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!

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?

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!!

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.