Took a call this morning and it was Michael Carmichael, GM of City Cadillac Buick. He called to thank me, "a valued customer" for my past business and to let me know that the Dealership had survived GM's cuts. I don't know who he chose to call, maybe he called everyone on their current mailing list but I have to say I was impressed.
-- Edited by 73SC on Thursday 28th of May 2009 11:20:25 PM
Looks like Foster's survived too, even though they are relatively close together. That only leaves Burdon's and Hogan's we need to get confirmation for...
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Hillar
1970 LS4 (eventually an LS5) Laurentian 2dr hdtp -and a bunch of other muscle cars...
Now that's a great dealer on knowing how to keep their customers in this termoil. They got rid of the better GM dealers in the lower mainland and kept the A****** in the automall.
I know you knew the right name Hillar. I drove by it tonight and drive by at least twice a week, they have had next to no used car stock for months now but all looked normal.
The location right on Bayview is really tight so I don't know if they will survive, very little room for display vehicles too both inside and out. It really is a 50's dealership just jazzed up although the curved showroom windows are neat. Location is virtually the geographocal centre of Toronto though.
-- Edited by 73SC on Thursday 28th of May 2009 11:49:21 PM
they should just re-name it Rumble again and then I'd never forget.
I just read that Foster's won the GM Triple Crown Award for customer service for the second year in a row, which is GM's highest honour - that probably clinched it for then.
I have known the owner Mark Murphy for years. He is a huge Pontiac enthusiast and has several GTOs and Firebirds he has had restored in the dealership shop. His head parts counter guy is also a big Caddy fan Ray.
I'm really glad he survived, he deserved it and it is great to see a dealer owned by a car enthusiast make the cut.
BTW, I should add that the Carmicheal family who own City are enthusiasts as well and host the big Caddy show each year where Ray bought the Fleetwood in a moment of weakness last year.
-- Edited by Astro Jet on Thursday 28th of May 2009 11:59:47 PM
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Hillar
1970 LS4 (eventually an LS5) Laurentian 2dr hdtp -and a bunch of other muscle cars...
I have to say, for the most part it has been impressive here in Manitoba how the dealers have responded to this mess. My boss has received calls from competing dealers to say they are very unhappy that we were cut. Some dealer prinicipals have even expressed guilt in the fact that they missed the cut when we were not so fortunate.
I certainly hope this disaster helps to make a stronger dealer group. Somehow I am scared it won't be long until it's business as usual for them though, if you know what I mean.
Not that I really expected it, but I have not received one single call from any of the people who were my GM District Parts Managers over the 28 years I dealt with them as a GM Parts Manager. No contact what so ever from even one of them. It tells me the sad state of General Motors right now. Oh, and have I tried to call any of them? How about trying to get ANYONE to return my calls the last 2 or 3 months when I had questions............
Not once.
I am not bitter. I am just totally disappointed with an organization that I used to consider it an honour to be associated with.
-- Edited by Carl Stevenson on Friday 29th of May 2009 12:04:13 AM
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
If you guys have a dealer you are happy with in your area, make sure he knows it. Hopefully every one of the dealers who is still in business today will still be there for many years to come. Hopefully any of the dealers who are left got a wake up call with this, pull up their socks and make lots of those "thank you" calls to their customers.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
We have a large Cady/Buick/GMC/Chev dealer in Goderich (12miles form here) celebrating their "80th" year in business..Mcgee Motors They are sponsering the local cruise night Wed June 17th AT the "Dealership" I will be there with 2 Pontiacs
I talked with our local dealer thats getting cut. Its really tough seeing the heads hanging low, I worked there for 12 years since I was a kid and my Uncle used to own it. I'm hoping one of the large dealers will step in and offer to buy up some of the ones getting cut but maybe GM is not in favor of that either ??
