Stud or Dud?

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After being on the verge of bankruptcy, and forming an alliance with Fiat in 2009, Chrysler launches their very first all-new vehicle, the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The all new redesigned 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee has caused a great deal of buzz in the automotive industry. The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is even being compared to the likes of a luxury SUV. What are your thoughts? Does it live up to the hype?

Driving Age Limits

Headline reads: “Elderly man drove wrong way, causing crash”. This was breaking news on the local ABC Action News ticker, today Friday June 4th, 2010. I went on to read the story, about a 75-year-old man who was driving the wrong way on a Berks County highway, causing a multi-vehicle crash that killed him and injured four other people. This elderly man was driving north in the southbound lanes in Linesville, PA, near Reading when his car struck another car head–on and crashed into a guard rail. He caused a five-car chain-reaction that ultimately ended his life and injured those of four others. The police made a statement that they were going to look into whether or not this elderly man was “confused”.
This story got me to thinking….in the United States there are requirements in place in order for us to obtain a driver’s license. Among the many, there is an age requirement, a written test, eye sight testing, a trial period, and then most importantly a road test that we must pass in order to be allowed to drive on the road without supervision. Should there be similar requirements through the years or at least when we reach a certain age to retake these written and road tests? If so at what age should we require to retake these tests?

Road Trip Vehicles

Just in time for the kickoff of summer driving season, Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com named the Ram 1500 one of its 2010 Top 10 Road Trip Vehicles.

This year, Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com editors added a new twist to their annual top 10 list, choosing 10 road trip-worthy 2010 events and pairing them with the best new cars and trucks for those journeys. The 2010 Ram 1500 and the Iowa State Fair were called a perfect road-trip match. Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com called the Ram 1500, with its coilover rear suspension “a wise choice for long-hail road trip comfort. The HEMI® V-8 engine delivers a healthy 390 horsepower along with respectable highway fuel economy of 20 mpg, and the truck’s boldly styled sheet metal might just turn a few heads when you roll into town.”

I don’t know that I will be driving my Ram 1500 to the Iowa State Fair this summer, just not in the family time budget. However, I will be packing up the Jeep Commander to its maximum capacity and taking the kids down to the Jersey Shore.  Has anyone ever driven anywhere beyond the tri-state area? What is most important when it comes to picking the car you will drive? Over the years my criteria has changed drastically. I remember the days when what I worried about most was how far could I go on $20.00, of course this is when gas was less than $1.00/gallon. Now, I want to know how much space does it allow for all the luggage, toys, and absolutely necessary items that my family cannot live without for four days like Toy Story movies and Barbie Dolls.

The Jeep Wave

So recently I drove a Jeep Wrangler home from the dealership because the weather finally started to get nice here in Delaware County and well lets face it, there is no better vehicle than the Jeep Wrangler to be able to take the top off and cruise down Route 1 with the wind in my hair and the sun on my face. While driving I passed another guy in a Jeep Wrangler who honked and waved at me. At first I thought it was strange and tossed the incident up to mistaken identity. The next day, at approximately the same time and almost same location, the same guy in his Jeep Wrangler beeped and waved. I didn’t realize what the exchange was until I was retelling the story to a co-worker here at the dealership.

It was a Jeep thing! The Jeep wave goes on between proud Jeep owners almost every day they see another Jeep owner on the road. I thought it was a great idea to bring up with our proud customers and Jeep owners in the area. We reached out to them and asked them to share their Jeep pictures and videos with us.

Does anyone else have something like the Jeep wave in their life?

Happy Holidays from All of Us at David!

Celebrity Cars You Can Afford!

Some celebrities make a hobby of flaunting the newest, flashiest and most disgustingly expensive supercars. But others choose to drive cars that are familiar to you and me – cars that we can actually envision ourselves in and even afford to buy. More often than not, they customize these cars to fit their unique styles. So take a look at the trendiest yet most affordable cars making the rounds of Hollywood. All of these vehicles are available at David.  Come in, check them out, and then visit our Parts Dept. to see which accessories you can add for your own personal celebrity bling.

Dodge Charger

U.S. News Rank #5 in Affordable Large Cars

MSRP: $21,820 – $36,625

Dodge got plenty of media attention after its Charger throwback’s auto show debut in 2005. But the most hype to date centers around a buyer who insisted he get to drive the very first Charger — rapper 50 Cent. According to several sources, Dodge was more than happy to oblige. The result is a limited production run of the 2008 “DUB Edition” Dodge Charger SXT, which features 20-inch chrome wheels and a 13-speaker sound system. While the rapper-inspired model starts at $30,235, you can get the conventional Charger — minus the bling — for thousands less.

Chrysler 300 Series

U.S. News Rank #2 in Affordable Large Cars
MSRP: $24,625 – $41,905

Superstar rides are one thing, but what do superheroes drive? Well, in real life, they’re not exactly sporting Batmobiles. According to Motor Trend, TV’s original Batman himself (Adam West) gets around in affordable style — with a Chrysler 300C (he calls it a “mini Bentley, but for a third of the price”). In addition, Transformers actor Josh Duhamel has been spotted in a black 300C SRT-8, the high-performance trim of the powerful sedan.

Dodge Challenger

MSRP $22,220 – $40,220

With its 425-horsepower V8 engine, the Dodge Challenger SRT8 (a performance-tuned variant of the regular Challenger) is a powerful and capable back-road burner. Its stylish retro design is a big draw, especially in Hollywood. The wide-ranging Glitterati who drive the SRT8 include TV star Chace Crawford, comedian Jay Leno, LA Lakers player Andrew Bynum and movie-star-turned-California-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Rapper TI even features a black Challenger in his music video for “What’s Up, What’s Happenin.’”

Jeep Wrangler

MSRP $20,710 – $32,090

Few SUVs can match the Jeep Wrangler’s rugged capabilities. While it’s doubtful that most celebrities would take their customized Wranglers off road, they are most certainly attracted to the truck’s distinctive styling and open-air convertible top. Famous names seen in the macho Wrangler include rapper P. Diddy and singer Justin Timberlake, who both prefer the four-door Unlimited model. Soccer player David Beckham has also been spotted driving around his new California digs in a blacked-out Wrangler, while rocker Avril Lavigne has been seen driving a Rubicon model.

We Are Your “Cash for Clunkers” Dealer!

What is the Car Allowance

Rebate (C.A.R.S.) System?

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President Obama signed into law a program the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is calling the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS). This is a federal program that helps you purchase a new, more fuel efficient vehicle when you trade in a less fuel efficient vehicle

What is the amount of the credit?

The amount of the credit is $3,500 or $4,500, and generally depends on the type of vehicle you purchase and the difference in fuel economy between the purchased vehicle and the trade-in vehicle. Different requirements apply for work trucks.

How do I know if my car or truck is an eligible trade-in vehicle?
There are several requirements (but you also have to meet certain conditions for the car or truck you wish to buy). We can help you determine whether you have an eligible trade in vehicle but here are the guidelines:

Your trade-in vehicle must

• have been manufactured less than 25 years before the date you trade it in
• have a “new” combined city/highway fuel economy of 18 miles per gallon or less
• be in drivable condition
• be continuously insured and registered to the same owner for the full year preceding the trade-in
• The trade-in vehicle must have been manufactured not earlier than 25 years before the date of trade in and, in the case of a category 3 vehicle, must also have been manufactured not later than model year 2001

Note that work trucks (i.e., very large pickup trucks and cargo vans) have different requirements.

Get more info about the Cash for Clunkers program  here.

The Simeone Foundation – A Museum Right in our Backyard!

Here’s a great place to visit after seeing us at our Philly store.  The Simeone Foundation Automobile Museum is literally right around the corner from our showroom! It’s a Philly gem and it’s right in our backyard.  Famour car afficianado Jay Leno stopped in to see the Simeone collection this time last year.

From the very earliest days of the automobile, racing was used to demonstrate the superiority of one manufacturer over another. The Simeone Foundation Museum celebrates this “Spirit of Competition” with a collection of some of the rarest and most significant sports racing cars ever built. The Museum transports visitors back in time to famous racing venues and tells the story of how competition contributed to the evolution of racing car design, performance and safety.

You’ll enjoy learning about these special cars if you take the time to visit the collection in person. Make it a family day.

Museum Hours

Tues – Fri  10AM – 6PM

Sat – sun   10AM – 4PM

Closed MondaysAdmission: $12
Seniors: $10
Students: $8
Children under 8 free when accompanied by parent

Please call Kristina Ford for Group Rates

Carlisle All-Chrysler Nationals Jul 10 – Jul 12, 2009

Summer’s in full swing. Looking for a cool, summer roadtrip for the family? How bout a trip to Carlisle, PA for the All-Chrysler Nationals?

Adult Admission: Th.- Sun. $10 /4-day Pass $30 Child Admission: under 12- FREE Gate Times: Th.-Sa. 7am-6pm / Sun. 7am-3pm

The Carlisle All-Chrysler Nationals is a Mopar-lover’s paradise with attendees converging on the Fairgrounds from all over the world. This weekend-long event crosses all eras of the Chrysler marque from classic to muscle and everything in between. If you haven’t registered online, what are you waiting for? You can save time and download a Showfield Registration PDF Form to register via mail or call us at 717-243-7855 to register over the phone. Please note: refunds will not be issued less than 19 days prior to the beginning of the event.

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