| Rotolo Chevrolet marks 40th Anniversary
By Jannise Johnson Staff Writer
Rotolo Chevrolet celebrated two milestones on Thursday night. One was the 100th anniversary of Chevrolet itself. The other was the 40th anniversary of the Fontana dealership. City officials, business owners and customers showed up in droves to partake of free hot dogs, lemonade, salad and chips, among other items. A band played classic rock.
Owner Marie Waddingham, daughter of Rotolo's founder, said 480 people confirmed they would attend Thursday's event.
"A lot of our very loyal customers are here," Waddingham said.
In addition to customers and business owners, several members of area Corvette clubs also attended. Members of Corvettes West, Inland Empire Corvette Club and Pomona Valley Corvettes made an appearance, Waddingham said. She said Rotolo's customer loyalty had a great deal to do with the dealership's surviving the slow economy.
The dealership has remained, despite not turning a profit in 2008 and 2009, she said. The car lot has been at its current location next to the 210 Freeway since 2006. "This building is only 5 years old," Waddingham said. "And come hell or high water, I was going to make it work."
Mona Sluiter has purchased trucks from Rotolo in the past. She ended up at Rotolo a few years ago, after receiving what she considered shabby customer service at another Chevrolet dealer. "They treated me the best as a woman," the Ontario resident said of Rotolo. "They didn't give me the runaround. It's an honor to be invited to something like this. Their service department is top notch." |
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Fuel Economy
More and more people are taking steps to maximize fuel economy, both for environment and our economic reasons. Here are a few tips to help you manage your fuel usage:
Carpool
The simple step of sharing your driving expenses with one or two of your co-workers a few days a week can have tremendous savings over the course of a year. Many people also find that driving with friends and colleagues and spending less time behind the wheel during rush hour makes for a more pleasant commute.
Thou shalt not idle
Allowing your car to stay in one place with the engine on is in an excellent way to waste gasoline! Many people allow their car to idle because of a myth that it costs more to restart a car than to keep it running. This is simply not true, so rather than letting your car idle in your driveway or a parking lot, turn it off to save fuel.
Monitor and maintain your tire pressure
When your vehicle's tires are soft and under-inflated, there is more friction between the road and your tires. This friction takes energy to overcome, which comes from your gas tank and ultimately your wallet. Keeping your tires inflated at an optimal air pressure will maximize their lifespan and save you money.
Anticipate stops and brake less
Instead of flooring the gas pedal after each intersection, only to be stopped a block away at the next light, be easy on the gas and on your brake pads. Every time you brake, you are using up the energy from the acceleration
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that you just used the gas in your tank to generate. By accelerating at a moderate pace, you can dramatically increase your vehicle's fuel efficiency.
Slow down
Wind resistance has a dramatic effect on fuel efficiency, which is why Chevrolet engineers strive to make our vehicle bodies more aerodynamic. The faster your vehicle goes, the harder it pushes against the surrounding air. For every additional 10 miles per hour you drive, you lose up to 15% in fuel economy due to wind resistance, so keep in mind that the costs of driving above the posted limit go beyond any speeding tickets you may receive!
If you really want to cut back on your fuel consumption, you may also want to consider some of our new XFE, Eco, hybrid, and electric vehicles. Many people are surprised to learn that Chevrolet now offers nine vehicles with EPA estimates of over 30 MPG on the highway. If you have questions about any of these vehicles or would like to take one for a test drive, stop by anytime. As always, we are ready to answer any questions about your current or future vehicles.
Take advantage of our ?Free? Multi-Point Vehicle Inspection.
Spring is upon us and that means Summer is right around the corner. Warmer temperatures are definitely harder on any vehicle, especially those in need of scheduled maintenance. Air Conditioning systems, Cooling systems and Automatic Transmissions work much harder in the Spring and Summer months. Failure of worn or fatigued tires can also occur due to hot pavement surfaces. Don?t wait to get your car or truck in shape for the warmer weather. Take advantage of Rotolo?s Service Specials now. Schedule an appointment today.
Jim Schultz
Parts and Service Director
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