The “Name the Doenges Newsletter Contest” had a participation level that exceeded our expectations three fold. As it turns out, we actually had 46 subscribers suggest names for the newsletter, plus several employees.
How we Solved our Dilemma
I sincerely appreciate everyone’s enthusiastic involvement and suggestions. We originally announced that there would be 10 runner-up prizes. The quality and creativity of the names submitted made picking a winner very difficult. So, to show our appreciation for all your effort every contestant will be awarded an equal runner-up thank-you gift.
Everyone who suggested a name will be awarded a No Cost Oil and Filter change! Every runner-up winner will be notified via email about how to get their prize.
Keri Gardner Took 1st Place with “Driving Doenges” Now the Official Name of our Monthly Newsletter
“Driving Doenges”, the name the newsletter suggestion, was submitted by Keri Gardner, a 7th-Grade Teacher at Central Middle School in Bartlesville. Keri is the winner of one year no cost oil and filter changes at Doenges. Plus, we’re going to throw in a Full Detail! Congratulations Keri, on a job well done.
Our Core Values
We loved “Driving Doenges” because it reflects both our core automotive products and our focus on continuous improvement in our business around our customer’s needs. Our customers truly “Drive Doenges” — to be better at what we do and Doenges vehicles.
A Round of Applause for all the Runner Ups:
Allen Plumbley, Billy Autry, Carole Brookshire, Chad Johnson, Darlene Villalobos, Dennis Befort, Dennis Logan, Doug Boudreaux, Doug Rippetoe, Ed Nash, Frank Hulse, Gary Martin, Gary Sutton, George Meese, Jack Hoyt, Jeff Fields, Jeff Taylor, Jeffrey.Elwood, Jerry Delozier, Jerry Stevens, Jerry Strack, Joanie Schmidt, Jodi.C.McMillin, John Sanford, John Banks, Justin Mosley, Karen Skaggs, Keri D. Gardner, Kurt Krominga, Linda King, Linda Lisure, Loyd Stephens, Mike Moody, Mike Perkins, Peggy Wieneke, Rev. Dr. J. Dean McNamara, Rodney Dilbeck, Sarah Rowe, Shari L.Nye, Steve Burnham, Steven Brooks, Tammy Alexander, Tawnda Hopper, Thelma Holt and Wayne Yeazel.
These Are The Runner Up “Name the Newsletter Entries” As you read these entries you will realize how hard it was to pick a winner. You all have the gift of creativity.
And Here’s Brad
Around the Corner
Auto Focus
Benefits By Brad
Bill Doenges Newsletter
Brad’s Deals & more
Brads Hot Tips For Car Owners and Buyers
Brad’s News Pad
Brad’s Rad
Distinctively Doenges
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Doenges Roundup
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Enlightening
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Gearing Up
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Linc-Me-To-Doenges Ford
News To Drive By
Oklahomans in Hardtimes
On The Road Again
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Running on Empty
See You Around the Corner
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The Doenges Motor Mouth
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The Read and Reap
The Vehicle Tickle
The Worlds Most Useful 2 Minute Newsletter
Things to Do to Maintain Your Vehicle
Up to Speed
Your Doenges Blue Oval Newsletter
In April 1941, my grandfather, William C. “Bill” Doenges, purchased the Ford dealership in Bartlesville from Bert Gaddis. Two generations and 68 years later his business is still going strong.
He Was Only 14 Years Old
Bill Doenges took his first job with the Ford agency in Tonkawa when he was 14. His ambition to become a dealer was realized in 1931 when he acquired the agency at Braman, north of Blackwell.
The Ford Story in Bartlesville, Braman, Coffeyville, Towanka and Tulsa
Over the next 20 years, one success led to another as he operated numerous dealerships. In 1936 he acquired the Ford agency in Tonkawa, and in 1942 acquired the Ford agency in Coffeyville, Kansas.
In 1948, he bought the Ford agency in Tulsa, which was later operated by his sons, Bill (my father) and Bob Doenges, as Doenges Brothers Ford. (As an aside, last month I mentioned that he acquired the dealership in Braman in 1929. We have some documentation for this – he was honored by Ford Motor Co. in 1979 for being a 50 year Ford Dealer; however in preparing to compose this letter, I found some newspaper quotes from him indicating this was actually in 1931. Who knows?)
Doenges The Senior Toyota Dealer in Oklahoma
In 1968, he acquired the Toyota franchise at the Bartlesville dealership, and in 1984 added Lincoln Mercury. Today, Doenges is the oldest Toyota dealer in the state of Oklahoma.
By the late 1970s, the agency had outgrown its original location on Osage between Frank Phillips and 4th Street and moved to our current location on Washington Boulevard.
By the late 1980s, as his health deteriorated my uncle Bob became more involved in the dealership, eventually becoming the dealer principal when my grandfather passed away in 1991.
“All I Ever Wanted to be was a Good Ford For Our Community”…Bill Doenges 1971
My grandfather had many other interests and accomplishments in his life and was a super grandfather, but he told me late in his life that “all I ever really wanted to be was a good Ford dealer.” In 1971, when celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Bartlesville agency he said, “if I were to start over today in business, I would buy the Ford agency in Bartlesville…I felt it was the best community in Oklahoma 30 years ago and it still is!”
To Learn, To Love, To Leave a Legacy
It’s in keeping with this spirit that I proudly carry on his legacy. He set a great example through his success, but more importantly through his commitment to the community with his leadership and financial support for dozens of organizations, sports teams and causes. If you ask any Doenges associate today, I feel confident they would say the thing they are most proud of working here is the fact that Doenges Toyota Ford Lincoln Mercury is active in our community and gives back to make it stronger for everyone.
Doenges Ford Lincoln Mercury Toyota Recognized and Voted the Favorite
As I said in my letter last month, there is a reason we’ve been voted Bartlesville’s Best Auto Dealer the last four years in the Examiner-Enterprise Best of Bartlesville Readers’ Choice Awards. To the point, it is our employees and our customers. It’s you – you are the reason!
Ford Is Financially Secure, Strong and Stable
It’s a crazy time. Who would have predicted that the U.S. Government would virtually be running leading American automobile manufacturers? Or that they might actually need to go through bankruptcy to restructure? We’re awfully proud of Ford Motor Co. for not being in that position. We feel our products across all our lines, Toyota, Ford Lincoln and Mercury, are the best, and the best they have ever been. If you don’t believe me or know someone who doesn’t, do as Ford says, come “Drive One” I’m sure you will be impressed. Call or email me or one of my associates and we will show you!
At Doenges Toyota Ford Lincoln Mercury we’re still fighting for your business and winning every day. We know that our future and the future of our country depend on hard work, the willingness to sacrifice and a commitment to each other as co-workers, community members and Americans.
As we celebrate our 68th birthday, I want to personally say thank you! We can’t do it without you.
Best regards,
Brad Doenges 3rd Generation Auto Dealer
P.S. Please check out the news, reviews and insider tips I post on my blog every day at www.bradyourcarguy.com.
By the end of 2010 there could be a shortage of new cars, trucks, suv’s and vans of dealer’s lots.
GM announced today that it will close most if not all of its manufacturing plants for at least 9 weeks starting May 11. General Motors has no other choice.
Traditionally This is the Beginning of the Car Buying Season
For the automotive business this is traditionally the start of the car buying season. Of course in the last eight months nothing has been traditional in the car business. A lot of GM new car dealers stand a great chance of turning into used car dealers because of the factory closing. Now don’t get me wrong here, I’m not saying they will lose their franchise, the pipeline of new cars, trucks, Suv’s and vans will just start to evaporate. With any type of decent sales volume in the next 90 days GM dealers will be at a disadvantage. This is not good for any automotive dealer regardless of the franchise and will affect the consumer as well. Any commodity that becomes scarce forces prices up and usually irrationally.
Let me Explain.
A good economy thrives on a fair and balanced competitive playing field. Once that equation becomes skewed it affects everyone involved. In the case of GM it will hurt them and their market share the most. The primary reason is loss of confidence by the consumer.
Consumer Confidence : Plant closings are one thing. Filing for bankruptcy is another.
Shrinking Inventories: No manufacturing means the new car pipeline is turned off.
Thin Selection: As the most popular models sell first the luxury of selection evaporates for the customer
Migration of Customer Loyalty: The path of least resistance for the consumer is to visit one of GM’s competitors.
GM vs. The Competition
A loyal GM customer first two choices of competitors would be Chrysler or Ford and I put these two in alphabetical order. With the grim reaper on the door step of Chrysler the logical choice of the Big Three is Ford.
Ford vs. The Competition
I have a lot confidence that both GM and Chrysler will survive these current challenges, but not untarnished. In the interim Ford is the only manufacturer that is humming right along albeit with a few road bumps here and there. Ford is able to focus more on innovation and quality while it’s competitors are focusing all of their energy into surviving. Considering that GM is putting up their classic car collection for auction through Barrett-Jackson they are losing valuable time. maybe years, in new product innovation to Ford.
Listed here you will discover every purchase option and finance option Ford is offering here in Bartlesville, Oklahoma or anywhere in the world. Ford has a plan for just about every demographic from College Students to Military Appreciation and the all inclusive Ford Advantage Plan that is a payment protection plan for up to one year.
The one constant that Ford will have in the foreseeable future is great selection of product. With this balanced advantage Ford will be more competitive in new and used inventory pricing models and selection.
The Ford Mustang for 2010 has an exciting new look and is a dramatic departure from the last design in 2005. Ford is special and out-perform their competitors by the amount of time they devote to listen to customers and then take action on consumer recommendations. How many times have you filled out a customer survey and wondered if a human ever read it? At Ford they not only do they read it they execute it.
Bill Gates “Listen to Your Customer”
Love him or hate him, this is one of the traits that made Bill Gates a billionaire many times over. In the beginning any software program that Microsoft launched was only a hunch. Not until it got into the hands of the consumer was Microsoft able to design or redesign the product the public was looking for. The consumer then became the driving force for the design and implementation of every Microsoft platform since. Did you ever call Microsoft support asking for help? Well guess what database all of your questions where funneled into? The make Bill another billion database!
21 Customer Generated Improvements Engineered into the 2010 Ford Mustang
1. An overall better driving experience by paying attention to small details.
2. No reach steering wheel audio controls
3. A quite ride with less noise, with better composite material and insulation.
4. Easy to reach interior trunk release
5. Improve the ride, handling, steering and the suspension.
6. Electronic automatic temperature control. Unsupervised thinking.
7. Rear-vision safety camera
8. Automatic headlamps
9. More usable interior stowage.
10. The left hand of the steering wheel blocks the tachometer; reverse the tach and speedometer.
11. Outside temperature indicator
12. Left to Right light one, light two, light three, for better viability from the rear.
13. Ergonomically redesign of the console bin preventing contact with arm and elbow.
14. Improved appearance, aerodynamics and wind noise by moving the windshield wash assembly
15. A redesign that added more leg room, head room and hip room. More room period.
16. Bigger sporty wheels and tires
17. Improved interior craftsmanship like a one-piece soft instrument panel
18. Softened edges on the side of the center stack for increased leg comfort
19. Increase the horsepower and fuel efficiency simultaneously.
20. More storage space in door pockets fron and rear plus no spill cup holders
21. Improve the overall fit and finish, no gaps, no rattles.
In order to get on our “2010 Mustang Bartlesville Ford Sneak Peak” list simply return to the main page and sign up for our Newsletter.We will send you a special invitation when the first 2010 Mustang arrives.
The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid is one of the top 10 automobiles to hit automobile showrooms in a decade or more. Just to say this engineering marvel is fuel-efficient is a gross injustice to this fine piece of machinery. This vehicle is ready for your inspection and you will not be disappointed. As a matter of fact you will be amazed.
Which reminds me of this story.
I was talking to one of my customers the other day about the car business in the 50′s and 60′s. He mentioned the excitement he experienced every autumn when the new car models where introduced. You can experience the same excitement when you come to see the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid.
No “Spy” Photos
He went on to explain that it was almost impossible to get any advanced “spy” photos and you just had to wait until the new vehicles arrived at the local dealership.The anticipation and false “sightings” were the talk of the town. Fifty years later the national press have been lavish in their praise for the 2010 Fusion.
A Real Head Turner
In the 50′s and 60′s when the first few models hit the streets, heads nodded in approval, and the owners sat high in the saddle.I kinda feel the same way about the new Ford Fusion Hybrid, this car is a real head turner.
The Curb Appeal of the 2010 Ford Fusion
First let’s start with the curb appeal of Fortd he Fusion Hybrid Sport edition. This is one great looking automobile. Let’s start at the front grill and headlight assembly, a true blend of aerodynamic efficiency and classy styling. Plenty of chrome accents and low profile rocker moldings give this an updated sporty look. From the rear this vehicle screams cool and sophisticated with dual chrome tipped exhaust and a Bartlesville deck-lid spoiler.
The Hip Wheels
Also offered this year are six, ultra hip aluminum wheel treatments. These wheels not only look good they are all part of the idea of reducing weight, increasing the aerodynamics and adding to the already noted Fusion fuel efficiency.
The Interior is a Breath of Fresh Air
From the feel of the rich leather steering wheel to the firm but still comfortable leather seating the Ford engineers got it right. All of the creature comforts are located in easy to locate, reach and execute. You will love the one touch up and down automatic windows.
Like Riding in a Sound Proof Chamber
One of the first things people notice when driving or riding in the 2010 Ford Fusion is the quite ride. There are numerous reasons for the quite ride, the first is the electric mode for the power train. This gas saving feature allows the owner to drive in an all electric mode near home or work. In addition, the system’s advanced intake variable-cam timing (iVCT) allows the Fusion to smoothly transition between the gasoline engine and the battery-powered electric motor, and vice versa, surprisingly quite.
Safety and Ford are Synonymous
Six airbags, including dual-stage front airbags,front seat side and second row curtain airbags are standard equipment. For peace of mind the Fusion has brake activated traction control that keeps the vehicle in your control during a panic stop occurrence. Combined this with Ford’s ECS system or Electronic Stability Control and you will be pleased to learn that you are 35% safer in reducing single vehicle car crashes according to the NHSA or the National Highway Safety Administration study.
Words Cannot Describe
Earnest Hemingway could describe with his wonderful copy the rest of the Fusion Story, but I can’t. So the next best thing is to visit the Doenges Ford Lincoln Mercury showroom in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Once here you can take a first hand look at the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. Here you will be able to feast your eyes on the luxury interior appointments, including the massive 8 inch LCD Navigation and Sirrus Travel link/Radio Combo as well as give the voice activated Sync system a workout. When you finished checking this great vehicle out the next thing you will be doing is driving your new 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid home. Wow!!!
Ford Motor Company has been producing tough, dependable, hardworking vehicles for years. Whether its with their F-series trucks or their E-series vans, Ford’s fleet of work vehicles has consistently been amongst the leaders in both innovation and reliability and are fixtures on job sites here in Bartlesville and all across America. From the Crown Victoria to the F-150 to the upcoming Transit Connect, if your job involves a vehicle it is likely a Ford. And now, thanks to Ford’s new Work Solutions technologies, that tough dependable Ford is about to evolve into a whole new species of 21st century ready work vehicle.
Last month Ford introduced their new Ford Work Solutions technologies, now available in 2009 F-150, F-series Super Duty and E-series vans. According to ford, Ford Work Solutions is a collection of affordable technologies, including four industry first features, which offer Ford truck customers a brand new level of connectivity, flexibility and security in their work vehicle. These new technologies aim to allow Ford owners to better run key aspects of their business, helping to make business owners more productive and successful.
Ford Work Solutions Four Innovative New Features
First on the list of new technologies is Ford’s new in-dash computer, developed with Magneti Marelli and powered by Microsoft Auto, which provides high-speed Internet access via the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network, Bluetooth-enabled Hands Free Calling and navigation by Garmin. It is the first broadband-capable in-dash computer in production. The system allows customers to print invoices, check inventories and access documents stored on their home or office computer networks – right on the job site. users can even update files and print them with an available blue-tooth enabled, battery powered, inkjet printer. The computer is integrated into the vehicle’s center stack, filling the same space normally occupied by the standard radio. It is equipped with a 6.5-inch, high-resolution touch screen, four gigabytes of memory, a secure digital slot for added memory, a USB port and a wireless keyboard and mouse. A stylus, stored next to the CD slot, is included for use on the touch screen.
Next there is tool Link, a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) asset tracking system developed in partnership with DeWALT™, the industry leader in professional power tools, and ThingMagic, the industry expert on embedded RFID technology. This technology enables customers to maintain a detailed real-time inventory of the tools or equipment stored in the pickup. When the vehicle is running, a pair of RFID antennas, mounted in corrosion- and impact-resistant housings on the inside of the pickup box, scan the box for the items bearing RFID tags on a pre-programmed inventory list. The data is transmitted to a reader mounted inside the cab and displayed on the in-dash computer screen, alerting the driver if any inventoried tools are not loaded on the truck. this helps top both eliminate tools being left behind on the job site and leaving for a job without the tools that will be needed for a job being loaded onto the truck.
Crew Chief is another of the new technologies. It is a fleet telematics and diagnostics system which allows small fleet owners to efficiently manage their vehicles, quickly dispatch workers to job sites, monitor driver performance and keep detailed vehicle maintenance records. The system not only supplies real time vehicle location information, allowing dispatchers to efficiently and optimally deploy fleets, but can also monitor information like tire pressure and check engine codes as well as identify user set alerts like excessive idling time. The system can also provide fuel calculations and fuel tax reporting to help business owners manage costs.
And lastly there is the new Cable Lock security system developed in partnership with Master Lock®, the industry-leading lock manufacturer. This new system is designed to discourage theft of expensive tools too large to fit in the cab. Comprised of an eight foot long retractable steel cable which is contained in an impact resistant spring loaded housing in the rear of the pick-up box, the cable lock security system easily winds around toolbox handles or through compressor or generator frames and is then locked to the truck with a cuff style clasp. The system is easily installed on almost any Ford Pick up truck.
Ford Work Solutions Video
For more information on Ford Work Solutions watch this video from a recent Ford Digiknows broadcast.
1000 miles on a tank of gas, that is not a question that is a statement!
All that is needed is a little ingenuity.
There are two components to ingenuity,creative and functional.
One person that comes to mind for the creative component or the “how to do it” is Wayne Gerdes.
The functional aspect is in the hands and minds of the engineers at Ford Motor Corporation and the Ford Fusion Hybrid.
“The 1000 Mile Man” Mr. Wayne Gerdes
Mr Gerdes according to Wikipedia is a hypermiler; hook, line and sinker. Check this out, The word hypermiler was even coined by the Mr. Gerdes himself. What the heck, no guts, no glory. It paid off more ways than one though. Gerdes’s passion could conservatively save our country and consumers millions and millions gallons of gas. Think about it. If you could get twice the MPG on a gallon gas then $4 gas becomes $2 a gallon gas. So it is not surprising that the word hypermiling was selected as the best new word for 2008 by the New Oxford American Dictionary.
Gerdes has developed Stealth techniques to achieve in excess of seventy miles to the gallon and can prove of over 75 miles to the gallon in a Honda Accord. The next target, 100 + miles to a gallon. That equals a 1000 miles per tank of gas. If you visit www.cleanmpg.com you will see documentation and proof of sustained 150 + mpg plus on a Honda Insight.
$2 Dollar Gas and Falling Asleep
Currently the price of gas has dropped off the radar and out of the news. With $2 a gallon gas in most of the US, it is just a matter of time before the price of gas will be back in the news and into our wallet. For this author I fear that our current low energy prices are only temporary. Complacency in the land of the rich, is usually what lulls us to sleep. Now is the time to become proactive instead of reactive. Now is the time to start to practice the mantra of the hypermiler Wayne Gerdes.
Hypermiling and dangerous driving.
Back in the days when gas was cheap (by today’s standards) and my judgment at times was expensive, I practiced hypermiling, and I didn’t even know it. At the time the term hypermiling was not in the dictionary, I was in college and my funds were always limited. At the end of the semester when it got down to eat or “fill’er up”at the pump, believe when I say… food came first. So I developed ways to stretch a tank of gas for as long and far as I could.
These are a few of the ways I stretched a tank of gas to get maximum mpg.(warning a few were outright dangerous)
1. Mind-set. The reason I got super mileage was that I had to. My funds were limited and I had to stretch every dollar. So I thought about it lot and paid attention to fuel consumption.
2. Drafting. This is dangerous. Back in my “no brains no headache days” I did a lot of unnecessary dangerous things, more for bragging rights instead of saving gas. Drafting is where you take advantage of the aerodynamic windshield or blocker vehicle in front of you. The technique is pull up as close as you can to the rear bumper of the vehicle (in my case it was always a semi) and let the air current and suction force pull you down the highway. When I did this I turned off the engine and put my car into neutral. I saved a lot of gas doing this. It never occurred to me exactly what I would do if the truck in front of me ever executed a panic stop. I’m fortunate to be alive to tell you this story.
3. Jack Rabbit Starts:I never had “lead foot” so I always avoided the unnecessary extra consumption of gas trying to see how fast I could get from one stop light to the next.
4. Hit Every Light: I used to “proud” myself on learning what streets and what stop lights I could synchronize. My goal was how to hit every green light without having to stop and burn fuel and time sitting at a stop light. I think my all time best record was 11 lights in a row. How about you what is your record on this or any other gas saving technique? Leave a comment below, I would love to hear form you.
Call Me Crazy
Ford Motor Company have several vehicles on the drawing boards and in production that could get a 1000 miles to a tank of gas. This is how I would do it. Mix a 1000 mile Gerdes-Fusion cocktail.The only two ingredients would be the creativity of Wayne Gerdes and the functionality of the Ford Fusion Hybrid.
“Announcing The Bartlesville Oklahoma Ford Fusion 1000 Mile Challenge”
I need your help. Here is the scoop. I’m putting together a plan to drive from my automobile dealership, Doenged Ford Lincoln, Mercury Toyota in Bartlesville, Oklahoma to a destination at least a 1000 miles away on a single tank of gas.
My vehicle will be a Ford Fusion Hybrid. Help me with the following details:
1. What should be my final destination.?
2. What fuel saving techniques can you recommend?
3. Do you think I can do it?
4. How far do you think I can get?
Call me , E-mail me or leave a comment, I am very interested in your recommendation.
These days, those who are looking for a car that gets excellent mileage often turn to hybrid vehicles. For many, however, the added cost of hybrid technology puts what is supposed to be an economical vehicle out of their price range. If you are one of these people, have no fear. Hybrids aren’t the only way to get great fuel mileage. There are still great economy cars out there that can deliver the fuel mileage your looking for.
Welcome to the 2009 Toyota Yaris.
2009 Toyota Yaris
The 2009 Toyota Yaris is the sub compact economy car from the manufacturer who made their name with economy cars. And by economy I don’t mean cheap. Though frugal both in sticker price and fuel bills this little commuter offers all the styling, room, features and attention to detail that one would expect from a car sporting the Toyota badge. Add to this Toyota’s solid reputation for reliability and quality and what you get in the 2009 Yaris is a lot of bang for surprisingly little bucks.
2009 Yaris Body styles
This 2009 Toyota subcompact offering is available in one of three body styles. Whether you choose the three-door hatchback, the five-door hatchback or the four-door sedan, if you like cute, you’ll love this car.
Kelley Blue Book points out that the liftback makes the more expressive design statement and they are right. Somewhat beetle like in its shape the three and five door hatchbacks are the ultimate in urban geek chic. Headlights and tailights stand out looking bulbous and over-sized and fit nicely with the rounded edges that dominate this car. Get the S-trim package and the to add even more funky flare with 15 inch steel wheels and a ground effects body kit.
Toyota Yaris Interior
Where the hatchback stands out in exterior style, the sedan makes its statement in interior room. With an additional 20 inches of body length the four door sedan Yaris is one of the more roomy subcompacts to be found on today’s market.
For those who love the hatchbacks bulbous cuteness, though, you will be happy to see the focus on young fun styling continue into the Yaris’ interior. A narrow center stack, three glove boxes, and center mounted instruments combine to keep the Yaris’ playful style consistent inside and out. Toyota also offers the option of sliding and reclining rear seats to help overcome the tighter confines of the hatchbacks smaller size.
2009 Yaris Performance and Economy
A 1.5 liter four cylinder motor powers all Yaris models. This little powerplant delivers 106 ponies and 103 lb-ft of torque to the Yaris’ front wheels via a standard five speed manual or optional four speed automatic transmission and manages to deliver respectable acceleration for a subcompact economy car.
As should be expected in the subcompact economy class, however, this car is all about fuel economy. Posting a miserly 29 city 36 highway with the standard transmission and 29 city 35 highway with the automatic the 2009 Toyota Yaris delivers where subcompact consumers want it most, at the gas pump.
2009 Toyota Yaris Safety
Where subcompact consumers often expect their cars to deliver least is in safety. Toyota doesn’t think one should have to sacrifice safety for economy, however, and in the 2009 Toyota Yaris they made sure that safety was a primary focus.
With standard safety features one would expect in much pricier cars, like side curtain airbags and ABS, the 2009 Toyota Yaris managed to earn four of five stars for the front occupant and five stars for driver in frontal crash tests. The car was also rated good by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in both frontal offset and side impact tests.
A Great Little Subcompact Economy Car
As you can see, in the 2009 Toyota Yaris, Toyota has made a great little subcompact economy car. If you would like a quote on a new 2009 Toyota Yaris fell free to contact me through my quick quote form. You can also browse my entire inventory of new and used offerings from Ford Toyota Lincoln and Mercury on my Bartlesville lot. I will be more than happy to assist you in any way I can.
I hope that if you are in the market for a subcompact car you will give the Toyota Yaris serious consideration. Until tomorrow, have a great day!
Those of you who have been reading here for a while might remember a post I did a while back titled “2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid-Road Rally Challenge- Results”. In that post I put forth the idea of starting a road rally challenge to try and get 1000 miles from a single tank full of gas in a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. Well, guess what?
I have it on good authority, the authority being Ford, that this idea is actually something Ford is looking to do later this month. Apparently they have been training with a hyper-miler named Wayne Gerdes for just this sort of event. From what I was told by the Ford public affairs guy who read my post, the event is to be a trip from Ford’s home town of Dearborn, Michigan to Washington driven by a 5 man team and is expected to take around forty four hours.
There were also some preliminary mpg numbers discussed but I think I might keep those secret a little longer so as not to ruin the surprise. I will, however, say that the estimated 41 mpg of the Ford Fusion Hybrid, and even my suggestion that they try to achieve 1000 miles from a single tank are looking like they are well short of the numbers a hyper-miler like Mr. Gerdes can achieve.
Hyper-Miling in the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
About this time I assume many might be asking what is hyper-miling anyway?
Hyper-miling is nothing more than adjusting your driving habits to achieve maximum fuel mileage from your vehicle. With the abundance of cars that focus on fuel mileage and the surge in hybrids that has occurred over the past few years the number of people who have abandoned seeing how fast they can go to try and find out how far they can go on a single gallon or tank of gas has increased greatly. And with new technologies like the 2010 Ford Fusion SmartGauge with Eco-Guide everyone can get in on the fun.
To learn more about hyper-miling check out the conversation at Hypermiling Forum.com. With a little research you might be the next person to push your Ford Fusion well past the thousand mile mark.
2010 Ford Fusion and SmartGauge with EcoGuide
You can also learn more about the 2010 Ford Fusion and Smart Gauge with EcoGuide by searching for those terms and this blogs search function located near the upper right hand corner of the blog or check out some of the videos, like the one posted below, offered by Ford via Youtube.
This video is actually one from Ford awesome Digiknows webcast series where they take one particular Ford product or technology and discuss it live while fielding questions from internet viewers. To catch Ford for their next Digiknows broadcast make sure you go to Ford’s channel at UStream and join in the fun Tuesdays at 12 noon Eastern/ 11 a.m. Central.
There aren’t many experiences in life that hold the joy purchasing a new automobile does. For those of you who have never experienced the sensation of sucking in a lung full of leather and plastic scented air as you put your shining new vehicle into gear and drive off the dealer’s lot, it is one of those rare moments in life where everything seems full of excitement and possibilities.
Of course, as with anything that holds excitement and possibility, the car buying process also holds a lot of potential for disappointment and mistakes that can lead to a lot of regret. As much as we may attempt to avoid them, let’s face it, mistakes are a part of life. Anyone who never makes mistakes at anything never attempts anything and, in turn, severly limits the enjoyment of life.
This is not to say that mistakes are altogether unavoidable, however. Luckily, for you, there have been many who have gone before you and made the mistakes so that you don’t have to. By learning from the mistakes of others you have the opportunity to avoid the car buying regrets they suffered and greatly increase the chance that your new car purchase will provide you fun and excitement well after you have left the dealer lot.
7 Car Buying Mistakes to Avoid
Below I’ve listed seven common car buying mistakes to avoid. If you approach the car buying process with these few mistakes in mind, you can leave the regrets behind and drive off into a future of excitement and possibility.
1. Not test driving the car you buy – You can’t make an informed decision about a car without test driving it. There is no way to experience how a car handles, rides, accelerates, brakes, how comfortable seats are, how easy to use devices are, how much visibility a car allows, or basically anything at all about the actual experience of driving a car without, well, without the actual experience of driving the car. Do not buy a car unless you test drive it. It really is as simple as that
2. Buying a car because it is cheap – Its great to save a few bucks when you have the opportunity, but not at the expense of your happiness with the purchase. If you are not going to like what you buy then the fact that you saved money on the purchase is sort of pointless. Make sure you get the best deal for the car you actually want instead of getting a great deal on something you don’t want.
3. Buying a car based only on aesthetics – You want to make sure that you like the styling and color of the car you are going to buy, but make sure not to let that sleek body and flashy paint job distract you from all the other factors that go into making a purchase you will be happy with. Though it is easy to fall for that showroom beauty, remember, looks are only one part of what makes a great car great.
4. Buying what you want instead of what you need – There are a lot of guys and girls who have dreamed all their lives of owning a brand new sports car. When you find yourself on the lot looking at that 400hp engine make sure you don’t let that dram distort reality. Though you may really want a sports car, if you have a family of six, it probably isn’t what you need.
5. Buying from a dealer because of location – As in any business, amongst auto dealers there are both honest business men and women providing a service and product to the community at fair prices and there are dealers who will do anything to make a buck. Just because Joe Shmoe’s lot is just down the street doesn’t mean you should buy a car from Joe. Make sure you find the dealer that you feel comfortable buying from, even if it means you have to drive a ways to get there. Its a major purchase, you should be comfortable with the transaction no matter how far you have to go to make it.
6. Buying without researching – In these days when loads of information is at everyone’s fingertips twenty four-seven there is really no reason to make an uninformed decision about any purchase. Take the time to research the cars you are interested in. Read reviews, research pricing, find buying tips. Knowledge is power and knowledge of the cars you want to buy gives you the power to make a purchase you won’t regret.
7. Buying beyond your means – If the car you really want requires making payments you can’t afford find another car you want. There are tons of makes and models out there and there is a car to fit your budget and needs if you look hard enough. All the fun is taken out of car ownership by the stress of painful payments. Set a budget and stick to it!
Made any mistakes buying a new car or truck? Leave a comment and let everyone else learn from your experience. Let’s help everyone be able to enjoy a moment that holds so much potential for enjoyment. Everyone’s new car purchase should be full of excitement and possibilities.
In 1948, he bought the Ford agency in Tulsa, which was later operated by his sons, Bill (my father) and Bob Doenges, as Doenges Brothers Ford. (As an aside, last month I mentioned that he acquired the dealership in Braman in 1929. We have some documentation for this – he was honored by Ford Motor Co. in 1979 for being a 50 year Ford Dealer; however in preparing to compose this letter, I found some newspaper quotes from him indicating this was actually in 1931. Who knows?)
My grandfather had many other interests and accomplishments in his life and was a super grandfather, but he told me late in his life that “all I ever really wanted to be was a good Ford dealer.” In 1971, when celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Bartlesville agency he said, “if I were to start over today in business, I would buy the Ford agency in Bartlesville…I felt it was the best community in Oklahoma 30 years ago and it still is!”
As I said in my letter last month, there is a reason we’ve been voted Bartlesville’s Best Auto Dealer the last four years in the Examiner-Enterprise Best of Bartlesville Readers’ Choice Awards. To the point, it is our employees and our customers. It’s you – you are the reason!
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