1) Slow and steady wins the race
Gasoline mileage drops off in most cars once you’re going faster than about 60 mph (see chart at left). For every 5 mph you drive over 60 mph, you’re essentially paying an extra 24 cents per gallon of gas.

Try using cruise control on interstates and other highways to maintain a constant speed. It can also help to use your car’s overdrive gears, which save fuel and engine wear by reducing your speed.

2) Be cool in traffic
Aggressive driving — speeding, swerving, sudden acceleration and braking — is not only dangerous, it can lower your gas mileage 33 percent on highways and 5 percent on city streets. Revving your engine while stopped is even more wasteful.

3) But not too cool
Air conditioning can be a big drain on gasoline, so make sure you don’t just leave it on absentmindedly, and certainly don’t leave it on while windows are open, even if they’re just cracked. You can improve your fuel efficiency in stop-and-go traffic by turning off the A/C and rolling down the windows instead, but that’s not necessarily always the best idea.

When driving above 55 mph, especially for long periods on highways, the opposite is true — open windows make a vehicle less aerodynamic by letting in air, which increases air resistance and decreases fuel efficiency. On long road trips, using air conditioning could actually improve your mileage by up to 20 percent.

4) Don’t just sit there
On top of pointlessly pumping out greenhouse gases without actually getting you anywhere, idling automobiles also contribute to ground-level ozone, airborne particulate matter, and other near-surface air pollution. These emissions can aggravate asthma and even hinder breathing in otherwise healthy people, especially children and the elderly.

If you’re just idling to warm up your car in winter, it still only needs to run about a minute. Anything beyond that is just wasting gas.

5) Stay in tune
Fixing a car that needs a tune-up or has failed an emissions test can improve its fuel efficiency by an average of 4 percent. More serious problems, like a faulty oxygen sensor, can reduce mileage by up to 40 percent.

And don’t forget to get an oil change roughly every 3,000-5,000  miles or three months – 6 months, whichever comes first (or you could look into installing an Electro-Lube Oil Refiner, which reportedly eliminates the need for oil changes while boosting efficiency 3 to 4 percent).

6) Get pumped
Keeping a car’s tires properly inflated can improve fuel efficiency by about 3.3 percent. It’s also safer and lengthens the lifespan of your tires, since under-inflated tires lose their tread quickly in addition to wasting fuel. Regular checkups for your tires’ alignment and balance aren’t a bad idea, either.

7) Take a load off
While it mainly affects smaller cars, carrying extra weight means burning extra gasoline, no matter how big your vehicle is. On average, you may be cutting your fuel efficiency by up to 2 percent for every 100 extra pounds you haul.

8) Develop motor skills
Using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil can boost mileage by 1 to 2 percent. Try to also use the lowest grade of gasoline that’s appropriate for your car, since high-octane grades cost several cents more per gallon.

Check your owner’s manual to be sure, but as long as your engine doesn’t start knocking, you’re probably OK. Switching from premium to regular gasoline would save hundreds of dollars every year.

9) There’s a cap for that
Gasoline can evaporate from a vehicle’s fuel tank if it’s able to find an opening, which is bad for your wallet and your lungs. Make sure your gas tank’s cap is tightened securely after you fill up, and if the cap’s threading is stripped or it fits too loosely, you might want to buy a new one.

10) Join the masses
Carpool or, even better, don’t take a car at all — walk, ride a bike, or take mass transit. It saves you money, improves your personal health, and helps the planet by keeping greenhouse gases out of its atmosphere.

Tom Sparks Auto is the premier Used Car Dealership in Dekalb-Sycamore IL. We are located in Dekalb, Illinois but we serve all of Northern IL and Chicago. We even offer FREE transportation to and from Chicago Airports. The cities we serve include Hinckley, Rochelle, Rockford, St Charles, Elgin, Waterman, Shabbona, Malta, and anyone looking for Worry-Free Car Buying in the states of Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin! At Tom Sparks Automotive we have many Used Cars to choose from including Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Hyundai and Kia. For more information about Tom Sparks, please visit https://www.tomsparks.com

Are you or a family member looking for the perfect vehicle?

At Tom Sparks Auto, we care about your total customer satisfaction. If you or a family member are thinking about finding the perfect vehicle that fits your needs, know that I am here to assist you in any way you need.

For instance, many of my customers have concerns over the price and financing rates of vehicles before they visit. I understand that this is important to everyone when car-shopping. You are not alone.

My hopes are that you find the perfect fit with a great price, reliable product, and comfortable payment. I am sure that is your hope as well. Give me a call when you get the chance and I will personally do my best to make this an easy, perfect experience for you.

I’ve been with Tom Sparks Auto for 17 years and I’ve dedicated myself to making shopping for a vehicle with us a hassle-free and very pleasant experience. Our cars and trucks are “best buys”, know that if it isn’t exactly what you are looking for, I have many other vehicles at my fingertips and want to assist you one way or the other. Please give me a call at 815-739-6054 as our inventory changes daily. I want to make sure I am personally here to help you when you arrive.

After our multi-point safety and mechanical inspection, we give the vehicles a full detail so the vehicle is ready and waiting for you to see at any time. However, it is not just the vehicles we sell that make Tom Sparks the smart choice, it is our great reputation for helping people. Please call or email if you or someone you know are in the market for a car truck or van. I’m looking forward to helping in you in the future.

Tim Jennings

www.tomsparks.com

tjennings@tomsparks.com

Please use my cell:

815.739.6054

Tom Sparks Auto is the premier Used Car Dealership in Dekalb-Sycamore IL. We are located in Dekalb, Illinois but we serve all of Northern IL and Chicago. We even offer FREE transportation to and from Chicago Airports. The cities we serve include Hinckley, Rochelle, Rockford, St Charles, Elgin, Waterman, Shabbona, Malta, and anyone looking for Worry-Free Car Buying in the states of Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin! At Tom Sparks Automotive we have many Used Cars to choose from including Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Hyundai and Kia. For more information about Tom Sparks, please visit https://www.tomsparks.com

Change is constant. Nothing is the way it was, and will never be that way again. After working with thousands of automobile dealers over the years, Jim Ziegler needed to be sure his clients kept up with the new realities of changing technologies and the emerging influence of social media. So he assembled an all-star faculty for this dynamic event. All four presenters are world-class online retail practitioners. Their expertise and hands-on experience has shown they know what works and what doesn’t work in the online sales arena.

Workshop Instructors Ralph Paglia, Joe Webb and Tim Jennings (click here to see Bio’s) have all been top-rated speakers at premier industry events and have managed both large and small Internet Departments. When interviewed, Jim Ziegler smiled and said, “I’ve assembled a killer team for this event, combat tested veterans with more than four decades of in-the-trenches experience.”

To Sign Up Click Here

Now, Ziegler and friends are delivering the real deal, content-rich sessions, hands-on “real-world stuff”, not theory. These tactics and processes are battle-tested on the front lines in dealerships all across the country.

Jim continued, “Dealerships can’t afford to miss a single opportunity to do business.” Having a dominant and effective presence on Facebook, Twitter, and other portals is critical to dealership marketing strategy. Ziegler and Paglia are masters of Social medium relationship sales and marketing. Students will take back an in-depth understanding of how to leverage online relationships for sales and profits as well as…

*The pathway to success; from email, to telephone, to the appointment to delivery
*How to Maximize Existing Profit Centers and Create New Ones
*How to use self-produced videos to capture customer trust and create credibility
*Focus sites, micro sites, and 12 other secrets to drive high-volume traffic
*Internet stealth marketing techniques with ‘Ninja’ Search Engine Optimization
*Marketing and Advertising with ultimate Video Search Engine Maximization
*How to turn your dealership into an Internet Sales Powerhouse
*Customer Relationship Management and CSI Engineering Projects for High Average *Profitability, Top-Rated CSI Scores, Customer Retention and Referrals!
*YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter: How to profitize relationships with consumers through customer-friendly “Pull Marketing”

Ziegler SuperSystems is an automotive training and consulting organization based in the Atlanta, GA area. President Jim Ziegler is a member of the National Speakers Association and has been a keynote speaker at National and State Dealer conventions, and has trained over 75,000 Dealers, GSMs, Sales and F&I Managers. Course and Training information is at: http://zieglersupersystems.com/ Jim can be reached at: 800-726-0510

SOURCE Ziegler SuperSystems

RELATED LINKS
http://zieglersupersystems.com Taken from:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jim-ziegler-and-ralph-paglia-host-dealer-battle-plan-workshop-in-atlantic-city-on-july-6-8th-95448009.html

  2008 Volkswagen Passat Komfort Dekalb Il Near Rockford Illinois

• Slidable folding front center armrest w/storage compartment
• Center console-inc: (2) cup holders
• 4-spoke steering wheel w/height-adjustable telescopic steering column
• Instrumentation-inc: speedometer
• odometer
• trip odometer
• tachometer
• fuel/ temp gauges
• gear indicator
• warning lights
• tire pressure monitoring system
• Headlights-on warning tone
• Seat belt reminder & fuel cap seal warning
• Multi-function trip computer-inc: trip time/length
• average speed/fuel consumption
• outside temp
• Pwr windows-inc: driver-side 1-touch up/down & lockout features
• pinch protection
• window lock-out feature on driver side door
• Central pwr locking system-inc: automatic door locks
• key-operated window open/close
• selective unlocking at driver door
• Remote keyless entry w/trunk release & panic button
• Emergency key stored in key fob
• Cruise control w/stalk-mounted controls
• Remote trunk/fuel door releases located on drivers door
• Audible/visible anti-theft vehicle alarm system-inc: doors
• hood
• trunk
• radio
• starter
• Immobilizer III theft

• Slidable folding front center armrest w/storage compartment
• Center console-inc: (2) cup holders
• 4-spoke steering wheel w/height-adjustable telescopic steering column
• Instrumentation-inc: speedometer
• odometer
• trip odometer
• tachometer
• fuel/ temp gauges
• gear indicator
• warning lights
• tire pressure monitoring system
• Headlights-on warning tone
• Seat belt reminder & fuel cap seal warning
• Multi-function trip computer-inc: trip time/length
• average speed/fuel consumption
• outside temp
• Pwr windows-inc: driver-side 1-touch up/down & lockout features
• pinch protection
• window lock-out feature on driver side door
• Central pwr locking system-inc: automatic door locks
• key-operated window open/close
• selective unlocking at driver door
• Remote keyless entry w/trunk release & panic button
• Emergency key stored in key fob
• Cruise control w/stalk-mounted controls
• Remote trunk/fuel door releases located on drivers door
• Audible/visible anti-theft vehicle alarm system-inc: doors
• hood
• trunk
• radio
• starter
• Immobilizer III theft

Tom Sparks Auto is the premier Used Car Dealership in Dekalb-Sycamore IL. We are located in Dekalb, Illinois but we serve all of Northern IL and Chicago. We even offer FREE transportation to and from Chicago Airports. The cities we serve include Hinckley, Rochelle, Rockford, St Charles, Elgin, Waterman, Shabbona, Malta, and anyone looking for Worry-Free Car Buying in the states of Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin! At Tom Sparks Automotive we have many Used Cars to choose from including Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Hyundai and Kia. For more information about Tom Sparks, please visit https://www.tomsparks.com

The brand that put rolling excitement on the road for generations of Americans has come to an end.

 The last Pontiac for the U.S. market was built by General Motors on Wednesday: a white, G6 sedan that rolled off the assembly line in Orion Township around 12:45 p.m.

There was no cake or commemorative banner or senior GM official on hand, and no media were allowed: just a group of “final process” workers to oversee the last 100 G6 models assembled.

Many workers stopped to pose for photos with the last cars as they moved down the assembly line.

It was a subdued goodbye for an 82-year-old brand that debuted under the bright lights of the New York Auto Show in 1926.

GM announced in April that it would phase out Pontiac as part of a bailout orchestrated by the U.S. government.

Unlike the last Oldsmobile, an Alero signed by hundreds of plant workers and donated to the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum in Lansing, the final G6 models will be sold as part of a fleet order.

“It’s sad that a brand that was once as prestigious as Pontiac is leaving the marketplace,” said Tim Jennings, Internet Sales manager of Tom Sparks Auto of DeKalb IL. “However, as usual, we (Tom Sparks Auto) are making the best out of a bad situation. We are committed to our Pontiac driving friends and will continue to sell and service the brand as long as there is a demand for us to do so.” Pontiac was our number 2 seller last year behind Buicks.

For some Pontiac enthusiasts, it’s an inglorious ending for a car line that popularized Silver Streak styling in the 1930s and defined the muscle car era.

The Orion Township plant will be idled and retooled to produce a new small car in 2011.

“We want to survive the next 18 months until we start building GM’s next small car,” said Pat Sweeney, president of UAW Local 5960, the union that represents workers at the factory.

Sweeney said it was a bittersweet time for the plant’s 2,400 employees.

Many of the same workers were building the Oldsmobile Aurora sedan when GM decided to discontinue Olds in December 2000.

In December, the automaker will end production of the Pontiac G3 Wave, a subcompact built in Mexico and sold only in Canada — marking the official end of production for the brand.

Launched in 1926 as a companion to GM’s Oakland division, Pontiac is the third best-selling automobile line of all time in the United States, behind Chevrolet and Ford.

Under GM’s brand hierarchy, it was slotted above Chevrolet and below Oldsmobile, and was favored for years by schoolteachers, the cast of “I Love Lucy,” and other middle-class wage earners.

But it was during the 1960s that the division came into its own, capitalizing on America’s growing thirst for racing and unbridled performance with muscle cars such as the GTO and Firebird.

More than any other GM brand, Pontiac epitomized performance, speed and sex appeal.

“It was the car teenage boys lusted after and teenage girls hoped to be seen in,” said Bob Casey, automotive historian and curator of transportation at The Henry Ford museum in Dearborn.

Rivals were forced to follow with similar muscle cars, giving Detroit automakers bragging rights over the cars that Japanese rivals were marketing based on fuel economy, quality and reliability.
Pontiac’s U.S. sales peaked in 1984 at almost 850,000 vehicles, roughly four times as many as it sold last year. Over 83 years, Pontiac sold some 41 million cars and trucks, Automotive News estimates.

For some Pontiac fans, the beginning of the end came during the 1970s, when fuel economy concerns forced GM and other automakers to downsize cars.

Foreign competition and a lack of differentiation from other GM models steadily eroded Pontiac’s customer base.

As its U.S. market share steadily dropped from around 50 percent in the 1960s, analysts repeatedly called for GM to trim its bloated lineup and focus on two or three divisions.

As it did with Oldsmobile in the 1990s, GM tried to resurrect Pontiac in recent years with new rear-wheel drive performance models such as the G8 sports sedan and the Solstice roadster.

Venerable names and models like Bonneville, Grand Prix, Firebird and Grand Am were retired.

But it also continued to market vehicles such as the G3, G5 and Torrent that were not much different than Chevy models. And it relied too heavily on fleet customers and struggled to become profitable again.

“Most Pontiacs haven’t been hot in years,” Casey said. “The consumption ladder that GM used for years — a car for every purse and purpose — no longer worked in the U.S. market.”

“Regardless of what GM is doing with Pontiac, one of our best selling cars has always been the Grand Prix and G6,” Jennings said. “We are proud of our history of selling quality pre-owned Pontiacs to the folks in DeKalb, Sycamore and will continue to do so.”

Click here To See Our Pontiac Inventory:

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Tom Sparks Auto is the premier Used Car Dealership in Dekalb-Sycamore IL. We are located in Dekalb, Illinois but we serve all of Northern IL and Chicago. We even offer FREE transportation to and from Chicago Airports. The cities we serve include Hinckley, Rochelle, Rockford, St Charles, Elgin, Waterman, Shabbona, Malta, and anyone looking for Worry-Free Car Buying in the states of Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin! At Tom Sparks Automotive we have many Used Cars to choose from including Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Hyundai and Kia. For more information about Tom Sparks, please visit https://www.tomsparks.com

Just like at Costco and Sam’s Club. We have one of Dekalb countys largest inventory of used cars and trucks. Tom sparks Auto is like a Pre-owned Wholesale Outlet. We have some the following makes Acura, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Isuzu, Kia, Lexus, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Scion, Subaru, Suzuki, and Toyota in stock.

My name is Tim Jennings, I have 18 years of automotive experience, 15 at Tom Sparks Buick. I have successfully earned the business of 1500 people in the DeKalb area, 3500 people from 243 Illinois communities, plus over 100 people from 20 states.. I strive to do this in a friendly fashion. It is my job to search the Internet and price our vehicles as competitively as possible. I provide cars and trucks of exceptional quality and reasonable cost to our customers. All of our used cars go through a 110-point inspection process. I insure our customers satisfaction through honest sales practices, responsive service and friendly communication at all levels. At Tom Sparks we approach each customer on the Internet and in person with the belief that we are developing a life-long relationship, beneficial to both parties. You can be confident I will be here after each sale to help fill your continuing automotive needs. When you call or visit our dealership in person please ask for me. I have been the Internet manager at Tom Sparks Inc since its inception in 1999. At TomSparks.Com you will start with me.

Tom Sparks Auto is the premier Used Car Dealership in Dekalb-Sycamore IL. We are located in Dekalb, Illinois but we serve all of Northern IL and Chicago. We even offer FREE transportation to and from Chicago Airports. The cities we serve include Hinckley, Rochelle, Rockford, St Charles, Elgin, Waterman, Shabbona, Malta, and anyone looking for Worry-Free Car Buying in the states of Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin! At Tom Sparks Automotive we have many Used Cars to choose from including Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Hyundai and Kia. For more information about Tom Sparks, please visit https://www.tomsparks.com

The good new is this; we are on the upswing. Our inventory just passed 80 cars to choose from! We plan on expanding the stock to approximately 120 units by January. During this time we will have a 3 month supply of cars. What does that mean to you? We now have the greatest selection with some of the best pricing in Northern Illinois. On top of that Dekalb has the lowest tax rate in the state. That certainly helps!

With the shut down of GM this summer it has been hard to get our normal inventory. In reinventing ourselves we have vehicles we have never stocked before. They’re going away, so it seems to be working.

Here is an example of the Inventory we have in stock that we have never offered for sale in the past;

2008 Hyundai Azera

2007 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee

2009 Subaru Impreza

2007 Lexus IS 250

2008 Mazda 3

2009 Hyundai Santa Fe

2008 Hyundai Sonta

This inventory combined with the GM merchandise that we have built our reputation on for over 20 years give us a strong foot print in Northern Illinois for car sales. Here is a sample of our GM inventory at time of this writing;

2007 Saturn Aura

06 – 08 Pontiac G6

07 – 08 Pontiac Grand Prix

05 – 09 Chevy Impala

05 – 09 Buick LaCrosse

01 – 04 Buick LeSabre

06 – 09 Buick Lucurne

06 – 08 Buick Rendezvous

06 – 09 Chevy Trailblazer

 See For yourself sone of our Inventory:

We also have Cadillac, Toyota, Nissan, Dodge, Honda, and Chrysler in stock, ready for delivery.

Visit http://www.tomsparks.com for our current inventory listings.

My name is Tim Jennings, I have 18 years of automotive experience, 15 at Tom Sparks Buick. I have successfully earned the business of 1500 people in the DeKalb area, 3500 people from 243 Illinois communities, plus over 100 people from 2 states.. I strive to do this in a friendly fashion. It is my job to search the Internet and price our vehicles as competitively as possible. I provide cars and trucks of exceptional quality and reasonable cost to our customers. All of our used cars go through a 110-point inspection process. I insure our customers satisfaction through honest sales practices, responsive service and friendly communication at all levels. At Tom Sparks we approach each customer on the Internet and in person with the belief that we are developing a life-long relationship, beneficial to both parties. You can be confident I will be here after each sale to help fill your continuing automotive needs. When you call or visit our dealership in person please ask for me. I have been the Internet manager at Tom Sparks Inc since its inception in 1999. At TomSparks.Com you will start with me.

Tom Sparks Auto is the premier Used Car Dealership in Dekalb-Sycamore IL. We are located in Dekalb, Illinois but we serve all of Northern IL and Chicago. We even offer FREE transportation to and from Chicago Airports. The cities we serve include Hinckley, Rochelle, Rockford, St Charles, Elgin, Waterman, Shabbona, Malta, and anyone looking for Worry-Free Car Buying in the states of Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin! At Tom Sparks Automotive we have many Used Cars to choose from including Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Hyundai and Kia. For more information about Tom Sparks, please visit https://www.tomsparks.com

“Keep it longer!” says Tim Jennings, the Internet sales manager of Tom Sparks Automobile of Dekalb Sycamore area. The number one reason people trade their car off is, they lose confidence in the car or truck after a few untimely repairs. Let’s face it, when we trade off our vehicle we usually make the second largest purchase our families make. So doesn’t it make sense that we can save the most on the largest purchases?

Most consumers are aware that vehicle sales continue to limp along, as the overall economy keeps struggling to climb out of its months-long doldrums. But, in the wake of slower vehicle sales, there is one segment of our store that is actually seeing an increase in business, auto maintenance and repair.
This figures, actually. With so many consumers worried about their jobs, or already laid off, most are still shy about handing over $10,000 or $20,000 for a car or truck. That means they need to extend the life of their current vehicle. Which in turn means that more of them are now spending more dollars on repairs and maintenance, to make sure that their current three, four- or five-year-old vehicle hangs on for another year or two? The challenge or gamble would be IF I have a repair that is greater than the value of your vehicle?

One way to overcome this is purchasing an extended warranty. We offer many options through our partner company, Protective Asset Protection Corporation. Or “The Protector“. Their Corporate headquarters are located in Northern Illinois too. Most customers don’t even realize that we offer an extended service contract at any time you own your vehicle!  So if you purchased a Buick Le Sabre, Lucerne, even a Lacrosse 3 or more years ago you qualify… If you purchased a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix last month you qualify. Toyota, Honda, Chevy, and heck they all are included. I can give a quote over the phone with just a few simple questions. You can reach me at 815-739-6054. Click Here to Email

What are extended warranties?

An Extended Warranty is a contract between you and a service provider. Many people purchase auto warranties to shield themselves against the costs resulting from mechanical breakdown and/or failure to their vehicle. It is important to know that when you purchase a car warranty you are not purchasing a form of insurance, but you are entering into a service contract between a company and yourself. The extent of coverage, benefits, and terms of payment are particular to each individual contract. An auto extended warranty does not necessarily replace the original manufacturer’s warranty, but is intended to make available a level of coverage right for you. Although the main advantage of attaining a car warranty is to avoid the high cost of automobile repairs, many plans also come with additional benefits. It is important that you not only understand the coverage being offered, but that you are also aware and comfortable with the company providing the plan.  

Do I need an extended warranty for my car?

To decide whether you need an extended warranty or not, you should look closely at your situation and your car. Here are some key questions you should ask yourself:
For how long are you going to keep your car after the original warranty expires? – You don’t need an extended warranty if you have a new car and you are planning to trade it in before, or right after the original warranty expires. But if you want to keep your vehicle for a few more years – an extended warranty is worth considering. It you need help with these questions Contact me!

Do you have any other warranty coverage? 
You don’t need duplicate coverage for your car. Find out what coverage you already have. For example, if you bought a used car from an authorized dealer under “Certified Pre-owned” program, you may already have some warranty coverage that comes with the car.

Are you prepared to handle any unexpected repairs? 

If you don’t know much about cars, if you don’t have a good trusted mechanic, if you prefer to pay ahead for a sense of security and don’t like unexpected expenses, a good extended warranty is what you need. When your car needs a repair, take it to a dealer or an authorized repair shop and show them your extended warranty contract – if the repair is covered, your extended warranty will take care of that.
How reliable is your car? – Research your car reliability history. Some cars are known for their reliability - Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic are two good examples. The more reliable your car is, the less likely it will have unexpected problems. For example, a friend of mine has spent only about 600 dollars over five years on his ten-year old Toyota Corolla for repairs other than regular maintenance. If your car is known for high reliability and you maintain it well, it’s less likely that you will benefit from an extended warranty, although it’s a fact that all cars break sometimes, even the most reliable ones.

What options does your car have?

The more options, the more can go wrong. Cars become more and more complex these days and use more and more sophisticated electronics. Things like power windows, central locking, ABS, heated seats, immobilizer, traction control are on the list of available equipment of nearly any new car now. Almost every minivan now offers options like power sliding doors, dual air conditioning, tire pressure monitoring and DVD entertainment system. SUVs are also stuffed with things like four-wheel drive system, vehicle stability control, navigation system, etc. Today’s luxury cars are more like spaceships with long list of high-tech gadgets. While it’s good to have more options in your car, they significantly increase the average cost of repair. A simple thing like a faulty seat heater can cost you several hundred dollars to fix. The point is, the more features your car has, the more chances something will break, making more sense to have good extended warranty coverage.

Our best seller at our DeKalb store is The Advantage:

Advantage is a popular vehicle service contract for dealers that are designed to accommodate new, pre-owned and high mileage vehicles. Coverage ranges from short-term power train coverage, to WRAP coverage, to long-term exclusionary coverage. Additional benefits coverage includes are towing, rental, trip interruption and emergency roadside assistance.

So, what do I need to do to get started?

Give Tim Jennings a call at our Dekalb Location. 815-739-6054 We are located at 216 South First St. Email: Click Here  With just a few simple questions we can determine if this would be a wise choice at this time. 

The arrival of the 2008 & 2009 Hyundai Sonata has got the employees of a premier Dekalb-Sycamore, Il used car dealership excited. The internet sales manager, Tim Jennings, of Tom Sparks Auto, has already seen the success of the 2007 Hyundai Sonata and is thrilled about the upcoming Sonata which has already hit the store. “Already one of our better sellers, the Hyundai Sonata is a great car with great quality. I can only imagine how well the 2008 Sonata will sell once we get it in our showroom. Over the past several years Hyundai has really transformed their company into a global competitor.”

Jennings also spoke about the extremely rare financing opportunity that has recently become available. “For the first time in a long time, we are able to offer our good credit friends interest rates as low as they have been in a while on our pre-owned vehicles. And even if you’ve had a problem or two with your credit, or perhaps you’ve got no credit at all, we can still help.” Jennings and his team of Credit Miracle Workers encourage anyone wanting pre-approval to visit:

https://www.carthink.net/secure_applications/finance/financing.asp?company_name=TomSparksBuickofDekalb

In other Hyundai news, the manufacturer unveiled its newly designed 2011 Sonata on Sept. 17th, 2009. Hyundai says the new design will be key to its goal in reestablishing its image. Hyundai, currently a top automotive manufacturer from South Korea, is looking to continue to climb the overall image ladder until it becomes number 1 in the world.

A recent study by Business Week and Interbrand scored Hyundai as the 8th best global brand, scoring higher than Porsche, Ferrari, and Lexus. Hyundai Motor Corporation believes that the redesigned 2011 Sonata will help gain more momentum in reestablishing their image. The new Sonata sports a longish nose, panoramic sunroof, and a coupe-style design. Hyundai’s Vice Chairman Chung Eui Sun said, “The Sonata will set a new standard for world class mid-size sedans with state of the art technology, superior quality, and emotional design.”

Hyundai plans to sell 450,000 Sonatas per year globally when it enters full production on the model year 2011 Sonata. Sparks Automotive will try to have one of the largest selections on the ever growing popular Sonata model in Northern Illinois.

Tom Sparks Auto is the premier Used Car Dealership in Dekalb-Sycamore IL. They are located in Dekalb, Illinois but they serve all of Northern IL. We even offer FREE transportation to and from Chicago Airports. The cities we serve include Hinckley, Rochelle, Rockford, St Charles, Elgin, Waterman, Shabbona, Malta and anyone looking for Worry-Free Car Buying in the states of Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin! At Tom Sparks Automotive we have many Used Cars to choose from including Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Hyundai and Kia. For more information about Tom Sparks, please visit https://www.tomsparks.com

“This is very disappointing news and comes after months of hard work by hundreds of dedicated employees and Saturn retailers who tried to make the new Saturn a reality,” said CEO Fritz Henderson in a statement, commenting that the issue was that Penske Automotive Group could not solidify a deal with another automaker to supply vehicles after the contract with GM was scheduled to run out.

At Tom Sparks Auto we are not surprised at all with this announcement. GM has been pushing ahead with a predetermined plan using the government’s money and their blessing for some time. So with one big sweep General Motors will have it their way.  We will adapt as we continue to sell cars the way we always have: priced right with the highest quality cars that we can find.

We would like the fine folks of Northern Illinois and the surrounding area of Dekalb to know that with Pontiac closing and now Saturn in tow, that we will still service the cars that we have sold in the past. We will also continue to have them available for sale. We have already gone through this once with Oldsmobile. The value of Old’s did NOT fall off one, two, even three years after the closing of Oldsmobile. Three years after the Old’s closer, the Achiva’s value was that of it’s cousin the Grand Am. Therefore, the person that bought an Achiva didn’t lose any trade-in value.

Just because the makers of these fine automobiles are no longer in business doesn’t mean the cars already in service go bad over night. They were made by hard working American men and women who did a quality job for a quality product. At Tom Sparks Auto we will continue to stock parts to service the cars we have sold in the past.

Saturn was meant to be a warm and fuzzy car company, one that invited customers to annual events at its plants and sent buyers birthday cards on the anniversaries of their purchases. It featured low-key showrooms and no-haggle prices, part of its “a different kind of car company” slogan. But the brand struggled to make money, and receded into the background as GM focused on higher profit SUVs and trucks.

Anyone that has done business in the past will tell you that we try to make it a warm and fuzzy experience here at our location at 216 S. First Street in Dekalb, IL. We are the little store with low overhead and a low price. Stop by today and let us give you a hand with your automotive needs.

Tom Sparks Auto  in Dekalb, Il – Tom Sparks Auto Sales is the premier Used Car Dealership in Northern Illinois!
Tom Sparks  Locations – Tom Sparks Automotive in Dekalb, IL but serves all of Illinois. We even serve the states of Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, and Michigan. The cities we serve include Sycamore, Rochelle, Rockford, Shabbona, Waterman, Malta, Kaneland, Genoa, Cortland and anyone looking for Worry-Free Car Buying in the county!!
Car Models at Tom Sparks: We have many Used Cars to choose from including Buick, Pontiac, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Hyundai and Kia.

 Over the past 12 years Tom Sparks Automotive, (formerly Tom Sparks Buick), has become one of Northern Illinois’ largest General Motors “program vehicle” dealerships. I get the question asked several times a week, “Tim, where do you get all the nice low mile cars?” Well, we have worked very hard to find the best vehicle, with the lowest miles and the lowest price. When you add in a large selection it becomes easy to do your buying.

 What is a Program Vehicle?

The term Program Car is a catch phrase for late model used cars. The new car manufacturers have many Programs where they supply vehicles in bulk.. A program vehicle can be a dealer demonstrator vehicle, a company executives car, fleet or rental vehicle. Another type would be an off-lease which means that one person drove the car during the lease term. A program vehicle can also be a new car that has been slightly used for test drives throughout the year in which the car was first released. In fact, about 25% of “Program Cars” are lease returns, about 70% are rental cars (cars from Hertz, Avis, etc.), a small percentage of “Program Cars” are cars actually driven by factory officials, and a few of them are “Buy Backs” or “Lemons!” That’s right! They resell the “Lemons” back to the car dealers! At Tom Sparks Auto we stay away from the buy backs!

One Owner Off Lease

This is the easiest way to find a good clean quality car. In the lease program there are a few people who drive low miles. These are the cars we go after. Most of the time we pay a premium for the best car for sale that day. In the past, many of our customers have selected this option.

 Rental Cars

One of the largest suppliers of Program cars is rental car companies. Don’t be alarmed or worried by the term. We buy the best graded cars that we can find. A grading system is used in describing the vehicles to the prospective buyer, us! After we purchase the best car we can find, we put the car through our 110 point inspection. Going over the car with a fine tooth comb gives our mechanic a chance to do any work that GM has already agreed to fix under their warranty policies and procedures.

Fleet Cars

Many large companies will arrange to have vehicles on 6 month, 1 year, 2 year, even 3 year terms. When the time is up they then go back to the manufacturer. At this point, the manufacturer will offer the gently used vehicles to their wholesale partners.

Let’s be clear on one thing, the quality on any used car is as wide as the Grand Canyon. Please do your shopping and research before stepping out of your home. In just a few short hours using sites like AutoTrader.Com and Cars.Com you will have a good idea on what today’s fair market price is on the vehicle your interested in. At www.villagemotors.com you can receive a free e-book, “Eight Keys to a Better Car Deal”. This is a consumer guide to buying used cars.

At Tom Sparks Automotive in Dekalb Illinois and Tom Sparks Chevy of Hinckley, Illinois, we carry a great selection of program vehicles. The selections of the Buick Lacrosse and Lucerne will be in high demand. Chevrolet Impala, Malibu, Malibu Classics as well as the Maxx will be in supply. As far as Pontiacs go, with the announcement of the closing of the brand, this will make them a great value. We see the Pontiac G6 as being one of the best buys in the future. Click on over to our web site and see what we have in stock today!  

Tim Jennings “The Internet Guy”

815-739-6054

Get Off The Mouse And Get Out Of The House

Tim Jennings has been selected to be a guest speaker at the 7th Digital Dealer Conference to be held on November 1-3 in Nashville TN. According to the Conference website, Tm will be presenting two seminars Entitled:

YouTube Video Walk-Around

Will Keep you Ahead of the Competition

 In the past year I have done over 350 video workarounds and 60 customer testimonials for my web site that I have hosted on You Tube. In the first year the videos have over 20,000 views. Nothing I have done in the 18 years of selling cars has had a faster return on my time and effort than this. Two days after posting my first five videos, a customer walked into the showroom and said: “Hey, you are the guy in the video!”

You will receive all the info you need to have video up and running in one hour. Also, let me show you some short cuts I have learned in the last year that will save you time and effort. By the way, did I mention this is free technology? Wow, I wish some would have gave me all this information. I had to figure it out on my own. You don’t have to!

The second presentation has been part of the 2007, 2008, 2009 Spring Conferences

The One-Man Internet Department

Are you a “Jack of all trades”? Do you need to be one when it comes to your Internet department? This is the seminar for you. We will discuss a little bit of everything. Included will be tips and tricks that I have learned from the past 10 years at one store, with one web site, and one guy – the Internet guy!

Topics to be discussed:

• Your relationship with your owner/manager
• Your relationship with your computer
• Your relationship with your customer
• Advertise for $5 a day or $50 a month
• Who, what, where, why, and how to spend your money
• Sew it up! Make sure you are in control of the leads
• Brand yourself

Free inventory, video, free video e-mail, free chat, free online listings

Tim Jennings has 18 years of automotive selling experience. The last 15 years have been at Tom Sparks Buick of DeKalb. Jennings welcomed the task of running the Internet department in 1999. At that time the rest of the staff wanted nothing to do with it. Often fellow employees would tease about the “Internet mooches.” Like picking a solid stock early he enjoys a good return on his investment of time. Jennings started the Internet department and has built it into one of the best returns on the dollar at his store. He spoke at the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Digital Dealer Spring Conferences. “I’m not here to sell you anything. I’m here to help you, so you will help me! Let me tell you what I have learned online since 1999.”

To register for the conference, visit the official website at: http://www.digitaldealerconference.com

If you are looking for knowledge in the field digital automotive marketing this is the conference for you. Join us!

My name is Tim Jennings. I have been working for the company since 1994. Since that time I have seen many cars come and go. The most common cars on our lot are still the Buicks. The Buicks have been called a Farmers Cadillac. As part of their livelihood, a farmer has to research and buy all kinds of machinery. In this area, one of our best customer segments have been the farming community. They get quality at a good price. That’s what Buick brings to the table, a quality car at a fair price. From the 2000 Buick Century to the 2010 Enclave, we try to stock a good selection of quality used cars and trucks.

According to Edmunds.com: “At heart, though, the Lucerne is still a traditional Buick sedan. It’s a front-wheel-drive, full-size car in which passenger comfort takes top priority. Seating is spacious and luxurious in both the front and rear, and Buick’s “Quiet Tuning” measures, which cover everything from the thickness of the carpet padding to the design of the windshield wipers, makes the Lucerne one of the quietest cars on the market. Soft suspension tuning results in a plush, absorbent ride”.

 You can find our Buick Lucerne stock by clicking here.

 According to Cars.com the LaCrosse has great value, too.

 Apart from the portholes on each front fender, dual exhaust tips and a small rear spoiler, the LaCrosse Super looks much like the other trims. At 198.1 inches long, it’s longer than both the Milan and the 300. With a front bench seat, an uncommon offering in this class, the LaCrosse can seat up to six. A five-seat model with front bucket seats is also available. The top-of-the-line Super gets a silver-colored center stack and unique gauges. The LaCrosse has roughly the same interior volume as the Milan.

 You can find our Buick LaCrosse stock by Clicking Here

 With our rich history one thing you can be sure of is that Tom Sparks Auto will always have a good selection of Buicks. Our mechanics will always be able to service what we sell after the manufacturers warranty is up.

 Click here to see what Buicks we have in stock today ready to take delivery.

Ask for Tim Jennings “The Internet Guy”. Get off the mouse and get out of the house!

815.739.6054

Tom Sparks Chevy and Tom Sparks Auto are both busy selling cars and providing a variety of services and auto repair. The Chevy dealership is located in Hinckley near Sandwich, and Tom Sparks Auto is located in DeKalb, just south of the Sycamore city line. we are one of the most popular repair shops in Dekalb county. Our repairs are done by ASE Certified Mechanics. We would like to acquaint you with Carl Peters, one of our mechanics who has worked at the DeKalb store since 1987. He started work for Jim Schultz Buick before Tom Sparks purchased it and it became Tom Sparks Buick. Today, although the name has forcibly been changed (by Buick Motors 2009 bankruptcy and subsequent cancellation of Tom’s franchise rights) to Tom Sparks Auto. Carl Peters still provides his 20+ years of mechanics experience to our customers. Carl Peters works for both Tom Sparks Chevy of Hinckley and Tom Sparks Auto. He is a Master Automobile Technician. His qualifications as listed by the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence and ASE Certification list demonstrated competence in the following skills:

 Engine repair                                             On-board diagnostics

Auto trans/trans-axle                                  Braking systems

Manual drive train and axles                     Bosch ABS/TCS

Suspension and steering                         3800 SFI

Brake systems                                            Delphi brake controls with ABS

Muffler and Exhaust systems                   Engine performance

3100 SFI                                                       Auto transmissions

Delphi Chassis                                           Automotive security system

Transmission Repairs                              Overhauls

Carl specializes is the repair of Chevy, Buick, Pontiac as well as the rest of the General Motors family. Some of the models he works on every month are; LeSabres, Rendezvous, Impala’s Even Chevy trucks. Whats the point? He has a lot of experience.

Click Here for our service coupons.

Carl can be reached at Tom Sparks Auto. At 216 S. First St Dekalb Il 60115. Or by phone at 815.756.9500

2005 BMW X3

  BodyStyle :  SUV
  Engine :  6 Cylinder
  Color(Ext/Int) :  Titanium Silver/Black Leather
  Miles :  23198
  Stock# :  8515
  VIN :  WBXPA93405WD18399

  Our Price: $20, 995

Equipment In This Car

PANORAMA SUNROOF, HEATED LEATHER, HEATED STEERING WHEEL, DUAL POWER SEATS WITH DRIVER MEMORY, AM/FM SYSTEM WITH MULTI CD PLAYER AND MP3, ROOF RAILS, POWER LOCKS, POWER WINDOWS, POWER MIRRORS, CRUISE CONTROL, MULTI FUNCTION STEERING WHEEL, TILT AND TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL, REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY, RAIN SENSE WIPERS, DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL, DUAL FRONT DOOR MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS, SATELLITE RADIO READY. THIS IS A ONE OWNER UNIT THAT LOOKS JUST LIKE IT DID WHEN IT WAS NEW!!!!!!! ASK FOR THE INTERNET GUY!

Standard Features

Exterior

• Pwr glass panorama roof w/wind deflector & pwr interior sunshade
• Roof rails
• Front fog lamps
• Daytime running lights
• Adaptive brake lights
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• Automatic headlight control
• Body-color door handles
• Power Windows
• Intermittent Wipers
• Sun/Moon Roof
• Variable Speed Intermittent Wipers
• Rain Sensing Wipers
• Mirror Memory
• Sunroof Sunshield
• Sunroof Wind Deflector

Convenience

• Driver Air Bag
• Auto-On Headlights
• Daytime Running Lights
• Keyless Entry
• Auto-Off Headlights
• Woodgrain Interior Trim
• Driver Vanity Mirror
• Passenger Vanity Mirror
• Driver Illuminated Vanity Mirror
• Passenger Illuminated Visor Mirror
• Front Reading Lamps
• Rear Reading Lamps
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Electronic Stability Control

Drivetrain

• 3.0L DOHC 24-valve I6 engine w/variable valve timing
• Dual resonance intake system
• Electronic throttle control
• Hill Descent Control (HDC)
• xDrive all-wheel drive system
• 4-wheel independent suspension
• Front/rear stabilizer bars
• Gas shock absorbers
•  P235/55R17 all-season tires
• 17″ x 8″ double spoke unique alloy wheels
• Space saver spare tire
• Engine-speed-sensitive pwr steering
• 4-wheel ventilated disc brakes
• 4-wheel anti-lock brakes w/dynamic stability control
• 6-speed manual transmission

Safety

• Driver & front passenger airbag supplemental restraint system (SRS) w/dual stage dual-threshold deployment sensors
• Front/rear Head Protection System (HPS)
• Front-door-mounted side impact airbags
• Front safety belts w/pretensioners & force limiters
• Isofix attachments for child-restraint safety seat installation
• Automatic locking retractors (ALR) on all passenger safety belts
• Intelligent Safety and Information System (ISIS) for deployment of safety systems
• Battery Safety Terminal
• Crash sensor (automatically turns on hazard/interior lights unlocks doors)
• Passenger Air Bag
• Side Air Bag
• Side Head Air Bag
• Rear Head Air Bag
• Power Door Locks
• Fog Lamps

Engine

• Size-3 L
• Cylinders-6
• Straight 6 Cylinder Engine

How do you know you have a good deal? You shop, you shop and you shop some more. When buying a car, thousands of hard earned dollars are spent. Today’s family budget can not afford a mistake. So where do you shop when buying are car? Where the cars are found of course. Autotrader.com is the planets number one car site. Cars.com in my opinion would be number two. I encourage you to shop our cars on these two sites. I believe you’ll find we have some of the most competitive prices found on theses web sites. Lets not forget one important factor, Condition. When you come to Tom Sparks Automotive in Dekalb Illinois and see first hand the condition of our cars along with our competitive price I’m sure you too will become a satisfied customer of Tom Spark Automotive in Dekalb IL! In this short interview the local Autotrader.com representative describes in his own words the pricing and reasons to buy from “Tim Jennings the Internet Guy” see for yourself what he has to say!

Click over to our web site and see our cars with all the details and pricing information you need to make a good buying decision. After all David Lumkin can’t be wrong can he?

Tim Jennings

Tom Sparks Automotive

Dekalb Illinois 60115

Our commitment is to exceed our customers expectations, so choose your repair shop the way you choose your car: by reputation and by the value that’s offered for what you’re charged. Tom Sparks and his staff at Tom Sparks Auto of Dekalb & Tom Sparks Chevrolet is prepared to meet all your service needs – from warranty work to factory recalls, major or minor repairs and preventive maintenance like our Quick Lube and seasonal service specials. Some of the repairs we offer are brake jobs, muffler repair and exhaust systems, starters, alternators, window regulators just to name a few. We also run specials on our lube, oil and filters, just ask your adviser.

 Click Here for our current coupons, they include;

 10% off total parts order

$22.95 Lube oil and filter

$109.95 Trans Flush

$125 Complete Detail

Our parts departments stock may types of parts for the most common GM repairs, from transmission parts all types filters, keys, and many more. Every part we have in stock will save time on the repair,

Our #1 Service Department, from the service advisers to the ASE Certified and Master technicians, prides itself in doing the highest quality work in the most efficient manner possible!

Courtesy Transportation:

There’s nothing more frustrating than being left without your car or truck when it’s in for service. Now, instead of having to rely on someone else, you can rely on us. We’ll take you where you need to go while your vehicle is being serviced or give you a car to drive for the evening.

Service Experience Counts:

Our Service & Parts team has a combined 135 years of service experience! That’s an average of almost 20 years per employee! We’ll put that average against any shop in the area. With that much experience your cars trouble has probably been experienced by one of our employees before.

Chuck Cradduck Master Technician…………. Over 28 Years

Dave Sloan Master Technician………………… Over 18 Years

Carl Peters Master Technician…………………. Over 22 Years

Mark Schmidt Service Writer……………………………. 7 Years

Al Bryant Master Technician…………………………… 20 years

Bob Beckman Service Writer……………………………. 3 Years

Convenient Service Hours:

We work hard and we know you do, too. That’s why we’re open at times that accommodate your busy schedule. We also offer the convenience of drop-off and pick-up services beyond these hours.

Service Hours:

Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Pick-up Till 8:00 PM Weeknights

Saturday: 9:00 AM – 12: 00 PM

(Saturday Oil change only)

We have 2 shops for your convenience;

 Tom Sparks Auto                                       Tom Sparks Chevrolet

216 South 1st Street                                   190 E Lincoln Hwy

Dekalb, IL 60115                                          Hinckley IL 60520

Tom Sparks Buick is near Chicago. We are a Chevy, Buick Dealer New & Used Car dealership.. We sell new and used Chevy and Buick cars, trucks and SUVs. minutes from Chicago IL in Dekalb Illinois near Sycamore, Rochelle and Rockford IL

Pre-Driven                                Certified

Service                                       New Car Inventory

Newsletter                                Satisfied Customers

Click here for a detailed map with directions.

Need mre information call:

Tim Jennings “The Internet Guy”  815-739-6054

Get Off  The Mouse And Get out Of The House!

Tom Sparks Automotive,

At Tom Sparks Automotive we will now have to reinvent its own Used Car Brand. In doing this we will continue to set the standard higher than General Motors. This is a process that we have been doing for the last 20 years. One example is the GM Certified used car Program. When General Motors rolled out the program, all of our Pre-Driven vehicles were already brought to that higher standard. What we will now do is create our Own Certified Used Brand, with many of the same safe-guards of purchasing a used vehicle. One of the many benefits of purchasing at our facility would be Loaner cars, at Tom Sparks Automotive you will receive the use of a loaner car in the event your vehicle would need to be in overnight for repairs. If you prefer a GM Certified car backed by GM we can help there as well! Our Hinckley location is a 20 minute drive from our Dekalb location. They will soon be a Gm Certified dealer. When Tom Sparks Chevrolet Of Hinckley Illinois becomes a GM Certified dealership we will have vehicles offered for sale as we did when our Dekalb location was a GM franchises.

In our service department our GM trained mechanics will continue the same rigorous training as the factory dictates. They will accomplish this through independent training. Rest assured we will continue to have our 3 mechanics (who all have over 20 years of experience each) on the cutting edge of automotive repair technology . Our staff will continue with the same independent testing company that General Motors uses. So you can rest assure that our mechanics will be trained to work on your vehicles. We will be working on becoming a “Blue Seal Shop” Learn more about A.S.E. Click Here

In a nutshell, many fine independent automotive car stores are located in the U.S. They can have the same or higher standards that the franchise stores have. At Tom Sparks Automotive nothing will change the way we personally do business. Although you will not see the General Motors and Buick name, the same high quality our customers have become accustomed to receiving will not change because a GM brand is missing.

So if you are in the market for a new Chevrolet or a fine Pre-Driven vehicle let one our of stores help you.

Go to: http://www.tomsparks.com/

If you need more information you can contact:

Tim Jennings at 815-739-6054

OPEN LETTER TO THE PUBLIC:

GM MAY GO AWAY, BUT TOM SPARKS IS HERE TO STAY!

Dear Customers and Friends,

We wanted to write this letter to clarify a change that is taking place in our dealership. As you all have heard through the news, GM has made known it’s desire to reduce it’s dealership ranks by more than 25%. Tom Sparks Buick received a letter on May 15th confirming that GM will not renew our contractual agreement past October, 2010. We would like to let you know that while we are disappointed in their decision, we will continue to do the same thing we have been doing for the past 20 years under Tom Sparks – sell and service cars. 

WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY. We have always been predominantly a Illinois used car dealer. Only 10% of our total car sales comes from our new cars. Last year we sold 48 new Buick’s in contrast to 512 used cars, making us the largest used car dealer in DeKalb. While we continue to see the demise of many dealerships, we are confident, as you should be, that Tom Sparks will continue to serve you in the same manner for years to come.

Our dealership is totally debt-free, which is why we are known as the little store with low overhead and low prices. What will not change is the way we sell cars at Tom Sparks, and that’s reasonable prices, great customer service, good mechanics and a friendly atmosphere. See our current Pre-Driven inventory : Click Here

 Quoting another local dealer about Tom Sparks in a DeKalb Chronicle interview, “Sparks is an excellent dealer who sets the standard for us in a lot of ways”. Rest assured that we plan to continue doing that and perhaps raise the bar a little higher.

We welcome any concerns or comments. We would love to hear from you.

815-739-6054

At Tom Sparks Automotive in DeKalb Illinois we have a great selection of Pontiac’s. Our best selection is found with the G6 model. There is a lot of great information being shared about the G6 by the “Big Boys of Car Information”.

Here is just a sample:

The Pontiac G6 models are attractive cars. They have the smooth styling of the latest-generation Pontiacs, sharing cues with the Solstice roadster and other models and sort of a Lexus/Toyota look from the rear. The G6 offers clean, uncluttered lines that are quite pleasing.

Autotrader.com

As you can see the G6 comes highly recommended. In my own experience, selling many of them I don’t not have my customers coming back in saying they made a mistake buying the G6. Many families have bought used Pontiac G6′s for the newest driver of the family. The Pontiac G6′s price rage is from $9995 – $13995. Many times that’s what the family budget can afford for the 16 year old’s fist car.

At the time of this post we have 15 Pontiac G6 in stock ready for delivery. Tom Sparks is trying to be the biggest used Pontiac dealer in Illinois. We have a long way to gobut we have a goal in mind.

6 of these low millage clean cars are GM Certified. Click here to see the current selection of The GM Certified cars would come with a minimum of:

• 100,000-Mile/5-Year Powertrain Limited Warranty
• 12-Month/12,000-Mile Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty
• 117-Point Inspection
• Vehicle History Report

Gm certified Cars are a great alternative to a new car purchase.

Now is a great time to take a look at our inventory to see if Www.TomSparks.Com has the best car for your vehicle purchase. We would like to make your purchase experience the best in the Chicagoland area. Many time we have the best selection of cars in our area. That includes Rochelle, Dixon, Rockford, Genoa IL just to name a few. Tom Sparks Automotive has been On-line since 1999 to help with new and used digital car buying in the Northern Illinois.

Our stock of: 2009 Pontiac G6

Our stock of: 2008 Pontiac G6

Our stock of: 2007 Pontiac G6

Our stock of: 2006 Pontiac G6

Our stock of; 2005 Pontiac G6

Tom Spark Automotive: The used car store that still thinks it’s a New car store!

The Pontiac G6 models are attractive cars. They have the smooth styling of the latest-generation Pontiacs, sharing cues with the Solstice roadster and other models and sort of a Lexus/Toyota look from the rear. The G6 offers clean, uncluttered lines that are quite pleasing.

“As it sits, the G6 is a car with many good pieces that don’t quite realize their potential as a whole.”

“Head and leg room are good in the G6, making it comfortable for a family of four.”

Tom Sparks Auto received their letter informing them of GM’s decision to decline contract renewal with the Buick dealer on May 15th. According to Tom Sparks, the dealer has always been the leading used car dealer in Dekalb Illinois, the separation with GM will not change their business model. “Last year we sold 48 new Buick’s in contrast to 512 used cars, making us the largest used car dealer in DeKalb. While we continue to see the demise of many dealerships, we are confident, as you should be, that Tom Sparks will continue to serve you in the same manner for years to come.”

When the separation with GM becomes final, the only difference for the Illinois dealership will be that they can no longer sell new Buick/GM cars. And, given the above statement made by Tom Sparks, this change will have no lasting effect on their ability to serve Illinois used car shoppers.

The dealer’s name will officially change to Tom Sparks Automotive and they will continue to be the leader in used car sales and service. Sparks declares, “Tom Sparks is not going away, we are here to stay.”