Suburban’s Growing Car Collection

Dave Fischer collects auto dealerships like baseball cards. He has over 100–the Suburban Collection is one of the largest privately held dealerships in the country. With his recent acquisition of BMW of Ann Arbor and Mercedes-Benz of Ann Arbor, the only two cards in the deck he doesn’t have are Lexus and Ferrari, says Nick Berinti, general manager of both of Fischer’s new Ann Arbor stores. “I guess because he hasn’t gotten around to it yet. He does have a Lamborghini dealership.”

As huge as the Troy-based Suburban is (in Ann Arbor alone, it also includes Chevy-Cadillac, Chrysler-Jeep, and Fiat dealerships), Fischer recently acquired the two German dealerships and several more in Michigan from an even bigger fish, Sonic Automotive. There were some problems at Sonic, says Berinti, who managed these very two dealerships for Sonic from 2006 to 2012. Clearly the problem wasn’t him: Suburban hired him to run things again. “Suburban is going to make the investment to fix any shortfall, replace the neglect,” he promises. “I love being back. I feel like a little kid.”

Berinti says that he will not discuss the competition, meaning other German brands sold across town, but he will talk about why a geeky university town like Ann Arbor, full of engineers, loves German cars so much. “It’s all about the fine German engineering,” he says. “BMWs are designed for people who love to drive–unparalleled performance, handling, driveability.” As for Mercedes, “they’re a little more well balanced–they’re about luxury and safety, as well as the driveability.”

Berinti didn’t get a chance to finish the pitch about Mercedes. A series of messages on his phone turned out to be from his twenty-year-old son, who had just lost a wheel at the intersection of Eleven Mile and Halsted. “And that’s what you get when you don’t go to an authorized dealer for a tire rotation,” says Berinti, in a smooth aside. “No, of course he doesn’t drive a BMW. He’s a student! He drives an old Toyota!”

BMW of Ann Arbor, 501 Auto Mall Dr., 663-3309. bmwofannarbor.com

Hours for both: Mon.-Thurs. 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Sun.