Category Archives: Dealership

Let Them Eat Cake

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If you have ever tried to bake a cake but are missing one crucial ingredient, the outcome is usually far from what you desired. The same is true when it comes to financing a vehicle. You can do all your research, go on countless test drives, negotiate the price and apply for the loan. But if you aren’t sure of what is on your credit report, you are missing a vital ingredient and it can cost you hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars in interest.

Follow these simple steps prior to any vehicle purchase and you will ensure you have a recipe for success:

  1. Visit annualcreditreport.com (free website)
  2. Verify that 3 bureaus are reporting the same information
  3. If an error or inconsistency is discovered, contact that bureau to report the problem

 

EHS Football Carwash

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EHSCarwash4

With the recent success of the Seattle Seahawks it seems that everyone is a football fan these days in the Puget Sound area.  Here at Art Gamblin Motors we have been loyal Enumclaw High School Football fans.  It goes all the way back to the early 1970’s with Alan Gamblin playing for the Hornets.  Decades later the two Gamblin boys (Tyson and Andrew) wore the maroon and gold for the mighty Hornets. We love our Football here in Enumclaw.  The tradition continues with our strong support of Enumclaw Athletics and the football program.

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This past May marked the 9th Annual Enumclaw High School Football Car Wash.  This is the 8th year that Art Gamblin Motors has hosted the car wash at its Truck Center location.  This is a great spring time event in Enumclaw and most residents can’t wait to get their car washed from eager football players. This is not your normal car wash.  Within an 8 hour period the football players will wash around 400 vehicles.  Art Gamblin Motors loves clearing out their front row at the Truck Center to allow three lanes of rinsing, washing and drying.  The football player’s pre sell car wash tickets and what they earn goes directly into their summer camp fund.  This year the Enumclaw Football team will be traveling east of the mountains to Central Washington University football camp.

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After the cars are washed drivers are asked by Enumclaw High School cheerleaders to take a test drive.  For every test drive Art Gamblin Motors donated $20 per test drive.  Art Gamblin Motors was excited to donate $1000 to the Enumclaw High School cheerleaders.

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If you missed the car wash this year keep your eye on the Gamblin Motors Facebook page to find out the date of next May’s car wash.

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Put a Little Spark Back in Your Relationship

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Spark PlugsMan or woman, most of us have a love-hate relationship with our cars. They can throw us back in our seats making us hang on for dear life, they can haul our toys for a weekend of fun but they can also drain our wallets or leave us stranded in the middle of nowhere. Fortunately they do not tend to do the latter without warning.

If you are experiencing any of the following than maybe it’s time to inspect your electrical system (spark plugs, wires, ignition coils):
– Decrease in Fuel Economy
– Cylinder Misfires
– Check Engine Light
– Reduced Engine Power
– Rough Idle
– Trouble Starting Your Vehicle

Just because vital engine components, like spark plugs, wires and coils, are designed to last up to 100,000 miles doesn’t mean they will. They should be routinely inspected.

EHS Student Photography Contest

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EHS PHOTO CONTEST

 

Over the past few years, Gamblin Motors has sponsored a photo contest for EHS students. The students are given a month to send us their very best photos. These photos are uploaded to our Facebook page. Our Facebook followers are asked to vote for the favorite photo. Students encourage their friends and family to vote for their photo. At the end of the contest, the photo with the most likes wins. The winner receives $250.

Our 2015 contest kicks off this week. Students can send us their photos beginning May15. They will be uploaded to our Facebook page the next day. The contest runs from May 15-June 16. The Winner will be announced on June 17. Get ready to vote for your favorite photo. Here are the instructions for interested EHS students:

Contest Instructions

-Save Photo with your name using this format: First_Last _Grade

-Email Photo to corigamblin@gmail.com. Your photo will be uploaded to Gamblin Motor’s Facebook page the next day.

-Spread the word to get the most likes for your photo on Gamblin Motor’s Facebook page.

-The photo with the most likes wins $250 cash.

Helpful Hints

  1. Like Art Gamblin Motors on FB
  2. Get your photo in soon. (If your photo is one of the first posted, it will be up the longest.)
  3. Spread the word on your FB page.
  4. Repost our photo contest posts on your wall.
  5. Have friends and family also post your contest photo on their wall.

The more people who see your photo the more votes you will get.

 

 

Serving at Full Bellies

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Full Bellies 3

One of our favorite ways to help out the plateau community is cooking and providing dinner for Full Bellies. Full Bellies offers a FREE hot meal for families and individuals in a warm environment. Meals are prepared every Thursday by various groups and companies in the Enumclaw community. Several times a year Gamblin Motor’s employees get to serve at Full Bellies.

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Full Bellies was started by Colleen Michael, a stay-at-home mom, who didn’t want to see kids going to bed hungry. She had a vision to bring hot meals to families in need. With the help of Rainier Foothills Wellness Foundation, Calvary Presbyterian Church, and volunteers from the community, her vision became a reality. Anyone is welcome and can get a hot meal every Thursday at Calvary Presbyterian Church starting at 5:30pm. Full Bellies needs community support; for information on how to volunteer contact Rene Popke at the Rainier Foothills Foundation. This is a great way to get involved and help fight hunger.

http://rfwellnessfoundation.org/initiatives/neighbors-feeding-neighbors/

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April is Car Care Month

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April-Car-Care

April is car care month, which reminds driver to give their vehicle a thorough checkup, before the summer driving season.

“We encourage our customers to take care of their vehicles year-round and the onset of spring is a perfect time to inspect vehicles for wear and damage caused by winter driving,” said Alan Gamblin.

Many services are best left to the pros, while customers can do others themselves. Along with routine services like an oil and filter change, brake check and fresh wiper blades, ACDelco experts – General Motors’ original equipment and independent aftermarket parts brand – recommend the following:

Go with the pros:

  • Oil change– Having the oil and oil filter changed, at least as often as recommended by the manufacturer, is likely to generate the single biggest return on your investment in routine auto service and maintenance. Replacing the dirty oil and filter will help protect the internal parts of the engine from premature wear. It’s important to use the recommended grade of oil for your vehicle for the best protection and fuel mileage.
  • Spark plugs– Many are designed to last 100,000 miles, but they can get dirty or fail prematurely. Ignition wires lose insulating ability over time, and the connection to the plug or ignition coil can degrade. Having plugs checked and, if necessary, replaced, can improve vehicle performance and fuel economy.
  • Examine belts, clamps and hoses– Tighten or replace as necessary.
  • Replace worn or damagedsuspension components – Like struts, shocks, tie rods and bushings, which take the brunt of spring potholes and bumpy gravel roads.
  • Test the battery– Heat can tax a battery as much as cold. Modern batteries are about more than cold cranking amps. ACDelco batteries also provide optimum reserve capacity – for all the electronic devices used in today’s vehicles.

Do it yourself:

  • Sunroof– Inspect weather strips and remove debris from drains before they leak into vehicle. Wipe the sunroof seal and roof sealing area with a clean cloth, mild soap and water.
  • Cabin air filter– Replace this filter to improve airflow through the interior climate control system and help remove pollen, allergens and stale odors. Most owner’s manuals explain how to do it.
  • Radiator and condenser– Sand and salt can corrode and damage these elements, which are what you see through your vehicle’s grille. With the engine off, use a garden hose (do NOT power wash) with medium spray or open flow to wash away dirt and salt. This simple step can improve engine cooling and air conditioning performance
  • Spare tire– Make sure it’s properly inflated and that you have a portable compressor, a jack and a tire iron in the event of a flat.

You can call Gamblin Motors at (877) 459-1449 to set up an appointment for their vehicle’s springtime services.

Chevy Confirmed Production on the Bolt EV

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Chevy Bolt

Chevrolet confirmed production of its next-generation pure electric vehicle, based on the Bolt EV concept. The Bolt EV concept was introduced a few months ago at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. “The message from consumers about the Bolt EV concept was clear and unequivocal: Build it,” said Batey, GM North American President “We are moving quickly because of its potential to completely shake up the status quo for electric vehicles.”

Using the industry-leading battery technology found in the Chevrolet Volt and Spark EV, the Bolt EV was developed as a game-changing, long-range pure electric for all 50 states, designed to offer more than a 200 miles of range at a target price of around $30,000. This exciting announcement signals Chevrolet’s commitment to meeting customer demand by delivering an affordable, long-range all-electric vehicle to market.

What’s the difference between AWD, 4WD, RWD, and FWD?

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Your Wheels

Vehicles act differently on snow and ice depending on whether they have front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. With winter in full swing, We’d like to provide you with a brief spin through the options. Remember, almost every new vehicle from Chevrolet and Buick includes an electronic traction control system that intervenes automatically to improve performance in slippery conditions.

Front-wheel drive (FWD): Simply put, engine power is channeled to the front wheels to propel the vehicle. FWD is the most popular and prevalent system in the market because its compact setup enhances fuel efficiency and frees up more room inside the vehicle. Plus, the weight of the powertrain is concentrated over the driving wheels, so it offers good traction when it’s slippery.

Rear-wheel drive (RWD): As the name implies, engine power is sent to the rear wheels to propel the vehicle. In passenger cars, RWD reigned until the advent of FWD in the early 1980s. But RWD can more effectively handle higher engine power and higher vehicle weights, which is why it’s still favored in large trucks, larger performance vehicles, purpose-built race cars and law-enforcement pursuit use.

All-wheel drive (AWD): Don’t confuse all-wheel drive with four-wheel drive. Both engage all four wheels, but they’re designed and operate differently. Generally, an AWD drivetrain operates as a FWD or RWD system – most are FWD. AWD system pre-emptively sends power to front and rear axles on every launch to prevent wheel slip, then backs down if no slip occurs. Power is transferred automatically via a single-speed transfer case. (A transfer case connects to the transmission to split power between the front and rear wheels.) The beauty of AWD is no driver effort is needed to activate the system.

Four-wheel drive (4WD or 4×4): Four-wheel drive typically features a two-speed transfer case with high and low ranges for maximum traction. 4WD vehicles typically operate in RWD until four-wheel traction is required; and while most systems are driver-activated, many offer a setting that automatically engages the high range when it’s slippery. The driver must still engage the low range. Found in large, rear-wheel-drive trucks and larger SUVs with additional ground clearance compared to passenger cars and crossovers, 4×4 still provides the best traction and capability in off-road.

 

Buick’s New Reveals: Avenir and Cascada

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At the North American Auto Show in Detroit, Buick unveiled two new stunning cars. The first to roll down the red carpet was the 2016 Buick Cascada Convertible. Buick has not manufactured a convertible in over a quarter of century, and this car is worth the wait. This new convertible four leather seated car offers Buick’s attention to detail and advanced technologies.

Cascada

The Cascada will come equipped with OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi hotspot to keep you connected on the go. The top is a traditional fabric roof that can be lowered in 17 seconds while the car is moving at up to speeds of 31 mph. Heated steering wheel and seats will allow the driver to extend the top-down season. A turbo four-cylinder engine and automatic transmission will allow for a sporty drive. Duncan Aldred, vice president of Buick said, “It’s a car that will delight customers with its fun spirit and help drive the momentum that’s fueling Buick’s success.” The Cascada is expected to hit our showroom in early 2016.2016-buick-cascada

Everyone loves a surprise at an auto show and Buick delivered with the Avenir concept car. Avenir is French for future and this concept car suggests a future for the Buick brand that is exciting and luxurious. Building on Buick’s 112-year heritage, the Avenir concept strikes the pose for the future of Buick. The sedan was designed to catch your eye and it caught the eye of the auto show.

2016-buick-concept-avenirThe Avenir was presented with the 2015 Eyes on Design Award for “Best Concept Vehicle” at the North American International Auto Show. “Avenir embodies Buick design, which enters on effortless beauty and presence without pretense,” said Ed Welburn, vice president of General Motors Global Design. Production information is still to be released, but we are looking forward to selling this beautiful car.

Avenir

2013 FIAT 500 POP vs 2013 Chevrolet Spark Bonney Lake Cars

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2013 Chevrolet Spark

Here at Art Gamblin Motors, your Bonney Lake car dealer, we are very excited about Chevrolet’s new mini car: The all-new 2013 Spark! The Spark dominates the mini car segment with more available features, outstanding value and solid performance. This fact is clear when comparing the Chevy Spark to the Fiat 500 POP:

The Fiat 500 is available as a 2-door hatchback or 2-door convertible. Unlike Spark, the 500 is not offered in a 5-door configuration. The 500 is available in three main trim levels (Pop, Sport and Lounge) with 3 additional special-edition models (Pink Ribbon, Gucci and the high- performance Abarth). All models share the same 101 hp 1.4L engine with the exception of the Abarth which adds a turbocharger to the 1.4L engine for additional power. Transmission choices for the Pop version–which competes against Spark–include a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic.

Chevrolet Spark Advantages vs. Fiat 500 POP

• 5-door body style. All Chevrolet Sparks are 4-door hatchbacks. All Fiat 500 hatchbacks are two door models. A 4-door hatchback body style is not currently available.

• Standard alloy wheels on all models. All Spark models have standard alloy wheels regardless of trim level. The Fiat 500 Pop model features steel wheels with wheel covers.

• Superior value. Not only is Chevrolet Spark 1LT priced over $1,705 less than Fiat 500 Pop ($14,495 vs. $16,200), it’s also better equipped.

• Less-expensive fuel requirement. The Chevrolet Spark runs on regular unleaded gasoline. The Fiat 500’s recommended fuel is premium unleaded–which currently is about 6% more expensive.

• Larger vehicle. Spark’s interior has 10.7 cu. ft. more passenger volume than Fiat 500. In this class of vehicle, passenger volume is an important factor in determining comfort.

• Cargo volume. Spark’s cargo area is over 16% larger than the Fiat 500 cargo area. A larger cargo area contributes to a vehicle’s versatility.

• More front leg room. Spark has 1.3″ more front leg room than Fiat 500.

• Rear seat comfort. Spark has 3.5″ more rear seat leg room than Fiat 500.

• Greater front and rear hip room. Spark has more front hip room and a whopping 4.9″ more rear hip room (47.5″ vs. 42.6″) than Fiat 500.

• Standard OnStar. Spark’s standard OnStar telematics system provides a suite of services including Automatic Crash Response, Turn-by-Turn Navigation, Vehicle Diagnostics and much more. A telematics system is not available on Fiat 500.

• MyLink Radio. Fiat 500 has nothing comparable to Spark’s MyLink Radio with its embedded apps. In fact, the Fiat 500 radio does not include a touch-screen–even on its highest-level models.

• Standard satellite radio. Satellite radio, with three months of service included, is standard on Spark 1LT.

Satellite radio is an available accessory on Fiat 500.

• Bluetooth for phone and audio. Spark 1LT features

Bluetooth for both phone and audio. Fiat 500 has what

it calls Blue & Me which provides a wireless phone

interface, but not one for audio.

• Superior warranty peace of mind. The Fiat 500

4-year/50,000-mile powertrain warranty can’t

compete with the Spark’s 5-year/100,000-mile

powertrain warranty. That’s a full 50,000 additional

miles of coverage!

• Emergency roadside assistance. Spark owners

receive the peace of mind of emergency roadside

assistance for five years. Fiat 500 buyers receive only

four years of roadside assistance.

• More air bags. All Spark models have 10 standard air

bags. Fiat 500 has seven air bags.

• Oil Life Monitor. This feature is not offered on Fiat 500.

We invite you to come test drive a new 2013 Chevrolet Spark here with us at Art Gamblin Motors in Enumclaw Washington; and experience something unexpected. We promise that you will enjoy our welcoming pressure-free environment, with plenty of expert sales associates available to handle all of your needs. Above all we are committed to treating you like family, something that is natural for us being family owned and operated for over 43 years. Come see the difference for yourself and see why we are the highest online rated Chevrolet dealer in the state!