Chevy Bang For Your Buck - Verified!

Chevy wins two Edmunds.com True Cost To Own Awards^®

To choose the winners of its 2011 True Cost to Own^® Awards², the team at Edmunds.com gathered data on every 2011 vehicle on the market and estimated the five-year cost of owning each. After comparing every vehicle, Chevrolet came out on top twice: The 2011 Equinox and the 2011 Silverado 2500HD Regular Cab pickup.

“The 2011 Chevy Equinox is a stylish and comfortable entry in the highly competitive small-crossover segment,” Edmunds.com says. “RAV4 and CR-V shoppers should take notice.” They also note Equinox’s “premium look inside and out,” quiet cabin with tons of storage, and highly fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine.

For the Silverado, Edmunds.com says: “Notably improved with added capability, the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD is an excellent choice for a heavy-duty truck.” Some of the highlighted features are “impressive hauling and towing capabilities; refined and quiet ride; solid build quality; responsive steering; comfortable seats.”

The True Cost to Own^® takes multiple factors into account. The Total Cash Price includes MSRP, typically equipped options, and other standard charges, taxes and fees. Depreciation is the amount by which the value of a vehicle declines from its purchase price to the estimated resale value. Insurance and financing are based on a well-qualified purchaser.

Importantly, the calculation also includes fuel, based on revised EPA ratings, assuming 45% highway and 55% city driving, and maintenance and repairs. Maintenance is the estimated expense of both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, including replacing tires and other parts.

See the Equinox and Silverado... CLICK

Walt Massey Automotive Steps up to the Plate for George County Eastern Youth Baseball

Walt Massey Automotive to provide George County Eastern Youth Baseball with new equipment, monetary donation, instructional clinics; Additional funds via Chevy Vehicle Giveaway

Walt Massey Automotive is supporting the Lucedale community through a partnership with George County Eastern Youth Baseball . The dealership will provide baseball equipment, instructional clinics, a monetary donation, and an opportunity to raise an additional $10,000 in funds through a Chevy vehicle giveaway-fundraiser. The effort by Walt Massey Automotive is part of the Chevy Youth Baseball initiative being rolled out across the nation from March through July 2011.

“Baseball is a great American past-time and Chevrolet is proud to have a longstanding history with this tradition on a national level. Walt Massey Automotive is bringing that level of commitment for youth baseball to the Lucedale community, where our customers and their families live,” said Walt Massey , owner of Walt Massey Automotive . “Our youth baseball program in Lucedale is truly cherished and we are happy and excited to support the kids in a significant way.”

Walt Massey Automotive will present the George County Eastern Youth Baseball with equipment kits complete with equipment bags, baseball buckets, dugout managers, and Chevy Youth Baseball t-shirts. The sponsorship includes clinics with experienced instructors from former MLB/MiLB players and coaches or the Ripken Baseball professional staff.

In addition, a one-time monetary donation check will be presented by Walt Massey Automotive to George County Eastern Youth Baseball . The team also will have an opportunity to raise additional funds for their use as part of a Chevy Youth Baseball Fundraiser. Sponsored leagues across the country will each receive 2,000 fundraiser entry tickets to distribute for a suggested donation, and the league will keep 100 percent of proceeds raised. At the end of the fundraiser, there will be five winners of a Chevy Equinox or Chevy Cruze vehicle of choice (up to $30,000 in value), and in each participating market there will be a secondary prize of a home entertainment center valued at $1,000.

Chevrolet is recognized on the national level as the “Official Vehicle of Major League Baseball.” “Chevrolet vehicles are made for families and we hope the kids or their parents will consider a Chevrolet as an official vehicle of their household,” said Massey .

Chevrolet has expanded its support of MLB to the youth baseball players in communities across the country through the Chevy Youth Baseball program. The Chevy Youth Baseball program began in Atlanta in 2006. In 2010, more than 980 Chevrolet dealers participated in Chevy Youth Baseball and helped raise more than $3 million for youth baseball programs across the USA. Now going into its sixth year, more than $10 million has been contributed to youth baseball in the communities where Chevrolet’s customers live, work, and play. Currently, 1,423 Chevrolet dealers are participating in this national program.



For more information about Chevy Youth Baseball, please visit www.youthsportswired.com .

www.WaltMassey.com

Chevrolet Awards Detroit Pitcher New Corvette for Great Performance

DETROIT – Chevrolet awarded Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga a 2010 Corvette convertible, recognizing his outstanding performance on and off the field.

Galarraga retired 26 consecutive Cleveland Indians batters on Wednesday evening. The 27th and final batter, Jason Donald, hit a routine ball in the hole between first and second base. Tigers’ first baseman Miguel Cabrera fielded the ball and threw to Galarraga, who stepped on first base, apparently before Donald touched the base and was called safe.

Galarraga kept his cool, returned to the mound and retired the next batter to record a one-hit, 3-0 shutout, throwing just 88 pitches.

GM North American President Mark Reuss, who presented a Chevrolet Corvette to Galarraga at today's game against the Cleveland Indians, said the way the pitcher had handled the incredible events deserved to be recognized regardless of what record books would ultimately show.

Reuss said he had known the Ilitch family, owners of the Detroit Tigers, his whole life and the family has always been a great supporter of General Motors.

"It is only fitting we help give back for all the Ilitches have done for Detroit and to celebrate Armando’s pitching and sportsmanship during one of the most captivating evenings in Tigers history.”

www.WaltMassey.com

Silverado HD Bests the Competition with 21,700 Pound Towing and 6,635 Pound Payload Ratings

DETROIT – Through ongoing development and testing, the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD capability ratings have been increased to 21,700 pounds of towing, and 6,635 pounds of payload. Based on these ratings, the Silverado HD will offer heavy-duty truck buyers the most power and most capability available in the segment.

According to Rick Spina, GM Full-size Truck global vehicle line executive, the increased ratings are a result of exceeding the original performance targets for the Silverado HD:

“Our focus has consistently been on delivering customers the most capable heavy-duty trucks in the market. The first set of capability tests confirmed that the team had exceeded the payload and towing targets by a significant margin. Ongoing testing demonstrated a clear opportunity to increase the true capabilities of these trucks. Even pulling a combined weight of nearly 15 tons seems easy behind the wheel of a 2011 Silverado HD 3500 with the proven Duramax Diesel.”

To certify increased payload and towing capacities for the 2011 Silverado HD, engineers conducted a battery of tests.

Based on extensive testing at maximum gross combined weight rating (GCWR) to validate the durability of the powertain, drivetrain, and brake components, the GCWR is increased to 29,200 pounds.
Based on further testing in varied terrain, grades, and climates while pulling the maximum trailer weight to confirm predictable and stable handling, the maximum 5th-wheel towing capacity was increased to 21,700 pounds, and conventional towing capacity increased to 17,000 pounds.
After higher-strength steel for cargo box cross sills was specified, the team conducted additional testing hauling maximum payloads to test the stronger cargo box and rear-axle components. As a result, the maximum payload has been increased to 6,635 pounds.

Based on these improved capacities, the 2011 Silverado HD possesses segment-leading capability in horsepower, torque, conventional towing, 5th-wheel towing, and payload.

Starting production next week, it becomes the most capable heavy duty pickup on the market.

“We encourage consumers to test drive the Silverado HD against competitive models,” said Spina. “Based on our test results, we are confident the Silverado HD will prove to be the best choice for real-world towing and hauling needs.”

http://www.waltmassey.com/

Is GM Doing Better Than Reports Suggest?

Is GM doing better than first quarter numbers suggest?

Expressed in percentages - Stats are always hard to nail down
(5/6/2010)

If you just read the headlines after the close of the first quarter of 2010, you would have learned that Ford sold 25 percent more vehicles in the first quarter of 2010 than it did in the same period of 2009 - good news however you look at it. GM on the other hand reported overall sales growth of just 7 percent. Not bad, but, at least on the surface, pales in comparison to the Ford numbers.

According to analyst Rich Smith, writing in the financial advisory column known as The Motley Fool, this simple comparison does not tell the complete story.

According to Smith, GM's comparison to Q1 in 2009 included all the vehicles sold under the discarded brands of Pontiac, Saturn, Hummer and Saab - which experienced a drop of 95 percent against the first quarter of 2009.

Smith also points out that if GM had taken the tack that many other retailers do in reporting sales more aggressively - in this case only reporting retail sales for comparison purposes - the remaining GM brands of Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac and GMC experienced an improvement of over 33 percent in Q1/2010. So, if we can coin a term - "same brand sales" - GM's same brand sales improved 33 percent, while Ford's same brand sales only (only?) increased 25 percent.

So after taking its medicine in the form of a bitter pill called bankruptcy, GM escapes virtually debt-free and with half the brands. It does appear after examining the sales results from this different angle that the reduction in brands has strengthened those that remain - and that GM's performance in those brands alone may have surpassed the bright Ford sales reports.

(courtesy DealersEdge)

www.WaltMassey.com

High Five for Chevy!

The Saturday night NASCAR race in Phoenix was a drought-ending win for Ryan Newman, while Jeff Gordon played bridesmaid yet again. It also saw a top-5 sweep for Chevrolet as the brand placed six total in the top ten. That makes five wins out of seven races for Chevy this young 2010 season! Plenty of races to go and looking forward to a great season and another possible championship for Chevy.

www.WaltMassey.com

2010 Camaro - World Car Design of the Year

http://www.wcoty.com/media/?release=59&year=2010

See the car here:

http://www.gm.com/bestcarwin/index.jsp?brandId=ch&sectionId=camaro&src=gm_com

http://www.waltmassey.com

CREW CABS... You've Come A Long Way, Baby!

THE FIRST CREW CAB TRUCK.

The International Travelette was a crew cab, available in 2- or 4-wheel drive. It was available starting in 1957 (with 3 doors, 4th door added in 1961), and was the first 6-passenger, 4-door truck of its time in the U.S.