Monday through Friday, the traffic in downtown Calgary is bumper-to-bumper.

Parking lots are jammed, vacant meters are at a premium, and just trying to drive across the core can send your blood pressure through the sun roof.

But on Saturday, downtown traffic takes a holiday. On Saturday, the pace of life in the heart of the city slows down.

It’s why there’s no better time to take your search for a new or used car, truck, van or SUV to the Downtown Auto Circle.

Four of Calgary’s most highly regarded automobile dealers are waiting to serve you in one convenient “loop” along 9th Avenue S.W., near 11th Street S.W. Run down the list of names. For decades, they’ve represented the cream of the Calgary automotive retail:

* Renfrew Chrysler Jeep * Stampede Pontiac Buick GMC * Metro Ford * GSL Chev City

Representatives of the Downtown Auto Circle, from left: Don Rivard of GSL Chev City; Reg Pattemore of Metro Ford; Glen Bridarolli of Stampede Pontiac Buick; and Dave Hoeght and Dave Lamont of Renfrew Chrysler Jeep.

Each dealer’s lot is loaded with inventory and each is conveniently situated minutes away from the thoroughfares that bring you quickly downtown from residential neighbourhoods in every quadrant – especially on Saturdays.

Over the summer, these four dealers, who over the years have been building a spotless reputation, joined forces to launch the Downtown Auto Circle to continue to build on this.

“Forming the Auto Circle lets us leverage our individual reputations into one very strong brand,” said Reg Pattemore of Metro Ford.

“We like the idea of creating a brand that really highlights the combined value, selection and convenience available at our dealerships,” he added.

The first of many promotions launched by the dealers is a contest that’s guaranteed to bring vehicle shoppers the most bang for their buck – except it won’t cost a cent to participate.

And with a bit of luck, you may take possession of a gleaming, new car, with “paid in full” stamped on the bill of sale.

Called the Circle Crawl, the contest is an open invitation to drop by the showrooms of each dealership. Participants in the Circle Crawl begin with a passport that entitles them to view more than 2,000 vehicles currently on sale on the dealers’ lots.

“With this contest, consumers have the opportunity to see a number of different models and then possibly win one,” said Dave Hoeght of Renfrew Chrysler. “It’s that simple,” he added.

In order to be eligible for the final draw (on Jan. 3, 2003) you’re asked to take one test drive at each stop. When your test drive is compete, the sales representative will stamp your passport and send you to the next destination.

After four test drives, simply drop the passport, with contact information filled in, into one of the ballot boxes located at each dealership. You’re in the running.

What’s at stake? Plenty. The winner is invited to choose a prize from one of these fabulous vehicles: a 2003 Pontiac Sunfire, Chevrolet Cavalier, Ford Focus or Dodge SX 2.0.

“We thought the Circle Crawl would be a fun way to remind our customers how easy it is to get to any one of these four dealerships and in the end get a chance to win their choice of vehicle,” explained Glen Bridarolli of Stampede Pontiac Buick GMC.

He’s right. Motorists enjoy ready access to the Downtown Auto Circle from the north, south, east and west.

“Most Calgarians are familiar with the convenience of servicing their cars at our locations – through the Downtown Auto Circle initiative we really want to promote the convenience of test driving and buying cars from all four of us,” said Don Rivard of GSL Chev City.

Inventory. Convenience. Experience. Value. Respect. Customer Satisfaction.

Such are the bywords that have stood these pillars of the automotive retail community in good stead in past and will continue to keep them there well into the future.

For more information about the Circle Crawl Contest, or the many automotive services offered, call GSL Chev City at 403.265.7690; Metro Ford at 403.263.4530; Stampede Pontiac Buick GMC at 403.265.2277; or Renfrew Chrysler Jeep at 403.266.1920.

Then take a spin downtown next Saturday and find out what you’ve been missing.

Take a crack at the Circle Crawl Contest before it closes on New Year’s Eve. And while enjoying your tour, consider this pleasant thought: that new car you’ve been wanting may already be bought and paid for.