things all happen as quickly as they possibly can. It's almost like conducting an orchestra - you have so many people involved, and they all have to work together. You can't be sure that the Oboe Section is going to play their part exactly right, but you have to do your best to make sure that they do.

And even then, things can go wrong, so we always appreciate when customers are patient, and preferably, have made plans expecting that buying a car takes time, and we want to be careful so that you have the easiest experience possible.

Camaro Day is Almost Here!!

Payne Chevrolet's 2010 Camaro Day is only 2 days away! I wasn't at last year's, so I'm so excited to see what this will be like. I know there will be food, games, and Camaros of all different shapes and sizes, so it sounds like a party to me!




If you have any questions, you can always call us at 615-384-5573. We're looking forward to seeing you there!! Let's celebrate the past and the future of the Camaro together!

God Bless the State of Tennessee

We at Payne Chevrolet would like to extend our prayers to people of Nashville, Clarksville, Franklin, Lebanon, and every town in Tennessee that felt the effects of the recent flood. Our thoughts are with you all.

We've had folks here at Payne who have been touched by this disaster, too, and we want everyone to know that while our business has not been damaged, our hearts have been.

So many lost their cars, their homes, and in more tragic cases, their loved ones. A lot of residents didn't have flood insurance, so rebuilding will be a difficult process.

Also, many of us saw the waters of the mighty Cumberland wash through the landmarks of Nashville, a city we all hold so dear. To see the Grand Ole Opry house drenched underwater, unable to continue its 85th anniversary celebration this year, was just a heart breaking experience.

And yet, we do not dispair - God still provides. This tragedy could have been a lot worse - Gov. Bredesen recently pointed out that New Orleans lost thousands of lives in Hurricane Katrina, and we have been lucky enough to not have lost a fraction of that much. The State of Tennessee is here, in one piece, and we have the ability to rebuild!

And most importantly, we are Volunteers. Those who are in need are already getting help from their neighbors, and more relief will come.

Currently, Volunteers all across the state are getting involved. Here are some links if you want to help out!

Hands On Nashville - If you want to volunteer your time, this is the place.

Red Cross of Middle Tennessee - If you want to volunteer money, this is a good place.

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee - If you want to volunteer money, this is another good place. It currently has a partnership with the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management.

Additionally, keep your eyes and ears open for local events that are popping up all over Middle TN that will support flood victims. Facebook, blogs, local news, The Tennessean, and The Nashville Scene will undoubtedly have plenty of information concerning fundraisers and benefits.

Patten Fuqua, a Nashville Predators blogger who wrote about the flood recently, wrote that the reason the national news hasn't given us more than 15 minutes of airtime was because we have handled it so marvelously - there hasn't been looting in the streets, those without places to go have often been taken in by friendly neighbors, there's been no politicizing a disaster that didn't need to be politicized - no bad behavior WHATSOEVER. We have been HELPING each other, and working together to deal with this on our own.

Keep those words in mind, Tennessee. It's something to be proud of.



**image courtesy of CMT.com**

What's the most important to you?

Performance?



Features?



Style?





Thankfully, all of Chevrolet's vehicles offer all of these! But each model obviously has one area that it specializes in. Which one are you looking for most?

Family Cars Through the Years

The Station Wagon. The Minivan. The SUV.

The "Family Car" has always been a staple of American life. It has fuzzy memories for many who grew up sitting in the backseat of a station wagon with their sister on a family road trip, and for the parents that bought them, so full of hope for their young children.

It also comes with some negative connotations: many modern women, for example, balk at the idea of being considered a "Minivan Mom." These ladies reached their peak of cultural dominance in the 1990's, when it seemed like half the cars on the road were french fry-filled family vans.

Those moms and dads of the 90's, of course, where switching to minivans because of their dislike of the station wagon, the family vehicle of choice for the previous thirty years. The station wagon is hardly seen anymore - despite attempts at revival over the years, in seems only Volvo is still seriously in the wagon market. (In all honesty, Volvo wagons are pretty sweet. Here's hoping they never go away.)

This author's childhood spanned the course of the 90's (ages 3 to 13), and I remember the last of the station wagons, a dying breed amongst the Minivan takeover. The family of a friend of mine exclusively bought the same Volvo station wagon, over and over - same color, same everything, just a newer year when it was time for a trade-in. We all thought the choice of a wagon was an odd one. Her mom would just shrug her shoulders - hey, they knew what they liked!

Then in the 2000's, the Minivan Moms all migrated to the SUV. This was especially popular for families with children who played sports, because all the football pads for Josh's football games and the catching gear for Caitlin's softball tournaments weren't going to haul themselves around. I remember this era, too, because I had a sports-playing sibling and my parents had a Tahoe for that exact purpose. I remember seeing Chevy Suburbans all over the place at those little league events, and realizing they call it a Suburban for a reason.

Now today, in the 2010's, there's already a marked change in Soccer Mom and NASCAR Dad's vehicle of choice. (Well, maybe Mom's vehicle of choice. Dad's always wanted a Silverado truck, but Mom usually wins that fight, doesn't she?) With gas prices on a rollercoster ride up and down (usually up) and a society that has become decidedly more eco-conscious, the Crossover SUV has taken the lead for the most requested family car.

The Crossover offers a lot of the best features of all of the previous family vehicles rolled into one. Let's look at the Chevy Traverse, for example, shall we? It's got power and towing capacity like an SUV. It has got the seating capacity of a Minivan. There's got room to haul equipment, just like an SUV or a station wagon (it can even create more room with the removeable third seat row). It's styled as a mix of a van and a SUV (with a little bit of Jeep-style thrown in), but it gets much better fuel economy than either one. The price is also considerably cheaper than an SUV. And, let's face it, the Crossover SUVs like Traverse just look cool.

(SIDENOTE: This is good news for folks with kids who are looking for a really cheap vehicle: very nice Minivans with good features and low miles are currently being sold for dirt cheap, just because they aren't the hottest product anymore. Something to keep in mind for families on a budget!)

With Traverse's little brother, Equinox, currently the hottest product GM has to offer (Traverse isn't doing so bad itself, either), it looks like these Crossover vehicles are here to stay.

At least until the next big thing for families comes around. If the current timing of consumer tastes continues, I would guess we'll know what that vehicle is in 2020. See you in ten years, Soccer Moms!


**The photo above is an advertisement for a 1969 Chevrolet Kingswood Estate station wagon. Ain't it adorable?

Custom Cavaliers: Making a car your own

Something I've learned since I've been at Payne Chevrolet: It's sometimes hard to navigate the realm of car fanatics.

For example, those who aren't inducted into the world of custom cars might not realize how expansive of a universe it is. I think there were many Americans completely unaware of the practice until MTV premiered their "Pimp My Ride" reality show (and say what you will about MTV's reality programming, but that particular show did offer an interesting look into how cars were built and customized).

Obviously, folks like to customize their Corvettes and Camaros. That's the general perception about custom cars, right? That speedy sports and muscle cars are the vehicles put up for modification. But among some custom car enthusists, the truth seems to be the opposite: Corvettes are already good enough. Why not modify a Cavalier?

Yes, apparently the old Cavalier is a popular model to customize. The goal of many mod jobs seems to be to make an average car into something more. (I always wondered why Chevrolet offered SS options on a Cobalt, and this might be one reason why - to accomodate these customizers.) The Dodge Neon and the Honda Civic are also frequent targets for modifications. I've even seen photos of huge rims and wheels being put on Ford Tauruses!

Modifications can include huge spoilers, large rims, custom paint jobs with designs, making the car ride lower to the ground, and adding chrome anywhere that will sit still long enough.

While some will certainly dismiss these things as silly, I'd rather like to think that it's all about making a car your own. The truth is, there's a car out there for everyone. But sometimes it can be daunting to look at all the new cars on the lot and realize they're all the same. Some people want their vehicles to scream their name ("THIS CAR IS STEVE'S!!!"). Remember my friend's "Prince Purple" Chevy Celebrity? That didn't cost him thousands of bucks in modifications, and yet, that car was uniquely his. He made sure it was.

There's nothing like being an original, and for many people, part of being unique means making sure all your stuff matches your personality. I applaud these car customizers - may your lime green Cavaliers with flames down the side ride the roads for many years!!

The Feeling of Accomplishment

Just so you know, we here at Payne encourage impulse buying. I, for one, find the impulse buy to be a thrilling experience - finding something you weren't looking for, but with just one look at it, you know you don't want to live without it.

Buying a car impulsively is an exciting experience. You didn't know it when you woke up this morning, but you are going to drive home in a shiny, new gold Tahoe!! There is a strange feeling of accomplishment that goes with an impulse buy, though there's often a tinge of guilt that goes along with it.

However, we only encourage it when you can afford it. Personally, I've pulled some mental gymnastics to justify making certain purchases in the past, but I always knew that it wouldn't really hurt me to buy X item, it would just prevent me from eating out for a couple of weeks, or I might have to put off making another purchase I was planning on. And I'm okay with that.

It is very rewarding to buy something after saving for it. When we were kids and our parents made us save for a new bike or video game, it was easy - you just save your money and you'll get it. Sometimes Mom and Dad will even help you out. But when we are grown we find out the savings doesn't exactly work that way - you've got so much stuff to juggle, you have to decide if you want to buy something outright or spread out the payments through financing, and you also have to budget special savings to expect the unexpected. It's a lot tougher and sometimes can take a long time.

One of the best things we see here is when a family has worked hard, saved up, and is finally coming to us to buy the brand new Equinox they've wanted for a long time. Maybe Mom decided she wanted it after seeing it on a commercial, and she thought it would be great for the kids. So she and Dad talked it over and saved. And saved and saved and saved. And they budgeted. And they quit going to Chili's for a couple of months. And now they are ready to buy, with no worries. It's a great experience for us and them, not only because they own one of the best cars on the road, but because of the feeling of accomplishment that comes with reaching a goal.

Few things in life feel better than reaching a goal that you've worked hard for. Maybe it's something you've saved to buy, or maybe it's a bill you've worked hard to pay off. Or maybe it's when you've realized your diet has been working when you can fit into your old Wranglers again. Or you graduated college after you thought you never would. This feeling of accomplishment is different than the one you get from an impulse buy. There's no guilt, no worry, just a sense of pride and excitement for the future. Finally, I can drive in style!

And for those that are still in the savings/working process, let me tell you, there's nothing like The Home Stretch. The hard part is over! All you have to do is keep doing what you've already gotten used to doing over the past few weeks, months, or years. Yes, it is stressful to be able to see the finish line but not yet cross it, but just think! How hard was it to start this process? How difficult was it when you realized you were knee-deep in it, and for a moment felt there was no end in sight? There IS an end, and as long as you don't start celebrating too early, you are in the clear!!

Everyone has goals. When you set a goal, you are not alone. When you achieve a goal, however, you become part of an elite club.

Every individual here at Payne has goals, and as a dealership existing in the middle of a tough time for the auto industry, our business has goals, too. Let's work towards our goals together, ok? We'll see you here when your ready to get that Equinox. In the mean time, good luck to us all!

New Decade, New Lineup: Times Are Indeed Changing

Many things are changing in the automotive industry. Every year, it becomes a more globally-oriented endeavour. GM has tried to acknowledge and take advantage of that fact as much as possible - for example, do you know the companies Holden and Daewoo? They are GM-related automakers in Australia and South Korea, respectively. Their ideas are often combined with the ideas of engineers in America and Europe to create the vehicles you find sold under the Chevy, Cadillac, Buick, and GMC brand names. Additionally, GM has entered China, and is now the top-selling foreign automaker there. Believe it or not, did you know the Chinese are crazy about Buicks? Who'da thunk, right?

Chevrolet has a lot of awesome stuff coming down the pipeline: the Orlando, the Spark, and, of course, the Volt (more on that for another day). The first item that we will be getting in at Payne Chevrolet, though, is the Chevrolet CRUZE.

The Cruze comes at a very important time for Chevrolet - the small car has never been a forte for American car companies, long eclipsed by Asian and European automakers in this area. The Cruze is described by Chevy's PR people as "a global car refined for America," and to be honest, it's hard to disagree with them - they did a really great job. The Cruze, as the successor to the Cobalt, will be a nice looking piece of work. The interior looks like one of a sports car, and the outside looks very modern. The mpg is expected to be around 40 miles per gallon. The car is both an improvement on the Cobalt and a new vehicle all its own.

However on that note, here is my candid, uncensored hope for the future of Cruze - that this nameplate will stick. I think that the Cavalier and Cobalt were both great vehicles, so why a name change? I'd like GM to pick a name for this car and stay with it, through redesigns and good sales and bad, because it builds a brand loyalty. People LOVE Camaro, through thick and thin, and it's partially because Chevy made a great car and stuck with it. Any car historian will tell you that not every single Camaro in history was a great as the current model (Camaro Iron Duke?). And yet, the Camaro is still one of the most beloved cars in history, and better than ever.

Also, look at the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla - both are horrible names for cars, in my opinion, but yet they are some of the longest-running nameplates and best selling vehicles in the business. The name doesn't matter as much as the brand created around it. The Cruze has the ability to be the best car in its class, and I think Chevy should believe in the nameplate enough to keep it for many, many years to come.

Here's to you, Chevy Cruze!! Can't wait for you to get here.

Some Hard Truths (and Some Blatant Advertising)

As of this posting, we still have four 2009 Chevy Aveos on our lot, back from when they were new. Aveo Sedans and Aveo 5s are the smallest vehicles we have, and even though they are not hybrids, they get up to 40 mpg on the highway. They are very fuel-efficient little vehicles, and are also really attractive.

However, it seems like we cannot pay people to come in and look at these. Why? Well, since gas prices went down, it seems we all have forgotten about taking care of the enviroment. And now that unemployment has just leveled off, people have already forgotten about saving their money.

My how we forget our troubles so easily.

Whether we like it or not, our lives have been forever changed since the events of the past ten years. We can't go back to the past, when we neglected the environment and didn't take savings or credit seriously. Everyday I see someone who is trying to pretend to live in that old world, where the cost of some temporary happiness doesn't matter, no matter how high.

Buying any car should be an investment in your future, based on consideration of what will work best for you. The Aveo is definitely just that - it is inexpensive, saves you gas money, and is a reliable and safe vehicle (just so no one doubts my credibility by calling these tiny cars "safe," they actually received 5 star crash test ratings).

So what if Aveo is not a big, expensive status symbol? It's a useful car, and should get more respect than it does.

So if you are are in the market for a new vehicle, consider the Aveo. Remember what it was like when we all had to try and be responsible? Let's keep doing that, everyday.

Mustang VS Corvette

YOU be the judge!!

The Learning Curve: A Glossary

As many out there know, this blog is new to the Internet, and its author is new to the automotive industry. As I learn things I've never known before, I will share them with you, so you will be prepared next time you enter a dealership or prepare to buy a car, hopefully at Payne Chevrolet.

Below you'll find a glossary of terms I have learned thus far. Probably most people will know about these terms, but do not know the exact meaning. I may not be as good of a teacher as Mr. Feeny, but hopefully I can teach you some valuable life lessons about car buying.

%APR or Total Cash Allowance: You hear this phrase on commercials all the time. However, I think most people have never paused to think about what it means. Basically, it translates to the discount you get on a new vehicle, either you get a good interest rate for the first few months (the %APR) or a discount off the total price (Total Cash Allowance). You choose which one works best for your payment plan.

GM Certified Used: You hear this a lot on commercials for GM dealerships. It refers to vehicles that are 2005 or newer, contain the GM warranty, have passed a 117-point inspection, and have a vehicle history report available. Basically, these are the used cars that are as good as new and even still have some or most of their warranty left.

Doc Fee: I had to answer this question to a customer today, so I thought I would offer an honest answer, one you won't get from most dealers. I've seen a lot of places online that say this fee is a scam and a total rip off. That's not true. The fee is meant to cover the cost of the paperwork, such as credit checks, vehicle history reports, etc, that we have to run for nearly every vehicle and customer. All of these things cost money to file and to request. So while it's true that some dealerships out there charge a lot for their doc fees and make a profit, there really is a point to these fees, it's not just pure profit. However, if your dealership is charging you upwards of $500 or is charging you several seemingly pointless fees, you might want to ask why. Here at Payne we have one flat processing fee and we keep it low.

GM: I have realized that some people still do not know what makes up General Motors. The cars that are GM are Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac. Previously, it ran Saturn, Hummer, Saab, and my favorite, Pontiac. When all the craziness in the auto industry happened, GM decided to discontinue Saturn, Hummer, and Pontiac (I did not like the decision to close Pontiac, but that's for another post), and it sold Saab to Spyker Cars, which I think was a good decision. In Asia, GM also operates the Korean car company GM Daewoo Motors.

LS/LT/LTZ: These are the trim levels Chevrolet offers on their vehicles. Special items like the Camaro have different trims (for example, the SS), but these are the main ones. LS is the standard package, LT is the second best, and LTZ is the luxury-style trim. LTZs almost always will have leather interior and all of the bells and whistles.

MSRP: Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price. This is also called the "List Price," and basically is the standard price for most vehicles assigned by the maker. Unless the vehicle is in very high demand (like the Camaro or Equinox), you will likely get some form of discount on a new car from the MSRP. But don't tell anyone I told you that.

Rebuilt Title: This is the term for a title belonging to a car that has been previously totaled, and then rebuilt. At Payne, we would never have anything on our lot with a rebuilt title. All of our vehicles have "clean titles," which refers to a car that has never been totaled.

Short Box/Standard Box/Long Box: These are truck bed sizes. Most people know these terms, but don't know the size in feet. A Short Box is 6 feet (seen mostly on Crew Cabs). A Standard Box (the one on most trucks out there) is 6 1/2 feet. A Long Box is 8 feet long.

Tranny: A way of referring to a car's transmission. I haven't figured out if the service guys get the double-entendre, though.

Work Truck: A basic trim for a truck. There are no bells and whistles on these trucks whatsoever, they are manufactured that way, often to be sold to businesses. However, if you are not picky about wanting lots of features, these trucks are much cheaper than their fancy counterparts and do the same job.

Hope you have found this "insider information" to be helpful! I will post new glossaries as I come across terms I think people would like to know.

The Open Road

Surely, the day you buy a new car from Payne, the first thing you think about is driving that thing as fast as you can down Memorial Blvd.

Americans in particular romanticize the car-owning experience - you know the cliche about the wind in your hair and the open road? Owning your own car is associated with freedom - the freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want. And we all know how much Americans love their freedom.

Imagine this: heading south for the beach in your new Camaro, going as fast as you can. No one will get in your way!

Except you can only go 50 miles per hour, tops, on Memorial Blvd. And you've only made it to Greenbrier before a police officer stops you. Even in the mightiest of sports cars, you still have to stop when the light turns red and observe all speed limits.

For those of us who live in Nashville, it's almost unfair to live in the city when Chevrolet makes cars like the Camaro. I just moved one across the lot yesterday, and even while only going 8 miles per hour during all of two minutes, it was probably the best experience behind the wheel I've ever had.

So that brings me to another part of car maintenance - Enjoy it in every way you can! Take your car to interstate if you like to drive fast. Go for a drive with no destination in mind. Listen to the radio, for goodness sakes!

While we Americans love our freedom, it's true that we also work and stress ourselves way too much (apparently we have one of the longest work weeks of any industrialized coutry). Your automobile is not just sitting in your driveway to take you from point A to B; it's there for you to have fun with. If you've bought the right car, then you will want to have fun with it whenever you can. And if you've bought a Chevy car in the past couple of years, odds are you have great fuel economy and can afford to drive for no reason.

You made an investment in your car, and it's time you got something out of it besides the morning commute.

Just try not to get a ticket!


**Image by LimaFoxtrot**

Preventative Care

In our nation's healthcare debate, one of the big issues being discussed is the idea of getting health coverage for better preventative care.

Preventative care is basically just taking good care of yourself every day, and going to a general care physician frequently to make sure everything's in proper working condition, instead of just waiting to get sick. It could save people thousands of dollars down the road if diseases are caught early or prevented altogether.

Makes sense, right? Well, in truth, we also must do that for our cars. Any major investment one makes in life, whether it be one's house, car, or health, must be taken care of.

However, too many people don't take their cars in for check ups, or wait until something breaks to bring it in. This results in huge service bills that could have been avoided, or could have at least been evenly spread over time. It just makes sense to take precautions on the vehicle now, so you won't have to deal with major malfunctions later.

One of Payne's new services is a great example of preventative care: Nitrogen Tire Inflation.

Traditionally, your tires are filled with oxygen. As many of you out there know, as your tires deflate and lose pressure, not only is the overall performance of the car affected, but so is the gas mileage.

A fill up of Nitrogen reduces the chance of tire failure by reducing oxidation in tires, making them last much longer. It improves fuel economy by keeping a more consistant pressure level, even in all different temperatures.

In short: it keeps your tires, and your whole vehicle, healthier for longer.

Payne is using the NitroFill service to inflate tires with nitrogen. Using NitroFill doesn't mean that you have to buy new tires, you just have to bring your car with your current tires in and, 20 minutes later, you'll have Nitrogen-filled tires. If you want to go to NitroFill's website, you can check out an estimate of how much money you would save in gas with your current vehicle, to see if it is worth your money: http://www.nitrofill.com/

But even if you're not sure about Nitrogen-inflated tires, you should still be taking regular care of your car. Maybe just bring it into the service department for a check up? Your car will thank you, and you will return the thanks when it lasts you an extra five years than you thought it would.

Take care of you body, and your car. You'll want both to be around for awhile.


P.S. If you do want the NitroFill, mention that you saw this blog online and you'll get a discount at Payne!! Also, NitroFill offers a Triple A-like service to customers, so ask about it when you come in.

Beautiful Springfield and Robertson County

Springfield is a beautiful place to live and work in. But for those that didn't grow up or live here for a long time, moving into town can be difficult at first. In any relatively small town, where people are very familiar with each other and not familiar with you, it can be weird at first.

So that's why I've put together a handy guide of things that I've learn since I came to town. Hopefully it will assist those who are new, and maybe inspire those citizens of Nashville, Clarksville, Bowling Green, and Hendersonville to come take a look at the town and our store.

1) Springfield has a wealth of local restaurants that are great places to eat. If you are driving into Springfield from the south on Memorial Blvd., it might be a bummer at first to see so many big signs for fast food joints and no immediate indication of nice local eateries. However, as you delve further into the town, you'll find truly wonderful places like The Depot, The Catfish House, and (for the ladies) Burdett's Tea Shop. Take a look for these places on Google Maps before you head up to buy your new car at Payne, that way whenever you inevitably find the Malibu of your dreams and drive off the lot with it, you'll have a great place to celebrate at.

2) Also good info for the ladies: the men in this town will open doors for you. All. The. Time. This might make a traditional woman blush and a more liberal lady a little peeved, but know that the guys in this city mean well. It's incredibly refreshing, really, to go to a place where people still have manners.

3) Robertson County is still a thriving agricultural area. In fact, it is called the tobacco capitol of the world! Dark fire tobacco is grown here, and from what I hear it is just a revelation to pass a barn that is curing the leaves. The smell of the tobacco burning is supposed to be very aromatic. Even if you aren't a tobacco user, surely you must appreciate the work that goes into growing a quality crop.

4) This county is also home to the Bell Witch. She haunts people... or something.

5) Springfield was a candidate to be the official home of "The Simpsons." When the "Simpsons" movie premiered in 2007, Springfield, TN was one of 13 Springfields across America that competed to host the film's premiere. Vermont's Springfield was the eventual winner, but that doesn't necessarily mean that Homer lives there. The 2009 episode "Coming to Homerica" included a joke referencing Homer and Marge's Springfield as "Tennessee Titans country," so there is evidence and still hope that just maybe, perhaps we are the One True Springfield.

6) Springfield is home to the best darn Chevrolet dealership in the world.

Well, I hope this guide has been helpful. Here at Payne, we have nothing but respect for the town we belong to - the town that the Payne family has called home for more than 80 years. Supporting this dealership means supporting a group of employees that really try to give Springfield a good image every day. And really, doing so is just good business - not one of us wants anyone from Nashville or Clarksville to walk away with a bad impression of the town, because then they might get a bad impression of us. So we do what we can for Springfield, because it has done has much for us.

The Check Engine Light

There is nothing in the world more discouraging than the check engine light.

Usually it comes on for no apparant reason to the driver. In that moment in which that unfortunate orange light blinks on, nothing seems to be different about the car except for the fact that the driver now feels the four steps of panic, irritation, dread, and finally acceptance.

The first stage is OH GOD THE LIGHT'S ON MY ENGINE IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE. This lasts only briefly since, as mentioned before, he or she realizes that not a thing seems to have changed.

The second stage is the face-reddening irritation of trying to figure out what the heck is going on. Why did this happen again? Why did it have to happen the day after I took the ol' gal to the car wash for a nice bath and an interior vacuuming? The day I was most proud to ride around in her?

Next, it's the cold, hard realization that this just might cost some money to fix. Jeez, doesn't this hunk of junk know we're in a recession? (Cable news told me it was the Great Depression Part 2!! Hmm, maybe my car only watches Sportscenter.) Sometimes, maybe the gas cap has just been screwed on wrong. And then other times, there's 600 bucks of repairs necessary.

Finally, there's acceptance. A lot of people out there "have a Guy." The Guy is the one you always turn to for auto repairs, and you know he won't try to screw you over. At this point in the Check Engine Light Saga, these people are able to take a deep breath, get the car home without crashing into that pink Celebrity that's driving too slowly in the next lane, and know that they can call The Guy tomorrow.

Usually, those without a Guy reach acceptance only after they decide that maybe I won't pay the cable bill on time this month, because I'm going to have to take it to some place I've never been and ultimately pay for a lot of crap I don't need because they know that I know nothing about cars.

If you are in the situation described above, without trying to sound too much like a blatant advertisement for our services, we've got a great service department here at Payne. Know that in these times a lot of the reliable dealerships are focusing on heightening their customer service even more, so to better establish consumer confidence in the auto industry. The long and short of it: your trusted GM dealer is not trying to screw you. (And you should definitely pay your cable bill on time, because Comcast is not so forgiving. Say goodbye to the "Cash Cab" marathons you love so much.)

And if you are considering letting Payne Chevrolet handle your repairs, stop by, say hi, and let us be your "Guy."

(...THAT RHYMES. AWESOME.)

The Car You Miss the Most...

Welcome all, to the official Payne Chevrolet blog! This blog will be a direct connection from this dealership to you, as well as a celebration of the Chevy branding.

Today, most people associate the Chevrolet brand with popular trucks like the Silverado or crossovers like the new Equinox.

But I confess to being a huge fan of the long-lost Chevy Celebrity.

They were beauties, weren't they? Long, rectangular beauties. The mid-size sedan is not as popular today as it was in the 80's and 90's, it seems. The Lumina (another favorite) succeeded the Celebrity before the style was dropped altogether, and the only mid-size that Chevrolet sells in 2010 is the gorgeous Malibu. But I will forever remember the simplicity, the grace, and the 90-degree angles of those Celebrity models from the 80's.

One of my best buddies in high school drove one of these things around. He painted it - well, he said he painted it purple, in honor of Prince, but that color was definitely pink. He drove an electric pink Celebrity and because he was the first of us to get a car we all rode around in it.

Everyone has a story like that, right? Everyone has a favorite car from their youth that, while maybe not in the best condition, held some great memories. (I don't even want to imagine the debaucherous acts that took place in Chevy Vans across America.)

Classic cars don't always have to be souped-up old hot rods. Classics are often the cars we hold dearest to our hearts.

And my heart definitely has wood paneling.