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Barnes Baker Motors

“Open road. Top down. Full throttle ahead. In Ford Mustang the road that gets you there is always more important than the destination. Now, for 2005, you’ll carve up pavement in a platform that’s better than ever. Available in fastback and convertible body styles, just like the original, new sheet metal and powertrains improve the tire-smokin,’ freedom-ridin’experience that Mustang’s always delivered, while new chassis architecture and interior styling bring precise refinement. So get ready for a new obsession. The legend lives.” For those persons wanting a new style mustang, based on the original prototype—wait in line. Barnes Baker Motors has sold out of their 2005 Mustangs and are looking forward to the arrival of the 06 models.

Recently, a customer flew all the way from Rome, New York, to drive home his new red, GT, convertible Mustang. The local dealership had advertised the highly sought after auto on E-Bay. Currently, Mustangs are selling for $2000-$5000 over MSRP nationwide.

Another hot item at Barnes Baker is the new Chrysler 300 series. This upscale appearing auto brings Mercedes Benz technology into an affordable price range for consumers. It, unlike many late model cars, is rear wheel drive. Some may questions it’s maneuvering on icy roads. However, the weight is equally distributed 50% in the rear end, 50% in the front. Without a light rear end, front wheel drive is no longer needed. In addition to superb weight distribution, it also comes with a traction control system. This car sells for $28,000 to around $40,000 for a fully loaded model complete with HEMI engine.

Barnes Baker Motors came to Trenton in 1988 as a dealer for GM, Pontiac, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, and Cadillac. Current owners include local entrepreneur, Brent Wyant, along with long time Chillicothe businessman Jim Baker. The Baker’s have been in the auto business since the 1930s.

Wyant began his career as a sales rep for Seidel’s in 1981. He worked for a few years in Browning and Marshall before deciding to return to Trenton. In addition to Wyant, there are 21 fellow employees. Frances Whitney serves as office manager, Nena Moulin serves as parts manager, while Kevin Sherrow is the service director. Bob Pressler is sales manager, and Penny Hanes is the business manager. The sales staff consists of: Alan Ferguson, Bill Miller, and Becky Freeman.

Wyant enjoys the business because he likes dealing with people. It is evident to visitors and customers in the business that all of the staff members enjoy visiting with people.

Barnes Baker Motors uses several methodologies for marketing their autos including numerous area newspapers, radio stations, and the internet. In addition, sales reps send out numerous direct mail pieces daily to their customers. Word of mouth and repeat customers are their best forms of advertisement. It is interesting to note that currently 11% of auto buying decisions are made based on something seen in a newspaper, while 13% of decisions are based on internet advertising. Wyant is currently seeking two sales reps, one who could concentrate solely on internet sales, as well as one sales rep dealing with direct sales. Check out their websites at barnesbakerautomotive.com and barnesbakermotors.com

The dealership covers a broad service area seeing customers from Mercer, Grundy, Livingston, Daviess, Sullivan, and Harrison counties. Additionally, several customers from southern Iowa frequent the dealership.

Wyant cites SUV sales as being a bit flat as compared to past years. Pickup sales remain solid year round.

Most folks will agree that a car dealership is only successful if their service department is second to none. At Barnes Baker, each technician is required to attend a 12 day school in Kansas City, each year no matter how long they have been in the business. Also, they spend another 12 days, on average, per year taking Internet courses.

The service department runs a special on oil changes for $19.95. They offer pick up and delivery of autos being serviced. For repair jobs requiring several days, loaner autos are available.

When asked how to work through the muddle of arriving at the selling price of an auto, Wyant explained that every dealership nationwide pays the exact same amount for the auto, freight is universally the same, being averaged even though the auto may have to be hauled a greater or shorter distance to one dealership as compared to another dealership from the factory. The holdback, a fee paid to dealers to help offset floor plan expense, is also uniform throughout the United States. A customer’s trade is what sets one deal apart from another.

Book values on used automobiles can be a bit misleading. Take for example, a lady driven car that had regular service, been cleaned on a regular basis, and always garaged, as compared to the same model, with like miles that has not been serviced on a regular basis and had been driven hard. The value of the trade is purely subjective at each dealership and can vary greatly from one dealership to another.

Wyant believes strongly in supporting his community. He sponsors many activities for area schools and North Central Missouri College. Relay for Life is getting a boost from the local business who had a team participate in the event. Two Ford Scholarships are given each year to area FFA students. Area fairs, golf tournaments, ball teams, and organizations receive a lot of support each year from the business.

Currently, the local dealership has about 85 used cars and nearly 120 new autos from which to select. Take a drive to their location at 1406 Oklahoma Avenue and see if one of the new or used autos catches your eye.