2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

The all-new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco adds a dose of flavor – and efficiency – to the midsize sedan segment.

The outside of the 2013 Malibu Eco was inspired by the athletic stance of Camaro paired with a dramatically aerodynamic design which seamlessly guides airflow to cut resistance. Every little detail helps the Malibu Eco offer its remarkable fuel economy and up to 580 highway miles with each fill-up.

The facts: (visit us for more details)

• Transmission: 6-speed automatic with overdrive
• Battery: 115V Lithium-ion
• Engine: ECOTEC 2.4 DOHC, 182hp, 4-cylinder with direct injection and Variable Valve Timing, and eAssist technology with 15 kW electric motor-generator
• Length: 191.3 inches
• Wheelbase: 107.8 inches
• EPA fuel economy: 37mpg hwy/ 25mpg city
• Cargo capacity: 14.3 cubic feet

“The Malibu Eco is a smart choice for customers who want a great looking car inside and out with excellent fuel economy, but without the higher price of some hybrid sedans,” said Russ Clark, director of Chevrolet marketing. “In short, it’s an incredible value.”

We have the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu on the lot, so if you’re interested in taking this eco beauty out for a test drive, stop by the dealership… we’d be happy to help!

“If Chevy can make its most-fuel-efficient model this pleasant, it bodes well for the rest of the lineup.” (Car and Driver 2013 Malibu Eco Review)

Bob Bell Chevrolet of Bel Air
1230 Belair Road
Bel Air, MD 21014
(888) 844-0314

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Get Road Trip Ready

Summer is practically here, so it’s time to start planning your summer adventures! You’ve thrown a dart at the map on the wall, and have decided where to go.  Now you need to think about the vehicle that will take you on the adventure, after all, if the car breaks down, all your careful planning can go out the window.

1. Have a technician look at your vehicle  before any long distance trip:
   1. MOST IMPORTANT – Change your oil and filter regularly, not just when you’re going through a road trip checklist.  It’s a quick, inexpensive process that can literally add years and thousands of miles to the efficient service life of your engine.
   2. Check tire pressure regularly (preferably before driving, while they’re cold). Go by the manufacturer’s recommended settings in the owner’s manual or door sticker.  Have the wheels aligned for better handling, tire wear and safety.
2. Check your spare tire and make sure your car jack and all parts are in the vehicle.
3. Put together an emergency kit.  At the very least you should have:
   1. bottled water, granola  bars or other non-perishable food
   2. flashlight and batteries (not just your lighter or smartphone app!),
   3. basic first aid kit (one you put together yourself, or a pre-made kit from the pharmacy)
4. Bring a spare set of car keys.  Locking the only set of keys in the car can take the fun out of any holiday, fast.
5. Be sure you have valid proof of insurance in the car with you. And if your policy doesn’t include roadside assistance, consider adding it through your carrier or through a motor club like AAA.

Now that the not so much fun stuff is taken care of, you can head out onto the open road, knowing you’re ready to face whatever your adventure has to throw your way!

Let Bob Bell Chevrolet of Bel Air help you on your way, book a service appointment today.

Bob Bell Chevrolet of Bel Air
1230 Belair Road
Bel Air, MD 21014
(888) 844-0314

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The Perfect Chevy for your Teen

You have teenagers, they always need to borrow the car and summer break is only a few months away. They’re going to want to borrow the car a lot more in the summer… to get to their job, their friend’s house or to an activity.  Let’s say you’re going to buy them their own car to teach them about being responsible. Vroomgirls.com recently compiled a list of ‘6 Best New Cars For Your Teenage‘.

Here’s what they had to say about the Chevrolet Sonic:

“Safety is the first concern of most parents who want to put their teen on wheels, and the Chevrolet Sonic is, so far, the smallest and least-expensive car to earn both a perfect five stars in the Government’s tough new crash tests and the coveted Top Safety Pick Award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). A strong body shell and a whopping ten airbags (most cars have only six) are key to the Chevy Sonic’s defenses. But we also like the Sonic’s simple, easy-to-use control layout, which promotes distraction-free driving and helps your teen driver avoid an accident in the first place. Teens will like the [North] American-built Chevrolet Sonic’s modern, attractive styling, and whoever is paying the bills will appreciate the low price, with the air-conditioned Sonic LS base model starting well under $17,000.”

We have Certified Pre-Owned and New Chevy Sonic’s on the lot, so stop by the dealership - we’ve got you covered!

Bob Bell Chevrolet of Bel Air
1230 Belair Road
Bel Air, MD 21014
(888) 844-0314

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Chevrolet – 30 mpg or Better

Fuel prices are above $3.80 per gallon nationally… and it’s not going to drop drastically any time soon, or ever. As fuel prices continue to rise, customers are more interested in fuel-efficient compacts and hybrids to find relief from the pump.

A recent survey of car shoppers on kbb.com found that 51% of respondents are now considering a smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicle. “GM’s strategic investments in four-cylinder and turbocharged engines, advanced transmissions and vehicle electrification have been very well timed,” said Mark Reuss, president of GM North America. “Three years ago, about 16 percent of the vehicles GM sold achieved at least 30 mpg on the highway. Today, that number is about 40 percent, and we have more new fuel-economy leaders on the way…”

What are the GM fuel economy leaders on sale today? Here is the lowdown:                    (all mpg totals are estimated)

• Chevrolet Volt: mpg-e 95 city / 93 hwy
• Chevrolet Sonic: mpg 25-29 city / 35-40 hwy
• Chevrolet Cruze: mpg 25-28 city / 36-42 hwy
• Chevrolet Malibu Eco: mpg 25 city / 37 hwy
• Chevrolet Malibu: mpg 17-22 city / 26-33 hwy
• Chevrolet Equinox: mpg 22 city / 32 hwy
• Chevrolet Impala: mpg 18 city / 30 hwy
• Arriving this summer: Chevrolet Spark: mpg to be determined

So if you’re looking for an environmentally responsible car that fits your budget and your lifestyle, visit Bob Bell Chevrolet of Bel Air, we have plenty of options for you.

Bob Bell Chevrolet of Bel Air
1230 Belair Road
Bel Air, MD 21014
(888) 844-0314

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Child Seat Installation

When it comes to keeping your kids safe, don’t risk installing their seat incorrectly. Here are a few easy steps to installing the seat correctly.

Before you even think about putting it in the vehicle…

1. Read the manual.  Now, I know most people loath reading instructions… but I would hope that in this case you would make an exception. Read both your vehicle owner’s manual and the car seat manual from the manufacturer. You’re not only looking for proper installation, but also information such as the weight and height limits for the seat.
2. If you are borrowing a car seat, or have bought one second-hand, be sure to check the seat carefully, and ask if it’s been in a vehicle during an accident. Make sure it has all the instructions and hardware, it has no discolored stress marks or cracks, the harness is not worn or torn, and it has a properly working buckle and latch. Also look for the sticker from the American National Standard Institute and expiration date. If the seat of over 7 years old, toss it. NEVER USE A SEAT IF IT HAS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.
3. Choose the right seat. Car seats are made to fit children at different ages and heights. A baby under 20 lbs and under 1 year, should always travel in a rear-facing seat. Toddlers who weight between 20 – 40 lbs and are over the age of 1 should ride in a forward-facing seat. Pre-school kids between 20 – 80 lbs, and those shorter than 4.75 feet should use a booster seat until the age of 8.  All children under 13 should ride in the back seat.

Time to install the seat…

1. Anchor the car seat. All vehicles manufactured after September 1, 2002 are equipped with the Universal Anchorage System (UAS) and lower anchorage bars for securing the seat. Then properly thread the seat belt or UAS through the child car seat, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Apply a lot of pressure. Kneel on the child seat to push it into the vehicle’s seat. Use your muscles to tighten the seat belt or UAS. Then grab the seat and try to move it side to side, don’t go easy on it either because you want to make sure it won’t move if you have an accident. It shouldn’t sway more than an inch in any direction.
3. Tighten the straps on your child. Check the tension on all straps – they should be tight enough so you can only fit one finger between the child and the straps.  All straps should lie flat against the child’s body and the chest clip should be positioned at armpit level. If your child whines don’t give in and loosen the straps – the result could be deadly in a collision.

If you are still unsure of how to correctly install your child’s safety seat, or you want someone to double-check your work, you can take it to a child car seat inspection station.  Certified technicians will inspect your child car seat, in most cases, free of charge – and show you how to correctly install and use it. Follow the link provided to find one near you. http://www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm

One last point… you may want to put a blanket or towel under the child seat to protect your vehicle’s seats from spills, crumbs and whatever else your child may throw its way.

Bob Bell Chevrolet of Bel Air
1230 Belair Road
Bel Air, MD 21014
(888) 844-0314

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Chevrolet: America’s favorite performace Brand

The Chevy Camaro and Corvette accounted for one out of every three sports cars sold in the USA in 2011.

The Camaro holds 37% of the sports-car market while the Corvette accounts for 28% in the luxury-sports-car segment… more than doubling its closest competitor, the Porsche 911!

“With the addition of the Camaro ZL1, there are only a handful of brands in the world with two cars that can match the performance, technology, and excitement of Corvette and Camaro,” said General Motors North America President Mark Reuss. “Unlike many competitors’ performance cars, the Corvette ZR1 and Camaro ZL1 are appropriate for both daily drivers and track use from the factory – with standard coolers for brakes and drivetrain.”

“And we challenge any company to bring two cars to compete with the Corvette ZR1 and Camaro ZL1, dollar for dollar,” Reuss said. “They will discover what enthusiasts already know – that Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette are the world’s best performance cars for the money.”

If you’d like to find out why the Chevy Camaro and Corvette are America’s favorite performance brand, stop by the dealership… we’re here to help.

Bob Bell Chevrolet of Bel Air
1230 Belair Road
Bel Air, MD 21014
(888) 844-0314

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The Chevy Volt is Collecting Awards

The Chevy Volt… named 2011 Motor Trend Car of the Year, the 2011 North American Car of the Year, was recommended by Consumer Reports, and earned the highest safety ratings in 2011 from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the first-ever U.S. crash test evaluations of plug-in electric cars.

But the wins don’t stop there… the IIHS also named the 2012 Chevrolet Volt a Top Safety Pick for 2012. And Kelley Blue Book just announced the Chevy Volt wins the Kelley Blue Book Total Cost of Ownership Award in the Electric Car category!

The Chevy Volt isn’t just winning awards, it’s winning repeat owners! A few months ago Consumer Reports conducted a survey asking new car owners how likely they were to purchase the same vehicle again. In the case of the Chevy Volt, 93% said they would “definitely” buy the car again.

Yes, there was an issue with fires occurring in Chevy Volts that had been crashed as part of safety testing, but The U.S. government ended its safety investigation into the Chevrolet Volt after concluding that the Volt and other electric cars don’t pose a greater fire risk than gasoline-powered cars. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and GM know of no fires occurring in real-world crashes. NHTSA said Friday that it “continues to believe that electric vehicles show great promise as a safe and fuel-efficient option,” and based on available data, electric cars don’t appear to be riskier than gas-powered ones.

If you want to drive away a winner, don’t wait to win a car, buy a Chevy Volt. Stop by Bob Bell Chevrolet of Bel Air, we have the Chevy Volt on the lot and ready to go.

Bob Bell Chevrolet of Bel Air
1230 Belair Road
Bel Air, MD 21014
(888) 844-0314

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Chevy Parts & Accessories

I read a study a few weeks ago that said, “The average age of cars and light trucks now in operation in the U.S. has increased to 10.8 years”. It was written by Polk, a leading global automotive market intelligence firm.

This study tells me it’s important for Chevrolet drivers to take care of the vehicles they buy. And you take care of your Chevy by purchasing parts and accessories specifically designed, made and tested to keep your Chevrolet vehicle running at OEM (original equipment from manufacturer) peak performance and appearance—after all, they’re the ones it was born with.

Each part works with the others to produce a single output. Many non-genuine parts may claim to be reliable, but they are not produced to meet GM’s engineering and material specifications. Compromise one part and you may unknowingly compromise a whole system.

Whether you’re restoring an old favorite or personalizing your new baby, count on Chevrolet to provide genuine replacement dependability.

Visit us online to order parts & accessories, or stop by the dealership… either way, let us give you peace of mind knowing you’re taking care of your Chevy.

Bob Bell Chevrolet of Bel Air
1230 Belair Road
Bel Air, MD 21014
(888) 844-0314

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To Buy or To Lease

To buy or to lease…the answer to that question lies in what your needs, as a driver, are.

If, for instance, you are always on the road, and drive over 15,000 miles-per-year, then buying is probably in your best interest. But, if you keep your miles down, and prefer to drive a vehicle that is priced above your means, then leasing is a great option.

We’ve created a questionnaire to help you decide what might work best for you. To answer the following questions and get an answer click on To Buy or to Lease?

• I always drive over 15,000 miles a year
• I like to customize my car by tinting windows, adding pinstripes, sound system, etc.
• I usually get emotionally attached to my car
• I love to see those payments dwindle to nothing
• I’ve got the have (real) new car smell
• I like the security of driving a car under warranty
• I usually choose a car that I can’t afford
• My current car is more than 4 years old
• I am willing to trade ownership for low, monthly payments
• My company reimburses me for car expenses
• I like to do my own repair work
• I typically drive less than 12,000 miles a year

Ultimately, you need to decide if you want to own your vehicle once all is said and done, or if you want a new vehicle every few years. Whatever you decide, Bob Bell Chevrolet of Bel Air is here to help you out.

Bob Bell Chevrolet of Bel Air
1230 Belair Road
Bel Air, MD 21014
(888) 844-0314

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2012 Chevy Sonic

It’s a cool little car… there’s no doubt about that. Over the past few months the 2012 Chevy Sonic has been skydiving, bungee jumping & Rob Dyrdek, from MTV’s Fantasy Factory, pulled out a kick-flip (which is essentially a roll over in the air before landing safely back on its wheels) in it! “The Sonic’s power and sportiness make it the perfect vehicle for this awesome stunt.” says Dyrdek.

Now the 2012 Chevy Sonic has been given the distinct honor of a 5-star safety rating by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  The Sonic garnered the overall 5-Star safety rating following evaluations in rollover resistance, and side/frontal crash, including the “pole test” in which the vehicle was driven into a poll or tree at 32 km/h.

“We developed the Sonic to exceed customer expectations of subcompacts in terms of segment-leading safety features. From the largest vehicles in the lineup to the smallest, we are putting overall crash worthiness at the top of the list of must haves.” said Gay Kent, a GM executive for Vehicle Safety.

If you’re ready for a new kind of car with a healthy appetite for adventure while keeping you and your passengers safe, stop by Bob Bell Chevrolet of Bel Air… we have the new Chevrolet Sonic!

Bob Bell Chevrolet of Bel Air
1230 Belair Road
Bel Air, MD 21014
(888) 844-0314