plus 4, Workhorse Automotive specializes in 'recession-priced' cars - News-Leader.com

Workhorse Automotive specializes in 'recession-priced' cars - News-Leader.com
AUTOMOTIVE: GM aims to move its last Saturns, Pontiacs - Olympian
5 Automotive "Fire Sale" Cars to Avoid - Associated Content
Saturn of Regina to become Titan Automotive Group - Regina Leader-Post
Automotive gear to give to add style and safety - Windsor Star

Workhorse Automotive specializes in 'recession-priced' cars - News-Leader.com

Posted: 30 Dec 2009 12:49 AM PST

Address: 1530 St. Louis St.

Phone: 864-5507

Web site: www.workhorseauto.com

Owners: Lee Thornton and Adam RuBottom

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday

Nature of the business:

The auto industry was struggling when four veteran car guys, all former co-workers at the local Saturn dealership, decided to open a new business a year ago.

The result was Workhorse Automotive and Tire, which specializes in selling pre-owned vehicles along with a tire and service department, owners Lee Thornton and Adam RuBottom said.

"We pretty well do it all," said Thornton.

They will also find vehicles for customers as well as sell them for people.

"We specialize in recession-priced vehicles -- most are priced $7,900 or less, some as low as $1,500," he said. Financing is available and trade-ins are accepted.

They carry a large selection of new tires and wheels as well as used tires.

The shop is equipped with state-of-the-art tire machinery and spin balancers. They fix flats, service and detail vehicles and do other minor work.

One of their most popular services has been same-day pickup and delivery, even for an oil change, within the Springfield city limits.

"We can answer questions about any of your Saturn needs or warranty work," Thornton said.

How the business started:

When General Motors announced plans to quit producing Saturns, the four friends didn't let it get them down. With their expertise and experience, owners Thornton and RuBottom -- along with associates Drew Shipman in service and parts and Rich Eagleburger, Internet and sales -- opened Workhorse Automotive and Tire on Jan. 17. They have one other employee.

Sales techniques are patterned after their experience at the local Saturn dealership. Many loyal customers have followed them, the owners said.

Experience:

Nearly everything the men have done has been related to the auto industry. Thornton has 30 years' experience, RuBottom 10, Shipman 15 and Eagleburger 10 -- 65 years combined.

Challenges:

"Our biggest challenge this first year has been getting word out that we're here," said Thornton. "The more people that know we are here, the more business we will get."

Goals:

Thornton said plans include doubling the service area in 2010 and adding newer lifts and other new equipment.

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AUTOMOTIVE: GM aims to move its last Saturns, Pontiacs - Olympian

Posted: 30 Dec 2009 12:06 AM PST

THE OLYMPIAN | • Published December 30, 2009

General Motors is paying dealers $7,000 for remaining Saturn and Pontiac models in what amounts to a sweetened incentive aimed at clearing inventories of the discontinued brands, company offices and dealers said Tuesday.

The plan, in effect through Jan. 4, allows dealers to sell the remaining vehicles as used cars at whatever price they want, but any sales will count toward GM's December new vehicle sales numbers.

As of Nov. 30, Pontiac dealers had 8,500 vehicles in stock and Saturn dealers had 5,700 throughout the United States, said GM spokesman Tom Henderson.

McClatchy Newspapers

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5 Automotive "Fire Sale" Cars to Avoid - Associated Content

Posted: 29 Dec 2009 10:26 PM PST

Sometimes a Bargain is Just a Fool's Errand..

General Motors recently announced that it was cutting prices on leftover Pontiac, Saturn and Saab models by a whopping $7,500. And that's even before you get to the (soon to be desperate) dealership and start haggling. Is this deal just too good to pass up or are similar bargains at troubled auto manufacturers and brands just going to end in your financial misery?

One problem with buying a new car from a manufacturer that is closing its doors is resale value. Do you really think people are going to be lined up around the block 10 years from now to buy your used Pontiac G6 sedan? And besides that, will there be parts readily available? (Note: Most manufacturers guarantee at least 10 years worth of new parts after closing and since Saab, Saturn and Pontiac are GM subsidiaries they can continue to be serviced at any General Motors dealership.)

While some of these "fire sale" new car deals can seem mighty tempting not all cars are created equal when it comes to performance, economy and quality. Just because you can buy a new model for the price of used doesn't mean that you should. Here are five models that are often times severely discounted that you should avoid.

Pontiac Solstice: Intended as a competitor for the Mazda Miata, this ragtop was a design and engineering disaster from day one. The top is difficult to raise and lower, the interior plastics are dire and the power window controls can only be accessed when seated by those who are double jointed. While GM's intentions were pure with the Solstice the execution was truly miserable. This fact is borne out by the Solstice being the only convertible not recommended by Consumer Reports due to reliability issues.

Saab 9-5: While there is nothing inherently wrong with the design of the Saab 9-5, why would you buy a new one when there are used versions (which are exactly the same) dating back over a decade? If you ever wanted a reason as to why Saab failed the 9-5 is a perfect answer. This once loved Swedish automaker was starved for product.

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Saturn of Regina to become Titan Automotive Group - Regina Leader-Post

Posted: 29 Dec 2009 09:50 PM PST

REGINA — Saturn of Regina is set to begin its new phase on Monday when it becomes the Titan Automotive Group.

Rick Ponto, from Saturn of Regina Ltd. located at 755 Broad Street, said after Saturn announced it would end retail operations in Canada after this year, he knew his company needed to make some changes to stay in business.

"Titan Automotive Group will sell all makes, all models, and have a larger inventory of pre-owned products," said Ponto about his new business, on Tuesday. "We may even into some bikes and boats and the odd motor home type of thing as we go forward, but initially we will just be pre-owned cars and trucks."

The service department will continue to service all makes and models of vehicles, said Ponto.

"We have retained all of our Saturn special tools and all of our employees since this has happened," Ponto said, adding the service department is still well-equipped to service Saturn vehicles.

He said that since Saturn announced that it will no longer produce new vehicles, the Regina dealership lost only one employee.

Ponto explained that most of his remaining 53 employees have been with Saturn of Regina for more than 20 years.

"All of the management team, pretty much, has been there from the beginning and a lot of our staff," said Ponto. "We wanted to maintain that because we've all been brought up in the Saturn culture and we want to maintain that going forward, unfortunately we're not selling the new product right now."

He said revamping the business to ensure everyone remained employed was a "no-brainer."

"We're the same people, same location, same friendly faces, great service, just a new name. That's all that's changing really," he said.

Ponto said coming up with a new name was not easy so he looked to the skies for inspiration.

"When I was looking for a new name for the company, I tried everything I could think of for a new name then I Googled Saturn," said Ponto. "The name Titan was there and thought that was a great name."

Titan is Saturn's largest moon.

Ponto took the name to his staff and everyone agreed that it was a perfect name for the new company.

"When you look at the logo of Saturn it's just the reverse of the logo with the moon in the centre," he said.

Another change customers can expect at Titan is that it will be offering oil changes for $24.95.

"If you want to come in for an oil change for $24.95 by professional, qualified journeymen technicians — that's what you're going to get," said Ponto.

He said this change was made because the service department will no longer be able to do warranty work on new Saturns. The warranty work will no go to the GM Dealerships.

Ponto hopes the low-priced oil change will help draw in new customers to Titan's service department.

kbenjoe@leaderpost.canwest.com

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Automotive gear to give to add style and safety - Windsor Star

Posted: 29 Dec 2009 09:57 PM PST

Here are some gift ideas for the drivers on your list:

Lamborghini Gallardo Valentino Balboni Gear

You'll note we wrote "gear." It might be tough to reward your favourite driver with an actual Lambo under the tree, so settle for the next best thing with a variety of gifts inspired by this legendary car. Named after the famous test driver hired by Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1967, Balboni-emblazoned gear will only be available for a limited time. Items include Christmas tree baubles, candles and wall calendars, all featuring Lamborghini crests and finished in the two colours exclusive to the Gallardo (Blue Caelum and White Monocerus, whatever those are). Available now at www.lamborghinistore.com.

Eddie Bauer Car Emergency Kit

A compact-yet-diverse emergency kit that comes with all the tools you'll need for roadside survival,it includes an air compressor, reflective triangle, booster cables, screwdrivers, pliers, flashlight (with batteries included), tow rope and gloves. There are also a few more handy items thrown into Eddie Bauer's signature padded polyester bag, designed to withstand a good amount of wear and tear. Visit www.eddiebauer.com for more information.

Driving Cap

Keeps the sun out of your eyes and you looking fashionable while doing it. Yes, the driving cap can come in handy when sunglasses and sun visors just won't cut it; the added bonus is that caps better lend themselves to branding. This year, treat the driving fanatic in your life to a classic Mercedes Benz hat. Embroidered with the classic 1926 racing logo and fitted with an adjustable strap, this stylish headgear is sure to please and, at just $15.95, a great value gift. Visit shop.mercedes-benz.ca.

Mio C230 GPS System

One of the best-rated global-positioning systems on the market, the Mio offers drivers a text-to-speech option that is great for navigating. Rather than indicating distance to next turn, the Mio speaks full street names, giving drivers a better sense of where they are and need to go. The voice guidance comes in 16 different languages, features full maps of Canada and the United States and won't obstruct views -- it's a nine-centimetre touch screen that'll mount nicely on any console. The Mio is available at Canadian Tire (www.canadiantire.ca) but only available in limited quantities, so act fast.

Self-Heating Travel Mug

The driver in your life is probably spending a lot of time on the road. Therefore, the driver in your life should have access to a warm beverage at all times. The solution: a self heating travel mug. These stainless-steel travellers have double-wall insulation and a small electrical outlet that'll plug into any car lighter, and can keep beverages warm up to 63 C. It's the perfect fix for those long road trips where coffee is a must.

It should be noted these can be tough to find in retail stores, so it's best to head to websites like www.overstock.com to check out prices and availability.

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