Welcome the Fall Season in a Ram Truck

Welcome to fall, a season where Ram Trucks rule the roadways — and the off-roadways. Here are three ways Ram Trucks rule the fall season:A Successful Hunt:

The Ram 1500 Outdoorsman® 4×2 model is designed with features to support hunters before and after a trip into the great outdoors. It’s always hunting-ready, just like you. With Under-Floor Storage, you have extra space in smart places that give you room to secure all the necessary tools for a successful day out on the hunt. The available RamBox® Cargo Management System is an additional secure storage space that’s specifically designed for your hunt — so you’ve got room for all of your gear. With an available EcoDiesel engine providing up to 28 hwy mpg, the Outdoorsman takes you where you want to go, and further.

Get the Job Done Right:When summer vacation ends and the leaves begin to fall, it’s time to get to work. The 2015 Ram 2500 will power you straight through another season of work with up to 800 lb-ft of diesel torque and best-in-class diesel towing up to 17,970 lbs.

Celebrate the Big Game:
Football is a very important part of the season and it just wouldn’t be the same without a good tailgate celebration. Fortunately, the Ram 1500 has you covered for the big game. Legendary towing and hauling capacity are at your service to deliver all your tailgate essentials to the stadium parking lot —fans, grills and coolers. Load up the available RamBox® with ice-cold beverages and you’re good to go for any gameday.

About Our SONJU Chevy-Ford-Dodge Dealership

Our Dealership has built a reputation by providing courteous and honest service. Our customers appreciate the way we do business, and we know you will too. Take a moment to read the info below and find out what makes us an exceptional place to buy or service your automobile. Sonju -- family-owned for over 80 years.

 

Longevity Since 1925 

Firm Roots in Two Harbors: Sonju Motors began as a Ford dealership in Two Harbors, Minnesota, on the scenic North Shore of Lake Superior, just North of Duluth, Minnesota. Alfred Sonju started the dealership in 1925. His son-in-law, Adler Johnson, became head of operations upon Alfred’s retirement in 1966. At that time the dealership was already a Chevrolet-Buick-Pontiac franchise. In 1976 we acquired the Oldsmobile franchise. Then, in 1982, the dealership acquired the Dodge Chrysler, Jeep, and Plymouth franchise.

Adler’s two sons, Mark and Terry, took ownership of the family business in 1985. In 1993 Keith McKinzie joined the sales team. Terry took over as president in 1997 when Mark stepped aside to pursue other interests. In 1998 Keith McKinzie bought into the dealership as a partner and in 2001 he increased ownership and took over as active owner overseeing day-to-day operations.

How Chevrolet Domesticated The 2016 Colorado Duramax

• BY SEAN SZYMKOWSKI
• — OCT 13, 2015

• We denoted it in our first drive impressions of the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado Duramax: the truck tries really, really hard to act like a gasoline-powered truck. And we told you that’s for better, or worse, depending on how you like your diesels.
  But, Jalopnik has detailed what exactly Chevrolet engineers were tasked with to ensure a well behaved 2.8-liter Duramax turbo diesel engine for the home team.
  Of course, emissions play a part in the process. An exhaust gas recirculation sucks exhaust fumes back into the engine to prevent them from spewing out of the tailpipe and, right past the turbocharger, the remaining gases head to be broken down through a urea injection. This takes all the awful gases and turns them into nitrogen and water.
  Second is noise. Chevrolet included three acoustic absorbers, extra steel and more deadening beneath the engine to make for that gasoline-truck like experience. It’s quiet, and harsh is not a word that will exit your mouth when piloting a 2016 Colorado Duramax. Complimenting all the sound deadening is a General Motors first: a Centrifugal Pendulum Absorber, or CPA. The CPA smooths out a lot of the rough byproducts diesel engines create.
  According to Chevrolet, the 2.8-liter Duramax has been tweaked for optimal conditions in the truck’s home market. Chevy engineers said the engine is supposed to be very simple to work on compared to many modern engine applications. Cold starts have also been thought about, too. A ceramic tip glow plug in each cylinder of the engine is used to pre-heat the combustion chamber, and a larger battery helps get things going in extreme cold.
  Now, if you like what you’re reading, make sure you head out and buy a 2016 Colorado Duramax if you’d like to see this engine find its way into other GM-branded vehicles
  
  
  Read more: http://gmauthority.com/blog/2015/10/how-chevrolet-domesticated-the-2016-colorado-duramax/#ixzz3oY3lAa69

A deal’s a deal: Uncle buys nephew Jeep Wrangler for graduation

By Mike Driehorst

Note: We were alerted to a brief but pretty cool story and photograph on Facebook, about an Ohio man who kept a deal with this young nephew many years ago to buy him a Jeep Wrangler when the young man graduated from college. After contacting the uncle, Johnny Nation, he sent us the story.

Mario and his father, Mark.

When my nephew Mario Palmisano was 5, he lost his father, Mark in a whitewater accident. As a result, he and his two sisters spent a great deal of time with us growing up in Northeast Ohio. I had a small green SUV in those days. He liked it, but asked if when he grew up I’d buy him a “real” Jeep® SUV. Not a “fake one” like I had. Ha. Ha. I promised I would, if he graduated college. So, he drew up the “contract” and we both signed it.

As you’ll see on the contract (left), sometime around middle school, he was worried I might buy him a Matchbox Jeep toy, so he added a bit in the corner that says “real and full size, expensive.” This has been a source of a lot of comedy in our family.

In 2011, Mario graduated from Willoughby South High School and was accepted to the University of Chicago on a full academic and athletic scholarship for wrestling. I was driving a compact SUV at the time, but traded it in to buy his 2011 Jeep Wrangler, green of course. My goal was to have it paid off by the time he graduated. Mario carried the spare key with him throughout college, and insisted on driving it when he came home for holidays.

Johnny and Mario at Mario’s college graduation.

In June 2015, Mario graduated from the University of Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. He was also inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society for being in the top 5% of his class. Recently, Mario took a job with Teach for America in San Francisco.

Where we live is a very rural area and many roads aren’t paved. We also get extreme lake effect snow in this part of the country. A foot or more of snowfall overnight is a regular occurrence here.

It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the Jeep Wrangler I bought for Mario. I knew when I made good on my promise to my nephew, I was getting one for myself. Upon returning from Mario’s University of Chicago commencement ceremony, I went to the Great Lakes Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Kingsville, Ohio, and bought one.

I’ve never had any trouble with the brand, plus they’re sporty and practical. I foresee being a Jeep Wrangler owner from here on out.

(Images courtesy of Johnny Nation.)

THE REGULAR GUY REVIEWS: 2016 BUICK ENCLAVE

Oct 13, 2015 01:30 PM EDT | Benjamin Preston
AUTO WORLD NEWS

The kitted-out 7-passenger crossover I drove wasn't cheap, but that's to be expected. In the General Motors hierarchy, Buick is second only to Cadillac in terms of luxury (and maybe equal to GMC). The Enclave delivered on that reputation.

(Photo : Benjamin Preston)

 

At first glance, the Enclave may not look like much. Sure, it's shiny with metallic paint and chrome trim, but it's basically the same thing as a Chevrolet Traverse and wears the unassuming bodywork to match. The signature chrome waterfall grille, portholes and giant 19-inch chrome-plated wheels are hints at what this car is about – comfort combined with a mid-century sense of style.

That's not to say the Enclave isn't thoroughly modern. Sure, the gauges in the instrument cluster are the old-fashioned kind with actual needles and there's only the most basic pixelated display in the center, but that's actually a bit refreshing. In this age of information overload, the Enclave keeps it simple. A small analog clock placed placed at the dash center just above the infotainment screen suggests there are some things more important than high-tech gadgetry. Class and elegance, for instance.

(Photo : Benjamin Preston)

 

(Photo : Benjamin Preston)

Seating is roomy and comfortable. The middle row features reclining captains chairs that fold and stow out of the way. The rear seat is a bit less plush, but its easy for passengers to access and to fold flat for more cargo space. With the rear seats up, there isn't much space left for cargo.

The Enclave devoured highway miles with ease. Its 288-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 and 6-speed automatic transmission moved the big car without too much trouble. Although I could never be sure what sort of fuel economy I was getting (I couldn't find the menu that showed it), a tank of gas lasted a long time and didn't cost more than $45 to replenish. Visibility out of the sides and back of the vehicle weren't all that great, but front and rear corner collision warning sensors with sideview mirror-mounted warning lights help me avoid catastrophes. The forward collision warning system actually helped me on one occasion.  

Photo : Benjamin Preston)

 

(Photo : Benjamin Preston)

 

The Enclave is a heavy vehicle – close to 5,000 pounds, depending upon equipment – and even with four-wheel disc brakes, stopping it takes time. When someone slammed on their brakes in front of me in traffic, I saw the flashing red warning lights on the dash before I saw the errant motorist. The panic it caused gave my brain the signal it needed to command my foot to brake hard immediately. I probably would've been fine without it but I appreciated the help.

Come the winter, the all-wheel drive (this model had it) wil undoubtedly come in handy on New York's snow and ice-covered roads.

Would I buy an Enclave if I had a big family to haul around? It's really nice, but probably not when there are so many less expensive options that offer similar amenities. The Toyota Highlander, Ford Flex and Dodge Durango all have three-row seating and can all be had nicely equipped for less than $40,000. Buick may have a reputation as a prestige brand in China, but it has yet to regain that kind of clout at home.

By the numbers: 2016 Buick Enclave AWD

MSRP: $53,630 (includes $925 destination charge)

Power and drive wheels: 3.6-liter, 288-hp V6 engine, all-wheel drive

Transmission: 6-speed automatic transmission

EPA fuel economy: 18/22 city/highway mpg

Safety: The 2016 Buick Enclave has not yet been rated by IIHS, but the rating for the 2015 model can be found here.

FORD NAMES ''WAKE ME APP'' WINNER OF SYNC APPLINK DEVELOPER CHALLENGE TEL AVIV

More than 150 developers participated in Ford’s first ever Tel Aviv AppLink Developer Challenge October 11-12, 2015. Ford challenged developers to create original apps leveraging the features of all-new AppLink and SYNC 3, including the system’s capacitive touch screen, improved voice recognition and image display capabilities to enhance the in-car experience for customers.

• Ford hosted its first ever SYNC® AppLink™ Developer Challenge in Tel Aviv to challenge and educate developers and entrepreneurs to create new applications and ideas that enhance the in-car user experience
• Wake Me App, created by a duo of programmers, earned the grand prize out of nearly 50 submissions from both individuals and teams
• The Wake Me App team leveraged Ford SYNC AppLink application programming interface to create an innovative app that monitors drivers for signs of drowsiness

TEL AVIV, October 12, 2015 – Ford selected “Wake Me App,” an app that monitors drivers for signs of drowsiness, as the winner of the Ford SYNC^® AppLink^™ Developer Challenge in Tel Aviv. The 24-hour hackathon, October 11-12, included more than 150 app developers, and was co-sponsored by WeiserMazars LLP. The winning app was chosen by a panel of judges representing Ford’s technology development team, venture capital and even auto racing.

“Tel Aviv has an amazing base of tech developers, and the talent and creativity we saw from the participating teams has been remarkable,” said Scott Lyons, business    and partner development, Connected Vehicle and Services, Ford of Europe.  “Wake Me App stood out because of its innovative use of the new SYNC AppLink developer tools that leverage vehicle information to create dynamic apps in the car.”

Wake Me App monitors drivers for signs of drowsiness in specific stages, and issues escalating alerts accordingly.  Developers Pavel Kaminsky and Shay Mishali leveraged the latest set of AppLink application programming interfaces and the new capabilities of SYNC 3 to create the app.

At signs of driver drowsiness, the App performs an escalating-level of alerts to make the driver aware of his/her condition, including audible chimes, changing the radio volume, and even automated SMS messages and phone calls to the driver’s contact list.

Other winning apps included Red Alert (second place), an app which alerts drivers in Israel to a potential national security threat, and Karpoolz (third place), a multi-family carpooling app for parents to manage their kids’ afterschool and social activities.  One app received an honorable mention, Green Light, which gives a countdown to upcoming traffic signals.

Ford challenged developers to create original apps leveraging the features of all-new AppLink and SYNC 3, including the system’s capacitive touch screen, improved voice recognition and image display capabilities to enhance the in-car experience for customers.

As grand prize winner, Kaminski and Mishali received from Ford a brand-new 2016 Ford Fiesta, NIS 75,000, $7,500 USD in services from WeiserMazers LLP, and the winning app may one day be offered to Ford drivers whose vehicles are equipped with SYNC 3.

Second place was awarded NIS 44,000 from Ford and $5,000 USD in services from WeiserMazers LLP. Third place received NIS 22,000 from Ford and $2,500 USD in services from WeiserMazers. Honorable Mention received $3,500 USD in services from WeiserMazers.

Ford will also host its first-ever AppLink Developer Challenge in Europe during Nov. 2-3 in Dublin, Ireland. More information about Ford’s developer program is available at developer.ford.com.

Shay Mishali(L) and Pavel Kaminsky(R) of Tel Aviv pose with their new 2016 Ford Fiesta, the grand prize in Ford’s first ever Tel Aviv AppLink Developer Challenge. The pair created “Wake Me App,” a unique solution to address the problem of drowsy driving.

Pavel Kaminsky(L) and Shay Mishali(R) were named the winners of Ford’s first ever AppLink Developer Challenge in Tel Aviv. The team created “Wake Me App,” and took home the grand prize: a new 2016 Ford Fiesta and $19,500 USD in cash.

Wake Me App monitors drivers for signs of drowsiness in specific stages, and issues escalating alerts accordingly.  Developers Pavel Kaminsky and Shay Mishali leveraged the latest set of AppLink application programming interfaces and the new capabilities of SYNC 3 to create the app.

App developers enter hour number 18 of Ford’s 24-hour Tel Aviv AppLink Developer Challenge, held October 11-12, 2015. More than 150 developers participated, and the winning team received a new 2016 Ford Fiesta and a $19,500 cash prize.