It's Road Trip Season | Don Mallon Chevrolet

Don't Let Your Adventure Break the Bank

In a few weeks, millions of Americans will start hitting the road for their annual summer road trips. Overall, almost 80% of American vacations involve driving rather than flying, according to the U.S. Travel Association. A survey by AAA found that 52% of people said they were more likely to take a long road trip in 2015 because of lower gas prices.

But driving to your next vacation destination comes with costs of its own, including gas, lodging, and wear and tear on your car. While the upfront cost is smaller when getting behind the wheel, minor expenses can add up.

Whether you’re planning a coast-to-coast journey or a quick weekend getaway, you’re probably looking for ways to save on your next road trip. We’ve gathered seven tips that will help you save money on travel this summer so that you can get the most bang for your vacation buck.

1. Get a tune-up

Before you hit the road, make sure your vehicle is in peak operating condition. Popular Mechanics advises checking filters, fluid levels, brake linings, coolant, and tire pressure. Properly inflating your tires can improve fuel economy by 3%, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, while using the manufacturer-recommended grade of motor oil can improve gas mileage by up to 2%.

2. Pack light

Loading up your car with a lot of baggage means you’ll spend more on gas. Your fuel efficiency falls by 1% for every extra 100 pounds you carry in your car. Putting a cargo box on your car’s roof reduces fuel economy by 6% to 17% when driving on the highway. If you must carry extra cargo, haul it behind your car rather than putting it on the roof.

3. Watch the speedometer
Having a lead foot will cost you. Fuel economy decreases dramatically at speeds above 50 miles per hour, says the U.S. Department of Energy; you’ll pay an extra 17 cents per gallon for every five miles you drive above that speed. Rapid acceleration and braking also reduces your car’s fuel efficiency.

4. Skip the tolls

Tolls are collected on 4,630 miles of highway in 25 states, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. And they won’t just cost you pocket change. Driving 356 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, from the Ohio border to the Delaware River Bridge, will set you back $46.10 if you have a regular passenger car, and more if you’re driving a bigger vehicle like an RV. Picking an alternate route could mean more money in your pocket.

Going far out of your way to skip tolls could end up costing you more in gas and lost time. But for cost-conscious travelers who aren’t in a hurry, it may make sense to choose the scenic route, opting for small back roads rather than major highways.

5. Get a deal on lodging

Everyone has a different strategy when it comes to finding a place to stay on a road trip. Some people create strict itineraries, so they know exactly where they’re going to stay every night. Other people have a more laissez-faire strategy, letting the rhythm of the road dictate where they bed down for the night.

If you prefer the former approach, you have time to shop around and get the best deal on a room. Seat-of-their-pants travelers can use sites like Priceline and Hotwire to get last-minute deals. A membership with AAA can score you big discounts at many hotels, and hotel loyalty programs may earn you discounts and upgrades on rooms. Camping rather than staying in hotels is another way to save.

6. Stock up on snacks
The average American individual or family spends $27.16 per day on food at restaurants when traveling, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Make multiple trips through the drive-through a day, and you could quickly blow your travel budget.

Before you leave, stock up on affordable, healthy snacks so that you’re not tempted to hit McDonald’s. Then, look for parks and nature preserves on your route where you can stop for a picnic, and turn your lunch break into a fun part of the trip. And if you’re staying in hotels, don’t forget to fill up at the free breakfast, if one is offered.

7. Track gas prices

Gas prices have fallen over the past year, which is good news for summer travelers. But a little advance planning can save you even more. Apps like GasBuddy can help you find the cheapest gas station when it’s time to fill up.

Also, remember that gas prices can vary significantly from state to state. If you’re driving through Chicago, fill up in neighboring states like Wisconsin and Indiana, where gas can be 10 or 20 cents cheaper per gallon because of lower local taxes, according to a report by Illinois Policy. On your way to California, top off the tank in Arizona, where the average price of gas is currently 76 cents less than in the Golden State.

Resource: http://www.cheatsheet.com/personal-finance/save-money-on-your-summer-road-trip-with-these-7-tips.html/?a=viewall#ixzz3dFOO3oot

Chevrolet Debuts as a Top Global Green Brand | Don Mallon Chevrolet

Chevrolet makes its debut on Interbrand's 2014 Best Global Green Brands report, ranking No. 32. The report, produced by the world's leading brand consultancy, Interbrand, measures market perception and actual environmental performance of a company and its products.

“What was most compelling about Chevrolet's data was the very small gap between public perception and environmental performance,” said Jez Frampton, Interbrand's global CEO. “The company is not only actively demonstrating its environmental commitment; it’s communicating those efforts in an authentic way that resonates with customers.”

Interbrand cited Chevrolet’s vehicles and how they are made, as well as governance, as standout items in its environmental performance. According to the report, Chevrolet sets leadership for sustainability at the highest levels of the company and makes public commitments to reduce its carbon footprint.

Since launching the Cruze less than four years ago, Chevrolet's share of small, compact and mini car segments has tripled. Nearly half of Spark, Sonic and Cruze buyers were new to Chevrolet.

“People want to buy fuel-efficient cars from companies that share their social and environmental values,” said Alan Batey, General Motors senior vice president, Global Chevrolet. “Chevrolet is engineering innovative technologies into all of our vehicles to improve fuel economy, and our customer-driven sustainability philosophy is driving many new customers to our dealerships.”

Some of Chevrolet’s fuel-efficient vehicles include:

• The Chevrolet Spark EV, an electric car sold in California and Oregon, features best-in-segment torque rivaling many sports cars. Priced at $19,995 with full federal incentives, it is one of the most efficient and affordable electric vehicles available.
• The Chevrolet Volt, the best-selling U.S. plug-in electric vehicle in 2012 and 2013, reduced the nation’s gas consumption by 25 million gallons since its launch. Typically driving more than 970 miles between fill-ups, owners save $1,450 in annual fuel costs with no change in daily driving habits.
• The Chevrolet Cruze, the brand's best-selling passenger car around the world, features an Eco model that achieves an EPA-estimated 42 mpg hwy. Its diesel model achieves the best highway fuel economy of any non-hybrid vehicle with an EPA-estimated 46 mpg highway and segment-leading 151 horsepower.

Chevrolet’s most aggressive product transformation in its history resulted in record global sales in 2013, with nearly 5 million units. Beyond reducing the environmental impact of its manufacturing facilities throughincreased renewable energy or landfill-free initiatives, the brand is impacting communities across the U.S. with its voluntary carbon-reduction initiative. Chevrolet has supported many projects such as enablingcolleges to reinvest in clean-energy technologies to helping truckers avoid idling their engines at rest stops.

Interbrand conducts consumer research to capture public perception of a brand’s sustainable or green practices and compares that to publicly available sustainability performance data provided by Deloitte. The top green brands are selected from Interbrand’s 100 Best Global Brands report, in which Chevrolet ranks No. 89.

Source: http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/chevrolet/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2014/Jun/0624-global-green.html

Four Chevrolets Earn 2014 AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Award | Don Mallon Chevrolet

Four Chevrolet vehicles earned top honors in the 2014 AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards, which measure customer satisfaction in 50 categories.

The four awards are the most won by any single manufacturer this year.

Award-winning Chevrolets and their segments are:

• Impala – Large Car
• Sonic – Economy car
• Corvette – Sports car
• Camaro – Sporty car

The wins move Chevrolet up five spaces in relative ranking among other manufacturers compared to last year.

“Today’s Chevrolet car lineup is the best in the brand’s history with the design, performance, technology and safety that consumers want and expect,” said Brian Sweeney, U.S. vice president, Chevrolet.  “Everything we do at Chevrolet is focused on offering the best possible experience for the consumer. These four AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards prove we are delivering on that promise.”

The Vehicle Satisfaction Awards – in their eighth year, are based on AutoPacific’s measurement of customer satisfaction with their new car or light truck. It reflects the opinions of more than 92,000 vehicle owners nationwide.

AutoPacific measures owner satisfaction related to a vehicle's operation, comfort, safety and overall purchase/lease experience.

AutoPacific is an automotive market research and consulting firm that annually publishes a variety of studies on the industry.

Source:  http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/chevrolet/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2014/Jun/0624-chevy-autopacific.html