The best of the best!

Braeger Automotive Group
Between the three Braeger stores, Chrysler/Jeep, Chevrolet, and Ford, there are over 300 used cars in inventory! That's a lot. We try to always keep a great selection available, so that no matter what our customers are looking for, we have something to offer them.

But, choosing between 300 cars can be a daunting task. So today I took a moment and asked each of our stores' used car managers to highlight the gem on their lot; I asked them to pick out the car they would buy, if they were buying a car right this minute.

It's a testament to the quality of the used cars we have that all three of the used car managers had a hard time picking out just one car. After considerable soul-searching though, we came up with three beauties.

At the Chrysler and Jeep store, Mark Gradian picked a gorgeous 2002 red Dodge Dakota Quad Cab SLT 4x4. It's a local trade in with only one owner, and it looks like it's brand new. Not only did the previous owner take meticulous care of the truck, he invested his own money into it, adding a matching-color hard tonneau cover. As an added touch, it is equipped with the Power Tech 5.9L V8 engine, the most powerful, and most rare, engine available in the Dakotas from that year. With its dual exhaust, upgraded rims and tires, and custom hood, this truck looks and sounds like a million bucks.

At the Chevrolet store, Dan Bauman hand picked the nicest 2000 Saab 9-3 I've ever seen. He said "It's red, pretty, and has every feature you can imagine," and I can't disagree. Before posting this, I took an opportunity to drive that Saab, and I am impressed. I've never felt this pampered in a vehicle before. The ride was smooth, and virtually silent. Beyond the ride and drive though, I was amazed by the utility of this car! Headroom was huge, and I'm 6'4". I have no trouble imagining my wife and I taking a trip and loading all of our luggage in the ample cargo storage room too.

Finally, at the Ford store, Willie Burazin highlighted a 2003 Ford F150 FX4 4x4 Extended Cab. I don't think Willie was exaggerating at all when he labeled this truck the best utility vehicle ever. "You have room for the kids, can haul whatever you want, and can tow whatever you want," he said. Like the other two cars, this truck is set apart from the rest of the inventory by its condition too. Every car we have on the lot looks good--we porter and detail all of them, take care of dings and scratches--but some just shine. This truck is one of the ones that sparkle.

All three of these vehicles are listed in our online inventory at www.braeger.com Please feel free to contact us if you'd like to take a closer look, or feel free to just browse our inventory to see if we have what you want.
Thanks again for your time.

A new car for Easter?

Braeger Automotive Group
Just a few days are left until Easter Sunday, a time many of us will be gathering with friends and family. Some of us will have shiny new cars to show off.
Ok, showing off to the family isn't the best reason to buy a new car. But to support the spring sales rush, the manufacturers have made sure that there are quite a few other good reasons to look into buying or leasing a new car this time of year. Incentives are huge, and lease programs are better than we've seen all winter. In fact, we've seen rebates as high as $3500 on new 2005 models, and leases as low as $99/month. Please feel free to contact us by phone (1-888-724-1246 for Chevrolet, 1-888-724-1239 for Ford, and 1-888-724-1268 for Chrysler and Jeep) or visit our website (www.braeger.com)for specific information.
Maybe showing off isn't the best reason to buy a new car, but getting a good value, and having the opportunity to impress the family can't be a bad combination, right?

Spring is here! Where are you traveling?

Braeger Automotive Group
Although the thermometer outside my window disagrees, the calendar tells us that spring is now here. With spring comes travel season. Before everyone hops in the car for the long drive though, please keep safety in mind.
Your car has just been through some of the most demanding months of the year, and the experts recommend checking your vehicle carefully before pushing it through any long trips.
Braeger offers two levels of vehicle inspection to make your trip as safe as possible. The first is a 16 point inspection including:

Checking the tires' pressures

Checking the tires' wear patterns

Checking the tires' remaining tread depth

Checking the engine oil level

Checking the vehicle's coolant level

Checking the vehicle's brake fluid level

Checking the vehicle's transmission fluid level

Checking the vehicle's windshield washer fluid level

Checking the vehicle's serpentine belt

Checking the vehicle's power steering belt

Checking any other belts, if equipped

Checking the vehicle's radiator hoses

Checking the vehicle's heater hoses

Checking the vehicle's power steering hoses

Checking the vehicle's air conditioning hoses

Checking the vehicle's air filter

Checking the vehicle's cooling system for the proper mixture, and for leaks

Checking the vehicle's windshield wipers and blades

Checking all the vehicle's lamps

Checking the vehicle's battery

Braeger also offers a 23 point inspection which, in addition to everything listed previously, includes:

Checking the vehicle's brakes, front and rear

Checking the vehicle's shocks and struts

Checking the vehicle's transfer case

Checking the vehicle's differential

Checking the vehicle's CV joint boots

Checking the vehicle's steering components

Checking the vehicle's U-joints (if applicable)

Checking the vehicle's suspension, front and rear

Checking the vehicle's exhaust system

Please, enjoy your spring and summer, but please enjoy them as safely as possible. To schedule an appointment with one of our service departments, just visit www.braeger.com and click on the button labeled "Service."
Thanks again for your time, and here's to hoping for some spring-like weather soon!

Two more reasons I can be proud of Braeger

Braeger Automotive Group
Last month Milwaukee hosted its annual auto show. As every year, it was an enormous event. Sales consultants from every dealership in southeastern Wisconsin were invited to spend time at the show demonstrating their knowledge of the cars and trucks currently available.

Scattered throughout the show were "secret shoppers," men and women who would evaluate sales consultants at the show and pick out the elite few who excelled.
While there were many dealerships that didn't have a single sales consultant selected as an exemplary performer, Braeger had not only one, but two consultants honored. Rico Mesko from the Braeger Chrysler and Jeep store, and Mitchell Rea from Braeger Chevrolet were highlighted at the Milwaukee auto show as two of the best of the best. I'm proud to work with an organization dedicated to helping its sales staff be the best they can be. A direct measure of how efficient your car buying experience will be is the professionalism of the sales staff.

Rico Mesko adds: "A customer deserves to know that the vehicle they are buying can suit their wants and needs. If I didn't know what each of our vehicles had to offer, there's no way I could know that I was helping my clients buy the vehicle that was right for them."

Welcome to the Braeger Blog! 21 March, 2005

Braeger Automotive Group

We at Braeger are very excited to open the electronic doors on this blog. We hope to provide a unique resource in the automotive marketplace, not only to allow us to share news and ideas with you, but to allow you to share your experiences with us.

I look forward to providing information about the vehicles we offer, news from our manufacturers, incentives and special offers, events at Braeger, service advice, and commentary from everyone involved in our business--from the service department technicians to the parts distributors to the sales staff to the customers which are our life's blood.

I also look forward to hearing from you. I look forward to hearing what you remember about your total vehicle experience. Have you had a good experience with us? Tell us, so we may repeat it. Have you had a bad experience elsewhere? Tell us, so we won't make the same mistakes.

Until the next update, I'd like to leave you with two thoughts.
First, thank you for choosing Braeger if you have, and for considering Braeger if you haven't yet.
Second, thank you for joining me in this one more opportunity to help make your total vehicle experience the best it possibly can be.