Chevrolet Cruze Rated as One of Top Ten Most Reliable Cars

OKEMOS, Mich., – In case you needed more reason to love it, the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze was rated one of the top 10 most reliable cars by ConsumerReports.org! We already think the Cruze is pretty awesome, but if you were looking for more validation, this list is just what you need!

Coming in with a standard 30 mpg overall, with a 1.4-liter, four-cylinder turbo and a six-speed automatic transmission, the Cruze can hold its own in any vehicle lineup! It's start-stop feature reduces fuel use while the car is idling, and its roomy interior makes the Chevrolet Cruze a favorite.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto seamlessly integrate with your smart phone to bring you the latest in infotainment technology.

All of these features are great, but what makes a car reliable is its ability to withstand time! According to tests performed by the professionals at Consumer Reports, the Chevy Cruze joins the ranks of well known and well loved cars in the same class, such as the Toyota Prius. To determine a vehicle's reliability, 17 different vehicle problem areas are studied, as well as data from track testing, owner-satisfaction surveys, and safety data.

We already knew the Cruze was something special, but ConsumerReports.org confirmed what we were thinking. The Chevrolet Cruze is rated one of the top 10 most reliable cars! If you're still not convinced, come drive one for yourself at Graff Chevrolet in Okemos!

Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos is committed to providing you with top-notch service and convenience close to home. Let our friendly team of Chevy professionals at Hank Graff Okemos help you find your dream car – simply call us at (517) 349-8300 or visit our showroom, located at 1748 W. Grand River Okemos, MI 48864. We’re just minutes from Lansing!

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Chevrolet Silverado HD Carhartt Concept

OKEMOS, Mich., – Carhartt brand lovers and Chevy enthusiasts rejoice! Chevrolet is working to bring customers a perfect blend of two All-American, well-loved brands. The Chevrolet Silverado HD Carhartt concept vehicle's rugged aesthetics are reminiscent of both Chevrolet trucks and the Carhartt brand. Chevrolet and Carhartt hope to create a vehicle for "hardworking people" by offering the "utility they expect" from both brands.

“This concept vehicle mirrors the lifestyles of countless Chevy truck owners, demonstrating the personal connections with the tools of their trades,” said Sandor Piszar, Chevrolet Truck marketing director. The Chevy truck and the Carhartt brand are melded together by the durability of both company's products, in this case represented by the Carhartt signature duck brown fabiric on the seats, armrests, and door panel inserts. Vehicle features include:

• Trailering mirrors with camera system
• Black bow tie emblems
• All-weather floor liners
• Assist steps
• Perimeter bed lighting
• Bed-mounted toolbox and swing-out tool chest

Carhartt concept custom equipments includes:

• 20-inch LED light bar
• Electrical outlets in the bed
• Antique nickel accents on the grille, mirror caps, tow rings and 20-inch aluminum wheels
• Carhartt gold pinstripe graphics

The model used for the Carhartt concept vehicle, the Duramax 6.6L is part of the 2017 silverado HD lineup. It brings more horsepower than it's predecessors, coming in at 445 hp. The Chevrolet Silverado HD Carhartt Concept will be on display at The SEMA Show, taking place in Las Vegas Nov. 1-3. To get your hands on the latest model Chevy vehicles, be sure to stop by Graff Chevrolet in Okemos, or browse our inventory of new vehicles on our website!

Located conveniently just outside of Lansing, Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos is here to help you with your car buying and servicing needs. Our goal is to create a transparent experience and a comfortable environment for all of our valuable customers. If you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, reach us at (517) 349-8300, or stop by the dealership at 1748 W. Grand River in Okemos, MI 48864

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Halloween Pumpkin Carving Ideas

OKEMOS, Mich., – Have you carved your Halloween pumpkin yet? Don't stick with the generic jack-o-lantern! Try one of these Halloween pumpkin carving ideas that is a little outside of the ordinary.

This spooky carving idea requires a smaller pumpkin, in
addition to the large one! If you don't want to carve the
little one, you could decorate it with paint!

This creepy skeleton is a creative way to use two pumpkins
for your jack-o-lantern carving!

Empty your pumpkin guts from a different
location this year, and use the stem for a nose!

This carving is a fun way to distribute candy
to trick-or-treaters!

This barfing jack-o-lantern is a little gross, but a
creative way to use up the pumpkin guts!

Who would have thought you can create a snail out of a pumpkin?

To see more fun Halloween and fall themed ideas, check out our Graff Okemos Pinterest page! We share tons of awesome recipes, DIY projects, and home ideas! You should also check out our monthly deals at GraffOkemosGM.com! This month, trade your truck for minimum of $3,000 during our Truck for Truck event!

Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos is committed to providing you with top-notch service and convenience close to home. Let our friendly team of Chevy professionals at Hank Graff Okemos help you find your dream car – simply call us at (517) 349-8300 or visit our showroom, located at 1748 W. Grand River Okemos, MI 48864. We’re just minutes from Lansing!

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Chevrolet Blue Line Concept Models

OKEMOS, Mich., – Chevy has introduced a new concept to be debuted in November at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The Blue Line is a new stylized line of vehicles intended to bring performance, function, and design to upcoming Chevrolet vehicles. The Chevrolet Blue Line Concept Models bring new, more personalized lifestyle options to customers wishing to upgrade their next vehicle purchase to match their everyday needs.

The Blue Line

The Blue Line features and accessories are currently demonstrated on 2017 Malibu and 2017 Cruze RS Hatch models. The Genesis White exteriors on both cars, along with 18-inch wheels painted slate metallic, both complement the blue tinted windows. The concept line is unique to other concept lines because both the production and concept accessories were developed alongside the vehicles, meaning they were designed specifically by the team that created the vehicles themselves. This detailed integration brings a more sporty aesthetic of the Blue Line Malibu and Cruze RS Hatch.

Malibu Blue Line

• Illuminated doorsills
• Premium metal badging on floor liners
• Rear spoiler
• Black bow tie emblems
• Black grille insert
• Suspension lowering kit
• Sport pedal kit
• Ground effects kit with rear diffuser

All optional kits were created to give the driver a sportier ride. The suspension lowering kit offers a more responsive handling experience and a new 2.0L turbocharged engine is also available, with a 250 horsepower, nine-speed automatic transmission.

Cruze RS Hatch Blue Line

• Suspension lowering kit
• Performance brake package
• Performance exhaust system
• Performance air intake system
• Chrome grille insert

The new features available for the Cruze RS Hatch are meant to bring a more sporty functionality to the Chevrolet lineup, as well as providing buyers with a more stylish option. An important thing to note is the new-vehicle warranties remain intact when a Blue Line vehicle is equipped with accessories and performance parts. The Blue Line models are just 2 of approximately 20 vehicles that will be on display at the SEMA Show. 

The SEMA Show takes place Nov. 1-4 in Las Vegas. The Chevrolet Blue Line Concept Models bring a new level of personalization to Chevy's lineup. Get your car ready for the cooler weather with our Fall Car Care pages at Graff Okemos.

Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos is committed to providing you with top-notch service and convenience close to home. Let our friendly team of Chevy professionals at Hank Graff Okemos help you find your dream car – simply call us at (517) 349-8300 or visit our showroom, located at 1748 W. Grand River Okemos, MI 48864. We’re just minutes from Lansing!

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Fall Baking Recipes to Warm You Up

OKEMOS, Mich., – Fall is in full swing here in Michigan! The leaves are changing and pumpkins adorn many porches. Now it's time to head to the kitchen and get baking! Whether you're hosting a get together, attending a party, or just pleasing the family, these fall baking recipes are sure to warm you up! 

1. Maple Cupcakes with Pumpkin Pie Frosting

Full of fall flavor, these are sure to be a hit. Who doesn't love a good cupcake? The maple and pumpkin compliment each other nicely and create a unique flavor combination.

2. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

This twist on a classic is a tasty way to spice up your plain old cookie recipe. Just add pumpkin and spices and you've got a great fall treat.

3. Crockpot Baked Apples

Put your slowcooker to good use this fall by making these yummy baked apples. You can easily alter the bake time if you'd like to use the oven instead!

4. Caramel Glazed Apple Bread

Generally, fall in Michigan means we have apples coming out of our ears! Use up some of those extras with this delicious apple bread recipe!

5. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

The great thing about muffins is that they aren't overly sweet like cupcakes tend to be. You can even get away with eating them for breakfast! 

As we welcome the cooler weather of fall, try our fall baking recipes to warm you up! The sweet flavors of the season are one of the best parts of autumn! While you're satisfying your sweet tooth, don't forget to take care of your vehicle! Check out our Fall Car Care pages to learn about your vehicle belt and hose maintenance, heating and ventilation system, windshield damage repair, weather strips, and how to create an emergency vehicle kit.

Located conveniently just outside of Lansing, Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos is here to help you with your car buying and servicing needs. Our goal is to create a transparent experience and a comfortable environment for all of our valuable customers. If you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, reach us at (517) 349-8300, or stop by the dealership at 1748 W. Grand River in Okemos, MI 48864

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6 Spooky Halloween Activities for Kids

OKEMOS, Mich., – October is the spookiest month of the year! With Halloween just around the corner, it's the perfect time to try these 6 spooky Halloween activities for kids! Parents might have just as much fun as the little ones! These sensory based activities and science experiments are great for children of any age! 

1. Boo Bubbles

These dry ice bubbles are a fun, mind boggling experiment that can be done safely, right at home!

2. Fizzy Jack-O-Lantern

This one could get a little messy, so you may want to take it outside. All you need is vinegar, baking soda and dish soap for this fizzy jack-o-lantern!

3. Spooky Spider Webs

Draw your spider webs with light colored crayons or pastels and paint over them with dark water colors for this fun effect!

4. Bat Slime

This sensory activity will please everyone involved! Kids will love the slime, and you'll love how easy it is to make!

5. Dancing Worms

Bring your gummies to life with help from baking soda and vinegar! 

6. Perfect Pumpkins

Halved apples make the perfect pumpkin stamp! Turn them into jack-o-lanterns once they've dried using black paint!

If you're looking for a fun way to keep everyone entertained, try out these 6 spooky Halloween activities for kids! Sensory based projects and science experiments are great learning opportunity and a chance for the whole family to hang out together! Don't get so wrapped up in your fun that you forget to stay up to date on your vehicle maintenance! Use our Fall Car Care pages to help you get prepared for the cooler weather! 

Located conveniently just outside of Lansing, Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos is here to help you with your car buying and servicing needs. Our goal is to create a transparent experience and a comfortable environment for all of our valuable customers. If you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, reach us at (517) 349-8300, or stop by the dealership at 1748 W. Grand River in Okemos, MI 48864

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Chevrolet Supports Breast Cancer Awareness Month

OKEMOS, Mich., – October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month! All across the country many organizations are participating in fundraisers, walks, and other types of awareness campaigns. For the past six years, Chevrolet has been involved in the fight against breast cancer. Last year they raised nearly $1.6 million and sponsored 84 charity walks across the country. Chevrolet supports Breast Cancer Awareness Month in many ways, including offering the opportunity for buyers to get involved on social media.

Get Involved

Chevrolet is encouraging social media users to post photos in support of those they know who have battled cancer. You can get involved with Chevrolet on social media by tagging your posts #IDriveFor. For every post, Chevrolet will donate $5 up to $500,000.

Awareness Walks

GM and Chevrolet employees, as well as Chevrolet dealerships, are encouraged to gather friends and family members to participate in Making Strides for Breast Cancer walks in their communities. These walks provide fundraising opportunities as well as raise awareness for breast cancer and breast cancer research in our communities.

Chevy Motorsports

In addition to social media and community engagement, Chevrolet will be commissioning a pink Chevrolet SS Pace Car for two NASCAR Sprint Cup Races. For each caution lap at these races, Chevy will donate $350 up $50,000. Additionally, breast cancer survivor events will take place at both races.

To see if there is a Making Strides for Breast Cancer Walk in your community, visit www.makingstrideswalk.org. Don't forget to tag your posts on social media with the hashtag #IDriveFor so you can get involved with Chevrolet as they support Brest Cancer Awareness Month!

Located conveniently just outside of Lansing, Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos is here to help you with your car buying and servicing needs. Our goal is to create a transparent experience and a comfortable environment for all of our valuable customers. If you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, reach us at (517) 349-8300, or stop by the dealership at 1748 W. Grand River in Okemos, MI 48864

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Fill-a-Chevy Coat Drive for the Cristo Rey Community Center

OKEMOS, Mich. –– Have you ever tried filling a Chevrolet Silverado with as many coats, hats, and gloves possible? Probably not, but Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos is about to see how high we can get that number during our Fill-a-Chevy coat drive for the Cristo Rey Community Center in Lansing. 

The winter months can get pretty bitter in Mid Michigan, so we ask our friends and family to consider donating their new and gently used coats, hats, and gloves to those in need. In exchange, we’ll give you $5 off your oil change for every coat donated, with a maximum of $10 per visit. Donations will be accepted all month long, which means we should receive plenty of winter-wear to hand over to the Cristo Rey Community Center!

The Cristo Rey Community Center is a non-profit basic-needs service center that provides access to food, medical care and mental health programs and to all our neighbors in need. Since 1968 they have been working to heal the sick, feed the hungry, protect and enrich children, engage and honor our elderly, and advocate for the most vulnerable in our community.

This winter, consider helping the financially needy members of our community stay warm. Stop by our Okemos area used car dealer to donate your new and gently used coats, hats, and gloves during our Fill-a-Chevy coat drive for the Cristo Rey Community Center and take part in this season of giving.

Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos is committed to making a difference in our community and beyond, whether it's by raising funds to help others stay warm, or by providing you with integrity and convenience close to home. Let our friendly team of Chevy professionals at Hank Graff Okemos help you –– simply call us at (517) 349-8300 or visit our showroom, located at 1748 W. Grand River Okemos, MI 48864. We’re just minutes from Lansing!

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Fall Car Care Tips with Graff Chevrolet Okemos

OKEMOS, Mich. – It’s that time of year again! Fall has arrived and with it comes the colder temperatures. Before you make plans for your upcoming fall trips, take a look at some Fall Car Care tips with Graff Chevrolet Okemos! Our team of experts wants to make sure you are ready for any unexpected weather or road conditions that may occur during the fall season. Our Fall Car Care tips will help you with your vehicle’s windshield, weather strips, heating and ventilation system, belts, and hoses. We also offer tips on what to pack in your emergency car kit. Take a look below at the different pages of our Fall Car Care seasonal maintenance page and see what is in store for you when you visit our website today!

• Windshield Care – Your windshield does more for your car than you think! The windshield works as a key safety component and helps keep the structure of your vehicle intact during an accident. Take a look at our windshield care page to see how to prevent large cracks and chips from damaging your windshield. 
• Weather Strips – When it comes to keeping water and wind out of your vehicle cabin, your weather strips get the job done. Damaged weather strips can become noticeable but finding the damaged section can be difficult. Learn how to tell if it's time to replace them when you visit our Weather Strips Fall Car Care page. 
• Heating and Ventilation System – Not only does your heating and ventilation system help bring heat to your car, but it helps defog your windows as well! Stay warm this fall season when you read about how to properly maintain and service your vehicle’s heating and ventilation system. 
• Belts and Hoses – To help keep your vehicle lasting through the fall season, take a look at our Belt and Hose Fall Car Care page. You can learn how to spot any damage to the vehicle belts or hoses, and learn why fall car care is crucial to keeping you safe on the roads. 
• Emergency Car Kit – Preparing for fall weather means getting ready for the unexpected. Make sure your vehicle’s emergency kit has everything you need when you hit dangerous road conditions. From jumper cables to flashlights, you can read about the different items under our seasonal maintenance section! 

Fall Car Care not only helps you during this season, but it helps you get a head start for when winter hits. These Fall Car Care tips with Graff Chevrolet Okemos take you through service and maintenance for everything from your weather strips, windshield, and heating and ventilation system, to your belts and hoses and emergency car kit. You can also learn more vehicle care tips when you visit our Routine Maintenance page, or have your vehicle service questions answered with our Service FAQ section. Ready to take the next step in helping your current car, truck, SUV, or crossover this fall season? Schedule your next service appointment with our team online today!

Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos is committed to providing you with integrity and convenience, all close to home. Let our friendly team of Chevy professionals at Hank Graff Okemos help you – simply call us at (517) 349-8300 or visit our showroom, located at 1748 W. Grand River Okemos, MI 48864. We’re just minutes from Lansing!

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Five Creative Pumpkin Decorating Ideas That Don't Involve Carving

OKEMOS, Mich. –– For many, fall is a season of beauty and creativity, and October might just be the best month to exhibit and enjoy autumn's seasonal aesthetics. One of the best ways to express yourself on throughout October but especially on Halloween, is to carve or decorate a unique pumpkin. Then again, some people think the whole carving-a-gourd thing is sort of a hassle.

But that doesn't mean you can't still do up a great squash or two for your porch! This year, try something different and experiment with one of these five creative pumpkin decorating ideas that don't involve carving!

1. The Painted Pumpkin

Choose your favorite colors, find some stencils, or go freehand when you paint your pumpkins! Halloween might be a fun time to choose the dark side, but you can keep things cheery with colorful gourds galore!

2. The Holy Squash 

Carving can be a tedious method that's difficult to produce aesthetically pleasing results with. Instead of getting a hand cramp from sawing, scraping, and whittling, just use a series of drill bits and a power drill to make some holy designs. Is it ironic that your pumpkin could be the only holy thing around on a rather wicked night like Halloween?

3. The Cookie Cutter Carver

Here's another way to make carving easier than it has to be. Instead of outlining an image and trying to carve according to the contours, why not just hammer your favorite cookie cutters into the shell of your pumpkin? Okay, we admit you'll have to carve a little bit with this one, but we guarantee it'll be a cinch.

4. The Glam Gourd

Get bedazzling and make your pumpkin look less like a gourd and more like a gem. 

5. The Gilded Gourd

Prove your pumpkin is worth its weight in gold and look rich with a gilded gourd this Halloween.

Try these five creative pumpkin decorating ideas that don't involve carving this fall! If you want even more inspiration for fall decor, check out our pinterest, or last week's blog for more fun ideas! Don't get so wrapped up that you forget to take care of your car for fall! Schedule a service appointment online with the Graff Okemos Service Center!

Located conveniently just outside of Lansing, Hank Graff Chevrolet Okemos is here to help you with your car buying and servicing needs. Our goal is to create a transparent experience and a comfortable environment for all of our valuable customers. If you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, reach us at (517) 349-8300, or stop by the dealership at 1748 W. Grand River in Okemos, MI 48864

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