Thank You!

As 2010 draws to a close, we'd like to take this opportunity to wish our customers a very happy and healthy 2011. At Raymond Chevrolet Kia we have many things to be thankful for, but we are most thankful for our loyal customers whom have helped us become one of the best Chevrolet and Kia dealers in Lake County, IL. We could not have done it without you!

We're gearing up to have an excellent 2011 and looking forward to serving our customers in Lake County, Kenosha County, Racine County and McHenry County. Remember to look to the Raymond Autogroup for all of your automotive needs in 2011.

Thank you!!!

Antioch, IL area schools awarded $1500 from Raymond Chevrolet Kia

On Tuesday, December 21, 2010 two Antioch, Illinois elementary schools were awarded a total of $1500 courtesy of Raymond Chevrolet Kia on Route 173 in Antioch. The first annual Winter Coloring contest extraveganza was held at Raymond Chevrolet Kia. Antioch elementary school children colored one of three designs and submitted each design to Raymond Chevrolet for judging. Judging took place from Friday, December 17th through Monday, December 20th. The winners were announced on Tuesday, December 21st at 7pm. They were:

K-1st - Kayeleigh Wieska - Hillcrest Elementary
2nd - 3rd - Ian Atkins - Oakland Elementary
4th - 5th - Hailey Hoffman - Oakland Elementary

Each winner took home a $100 savings bond and their school received $500. Oakland Elementary, with 2 winners, won $1,000 and Hillcrest Elementary won $500.

Watch the video here.

Jay Leno picked up his new Chevy Volt yesterday

At a Northridge, CA Chevrolet Dealer. He's a huge Volt fan and as a car buff, he's got a lot to say about it. Watch him take delivery of his Volt here.

We should be getting Volts in soon at Raymond Chevrolet, your Lake County Illinois Chevrolet dealer. Do you think that electric cars are the wave of the future? Do you like the Volt? Will you buy or lease one?

The 2011 Kia Optima - Now in stock

It wasn't so long ago that Kia was considered a second or third tier car company. The products were very lackluster and quality was not too good. All of that has changed. Drastically.

Not only does Kia make hot looking cars, they do without sacrificing quality or value. In our opinion, Kia has some of the hottest, reliable vehicles on the road today. The 2011 Kia Optima, Kia's newest version of their mid-sized sedan, does not disappoint.
Both Car and Driver and Autoblog.com had some things to say about the Optima. You can read both articles by clicking here for Car and Driver and here for Autoblog.com

The 2011 Optima is arriving daily. Come in and schedule a test drive and tell us at your lake county Kia dealer what you think about the newest entry from Kia.

It's Judging Time for our Coloring Contest

Starting today through Monday, December 20th at 9:00 pm you can be the judge for our first annual coloring contest! Winners will be announced on Tuesday, December 21st at 7:00 pm at Raymond Chevrolet on Route 173 in Antioch.

There are three categories, Kindergarten and 1st Grade, 2nd and 3rd Grade, and 4th and 5th Grade. We've had hundreds of beautiful pictures entered, come and vote for your favorite in each category!

The winner in each category will receive a $100 savings bond PLUS $500 for their local Antioch school!!!! Come out and support this wonderful event! Remember, one vote per person in each category.

We hope to see you voting and again on Tuesday night to congratulate the winners!

Shop with a Cop makes a stop at Raymond Chevrolet

The Holiday spirt is in the air everywhere you turn. There's snow on the ground, the weather is cold, and holiday lights dot the landscape. Well at Raymond Chevrolet Kia, your Lake County Illinois Chevrolet Kia dealer, the Holiday spirit is in full effect. Tonight, together with the Antioch Police Department, 40 children received Christmas presents courtesy of Raymond Chevrolet an their generous employees.

The children were brought to Raymond Chevrolet on Route 173 in Antioch, IL by police escort in "Santa's Sleigh". (Really Chevrolet Suburbans courtesy of Raymond Chevrolet.) Their arrival could not have been missed, as the motorcade included police vehicles and SUVs complete with lights and sirens. It was certainly a site to be seen.

The children were greeted by Raymond employees, who escorted them to Santa's bag of toys. (A Chevrolet Silverado pick-up loaded with presents in the truck bed.) Mark Scarpelli, owner of Raymond Chevrolet Kia, welcomed the children and proceeded to hand out presents to each child. The children opened their presents and thanked Mr. Scarpelli and his employees. The air of excitement and the smiles on the faces of all the children made this event a sure hit!

After unwrapping presents, the children were off to Antioch Walmart to "Shop with a Cop." Each left with money from Raymond Chevrolet, in addition to their cop money, to spend how they pleased at Walmart.

We'll have video and pictures on our website and our facebook page, so if you'd like to see all of the excitement, take a peek!

Attention Racine and Kenosha residents! The deal at Raymond is worth the Drive!

I was going to write an long blog post explaining why it is worth you to drive to Antioch, IL to get your best deal on a new Chevy or Kia, but I think I'll let Mark Scarpelli, owner and president of Raymond Chevrolet Kia, tell you.


To see all of our offerings, visit our YouTube channel or Facebook Page to see complete videos!

Perfect Holiday Gifts

It’s hard to believe that it’s THAT time of year again. The time of year when we’re all hustling and bustling into stores only trying hard to find the perfect gift for that car buff on your list. Well your trusty Lake County Chevrolet dealer is here to help. After much thought and research. Here is our gift guide for the car lover in your life:

Plantronics Voyager PRO+ Bluetooth HeadsetIn reference to our blog post yesterday, it’s always a good idea to go hands-free if you’re driving, Try the Plantronics Voyager PRO Bluetooth headset! Listed for $77.91 on amazon.com

Flash Rods' "Back to the Future" Delorean Hard DriveAs our computers become more and more bogged down with photos, videos, MP3, it’s more important than ever to back our files up on an external hard drive. This hard drive combines functionality with fun. The Delorean from Back to the Future helps you go back in time to retrieve those files on this external hard drive. $250 on Flash Rods website.

Lee Friedlander: AmericaDo you have a car finatic that also loves to read or travel? Then the Lee Friedlander: America book is the find for you. The photos, all taken from a vehicle as it travels around the country, incorporate various views from the car and how it would look to travel places. $32.97 on amazon.com

Custom vehicle graphics
this is a great gift for that 20-something in your life who wants to customize that first new car of theirs. At Raymond Chevrolet in Antioch, IL, we help you get an appointment set up and issue you a certificate to get those custom graphics complete!


Breathalyzer Keychain with Parking Meter TimerOkay this one might indicate to someone that you think they ***might*** have a slight drinking problem, but could be a fun gift too! Blow into the keychain and it will tell you what your blood alcohol level is at. It also doubles as a parking meter timer to avoid those pesky parking tickets.


A New Car or TruckWell you knew we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to have you to come into Raymond Chevrolet and pick up a new 2011 Chevrolet Camaro or a 2011 Chevrolet Corvette for that special someone. Imagine finding that under your tree on Christmas Morning!

Thanks to our buddies at thecarconnection.com for helping us with the list!

In any case, we wish you all happy shopping and we’ll have more tips to come.

7 Dangerous Things To Do While You're Driving

We're all guilty of it. We all do dangerous things while driving. Some things are obvious, like texting while driving, which is illegal in Illinois and Wisconsin, while others on the list might surprise you. CarConnection.com recently published a list of things that you SHOULDN'T do while driving. These things include:

Eat and Drink
Drinking caffeine
Let your pets ride shotgun
Text Tweet or Facebook
Make Phone Calls
Read billboards
Get Comfortable

I, personally, never thought about letting your pet ride shotgun or getting comfortable. If you're on a long road trip, wouldn't you want to be comfortable while driving? Well if anything, the article is worth the read and worth some thought. You can read the article by clicking here.

Our Reviews speak for themselves!!!

Listen to what some of our customers are saying about your favorite Lake County Chevrolet and Lake County Kia Dealer!!!!

I just picked up a beautiful 2011 Kia Optima today! This is my 2nd Kia Optima from the Raymond Auto Group and I just have to say that I am very happy with how everything has been handled from start to finish. I gave this team of professionals a few challenges throughout the process, but everything was always handled with a smile and grace above anything I have ever seen from a car dealership. These guys are the Best!!!
Thank you so much!
Mary Ann Kuhn
P.S. – Mark Scarpelli Rocks!!!

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Good afternoon Mark,

On my end I have pretty much finalized putting my 2011 Chevy Avalanche into service. Upon reflection of the entire process, from my initial research in determining manufacturer, brand and vehicle, to dealer selection and final negotiation, I felt compelled to write this note of thanks and appreciation to you.

From our discussions I came to understand that the dealership is family owned and operated, well I want to commend the entire team at Raymond Chevrolet for, quite honestly making me feel like part of a family.

From my initial and continued contacts with the sales group (special thanks to thanks to Derek & Brian), through introductions to several service and parts department team members and ultimately ownership, I found myself thinking; “are these guys for real, because they sure are different”.

Moving further into the process with Delivery & Finance (thanks to Norm & Charlie) the same theme played out; people who knew their stuff. To a man everyone was willing to spend whatever time was required to make sure that any and all of my questions were answered. The entire group genuinely seemed to love what they were doing, who they were doing it for, and were determined to make sure I was comfortable and satisfied with my family’s decision to place our MONEY & TRUST in them.

This was a major purchase decision in some very difficult times in this country and I am glad that I decided to buy the GM product that I did but more importantly I am very happy that I bought my part of the Raymond Chevrolet team.

Thanks again,
JIM SHANNON
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Great Experience at Raymond....‎‎ We purchased a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse this past weekend at Raymond Chevrolet. I must say, it was one of the easiest experiences I have personally ever had purchasing a vehicle. We began shopping for a Traverse this past summer and Raymond's salespeople gave us a great price and have been in contact with us throughout the entire experience. We had an appointment on Saturday afternoon, when we came in and our vehicle was waiting. Not only did we get a fair price on our Traverse, they gave us a great price on our trade-in. Once the financing was complete, we were able to drive away in our new vehicle very satisfied. The entire staff at Raymond was wonderful to work with. They made a process that can be overwhelming very painless. We'll be buying our vehicles from Raymond from now on.
Beth Andersen

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Wonderful Easy Great Experience‎‎ I do not normally take the time to write reviews but I wanted to share my great experience at Raymond Chevrolet & Kia. My daughter needed a reliable, late model car and not only did Raymond have quite a selection; they had the perfect car for her. The salesperson was quite knowledgeable, polite and helpful. I could tell that these people take pride in their products and service. I guess that's why they have been in business so long, and have such a good reputation. I will recommend this dealer to friends and family.
The Thomas Family.
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I went to another dealer near me and had an uneasy feeling. I was looking for a used car for my son who just turned 16. We knew what we had to spend and we wanted a 4 door smaller car with good mpg. We ended up driving to Antioch from Grayslake and looked at a few cars that WE wanted to look at, not that the salesman was pusing onto us. The car we decided on was almost $1000 over what we wanted to spend but it was perfect. Tom worked with the manager and we left with the car me and my son wanted at the price we wanted to pay. Tom and the manager he went to were helpfull in getting us to that price and showed us around the dealership if we ever needed anything, we met the owner, who was nice also. They filled up my gas tank and we are now VERY happy Raymond owners!
John H
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I don't normally write about my experience with a car dealership, but I must tell everyone that my wife and I went into see why everyone loves Raymond Chevrolet. I was suprised that everyone was smiling and very friendly. It appeared that despite the news about our economy everyone here was very optimistic. The sales consultant help me and my wife decide on which vehicle was right for our family. My wife wins this one hands down. The sales managers were very helpful in assisting the sales consultant in our purchase. "WOW" thats what I can say about my experience about Raymond Chevrolet. The finance process went smooth and it they are very consumer friendly. I normally finance with my Credit Union, but Raymond Chevrolet was able to get me a rate lower than what I expected. I want to tell everyone that I meet to take the time to see why Everyone Loves Raymond Chevrolet. At the time of delivery the salesperson explained all the new gadgets that our new vehicle had on it. There is a lot of fancy stuff that we did not have on our previous vehicle.
Dave S
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My family lives near Raymond Chevrolet, and my son is leaving town soon after he graduates from college. We decided to go and browse to see what kinds of used cars they had on their lot. We were greeted soon after entering the dealership. The salesman took us out on to the lot and my wife and I found a nice looking 2006 used Chevy Impala. It was not much longer before we were in the car taking a test drive. After about a half-hour to forty five minutes of taking a test drive we decided that we would buy it. Once we finished the test drive, the time it took to process the paperwork was not very long at all. We drove home happily because we made a great decision to go to Raymond Chevrolet. I really suggest other potential buyers stopping there to look and see what they have.
JS350
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Toys for Tots

The Holiday season is almost upon us and we'd like to take this opportunity to give everyone a chance to brighten the Holidays for a child. Raymond Chevrolet is an offical drop off Toys for Tots. Bring in any unwrapped present between now and the first week in December and help others in need.

We hope to see you, and your generous spirit, there.

Is Carmageddon officially over?

In my reading over the last few days it seems as though the general consensus is that "Carmageddon," the complete collapse of the auto industry, from the last few years seems to have gone the way of the 8-track. While I personally don't think we're completely out of the woods yet, things are dramatically different than they were even at the beginning of 2010. Things are much more optimistic. Inventory levels are good, but not bloated. People are willing to buy a vehicle, albeit more challenging to obtain financing than it has been in the past. Do I think sales will rebound to the levels they were at a mere 5 or 6 years ago? Probably not. At least not in the next year. Is that a good thing? Probably. Hopefully next year I'll be writing about how car sales are going gangbusters and things will be up, up, up in 2012.

I distinctly recall a mere 2 years ago the aura of disbelief and uncertainty that surrounded much of the automobile industry. This directly stemmed from the manufacturers and suppliers and trickled down to the dealership levels. I mean General Motors was going bankrupt!! I think even in my wildest dreams I NEVER thought GM would be broke. Five years ago I would have bet that if any auto company would be bankrupt, it was going to be Ford. I have to give credit where credit is due, with Alan Mulally at their helm, Ford has turned that ship around and impressed everyone in the process.

Every time you looked dealers were shutting their doors because they could no longer afford to be in business. A business they thought would sustain them and the families they support for many years to come. Between having their floor plan (the dealer equivalent to an inventory mortgage) called in to the bank, the dramatic downturn in business, the credit crunch, lack of leasing programs and a overstocked inventory supplies all made for what is now being called Carmageddon.

Slowly but surely, the stronger dealers have weathered the storm and are beginning to emerge a little battle worn, but smarter and leaner for having been in the fight. Internal spending and budgets have been cut. Staff has been pared down through lay-offs or by attrition. The belts have been tightened and in general dealers have become smarter and leaner. While we're starting to see the belt loosen a bit and things creeping back to "a new normal" level. However, the lessons of the past two years will not be forgotten.

Now in the final quarter of 2010, at a time when we see sales figures returning to an acceptable level, I ask you, is this over? Will Sales rebound to 2005 levels? Should they rebound?

We've got an app for that

Launching today, 2011 Chevrolet customers can download an app for their iphone or android phone. The apps are revolutionary in the auto industry and communicates a host of information to their users. The myChevrolet and the myLink OnStar applications are available for free download to owners who's vehicles are equipped with OnStar.

A summary of functions is as follows:
mylink OnStar - GPS parking reminder, reference material for your vehicle, database designed to explain warning lights.
myChevrolet - lock and unlock doors, automatically start your vehicle, offer diagnostic information, such as fuel, oil, tire pressure.

Visit www.chevrolet.com and get your application today.

Come meet our management team

We've gone through some major changes at Raymond Chevrolet Kia over the last few months, including a complete change of our management staff. Our managers are 100% commited to providing the people of Lake County Illinois, McHenry County Illinois and Southern Wisconsin with the very best experience when purchasing a new Chevrolet, Kia or a pre-owned automobile. This customer service experince extends to our service department as well. We are 100% commited to fixing your vehicle to your statisfaction and correctly. Next time your out and about around Route 173 in Antioch, stop in and meet our staff.

Car Care Clinic and Customer Appreciation Saturday, October 9, 2010

Come and stop by Raymond Chevrolet on Saturday, October 9th. From 9:30 am - 10:30 am there will be a car care clinic. Stop in to learn how to take the best care of your vehicle and get tips and pointers from the experts.

After the car care clinic, Raymond Chevrolet will be hosting a customer appreciation event open to all! There will be pumpkins, face painting, battery checks, a petting zoo, food and more! We hope to see you at Raymond Chevrolet on Route 173 in Antioch, IL!

Shoooo the Flu at Raymond Chevrolet

It's hard to believe that it's THAT time of year. Flu season is upon us and no one wants to fall victim to the dreaded flu bug. At Raymond Chevrolet, we'll try and help you beat the flu this winter. On October 11, 2010 Raymond Chevrolet will be holding a flu shot clinic with Senior Car Pharmacy for those of you in need of getting a flu shot. The clinic will be held from 10 am - 12 pm right in the Raymond Chevrolet showroom at 118 Route 173 in Antioch, IL. The cost will be $20, a receipt will be provided for insurance reimbursement if necessary, and no-cost to Medicare Part B receipiants. Appointments can be made with Kim Neiss at 847-395-3600 or kneiss@raymondchevrolet.com

The flu is a contagious, respiratory disease which can be spread by coughing, sneezing or nasal secretions. It affects people of all ages as it spreads through the air from person to person. The virus can be as contagious as the common cold and is easily transmitted from people who are already infected. You can also get the flu from those who have been exposed, but have not yet developed symptoms. This means that you can be contagious and not even know it.
The flu is more serious than a cold, often causing severe symptoms such as body aches, exhaustion, high fever, respiratory inflammation, congestion, cough, and more. You could be ill for a week, with some symptoms lingering for up to a month. For people that are classified by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as high-risk, it is especially important to get vaccinated. This group includes people over 65, health care providers, anyone with heart disease, diabetes, kidney disorder, blood disorder, or an impaired immune system.

A flu shot is your best shot at protection.

The flu vaccine is 75 to 90 percent effective in preventing infection. Contrary to a popular myth, you cannot get the flu from the vaccine since it is made from highly purified egg-grown viruses that have been rendered noninfectious.
The vaccine causes your body to produce antibodies that protect it against the virus. Even if you received a flu shot last year, you still need to receive another one this year to remain protected. Each year the flu strain changes and your body slowly loses its immunity to the flu.

As with any vaccine, the flu vaccine has some side effects. Less than 1/3 of those who receive a flu shot will experience some soreness at the vaccination site, and only 5 to 10% will suffer mild side effects such as low-grade fevers and headaches. Anyone with a history of hypersensitivity to eggs or egg products should not receive a flu shot since the vaccine is grown in hens' eggs.
This year the CDC recommends that seasonal flu vaccination should begin as soon as the vaccine is available. While influenza outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time influenza activity peaks in January or later.
The best way to protect you and your family against influenza is to get vaccinated each year.

OnStar getting a technology upgrade in 2011

GM announced last week that OnStar, their vehicle safety and secruity system, will be getting a technology upgrade sometime in 2011. According to Car and Driver Magazine, OnStar will undergo many changes including the development of an application called MyLink that will integrate with smartphones and allow drivers to control functions remotely. The technology will also allow the vehicle to give the driver updates, for example, if a tire goes flat the vehicle owner will get a text message.

The new Onstar functions also are slated to include text to talk and reading facebook status updates. Before this new technology is brought to the market, it still must go through extensive safety testing to determine the safety for drivers. OnStar's primary focus is to keep drivers eyes on the roads and off of their mobile devices. Their hope is that this new technology will do just that.

Toys for Tots Drive Begins Today at Raymond

It's hard to believe that with temperatures in the 80's over the last few days that we're starting to think of Christmas. Before you know it, the snow will be flying and we'll all be singing jingle bells running around purchasing our slew of gifts for our respective families.

Even though we're sure you're not in the Christmas spirit just yet, at Raymond we're already thinking about those less fortunate than us. As of today, we are now a Marine Corps Toys for Tots drop-off location. So while you're out running your errands, why not pick up a new toy or two for some kids and help make their Christmas special. Only new toys can be accepted, due to recalls and other safety issues. The Marine Corp also asks that there are no stuffed animals donated. For a full list of frequently asked questions, please click on this link. Toys will be collected until the first week of December.

The Cruze is here!

The all new 2011 Chevrolet Cruze arrived yesterday at Raymond Chevrolet on Route 173 in Antioch, IL. Raymond is one of the first dealers in the area to receive the Cruze, which wasn’t expected to hit showrooms until the last week of September. The Cruze represents a new era for Chevrolet in the compact car segment. Chevrolet is determined to bring midsized car amenities to the compact car market. The Cruze boasts key features that it’s competitors, namely the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic, don’t offer. 10 standard air bags, larger passenger and trunk volume 94.6 cubic feet and 15.4 cubic feet respectively, On-star turn-by-turn navigation, remote keyless entry, and Chevrolet’s exceptional 5 year/100,000 mile power train warranty. The 1.4 liter turbo engine gets an estimated 36 miles per gallon highway. The 40 mile per gallon 1.8 liter Ecotec model will be in showrooms near the end of 2010. The Cruze is replaces the outgoing Chevrolet Cobalt produced from 2005 to 2010. “This car is a homerun for Chevrolet,” said Mark Scarpelli, President of Raymond Chevrolet. “The European styling, the handling, the ride, the interior, Chevrolet thought of everything and brought a car that will redefine the compact market,” said Scarpelli. The LS model of the Cruze comes standard with all of the aforementioned features and starts at $16,297. LT and LTZ models include additional features that are not seen in the compact car segment such as Bluetooth, heated seats, remote start, Pioneer premium audio and navigation. Raymond Chevrolet has the Cruze in-stock and ready for delivery. More Cruzes will be arriving daily, as this is expected to be a fast moving vehicle for Chevrolet.

Chevrolet on HGTV????

Those of you who have HGTV programmed into your DVR or Tivo, have probably seen or watched the show House Hunters. This fall Chevrolet will be showing several vingnettes asking everyday consumers to pick between several competive model vehicles. The match-ups will include:

Mid-sized: Chevrolet Malibu, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord
CUV: Chevrolet Equinox, Toyota RAV4 and Honda CRV
Large CUV: Chevrolet Traverse, Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot.

Of the 70 people who took the challenge, and did not know it was sponsored by Chevrolet, 43 chose the Chevrolet.

Watch for the vingettes to air during House Hunters or on the HGTV website.

Or view the trailer below!

The New Kid on the Block

Another great spot from Chevrolet. We're very excited to have the 2011 Cruze comming to our line-up here at Raymond Chevrolet in Antioch IL.

All New Cruze Commercial - Just Aired tonight

Awesome commercial. Let us know what you think.





2011 Chevrolet Cruze

Tim Allen to Voice new Chevrolet Commercials

Starting today, September 7, 2010, you'll be hearing the familiar voice of Tim Allen voicing commercials for the all new 2011 Chevrolet Cruze.

As the spots come out, we'll post them to our facebook page and our website. Let us know what you think of Tim Allen and the new 2011 Chevrolet Cruze.

Just Announced Chevy Silverado NO PAYMENTS

Only through labor Day, September 6, 2010 stop into Raymond Chevrolet on Route 173 in Antioch, purcahse a 2010/2011 Chevy Silverado. Receive NO PAYMENTS on your new 2010/2011 Silverado until 2011! As always, buyers must have qualified credit in order to receive this extraordinary credit deal.

Raymond Chevrolet will be open Labor Day from 10 AM to 4 PM.

Get ready for fall weather and buy a 2010 or 2011 Chevy Silverado and have no payments until 2011! Deal ends at 4 PM on Labor Day.

First Glimpse at the All new 2011 Kia Rio

Kia is redesigning it's popular compact sedan for 2011. No details on when this new beauty is expected to grace our showroom, but we thought we'd share a few preview shots that Kia has released.

Note that the interior will be redone and refined as well, taking cues from the all-new 2011 Kia Optima, scheduled to arrive in our showrooms within the next month.

Let us know what you think about the Rio.

NADA names the 2010 Chevrolet Impala best cost of ownership

NADA has put out their list of vehicles that have a low cost of ownership over 5 years. The 2010 Chevrolet Impala is among the vehicles chosen with the lowest cost of ownership over 5 years. Congratudations Impala!!! View the inventory of new 2010 Chevrolet Impalas on the Raymond Chevrolet website.

GM's High Performance Department is Back to Work

That's right, GM's storied high performance division is back at work. They've stated that the performance division is Does this mean that an that the all new 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, scheduled to arrive in dealership sometime in the next few weeks, will have an SS model?

This is excellent news to us in the dealership community. It means several things:
1) GM is committing itself to make exciting performance cars again.
2) The US Automarket is rebounding back.
3) GM is serious about appealing to a younger demographic that buys based on emotions.

Here at Raymond Chevrolet in Antioch, IL, we welcome this and can't wait to see what GM comes up with.

Great Insurance Discounts

I'm pretty sure that all of us are looking for ways to cut household expenses these days. One easy thing is to shop your auto insurance. You're probably missing out on some great discounts that you didn't know you qualify for. These include:

Safety Features - Does your car have ABS, theft deterrent, traction or stablity control, airbags? You probably qualify for a discount.

Good Driver Discounts - The insurance companies are the first to nick you for bad driving, but rarely reward you for good driving. Brag about your good driving record and get a better deal.

Multi-policy pricing - Combine your life, auto, home, boat, motorcycle insurance together. You'll likely receive a discount for putting everything in one bucket.

Senior Discount - If you happen to be over 55, you might qualify for a senior discount.

Driving Mileage - If you don't drive a ton of miles, you'll probably get a discount.

Prepay Discount - Pay your policy upfront.

Association Discounts - Insurance companies often give a deal for members of AAA, Good Students and other associations.

Bottom line is shop around and compare. That's the best way to get the best deal on your insurance.

Do you know what Gap insurance is? Do you have it?

That's always a question that non-car people look at you in wonder and might pretend that they know what Gap insurance is. Gap insurance is kind of what it sounds like. It bridges the gap between what you owe on your vehicle and what it would actually be worth should the vehicle be stolen, in an accident, or what have you.

When buying a new vehicle, it's always good practice to put Gap insurance on your vehicle. As most of us know, the first year of new vehicle ownership is when you take your biggest hit on depreciation. With Gap insurance, which normally costs between $10 and $20 per month, you're loan will be paid off regardless if you put 100,000 miles or 10,000 miles during that year.

When purchasing your vehicle, ask the Finance and Insurance manager about putting Gap insurance on your new vehicle. It's good "what if" insurance and well worth the money.

Hot Summer Corvette Show at Raymond Chevrolet August 29

Whether you have a Chevrolet Corvette or just want to come see some Corvettes, you'll want to be at Raymond Chevrolet on Route 173 in Antioch on August 29.

We're hosting our First Annual Hot Summer Corvette Show! Enter your vehicle with No entry fee—Monetary and non-perishable food item donations will be accepted and matched by Raymond Chevrolet to Open Arms Mission, Antioch’s Food Pantry.

They'll be prizes for each class, food, raffles, music and general FUN!

Sign up with Amy Garbo at agarbo@rays-cars.com or Guy Droze at gdroze@raymondchevrolet.com

We'll see you the 29th!

Huge residual value on the 2011 Kia Sportage

Great news today - the all new 2011 Kia Sportage is projected by American data provider ACL to hold 61% of it's MSRP over 3 years of ownership. That's putting it in the league with BMW and Subaru and the highest residual rating value for a CUV. This is 20 points higher than the outgoind 2010 Kia Sportage. This is fantastic news for Kia!

At Raymond Kia in Antioch, Il, we're just starting to get in these amazing new vehicles. We have several 2011 Kia Sportages in-stock and they're arriving daily. Come see why this car is getting the accolades and press it deserves.

The 2011 Kia Sportage also has available features like panoramic sunroof, push-button start, rear camera display, navigation, LED daytime running lights and an air-cooled driver’s seat.

The 2011 Kia Sportage also comes with the UVO powered by Microsoft 1 in-vehicle communication and entertainment system based on the Windows Embedded Automotive platform.


Stop in to Raymond Kia on Route 173 in Antioch today to take a test drive in this amazing vehicle!

It's official! The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible is coming.

Next march, the much anticipated 2012 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible will be hitting our showrooms! For Raymond Chevrolet, your Lake County Illinois dealer, the timing of the Camaro Convertible will be perfect in antcipation of the summer driving season.

It's really nice to see that General Motors is putting their money where their mouth is and giving the the consumer what they want! It's wonderful to see.

We'll keep you posted as we get closer to delivery time in our showroom.

The Cruze is Coming!!! The Cruze is Coming!!!

Here at Raymond Chevrolet on Route 173 in Antioch, IL, we're all excited about the new 2011 Chevrolet Cruze that will be gracing our showroom sometime in the next month. The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze is poised to replace the aging Chevrolet Cobalt and boy, it's worth the wait!

The reviews are coming in and this compact car is getting stellar reviews. With an engine that gets 40 miles per gallon and an MSRP of roughly $17,000, what's not to like!

"We're excited that Chevrolet is bringing the Cruze to market and we'll be in an even better position in the small car market than we have been in year," stated Van Neff, General Sales Manager at Lake County Chevrolet Dealer Raymond Chevrolet.

We'll keep you posted on any new Cruze developments and bring you some exciting promotions surrounding the all-new Cruze.

Uncle Sam needs YOU!

Our troops sacrafice everything in order to give us the freedom we have come to expect in this country. Wouldn't it be nice if we could do something to help support them in their efforts?

Well you can!

Stop into Raymond Chevrolet or Kia on Route 173 in Antioch and donate your old cell phone. You know you have a ton of them in your dresser drawers, your kid's toy bin or various other places in your home. Bring them into Raymond Chevrolet Kia and we'll do the rest. We'll even give you a tax-deductible reciept for your generosity!

The phone's will be sent to Cell Phones for Soliders, who recycles the phone and uses the proceeds to send phone cards to soliders serving abroad.

We appreciate your generousity and look forward to you coming in and donating your phone!

Raymond Chevrolet Kia
118 Route 173
Antioch, IL
847-395-3600

We have the all new 2011 Kia Sportage!!!

It is here! Raymond Kia has an all new 2011 Kia Sportage. The Sportage is the only remaining original badge from the Kia late 90's Kia line-up. Boy oh boy, how it's grown up in the 16 years since it's introduction to the US.

Seeing this hot new CUV up close and personal, it's looks like an Audi Q5, for about half the price. In addition to getting 31 miles per gallon, the 2011 Kia Sportage comes with UVO (Yoo-Voh) technology. It's basically similar to the Ford Sync, but better! Instead of routing the system to the device you'd like, the UVO system reads all of your devices and figures out what you're looking for.

Raymond Kia has ordered plenty of the 31 miles per gallon Kia Sportages. They're arriving daily and we'd love for you to come in and take a test drive.

Show Kia how you Roll

Attention all Kia Soul owners! Kia wants to see how you roll. They've decided to put the hamsters on hold for a bit and see how Soul owner's roll. If you own a Kia Soul, upload a video with you and your Soul. You may be Kia's next big talent! Here is the press release with more specific instructions.



Good Luck

Got an old Cell Phone? Drop it at Raymond Chevrolet Kia for the troops

We all have old cell phones hanging around our homes. It's estimated that Americans will purchase 130 million new cell phones this year and either throw their old cell phones in a drawer or discard them in unsafe ways. Well here at Raymond Chevrolet Kia in Antioch, IL, we have an excellent way that you can rid yourself of that old cell phone while helping out our soldiers.

Raymond Chevrolet Kia has become one of the newest Cell Phone for Soldiers drop off locations. Stop-in, drop your phone off in our designated bin and Raymond will take care of the rest. Raymond Chevrolet Kia will even give you a tax receipt for your donation!

Cell Phones for Soldiers takes your old cell phone and sells it to ReCellular. ReCellular either refurbishes or reclaims the valuable materials in your old phone. The money they give Cell Phones for Soldiers for the old phones goes to purchase phone cards for our troops defending our nation.

Be a hero to a hero people of Lake County, Kenosha County and Racine County. Drop off that old cell phone today! We'll be waiting for you here at Raymond Chevrolet Kia.

Lifesource Blood Drive

Everyone is looking for a way to give back to the community, but with the current economic times this can be a difficult thing to do. At Raymond Chevrolet Kia in Antioch, IL, we have a great way to give back that will only cost you a little blood.

On Friday, July 23rd from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, Raymond Chevrolet Kia will be holding a blood drive with Lifesource, Chicagoland's Blood Center. Keep in mind that for only 45 minutes of your time, your donation will help 3 local lives!

It's easy to set up your donation time. Just call or email Kim Niess kniess@raymondchevrolet.com or Scott Yassinger syassinger@raymondchevrolet.com at 847-395-3600. The day of your donation - Stay hydrated, eat well, and bring your ID. That's all you need to do!

We hope to see you at Raymond Chevrolet Kia at 118 Route 173 in Antioch, IL. Or Visit us online at www.raymondchevrolet.com

Welcome to our Blog!

We'd like to welcome all of our customers, past, present and future to our blog. Here we hope to give you information you need about us, our commentary on industry happenings or helpful tips for driving and care of your automobile.

First, let me start by saying that at Raymond you're always more than a customer. You are genuinely treated like family. Whether you're buying your first vehicle or twentieth vehicle, we'll be there to help and guide you every step of the way.

Our customer service extends beyond sales. Our service department is there in the event your car breaks down or is in need of routine service. The service department here includes a full-service parts department with a wide variety of aftermarket parts to add your special touches to the vehicle of your dreams. Our body shop will help you get those dings out when life throws you a curve ball.

Thank you for visiting our blog. We hope you find it informative, helpful and most of all, fun! We're looking forward to your comments and suggestions. If anyone has anything they'd like us to address, we will be happy to oblige! We hope to see you in our Chevrolet or Kia dealerships located on Route 173 in Antioch!