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October 21, 2014New cars: What’s ahead in 2015
October 21, 2014
Bigger is better.
That sure seems to be not just the American way, but the Cajun way also.
And if you look around the Bayou Region, there seems to be one large vehicle after another.
Whether it’s a large vehicle pulling a boat in a trailer, tugging a horse trailer or simply piling a bunch of youngsters in for a youth football, basketball or baseball tournament, large, larger and largest seems to be a common theme down the bayou.
“The need is more the reason why they’d be so successful,” explained Mac LaBat of Lafourche Ford regarding why large vehicles sell so well locally. “The need for hauling, pulling, transporting, they don’t seem to care about the cost of it. (Customers) don’t seem to care about the fuel economy of it. They just have a need for it.”
And when you talk about large vehicles that can pull things, pickup trucks and SUVs certainly come to mind.
“It’s a comfortable vehicle – the size of the cab. We’re not in these small countries where small vehicles are the norm. The American way is bigger is better,” said Wade LeBoeuf of Dantin Chevrolet in Houma.
However, some of the features and technologies available in modern large vehicles may not quickly come to mind. But they’re certainly things that could make the driving and riding experience better.
In the new 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, technologies such as the MyLink Radio System give drivers a touch-screen radio.
“You can have touch-navigation on the radio, and you can customize the look of the radio songs; you can also Bluetooth your music on your smart phone or tablet,” LeBoeuf explained.
Additionally, those new models can provide Wi-Fi hotspots through the vehicle’s OnStar service.
“You can buy a subscription or, if it comes that you do not want to purchase a long-term contract with OnStar, you can also purchase as you go,” LeBoeuf said. “Say the family is going to Disney World and you want to buy data through OnStar, any tablet, smart phone, anything that is Wi-Fi capable, that vehicle can be a Wi-Fi hotspot. You prepay for a data plan and the kids can watch and stream movies, YouTube videos, listen to music all from the vehicle’s own Wi-Fi hotspot. That’s a pretty cool little feature.”
At Lafourche Ford, where trucks have been the top seller for a whopping 37 straight years, some of the technological features in trucks, SUVs and crossovers include the Voice Activated Navigation System and Sync.
“It’s a real convenient tool because you come in with your voice instead of the press a button,” LaBat said. “Tell it what you want to do, give it a direction, give it an address, ask it where are restaurants, where are fuel stations, it’s very customer friendly and it’s very helpful. Also, the Sync hands-free communication is convenient. It’s safer too because you don’t have to take your hand off the wheel and pick your phone up. You just press a button and make your phone call.”
Additionally, high-end models at Lafourche Ford have an Adaptive Cruise Control feature, which could save lives.
“If you’re daydreaming and not paying attention to the road, the Adaptive Cruise Control, if you get too close to the vehicle in front of you, will actually slow you down,” LaBat said.
Because many local dealerships are currently trying to move their 2014 models to make room for 2015 models, now is the time to buy, the dealers agreed. Dantin Chevrolet has extended Chevy Truck Month into October, and Lafourche Ford boasts year-end dealer discounts, manufacturer’s rebates and low APR as reasons to buy now.
So if you’re a Cajun looking for an old-school tow hitch while also enjoying new-school amenities, many local dealerships may have just what you’re looking for.
Trucks! Trucks! Trucks! It’s not only the American way but the Cajun way also, and with Chevy Truck Month continuing into October, now is the time to buy.
