WE'RE TEXAS STRONG!

While we’ve proudly embraced our role as an essential business during this virus scare - this isn’t business as usual. If you’ve stopped in recently, you’ll quickly notice that we’ve radically changed our customer contact procedures, campus cleaning protocols, and in some cases the physical space we’re operating out of to keep our guests and employees as safe as possible. We are still maintaining full-time hours at all facilities and we’re proud to be providing vital vehicle sales, service, and collision repair to our Central Texas neighbors. People are depending on us.

I’m not alone in being grateful for the work that our team members are doing. We’ve received dozens of emails, calls, and other positive feedback from customers on social media thanking our staff for continuing to provide critical vehicle services during this stressful time.

Much of the essential work we do cannot be done from home. We’ve implemented a series of preventative health measures for our employees and guests: everything from increasing the frequency and the intensity of cleaning, to adjusting our practices in all common customer areas to ensure the recommended social distancing guidelines are followed, to protecting our staff and customer vehicles with appropriate PPE equipment. Our management staff is meeting regularly, and we’ve even designated a member of our team as the ‘COVID-19 Czar’ whose core mission is to ensure we continue to appropriately follow our newly established cleaning protocols.

Our team is here to serve you, they care, and they are definitely Texas True. If we all continue to practice the recommended safety guidelines and utilize some good ole’ common sense, I’m confident that we’re going to get through this, together.

Thank you for your business & stay safe,



Mike Hewlett

THE SOIREE

– A Coming Together for the Kids

Don Hewlett Chevrolet is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the 2020 Soiree- A Coming Together for Kids. The Hewlett’s are passionate about serving and investing in the community and want to help ensure that our youth have a solid foundation for success.

The Soiree benefits three local non-profits, The Georgetown Project, CASA of Williamson County and the Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center. Held on February 29, 2020, at the Sheraton in Georgetown, the Mardi Gras Masquerade will feature dining and dancing and will be an opportunity to put on your shiniest shoes, blingiest jewelry, and your most glamorous attire. Each of the organizations benefitting from the event provides much-needed services to children in Williamson County. 

The Georgetown Project’s vision is that no child is hungry, hurt, alone, or rejected and that all children and youth believe they are loved, respected and treated with dignity. Since 1997, the Georgetown Project has served almost 25,000 children and youth of all ages and from all walks of life. They believe that positive intergenerational relationships can make all the difference for young people. 

CASA of Williamson County provides valuable advocacy for abused children in the child protection system.  CASA volunteers serve as the "eyes and ears" for the judge in child welfare cases. This includes researching each child's situation and making objective recommendations to help them reclaim their childhoods from abuse and neglect. CASA volunteers are frequently the only stable presence in these children's lives as they navigate the foster care system.  

The Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center serves sexually and physically abused children in a child-friendly facility, where investigative agencies collaborate to put the child victim's best interests first.  Their mission is to provide a safe place to report child abuse, reduce the emotional trauma for children and non-offending family members, and extend professional services that protect the integrity of an investigation. 

Meet the Customer Loyalty Center Team

Computer-generated voices and ‘apps’ are becoming the norm when interfacing with most businesses today. At the Hewlett dealerships, we embrace these technologies once we know they can lead to increased production efficiencies and a greater overall experience for our guests. We’ve found that you just can’t replace the personal touch and level of care found in fully engaged, caring individuals. We have carefully selected the members of our Customer Loyalty Center (CLC) staff to provide our guests with a friendly, knowledgeable advocate to support their vehicle needs. Whether it’s setting up an appointment for transmission service, discussing a recent recall, or calling to make certain your vehicle was fixed properly, our CLC Team is there to make certain that your experience is a positive one.

We encourage you to get to know our CLC team members. 

There is no substitute for knowledge, continuity, and experience. Mari Auston, our CLC Manager, easily brings these skills to her position as CLC Manager. A former Service Advisor with nearly 20 years of dealership service experience, Mari truly understands the automotive business. Chances are if you’ve done business with us for years, that Mari's voice will be a familiar one. Mari’s mechanical knowledge and real-world experience bring a unique perspective to her department that can’t be matched. Mari enjoys spending her off-hours with her family & also loves gardening, fishing, biking and eating spicy Mexican food!

Alexa Mahaffey has been part of the CLC team for almost a year. She enjoys interacting with our customers each day and has a can-do attitude that makes her a valuable resource.  Alexa has many skill sets so when she’s not on the phones, you might find her in the cashier’s office or helping at the service reception desk. In her spare time, Alexa loves hanging out with her family, friends, and dogs Jypsy and Nala.

Katie Murrell, a resident animal lover, enjoys being part of the CLC team. Her infectious smile can be heard through the phone when she’s speaking with our customers. New to the automotive industry, Katie loves the challenges she faces in the CLC and enjoys learning new things. When not at work, she volunteers at local animal shelters and enjoys going to the dog park with her teacup Yorkie.

Don Hewlett Chevrolet Buick welcomes Kaitlyn Diaz-Moreno, the newest member of the CLC team. Kaitlyn loves being surrounded by the great people at the dealership and enjoys helping our customers with their vehicles. When not at work, Kaitlyn can be found studying and recreating beauty looks found on YouTube. She also enjoys re-decorating and finds baking a great way to reduce stress.

When it’s time to schedule a service appointment, need clarification regarding a safety recall notice from GM or simply have a question about your vehicle, please call our wonderful team in the Customer Loyalty Center for friendly, personal assistance: 512-681-3044.

Introducing the New 2020 Buick Encore GX

It’s here, it’s here! The newest Buick crossover has arrived and is prominently displayed in the showroom at Don Hewlett Chevrolet Buick. Named the Encore GX, this new SUV is engineered and crafted to fit almost any lifestyle. It’s stylish, intelligent and moves about effortlessly.

The New Encore GX starts with a 1.2-liter turbo engine that produces 137hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. The selectable stop/start system improves fuel economy with an EPA estimated 26 MPG city and 30 MPG* on the highway. Standard safety features include forward collision alert and pedestrian braking, along with side blind zone alert and lane-keep assist.

Advanced technologies such as available Amazon Alexa integration and a built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot make using your mobile phone and listening to your favorite music effortless.

The 50.2 cubic feet of cargo space will accommodate quite the load. The Encore GX is perfect for road trips although it’s also well-suited for daily life including commuting, running errands, a night on the town and much more.  

The 5 passenger SUV comes in 3 different trim levels (Preferred, Select and Essence) starting in the mid-’20s. We invite you to visit us today and test drive the New Encore GX at Don Hewlett Chevrolet Buick.

Mike Stephens, Sales Manager

*Estimated mileage for FWD models.

Daytripping Across Texas

Some things are just better together like chips & queso, beer & barbecue, and Don Hewlett Chevrolet & The Daytripper. Several years ago, Don Ross Hewlett and Chet Garner were introduced by a mutual friend from KLRU.  They quickly realized that they had many things in common including their love for the state of Texas, the true value of family, the importance of community, and their passion for adventure. Some might say they’re the perfect match! 

Chet has been driving Chevrolet’s across Texas for the past several years, in fact, he recently reached a huge milestone, logging in 150,000 miles traveled. Whether in a Suburban with his family, a Traverse for the crew or a Silverado Trail Boss for himself, there’s a Don Hewlett Chevrolet for any day trip you’d want to take.

A few months ago, Chet and his team developed a campaign to promote their favorite dealership and the trucks and SUVs they love. After several brainstorming sessions, the Boardroom campaign was developed. Chet and his team bring humor and fun to typical automotive advertising.

Watch the first two episodes of the Boardroom Campaign and see for yourself!

Episode 1  |  Episode 2

You Pay What We Pay!

Now through January 2^nd, new car buyers can take advantage of the Chevy Employee Discount for Everyone program going on at Don Hewlett Chevrolet. All customers pay what our employees and their families pay and not a cent more! Employee pricing is available on all remaining 2019 Chevrolet models (excluding SAP models, Express, LCF, and Silverado MD). 

Employee pricing is also available on select 2020 models including Equinox, Trax, Impala, Spark and Sonic (except for SAP models).

What a great time of year to take advantage of significant savings off the price of a new vehicle.

Don Hewlett Chevrolet Buick has aver 150 – 2019 vehicles remaining. Our sales department is open from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm Monday through Saturday except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

New Spokesperson

Things are abuzz at Don Hewlett Chevrolet Buick and not just because of the Holidays! 

The Hewlett Family welcomes a new addition to the Team: Chet Garner. More commonly known as The Daytripper, Chet is our new spokesperson representing the Don Hewlett Chevrolet brand in the community online and on air.  

Chet has been hosting his own travel show on PBS since October of 2009. The Daytripper is a 9-time Lone Star Emmy Award-winning travel show highlighting culture, the outdoors and local food. Chet takes his viewers to well-known landmarks, obscure dives, and local hideaways, enjoying local barbecue joints along the way. His hope is that his experiences will inspire his viewers to head out on their own Texas-sized adventures.

The Hewlett Family has known Chet for many years and is proud to assist The Daytripper Team with their vehicle needs. Whether it’s a Colorado to drive on the Texas beaches or a Silverado to travel to the Davis Mountains, Don Hewlett Chevrolet is Chet’s dealership. 

We encourage you to follow us on Facebook as we’ll be releasing footage from Chet’s visits to the dealership.

#daytrippindonhewlett

Field of Honor

Don Hewlett Chevrolet Proudly Sponsors the Central Texas Field of Honor®

Don Hewlett Chevrolet Buick is proud to sponsor the Rotary Club of Georgetown’s third annual Field of Honor which will take place during the week of Veterans Day, November 9th – 17th. An emotion-filled display of 1500+ full size US flags will be posted in San Gabriel Park honoring veterans, active or reserve duty military and first responders. This extraordinary tribute to reflect the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self”, will inspire patriotism and unify our communities by honoring our flag, country, and the brave men and women that serve.

Visitors to the field will enjoy a display of all the American flags throughout history, and will be moved by the sections for each branch. Tribute will be paid to all who served especially to those who paid the ultimate price.

Flags are available for purchase for $40 each. Proceeds from the flag sales will directly benefit organizations that address suicide prevention, PTSD, and support veterans and first responder families.

The Field of Honor kicks off Friday, November 8th, at 2:00 p.m. and continues until Sunday, November 17th with festivities the whole family will enjoy! Some of the highlights include the Sertoma 2nd Annual Honor Walk 5K, the Opening Ceremonies and the Patriot’s Ball. For a full list of events visit the website.

The GM BuyPower Card

Earn Rewards at Don Hewlett Chevrolet Buick

It’s often said that the most rewarding things in life are earned. Make your journey even more rewarding with the BuyPower card and earn rewards that can be used in our service department or towards the purchase of a new Chevrolet or Buick.

Don Hewlett Chevrolet Buick guests are invited to apply for the card and start earning their rewards today. It’s easy and it’s free!

Experience these powerful benefits:

• No annual fee.
• Earn 5% back on your first $5,000 in purchases every year, then 2% unlimited earnings on purchases after that.
• Redeem earnings to receive up to $250 in statement credits each year for in-dealership purchases of Certified Service, parts and accessories, or GM extras. Earnings must be redeemed within 90 days of purchase.
• Rewards never expire as long as the card account is kept in good standing.
• 0% interest for the first year.    

For a secure application, please email your mobile number to russell@donhewlett.com
or call 512-681-3101.

Safety is No Accident

There is no doubt that today’s cars are the safest and most technologically advanced vehicles ever built. For some folks, however, the latest technologies that are designed to keep us safe or make driving easier can be a bit intimidating. In this brief article we’ll touch on some of the latest, wiz bang safety features on our current model vehicles and try to explain what they do, and why you should want them in your car.

Safety Systems

• Rear Cross Traffic Alert (a.k.a. The end to parking lot accidents) – Uses radar sensors in the rear bumpers to detect traffic and objects approaching from either side while backing up.
• 360 Vehicle Camera Options (a.k.a. Back in a trailer / Parallel park like a boss) – Using tiny cameras strategically placed in the bumpers, mirrors, tailgate, etc. this amazing technology can actually provide you with a bird’s eye perspective of your vehicle in real time and in color. Camera viewing options include: wide angle, fish eye or ‘disappearing trailer’ with some optional equipment.
• Adaptive Cruise Control (a.k.a. Stress relief for I-35 traffic) – Radar is not just a well-loved character on M*A*S*H – Radar is used to measure and maintain the selected distance between you and the vehicle immediately in front of you when this option is activated.
• Forward Collision Alert / Forward Automatic Braking / Front Pedestrian Braking (a.k.a. Life Happens) - Even the most careful drivers can have an emergency braking situation thrust upon them. These systems use front facing sensors to detect, warn and then help avoid frontal crashes by applying the brakes quicker than a hiccup!
• Teen Driver Technology (a.k.a. Protect your Teens from themselves!) - We were all young once and if we remember correctly, we all made some pretty dumb behind the wheel decisions. T.D.T. allows parents to set vehicle operational limits and provides a handy score card for their young drivers to help coach them up. Available features include: Speed warnings above a pre-selected speed, top end speed limits, audio volume limiter & a seat belt audio mute option until both the driver and front seat passenger are both buckled up. Couple these with the industry first Buckle-to-Drive feature and your kids are well on their way to years of safer driving.

These are just a few of the amazing new features from GM that are designed to keep you safely on the road and free from trouble. To explore even more impressive safety tech please visit Chevy's safety site for more information. Next time we’ll explore convenience and comfort features that you didn’t know you needed (until now!).

Miles of Smiles,

Mike Hewlett

It's Truck Month!

The Evolution of the Chevrolet Truck

In honor of Chevrolet Truck Month, Don Hewlett Chevrolet wanted to pay homage to the truck that has been around for over a century and remains one of America’s favorites. 

The Legend Begins! 

1918
The 1918 One-Ton has the distinction of being the first purpose-built Chevrolet truck. With a 36 horsepower engine, the One-Ton had a MSRP of $1,325. By the way, the price of gas in 1918 was $0.25 gallon.

1929

Chevrolet introduced the first truck in the industry to feature an OHV 6-cylinder engine and new steel disc wheels. With a 46 horsepower engine, the MSRP was $400.

1938

With a stylish vertical grille, swept fenders and a new front bumper, this Chevy half-ton had 78 horsepower and an MSRP of $592.

1947
America welcomed the 3100 Series. The new postwar design offered a 3 person seat, cab corner windows, a heater/defroster system and an in-dash radio. All for $1,087.

1955

With an MSRP of $1,981, the Chevrolet 3124 Series also known as the “executive truck” was designed with car-inspired features. With a 3.85L Inline Six engine this 123 horsepower truck paved the way for the ElCamino.

1967

The C/K10 Series offered a wide choice of 6-cylinder plus small and big block V8 engines. This clean and iconic design of trucks had an MSRP of $2,408.

1973

The year of the one-ton dually! This heavy duty hauler was the first crew cab to market and considered by many to be the first modern heavy-duty pickup truck. With 155 horsepower, this 5.7L V8 engine was a welcomed improvement over the previous generation.

1988

The C/K 1500 was the fourth generation of the C/K series pickups and the first to be on the all-new GMT400 platform. Performing impressively and winning the Indy Challenge Trophy, this truck averaged over 103 mph for 24 hours as it covered 2,483.085 miles in 999.234 laps.

1999

The Silverado 1500 became a stand-alone model for the first time with the new GMT800 platform offering a more muscular take on the aerodynamic design of the previous generations. That same year, the new line of VortecTM V8 engines were introduced in addition to the driver message center.

2007

The second generation of Silverado was introduced offering improved efficiency along with a simple, modern and powerful new look. The 2000 Silverado was named the North American Truck of the Year. The MSRP on this model was $34,990.

2018

Celebrating a centennial of strength and dependability!

Chevy trucks have been helping people get things done for over 100 years. From the versatile and efficient Colorado, and the strong and advanced all-new Silverado, to the legendary capability of Silverado HD, if you’ve got a job to do, there’s a Chevy truck that’s ready to do it! Don Hewlett Chevrolet has nearly 400 new and pre-owned trucks in stock.

For more information on Chevy trucks throughout the ages visit the Chevy Truck Legends website.