Commercial Auto Dealers

A recent mistake by a reporter at the Bloomberg business newswire almost had the hearses showing up at the home of Apple creator Steve Jobs.

It’s a common practice for media organizations to update their pre-prepared obituaries regularly. They keep these death notices of newsworthy figures on-hand so they can print them as soon as possible upon news of the person’s death. And although Steve Jobs has pancreatic cancer (he was diagnosed in 2003), the mistake was in no way a suggestion of declining health or any health issues for that matter.

In case you’re curious, though, the obituary contained 2,500 words that described and praised the technology giant for his work in helping to “make personal computers as easy to use as telephones, changed the way animated films are made, persuaded consumers to tune into digital music and refashioned the mobile phone.” Recently, he’s gained more attention for his creation of the iPhone. This expensive gadget has become a status symbol (much like Cadillac hearses for wealthy people after they pass away) for the busy business person and other people who like to look important.

The website published a retraction shortly after removing the obituary from its website.

New truck dealers have recently received the 2009 GMC Escalade hybrid for sale to customers. Many consumers and new truck dealers are excited about the new arrival as this is a “sibling” of the Chevy Tahoe, a hybrid SUV that won a Green Car award. But the new Escalade hybrid is a bit different because it is the first luxury hybrid SUV on the domestic market.

The 2009 GMC Escalade hybrid offers 50 percent better gas mileage than comparable hybrids. In the city, it gets about 20 miles to the gallon. On the highways, it gets about 21.

One of the best parts about it is that it only costs about $3,500 more than its non-hybrid counterpart. For those car buyers worried about paying way too much for a hybrid version of their favorite vehicles, this price difference means it won’t take too long before the hybrid technology pays for itself.

You should be able to find the 2009 Escalade hybrid at your local GMC dealer since delivery began taking place last month. Check one out today and see how much you can start saving at the gas pump!

With the recent lineup of new vehicles, GM sales should increase as consumers strive to get the latest features and amenities that only the General can offer. The 2009 Pontiac Vibe is in that lineup and, based on the reviews it’s getting, it should be a major player in the GM sales market.

The 2009 Pontiac Vibe has a similar appearance to the station wagon your aunt and uncle drove a couple decades ago. However, the Vibe is much sportier, sleeker and impressive than the station wagon. As a bonus, you’d be hard-pressed to find a 2009 Vibe with the faux wood paneling going around the perimeter of the vehicle.

Its wagon-like features, however, make it roomier on the inside. You can bring up to five people with you as well as some cargo and groceries without sacrificing comfort. The 2009 model also retains many of the same features that everybody loved about previous models, including the length and the wheelbase.

One of the more pleasurable changes include the unibody style of the 2009 Pontiac Vibe. With strategic reinforcements and other improvements, the Vibe provides a smoother and quieter ride than its predecessor.

You can bet we’ll be covering more about the 2009 Pontiac Vibe in the weeks to come. Instead of just reading about it, though, why not visit your local GMC dealer and get behind the wheel of one yourself?

If you’ve never been to a funeral at Arlington National Cemetery, you’re missing a highly-ceremonial occasion. Funeral cars lead a horse-drawn wagon carrying a flag-draped casket to the burial site. From there, a group of fellow soldiers unload the casket and carry it to the freshly dug grave. The white-gloved men then fold the flag and ceremonially give it to the fallen soldier’s nearest relative just before a 21-gun salute. These are all things you can expect at a military funeral at Arlington.

Recently, though, there has been a surge of people who want the media to be allowed closer to the ceremony. Right now, reporters and media equipment must keep their distance. As such, they can’t hear the eulogies or report on the poems, prayers or personal stories shared by close friends and relatives. Many families want the media to hear these things so everybody has a chance to know about their loved one that gave their life for this country.

A committee is now working on a policy that would allow a microphone to be placed at the speaker’s podium so the media can hear everything. This will only happen at the funerals at which the family allows it. The media will still be kept at a distance, but they can hear and record the speeches and eulogies to report.

The key to making this policy a success is to ensure respect at the ceremony. Among the flowers, soldiers, Cadillac hearses and grieving loved ones, it’s imperative for the media to keep their distance so they don’t make a sideshow of the funeral. I, for one, would love to hear the various eulogies for our fallen soldiers. Maybe it will give us a better perspective on the price we have paid for our freedoms and make us appreciate their sacrifice even more.

McCain/GMC 2008 doesn’t sound like a catchy ticket, but there are correlations between the two. Every time there’s a major election, researchers find a number of correlations between the people who identify with either party and their consumer habits. This year is no different.

A new study shows that the majority of people in “red states” are more likely to buy a GMC 2008 truck or car than the people in the “blue states.” But there are a few other correlations that are typical of red state residents. For instance, you might think that the blue states have a corner on the eco-friendly market. However, according to a recent article, there are no major differences when it comes to being “green.” In fact, California, which is considered a “blue state environmentalist haven” – only scored 85 out of 100 on a test that rated each state’s environmental consciousness.

One thing that everybody can agree on, though, is that the new GMC 2008 models have made great strides in becoming more eco-friendly through more efficient engines, hybrid technologies and other features. That’s why you can visit your local GMC dealer today and get the car that you want without the stigma of being an “evil anti-environmentalist.”

If you’ve ever driven by any hearse dealerships, you’ve probably felt a sense of somberness at the site of all the funeral cars and Cadillac hearses. But did you know these funeral car are different in various parts of the world?

In Japan, for instance, you would probably see two types of these funeral coaches at hearse dealerships. The first type is often called the “Foreign style” because it closely resembles the typical hearse you would see here in the United States. But there is also the “Japanese style” hearse. These hearses have a replica of a Buddhist temple on the back instead of the curved body style to which we are accustomed. As a result, the roof is cut away and the rear is altered to accomplish this look.

The Buddhist-like temple is made out of wood. The deceased is then place within the temple so the car can carry it where it needs to go. Because of the ornate nature of the temple, many of these types of hearses are built on minivan and small pickup trucks for better transportation.

Isn’t it cool how customs differ among various cultures? Visit your local hearse dealerships to see if you can find hearses that are different than the ones you see all the time.

A funeral home in Mount Pleasant, SC is offering the future in funerals, but you won’t experience traditional features like a Cadillac hearse or the burial service.

Brian Calhoun, one of the funeral directors at the Stuhr’s Funeral Home, enjoys the new technology. “To allow a family to have this is an archive in their family history,” he said about the new cyber funerals. “We give the link to the website only to the immediate family.” That prevents any curious onlookers or other demented users online from viewing the family and the deceased at such a sacred time.

As for convenience, it takes only seconds for a family member to log on to the server in order to view the funeral. “It takes about 30 seconds for the server to accept the incoming media,” Calhoun stated.

Stuhr’s Funeral Home is the first one in the state to offer the service. Other than the ability to view online, everything else is the same for those who are able to attend the actual funeral. Family members get rides to the cemetery in Cadillac hearses, they can take flowers home and eat the food that friends bring for the wake. But for those who can’t make it for whatever reason, the cyber funeral is the next best thing to being there.

New truck dealers are starting to recover from the slumping sales resulting from recent high gas prices. In August, the sales for GM SUVs and trucks actually increased more than the automaker’s car sales. But gas prices aren’t the only things affecting the overall auto sales at your GMC new truck dealers.

More Fuel-Efficient Options
GM is one of the leading automakers working on more efficient options in both cars and trucks. If you visit your local GMC dealer, you’ll notice hybrid versions of some of the most popular SUVs and even some hybrid cars.

Huge Discounts
GMC is offering huge discounts on SUVs and other popular models to fuel auto sales. With the end of the year approaching and new models hitting the lots, you can get a great deal on 2008 models.

Trade-Ins
People are trading in their cars these days before they get too many miles on them. As a result, there are more used cars on the lot waiting for buyers to buy them.

Increased Consumer Confidence
With the economy stabilizing and increased quality of today’s cars, people are more likely to invest in cars. People have more confidence in the economy and the cars that they buy.

After a few rough months of falling GM sales of trucks and SUVs, the automaker is now enjoying a period of rising sales.

For the first time in four months, GM sales of SUVs and trucks have outnumbered cars. One dealer had this to say about his sales in August: “We sold almost two trucks and SUVs for every one car last month. That was a definite swing from May, June and July when we sold 100 cars versus 75 trucks and SUVs.” He went on to say that those trends also continued for September so far.

Many dealers are expecting more GM sales of trucks and SUVs if the gas prices continue to fall or stay where they are right now. The current prices, on average, are about 40 cents less than they were in mid-July. In addition to lower gas prices, consumers are simply getting used to the idea of paying more for fuel and they are considering that when they create their budget. Now that the initial shock has worn off, many of them are returning to the trucks and SUVs that they love so much.

Were you one of the ones that “fell away” from larger vehicles because of the gas prices? If so, your local GMC dealer is ready to welcome you back. Visit one today and get the vehicle of your choice.

Despite the laws and bans instituted by the Ohio state legislature, funeral cars participating in a recent ceremony still had to dodge a number of protestors holding signs and picketing.

The protestors come from a church in Kansas. They have made quite a name for themselves by protesting funerals for soldiers and other fellow humans and Americans across the country. This most recent protest was at the funeral of Ohio Representative Stephanie Tubbs-Jones who died of a brain aneurysm late last month.

Attorneys for the church group say the new Ohio laws do not affect the protestors. The law bans them from standing any closer than 300 feet from the funeral home and funeral cars going to and from the ceremony. The attorneys say the group never gets that close to the funeral anyways, so the law is meaningless.

The protestors aren’t doing any good by protesting at the funerals. Instead, they are simply bringing more anguish and pain on the families who are already mourning. The group says it’s their First Amendment rights to declare their opinions regardless of how unpopular they may be. I just wonder if they would feel the same way if there was a group of protestors following alongside the Cadillac hearses of their family members when they pass away.