Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Emil R. Cain Graduates from NADA Academy, Honored at National Automobile Dealers Association Headquarters
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Emil R. Cain, of Don-A-Vee Chrysler Jeep – dealer Stewart M. Benjamin, graduated from the prestigious NADA Dealer Candidate Academy in McLean, VA on December 16. Emil was honored at a graduation ceremony held at the Westwood Country Club in Vienna, VA.
The Academy is the premier management education and training center in the U.S. for current and future automobile and truck dealers and managers. Led by NADA University, a division of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), it is designed to build business performance, leadership skills and customer service in all areas of the dealership.
Emil was among a select group of 25 dealers and managers nationwide to graduate from the Academy in this class, following 11 months of intensive classroom and in-dealership training.
“Attending the NADA Academy was very beneficial to my career and keeping myself current on all the aspects of an ever changing car business. I am especially excited that I can take everything that I have learned and help grow our business at Donavee Chrysler Jeep of Orange County,” said Emil Cain.
Emil Cain has been in the car business for over 20 years in the Southern California area. As the General Sales Manager of Donavee Chrysler Jeep for the last year the store has seen an increase in sales and efficiency.
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ABOUT NADA:
The National Automobile Dealers Association, founded in 1917, represents about 16,000 new-car and truck dealers with about 34,700 franchises both domestic and international. For more information, visit www.NADA.org.
ABOUT NADA UNIVERSITY:
NADA University equips dealers and their teams to get results – with the right knowledge, information, coaching, and resources to develop both skills and confidence. Visit www.NADAUniversity.com for more details.
ABOUT DONAVEE CHRYSLER JEEP:
Donavee Chrysler Jeep Orange County is a family owned and operated dealership that has been in business in the Los Angeles and Orange County markets since 1961. As DealerRater.com's highest rated Chrysler Jeep dealership in California Donavee Chrysler Jeep Orange County prides itself on giving their customers the 'Donavee Difference' when it comes to parts, service, and sales.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee V-6 Limited vs. 2010 Toyota 4Runner
Used to be, when it came to any kind of truck, we would advise friends and family to pay another $1500 for the optional V-8. The resale value was better, fuel cost was not a big factor, and the V-6 was a dog anyway.
These days, unless you tow, a V-6 really is the way to go. Today's V-6 engines are making V-8 horsepower and are backed by modern transmissions that mean there's no waiting when you ask for power. Gas prices are bouncing all over the place, but they never stay low for long, so a V-6 can bring significant relief in operating costs. The two V-6s in this test are very different vehicles, both successful in achieving different goals.
Toyota 4Runner Trail Edition
Our 2010 4Runner is Toyota's Trail Edition, the most trail-ready model Toyota offers. It's loaded with features aimed at the experienced outdoor recreational enthusiast, and is also the only way you can buy a 4Runner with Toyota's Multi-terrain Select system.
Our 2010 4Runner is Toyota's Trail Edition, the most trail-ready model Toyota offers. It's loaded with features aimed at the experienced outdoor recreational enthusiast, and is also the only way you can buy a 4Runner with Toyota's Multi-terrain Select system.
The Trail Edition is set up to see a lot of dirt, plain and simple. The truck-based Trail is the real deal, filling a niche largely abandoned by other manufacturers. There's nothing frilly or overly sophisticated: It's based on a sturdy steel frame, with an equipment package aimed at enhanced trail utility, including a part-time 4WD system actuated not by pushbutton, but by a lever. There's active traction control, plus a locking rear differential -- solid insurance in a really slippery environment. Inside is a conspicuous absence of luxury cues like wood or leather. The dash material is textured hard plastic. Seats are made from a water-resistant fabric. (Opting for a Limited model instead will provide a cabin much more in line with the luxury of the Grand Cherokee, but lacking many of the off-road features of the Trail.) Even the roof rack is more heavily built, and more conspicuous, than on typical SUVs.
The 4Runner suspension uses a live axle in the rear, located by a long-travel four-link arrangement, with independent control arms in front and rather stiff Bilstein shocks at both ends. Ride quality is not stellar. The suspension shrugs off impacts, like speed bumps and potholes -- in fact, the harder they hit, the better it feels. But it rides very firmly at low speeds on a rugged dirt road, where the stiff damping allows vibrations to come through. On pavement, the brakes are strong enough and certain, but hard braking yields an unusual amount of front-end dive. In the corners, there's enough body roll to require the driver to concentrate on selecting consistent lines and allowing time for the chassis take a set and return to neutral. Such are the tradeoffs that come with a long-travel off-road suspension. We got used to it, but during our testing most of us chose to take downhill sections of challenging mountain roads at lower speeds in the Trail Edition.
The 4Runner's 4.0-literV-6 actually makes 10 horsepower more than the V-8 that was available in the prior model, allowing Toyota to drop the V-8 option altogether, as well as the four-cylinder engine for the 4Runner. Towing capacity is now limited to 5000 pounds, but otherwise the new V-6 is an entirely satisfactory powerplant, more than adequate to drive around town and an easy highway cruiser. We got 7.6 seconds, 0-to-60, and 15.8 in the quarter mile, good numbers for any V-6, and not all that far behind the V-8s in this test.
The Toyota is EPA rated at 17/22 city/highway mpg. Our actual mileage numbers for this test are far lower across the board, because we spent so much time on the trail, operating in 4-Lo, with the air-conditioning blasting. In the 4Runner, we averaged 14.3 mpg overall; your mileage would probably be better.
As an everyday commuter and grocery getter, the Trail Edition 4Runner is less at home in suburban sprawl than out on a rocky trail, where it becomes a thing of beauty and a tool of rare strength.
Jeep Grand Cherokee V-6 Limited
The Grand Cherokee is a luxury sport/utility based on the idea that a remarkably big slice of off-road capability can successfully be included in a comfortable, modern, highly sophisticated package. It's designed with the gentleman rancher in mind.
The Grand Cherokee is a luxury sport/utility based on the idea that a remarkably big slice of off-road capability can successfully be included in a comfortable, modern, highly sophisticated package. It's designed with the gentleman rancher in mind.
When it comes to refinement, Jeep has made great strides with the new Grand Cherokee. It's well appointed, with an interior that exudes quality. Materials tend toward leather and wood; there's minimal use of plastic. Anything that looks like metal actually is.The design is well conceived and executed, with a clean center stack, thin accents of chrome, and an elegant interior lighting scheme. Our test unit had perforated inserts that allow for warm and cool seat ventilation. The steering wheel is heated, with audio controls on the back side of the wheel, and power adjustable. The power liftgate operates via the key fob or a button. Unlike the 4Runner, practically everything is powered, and there's a highly finished, design-driven element to the interior's appeal. The exterior appears sculpted and athletic, with 20-inch wheels, integrated foglamps, and power heated multifunction mirrors.
The Quadra-Trac II 4WD has an excellent low-range ratio of 2.72:1, and an electronic throttle adjustment feature to prevent tire slip and surging while operating in low range. Quadra-Trac II is convenient, takes up very little dash space, and is unintimidating for novice off-roaders.
Selec-Terrain, Jeep's tunable traction control system, has separate settings for Sand/Mud, Snow, and Rock, plus an Auto setting that allows the traction electronics to adapt to terrain without need for human judgment. There's even a Sport setting for enthusiastic on-road driving.
While Jeep offers an air suspension, the standard suspension on our V-6 Limited 4x4 is highly competent. We were impressed when it came to on-road handling, and surprised to note excellent ride quality off-road as well. It has a shorter range of travel than the 4Runner, but is better controlled, with less tendency to rebound. It makes for flatter cornering, with less roll in the corners and virtually no front-end dive or side-to-side head toss. Off-road, especially at lower speeds, the multilink/coil independent suspension damped out annoying thumps and bumps from rocky sections of trail and dirt road.
The Jeep needed more traction-control assist in situations where the 4Runner did not need it at all. But in terms of being able to negotiate the occasional rugged section of a rocky road without getting stuck, there is no big difference. The Grand Cherokee delivers a huge advantage in handling and ride comfort, on road and off.
By relying on electronic traction control, Jeep engineers could concentrate on tuning the suspension and chassis for superior on-road performance. The better-controlled chassis allows for more secure steering. The Grand Cherokee's steering feel is outstanding, with impeccable turn-in, nice on-center feel, and easy side-to-side transitioning. It makes the Grand a pleasure to operate on winding roads, and easy to control on the highway. Brake feel is equally confident and progressive, as the chassis limits disconcerting front-end dive or uncertain lines through diminishing-radius corners.
But we're less impressed with the 3.6-liter, 290-horsepower V-6. It's tuned to make more horsepower than torque -- the opposite of the Toyota V-6 -- and it's being asked to move around an SUV that weighs 4887 pounds. Don't get us wrong -- with the 3.6, the Grand is perfectly driveable, and it's a sweet, smooth-revving, modern engine. But there are moments when it's necessary to use the higher end of the rev range a little longer, and a little more often, than what we see with the 4Runner's larger, torque-first V-6, which powers a vehicle that's lighter by 180 pounds. That might be why we averaged 12.8 mpg in the Grand Cherokee, 1.6 less than the 4Runner, even though the 3.6 V-6 is smaller. But it's in the heavier vehicle, so it has to work harder around town. It's also a tick slower to 60 than the 4Runner. A six-speed automatic's narrower gear ratios and the intelligent shift logic, could make the 3.6 really sing. As it is, it hums.
Toyota should get a round of applause for the Trail Edition. If you require a locking rear differential or have so much gear to carry that you need a real roof rack, you'll want to be in the 4Runner. The rest of the time you'll want to be in the Grand Cherokee. If you had both in your garage, you'd drive the Grand Cherokee most of the time and pull out the Trail Edition on weekends.
Our suspicion is that, among $40,000-plus SUVs, most people would rather have a more versatile coach that they can enjoy driving every day, knowing that, if there's a camping vacation in the future, they can still pull it off. If we're talking about versatility, and a choice between these two, it's the Jeep that comes out on top.
1st Place: Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
Great daily driver, with an elegant cabin and easy-to-use four-wheel drive. Short of crossing obstacles where you'd need a locking rear diff, it will take you just about anywhere.
2nd Place: Toyota 4Runner Trail Edition
Fantastic off-road, but old-school -- it's too specialized to be as much fun day to day. A Limited brings more lux, but you can't get all the 4WD gizmos.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Chrysler 200, 300 and Town and Country Named as IIHS Top Safety Picks
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The list of winners of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick award is longer than ever this year, with vehicles in nearly every size category the Institute evaluates earning accolades. From minicars to sedans to pickups, consumers have a record number of choices among 2012 models.
In all, 69 cars, 38 SUVs, 5 minivans, and 3 pickups earn Top Safety Pick. The award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rollover, and rear crashes based on ratings in Institute evaluations. The ratings, which cover all 4 of the most common kinds of crashes, help shoppers pick vehicles that offer the highest levels of crash protection. Because the federal government now requires all 2012 and later passenger vehicles to have electronic stability control to help drivers avoid loss-of-control crashes, ESC no longer is a requirement to win as it was in prior years.
The winners' circle includes 18 new recipients for 2012, while 97 models that previously qualified for the 2011 award carry over to 2012.
"For the second year running a record number of models qualify," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "It's tough to win, and we commend auto manufacturers for making safety a top priority."
That commitment to protecting people in crashes is evident in the fast pace of design improvements automakers have made during the past year. Initially 66 vehicles qualified for last year's award as less-than-perfect rollover ratings held back many contenders. Later the number climbed to 100 as manufacturers redesigned roofs to make them stronger or introduced new models to win. The Institute's rolling test schedule allows for recognition of additional winners throughout the year, so many 2012 models qualified for a 2011 Top Safety Pick.
About the award: The Institute awarded the first Top Safety Pick to 2006 models and then raised the bar the next year by requiring good rear test results and ESC as either standard or optional equipment. In 2010, the Institute toughened criteria by adding a requirement that all qualifiers must earn a good rating for performance in a roof strength test to assess protection in a rollover crash.
The Institute groups winners according to vehicle type and size. Lund advises consumers to keep in mind that size and weight influence crashworthiness. Larger, heavier vehicles generally afford better occupant protection in serious crashes than smaller, lighter ones. Even with a Top Safety Pick, a small car isn't as crashworthy as a bigger one.
How vehicles are evaluated: The Institute's frontal crashworthiness evaluations are based on results of 40 mph frontal offset crash tests. Each vehicle's overall evaluation is based on measurements of intrusion into the occupant compartment, injury measures recorded on a 50th percentile male Hybrid III dummy in the driver seat, and analysis of slow-motion film to assess how well the restraint system controlled dummy movement during the test.
Side evaluations are based on performance in a crash test in which the side of a vehicle is struck by a barrier moving at 31 mph. The barrier represents the front end of a pickup or SUV. Ratings reflect injury measures recorded on 2 instrumented SID-IIs dummies representing a 5th percentile woman, assessment of head protection countermeasures, and the vehicle's structural performance during the impact.
In the roof strength test, a metal plate is pushed against 1 side of a roof at a displacement rate of 0.2 inch per second. To earn a good rating for rollover protection, the roof must withstand a force of 4 times the vehicle's weight before reaching 5 inches of crush. This is called a strength-to-weight ratio.
Rear crash protection is rated according to a 2-step procedure. Starting points for the ratings are measurements of head restraint geometry — the height of a restraint and its horizontal distance behind the back of the head of an average-size man.
Seat/head restraints with good or acceptable geometry are tested dynamically using a dummy that measures forces on the neck. This test simulates a collision in which a stationary vehicle is struck in the rear at 20 mph. Seats without good or acceptable geometry are rated poor overall because they can't be positioned to protect many people.
2012 winners include:
Chrysler 200 4-door, Chrysler 300, Chrysler Town & Country, Jeep Patriot, and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
** Courtesy of IIHS News
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Placentia Chamber Of Commerce Holiday Party At Donavee Chrysler Jeep Orange County
On December 15th, 2011 Donavee Chrysler Jeep is proud to announce that the Placentia Chamber Of Commerce annual holiday party will be hosted in our Chrysler building from 5 until 8 PM at 777 W Orangethorpe Ave. All local businesses in Placentia are invited to Donavee Chrysler Jeep to celebrate another year of running a business in the city of Placentia and supporting all our local customers. You can find out more by following this link: http://bit.ly/vTaKhJ
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Rugged Jeep Wrangler Popular Again
Taming America's sport utility vehicles and turning them into new-day minivans for mainstream buyers took a toll on most classic SUVs. But the iconic Jeep Wrangler escaped the trend.
Today, the Wrangler — with new, more powerful engine and a five-speed automatic transmission added for 2012 — stands out in the wilderness and the marketplace.
With rugged styling derived from Jeep's World War II heritage, the immensely off-road-capable Wrangler has posted a 28 percent increase in U.S. sales this year. Sales are up over 100,000 and top those of some other SUVs — off-road ready or not — like the Toyota FJ Cruiser, 4Runner and Highlander.
The Wrangler is the only mass-produced SUV with removable doors. The roof, which can be soft top or hardtop, can come off, too, for close-to-nature travel. And, the 2012 Wrangler comes only with four-wheel drive. No two-wheel drive is offered.
With a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price, including destination charge, of $22,845, the 2012 Wrangler arguably packs the most off-road SUV capability for the price. The starting price is for a base, 2012 Wrangler Sport 4X4 with 285-horsepower V-6 and six-speed manual transmission.
In comparison, Hyundai's lowest-priced SUV, the Tucson, has a starting retail price of $23,845 for a more on-road-inclined, all-wheel drive model that has 165-horsepower four-cylinder engine. All-wheel drive Tucsons come only with automatic transmissions. The 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser starts at $27,930 with 260-horsepower V-6, four-wheel drive and manual transmission.
Time was when the jaunty ride of a Jeep was part of the unique experience of these vehicles, when people expected and even relished the ride as a memorable treat not to be missed.
Too many auto critics spending too much time in today's soft-riding SUVs have led to complaints about the Wrangler's ride, which, because of the vehicle's short wheelbase of 95.4 inches, can feel a bit choppy, especially over highway segments with prominent concrete expansion cracks. There can be a tippy sensation, too, in turns because of the vehicle's high center of gravity.
But anyone who dislikes a numbing ride and who believes in really piloting an SUV, rather than merely going along for an insulated, sublime ride, will find the Wrangler, especially in Rubicon dress, a satisfying, one-of-a-kind experience.
With the new 3.6-liter, double overhead cam, Pentastar V-6, the test 2012 Wrangler Rubicon had ample power to merge, pass and amble easily with other traffic on roadways. It's a major difference from the previous Wranglers that seemed to strain to deliver sufficient power for on-road travel.
The new engine, by the way, delivers a significant 83 more horsepower than last year's 3.8-liter V-6, is the same one used in the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee and is winning lots of praise from Wrangler enthusiasts.
The test Wrangler Rubicon responded readily when I pressed the accelerator, and while not ripping forward in sport car fashion, the 4,100-pound vehicle felt all-around sprightly. Zero-to-60 mph time has improved to 8.3 seconds.
Torque peaks at 260 foot-pounds at 4,800 rpm, which is 10 foot-pounds more than last year.
While a six-speed manual still is the base Wrangler transmission, Jeep officials upgraded the automatic for 2012. It's now the five-speed from the Grand Cherokee and makes more efficient use of engine power and gasoline. I liked how well timed the shifts were and how smoothly they occurred in the test Wrangler.
Also, with lower first gear ratio than last year's four-speed auto, the new automatic provides a lower overall crawl ratio for off-roading.
Fuel mileage is increased, officially, to 17 miles per gallon in city driving and 21 mpg on the highway from last year's 15/19 mpg. During the test Wrangler with gusto, I averaged just 16 mpg in combined city/highway travel.
Fillups can be pricey, requiring some $65 to load the 18.6-gallon tank with unleaded regular. The gas tank warning light came on in the test Wrangler well before I had traveled 300 miles.
There's no quiet ride in the Wrangler. Even with the hardtop on, I readily heard nearby vehicles, and road noise from the off-road-ready tires was present all the time.
No adults were eager to climb into the back two seats of the test, two-door Wrangler.
For one thing, they had to lift themselves up off the pavement while squeezing past the front seats, which is not easy to do. Some groused about no running boards, but that would be nearly blasphemous for a perfectly good Wrangler Rubicon.
Once settled in back, passengers found their knees resting upward because the bench seat cushion was positioned near the floor. At least they had good headroom — a full 40.3 inches, which is just 1 inch shy of what front-seat passengers have. Legroom in the rear seat is 35.6 inches but it can expand to 37.2 inches in the Wrangler Unlimited, which is the larger Wrangler model with four doors, not the typical two.
Overall, the Wrangler is a quirky vehicle that is loved for its authenticity and its quirks, such as the soft and hard tops that can be difficult to remove and put back on, with many steps and sometimes frustrating instructions.
The Wrangler windshield is one of the few that sits so upright that it doesn't take a lot of travel in summer before bug "splats" make cleaning a necessity.
Seats, even the optional leather-trimmed in the test Wrangler, aren't form-fitting, but they give good views out above traffic and off-road obstacles.
And the little turning circle of 34.9 feet provides for amazing agility on- and off-road.
** Courtesy of Associated Press
Monday, December 12, 2011
Facebook Coupon Tab
Happy Monday fans! Be sure to check out how you can save this month with our exclusive coupon just for you! Just head to the ‘Coupons Tab’ under our profile picture on our Facebook page to see our latest offer! http://on.fb.me/jMX95N
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
New 2012 Jeep® Wrangler Rubicon Captures Prestigious 'Four Wheeler of the Year' Award from Four Wheeler Magazine
- More fuel-efficient, more powerful and more capable Jeep® Wrangler recognized with esteemed award from leading off-road enthusiast magazine
- “Four Wheeler of the Year” is Jeep Wrangler’s 8th award in recent weeks
- Jeep Wrangler boasts dramatically improved on-road performance and even more off-road prowess for 2012
- New 3.6-liter V-6 engine improves Wrangler’s fuel efficiency – up to 21 miles per gallon – with a 40-percent increase in horsepower and a 10-percent increase in torque
- Wrangler succeeds Jeep Grand Cherokee as “Four Wheeler of the Year
- Jeep Wrangler sales up 29 percent for the year; November marked sixth consecutive monthly sales record
The new 2012 Jeep® Wrangler Rubicon – the most capable production vehicle on the planet – has been named “Four Wheeler of the Year” by Four Wheeler magazine. The award is given annually by the editors of the opinion-leading off-road enthusiast magazine.
“The 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon owned nearly all aspects of off-road testing during our annual ‘Four Wheeler of the Year’ competition,” said Four Wheeler Editor John Cappa. “The grueling 1,000-mile trek put each contending vehicle through its paces in several on- and off-road environments, including high-speed graded roads, jagged rocks, shifting sand dunes, and more. The universal do-all capability of the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon allowed it to outperform the other competing 4x4s, making it our 2012 Four Wheeler of the Year award winner.” To qualify for the competition, entries had to be entirely new or have substantial mechanical revisions from a previous model year. Testing was conducted over more than a thousand miles on a variety of terrain, including pavement, gravel, dirt, sand, rocks and mud, at elevations ranging from sea level to more than 9,000 feet. “By earning the respected ‘Four Wheeler of the Year’ award, consumers – and particularly the most die-hard off-road enthusiasts – can be assured that the new 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon has established an even higher level of unmatched capability,” said Mike Manley, President and CEO – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “We are delighted the influential editors of ‘Four Wheeler’ magazine have recognized Wrangler’s new level of capability, along with its improved power, torque and fuel efficiency.” The 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon “Four Wheeler of the Year” award comes a year after the Jeep Grand Cherokee – the premium icon of the brand – captured the award, and less than two years after the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon was named the Best 4x4 vehicle of the 2000-2009 decade by Four Wheeler magazine. The “Four Wheeler of the Year” award is the latest in a list of awards the new 2012 Jeep Wrangler has received since its introduction in September. Other recent Wrangler accolades include:- 4x4 of the Year, Petersen’s 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine
- Mid-size SUV of Texas, Texas Auto Writers Association
- Best Value Off-Road, Active Lifestyle Vehicle (ALV) award
- Hottest 4x4 SUV, Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) award
- ALG Residual Value Award – Best Compact Utility Vehicle
- Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com Best Resale Value Award, Compact Utility Vehicle
- Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com Best Resale Value Award, Top-10 Cars
For the 2011 calendar year, Jeep Wrangler sales are up 29 percent in the U.S. November marked Wrangler’s sixth consecutive year-over-year monthly sales record.
** Courtesy of Chrysler Media
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Chrysler Foundation Announces $50,000 Grant to the Hispanic Scholarship Fund
** Courtesy of Chrysler Media
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