Lehmer's Concord Buick GMC

In 1936 Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the Olympics, you could buy a new Oldsmobile for $665 and Erv Lehmer's used car dealership in Concord, California got their franchise from General Motors to sell Oldsmobiles. Much has changed in the world since 1936, but the Lehmer family continues to sell GM vehicles in Concord.

Lehmer's Concord Buick GMC

Erv's daughter Carolyn has been around the dealership since she was born. She worked there during the summers when she was still in high school and after college she started full-time. Carolyn says, "I worked in the office, because girls worked in the office in those days. But I became a dealer in 1987." Today she runs the show at Lehmer's Concord Buick-GMC along with her husband Russ Anderson and their son Darren.

Lehmer's Concord Buick GMC

Russ took a winding path into the car business. When he was 18 years old he joined the navy and became an engine man on submarines. He remembers, "I liked GM just because our submarine diesels were 1,600-horsepower GM diesels that were first built for World War II." After leaving the sea he came back to California and joined the fire department.

Lehmer's Concord Buick GMC

He also met his future wife Carolyn at Mel’s Diner (made famous in the movie "American Graffiti".) He would drive used cars from his father-in-law's dealership to his firefighter job and he would often sell the car he was driving to an interested customer. Finally the chief told him to choose between firefighting and the car business, and Russ ended up as a salesman at Lehmer's.

Lehmer's Concord Buick GMC

After seven years at Lehmer's Russ became general manager of another GM dealership in nearby Walnut Creek, spending 21 years there before eventually returning to Lehmer's as general manager.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

The Stylish, Fuel Efficient Encore

Posted by Lehmer's Concord Buick GMC on 11:00 AM


The Buick Encore is certainly a head turner in the SUV / Crossover segment. The Encore is not only designed to offer a luxury experience at a well below average price, but also intends to beat both Ford AND Chrysler products in fuel efficiency bringing a whole to game to the crossover market!

Freep writes:


The six-speed automatic, front-wheel drive version of the Encore received an EPA fuel economy estimate of 25 m.p.g. in the city and 33 m.p.g. on the highway for a combined rating of 28 m.p.g.

The EPA estimated that the average driver would spend about $1,900 per year on gasoline for the Encore.

GM bragged that the 2013 Ford Escape’s combined EPA fuel economy rating is 26 m.p.g. while Chrysler Group’s Jeep Compass’ combined rating is 25 m.p.g. GM also boasted that the Encore beats the Mini Countryman S and Volkswagen Tiguan on combined fuel economy.

Info From: http://www.freep.com/article/20120828/BUSINESS0101/120828037/GM-says-2013-Buick-Encore-will-beat-Ford-Chrysler-products-fuel-efficiency?odyssey=nav%7Chead

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Tips From Our Pros

Posted by Lehmer's Concord Buick GMC on 12:03 PM

e-Assist technology helps Buick cars such as the LaCrosse achieve an EPA-estimated 36 mpg highway, but it's not just e-Assist that helps you get a higher mpg average. You can also save fuel with proper tire inflation and regular rotations.

Regular rotations will make your tires will last longer, too, so make sure you come see our Buick Certified Service experts to have them rotated every 7500 miles or when they change your oil.

If you're looking for discounts on these services visit: http://www.buick.com/maintenance-repair/service-offers.html?cmp=bu_redir_1 or http://www.lehmers.com/ServiceSpecials !

Friday, August 17, 2012

How to Use Jumper Cables

Posted by Lehmer's Concord Buick GMC on 11:19 AM


Need a jump? Seems like a basic thing to do for your car, but you'd be surprised how many people can't use jumper cables properly.

● Find a car to serve as the boosting car.

● Park the two cars -- the dead car and the boosting car -- close to one another, making sure that they're not touching each other.

● Make sure both cars' engines are turned off, and both cars are in park.

● Clamp the red jumper cable (i.e. the positive cable) to the dead car's positive battery terminal, which is marked with a "+." Make sure that the clamp is firmly connected to the battery.

● Clamp the other end of the red jumper cable to the booster car's positive battery terminal, also marked with a "+." Make sure that the clamp is firmly connected to the battery.

● Clamp the black jumper cable (i.e. the negative cable) to the booster car's negative battery terminal, which is marked with a " - ". Make sure that the clamp is firmly connected to the battery.

● Clamp the other end of the black jumper cable to a bare, metal surface on the engine of the dead car. This can be a bolt or a screw. This provides grounding for the jump start [source: Brauer].

● Ensure that the jumper cables are not touching any engine parts.

● Start the booster car's engine and let it idle for a few minutes.

● Start the dead car's engine and let it idle for a few minutes.

● Disconnect the black jumper cable from the once-stalled engine. Then disconnect the black jumper cable from the booster car.

● Remove the red jumper cable from the booster car. Then remove the red jumper cable from the once-stalled car.

Original Article: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/how-to-use-jumper-cables.htm

Friday, August 10, 2012

2013 Verano Turbo On The Way

Posted by Lehmer's Concord Buick GMC on 1:21 PM

The Verano is getting some SERIOUS horsepower thrown its way with the release of the 2013 Verano Turbo.

AutomotiveAddicts released the following info for the Turbo:


Try to wrap your head around this one for a moment: Buick, long the brand of AARP members and those who consider 4:00 p.m. to be too late for dinner, has become the new Pontiac. In terms of sport-themed sedans, Buick already has the Regal Turbo and the Regal GS, and now it’s adding a third forced-induction luxury sedan into the mix with the debut of the 2013 Verano Turbo.

The Verano Turbo gets the same 2.0-liter Ecotec turbo found in the Regal GS and the Regal Turbo. The good news is that the Verano is a smaller and lighter car than the Regal, so the 250 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque that Buick’s given the Verano Turbo should prove entertaining, If you’re keeping score at home, that’s more horsepower (but the same amount of torque) than the Regal Turbo gets, but it’s nowhere near the Regal GS’ output. Buick may want to attract new buyers, but not by pirating sales from the higher-margin Regal lineup.

Read more: http://www.automotiveaddicts.com/31458/buicks-2013-verano-turbo-priced-from-29990

Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg Stumbleupon Favorites More
RSS FeedSubscribe to our RSS feed!
Follow us on Twitter!Follow us on Twitter!
Find us on Facebook!Find us on Facebook!