If you can’t Ram it, Dodge it. I had a friend that used to say that all the time. His entire family was hardcore Dodge. He always had a Dodge truck, his sister had a Neon, and the list continues down the line. Coming from a blue oval family myself, I admit it was tough but in recent years my point of view has really started to change.

Dodge is one of the most seen cars on the road in this area. It was all fine and well until I started drooling over the Challenger. This car is one of the sweetest things to roll off an assembly line since the Ram. The great thing for fans of the brands who don’t want to feel their wallets drain will be new models like the all new Dodge Avenger scheduled to make an appearance in a couple of years.

If you’ve got a family in Springfield, Dodge Grand Caravan has been the people hauler of choice for years. If you’re amidst a midlife crisis in Springfield, Dodge Charger cars can be the perfect fit for a flashback of power. What would be marketing gold however is if you could somehow combine these two market segments into one buying entity that would only require one assembly line to produce. GOLD, JERRY!

Dodge isn’t there yet with the R and D on that model, however they still have the best options to fit your needs. Families can load up the Caravan and head to Chucky Cheese for the kids, and recently divorced forty something men can hop in the Charger and head for a cool kids bar and attempt to relive their “glory days.”

It doesn’t matter where you grew up or what brand was always in the garage. If you’re truly objective in the car you drive, then Dodge will always be worth a look. With revamps of old classics and introductions of soon to be new ones, the soul of Detroit will always live on in the rumblings or minor humming of the wide variety in engines and styles that Dodge offers.

What comes to mind when you think of muscle and performance from your Springfield Dodge dealer? The Springfield Dodge Charger is probably one of the first things to pop into your head. The Charger has dominated the roads as a leading muscular performance sedan but it is soon going to have someone to share the road with – the special edition 2010 Mopar Challenger!

Mopar is the auto parts and service arm of Chrysler. Up to this point, they have focused on fitting vehicles with special Mopar branded parts in an effort to encourage drivers to do the same. But now for the first time they are releasing a ready-made Mopar version of one of Dodge’s most popular vehicles, the Challenger.

The 2010 Mopar Challenger will be rather exclusive, with only 500 units being produced. These 5.8-liter Hemi V8 units are to be assembled at one Dodge facility and then transported to a specialty production facility where the special Mopar parts will be installed. Among the specialty additions will be a cold-air intake system, a hood-venting system, and a vented hood. Combined, these systems will increase output by 15 hp. The vehicle will also have a stiffer chassis and improved handling that is sure to appeal to the driving enthusiasts who are lucky enough to purchase one of the five hundred.

As for the appearance of the new Challenger, it will look as sporty and powerful as it drives. Painted black with stripes of blue, red, or silver to accent, the vehicle will be suited with 20” forged heritage black wheels, black chrome around the grille, and Mopar logos scattered all over. Inside, drivers will be awed by the leather seating with matching highlight stitching and embroidered “Mopar ’10” logo, custom leather steering wheel with unique shape, matching highlight stitching and Mopar logo, Mopar shift handles, and the serialized dash plaque with vehicle name.

People who purchase the 2010 Mopar Challenger will take home more than just the vehicle. They will also get the vehicle-equivalent of a birth certificate which identifies the vehicle’s serial number, date of production, and photos from the assembly process!

The special edition Challenger will be available this August and will be priced at $38,000 for automatic and $39,999 for manual. I can only hope that this won’t be the last Mopar-equipped vehicle to be released! To learn more, visit your favorite Springfield Dodge dealer today.

A tumultuous 2010 has left many Americans looking for proof that their money was well spent in helping fund the government’s expansive automotive bailout.  As a principal recipient of that bailout money, American car maker Chrysler is looking to respond appropriately with its exciting and innovative 2011 Dodge lineup.  The outlook for Dodge remains solid with the introduction of the next generation of an American classic: the 2011 Dodge Charger.

Similar to its 2010 Charger SRT8 predecessor, the 2011 model will remain a great value buy at any new or used car dealership.  Springfield drivers have a lot to look forward to with the array of improved features and performance upgrades that will likely accompany this next-generation Charger.   Industry experts estimate the 2011 model will carry a price tag of $26,000.  So what will Springfield car buyers get for their money?

The 2011 Charger will remain rear-wheel-drive and boast a unique blend of increased gas mileage and performance.  The sporty sedan will feature a new and more efficient Pentastar V6 engine complimented by an innovative 8-speed transmission.  This combination is meant to maximize the Pentastar’s overall efficiency.  This means drivers can still look forward to the power and drivability that have always characterized the Charger line – without having to worry about voiding their wallets at the pump.

For Dodge, the new Charger model is an integral part of their response to the vast changes sweeping the automotive landscape.  With a lot riding on the 2011 Charger sedan, Dodge is keeping many of the specifications close to its chest until it unveils the vehicle in showrooms during the latter half of 2011.  However, Dodge has guaranteed that the new Charger will exceed the Environmental Protection Agency’s CAFE standards for fuel consumption and emissions.  This is a strong indicator that Dodge has recommitted to balancing performance and fuel economy.  Central Illinois used car buyers will be content in knowing that their hard earned tax dollars were not squandered in the development of the new Charger model.

Dodge has had 94 years of experience in manufacturing quality automobiles.  Adding enhanced fuel economy to the durability, precision, and safety that have been consistent cornerstones of Dodge products will secure the auto manufacturer’s place as a mainstay among American carmakers for years to come.

God Bless America!!! If any of you have not seen it yet, the new TV commercial for the Dodge Challenger is out of this world amazing! I am a history fanatic. Believe me when I say that I am immensely under stating that fact about myself. My whole life is the pursuit of more useless historical knowledge on the offhand chance that it may end up on my friend Joel’s New Years Eve trivia party.

The American Revolution is a tale that cannot be topped. I’m not just biased because it was my country’s revolution. Consider the story in and of itself. The colonies were half a world away under the yoke of the greatest European power since the Romans. When they finally decided they had had enough of tyranny they rose up in unison and stood against all odds stacked up against them and fought to victory.

The father of our country, George Washington, deserves to be remembered now in his newly portrayed glory. He being the original American muscle looks rather dapper in the new incarnation of that same namesake. Does anyone remember the movie “The Patriot?” It was terrible! The costumes, the effects, and the acting were all subpar and paled in comparison to what I just saw.

A sixty second Dodge commercial was a far better representation of history than a Hollywood movie. Shocking I know. In Springfield, Dodge Charger won’t look quite as awesome as it does in the commercial, but I would still feel pretty great if I had one.  Central Illinois used car lots will soon be filled with trade ins. The Charger is the greatest looking car in a long, long time. The horse was pretty cool, but the Charger is far superior.

Raw horsepower with an American flag affixed to the top, chasing down the oppressive redcoats. Run them off the field of battle with not the roar of cannons but rather the roar of a V8. A glorious picture to all patriotic Americans is the new Dodge Challenger running the enemy off the field of battle. God Bless America and Dodge together.

It would have been a far nicer excursion down the long highway this week had I been sitting comfortably in a new Dodge Ram 1500. As we passed Springfield, IL, new car dealer was the last thing on the mind of my uncle or myself.  Having now finished the trip that seemed forever, it’s all I can think about.

This week was supposed to be the week my grandmother had surgery, but instead due to a major hospital mix up it didn’t happen. My father drove to pick up my grandparents and them take them to the city where the surgery was going to be. My uncle made the trip and picked me up along his way so we’d all arrive at the same time. That plan went perfect, it was everything else from that point on that went horribly.

The hospital had the date wrong and told us we made a mistake. One thing you should all know about my family is that we do not enjoy being told we’ve made a mistake after five hour car rides. This family trait is made worse and fueled when it requires us to turn back and go home without achieving the point of the trip.

As my uncle explained the situation with wild hand gestures and threats against people’s well being, we were told one story after another. In the end none of the hospital’s excuses mattered because the doctor that was supposed to perform the operation was out of town on his own family emergency instead of solving ours. After much thought I pictured this doctor selling used cars, Jacksonville, IL would be a good place for him.

In the end we had to turn back and drive straight back home. One could already ring this catastrophe up to a bad day when I received the phone call from the other end of the state to learn that my mother’s father had suffered a stroke. Am I out of line in wishing people would plan their misfortune to take it one at a time? If I am out of line, please tell me. So maybe the trip would have ended totally different if my family had been sitting in the stylish Dodge Ram 1500, but probably not. Either way it’s a sleek vehicle with lots of cool features worth checking out for your next family trip.

If you’re in the market for a truck, this blog post is for you because I’m here to tell you that the 2010 Dodge Dakota Crew Cab TRX4 4X4 is the most interesting, versatile, and well-equipped mid-size truck on the market today! Don’t believe me? Just ask the leading Central Illinois used car and new car dealer Green Dodge. They hooked me up with my Dakota Crew Cab and I have not been disappointed so I want to share with you what makes this truck so great.

Let’s start with power. When it comes to the engine for Dakota Crew Cab, you’re able to choose between a 3.7 liter V6 and a 4.7-liter V8 that produces 302 horsepower. Either can be paired with two or four wheel drive and a four or five speed transmission. The V6 earns 15/20 mpg city/highway for two-wheel drive and 14/18 mpg city/highway for four-wheel drive, while the V8 earns 14/19 mpg city/highway on either two- or four-wheel drive. After looking at the numbers it seems the V8 offers the biggest bang for the buck so that’s the one I would go with.

These are impressive numbers, but for me, the truck’s value lies in its versatility. It’s listed as a mid-size truck, but that’s as big as a full sized truck was a few years back. That means it has a crew cab so my kids can always come along for the ride, and a satisfyingly long truck bed which can carry all my tools or my kids bikes.

Speaking of my kids, safety is a top priority when I know they’re going to be in the truck so that’s why the Central Illinois used car dealer who sold it to me encouraged me to go with the added safety package so that I had extra peace of mind. Normally I’m hesitant to get any add-ons but in this case I’m glad I did. The additional safety package added supplemental front and read side curtain air bags and four-wheel anti-lock brakes.

So whether you’re hauling lumber or hauling your family, the Dakota Crew Cab is the choice for you. To learn more about this 4×4, visit your favorite new and used car dealership, Springfield Green Dodge. You can test drive any of their great trucks but I urge you to give the 2010 Dodge Dakota Crew Cab TRX4 4X4 a shot. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!

I bet you didn’t know that 10,000 people lose their lives to rollover crashes each year! Scary thought right? Well, before you start panicking and refuse to get behind a wheel ever again there’s a very simple way you can prevent yourself from adding to that figure.  You can start driving a Dodge Nitro,  why a Dodge Nitro? Well, the Dodge Nitro received the top, “good” rating during the Institute for Highway Safety’s roof crash test to see how well vehicles perform in rollover crashes.

Dodge headquarters tells the Springfield IL new car dealer that to receive a “good” rating overall the Dodge Nitro received a”good” rating during the IIHS’s front, side, and rear crash tests. The Dodge Nitro also received a  “good” rating because it is equipped with electronic stability control which greatly reduces the risk of rollovers. The used car dealership Springfield dealer says the Dodge Nitro also scored a “good” rating in the roof strength test, which is the IIHS’s most important test. The roof strength test, tests to see how well the roof will hold up during a rollover crash. This is because when vehicles roll, the roofs hit the ground and crush, if the vehicles have a strong roof then it will crush less and will greatly reduce the injury to the passengers inside the vehicle.

To test what will happen during this situation the IIHS’s roof-strength test pushes down one corner of a roof with a metal plate and the the vehicle is rated on how much force the roof can withstand until the edge caves in five inches. Dodge headquarters tells the Springfield IL new car dealer that the Dodge Nitro was able to withstand four times it’s unloaded or curb weight. Since the Nitro can withstand four times it’s unloaded or curb weight this means that the Nitro’s roof is more than twice as strong as the minimum requirement under the current safety standard, which is 1.5.

According to spokesman for the Insurance Institute, Russ Rader, the fact that the Dodge Nitro was among those who received a “good” rating this means, “The automakers are committed to meeting the test and improving rollover protection as they roll out their new models.” The used car dealership Springfield definitely agrees with this and thinks it also shows how Dodge is committed to keeping their drivers safe! So if your looking to not be part of that scary figure of how many people lose their lives to rollover crashes each year, it looks like the Dodge Nitro is your best option!

Back in the day my dad’s uncle was always finding as many vehicles as he could to drop a 440 big block engine in. He didn’t care what it was, he always said it made them better. It proves that Americans have always been strong followers of the bigger is better theory. It makes perfect sense. The newest Dodge trucks are just one more example of our national lust for over compensation, but man don’t they look cool!

This baby has it all. Under the hood you’ll find a V8 engine with enough horse power to tackle the biggest payloads. Get the job done quicker and look more intimidating doing it. As a current member on the committee to change the phrase new and improved over to bigger and better, my hat goes well off to this magnificent behemoth. The only complaint here is the small tires. Though it’s possible that the  small tires are just bait for upgrades, it makes the floor model look like a huge muscle man with size 6 shoes.

My great uncle always talked about how power was important. The one thing he never seemed to care too much about was looks. This truck would have been perfect for him. It has all the power one would want in a muscle truck with all the great esthetics of a top of the line vehicle. He has a brother in central Illinois. The next visit he makes to a Springfield, IL new car dealer he may want to check out what he’s missing.

Uncle Jack may live farther south than that, but as long as he continues to test the used cars Jacksonville, IL has to offer, he might as well drive the extra distance to get the new and improved, oh I’m sorry, I mean the bigger and better model.

Trucks are like everything else that this country represents. We do it bigger, better, louder, harder, and in all the best ways we make sure to stand out and make the rest of the world hate us openly and envy us secretly. Some may enjoy driving on the wrong side of the road dodging sheep through London town. For those of us in the best country in the world, we do it a bit better.

Looking for a car with attitude that also happens to be a collectible? Check out the new Dodge Viper as it closes out production for the current generation of cars. Only 50 of the 2010 Viper SRT10 Final Edition will be up for grabs and your Central Illinois used car dealer want to make sure you are in the running.

This Viper comes in Coupe, Roadster and American Club Racer (ACR) models and each of the final editions will feature a body covered in Graphite Clear Coat with a black center stripe outlined in red. These models also will be identified with unique sill badges that designate them as limited.

Customers of used cars Jacksonville IL will appreciate the black interior of the Final Edition Viper which has red accent stitching, stainless screws and a numbered dash plaque on the shifter. Oh, let’s not forget the special Viper Final Edition floor mats. But getting to the really important stuff . . .

The Final Edition will sport Anthracite six-spoke wheels on the Coupe and Roadster and black five-spoke Sidewinder wheels on the ACR. Central Illinois used car customers will find the 8.4-liter V-10 engine to their liking as well. Try 0-60 in under four seconds and a top speed of 202 mph in 11 seconds. Well, don’t try it unless you have a race track or some salt flats in your back yard, but be in awe of it.

Dodge will begin building the Final Edition models this summer and they will not stick around long, so save up that pocket change. Central Illinois used car dealers are excited that Dodge has put out more limited editions this time around. In 2002 only 34 of the final edition Vipers were made.

If you’re someone that has been convinced that size doesn’t matter, I’m here to deliver some bad news – it does! Just ask the folks at your favorite used car dealership, Springfield area Green Dodge. They’ll tell you that when it comes to buying trucks, bigger really is better! And it doesn’t get any bigger or better than the 2010 Dodge Ram Power Wagon.

Just how big is the new Power Wagon? This five-passenger 4×4 pick-up rides on 32” BF Goodrich off-road tires so drivers have a commanding view of the road and can intimidate just about anyone or anything that comes in their way. It is powered by a 5.7-liter V8 Hemi which creates 383 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque and is the ideal choice for the off-road enthusiast.

Not only is this 4×4 the all-star of big-rigs, it’s as American as you can get – big and proud, brash and powerful, well-built and confident. That’s something I can appreciate!

What more can you ask for in your V8 pick-up? How about a long list of features and amenities? Not to worry, the Power Wagon has you covered. After all, just because we drive a big, rugged truck doesn’t mean we don’t like our comfort features. From excellent materials to trailer brake control, nothing was overlooked. Other special features include a USB port, an auxiliary jack for connecting music players to the stereo, and Bluetooth connectivity so you can keep your hands where they belong – on the steering wheel.

Not only does the Power Wagon have what it takes to make it off-road, drivers will look and feel good while driving it. Its attractive and oversized exterior complements the spacious and comfortable interior perfectly. Best of all, it’s available at a reasonable sticker price of only $38,480.

If you’ve already got a great truck, you know the only thing you can replace it with in another great truck. The best place to make this happen is at the leading dealer of new and used cars, Springfield area Dodge dealer Green Dodge. At this used car dealership, Springfield vehicles like the Power Wagon are available at great low prices so visit them today!