2011 Kia Optima Test Drive

After taking a spin in the all new 2011 Kia Optima at Raymond Kia on Route 173 in Antioch, IL, I must say, "Kia, you've come a long way baby." Color me impressed with this new midsized sedan from Kia. The 2011 Optima is packed with features that you couldn't touch in a midsize sedan at the $20,000 price point range.

I drove a Optima LX that was priced at $21,700. This isn't the highest trim-level Optima, but it is very nicely equipped. The cloth seats fit my 5'3" frame perfectly. While I am a short adult, I had more than adequate room and a larger adult would have no problem feeling comfortable in the ergonomically designed cabin.

The Optima came with all of the features I look for in any vehicle. Steering wheel controls include stereo volume/band/station control and cruise control. The stereo came complete with Siruis Satalite Radio, CD player, and Bluetooth. In the dash is a USB port as well as a DC outlet. The dash dials are very well configured and very easy to read.

In the cavernous back seat, most adults would feel comfortable and not have issues riding in the back seat.

During my ride, I drove over 2 sets of railroad tracks. In my SUV, the railroad tracks can shake you to the bone. In the Optima, I barely felt the tracks. The suspension is so refined and so smooth, the Optima is like driving even, newly paved roads, even in Northern Illinois where potholes

I always think that 4 cylander engines have no pep. Often you sacrafice fuel efficency for any kind of speed. So not true in the Optima. I was consistenly zipping off the line at stop lights. I also had to seriously watch my speed as I found myself going 60 in a 45 mile-per-hour zone! The Optima gets 24 miles per gallon in the city and a whopping 34 on the highway.

I honestly can't say enough about the Optima. I think Kia has hit a home run with the vehicle. It consistently outsells it's sister car, the Hyundai Sonata in Asia and we wonder if that trend will continue in North America.

We have Optimas arriving daily at Raymond Kia. Stop into our dealership located on Route 173 in Antioch and speak with one of our Kia consultants and test drive an Optima today. Or view our Optima inventory by clicking on this link here.

Click on the links below for reviews of the 2011 Kia Optima from Car and Drive, The Washington Post, TheCarConnection.com, and Edmunds.

Car and Driver's Review

Washington Post Review

The CarConnection.com Review

Edmunds Review

GM to incoporate Powermat technology into new vehicles

GM announced a $5 million investment with PowerMat to bring wireless charging to your vehicle. Basically, GM would install an inductive charging mat to vehicles that would eliminate the need for cell phone chargers in your vehicle.

The hope is that the PowerMat will be available in the 2012 model year begining with the Chevrolet Volt and high-end GM offerings, such as Cadillac, and eventually be rolled out to all GM vehicles. As models are refreshed or redesigned, the PowerMat will be incorporated into the interior. The PowerMat will likely be an option included in a premium stereo package.

As soon as Raymond Chevrolet, your Lake County Chevrolet dealer, begins to get in vehicles equipped with the PowerMat technology, we will keep you posted!

Car and Driver Article
Gas 2.0 Article

The Chevy Volt Named Car of the year!

It's offical. The Chevrolet Volt has been named the "North American Car of the Year" by the panel of 49 automotive journalists throughout North America. The Volt was given 233 points versus the completely electric Nissan Leaf, which only recieved an overall 94 points. It represents the first time an electric vehicle, or EV, has won the presigous award.

"We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our first Volts, here at Raymond Chevrolet," stated Mark Scarpelli, owner and president of Lake County's own Raymond Chevrolet on Route 173 in Antioch. Raymond Chevrolet should be seeing Volt's arriving sometime this spring.

The Volt beat out several competitors, including the highly touted Hyundai Sonata. Below is a complete list of 2011 North American Car of the Year Semi-Finalists:
Audi A8
Buick Regal
Chevrolet Cruze
Chevrolet Volt
Ford Fiesta
Hyundai Sonata
Infiniti M37/56
Jaguar XJ
Kia Optima
Mazda 2
Nissan Juke
Nissan Leaf
Volkswagen Jetta
Volvo S60

To read the press release regarding the Volt as 2011 Car of the Year, click here.

Or watch the following video to see the award announcement.

Great Testimonial from Marge Olsen - A Satisfied Raymond Custoemr

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.