Harold Zeigler Chrysler Dodge Jeep of Grandville

All-new 2011 Dodge Durango Wins Awards for November
Posted on November 2nd, 2011 by Dealer in News

Auburn Hills, Mich. ? The new Dodge Durango continues to garner awards and high praise from experts impressed with its best-in-class capability, style, spaciousness, interior craftsmanship and driving dynamics. With its four-wheel independent suspension, near 50:50 weight distribution, responsive steering and handling and best-in-class driving range, combined with its standard seven-passenger functional, flexible and premium interior and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick status, the all-new 2011 Dodge Durango is NADAguides' "Car of the Month" for November.

?All-new 2011 Dodge Durango named "Car of the Month" for November by NADAguides

?Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) "Top Safety Pick" for 2012

?Standard seven-passenger seating on all models

?Class-leading driving range of more than 550 miles on a single tank of fuel

?Class-leading towing with both engines: up to 7,400 lbs. with HEMI V-8 and 6,200 lbs. with V-6

"The craftsmanship found in this vehicle demonstrates why it took Dodge three years to overhaul this vehicle ? it was well worth the wait," said Troy Snyder ?Director of Product Development, NADAguides. "Every line of the 2011 Dodge Durango has become fluid and smooth, the driving performance enhanced, the interior upgraded to luxury standards and a safety system that surpasses its closest competitors. Our team of analysts really enjoyed driving this vehicle and feels it will give the competition a run for its money."

The NADAguides' (National Automobile Dealers Association) "Car of the Month" award gives consumers practical information on new cars, trucks and SUVs chosen by the analysts at NADAguides for exceptional performance, efficiency, features, options and appeal.

"We're extremely pleased NADAguides has recognized the Dodge Durango as the 'Car of the Month' for November," said Reid Bigland, President and CEO ? Dodge brand. "It's always an honor when automotive experts recognize the style, capability and value we're offering with our all-new lineup of vehicles. With Durango's class-leading towing capacity, best-in-class driving range and premium interior, it truly is one of the best choices in the seven-passenger SUV segment."

The "Car of the Month" award from NADAguides follows one week after the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) named the Dodge Durango "Full-Size SUV of Texas."

Criteria used to determine NADAguides "Car of the Month" includes: quality of engineering, fuel efficiency, safety equipment and ratings, pricing and overall value, sales trends, consumer market interest on NADAguides.com, and test drives performed by NADAguides market analysts. Car of the Month vehicles are eligible for the NADAguides Car of the Year award.

NADAguides said the first complete overhaul inside and out since 2008 helped the 2011 Dodge Durango catch the attention of its analysts. The fresh look of the exterior, quality upgrade in the interior, a safety system that surpasses the competition, ample space, comfort, technology and performance make the Dodge Durango impressive all around. Best-in-class power, best-in-class towing and best-in-class driving range coupled with an IIHS Top Safety Pick further cement the 2011 Dodge Durango as an industry leader and the NADAguides "Car of the Month" for November.

On November 26th & 27th, Bob Dullan had his locally built, Super Hero Bat Tumbler brought to Harold Zeigler Grandville for all to see.  It had so many admirers that we are bringing it back due to popular demand.  Many people took pictures which are on our Facebook  page for your viewing. 

Read the following below to learn a little background on the how the vehicle was built, tools used and time to complete this special project:

**This was a personal project I started roughly five years ago in my home garage.
Armed with a chop saw, a reciprocating saw, a drill press, and a Lincoln Electric
power Mig welder, My experience in mold-making, and prop-making,
in a two-car garage, with no heat, bad lighting, and no air cond.
And no prior car experience.

The entire car was built by me in my home garage.
Every item on this car was scratch built, and nothing
was farmed out to an outside source. Only items not built
by me are the obvious - tires, rims, rear axel, etc. All of
the chassis was scratch built, including the triangulated 4-link
rear suspension, and the front suspension.
This car is not for sale.

On Saturday September 25th, we sponsored the John Walsh DNA Life Print Event.  There were over 200 kids that attended who got their finger print and picture taken.  The program was set up by John Walsh for parents to help find a lost/abducted child in the event it ever happened.  We had subs from Jimmy John's, which they donated, water bottles, animal crackers, a movie for entertainment and each kid left with a balloon.  
                                                              

   

We gave lots of balloons away that day

 

 Our youngest to get printed was 7 weeks old

 
State fans that stopped on their way to the game


Thank you to all who helped out and participated. 
It was a huge success!




September 23rd, 2010 by Bill Cawthon

When it came to "Car of the Year" awards, the editors of Esquire had quite a list. When it came to SUVs, though, there was only one: the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee that the magazine called the "Best Domestic Comeback of the Year."

According to the editors, "The Cherokee is blessed with bank-vault rigidity, sharp road manners, and an unapologetically luxurious interior. The previous Grand Cherokee's poor-riding live rear axle is gone, swapped for a multilink setup that feels more uptown than up-country, and an all-new 290-hp 23-mpg V-6 is standard equipment. (Don't worry, you can still get a Hemi. Everyone wants a Hemi.)

"In spite of years of lame-duck products, Jeep has always retained
its charm, which is a testament to how far heritage and emotion can take
you. The Grand Cherokee is a welcome sight, the kind of SUV that the brand, and America, deserve."

Challenger owners took over the lot at Harold Zeigler of Grandville on May 15th for a mini car show. Customers who purchased their Challengers from Harold Zeigler of Grandville were invited to attend a special customer appreciation day geared toward the sports car. Challenger owners from all walks of life had the opportunity to check out the upgrades and new designs other owners incorporated into their rides.

After meeting at the dealership and enjoying an afternoon of live entertainment from local band "Group Therapy" the caravan of Dodge Challengers took to the road. The convoy of 20 Dodge Challengers snaked down the expressway to Fifth Third Ballpark for an evening of baseball fun with the West Michigan Whitecaps.

Stay tuned! for information on our next customer appreciate day. In late July Harold Zeigler of Grandville will be hosting "Mopars in the Red Barns" at the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, MI.

                      

 

by Jim Choate, Contributing Editor



Every year, the Economic Club of Chicago invites someone from the auto industry to speak at its annual luncheon. This year, Sergio Marchionne was to address the group, and it was widely considered to be a "hot ticket." Mr. Marchionne ended up having to cancel his appearance, but recruited Ralph Gilles, SVP of Chrysler Group Design and CEO of the Dodge car brand, to take his place.

After the luncheon was served (full disclosure: I got a ticket, wore a suit as required, was served food, and ate it) and a couple of technical hiccups, Mr. Gilles opened with a showing of the "Man's Last Stand" Charger Super Bowl commercial to great applause. While some have complained that it offended women, the ladies seated at my table (who worked in the banking and investment business) both loved the commercial, saying that "what's to be offended about?" and "We got it - it's a great commercial."

With only 32 hours to prepare, Mr. Gilles was able to put together a not-boring, quote-filled, serious yet humorous discussion of the Chrysler Group - where they were, what happened, and where they are now. Some of the highlights from his discussion that I found memorable:

Gilles' fear is that the automobile becomes just a commodity. His job is to make sure that CGLLC products are 'recognized and noticed.'
CGLLC wants to reach $5B ebita and $3B in cash by 2014.
All government loans are to be paid back in full.
The goal is 2.8M unit sales worldwide.
21 new models by 2014; 16 of those in 2010. "New" doesn't always mean "all-new" - 1/3 of the 16 will be "all-new" - the rest are significantly changed and will appear as new to the consumer.
Regarding the days of DaimlerChrysler; Gilles said "to talk about it would take hours of time, a couch, and a psychiatrist."
"Brands and companies don't die - they are victims of homicide." Like when the owners of your longtime favorite restaurant retire and the new management makes changes that negatively alter the experience.
The Alfa Romeo Giulietta is the first product from the new C/D architecture that will be used by CGLLC going forward.
"Leadership must BE the culture." If the company's leader is not part of the culture they wish to be in, those under him won't be either.
For today's "millennial" buyer, exterior design is only 5% of the reason they consider a certain vehicle. More important to them is how that vehicle fits their life and their needs, and how the car "feels."
2011 Grand Cherokee is expected to be available 3 months from now.
2011 Chrysler 300 is expected to be available in December 2010.
Within hours of its' announcement, CGLLC received 1500 orders for the "Furious Fushia" Challengers.
Social media will become a bigger part of CGLLC's efforts. Within 3 hours of the "Man's Last Stand" Charger ad being shown during the Super Bowl, there were 'user remixes' of the ad on YouTube and other sites.
When asked about "weight versus safety" he noted that new and different types of steel now available can cut almost 200 pounds from a vehicle. He thinks that "cars won't get any heavier than they are today and should be getting lighter as we use more types of these materials."
On Sergio Marchionne, the one thing that impresses Gilles the most is his attention to detail.
On the government and how they are involving themselves in CGLLC's operations, Gilles noted that "they visit us often and are now aware of and learning more about just how complex the auto business is."
When asked what kind of vehicles he drives, Gilles said "a diesel Ram pickup, a Grand Caravan, a Journey, and a Viper."

Other notes from the speech (supplied by Allpar members in our forums):

Gilles noted that you can't design for the culture of younger and future buyers if you are not one of them. To that end, his design studios are "filled with 23-24 year old designers."
On the status of Viper: "Viper important to my brand, Dodge."
On what company he thought was doing things right: "I have a lot of respect for Ford. People wrote them off, and they spent 3 years toiling away on what they are showing today and are reaping the rewards - but it's our turn now."
"I want Dodge owners to wave to each other."
On Sergio Marchionne: "the most impressive CEO I have ever met," "he values teamsmanship  - get upset not at mistakes but at not being a team player," and "Sergio is like an orchestra conductor."
Noted that the traditional Chrysler CEO corner office up on the 15th floor was refused - and abolished - by Marchionne, who has an office on the 4th floor with the engineers.
On fuel economy and consumers "We have to keep fighting" for fuel economy for large, midsize and small cars. "If we can offer the cars Americans want with great fuel economy, they'll buy them."
"Our attitude now is 'go out and fight.'"
On future products: "We'll have a portfolio that can react to the market."
On Chrysler's future: "I see the light at the end of the tunnel. Never felt better than I do today about the company."
"Fiat, Chrysler - we're married - now we're in the honeymoon."
On the economy and the industry: "We think that rock bottom was Oct, Nov last year."
What struck me the most during Mr. Gilles' comments was his enthusiasm - it was infectious, and I got the feeling that Mr. Marchionne is the source of that infection. They know that it's not going to be easy, and Gilles said that "the folks from the Fiat side are very sympathetic to what's happening, as they went through a similar circumstance 4 years ago."
Immediately after the conference ended, I saw a good number of the attendees - remember, these are Economic Club of Chicago members and not "media" people - heading for and checking out the Chrysler Group displays. Target achieved, Mr. Gilles - well done.