Why we bought a Chevy Equinox

Having sold vehicles at a car dealership for over 30 years, I’ve come across all types of SUV’s and Crossovers.  My husband and I chose to own the Chevrolet Equinox and I’d like to share with you the reasons behind that choice.

Reta in front of Equinox
Our Equinox On Feb 9th, 2018. We got about 11 inches of snow by day’s end.

more space

Spaciousness is the main reason why we bought an Equinox.  We recently purchased a new home and I knew we would be making a lot of trips to Home Depot, Mendards and Lowes.  I never even thought of how much help the Equinox would be when we actually moved!  It was a real godsend – it made moving the more breakable items easier than setting them in the back of a pickup truck.

We also wanted a vehicle my husband fit in comfortably.  He is over 6.2″ with a fairly husky build and we both fit great in the front buckets with room to spare.

Surprise

We’ve ended up using our Chevy Equinox in several unexpected ways.

  1. When my mother-in-law broke her shoulder, the Equinox was the perfect vehicle to transport her to the doctor etc.  Plenty of room in both the front or back seat and easy for her to get in and out of.  Lifesaver!
  2. There was a fantastic deal on a used wardrobe cabinet online and I bought it immediately.  We had to go a few towns away and pick it up.  Yep, it turned out to be garbage (you get what you pay for) but the Equinox got it home in one trip.  My Malibu could not have done that.
  3. I love not having to reach down into a car trunk to retrieve my groceries.  I never realized how much I hated reaching into the back of the car trunk until I took the Equinox grocery shopping.  No more contortionist moves to get that can of peas rolling around.  YAY!

Styling

I think Chevy really hit the bullseye when it comes to exterior style. I’ve always liked the sporty look of the Equinox and over the years I think it’s progressed to a sleeker and more modern silhouette.  It is not too masculine and not too feminine either.  I’ve never liked anything crazy or too distinctive and I think Equinox offers the right amount of ‘tough, yeah I can handle anything’ with an equal amount of ‘yes, I am hip and current’.

All-Wheel-Drive

While I am fine with front wheel drive, my husband insisted on getting all wheel drive…so we did.  And, seeing as we are expected to get a crap-ton of snow today, maybe he was right.  (He will tell you he is always right LOL!) We do always seem to drive the Equinox on all the bad-weather days and I feel very confident behind the wheel when the road traction is poor.

Service

Hey, I’m not gonna lie here.  I work at a Chevy dealership (Ron Westphal Chevrolet in Aurora, IL) and I know I can get great service at work.  But, the thing is, I haven’t needed any service other than oil changes and tire rotations.  Our Equinox runs like a trooper and has started every day since we got it.  In my experience this is not uncommon.  Most all the folks that bought Equinox models from me in the past have had great things to say about their Equinox ownership experience.

Size

The Equinox is the perfect size for our standard 2 car garage.  We have plenty of room to park both vehicles inside. (We own a Chevy Malibu as well)  It’s big enough to pick up whatever we need at our local home improvement store but not so big that it hogs up all the garage space.

What if

What if I was rich, owned a mansion and had a 4 car garage – would I buy a Tahoe or a Suburban?  Probably.  There’s nothing better than a full size Chevy SUV for road trips.  But I would still own an Equinox for all those trips in town.  A full-size SUV can sometimes limit where you can park.  My handy Equinox fits into almost any parking space making my life easier.  And easier is good.

If you are wondering if an Equinox would be right for you, feel free to contact Ron Westphal Chevrolet’s customer care team at 630-898-9630 and arrange a V.I.P. consultation or visit their website.

P.S.  (We bought a pre-owned Chevrolet Equinox this time because we knew we were going to be a bit rough on it due to all the rehab our new house needed.  We wanted something we could just throw a bunch of mulch or building supplies in the back and not worry about anything.  Next time, we’ll consider a brand new one.)

Author:  Reta Bohn

 

Chicago Auto Show Chevy Incentives Announced

The Chicago Auto Show Chevrolet Incentives have been announced and they are exceptional.

GM has added $1,750 on top of current incentives on all new 2018 Equinox models (except L), creating cash back of up to $4,000 for a total savings of around $7,000!  And, you can get even more if you are currently leasing a GM vehicle.  Call our Customer Care Team now at 630-898-9630 to find out how.

2018 Silverado Crew Cabs get an additional $1,000 Chicago Auto Show Cash Back for a total of up to $6,000 or more!  We have new Silverado models in stock with savings over $10,000.  Chicago Auto Show Chevy Incentives Announced SilveradoSome trucks offer over $13,000 in total savings!

And, don’t forget 2018 Chevrolet Trax.  While the Auto Show money is only an additional $500, the total savings are up to $3,250 bringing the price of a new 2018 LS Trax Crossover down to only $17,000 or so.  Extremely affordable and a great factory warranty!  If you haven’t driven a Trax, why don’t you stop by the dealership and take one for a spin.  I think you’ll be impressed.

If you are looking for a low payment, February might be the month for you!  GM has announced some amazing lease specials on nearly every model.  Chicago Auto Show Chevy Incentives Announced TraxTalk to your salesperson and they can custom-tailor a lease just for you.  Then, we can compare leasing to traditional financing and you can decide what works best for you.

We have plenty of brand new Chevrolet models in stock to choose from (Over 400 new vehicles) but you’d be surprised on how fast inventory moves when the rebates are so attractive.  Don’t delay your visit if you want the best possible selection.  And as always, in the unlikely event we don’t have your perfect vehicle in stock we will get it for you in a matter of a day or two at no additional charge.  Just ask your salesperson about locating a vehicle and they will be happy to explain how easy the process is to find your perfect ride.

Want to shop for Chevys online?  Visit our website 24/7 or drop by our dealership in Aurora, IL on the corner of Routes 30 and 34.  We look forward to your visit.

Get 3 Years of Onstar Connectivity at No Cost

Get 3 Years of Connectivity at No Cost

Get 3 Years of Onstar Connectivity at No Cost

If you drive an eligible 2011 or newer pre-owned vehicle equipped with OnStar, you can get 3 years of connectivity to:

  • Select features of the vehicle mobile app through OnStar Remote Access: Remotely start your vehicle (if factory installed), send a destination to your in-vehicle navigation screen, and lock or unlock your doors — all from your smartphone. Not just near your vehicle, but anywhere you have a wireless connection.
  • Advanced Diagnostics: Every month, your vehicle can run a check of your engine, transmission, anti-lock brakes and more and email you the results in your Diagnostics Report. You can relax knowing your vehicle is checking up on itself and updating you on a regular basis. Plus, Diagnostic Alerts help take the guesswork out of day-to-day vehicle maintenance by informing you of any immediate vehicle issues.
  • Dealer Maintenance Notification: Is it time for an oil change? A 60,000-mile checkup? You’ll always know because OnStar will email your vehicle Diagnostics Report to your dealer or preferred service professional, and the dealer will contact you to set up a service appointment.

You’ll receive a 3-month trial of all OnStar services when you push your blue button. After your trial ends, Emergency, Security and Navigation services are available with a paid service plan.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call Ron Westphal Chevrolet’s Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630.

Or, visit our website to select your next GM vehicle with OnStar.

Visit Ron Westphal Chevrolet during the month of February

Can spring be too far away? Eder is picking up his brand new Camaro from salesperson Richard Graham at Ron Westphal Chevrolet. Congrats!

Posted by Wesley A Westfall on Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Visit Ron Westphal Chevrolet during the month of February to take advantage of fantastic Chicago Auto Show savings!

Call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630 to arrange a V.I.P. visit our browse our inventory online 24/7.

The additional $2017.00 February Fast Start Bonus Cash is scheduled to end 2.11.18.

Like the Chevy Camaro?  Then you will enjoy taking a peek at the 2019 Chevy Camaro.

2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500-3500HD Trucks First Look Spy Shots

Spy shots caught the heavy duty 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD testing in the snow as General Motors prepares its high-volume pickup trucks.

Now that General Motors has unveiled its all-new Chevrolet Silverado 1500, it’s time for the heavy-duty trucks.

Spy photographers recently photographed the Silverado 2500-3500HD pickups testing in the snow at GM’s proving grounds in Milford, Mich.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD are expected to bring design cues and construction techniques from the new light-duty Silverado into the heavy-duty segment. They will offer increased maximum payload capacity and maximum towing capacity ratings. The 3500HD includes dual rear wheels known as a “dually.”

Don’t want to wait ’til 2020 to get a brand new  or pre-owned Silverado?  Call our Customer Care Team at 630-898-9630 or visit our website 24/7.

The vehicles photographed during testing show a 2500HD and a 3500HD dually, both in four-door Crew Cab configuration, sporting a similar look to their smaller 2019 Silverado Silverado sibling. The silhouette follows the same lines and the high-tech headlights and taillights have comparable LED patterns.

Differences on the 2500HD and 3500HD include an aggressive front grille that appears more vertical than the Silverado 1500. The larger trucks also have wide side mirrors and amber lights mounted to the roof – indicating they are more than 80 inches in width.

silverado 2500hd and 3500hd spy shot front endIt is unclear whether the aerodynamic “air curtains” in the front grille of the Silverado 1500 will carry over to the heavy-duty models. Other features, such as a new stamping technique that allowed GM to carve an extra 6.7 inches of width in the pickup bed, will likely feature on the 2500-3500HD.

 Currently, Chevrolet’s heavy-duty trucks offer a 6.0-liter V8 engine with 360 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. There is also a 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel engine with 445 horsepower and 910 pound-feet of torque. Both engines are paired to a six-speed automatic transmission.The gasoline engine is largely preferred by commercial fleets, which prioritize overall cost in addition to power and toughness, according to a Chevrolet spokesperson. Personal buyers prefer the turbodiesel engine at a rate of about 85 to 90 percent.

The Silverado 1500-3500 lineup is a sales juggernaut for GM. The automaker sold more than 585,000 of the trucks in 2017, an increase of 1.9 percent compared with 2016, according to industry research firm Autodata Corp. That was good enough to make the Silverado family the second-highest selling vehicle in the U.S. behind only the Ford F-Series trucks.

Silverado sales in January rose by 14.5 percent compared with the same month in 2017. Large pickup trucks are valuable to automakers because they generate higher profit margins than passenger cars. The trucks increasingly offer luxury and advanced technology features that command high prices.

The all-new 2019 Silverado 1500 is expected to reach dealerships in the second half of this year. It is not yet known when the 2020 Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD will publicly debut.

Source: Spy Shots: 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500-3500HD Trucks First Look