CATA Bulletin a biweekly newsletter

official Web site of CATA dealers Volume 102, No. 3 January 31, 2005

Chicago 2005: Another landmark auto show

Landmarks can be defined a num- evening before the ber of ways. They can be an object that opens to the public, is the auto show’s marks boundaries or a locality. They benevolent black-tie event. It is among can be a structure that’s used as a point Chicago ’s biggest single-day charity of orientation in relation to other struc- fund raisers. tures. They can be an event or devel- ‘First Look’ is an anticipated event opment that marks a turning point or a among socialites and car buffs alike. stage. And they can also be a structure The black-tie affair allows participants of unusual historic and aesthetic inter- to stroll the show floor amid opulence est. the Chrysler Group’s display, which not present during the public portion The 2005 Chicago Auto Show, Feb. recalled the first Chicago Auto Show of the Chicago Auto Show. 11-20 at McCormick Place , meets all in 1901, when an indoor test track was Abundant hors d’oeuvres, cham- those criteria. built to familiarize the public with what pagne, wine and soft drinks await those Since its inception in 1901, the Chi- then was a new mode of transportation. getting the first look at the more than cago Auto Show has continually Culling the ‘everything old is new 1,000 new vehicles—some on display stepped up to the plate to bring new again’ axiom, Chrysler, Dodge and for the first time anywhere—at the vehicles, new displays and new attrac- Jeep will construct a half-mile, indoor Chicago Auto Show. tions to its audience. The 97th edition test track on which showgoers will be As has become customary, one pa- of this great tradition appears to have able to actually experience the prod- tron could win big, too. A loaded 2005 all the right ingredients in place. ucts in action. Chevrolet Corvette convertible valued “We’ve never had such a pre-show Jeep will have a challenging off-road at more than $57,000 is the event’s door buzz as we have this year,” said 2005 course, while the ride and handling of prize. Chicago Auto Show Chairman Casey Chrysler cars and Dodge trucks will use Tickets are $200 each and can be Wickstrom. other areas of the track. purchased at www.chicago- “There’s a great deal of anticipation The public will have two halls to ex- autoshow.com or 630-424-1636. about the new cars, trucks, SUVs, plore this year: McCormick Place The Age of Personalization: project cars and the show-stopper con- North and South. SEMA cepts that will fill more of McCormick “Families may want to plan to stay In a time when people like to indi- Place than the public has ever seen. a bit longer at the show this year,” said vidualize everything in their lives, the “This year’s expansion to a whop- Wickstrom. “We have always been the ability to personalize their vehicles is ping 1.2 million square feet—42 per- largest auto show in North America, but a phenomenon that is growing dramati- cent larger than last year—at Chicago’s the expansion to the second hall makes cally. spacious lakeside exhibit center will the Chicago Auto Show the world’s In some circles the process of cus- give to people a show they won’t soon third largest auto show, behind only tomizing vehicles with special wheels, forget.” Frankfurt and Paris.” tires, bodywork, audio and other acces- One notable addition to the ex- First Look for Charity sories is called “tuning.” The people panded displays will be found in the First Look for Charity, held the SEE AUTO SHOW, PAGE 2 2 CATA Bulletin January 31, 2005

Auto Show the rage, the other end of the spectrum is being addressed by this line of vehicles that have gained huge popularity in CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Europe. who know more about vehicle specialization best are the Chicago ‘s International truck will grab a sizeable chunk members of the Specialty Equipment Market Association. of McCormick Place floor to show its products, including a The SEMA show, each November in Las Vegas, draws huge world introduction of a new consumer-friendly vehicle that numbers of wholesalers and retailers looking for what the will be a sibling to the CXT Concept the company intro- “next big thing” is in the field, but the show is closed to the duced three months ago. It’ll be a surprise you won’t want public. to miss. Recognizing that the mild-to-wild equipment that is avail- Dub Magazine will roll out its incredible stable of able for the public to “tune” their cars and trucks has grown Chrysler Tuner Vehicles for Chicago, as well. The Dub cars to a $29 billion annual business, the Chicago Auto Show have proven to be crowd-pleasers with their edgy-urban styl- teamed up with SEMA to bring special “project vehicles” ing and avant garde’ presence. and displays to the Windy City ’s show. Chicago is a Landmark Show “We looked at shows across America and came to the The size, the magnitude and the newest attractions in the conclusion that Chicago offered us the best opportunity to automotive world will again make Chicago the nation’s most spread the word about our business,” said Carl Sheffer, vice influential consumer auto show. president of manufacturer relations for the California-based “Our show is where people come to see a truly spectacu- association. “I think our display there will open a lot of lar event,” said show Chairman Wickstrom. “Over the past eyes as to how widespread this has become.” century, the Chicago Auto Show has proven to be a terrific New Displays and Manufacturers day of family fun. In addition to the SEMA project cars, Chicago show pa- “We constantly hear our show patrons tell stories of how, trons will see some brands they might not have seen any- when they were kids, they came to the show with their par- where before. The economical Smart brand of cars, built ents. Those are lasting memories for many—and now they by Mercedes-Benz, will make its first appearance in Chi- want to continue that tradition with their children. Whether cago this year. In a time when horsepower seems to be all you’re a car junkie or just love the spectacle of magnificent displays, McCormick Place is where you’re going to want to be Feb. 11-20. “We’re a landmark, from our building to the displays Congratulations! inside it and to the tradition we share with millions of people. Kevin Mize (District B, Chicago), president of It’s a continuing challenge for us to make this show great O’Hare Honda in Des Plaines, and Greg Bosak for Chicagoans, and I think this year we won’t let them (District D, South Chicago/Northwest Indiana/Eastern down.” Iowa), president of Bosak Honda in Highland, Ind., The Chicago Auto Show is open to the public Feb. 11-20 have been elected to the National Dealer Council of at McCormick Place, 23rd Street at Lake Shore Drive . American Honda Motor Co. Hours are daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. except Feb. 20, Six district delegates represent all of Honda’s when the doors will close at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at Midwest dealers on the national council. Mize is the door or online at DriveChicago.com/ chairman of the Midwest Zone, and Bosak is the Zone Chairman Alternate. The CATA Bulletin is published by the Chicago Automobile Trade Association 18W200 Butterfield Road Bulletin on hiatus Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181-4810 630-495-CATA [2282] phone 630-495-2260 fax This biweekly The CATA Bulletin is published and mailed every other Friday newsletter takes a one- except during the Chicago Auto Show, when it is not published. edition break in Listings of items for sale are subject to the approval of the deference to the 2005 CATA. Candidates for employment must submit a full résumé to the Editor. Chicago Auto Show. Review past editions or search by topic at www.cata.info/ Watch for the next Jerry H. Cizek III President, Publisher issue dated Feb. 28. Erik K. Higgins Editor, Director of Dealer Affairs January 31, 2005 CATA Bulletin 3

More fans of manual transmissions shift gears to automatics

The stick shift, an automotive main- eight-year span beginning in 1996, the pastimes of today’s drivers—is much stay since the invention of the popularity of automatic transmissions easier without having to shift gears. “horseless carriage,” slowly is going among heavy trucks rose from 5 per- Shifting is not missed the way of the tailfin and carburetor. cent to 18 percent, reports show. Ted Marshall drives 30,000 miles a Thanks to technological advances Motoring purists lament the change, year for work, so he made sure his ’04 and drivers looking for an easier way claiming car and motorist are only con- Pontiac GTO had an automatic trans- to navigate congested roadways, the nected when the driver is shifting gears. mission. And he doesn’t miss the sporty old standard manual But for some, the fun of operating feeling associated with shifting. doesn’t come standard much anymore. slick new automatic transmissions— Reversing a decades-old industry “One more generation and you’ll some of which enable drivers to shift marketing equation, Pontiac designated probably have people who have abso- without a clutch—now rival the old as standard lutely no idea what a three-pedal car standard gearbox. Increased traffic con- equipment on the GTO. The 6-speed does,” said Bill Visnic, editor of an gestion has reduced the manual expe- manual, which it shares with the automotive trade magazine. rience to drudgery for others. Chevrolet Corvette, is a $695 option. By 2012, just 6 percent of all ve- Edmund Handwerker, a 19-year-old If manual transmissions become hicles sold in the North American mar- student in New York, has a 1996 Mazda scarce, most dealers won’t grieve. ket will have manual transmissions, ac- Miata with an automatic transmission. “We used to have the manual trans cording to a forecast by Germany’s ZF “Everyone asks, ‘How come you don’t available on the Grand Am,” said Ed Industries, the world’s largest indepen- get a manual? A Miata should be McDade, sales manager at a Detroit dent transmission maker. manual.’ I get that from everyone,” said dealership. “When I stocked them, In 2002, 10 percent of vehicles sold Handwerker. “I live in Brooklyn and they’d just sit. In the past, the small in the United States and Canada were I’m in stop-and-go traffic all the time.” economical cars with a stick would be equipped with manual gearboxes. In a car equipped with a manual the way to go because they were even The trend also is occurring in Euro- transmission, gridlock can mean push- cheaper. It’s not the case any more.” pean markets. In the United Kingdom, ing and releasing a clutch pedal again Skill is not learned automatic transmissions are on pace to and again. Plus, since some pedals are As automatic transmissions prolif- reach 15 percent of all models. stiffer than others, driving can be physi- erated in the last half-century, fewer Even heavy-duty and commercial cally exhausting. And talking on a cell and fewer people learned the time-hon- trucks are making the switch. Over an phone and sipping coffee—favorite SEE SHIFT, PAGE 4

Many new faces Polk Automotive Loyalty Award winners, 2004 Model Year among Polk loyalty Category Winner (*2003 Winner) Loyalty % Avg. Loyalty % award winners Overall Awards for Category Manaufacturer Loyalty * 65.1 54.6 General Motors won for the Make Loyalty Ford Division* 57.4 44.8 fifth consecutive year in the Vehicle Segment Awards Overall Manufacturer cat- Small car Saturn ION 30.6 13.9 Midsize car Toyota Camry 28.0 19.2 egory, in results of the ninth Large car Buick LeSabre 41.2 29.3 annual Polk Automotive Loy- Luxury car Cadillac DeVille 40.9 18.8 alty Awards, announced this Prestige Luxury car Lexus LS 430 32.7 25.9 month. Ford has won the Over- Ford Mustange 15.0 9.0 all Make Award every year. Prestige Sports car Jaguar XK 22.8 15.4 There were six repeat win- Chrysler Town & Country* 25.8 14.0 ners from 2003 within the seg- Compact * 18.2 13.2 ment level categories, all truck- Full-size Pickup truck Ford F-Series* 42.7 36.7 based vehicles. The car seg- Compact SUV Subaru Forester* 25.2 16.3 ments all saw new winners. Midsize SUV Mountaineer* 32.9 18.1 Full-size SUV * 27.1 22.1 Jaguar and Land Rover each Presitge SUV Land Rover 33.9 21.6 took home their first awards. 4 CATA Bulletin January 31, 2005

Cambridge deflects unemployment claims Consider ‘adopting’ a

One hundred twelve CATA dealer ployers is 3.1 percent, or $279 annu- school for Chicago members reported a combined 446 un- ally. employment claims during the fourth “The unemployment tax is really the Auto Show quarter of 2004 to Cambridge Inte- only controllable tax, in that it’s expe- Dealerships can plant a benevolent grated Services Group, Inc., which for- rience-driven,” said Paul Schardt, se- seed with students by sponsoring a merly operated as the Martin Boyer Co. nior vice president of Cambridge. An school group’s visit to the 2004 The company’s efforts saved those ex-employee’s claim affects the Chicago Auto Show. The measure can dealers a total of $772,746 in benefits employer’s tax rate for three years. be a community relations plum and by contesting the claims. Client fees amount to $2.10 per establish customer loyalty with young Cambridge monitors any unemploy- employee, per fiscal quarter. For the consumers. ment claims against its clients. About fee, Cambridge monitors all unemploy- Under the Adopt-A-School Pro- 200 CATA dealers are clients of the ment claims, files any appeals, repre- gram, a dealership can purchase company. sents the client at any hearings, veri- tickets at $5 each for students in a Claims that can be protested and fies the benefit charge statements and group. There is no minimum or subsequently denied help minimize an confirms the client’s unemployment tax maximum potential group size. See employer’s unemployment tax rate. rate. the flyer in the print edition of this The rate can vary between .06 percent Cambridge has represented CATA newsletter. and 6.8 percent of each employee’s first members since 1979. To discuss High schoolers at or near driving $9,000 of earnings. The average unem- retaining the company, call Schardt at age are logical students for a dealer- ployment tax rate among Illinois em- 312-381-8241. ship to pair itself with. There are hundreds and hundreds of high Marketplace schools in the Chicago area, probably more than one within each dealer’s GM Results-oriented with extensive dealership general management relevant market area. experience. Expert in new and used sales management, F&I, recondition- Bill Stasek, proprietor of Bill ing, staff development, training, motivation, advertising, inventory acquisi- Stasek Chevrolet in Wheeling, last tion, forecasting, budgeting, customer service and asset management. year sponsored more than 100 Contract employment periods available. Anonymous; call the CATA. students each from nearby Buffalo Controller Aggressive self-starter analyzes and interprets financial data Grove High School, John Hersey and recommends changes to improve systems, financial performance and High School in Arlington Heights, internal controls. Will consider temporary placement. Mark E. Thomas, and Vanguard School in Wheeling. 708-932-5596. Accompanying chaperones are Office Manager 18 years experience. Expertise in GM, Mercedes-Benz admitted at no charge. and Mazda dealership financial management, reporting, analysis, inventory “The schools look forward to the control, more. Reynolds and Reynolds ERA system. James McCallister, auto show so much, and they 815-464-7665. wouldn’t be able to go without this Résumés of all candidates on file at the CATA. program,” Stasek said. “They really appreciate it, so it creates a lot of Shift quest from an automotive writer from goodwill with the schools.” a national publication. The request was In the program, dealers contact a CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 for a Dodge Viper. school’s principal or assistant princi- “We had it delivered and the jour- pal to arrange the weekday field trip. ored skill of coordinating clutch, shifter nalist goes, ‘This is a stick! I can’t drive Stasek met the groups at McCormick and throttle, McDade said. And the in- a stick!’ ” Vines said, noting Dodge Place and even popped for lucnhes ability to drive a stick seems to know doesn’t offer the Viper any other way. for everyone. no boundaries. And pity Roy P. Bougie of Blaine, Dealers interested in “adopting” a Jason Vines, vice president of com- Minn. He’s doing 10 years for a 2000 school should contact the CATA’s munications for DaimlerChrysler AG, carjacking that failed because he Donna Young for more details, at recalls accommodating a test drive re- couldn’t drive the vehicle he’d stolen. 630-424-6045.