Auto dealers motoring to Valley

MAT-SU The traffic line has started for more auto sales dealers who want a piece of the Valleys economic pie.

As the first phases of the Parks Highway projects become reality, new and used auto dealers are positioning themselves for prime Parks Highway locations between Mile 38 and Mile 40, an area which may have to be renamed Auto Row.

Anchorage Chrysler-Dodge and Budget Used Car Sales have both indicated it wont be long before they join Valley auto retailers Nye Frontier Ford, Valley Motors and Tony Chevrolet along the Parks Highway in Wasilla.

Its been one thing weve intended to do, Anchorage Chrysler-Dodge president Rod Udd said Friday. Now it appears with the expansion of that road, it is a possibility.

Udd, who has owned Parks Highway frontage property since 1995, said that if the highways area road projects are completed on time, he would open up a Valley Chrysler-Dodge dealership as soon as next spring.

Its in flux right now because of the road, he said. Id like to use that existing property. It should work out . . . but Im waiting to see what (the Alaska Department of Transportation) does.

Budget Used Car Sales general manager Charles Pidge said they would be coming to the Valley within the next 90 days, but denied to comment further about expansion plans.

Ed Brittingham, the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerces executive director, said adding more car dealerships in the area will be great for the local economy.

It will give our consumers lots more choices . . . keeping Valley (auto) shoppers out here, he said. A larger, broader assortment of (car dealerships) will be a positive addition to our economy. We get a much more direct benefit when they spend their money here.

Established Valley car dealerships like Tony Chevrolet and Nye Frontier Ford may now see greater competition for the Valley dollar, as well.

Tony Chevrolet general manager Dave Donofrio said his salesmans gut response might be to first look out, but in the long run, more dealerships in the Valley will not have a detrimental effect on sales.

Its never been bad for business to have more dealerships (in close proximity), he said. In America, its not uncommon to have lots of dealerships grouped together. We know how to (sell cars). We treat our customers right and pay a whole lot of attention to them.

Tony Chevrolets number-one focus is on selling new Chevrolets, Donofrio said. He is not concerned about the possibility of increased competition in the used-car market since, he said, the dealership has little difficulty selling one- to four-year-old used-car trade-ins and is ranked in the top two percentile in customer service of the Western U.S. Chevrolet dealerships.

While unafraid of any impending Valley car sales competitors, Donofrio remains curious about the new sign posted near Mile 38 of the Parks Highway advertising that another dealership is poised to move into the adjacent field. It reads, Watch for the newest Valley dealership, 376-5199.

But when you call the (phone) number, no information is given, Donofrio said. I have no idea why they would put a sign up and then not say anything.

Tim Patterson, sales manager for Valley Motors, agrees with Donofrio.

Id rather keep the community business in Wasilla, he said. It can only mean better business for the Valley. At first everyone is like Oh! Theres more competition. But it would only improve if they brought a new dealer in town.

Patterson said he has just as good of a selection as the Pontiac dealer in Anchorage, without the revolving-door philosophy prevalent in big-city car dealerships.

Anchorage is more of a meat market, he said.

Micah Weinstein, general manager for Nye Frontier Ford in Wasilla, was unavailable for comment.

Photo: The sign near Mile 38 of the Parks Highway has generated many inquiries about a new auto dealership coming to the Valley, but calling the posted number has provided few answers.

Photo by GENE JANSEN/Frontiersman.