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We think of cars and we think power. While we are quite aware of the fact that some are more powerful than others, it's important to note that horsepower doesn't always equate to towing capability. There are a lot of things that go into making a towing-capable SUV or truck. Why can't sports cars tow? They've got the horsepower, right? Check out the 6 things your towing vehicle needs below! more 6 Things Your Vehicle Needs for Towing Curb Weight When you buy a vehicle for towing, you'll have to take a look at the curb weight. The heavier the vehicle, the more weight it can tow with confidence. Modern SUVs and Trucks are lighter than they used to be, but are still capable of towing heavy loads. Wheelbase The wheelbase is the distance between the front and rear axle, and the longer it is, the safer the vehicle is for towing. If the rear axel is too close, there can be issues with the front end lifting up because of the added weight to the rear. A longer wheelbase will make towing safer and easier on your car. Drive System Most full-size SUVs and trucks have rear wheel drive that can be turned into four-wheel drive when necessary. Smaller trucks and SUVs usually have all-wheel drive. Both are great options, but for those towing heavy weight or on rough terrain, the four-wheel drive might be the safer option. Check This Out: 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 Towing Tips Transmission A manual transmission used to be the standard on all towing vehicles, but these days an automatic transmission can give you the benefit of being able to focus on driving, rather than shifting gears while towing. The most important thing to consider is what you are most comfortable using. Chassis Design The frame of a full-size SUV or pickup truck usually has a "body on frame" design meaning that there's a solid steel frame giving the vehicle strength as a foundation. This gives them added strength for heavy loads.  Smaller SUVs have a less structured unibody design, but are still safe for towing smaller loads. Towing Package Finally, vehicles capable of towing heavy loads are often available with a specific towing package that could add upgraded suspension and brakes, a larger radiator and more efficient cooling system. If you're unsure if a vehicle has a towing package available, ask a professional at Palmen GM!

When you're in the market for a new truck, there are a lot of things to consider. One of the latest ways that truck companies have been working to increase efficiency is by using lighter materials throughout the body. The Ford F-150 has appeared on the scene with more in its body, and has thus decreased its overall weight by quite a bit. However, there are some downsides to getting rid of the steel we're accustomed to on truck beds. So, does the GMC Sierra 1500 have a steel truck bed? We'll tell you that and what it means. more Steel vs Aluminum Truck Beds At this point, Ford is the truck that has ditched steel and replaced it with a lot of thinner and more malleable aluminum. GM trucks, like the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500, are still made with a steel truck bed and steel frame. This means that the frame and truck bed are heavier, but can withstand trauma with less damage. Read More: New Features on the 2016 GMC Sierra HD In recent ads, we've seen that the F-150's truck bed is punctured and damaged much more easily than that of the 2016 Chevy Silverado, featuring the same steel truck bed that you'll find in the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The steel bed received dents and scratches, while the F-150's truck bed was basically ruined. Because of this, we know that the sturdy and more heavy-duty nature of steel is part of what makes the 2016 GMC Sierra such a great option for hard-working truck owners who take on tough tasks and expect the most out of their pickup. 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 vs 2016 Ford F-150 Engine Specs Test Drive the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 If you are interested in taking a test drive of the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 give us a call or schedule your test drive appointment online. We have a number of trucks on the dealership lot and in our up-to-date online inventory for you to see, and choose from. If you have any questions about the vehicles on our lot or the quick and easy financing process we have available here, feel free to call our experienced sales team.

When you buy a GMC truck, you know you are getting the best that the automotive marketplace has to offer in style, power, and versatility. There's no denying the truly versatile and capable nature of the GMC pickup, but now you're wondering how much you can tow. Vigorous testing by the expert designers at GMC makes for a pickup that is both handy and impressive, and we're here to give you a guideline as to how much your GMC truck was made to handle. Read on to find GMC truck towing capability ratings! more How to the Experts Determine Towing Capability? You might find yourself wondering how the experts decide your truck's towing capabiltiy. Is the maximum that they tell you really all your truck can handle? We took a minute to explore the information at www.gmc.com, and found that the GMC truck towing capability ratings are based on several factors. Read More: Check Out the 2017 GMC Canyon! How Much Can My GMC Truck Tow? The best place to go when you are curious about your pickup's capability is your owner's manual, but we'll give you our general guide. This chart shows you the maximum towing capacity for each vehicle in the 2016 lineup. It is important that you consider your trim level when using this chart, as properly equipped vehicles can tow more than the base model! Read More: 2016 GMC Yukon Trim Comparison Pickup Truck Towing Capacity Terminology There are several acronyms used when discussing a pickup truck's capability, and it can be confusing to drivers who aren't aware of what they mean. Here is a list of the most popular terms used, and what they mean. We hope they help you as you research information about your GMC truck's capabilities. Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR): how much weight your vehicle can carry, including passengers, cargo, fuel and the vehicle itself. Gross combined weight rating (GCWR): how much weight the truck can carry with a loaded vehicle and loaded trailer combined. Gross axle weight ratings (GAWR): the amount each particular vehicle axle can carry, including the wheel and tire Hitch weight rating: how much weight the hitch can carry safely.

2016 GMC Canyon Diesel Tops Fuel Economy Ratings Reaching for more impressive fuel economy ratings each year, the team of designers at GMC have outdone themselves for the 2017 GMC Canyon Diesel. Its chart topping fuel economy ratings, matched with gorgeous exterior design and interior comfort features, makes the 2017 Canyon Diesel a truly amazing option for truck shoppers looking to save money on fuel without sacrificing capability. more 2017 GMC Canyon Duramax Diesel Engine Specs The Canyon features an all-new 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel engine for 2017. It generates an impressive 181 horsepower, allowing you to tow up to 7,700 lbs in trailer weight. Four-wheel drive models can tow up to 7,600lbs, a rating currently unmatched by other midsize pickups. Meeting emissions standards and topping the mileage ratings for all full-size trucks, this diesel means business. Read More: How to Test my Four-Wheel Drive 2017 GMC Canyon Diesel Fuel Economy Capability and versatility come standard with this impressive midsize pickup. The chart topping fuel economy ratings offer 22 miles per gallon in the city and up to 31 miles per gallon on the highway with two-wheel drive. On the four-wheel drive models, you can look forward to 20 miles per gallon in the city and 29 miles per gallon on the highway. No matter what you choose, the 2017 GMC Canyon is sure to blow you away! Read More: What's New on the 2016 GMC Canyon 2017 GMC Canyon Image Gallery Enjoy these images of the 2017 GMC Canyon! We look forward to seeing it roll into dealership lots in the near future! Be sure to stop by the blog often to check for updates and the latest information from GMC. Check Out the 2016 GMC Canyon!

The Top Vehicles for Millennial Drivers With the economy going down the drain in the recent past, and the number of young adults driving new cars has gone down. Nobody is making as much money and let's face it, it's tough fighting over jobs after college graduation. So what have the resourceful youth done with this puzzle of a situation? They've decided to purchase some of the less attractive discounted cars. We'll tell you why it's so interesting! more Quirky is Good It's not so much about having the coolest cars with the millennials. It's more important or a cooler car if it's memorable, quirks included! Past generations have spent large amounts of time trying to achieve the coolest cars, and the new generation seems to view this type of material possession as less important than experiences. Check This Out! The President's Limo is More than Bullet Proof! It's Where the Car Goes, Not How it Looks To millennials, a vehicle that can get them where they need to go without trouble (or even with slight trouble) is worth more than an expensive vehicle and no money to go anywhere. While they might view a nice car and think that it would be cool to drive, but quirky vehicles with character that fit into their budget are more attractive. Which Cars do they Prefer? Studies have shown that within the last few years, discounted and discontinued vehicles like the Pontiac Aztek have become more and more popular with the younger generation. Known for being an odd-looking vehicle, they were less popular during their initial production. Now that they are available for lower prices and offer a quirky unique appearance, vehicles like the Pontiac Aztek are being purchased by the younger generations and driven with pride. Don't Miss This One! Self-Driving Vehicles in 2017 It's neat to see how trends and preferences change between generations. If you are interested in seeing what we have available in our used car inventory for affordable prices, take a look! We'd love to talk with you and schedule a test drive.

Comfortable 2016 GMC Sierra Kenosha WI When you are in the market for a pickup truck, there are several factors to consider. If you need more power, more space, or more versatility, there is a comfortable 2016 GMC Sierra in Kenosha WI just waiting to be driven home. We'll tell you what separates these impressive trucks! more The Interiors The different trim levels within the Sierra trucks make for a variety of driving experiences. The base, SLT, and SLE trims come with varying levels of luxury and technology features. Leather seats, high quality audio packages and safety technology bring convenience and versatility to the driving experience in the GMC Sierra. A rear-view camera, Bluetooth connectivity, and a first-row LCD screen are options for those who choose the GMC Sierra SLT, but come standard on the SLE. 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 This is the lightest duty of the heavy and powerful trucks we'll be discussing, however, it's no reason to discount this choice! The 2500 and 3500 offer more horsepower and torque, but the 1500 has more than enough to add power and versatility to everyday tough jobs. Whether towing or maxing out the payload, the 1500 has more than the average driver needs! Base Engine: 4.3-Liter V6 Horsepower: 285 HP Towing Capacity: 6,100lbs Maximum Payload: 1,950lbs 2015 GMC Sierra 2500 Added power and a greater amount of towing capacity makes this a truck that is made for the toughest jobs. Without sacrificing style, this confident and aggressive-looking truck makes hard work seem easy. A comfortable interior and entertainment options can take even the worst drives and turn them into a good experience. Base Engine: 6.0-Liter V8 Horsepower: 397 HP Towing Capacity: 13,000 lbs Maximum Payload: 3,583 lbs Don't Miss This! 2016 GMC Sierra HD New Features 2015 GMC Sierra 3500 The biggest engine, the most horsepower, and the highest payload makes the 3500 a truly intimidating piece of engineering and design genius! When it comes to a dirty and intense job, the GMC Sierra 3500 can handle it with no complaints. Tow the farthest, carry the most, and do it with the confidence and style only the 3500 can provide. Base Engine: 6.0-Liter V8 Horsepower: 397 HP Towing Capacity: 13,000 lbs Maximum Payload: 3,583 lbs

New Features on the 2016 GMC Canyon When you need a pickup truck, we all know you need a hard-working vehicle with the capability and versatility to handle the tough jobs. Whether that means towing, hauling, or carrying, your pickup truck should be prepared to take on a challenge. We are going to talk about the changes on the 2016 GMC Canyon as we anxiously await its arrival at our dealership sometime this year! more What We Love About the Canyon There's a certain level of power and versatility that we expect in a pickup truck, and the 2016 GMC Canyon definitely has it. Over the years, this traditional-looking and confidence boosting truck has been the center of many tough jobs and that is why so many Americans choose a GMC Canyon when they need to get work done. READ MORE: What's New for the 2016 GMC Terrain What's New on the 2016? This smaller truck is prepared to take on tough jobs, but takes up less room than a full-size pickup. The refreshed appearance doesn't stray too far outside of the traditional appearance of earlier years, but does add a big of modern flair in the form of sharp lines and an eye-catching grille design. Offering more than 300 horsepower from its V6 engine, this midsize truck is almost as powerful as the base trims on other full-size options. READ MORE: What's New on the 2016 Buick Verano? New Technology Inside the 2016 GMC Canyon Above the base trim, the GMC Canyon offers great convenience features like satellite radio capability, more USB ports, a color touchscreen radio, and the GMC IntelliLink infotainment interface. Options at the SLT trim include a navigation system, and remote start. When it comes down to it, there are a million reasons to schedule a test drive today, and very few reasons why anyone could pass on this impressive pickup.

2016 GMC Terrain Features and Specs When it comes to driving home in a new crossover SUV, the possibilities are nearly endless! We've put together a list of three reasons why you should hurry in to test drive the 2016 GMC Terrain. You don't want to drive home in a vehicle that doesn't suit your needs, and we want to help you find the perfect fit! Read on to learn more about the latest GMC Terrain for the 2016 year. more New Features on the 2016 GMC Terrain As far as exterior features go, the new front end on the GMC Terrain gives the vehicle a more modern appeal. Updates include daytime running headlights and optional safety features like Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert being offered on the SLE and SLT trim levels for the first time! A competitive member of the compact SUV segment, the GMC Terrain offers premium cloth seat fabric on the SLE and SLT trims, and even more options for customization on the Denali. New premium colors for the 2016 GMC Terrain include White Frost Tricoat and Crimson Red Tintcoat. READ MORE: 4 Reasons to Choose an SUV Over a Minivan Engine Options for the 2016 GMC Terrain Ecotec 2.4-Liter I-4 Engine: Delivers an estimated 32 mpg on the highway. 3.6-Liter V6 Engine: Puts out a best-in-class 301 horsepower and 272 lb-ft of torque with a towing capacity of 3,500lbs. READ MORE: What's New on the 2016 Buick Verano? Available Colors on the 2016 GMC Terrain

The limo known as “The Beast” or “Limo One”, is a Cadillac that could probably drive through a war zone with less effort than it takes you to drive to the grocery store. The limo shares almost nothing in common with a standard production car, so just what is the president’s limo made out of? For starters, it has a diesel engine and transmission that you would most likely find in a dump truck or a U-Haul truck. more How Strong is Limo One? It has enough power to obviously get a large vehicle with a heavy payload moving, which means this vehicle has to have more torque than any average vehicle on the road. You could probably use it at a construction site effectively if you added a trailer hitch to it. It’s also more durable than any vehicle you would find there. Its five-inch windows could likely outlast the body of most vehicles. It has 8-inch armor plating and the doors are just as heavy as a Boeing 757 aircraft’s. It also has Kevlar reinforced bus-size tires that can run while flat and it is shut off from the world from the inside so not even chemicals can get in. READ MORE: A Brand New Cadillac Crossover SUV in 2017? Is It Like A Spy Car? In some senses it is, for reasons mentioned above, but it does not have pop-out machine guns as far as we can tell. It does however have enough equipment in the trunk to outfit a small army. It can also seat seven passengers so you can take that army with you. And since seven isn’t always enough, the secret services has made a few other similarly equipped vehicles. Drivers of this mighty steed are trained with police-style evasion techniques and can make this weighty vehicle move like a sports sedan. It could definitely take on a tank, or the zombie apocalypse. In fact, it’s probably an integral part of that pentagon plan for a zombie attack. READ MORE: Does My Car Have Keyless Entry? We may not sell a limo quite like this one, but we have a huge inventory of gorgeous vehicles that are sure to be safe and exciting for you! If you are interested in taking any of them for a test drive, schedule your appointment online or give us a call. We love helping our customers find their perfect car! 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.

If you’ve been waiting for a great midsize truck to come along, the wait is officially over! The 2015 GMC Canyon is now available here at Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac, and we couldn’t be happier about offering you the chance to check it out in person. We’ve been serving up teasers and information bit by bit throughout the course of this year since the 2015 Canyon was first announced, and now it’s here! If you want to test drive the 2015 GMC Canyon in for sale in Kenosha WI or learn more about it, you’ve come to the right place! more What are some of the highlights of the 2015 GMC Canyon? Here are some of our favorite features: The 2015 GMC Canyon has best-in-class available fuel economy with ratings as good as 18 city miles per gallon and 26 on the highway. With that kind of efficiency, we think you’ll feel more free to get out there and do more, as well as use your 2015 Canyon as a daily drive rather than just a truck for work. The comfortable interior is loaded with features. Standard features on your 2015 GMC Canyon will include a Rear Vision Camera, 4.2” color display with a USB port as well as an auxiliary input jack, and plenty of other features both standard and optional. We love the CornerStep rear bumper, which allows you to swiftly get a leg up and at whatever you’ve got stored in your truck bed. This innovative feature comes on every 2015 GMC Canyon model! Why not start out by browsing through our inventory online, and when you’ve decided on a model that you’d like to take for a test drive, give us a call here at Palmen Buick GMC Cadillac! We’ll be happy to help you discover more about this game-changing new truck offering from GMC!

How Long do GMC trucks last? With all the trucks on the market today, you need to know you've got one that will stand the test of time. Thinking about which truck to get next? We know that pickup drivers tend to be some of the most die-hard loyalists in the auto world, but if you're starting to set your sites on GMC vehicles we certainly can't blame you for it! These tough, capable trucks are some of the most well-recognized and well-loved vehicles on the road today, and we invite you to learn more about what they have to offer. First of all, how long do GMC trucks last? Great questions! We'll start to get to the bottom of that today, and if you have more questions you can feel free to give us a call! more Now, of course you know that the life of any vehicle can't really be given a precise number on how long it's going to endure for you. A truck's longevity depends on a number of factors: how you drive and maintain your vehicle is a huge on, of course, and then there are environmental factors, accident history, wear and tear on various parts, and more. What we do know is that GMC trucks have an excellent reputation for lasting their drivers a long time! Earlier this year, results were released from a study that actually pulled data from as far back as 1981 and onward to discover which vehicles had the most models on the road with over 200,000 miles on the odometer. With proper maintenance, you'll get maximum life from your vehicle.   The results? More than any other brand, GMC models had the greatest showing on the list with four of the top twelve. In addition to the Sierra 1500 and 2500 pickup  models, the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL nabbed two of the top spots for themselves. So whether you're in the market for a pickup or an SUV, you should check out the GMC lineup for options that are built to last!