Commercial Auto Dealers

Bill Wright is a hearse enthusiast. Actually, according to an article in his local newspaper, to call him simply an “enthusiast almost certainly is an understatement.” But he enjoys his hearses, ambulances and funeral cars about as much as anybody can enjoy such things.

One of his most prized possessions is his Thunderbolt, eight-cylinder hearse with 150 horsepower under the hood. It has a 4.54 gear ratio, but Wright changed it to a 3.54 ratio so he could go faster. The hood ornament is a cast iron swan that originally came mounted on the 1951 model of his hearse. He loves that part because they just do not make the hood ornaments like that anymore.

“The bird got more conservative as they went along,” he said as he was interviewed while driving the hearse through his neighborhood in Daytona Beach. “It turns heads when I go out on Nova [Road].”

Wright is such a well-known hearse and ambulance lover that everybody knows him in the Professional Car Society. He carries the nickname “the Godfather” because of his great impression of Marlon Brando’s iconic film character.

Wright continues to enter his hearse into competitive shows against other Cadillac hearses and professional cars. He hates to lose, too. “I’ve had the car (the hearse) for nine years, I’ve made the car what it is,” he explained. “It’s the same thing with anything. Whatever world you go into, if you go for it, fine.”

Those are good words to live by.

Many people have found themselves in the tough situation of deciding between which bills to pay each month. If they pay the mortgage, they cannot afford to pay the car payment or vice versa. Your GMC dealer does not want you to fall in the trap of getting your new or used vehicle repossessed. As such, we offer these suggestions if you find yourself in a predicament of being unable to make your car payments each month.

The best thing you can do is to contact your lender the day you start having financial problems. Most lenders will work with you on payments and schedules, but you have to be willing to make that phone call and work something out.
Consider refinancing it. If you have been making payments for awhile, your lender may consider refinancing your car loan which may give you lower payments each month.

Get a private loan. A private loan for the amount you owe on the car can often save you money if you can get a lower interest rate.
• Sell it. If you sell your car yourself, you are more likely to get what it’s worth rather than trading it in. Be sure to get as much as you can out if it so you can use that money to pay off the car loan.

Cemeteries are more than just places where the Cadillac hearses take people for their final resting places. A cemetery is a sacred place where people can go to connect with their deceased loved ones. But it’s also much more to that to some. Here are some rules everybody should follow to be polite and respectful in a cemetery.

• Do not alter any of the bushes, decorations or memorials in the cemetery.
• Do not allow your children to run around or play in the cemetery. There may be someone trying to pay their respects to a deceased loved one.
• Clean up after you pets if you choose to bring them to the cemetery with you.
• Drive only on the designated pathways for vehicles.
• If you see a funeral service going on nearby, be especially quiet. Do not interrupt the service by visiting any graves around the service. Wait until it is over before doing so.
• Do not litter. Most cemeteries have trash cans where you can leave any debris or simply take it with you if there is no trash can.
• Appreciate the peace and quiet as well as the serenity of the cemetery by remaining as quiet as possible when others are around.

If you have ever driven by a hearse dealership and wondered why anyone would want to drive one of those things, people have different reasons for doing so. Here are five reasons why people choose to buy a Cadillac hearse as opposed to a traditional vehicle for their personal use.

• They are stylish. Despite their morbid nature, hearses have a stylish appearance that is unmatched by a traditional car.
• They are roomy. Hearses have a much larger open space in the back than most cars and SUVs. They are almost like an enclosed pickup truck! Many people get them because they enjoy carrying their ski gear or band gear in the back with plenty of room to go around.
• They have a smooth ride. Because of the upgraded suspension system, Cadillac hearses have a much smoother ride than most other vehicles.
• They get attention. Have you ever driven down the road behind the wheel of a hearse? If not, you will love all the looks you get by strangers if you enjoy attention.
• They make a statement. Hearses make a statement about your personality and your unique attitude.

First it was cell phones and texting. Now I can see the next law for drivers: No eating while behind the wheel. A new report shows that some foods are more dangerous than others for drivers while they are driving. Your GMC dealer would like to discuss this article and we would like to know what you think about it, too.

The report about dangerous foods, which was released by Insurance.com in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, said about 80 percent of traffic accidents occurred because of distracted drivers. Unfortunately, food leads to a distraction when you are behind the wheel. Here is a list of the most dangerous things you can eat while driving:

Coffee
Hot Soup
Chili Dogs
Tacos
Hamburgers
Ribs and Wings
Fried Chicken
Jelly Doughnuts
Soda
Chocolate

Most of these are dangerous because of the “slop factor,” which means they are messy and the driver may focus their attention on cleaning up the dripping sauces instead of on the road ahead of them. Others, like coffee and hot soup, may burn and cause the driver to lose their focus.

If any of these foods were banned for drivers, would you have to make changes? How many people actually drive without a coffee or a soda next to them? Does this mean you cannot eat a candy bar when driving? How much would your driving routine change if you could not have these things?

If you have ever been to a funeral where the protestors from the church in Kansas have showed up, you probably appreciate the valuable service that the Patriot Guard Riders provide. They provide a way to drown out the protests as well as clear pathways for the funeral cars and Cadillac hearses to make a respectable procession with the deceased’s body. But how much do we actually know about these modern-day heroes? Here are some interesting facts about this volunteer group that helps soldiers receive the funeral they deserve.

• The group is open to anyone who has “a deep respect for those who serve our country; military, firefighters, or law enforcement.”
• The Patriot Guard was formed in 2006 in Mulvane, Kansas.
• The original purpose for the Patriot Guard was to block protests at the funerals of U.S. service members.
• In April of last year, the group reported that it had more than 137,000 members.
• The group has people who visit military hospitals and other services like helping families with financial difficulties and more.

You can learn more about the Patriot Guard Riders, their mission and their history at PatriotGuard.org. They really do provide a priceless service for families grieving the loss of their loved ones who gave their life in service for their country.

Now that the darker days of General Motors are over and the automaker has emerged from bankruptcy, GMC dealers are more optimistic than they have been in months. The new General Motors has restructured and streamlined its company to become a more efficient business and a stronger competitor in the entire auto industry.

“I feel very positive about GM,” said Mary Jamerson, one of the GMC dealers in Anderson. “For it to emerge from Chapter 11 so quickly is a good thing, not only for our customers, but for the country as a whole.” The Buick, Pontiac and GMC dealer went on to say that she thinks the company is now a “leaner and more nimble” company now that it has gone through bankruptcy.

Another dealer – Jerry Kutcha – is confident that GMC can compete with the newest and latest products from companies overseas.” There was a time when the cars were inferior, but that was in the past,” he explained. “Our cars, our competitive price wise, fuel-economy wise, and quality wise. I think GM has more fuel efficient cars than Toyota.”

With confidence like this, why not visit your GMC dealers today and experience the latest products by one of the world’s most recognized automakers. Come see what you’ve been missing!

The Lewis Funeral Home in San Antonio, Texas, recently celebrated its 100th year anniversary. But this is no ordinary funeral home. The Lewis Funeral Home is actually the oldest family-owned African American business in the San Antonio area. That’s quite an accomplishment for current owners and a testament to previous owners who have worked there for decades.

“It’s a milestone for any black business to be around for 100 years and still be viable,” said Gregory Burrell, vice president of the National Association of Funeral Directors and Morticians. Burrell, who operates the Philadelphia-area Terry Funeral Home, also said this about the centennial celebration: “That’s the kind of succession plan we’d like to see in the African-American community.”

Back when the Lewis Funeral Home began, there were no Cadillac hearses. Hearses were horse-drawn in those days. Funerals only cost about $20 and very few people requested cremations. That’s quite a difference from today’s culture in which funerals can cost upwards of $8,000 and the ratio gap between cremations and traditional burials is getting smaller and smaller.

The only thing that has not changed over the last century is the fact that the Lewis Funeral Home has always been “an open door to the black community,” according to Robert Larremore, the current president of the business.

If you have been keeping up with the auto industry at all, there’s not doubt you have heard about the “cash for clunkers” program recently passed by the federal government. But do you know what the program entails? Your GMC dealer would like to take this time to explain part of it in case it’s new to you.

• If you have a vehicle that was built since 1984, you can qualify for a voucher to apply toward the cost of a new vehicle.
• Vouchers typically range between $3,500 and $4,500 for qualifying vehicles.
• The new car that you purchase must get at least 22 miles to the gallon.
• If the new car gets between four and nine more miles per gallon than the one you are turning in, your voucher is $3,500.
• If the car you choose gets at least 10 miles more to the gallon, your voucher is for $4,500.
• Light trucks and SUVs must get at least 18 miles to the gallon to qualify for a voucher.
• Your new truck or SUV must get at least two to four more miles per gallon to qualify for the $3,500 voucher.
• To qualify for the $4,500 voucher, the new truck or SUV must get at least five gallons more per gallon than your used truck or SUV.

Visit your GMC dealer for a clearer understanding of these guidelines so you can choose something from our inventory that qualifies for the voucher. We’re here to help you save money by getting a great deal and using your voucher to its full potential!

Some are saying it is one of the most tragic celebrity deaths in recent years. Michael Jackson passed away at the end of June and his funeral and public memorial service took place earlier this week.

Jackson’s body was transported in a procession of Cadillac hearses to various parts of Los Angeles so people could say goodbye. The hearses began at the Hall of Liberty complex at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Here is where the private funeral service was held for immediate family, including his kids, brothers, sisters and parents. From there, the hearses went to the Staples Center where thousands of fans awaited outside just to get a glimpse of the pop star’s hearses before his body was taken inside for a memorial service.

The scene was a madhouse. Los Angeles police shut down several roads and they screened drivers before letting them get any further. Some of the celebrities on hand to perform for Jackson’s final farewell included Usher, Madonna, John Mayer, Mariah Carey, Smokey Robinson, Brooke Shields, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder and several more. Also, scalpers were selling their tickets online trying to profit from the event.

All in all, the memorial service occurred without any major problems. The only question that remains in Los Angeles right now is this: Who should pay the expenses of the service – the city of Los Angeles or the Jackson family? What do you think?