Hi! I am Bess Wills, General Manager at Gresham Ford and I am proud to say I have the best employees on the planet and we are proud to sell the best cars and trucks on the planet. Is this just boasting -no others think so also. At the International Auto Show this year the Ford Fusion was voted the "Car of the Year" and the Ford Transit Connect was voted the "Truck of the Year" by the gurus of the Auto Industry. Locally our Dealership was voted as having the "Reader's Choice" (Gresham Outlook) Auto Sales Professional of 2010 and as having the "Reader's Choice" Mechanic. In addition, our Parts Manager is always in the top five in the Northwest out of over 140 Ford Dealerships. Our Customer Service Scores are always some of the highest the State but the way I know our customers are happy are all the cards and letters we get from happy customers - they have told me our staff have saved their vacations by getting them back on the road in record time, they have told me how our sales professionals have gone above and beyond to earn their business. Visit us and judge for yourself - they are the best!!
Monday, 1 February 2010
Try Local First Suceeding
Thanks to the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce Try Local First subcommittee for offering its first Blog and Forum class. Kelly Allen from Alphabetix was patient, informative and maintained a great sense of humor. It is so comforting knowing that there are other business that are so determined to learn more about social media and new techniques of business networking. This has been a great energizing experience to help promote our online presence. This is just one of the many reasons that we are happy to be a returning member of the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce. This is truly businesses for businesses. I would strongly suggest that businesses become involved in their local chambers and gain the support of other businesses in their areas.
It should be fun seeing how long it takes to see our blogging effect our anaylitics.
It should be fun seeing how long it takes to see our blogging effect our anaylitics.
Thursday, 25 June 2009
Green Partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy
Today, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that Ford has been approved for the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program. These are the loans that Congress authorized in conjunction with the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act.
Seventy-five companies applied for these loans and we all should be proud that Ford Motor Company is one of the first automakers deemed by the government to be among the best companies with the best technologies in American manufacturing and fuel efficiency.
This green partnership with the U.S. government will help us accelerate the development of advanced technologies for even better fuel-efficiency and emissions.
As you well know, we are absolutely committed to fuel economy leadership with every new model we introduce. In fact, we are investing nearly $14 billion in advanced technology vehicles in the next seven years alone. Our partnership with the Department of Energy also will help retool our U.S. plants more quickly to produce fuel efficient vehicles and meet new, rigorous fuel-economy requirements.
In addition, this investment will provide our dealers with a complete product lineup of fuel-efficient vehicles using a variety of technologies to help meet the future needs of consumers.
We remain committed to providing fuel-efficient, high-quality vehicles to consumers across our entire product lineup and this is another step toward achieving that objective.
Thank you for your business and support.
Seventy-five companies applied for these loans and we all should be proud that Ford Motor Company is one of the first automakers deemed by the government to be among the best companies with the best technologies in American manufacturing and fuel efficiency.
This green partnership with the U.S. government will help us accelerate the development of advanced technologies for even better fuel-efficiency and emissions.
As you well know, we are absolutely committed to fuel economy leadership with every new model we introduce. In fact, we are investing nearly $14 billion in advanced technology vehicles in the next seven years alone. Our partnership with the Department of Energy also will help retool our U.S. plants more quickly to produce fuel efficient vehicles and meet new, rigorous fuel-economy requirements.
In addition, this investment will provide our dealers with a complete product lineup of fuel-efficient vehicles using a variety of technologies to help meet the future needs of consumers.
We remain committed to providing fuel-efficient, high-quality vehicles to consumers across our entire product lineup and this is another step toward achieving that objective.
Thank you for your business and support.
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
Kelly Blue Book announces BEST Redesigned Vehicle
December 10, 2008
IRVINE, Calif. — Kelley Blue Book announced the winner of its 2009 Best Redesigned Vehicle award, and receiving the accolade was the Ford F-150, which was honored for the second time. Since the award started in 2004, Ford models have taken it three times. Meanwhile, Chevrolet's Silverado and Malibu won in 2007 and 2008, respectively, and the Honda Civic received honors in 2006. "The all-new 2009 Ford F-150 doesn't just haul and tow more, it also does it better than its best competitors while still being comfortable and quiet on the highway and easy around town," commented Jack Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book and Kbb.com. "The multitude of options available on the new F-150, from three cab styles, four box options, seven trim levels, three V8 engine choices, combined with cool features like a SYNC/Sirius/Sony infotainment suite and integral tailgate step, helps to crown it our 2009 Kelley Blue Book Best Redesigned Vehicle," he continued. The Best Redesigned Vehicle award is designed to honor "improvement and superiority" in a specific model compared to its predecessor. Editors evaluated candidates for exterior and interior styling, technology, comfort and convenience features, performance/capability, driving dynamics, safety, fuel economy, overall refinement and value. In addition to the F-150, other finalists included the Acura TL, Acura TSX, Audi A4, Dodge Ram, Honda Fit, Mazda6, Nissan Maxima, Nissan Murano and Subaru Forester. "We were so impressed with the 2009 Ford F-150, we'd go so far as to say it isn't just a great truck, it's a step forward for what a vehicle can be," Nerad added. "Imagine a truck that can help you keep track of your tools and keep you aware of where your employees are, and you can see that the new F-150 brings with it world-class innovation." The complete list of Best Redesigned Vehicles since 2004 is as follows: 2009: Ford F-150 2008: Chevrolet Malibu 2007: Chevrolet Silverado 2006: Honda Civic 2005: Ford Mustang 2004: Ford F-150 "Each year, redesigned vehicle models improve with more standard features and exciting options, giving consumers great choices when it comes to shopping for a new car," Nerad pointed out. "These days, it's tough to find a new vehicle in any category or price-point that isn't up to par, so choosing a vehicle as the year's Best Redesign is a great challenge," he concluded.
IRVINE, Calif. — Kelley Blue Book announced the winner of its 2009 Best Redesigned Vehicle award, and receiving the accolade was the Ford F-150, which was honored for the second time. Since the award started in 2004, Ford models have taken it three times. Meanwhile, Chevrolet's Silverado and Malibu won in 2007 and 2008, respectively, and the Honda Civic received honors in 2006. "The all-new 2009 Ford F-150 doesn't just haul and tow more, it also does it better than its best competitors while still being comfortable and quiet on the highway and easy around town," commented Jack Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book and Kbb.com. "The multitude of options available on the new F-150, from three cab styles, four box options, seven trim levels, three V8 engine choices, combined with cool features like a SYNC/Sirius/Sony infotainment suite and integral tailgate step, helps to crown it our 2009 Kelley Blue Book Best Redesigned Vehicle," he continued. The Best Redesigned Vehicle award is designed to honor "improvement and superiority" in a specific model compared to its predecessor. Editors evaluated candidates for exterior and interior styling, technology, comfort and convenience features, performance/capability, driving dynamics, safety, fuel economy, overall refinement and value. In addition to the F-150, other finalists included the Acura TL, Acura TSX, Audi A4, Dodge Ram, Honda Fit, Mazda6, Nissan Maxima, Nissan Murano and Subaru Forester. "We were so impressed with the 2009 Ford F-150, we'd go so far as to say it isn't just a great truck, it's a step forward for what a vehicle can be," Nerad added. "Imagine a truck that can help you keep track of your tools and keep you aware of where your employees are, and you can see that the new F-150 brings with it world-class innovation." The complete list of Best Redesigned Vehicles since 2004 is as follows: 2009: Ford F-150 2008: Chevrolet Malibu 2007: Chevrolet Silverado 2006: Honda Civic 2005: Ford Mustang 2004: Ford F-150 "Each year, redesigned vehicle models improve with more standard features and exciting options, giving consumers great choices when it comes to shopping for a new car," Nerad pointed out. "These days, it's tough to find a new vehicle in any category or price-point that isn't up to par, so choosing a vehicle as the year's Best Redesign is a great challenge," he concluded.
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Ford, with help from Volvo, tops safe car list
By KEN THOMAS, Associated Press Writer Ken Thomas, Associated Press Writer Tue Nov 25, 7:49 am ET
WASHINGTON – The insurance industry named dozens of new cars and trucks, led by Ford Motor Co. and its Volvo subsidiary, to its annual list of the safest vehicles Tuesday, helped by the increased use of anti-rollover technology.
Ford and Volvo had 16 vehicles in the 2009 model year on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's list of the safest new cars, followed by Honda Motor Co. with 13 vehicles.
Seventy-two cars, trucks and SUVs received the top safety pick designation for 2009, more than double the number of vehicles in the 2008 model year and three times the number in 2007.
"The sheer number of this year's winners indicates that automakers have made huge strides to improve crash protection," said Institute president Adrian Lund.
The selected vehicles are the best in protecting people in front, side and rear crash tests based on institute evaluations during the year. The vehicles are required to have electronic stability control, or ESC, to qualify for the award.
IIHS said electronic stability control is now standard equipment on virtually all new SUVs and three-quarters of passenger cars for the 2009 model year. ESC is standard on more than one-third of 2009 pickups.
Ford was led by the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan midsize cars with optional ESC; the Ford F-150 pickup, Ford Edge and Ford Flex midsize sport utility vehicles; and the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner small SUVs. The list also included the Mazda Tribute, which has the same underpinnings as the Escape and Mariner.
Ford CEO Alan Mulally argued last week in Washington that the automaker had made safety strides when he testified along with other Big Three executives seeking massive government aid.
"Every year, we're going to improve the quality, we're going to improve the fuel efficiency, we're going to improve the safety, and we're going to keep improving the productivity so we can offer the consumer the very best value," Mulally told a House committee.
Honda and its Acura unit had vehicles in nearly every category, including top-sellers such as the Honda Accord; the Honda Civic 4-door with optional ESC; and the Acura MDX and RDX midsize SUVs; and the Honda Fit with optional ESC. The Fit is the first mini-car to earn the safety award.
Volkswagen AG and its Audi brand had nine vehicles on the list, including the Volkswagen Jetta and Passat and the Audi A3, A4 and A6.
General Motors Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. both had eight vehicles on the list. GM's included the Cadillac CTS and the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook large SUVs.
Toyota's top performers were the Toyota Corolla with optional ESC, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra and Scion xB.
Using the awards, consumers can compare vehicles without having to review results from multiple tests. Automakers pay close attention to the institute's findings and frequently note positive ratings in television commercials.
The institute has advocated for an early adoption of anti-rollover technology such as ESC ahead of a government requirement for the systems by the 2012 model year.
Electronic stability control senses when a driver may lose control and automatically applies brakes to individual wheels to keep the vehicle stable and avoid a rollover. It helps motorists avoid skidding across icy or slick roads or keep control when swerving to avoid an unexpected object in the road.
IIHS said Chrysler LLC was the only major automaker that did not receive a single award. They said Chrysler could have picked up five awards if the head restraints had been improved in the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring, the Sebring convertible and the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country.
Chrysler spokesman Cole Quinnell said he could not comment on whether the head restraints might be upgraded in the future. He said Chrysler vehicles are equipped with a variety of safety features and the institute's results "are just one of the sources of information about a vehicle's crash performance."
WASHINGTON – The insurance industry named dozens of new cars and trucks, led by Ford Motor Co. and its Volvo subsidiary, to its annual list of the safest vehicles Tuesday, helped by the increased use of anti-rollover technology.
Ford and Volvo had 16 vehicles in the 2009 model year on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's list of the safest new cars, followed by Honda Motor Co. with 13 vehicles.
Seventy-two cars, trucks and SUVs received the top safety pick designation for 2009, more than double the number of vehicles in the 2008 model year and three times the number in 2007.
"The sheer number of this year's winners indicates that automakers have made huge strides to improve crash protection," said Institute president Adrian Lund.
The selected vehicles are the best in protecting people in front, side and rear crash tests based on institute evaluations during the year. The vehicles are required to have electronic stability control, or ESC, to qualify for the award.
IIHS said electronic stability control is now standard equipment on virtually all new SUVs and three-quarters of passenger cars for the 2009 model year. ESC is standard on more than one-third of 2009 pickups.
Ford was led by the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan midsize cars with optional ESC; the Ford F-150 pickup, Ford Edge and Ford Flex midsize sport utility vehicles; and the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner small SUVs. The list also included the Mazda Tribute, which has the same underpinnings as the Escape and Mariner.
Ford CEO Alan Mulally argued last week in Washington that the automaker had made safety strides when he testified along with other Big Three executives seeking massive government aid.
"Every year, we're going to improve the quality, we're going to improve the fuel efficiency, we're going to improve the safety, and we're going to keep improving the productivity so we can offer the consumer the very best value," Mulally told a House committee.
Honda and its Acura unit had vehicles in nearly every category, including top-sellers such as the Honda Accord; the Honda Civic 4-door with optional ESC; and the Acura MDX and RDX midsize SUVs; and the Honda Fit with optional ESC. The Fit is the first mini-car to earn the safety award.
Volkswagen AG and its Audi brand had nine vehicles on the list, including the Volkswagen Jetta and Passat and the Audi A3, A4 and A6.
General Motors Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. both had eight vehicles on the list. GM's included the Cadillac CTS and the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook large SUVs.
Toyota's top performers were the Toyota Corolla with optional ESC, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra and Scion xB.
Using the awards, consumers can compare vehicles without having to review results from multiple tests. Automakers pay close attention to the institute's findings and frequently note positive ratings in television commercials.
The institute has advocated for an early adoption of anti-rollover technology such as ESC ahead of a government requirement for the systems by the 2012 model year.
Electronic stability control senses when a driver may lose control and automatically applies brakes to individual wheels to keep the vehicle stable and avoid a rollover. It helps motorists avoid skidding across icy or slick roads or keep control when swerving to avoid an unexpected object in the road.
IIHS said Chrysler LLC was the only major automaker that did not receive a single award. They said Chrysler could have picked up five awards if the head restraints had been improved in the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring, the Sebring convertible and the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country.
Chrysler spokesman Cole Quinnell said he could not comment on whether the head restraints might be upgraded in the future. He said Chrysler vehicles are equipped with a variety of safety features and the institute's results "are just one of the sources of information about a vehicle's crash performance."
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Hybrids to pace race
Ford Motor Co. will provide Nascar with a pair of its prototype Fusion Hybrid models as pace cars for its championship weekend in Miami.
It will be the first time a hybrid car has paced the field in the stock-car racing series, Ford said in a statement. A hybrid Fusion will lead the field to the green flag to start the Ford 400, while a 263-horsepower Sport model will be used during caution periods in the race.
Nascar has been slow to embrace alternative fuels and switched to race-blended unleaded gasoline from leaded fuel in 2007. The rival Indy Racing League switched to ethanol from methanol the same year. Ford says its hybrid Fusions, which are to be unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Nov. 19, will be able to get 700 miles of city driving on a tank of gasoline.
The two Fusions used to pace the race Sunday will be painted with a Nascar-themed camouflage design. Either Jimmie Johnson, who drives a Chevrolet Impala, or Carl Edwards, who races a Fusion, will be named Nascar champion after the race.
It will be the first time a hybrid car has paced the field in the stock-car racing series, Ford said in a statement. A hybrid Fusion will lead the field to the green flag to start the Ford 400, while a 263-horsepower Sport model will be used during caution periods in the race.
Nascar has been slow to embrace alternative fuels and switched to race-blended unleaded gasoline from leaded fuel in 2007. The rival Indy Racing League switched to ethanol from methanol the same year. Ford says its hybrid Fusions, which are to be unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Nov. 19, will be able to get 700 miles of city driving on a tank of gasoline.
The two Fusions used to pace the race Sunday will be painted with a Nascar-themed camouflage design. Either Jimmie Johnson, who drives a Chevrolet Impala, or Carl Edwards, who races a Fusion, will be named Nascar champion after the race.
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
Ford Vehicles Gain in Reliability
The Associated Press
updated 3:30 p.m. PT, Thurs., Oct. 23, 2008
NEW YORK - Toyota Motor Corp.’s Scion brand topped the list of most reliable cars in Consumer Reports’ annual vehicle reliability rankings released Thursday, as Asian automakers continued to crowd the top of the magazine’s rankings.
Meanwhile, Chrysler LLC vehicles saw their scores fall sharply from 2007, while Ford Motor Co.’s nameplates gained ground over their Detroit rivals.
“Scion has a portfolio of three fairly small, fairly well equipped vehicles,” said David Champion, director of Consumer Reports’ auto test center. “It’s a basic form of transport, but put together well.”
The study compiled responses from Consumer Reports readers for more than 1.4 million vehicles this spring, using the results to predict reliability of 2009 models. The results are closely watched by automakers because of their influence on car buyers.
In this year’s study, Honda Motor Co.’s Acura and Honda lines ranked right behind Scion, followed by the Toyota nameplate and Toyota’s luxury brand, Lexus. Asian names occupied all of the magazine’s top 10 slots, with a domestic automaker not appearing on the list until No. 11 with Ford Motor Co.’s Lincoln brand.
Toyota spokesman Xavier Dominicis said Toyota was pleased to see Scion — which just launched two 2008 models, the xB and the xD — top the list.
“Generally speaking, when a vehicle first launches, that’s when you’re more apt to have any issues that need to be worked out, and this is a vehicle that came right out of the gate and earned this praise right away,” Dominicis said.
Champion noted that Ford nameplates have pulled ahead of their Detroit rivals this year, with nearly all Ford products carrying average-or-better rankings, with the exception of some of its truck-based vehicles. In addition, the Ford Focus sedan has been vastly improved since its 2000 debut, Consumer Reports said, and the car was ranked No. 4 for most reliable family vehicles.
“Ford’s vehicles, especially their car-based vehicles, have all been exceptionally good in terms of reliability year after year,” Champion said.
Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas, said the rankings are further affirmation of the changes the company has made to improve its vehicles, particularly in drive quality, electrical function and quietness.
“Being neck and neck with Toyota and Honda is satisfying for us,” Fields said. But he added that topping General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC isn’t enough. “We have our eye squarely on becoming the leader in the industry.”
Consumer Reports called GM cars a “mixed bag,” with bright spots being the redesigned above-average Chevrolet Malibu. The Buick Lucerne V-8 and Pontiac G6 are also came in above average, but a quarter of GM models came in below average.
Chrysler vehicles, on the other hand, clustered near the bottom of the rankings, with nearly two-thirds of its lineup below average. The Chrysler Sebring was Consumer Reports’ worst-rated car, coming in at 283 percent below average.
“I believe the introduction of some of their new models were not fully developed, and they hadn’t worked out all the bugs before they came up,” Champion said.
He said recent changes at Chrysler may have contributed to poor quality ratings. Germany’s Daimler AG sold an 80.1 percent stake in Chrysler to private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP last year. Now, Cerberus appears to be in talks to sell the automaker, possibly to GM.
Chrysler spokeswoman Beverly Thacker said the automaker was dissatisfied with its performance and will work “aggressively to improve every aspect of customer satisfaction.”
“We do have pockets of success that demonstrates we can meet our customers’ expectations,” Thacker said in a statement. “The Dodge Caliber and Jeep Patriot were rated above average.”
To calculate its reliability ratings, Consumer Reports averages the overall reliability scores from readers for the most recent three model years. If a model has fewer than three model years, than it uses data from as many years as are available.
Consumer Reports’ reliability issue is scheduled to hit newsstands Nov. 11. The magazine is published by the nonprofit Consumers Union, based in Yonkers, N.Y.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27341890/
updated 3:30 p.m. PT, Thurs., Oct. 23, 2008
NEW YORK - Toyota Motor Corp.’s Scion brand topped the list of most reliable cars in Consumer Reports’ annual vehicle reliability rankings released Thursday, as Asian automakers continued to crowd the top of the magazine’s rankings.
Meanwhile, Chrysler LLC vehicles saw their scores fall sharply from 2007, while Ford Motor Co.’s nameplates gained ground over their Detroit rivals.
“Scion has a portfolio of three fairly small, fairly well equipped vehicles,” said David Champion, director of Consumer Reports’ auto test center. “It’s a basic form of transport, but put together well.”
The study compiled responses from Consumer Reports readers for more than 1.4 million vehicles this spring, using the results to predict reliability of 2009 models. The results are closely watched by automakers because of their influence on car buyers.
In this year’s study, Honda Motor Co.’s Acura and Honda lines ranked right behind Scion, followed by the Toyota nameplate and Toyota’s luxury brand, Lexus. Asian names occupied all of the magazine’s top 10 slots, with a domestic automaker not appearing on the list until No. 11 with Ford Motor Co.’s Lincoln brand.
Toyota spokesman Xavier Dominicis said Toyota was pleased to see Scion — which just launched two 2008 models, the xB and the xD — top the list.
“Generally speaking, when a vehicle first launches, that’s when you’re more apt to have any issues that need to be worked out, and this is a vehicle that came right out of the gate and earned this praise right away,” Dominicis said.
Champion noted that Ford nameplates have pulled ahead of their Detroit rivals this year, with nearly all Ford products carrying average-or-better rankings, with the exception of some of its truck-based vehicles. In addition, the Ford Focus sedan has been vastly improved since its 2000 debut, Consumer Reports said, and the car was ranked No. 4 for most reliable family vehicles.
“Ford’s vehicles, especially their car-based vehicles, have all been exceptionally good in terms of reliability year after year,” Champion said.
Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas, said the rankings are further affirmation of the changes the company has made to improve its vehicles, particularly in drive quality, electrical function and quietness.
“Being neck and neck with Toyota and Honda is satisfying for us,” Fields said. But he added that topping General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC isn’t enough. “We have our eye squarely on becoming the leader in the industry.”
Consumer Reports called GM cars a “mixed bag,” with bright spots being the redesigned above-average Chevrolet Malibu. The Buick Lucerne V-8 and Pontiac G6 are also came in above average, but a quarter of GM models came in below average.
Chrysler vehicles, on the other hand, clustered near the bottom of the rankings, with nearly two-thirds of its lineup below average. The Chrysler Sebring was Consumer Reports’ worst-rated car, coming in at 283 percent below average.
“I believe the introduction of some of their new models were not fully developed, and they hadn’t worked out all the bugs before they came up,” Champion said.
He said recent changes at Chrysler may have contributed to poor quality ratings. Germany’s Daimler AG sold an 80.1 percent stake in Chrysler to private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP last year. Now, Cerberus appears to be in talks to sell the automaker, possibly to GM.
Chrysler spokeswoman Beverly Thacker said the automaker was dissatisfied with its performance and will work “aggressively to improve every aspect of customer satisfaction.”
“We do have pockets of success that demonstrates we can meet our customers’ expectations,” Thacker said in a statement. “The Dodge Caliber and Jeep Patriot were rated above average.”
To calculate its reliability ratings, Consumer Reports averages the overall reliability scores from readers for the most recent three model years. If a model has fewer than three model years, than it uses data from as many years as are available.
Consumer Reports’ reliability issue is scheduled to hit newsstands Nov. 11. The magazine is published by the nonprofit Consumers Union, based in Yonkers, N.Y.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27341890/
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