Napleton Escalade Filled with Donations to Helping Hands Food Pantry

This past Holiday Season, our Autowerks of Rockford and Autowerks of Loves Park Stores joined forces to donate to the Helping Hands Food Pantry.

Customers were offered $15 off their service bills for bringing in a donation. The non-perishable food was collected at Napleton Autowerks in Rockford in the Escalade pictured above.

Special thanks to Customer Service Manager, Tina Sweet, for all of her hard work in putting this together and for all of our generous customers for their donations!

To read more about our donation, visit: http://www.rrstar.com/businessrockford/saycheese/x1722161028/Napleton-dealers-make-surprise-donation

To make a donation to Helping Hands Food Pantry, visit: http://helpinghandspantry.com/

Today marks a very special occasion for the Napleton family. We are extremely proud to be celebrating our 80^th year in business!

On October 24^th 1931, our grandfather Edward Napleton opened the first Napleton Dealership on 119^th Street and Vincennes Avenue in Blue Island, Illinois. Previously a mechanic, he opened the doors of his first Buick dealership with a $700 loan, a strong work ethic, and a fervent belief in the American Dream. The business prospered and he was joined in 1953 by our father, Francis Napleton.

Napleton Buick Store Front in 1931

Edward Napleton's Letter Regarding the Grand Opening of the first Napleton Service Station

1949: Francis Napleton, Cordula Napleton, Edward Napleton meeting with a DeSoto Representative

We remember our grandfather and our father for their hard work, their integrity and for laying the foundations of not only our business, but the way we do our business. Our grandfather believed strongly in excellent customer service and he was known for the Common Courtesy that he provided to all of his customers, just as we continue to do today.

Common courtesy is the simple philosophy of treating the customer the way we’d want to be treated,” said Bill Napleton of his family’s success in the car business. “This is something that my grandfather, Ed, and my father, Fran, had instilled into my brothers and I as we grew up working in our family’s business. My Grandpa Ed knew that if you treat people right, offer them more for their money and give them great service, they’d come back. And you know what? Eighty years later, he was right.

These days, we are teaching the same philosophies to our children entering into the business. Our family is joined together by a deep commitment to continuing the family tradition of providing premium automotive service to our clientele. Looking back on 80 years and four generations, there is no doubt to the secret of our success and longevity: our customers!

We cannot thank our customers enough,” says Paul Napleton. “We are so grateful. It is because of each and every one of our customers that we are able to celebrate our 80th anniversary in business as a family. We wouldn’t be here today, 80 years later, without them, simple as that. It wouldn’t be a celebration without our customers.

We’d like to thank each and every one of our customers for your business and support throughout the past 80 years, and we welcome you to celebrate with us. Whether you’ve stopped in for an oil change or have been a life long customer, we thank you for being apart of the past 80 incredible years of serving you and your families. We know that our grandfather would have been extremely proud of where we are today.

With Much Gratitude,

The Napleton Family

Jerry, Bill and Paul Napleton

Keep Up With Regular Maintenance!

2) Check Your Air Filter. Almost 25% of cars are running on a dirty air filter. Changing a dirty filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10-20%!

3) Make Sure Your Tires are Properly Inflated. Under inflated tires can adversely affect a car’s mileage and lead to uneven and/or premature wear. Properly inflating problem tires is like knocking 11 cents off a gallon of gas!

Use a pressure gage regularly to make sure your tires are good to go!

4) Observe the Speed Limit. Although each vechicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at different ranges of speed, gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds over 60 mph. Put it in perspective: Driving over 60 mph is like paying an extra $0.28 per gallon for gas. Not to mention that observing the speed limit is also safer!

5) Use Cruise Control. Using cruise control on the highway can help you maintain a constant speed and will help you save on gas.

6) Don’t Idle. One of the easiest ways to save gas is to turn off a car’s engine while waiting at a curb or sitting at an extended stoplight for more than 30 seconds.

7) Go Easy on The Brakes & Gas Pedal. Avoid “jackrabbit” starts by accelerating gradually whenever possible. The smoother you accelerate and decelerate, the better your gas mileage, with potential gas savings of 33 percent on the highway and five percent around town. This will not only increase your gas mileage, but also prolong the life of your brakes!

8 ) Remove Excess Weight. Avoid keeping any unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially those that are heavy. Reducing the vehicle’s weight is the easiest way to improve your fuel economy. Carrying an additional 100 pounds around can increase a vehicle’s energy consumption by 1-2%. For every 100 pounds unloaded, you’re saving about 6 cents per gallon!

Remove these items in your trunk to get more for your $

Items such as bike racks can slow the aerodynamics of your vehicle

10) Combine Errands into One Trip. Consolidate your trips and errands to destinations that are near one another. Once you arrive, park and walk between destinations. Try to save errands for one afternoon and plan your out your trip. You will save gas and reduce wear and tear on your vehicle!

1) Check the maintenance schedule in your owner’s manual to see what services are recommended and how often. Follow this carefully for as long as you own the car. There are usually different schedules for normal and severe driving conditions; the normal one should be sufficient for most drivers. Mark your calendar with estimated dates for services such as oil changes, tire rotations, and fluid flushes.

2) Change your oil every 3,000-5,000 miles, depending on your owner’s manual. You may need to also factor in how much and how often you drive.

3) Every other oil change you should have your tires rotated. Check your tire pressure often and between rotations by using a tire gauge. This will help with your gas mileage, especially with constant temperature changes in the Midwest!

4) At least once a month, check the levels of the car’s fluids, such as oil, coolant, and brake fluid. The owner’s manual usually has instructions that are quite specific and easy to follow. When you get your oil changed, have the dealership or service station also check each of your fluids to make sure everything is running properly.

5) Change automatic transmission fluid and filter after the first 5,000 miles and after every 25,000 miles or two years thereafter, or as recommended in your owner’s manual.

6) Don’t forget the filters! There are several filters (the main filters are oil, fuel, transmission, and air) that are important in preserving your car engine, and they should be changed according to the schedule in your owner’s manual or as follows:

• Change the oil filter at least at every other oil change.
• Check the air filter every two months and replace if needed.
• Change fuel filters once per year. A clogged fuel filter will cause poor engine performance.

7) Every 12 months, have the exhaust checked for any leaks or unusual noises.

8 ) Wash your engine at least every year or two. This will ensure that your engine will runner cooler and you’ll be able to perform other maintenance checks without the mess. Remember to protect sensitive engine components- including the air intake, distributor, and electrical parts, before cleaning.

9) To keep your car’s AC system fit for next spring, run it a few times throughout the winter. This will prevent moving parts in the compressor from stopping and circulating the refrigerant will keep the seals soft and pliant.

10) Check your battery regularly to extend its full life and avoid being stranded with a dead battery. Keep your battery clean , inspect for damages such as cracks or bulges, which are signs that the battery needs to be replaced.

11) Check underneath the car for any rust spots and if you find any of the areas treated immediately.

12) New noises are not normal. If you hear something odd when accelerating, braking, or turning, have it checked by a mechanic.

13) Did you know that when a tanker is filling the tanks at a gas station, the turbulence of the fuel being pumped in can stir up sediment?  So, if you happen to need gas and drive by a station where the tanker is filling the tanks, move on to the next station because sediment in your gas can clog fuel filters and fuel injectors, causing poor performance and possibly necessitating repairs.

INTERIOR

14) To keep the inside of your car clean, vacuum often. If after vacuuming floor interior carpeting, there are still some resistant stains, apply foam rug cleaner as directed by the maker. Work the foam into a few square feet at a time, using a wet sponge or brush. Vacuum again when dry.

15) Use floor mats to protect carpeting, especially in colder months. The best types of floor mats for eliminating salt, slush, and mud in winter months are rubber mats. These stay in place and don’t allow water to seep through. They are also each to clean. Shake, vacuum and wash as needed.

16) After a few years, wear and tear on leather may become apparent. The best thing to do is to use leather cleaner and apply a protecting sealant. Choose a protectant that includes conditioners to keep your leather supple.

17) If a garage is not an option, minimize interior damage and wearing from UV sunlight and heat by parking in the shade. If this isn’t an option, purchase and use a shade to help minimize the sun’s impact.

18) Did you know that having too many keys on your keychain can actually damage your ignition? The weight, combined with bouncing while you drive, can wear out the tumblers inside the ignition and eventually lead to ignition switch failure.  So instead, purchase a lightweight key chain that allows you to separate your ignition key from the others and drive only with the ignition key in your ignition.

EXTERIOR

19) The sunlight can also damage the exterior by causing the paint to fade. Make sure to park in the shade or in a garage whenever possible. If this is not possible, think about investing in a cover for your vehicle if you park outside for longer periods of time. It will not only help against UV rays, but also with any minor bumps and bruises to your exterior.

20) Replace your wiper blades every 4-6 months to ensure that you have clear visibility with any weather conditions such as rain and snow.

21) Touch up any chips that are on your vehicle to prevent your vehicle from rusting.

22) Car wax preserves paint by slowing oxidation and forming a barrier against bird droppings, sap, and pollution. There’s still no beating paste wax for the hardest, longest-lasting finish. Look for paste with a high carnauba wax content. Apply a thin, even coat of wax to the car’s surfaces with a damp sponge. Avoid applying too much, or it will be difficult to remove and some residue will inevitably mar your finish. To avoid fine scratches, use a clean, soft cotton or microfiber cloth to remove wax once it has dried. Apply an extra coat of wax to the nose and hood. The wax film in these areas wears away quickly.

DRIVING

23) Avoid driving at high speeds or accelerating quickly, especially in very cold or hot weather. This could result in more frequent repairs.

24) Avoid holding the steering wheel in an extreme right or left angles for more than a few seconds when turning, as this may damage the power-steering pump.

Whether you’re servicing your car for a simple oil change, or in for a much larger issue, be certain to discuss your car’s maintenance requirements with one of our expert service advisors. They can provide you with a maintenance menu in order to help you project and budget for future expenses and keep you ahead of the curve!

For locations, more information on our services, or to book your next service appointment, please visit:

http://www.shopnapleton.com/page/service_locations

Filed under: Maintenance, Oil Change, Service, Tips, Tire Rotation ]]> https://napletonnews.wordpress.com/2011/10/10/follow-24-tips-to-keep-your-vehicle-looking-and-feeling-like-new/feed/ 1 napletonnews Service Service on Engine https://napletonnews.wordpress.com/2011/09/30/napleton-ford-in-libertyville-proudly-sponsors-colleens-crew-at-jdrfs-walk-for-a-cure/ https://napletonnews.wordpress.com/2011/09/30/napleton-ford-in-libertyville-proudly-sponsors-colleens-crew-at-jdrfs-walk-for-a-cure/#comments Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:08:53 +0000 Napleton News http://napletonnews.wordpress.com/?p=68 Continue reading »

Napleton Ford in Libertyville has proudly announced that they will be sponsoring the family of Colleen Graham at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Walk for a Cure on October 2^nd, 2011. The walk will be held in Libertyville at Independence Grove Forest Preserve.

Colleen was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in February of 2009, when she was only 10 months old. Her family started Colleen’s Crew shortly after her diagnosis. In October of 2009, Colleen’s Crew had 136 walkers come out and join their team to raise $13,530. Last year, they had over 200 walkers join them to raise $14,000, and this year they are aiming to have even more walkers and donations!

Could she be any more adorable??

Colleen, pictured above is now three years old, and full of smiles, laughter and 3-year-old mischief! Colleen, her family, and Colleen’s Crew are once again ready to Walk for a Cure on October 2^nd!

JDRF is the #1 non-profit funder of diabetes research worldwide.  More than 80% of JDRF’s expenditures directly support research and research-related education.

Type 1, or juvenile diabetes, is a devastating disease that affects millions of people, a large and growing percentage of them children. There is some good news, though. JDRF is the best hope for finding a cure. It funds more type 1 diabetes research than any other charity worldwide and it’s making progress along many promising paths toward better treatments and a cure.

If you’d like to view the Graham’s fundraising page click here:

http://www2.jdrf.org/site/TR/Walk-IL/Chapter-Illinois4160?px=1331625&pg=personal&fr_id=1408

To view the Graham Family’s Walk Video click here:

http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=b28e850ef6d43a4a9a56ef&skin_id=701&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=email

Best of luck to the Grahams and Colleen’s Crew as they Walk for a Cure this Sunday!!

Salesman Mark Eck Pictured with a Napleton 2012 Ford Explorer at the JDRF Walk for A Cure

Filed under: Uncategorized ]]>

Napleton Ford in Libertyville is pleased to invite you to a special Drive It First VIP drive of the 2012 Explorer and the 2012 Edge with the new 2.0L Ecoboost Engine.

Please join us to experience this all-new EcoBoost engine that delivers Fuel economy when you want it, power when you need it. More than a test drive, Drive It First is a fun-packed, hands-on experience with Ford’s latest technology.

WHEN?

Friday, October 20th from 2:30PM-6PM

Saturday October 21st from 9AM-4PM

WHERE?

Arlington Park

2200 Euclid Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL 60006

ACTIVITIES

ECOBOOST EXPERIENCE  Feel the punch of EcoBoost power in an Explorer or Edge. Challenge your friends to notch the top score in the EcoBoost “Beat My Fuel Economy” game.

TECHNOLOGY DRIVE  Experience how Ford technology makes everyday driving situations safer and easier – everything from backing out of crowded parking spaces to checking blind spots when changing lanes.

SYNC WITH MYFORD TOUCH: Experience how this revolutionary driver connect technology is transforming the vehicle interface.

Space is Limited.

Please register at www.driveitfirsttour.com

Register online and complete the survey onsite to get a free giveaway!

DAILY DRAWINGS – A MENS EXPLORER JACKET AND

GIFT CARDS TO LIBERTYVILLE BUSINESSES!

Must have a valid driver’s license and be 18 years old to drive.

Family activity area available for those with small children.

Filed under: Community, EcoBoost, Events, Napleton Ford Libertyville, Test Drive ]]> https://napletonnews.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/youre-invited/feed/ 0 napletonnews Screen shot 2011-09-27 at 1.57.37 PM https://napletonnews.wordpress.com/2011/09/20/the-real-housewives-of-new-jersey-ride-in-style/ https://napletonnews.wordpress.com/2011/09/20/the-real-housewives-of-new-jersey-ride-in-style/#comments Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:10:14 +0000 Napleton News http://napletonnews.wordpress.com/?p=38 Continue reading »

Did you catch Monday night’s episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey???

The cast was shot taking a ride in Napleton style–not in New Jersey, not in Chicago, not even in the United States….but in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic!

In this episode titled ”Get to the Punta!” Teresa and Joe Giudice, Melissa and Joe Gorga, Caroline and Albert Manzo, Jacqueline and Chris Laurita, and Kathy and Rich Wakile travel together to the beautiful Punta Cana. With Leopard Luggage in tow, the cast hops into an entourage of 4 Napleton Cadillac Escalades, ready to give Punta Cana a taste of Jersey!

Check out these snapshots of the Napleton Escalades below to see what was shown on the episode. Make sure to leave your comments below!

Cast of The Real Housewives of New Jersey hop into Napleton Escalades

Napleton Fleet in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Filed under: Escalade, Events, Napleton Cadillac, Punta Cana, The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Uncategorized ]]>

This annual event, with over 20 individual participants, took place at Long Beach Country Club in Michigan City, Indiana.

Cheers to Bill!

Bill Napleton with the Shillelagh Open Trophy

Proceeds from the evening will be dedicated to the Children’s Theatre, including a scholarship program that provides free tickets to local school children who might otherwise never experience that magic of live theatre.

Many Napleton vehicles were displayed at the entrance, along with a red carpet and cast of the upcoming Guys and Dolls performance. The event was full of Las Vegas-themed fun, including Blackjack, Poker, Roulette, Craps, and Slot machines. Also present was a Silent Auction, Raffle, Oxygen Bar, and Photobooth!

Thanks to all who participated in this successful event!

A night full of entertainment at the Blackjack Table!

Bill Napleton and Bridget Napleton at the "Luck be a Lady" Gala on September 9, 2011