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When you have to worry about driving your family around all the time, there are a large number of things to consider. A minivan is known as the vehicle for families across the country, but many are finding the sporty and versatile convenience of the SUV makes it a great option as well. Today we will tell you 4 reasons to get an SUV instead of a minivan for the family. more You need to cart the kids around. You need space for all their stuff and you need to make sure everyone is comfortable for the next big family road trip. Here are five reasons why you should do it all in an SUV. READ MORE: The Buick Enclave, Perfect for Big Families! 1) Minivans carry the stereotype: Not only will people assume that you are a soccer mom, but there is a good chance that you are one! Choose to drive a vehicle that looks more aggressive, handles more like a car, and offers the space you need without sacrificing your self-esteem. Drive a powerful SUV. 2) SUVs can tow more and carry more: Unless you get a really powerful minivan, chances are that an SUV will be able to tow the family pontoon boat or haul the kids college dorm room materials more easily than a minivan could. Because they are built more like a truck, they are prepared to handle tougher jobs. 3) Large SUVs actually have a truck's engine. They are made to handle tough road conditions with ease and confidence. There are few who feel save in a smaller vehicle on an icy road, but a 2015 GMC Acadia will have you feeling like you could race! Great traction and capability in wintery weather makes the SUV a great choice. All-wheel drive baby! 4) Safety is key. While minivans are pretty safe as far as ratings and precaution goes, it is equally safe to buckle the family into a three-row SUV. They go through the same tests and get excellent ratings that prove they are excellent options for the whole family! READ MORE: Buick Comes Out Ahead of Honda in Initial Quality and Dependability! Still not sure if there is an SUV that is perfect for your family? Give our sales team a call. We'll help you find the right one, at the right price, and take it for a spin. We look forward to hearing from you.

Do you find yourself to be left at home with all the kids finally gone and moved out? It's time to downsize and say goodbye to that old minivan. Gone are the days of shuffling several youngin's to their soccer games and sleepovers. Now it's time to drive in style and comfort! Empty-nesters love the 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe and we'll tell you why! more When it comes to downsizing after the kids have all left, there are few parents who aren't excited to get a vehicle that is exciting and stylish. The Cadillac brand has been a favorite for parents in this category for a long time, and continues to shine as one of the first choices for luxury vehicles in the US. Here are some reasons why we love the 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe: 1. Horsepower: With over 270 horsepower coming from a 2.0-liter I-4 engine, this racy vehicle can really get going quickly. Offered with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission, drivers have the option of choosing their drive style. An upgrade is available to a 321 horsepower V6 for those who feel the need for speed. 2. OnStar: Worried about getting into a crash and finding yourself unable to contact anyone? OnStar is there to make sure you get the help you need any time you find yourself in trouble. However, few people also realize that OnStar is great for directions as well! 3. It's gorgeous. This vehicle stands out. Even if you aren't a fan of the previous generations of Cadillac vehicles, this one surely is going to change your mind. It's sleek design and curves make it a truly beautiful piece of art, but one that is useful and fun to drive. 4. A high-tech interior. Leather seats and a first-row LCD screen come together with the infotainment system and voice activated navigation to make every drive a confident and easy experience. There's no denying the gorgeous appeal of a colorful screen inside a luxurious and comfortable car. Of course there are a million more reasons that so many empty-nesters are choosing to drive home the new 2015 Cadillac CTS coupe, but you should come in to test drive one and experience it for yourself! We look forward to hearing from you!

When it comes to packing the family into a vehicle and taking a summer road trip, there are a lot of things to consider. Is there enough space? Is everyone going to be comfortable? Can we even do this? Yes! The answer is yes to all of those questions when you are riding in the 2015 Buick Enclave. Is the Buick Enclave good for big families? We all say yes, and we'll tell you why! more You know you've got a big family when the idea of packing everyone into the car seems a little too crazy to attempt. Whether you have three kids or five, there's room for everyone inside the Buick Enclave with an eight person passenger capacity! Here are some reasons why the Buick Enclave is such a great choice: 1. There's lots of space. Between space for people and cargo space in the back, this little vehicle has room for everyone and all their stuff. Packing the car for a trip was never so convenient and simple! 2. A quiet ride. When you are spending time in a vehicle, there's nothing better than a quiet ride. While the people inside the vehicle may be loud, noise from the road or outside are blocked out of this ultra-quiet cabin. 3. Luxury. Buick is known for being one of the most affordable semi-luxury brands on the market. It's quality materials and easy handling makes the Enclave a great vehicle for those who like to feel the comforts of modern technology and design. 4. A powerful engine. A 3.6-liter V6 engine powers this full-size SUV without sacrificing power. Putting out over 285 horsepower, this engine is ready to carry the family and tow a trailer behind it without complaint. 5. All-wheel drive is available for those who worry about handing tough road conditions. With the all-wheel drive capability of the Buick Enclave, you have nothing to fret about and can drive with confidence no matter what the weather throws your way! There are lots of reasons why you should choose a 2015 Buick Enclave. Be sure to stop in and test drive one today! We look forward to seeing you!

Why is premium fuel more expensive? There are few choices to make at the gas station. Namely, which fuel to put in the car. Most of us know the difference between regular and diesel fuel, but what makes the different options for regular fuel cost more or less? Why is premium fuel more expensive? We are here to talk about that today. Read on to learn more about premium fuel. more One of the worst things about driving a car is having to spend money on fuel every few days. It seems to be used up more quickly than it should, and it can cost a bundle to fill up the tank. So why would anyone choose to buy the more expensive fuel option, when there are at least 2 cheaper options? What makes premium fuel worth the extra money? Basically, it comes down to your car's engine. Your vehicle engine operates with a certain compression ratio. A higher ratio needs fuel that is less combustible, while a lower compression ratio can handle the cheaper stuff. An owners' manual for any vehicle should include information inside as to which fuel to put in the vehicle. While many only suggest the premium fuel, even fewer make it a requirement. If the suggestion is there, you are most likely safe to try the cheaper fuel. READ MORE: Synthetic vs Conventional Oil What happens if I put cheaper fuel in an engine that needs the premium fuel? A lower octane fuel in an engine with a high compression ratio will produce an engine knock. This is an often audible sound that can lead to engine damage and expensive repairs down the road. It is important to give a vehicle the fuel it needs to run smoothly. Have other questions about what your car needs? Give our service center a call. Our friendly and professional staff is always happy to answer any questions or concerns you might have! Need to bring your car in for service? No problem! Schedule your own appointment online! We look forward to seeing you!

The Benefits of Waxing Your Car Sometimes, waxing a car just seems like a waste of time. There’s only so many hours in the day and waxing a car takes a little time. However, the benefits of waxing the car are just as prevalent today as they were years ago when people waxed their cars more often. We’ll tell you why you should do it, and how often. Read on! more Back in the day, cars rolled off dealership lots with a lot less protection than cars today. The paint had fewer layers of protection and needed wax to keep it from being scratched and otherwise harmed while out on the road. Wax today is like old wax times ten. It works much better, is easier to apply, and needs to be applied less often. Cars today come ready to handle the environment much more easily, but a coat of wax every so often can still add protection from scratches and other damage. Modern car wax technology has made it quicker and easier to apply, and only needs to be applied 2-3 times per year. It is suggested that you give your car a wax each fall and each spring to maintain a watertight and shiny exterior. Even if you obsess over your car paint, modern wax doesn’t need to be applied more than 4 times per year, and spray wax is a great way to maintain the shine during the months you don’t apply wax manually. How is your car looking and feeling these days? Could it use a shine up and a tune up? Sometimes even the greatest cars need a little love and maintenance. Bring in your vehicle to see us and our team of experienced automotive experts at Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac in Kenosha WI. We look forward to hearing from you!

How do I switch my Buick Verano to synthetic oil Does the latest statistics and conversation about synthetic oil have you scratching your head? What’s the difference? Why should I switch? How do I switch my Buick Verano to synthetic oil? These are all valuable questions that we hope to answer in this blog post. Read on to find out more about the benefits of synthetic oil. more There are lots of automotive people walking around talking about the benefits of switching to synthetic motor oil. Here are a few of them: It keeps your engine cleaner: Conventional oil can become a sludge as is gets dirtier which can decrease the efficiency of your engine. Synthetic oil is more pure and resists the formation of sludge. Increases engine life: Conventional oil loses it’s oily texture as it gets dirty and used. This means that the parts inside your engine are rubbing together and not protected. Synthetic oil retains it’s slippery abilities for much longer. Winter is no match for it: Cold weather makes oil much thicker and as a result, it doesn’t do it’s job very well until the engine is properly warmed up. Synthetic oil, on the other hand, works just as well in cold weather and keeps the engine running in top shape even in the midst of Wisconsin’s intense coldness. Less frequent oil changes: The synthetic oil stays cleaner, longer. This means that it can carry a car farther between oil changes. So, what is the problem and why don’t we all just use synthetic oil? Well here are a few reasons why it’s a big choice to make. Once you go synthetic, you can’t go back! It’s a one-time switch over, so you need to make the decision and stick with it! It’s more expensive than conventional motor oil. You get this oil changed less frequently, but when you DO change it, it costs a little more. It evens out, but with an engine that runs more smoothly and less frequent oil changes, it just about pays for itself! Synthetic oils cannot fix a vehicle that is worn out or running poorly. It works best on newer vehicles. Now, how do you make the switch? If you are considering switching to synthetic oil, bring in your vehicle to see the experts here at Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac. We will get your vehicle’s oil switched and make sure that everything else in your car looks good. Our team of highly experienced technicians are always prepared and will get the job done quickly and affordably.

Our Best Road Trip Games for Kids and Adults Are you headed somewhere a good distance from your house this spring or summer? Are you dreading spending hours in the car with kids whining and asking if you are there yet? Well a great solution for this is to play games. We want you to be prepared for the bored kiddos so we’ve put together some of our best road trip games for kids and adults. Read on to see what we suggest. more There are few things as relaxing as sitting in the car all day long. For grown-ups it can be a great experience, but most kids find themselves bored out of their minds. Here are some great games they can play to keep busy. Car Bingo: Make boards ahead of time that feature things the players might see during the road trip. Their goal is to spot the items on their board and cross them off until they get a column or row completely crossed off. Examples of things you could put on the board are: a blue pickup truck, a flash of lightning, a brown cow… etc. Movie Quote Mania: If your family watches movies together, a fun game can be to think of a line from a family favorite. Say the line in the best impression you can and see if anyone can guess. Keep saying different lines from the movie if they need more clues. This is a better game for older kids or adults. 20 questions. This might sound boring, but if you use a person place or thing that directly relates to the people in the car, the game can become much more interesting. Make them guess their friends or pets instead of choosing random public figures. It can be a great way to bond as a family. I spy. This one is a classic and is easy to play with young children. One person says “I spy with my little eye…” and gives a clue to whatever object they’ve spotted. The other players have to guess what the item is. This can be really fun and even tricky depending on the clues you give! Well those are our favorite games. Playing games together as a family is a great way to build relationships and have fun at the same time! There’s no video game or movie that can make happiness that lasts longer than fun memories. Let us know what you think and what games you like to play with your family! If you prefer to go digital with your entertainment, be sure to check out the 2015 Cadillac Escalade with an available rear seat entertainment system. Happy Travels!

how do you stop a dog from peeing while in the car There are some habits our furry friends pick up that drive us crazy. One of the worst ones is when they do their “business” in places they shouldn’t. So how do you stop a dog from peeing while in the car? We’ll give you some tips for the road! more What a mess! It can be a real pain when your dog pees in the car. Plus, the smell! We want to help you solve this issue, so we’ll give you some tips. Make sure, before starting to attempt behavior changing, that your dog doesn’t have urinary tract issues. This is a big reason why many dogs pee in the wrong places. However, if the problems only exist in the car, then it’s safe to assume it’s a behavioral issue. Scrub the spots in the car where the dog has previously had an “accident.” This is key because most dogs are willing to urinate in a place that they can smell. It’s best to remove any traces of urine. Remain calm during and before driving in the car. Often times, urination problems come from a dog feeling anxious, excited, or territorial. By calmly introducing the idea of a car ride, the dog has less reason to get all worked up and pee while you are driving. Another option is to get a snug crate for the car. Keeping your dog in a crate that is big enough for it to sit, stand, and lay down is important, but you don’t want to give them enough space to pee in a corner and sit comfortably away from it. As mentioned earlier, peeing can be a way of marking territory. A dog that can tell that other strange dogs were in their space is more likely to urinate to claim the area. Try to only let your dog in your car so there is no need to mark the territory. Finally, try and give your dog a distraction. What this means is to occupy them with something other than urinating or getting too excited. Giving them something to chew on is a great way to keep them busy. Just make sure that the distraction is a long-term one if you plan on driving for a long time! Well, that’s our list of tips! Have any you want to add? Feel free to leave them below in the comments! As always, the team at Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac wants to help you to have a safe and enjoyable driving experience. Happy travels!

As the weather starts to warm up, it can be tough to venture outdoors without affordable ways to have a little fun. There are lots of summer and spring activities that can be done at home, but there is something so exciting about going somewhere and trying something new. We’ve put together a list of 10 affordable things to do in Kenosha WI Spring/Summer 2015! Read on to find out more: more We compiled this list to help you find something fun to do on these sunnier and warmer days. Shake off the winter blues and try one of these fun ideas! First, see what is going on in downtown Kenosha. There’s a variety of fun events that take place down there on the weekends. From farmer’s markets to musical entertainment, downtown is a great place to look for a fun (and usually free!) event. Get some hiking in at Petrifying Springs Park where you can enjoy the majesty of nature and get great exercise for free! Check out the Kenosha Public Museum to learn new things and support the Kenosha-area community! Stop over at The Spot Drive-In for a movie viewing experience just like the good ‘ole days! Climb to the top of the Southport Lighthouse for great views of Lake Michigan. Another great exercise option! Stop in to see famous people made entirely out of Jelly Belly beans at the Jelly Belly Visitor Center! Free samples are included! Take a stroll along the picturesque shore of Lake Andrea at Prairie Springs Park. Bike along the Pike Bike Trail or the Kenosha County Bike Trail for free any time! Without having to worry about cars, a bike ride is a great way to spend a warm spring day. Bring a picnic along for a day at Wolfenbuttel Park next to Lake Michigan. Wisconsin’s shores are full of amazing sights and great photo opportunities. Spend some time out at UW-Parkside, Fox River Park, or Silver Lake Park for frisbee golf on a warm day. Celebrate the warmer weather that is coming and get out and enjoy what Kenosha has to offer those looking for a little adventure. We hope our list of indoor and outdoor activities will inspire you to spend some time exploring. Want more ideas? Check out this great page. Don’t forget to get your vehicle check-up for the season change to make sure that it’s ready to adventure along with you as the weather warms up. Check out service coupons page to see if you can save some cash when you bring in your car for regular maintenance. We wish you a happy spring season as we all look forward to warmer, sunnier days!

can I put a car seat in a 2015 Buick Regal We have all been seeing the new Buick midsize sedan, the Regal, around lately. Scoring high with critics for its classy design and innovative 4-cylinder turbo engine, the Regal seems like the perfect combination of space and functionality. But we were left wondering, can I put a car seat in a 2015 Buick Regal? Cars.com did a test to help us find out! Read on to find out what they said. more The safety and security of children riding in a car seat is undeniable in today’s automotive world. Stories of parents who get into accidents with children who do not meet the qualifications to be in the car without a car seat or booster seat make it important to consider the safety of vehicles that will be the transportation of your family. We want to give you a little confidence in the 2015 Buick Regal’s safety features and car seat ability. There were a few distinct things that the testers at cars.com found were particularly helpful about the Regal. the leather seats are stiff, but the anchors for the car seats were positioned so they could be reached easily. the rear-facing infant and convertible seats both fit easily in the backseat. There was no extra effort necessary because there was plenty of space without having to move the front passenger seat forward. This one thing made it a little tricky: It can be difficult for young children to buckle themselves in because the buckles themselves sink into the seat when you are pushing the seat belt into the latch. Overall, the testing experts gave the latch system, infant-safety seat, rear and front facing convertible seats a grade of A. This means that they felt the seat and child had lots of space, and there was no problem connecting the latch and tether anchors. The Booster seats, however, was given a B for the difficulty a child would have buckling themselves in. Interested in taking an extremely safe and comfortable 2015 Buick Regal for a test drive in Kenosha WI? Give us a call or sign up for a test drive appointment online. We are always happy to answer any and all questions you have. Come in to see us today!

test driving a used car Are you looking to buy a used car? The previously owned car market can be tricky to navigate. There’s never the same certainty that exists with a new car, and we aren’t always sure that the previous owner took care of it. Luckily, there are a few things you can keep your eyes out for when taking a used car for a test drive. We’ll tell you our tips for what to do when you are test driving a used car. more A test drive is a great way to find out if you like the car. Even more importantly with a used car, it can tell you about the condition that the car is in. It is very important to be mindful of the vehicle’s acceleration, brakes, gear shifting, and steering. We’ll share some tips and tricks to make sure you are getting a good deal. #1: Take that car over 60 mph during your test drive. A lot of the problems a car might have are not easily detected at slower speeds. Does the front end shake or vibrate when you’re going fast? #2: An important thing to notice is a vibrating steering wheel. At any speed, a vibrating steering wheel can be indicative of problems. #3: When you come fully to a stop and then accelerate,  are there any strange or unusual noises you notice? #4: When you start to speed up, do you notice that the car is pulling to one side or the other? If you can’t tell, pull into a flat and open parking lot and try driving at 20 mph and let go of the steering wheel. Do you notice it driving towards one side or the other? #5: Acceleration should be smooth. If you notice any rough gear changes as you speed up, that can be a sign of problems under the hood. #6: Test out the brakes. Do you have a soft brake pedal? Or do the brakes feel firm and confident? Does the car pull to one side when braking? Buying a used car can be a bit overwhelming for those of us who do not know very much about vehicles. One way to make sure you are getting a high quality vehicle is to look at the certified pre-owned section. Here at Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac in Kenosha WI, we have a wide variety of certified pre owned vehicles and quality used vehicles. Come in today to test drive at the dealership you can trust. Contact us here to setup a test-drive appointment with one of our trained professionals. We look forward to seeing you!

spending your 2015 tax refund on a used car So you just did your taxes and you are expecting a tax return that gives you a few dollars back that you didn’t have before. That’s exciting! It might not be a lot, but many people like us tend to use that money to fix up a car that needs maintenance or to look at buying a newer vehicle. We’ll tell you about spending your 2015 tax refund on a used car. more Not many of us get a tax refund that is big enough to buy a new car. However, the average tax return (around $3,000) tends to give people enough grease in their wheels to think about a down payment on a used car. Is this a good idea? Here are some things to consider: Dealerships know about tax returns. The secret is out. People who work at car dealerships are probably just as excited about their tax return as you are. So, they are looking for people like you to come to the lot and look around with your refund money burning a hole in your pocket. Try and be careful to do your research instead of jumping on the first good deal you see. Check out certified pre-owned vehicles or spend some time doing a little reviewing your purchase before putting the money down. You might end up wishing you had gotten a better deal. Dealerships use tax return season to sell cars. So, they know you have tax return dollars, but they also know that they want to sell cars. This can be a good thing for us! A used car dealership is more likely to have cars at lower prices and better deals around this time because they know people like us are out there looking. Want to see what we have in inventory? Check this out! So, is it the right time for you to get a newer vehicle? It sure is nice to have the tax return money to use, but make sure that you find the right car for you. We, at Palmen GM, want to help our customers find the perfect vehicle. Contact us here to set up an appointment!