HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

From all of us at Rothrock Motor Sales we wish you and your family a very safe and Happy New Year! We will be closed both New Years Eve and New Years Day...we will be open for business as usual on Saturday January 2. See you in 2010!!!

Holiday Special

BUY ONE VEHICLE GET ONE FOR $1
visit our website at rothrock.com for more details!!!!!

Rothrock will be closing at 2pm today for an Employee Holiday Party. We will also be closed both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to celebrate the holidays with our families. We will reopen for business as usual on Saturday December 26th so please visit us then for great end of year deals!!

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!!!

Gift Certificates Available

4 days til Christmas!! Still need a gift? We have Gift Certificates available in any amount!! Great for accessories, vehicle detailing, service work and more.

Chrysler Blog - Moving at Light Speed: Chrysler Invests Big In Fuel Effciency

Chrysler Blog - Moving at Light Speed: Chrysler Invests Big In Fuel Effciency

Just 18 months after Chrysler Group LLC and Fiat S.p.A formed an alliance, the two companies will bring a mega fuel-efficient engine to the North American market. (In the auto industry, this is nothing short of light speed).

The hardware in question is the 1.4-liter, 16-valve Fully Integrated Robotized Engine (FIRE) which will find an important place in Chrysler Group’s growing fleet of fuel efficient vehicles. It will come to North America through a $179 million investment Chrysler is making in the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA), based in Dundee, MI. FIRE will include the Multiair technology (more on that soon) that increases fuel economy 10% while lowering C02 emissions by just as much.

“Multiair gives the engine the lungs of an athlete,” said Chrysler Group LLC CEO Sergio Marchionne in announcing the project today.

The engine will go into production in the fourth quarter of next year in the Fiat 500, which will be sold throughout North America. That speedy timeline less than a year and a half after the Fiat-Chrysler alliance was solidified, a speed which Marchionne notes is a “record.” The investment also represents a major milestone toward achieving Chrysler’s five-year Business Plan.

“It demonstrates how fast we’re moving to integrate fuel-efficient technology into Chrysler’s powertrain portfolio with Fiat, secondly how we intend to implement our World Class Manufacturing Initiative, thirdly to broaden Chrysler Group’s reach into the A and B segment of the car world, and fourthly it’s to begin to provide jobs and other economic benefits,” said Marchionne.

The investment also will create up to 573 new jobs industry-wide, including up to 155 new Chrysler Group jobs at the plant. Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm who joined Marchionne today to announce the investment, said GEMA is a shining example of a flexible workforce that’s ready to adapt and build new products.

“Thank you on behalf of Dundee and on behalf of the state of Michigan for the choice of continuing and expanding the operation, thank you for the decision to invest $179 million and to expand another 155 people … the indirect benefits are obviously enormous to the state,” Granholm said.

WINTER SERVICE REBATES

ATTENTION CHRYSLER PRODUCT CUSTOMERS

The following products purchased and dealer installed on your vehicle between November 30th, 2009 and February 28, 2010 are eligible for mail in rebates from Chrysler Corp.

* Bridgestone Tires - purchase & install 4 tires receive a $50 Target Gift Card.

* Continental Tires - purchase & install 4 tires receive a $50 rebate. purchase & install 2 tires receive $25 rebate

* General Tires- purchase and install 4 tires receive a $40 rebate. Purchase & install 2 tires receive $20 rebate

* Mopar Battery- purchase and install and receive a $5 rebate

*Mopar Value Line Wiper Blades - puchase and install and receive $2.50 rebate

See your service advisor to receive your mail in rebate form. Offers valid on Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products only.

Review: 2010 Nissan Maxima SV Sport is a lot of car for a lot of coin

Front-wheel drive is a funny thing. When originally introduced during the Thirties in the Cord 810 (then later in the awesome supercharged 812) and the Citroën Traction Avant, FWD was hailed as a major breakthrough, a wondrous technological innovation that allowed for lower ride height and greatly increased passenger space. Postwar consumers got a taste of the wonders of FWD with the iconic Citroën DS. At the top of its game in the Sixties, General Motors reintroduced FWD to American consumers with two remarkable luxury coupes: the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado and the 1967 Cadillac Eldorado. Come the Seventies, Citroën produced what is arguably the greatest GT coupe of that decade, the impeccable (and FWD) SM.

It's not that RWD is always better than FWD. Only in this case, it is.Roll the clock forward to the Eighties and suddenly everything was being tugged around by its front wheels. Honda, Toyota, Nissan, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler all jumped head first onto the FWD bandwagon and, for the most part, they haven't looked back. Granted, Cadillac has rethought which wheels get driven, but with the exception of a dinosaur livery-mobile, there isn't a single rear-wheel-drive Lincoln to be found. Even Volkswagen got in on the transversely-mounted engine madness. This left only the Germans – namely Mercedes-Benz and BMW – to seriously carry the rear-wheel drive passenger car torch for nearly a decade. Sure, Lexus and Infiniti brought out some heavy hitting RWD sedans along with a raft of FWD offerings (M30 I30, G20 anyone?), but Acura never bothered.

The average gearhead hates FWD for all the right reasons (weight distribution, steering feel, the front tires being asked to both propel and turn, etc.), and during a recent discussion we had with a half-in-the-bag PR guy, [NAME REDACTED] exclaimed, "Front-wheel drive sucks!" So, how can a technology go from the penthouse to the doghouse like that? One answer (of many) comes from the Minnesotan economist/social philosopher Thorstein Veblen and his book The Theory of the Leisure Class. Here's a quick, ten-cent Cliff Note version: When electric lighting first appeared, only the rich could afford electric lights. As such, electrically lit dinners were considered romantic and desirable. However, once electrification trickled down to the unwashed masses, only the rich could afford both bulbs and candles. Hence, candlelit dinners became en vogue. Which – believe it or not – leads us very nicely to the 2010 Nissan Maxima SV Sport and its $38,384 asking price.

Granted, you can get a new Maxima for less scratch. The base car starts at "just" $30,460. But the car Nissan provided us has a price tag of nearly $40,000. You do get a lot car for that money, but at the end of the day, $38,384 is a big chunk o' change. So big, in fact, that you might be tempted to choose an Infiniti G37 sedan (beginning at just over $33,000), or even a Cadillac CTS (starts at $37,000). Two similarly-sized cars that are, as it happens, rear-wheel drive.

The Maxima's shape is one thing it has going for it. When the third-gen Altima was introduced in 2002, suddenly the once lofty Maxima looked an awful lot like its lower-priced platform mate. Then the Altima was redesigned and placed on Nissan's new D platform in 2007 and it still resembled the more pricey (and very long-in-the-tooth) Maxima. Finally, last year, Nissan brought us an all-new Maxima that didn't resemble anything.

A quick poll of the Autoblog staff reveals that almost all of us like the shape. From the blunted front end to the deeply sculpted sides to the fat, sexy haunches, there is little question that design-wise Nissan's biggest sedan has got the look. Though admittedly strange at first, the harpoon/fish hook head and tail lamps look sharp (no pun, no pun), especially when set off against a dark color. And these are some of the finest looking wheels we've seen on any car, let alone a big FWD sedan.

The interior's nearly as good as the exterior. First and foremost is that thick (we're talking BMW-thick) leather-wrapped steering wheel that is mercifully (nearly) free of button clutter. While all Maximas now ship with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), the large, almost oversized aluminum flappy paddles behind the wheel feel great. The seats are also thick, many-way adjustable and comfy. Though we'd like some more leg and hip bolstering – the seat bottom is a little flat – rear seat customers will enjoy their spacious perch. The instrument binnacle is intelligently designed and filled with big, legible gauges, exactly what one would need if you were to take Nissan up on its renewed 4DSC (Four-Door Sports Car) boast.

Many of us are also fans of the very Infiniti-like nav-cluster. Overall, the quality of the materials is on par with other entry-level luxury offerings with one big exception: The area surrounding the gear selector is not only dull, but almost undesigned. And if the car's got a CVT (i.e. no set speeds), why not follow BMW's lead and move the gear lever to the column so as to free up some space? A minor quibble, maybe, but that area was beneath (again with the no pun) the rest of the rather pleasingly pleasant interior.

In the Maxima, the CVT experience is better than in its smaller siblings.One justification for the Maxima's pricey sticker is that lump of VQ goodness found under the hood. Heaping praise upon Nissan's wonderful V6 is like calling firefighters heroes – you just do it, and only the crazy will argue. Still displacing 3.5-liters – unlike the Z, G, M and FX, which have jumped up to 3.7-liters – the VQ35DE produces a whopping 290 horsepower and a stout 261 pound-feet of torque, more than enough to scoot the fairly big boy (190 inches, 3,565 pounds) to 60 mph in less than six seconds. In terms of potency, those 290 horsies are more than you get from 3.5-liter V6s found in the Accord (271 hp), Avalon (268 hp), Taurus (263 hp) or Mercedes-Benz E350 (268 hp). And way more than you get in a 211 hp turbocharged Audi A4. But none offer a CVT... (Note: FWD Audi A4s have a CVT) Allow us to state up front that when CVTs first arrived on the scene they were nasty, despicable things that were constantly whirring, wheezing and searching for who knows what every time you buried your right foot. Much like automatic transmissions – only worse. That rant out of the way, the second generation of CVTs are actually... okay. The first good one we experienced was in the cyber barge Lexus LS600hL, though we chalked up that transmission's okay-ness to the fact that Lexus had buried the shiftus interruptus beneath the brand's requisite nine tons of sound deadening. Besides, in a $120,000 automobile, the CVT had better be good. Then we got our paws on some down market CVTs – principally in Nissans like the Rogue, Versa and Cube. And you know what? Most of us like 'em just fine. They weren't Lexus wonderful, but they were a fifth the price. In the Maxima, the CVT experience is better than in its smaller siblings, and about on par with the big, electric Lexus. In fact, for the first 20 minutes we were behind the wheel, we were unaware (fine – we forgot) that the car didn't have a regular old slush box. As our normal testing procedure begins with jamming up the curvaceous 110 freeway to Pasadena to fetch Drew Phillips and his photographic chops, we threw the tranny into manual mode and used the paddle shifters. That's right, the Maxima (like the LS600hL) has six faker-gear ratios (though the Lexus has eight) that allow it to behave just like an automated manual. It was only on suburban streets back in regular mode that we noticed the tach needle slowly rising and falling, as opposed to a regular automatic where the needle falls precipitously with each gear change.

So, how's the Maxima drive? Well, it's very quick. Stomp the gas and this sucker just goes for it. However, due to so much power spinning the front wheels, you are very aware that you are being pulled to extra-legal speeds, instead of pushed. To be fair, this has been a Maxima trait since they first started dropping VQs into the sedan. But in the 2010 Maxima, you really do notice all 290 ponies. The sensation is like holding onto a horse's reins. And torque-steer – the engine's tendency to try and rip the wheel from your hands when you throttle out of a corner – is an all day event.

While there's nothing inherently rotten about FWD, there is something unsettling about big horsepowered FWD cars – unless they've got a fancy way of fighting back against all that power, like in the power-chopping Mazdaspeed3 (fuel gets cut early in low gears at high RPM) or the unequal-tracked Citroen DS/SM (where the front wheels extend out further than the rear ones). With the Maxima, you're just left to arm wrestle the mighty motor. We hope you've been eating your Wheaties.

When you're not shredding apexes, the Maxima is a fairly cool customer. The ride is plush and plenty comfy, while the cabin is quiet and nicely shielded from wind and motor noise. Those big, beautiful wheels do make some racket, though. Nothing fatal, but you hear 'em. Should you choose to saunter through corners (instead of play Lewis Hamilton), the well-engineered chassis can carry plenty of speed around the bends. Just watch your right foot.

Far from a four-door sports car (sorry, Nissan), the Maxima SV Sport is a roomy, nearly-luxurious, semi-athletic steed. If we woke up tomorrow and (somehow) discovered we owned a copy, we'd be happy. But would we pay $38,000 for one? Short answer: No. There's nothing really wrong with the car, save for its sticker. Who then would consider a Maxima spec'd out like our test vehicle? Best we can figure, an Accord owner who is quite happy with his/her car but just wants something a little nicer, a little quicker and a whole lot more good looking. Then again, they might not. For our money, we'd take an Infiniti G37 sedan with the six-speed manual and pocket the extra $2,000. It's not that RWD is always better than FWD. But in this case, it is.

Dodge Ram Truck of the Year!!

2010 Motor Trend Truck of the Year: Ram Heavy Duty Star Power:

The Hardest-Working Truck in Tow Business December 10, 2009 / By Allyson Harwood / Photography by Julia LaPalme

Despite the effects of the Great Recession on personal-use truck sales, there is still demand for pickups ready to do hard work. The heavy-duty truck market has gotten smaller, but the guys who buy those pickups are fiercely loyal to the segment-they need the extreme capability these hard-working haulers provide. Some may wonder why anyone would own a truck that can tow nearly 20,000 pounds, but for a lot of people in construction, those who transport vehicles or goods, and those with ranches, this is just a part of everyday life.

Within the next few months, the heavy-duty category will heat up, as all three manufacturers have all-new offerings coming. The Ram Heavy Duty is the first to market, and it's already ahead of the game. When Ford and GM's all-new heavy-dutys come out, both new diesel engines are going to require urea injection to meet emissions requirements that take effect January 2010. The Ram Heavy Duty's Cummins inline-six turbodiesel, which puts out an impressive 350 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, met those requirements -- without urea -- over a year ago.

Instead, the Ram 2500 and 3500 use a NOx adsorber with precious metals that convert the NOx into inert gases. Not only does this mean the Ram's emissions and exhaust systems are less complex than those in the upcoming Ford Super Duty and Silverado/Sierra HD (which could improve reliability and help keep maintenance costs down), it also means that, at the dealership, the Ram will very likely have a price advantage over its competitors. And while in this size category diesel is king, there are plenty of heavy-duty truck buyers who prefer gas power. The 5.7-liter Hemi, the Ram's base engine, has the most horsepower (383) and torque (400 pound-feet) of any V-8 in its class -- and only the Ford Super Duty's V-10 has more torque than the Hemi, but it still has less horsepower.

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/truck/112_1002_2010_motor_trend_truck_of_the_year_winner_ram_heavy_duty/index.html#ixzz0ZJfxvrHA

Ready for the Winter Weather??

Don't get stranded in the cold!! Our service department can help you keep your car on the road! Batteries, tires, belts, hoses .....be sure they are all in top shape. We carry most major tire brands!! Call us today at 484-223-0570. We do a complimentary multi point check with every visit!!

IT'S SNOWING!!!

SNOW is here!!!!! Looking for a four wheel drive vehicle? We got em!!! Pathfinders, Murano's, Xterras, Grand Cherokees, Wranglers, Patriots, Durangos, Rams....we have what you are looking for!!

Jeep Named Top Domestic Brand in Kelley Blue Book’s 2010 Residual Value Study

Jeep® brand boasts highest resale value among all domestic brands Jeep brand resale value improves for 2010 as industry average declines Jeep vehicles projected to retain nearly 36 percent of original retail price after five years of ownership – more than 3 percent above industry average Jeep one of only two brands in top 10 with improved resale value for 2010

Auburn Hills, Mich. , Dec 4, 2009 - Buy Jeep®, and get value. Including resale value.

The iconic Jeep brand ranks as the top domestic brand in Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com® 2010 Residual Value Study.

According to the annual resale value analysis, new 2010 Jeep brand vehicles will maintain 35.7 percent of their original value after five years of ownership – more than 3 percent above the industry average.

“This achievement is a testament to the strength and heritage of the Jeep brand,” said James Bell, Executive Market Analyst – Kelley Blue Book. “The word ‘Jeep’ has long stood for strength, portraying the vision of what a Jeep is, and what it can do. The Wrangler has, and continues to be the backbone of this marque, drawing a strong and loyal following, helping to maintain its value.”

While eight of the brands in the study’s top 10 declined versus their 2009 values – with the industry average declining 1.6 percent – the Jeep brand’s resale value improved 2.8 percent for 2010.

“We are pleased that the Jeep brand has been recognized by Kelley Blue Book for earning the highest resale value among domestic brands, and that Jeep has improved significantly in a difficult year that has seen the industry decline,” said Mike Manley, President and CEO – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “The Jeep brand’s high resale value is a testament to a legendary, iconic brand that provides consumers an array of SUVs that deliver a unique blend of freedom and adventure, capability, best-in-class claims and value.”

Jeep vehicles have always been right-sized, never wasteful and deeply respectful of the environment – traits important to all Jeep owners who share a passion for adventure, fun and freedom in whatever they do. The brand’s legendary Go Anywhere, Do Anything™ heritage is maintained in the widest range of sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) under one brand.

Jeep Compass is a compact SUV with a modern, urban design that delivers fun, freedom, utility, best-in-class fuel economy of 29 miles per gallon (mpg) and Jeep 4x4 capability at a terrific value
Jeep Patriot is designed to reach younger buyers wanting the credibility, capability and cachet of the Jeep brand at an affordable price with class-leading fuel economy of 29 mpg. Patriot was recently named an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) “Top Safety Pick,” and earned the Texas Auto Writers Association’s “Compact SUV of Texas” award
Jeep Liberty offers legendary Trail Rated® Jeep 4x4 capability combined with a new level of on-road refinement and innovative features, including an industry-exclusive Sky Slider full-length open-canvas roof
Jeep Wrangler, the brand icon, remains true to its heritage as the original, extreme fun-and-freedom machine Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is the only four-door convertible SUV on the market with room for five adult passengers
Jeep Grand Cherokee, the vehicle that revolutionized the SUV market when it was introduced in 1992, continues as the luxury flagship of the brand with its on-road refinement and off-road capability
Jeep Commander, with seating for seven, delivers a best-in-class off-road driving experience with superior on-road ride and handling

About the Jeep brand

Built on nearly 70 years of legendary heritage, Jeep is the authentic SUV with class-leading capability, craftsmanship and versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a full-line of vehicles that continue to provide owners with a sense of security to handle any journey with confidence.

To meet consumer demand around the world, all seven Jeep models are sold outside North America – and all are available in right-hand drive versions and with gasoline and diesel powertrain options. Chrysler Group LLC sells and services vehicles in approximately 120 countries around the world.

About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)

Since 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, has provided vehicle buyers and sellers with the new and used vehicle information they need to accomplish their goals with confidence. The company’s top-rated Web site, www.kbb.com, provides the most up-to-date pricing and values, including the New Car Blue Book® Value, which reveals what people actually are paying for new cars. The company also reports vehicle pricing and values via products and services, including software products and the famous Blue Book® Official Guide. According to the C.A. Walker Research Solutions, Inc. – 2009 Spring Automotive Web Site Usefulness Study, kbb.com is the most useful automotive information Web site among new and used vehicle shoppers, and half of online vehicle shoppers visit kbb.com. Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com also is a W3 Gold Award winner, sanctioned by the International Academy of Visual Arts. Kbb.com is a leading provider of new car prices, car reviews and news, used car Blue Book Values, auto classifieds and car dealer locations. No other medium reaches more in-market vehicle shoppers than kbb.com.

Holiday Pre-Owned Wrap Up!!

Need a gift idea?

Looking for a gift...or stocking stuffer.....we offer Gift Certificates in any denomination. Great for service, parts, detailing services, sales, accessories, collision repairs....anything we offer!! Stop by our cash office to pick up yours today!

$14.95 Oil Change Service

Oil & Filter Change Service only $14.95 after $15.00 mail in rebate! Call us today for an appointment 484-223-0570. Hurry in now, offer expires December 31, 2009!

** See your service advisor for mail in rebate form.