How the Car Business is Changing

Change: “to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone…”

This is the first in a series of short posts on change in the car business. Some changes are obvious. Some changes are hidden. As a third generation car dealer, I believe that our business is entering a period of the most profound and rapid change we have ever experienced — and that is saying something.  Of course, we’re not alone in this. The entire world is experiencing the same thing. My hope is to help you as a consumer to understand the changes going on in the car business, so that you will be empowered to make the best decisions for your own particular situation.

Transparency

Transparency is explained by Wikipedia as follows. Transparency, as used in the humanities, implies openness, communication, and accountability. It is a metaphorical extension of the meaning used in the physical sciences: a “transparent” object is one that can be seen through.

In the car business, access to information and an increasingly efficient market is driving increased transparency.  As a consumer you have access to more information than ever before. Just “Google” whatever you drive now. A search just a moment ago for “2008 Toyota Camry” resulted in 5,580,000 results (that’s way more than the number of Camry’s sold that year!). As you know the quality of the information you have can make a big difference. Automotive consumers have more choices and increased access to information, which leads to a more efficient market. You wouldn’t pay more than the going rate for a publicly traded stock.  Until relatively recently, consumers and dealers alike didn’t have access to this kind of information that they could count on to be accurate.

I have to say all this is a good thing for our business. The car business needs to change and quickly. We have to develop new ways to do business that meet our customers’ needs.

At Doenges Toyota Ford Lincoln Mercury we talk about this all the time. We strive to be leaders in increased transparency of a car deal and upfront dealings with our customers. For an example of how this might work check out our “shopping cart” for automotive e-commerce at http://www.aidealer.com/AiDealerProduction/DealershipInventorySearch.aspx?DealershipId=28

The nuts and bolts of a car deal is just math. The real magic in our business comes from helping people.

For more information please contact Brad Doenges of Doenges Ford Lincoln Mercury Toyota in Bartlesville Oklahoma at (918) 333-0900.

Popularity: 1% [?]

OK Mozart 26: New York-Chicago-San Francisco-Comes to Bartlesville Oklahoma

Starting Friday June 11, 2010 and for the next nine days you can experience all of the culture and diversity of  New York, Chicago, or San Francisco has to offer, in Bartlesville Oklahoma.

This event has something for everyone and all age groups. The organizers have arranged the entertainment into three different series. Classical, Discovery and the Crossover series.

• The Classical or C Series: The C-Series is the largest series and core of the Festival. It predominantly features OK MOZART’s Resident Orchestra and Chamber Music Ensemble.The C-Series features the best in classical music and incorporates a mix of works by Mozart and the Masters in addition to contemporary classical repertoire.
• The Discovery or D-Series is designed to provide an alternative to pure classical music. It relates to a broader audience and encompasses all aspects of the  performing arts. The D-series includes concerts held in non-traditional settings.
• The Crossover or X -Series is designed to offer a performance that reaches beyond the confines of
  classical music and performing arts. The X-Series programs have little or no relation to classical music and provide the opportunity for progressive, cutting-edge performances for non-classical enthusiasts or a change of pace for audiences that appreciate diversity.

Here are a few other insights to a Festivsal I invite you to visit and enjoy.

Smunty to Open OK Mozart Festival!

Voje fans, get up outta your chairs and shake those derrieres up to Bartlesville this Friday for the OK Mozartkickoff event of the year, featuring your very own favorite band, Smunty Voje. There will be food and drink vendors, …

http://smuntyvoje.com/2010/06/smunty-to-open-ok-mozart-festival/

OK Mozart Welcomes Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey!

OK MozartWelcomes Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey! Saturday, June 12, 2010 at 8:00 PM Community Center Bartlesville , Oklahoma United States. See more here: OK Mozart Welcomes Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey!

http://claremore.localspur.com/2010/06/05/ok-mozart-welcomes-jacob-fred-jazz-odyssey/

JFJO – Ludwig World Premier 6/12 – Stay Gold release tour 6/16

The project premiers with the 50 piece Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra on June 12th, kicking off the 26th annual OK MozartFestival in the gorgeous PAC at the Bartlesville Community Center. Tickets are still available and can be …

Jeff Harshbarger taps his bass instincts and others tap his …

He also needed to prepare for the band’s role in the OK MozartFestival, coming up Saturday in Bartlesville, Okla., where the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and the Bartlesville Symphony will perform “Ludwig,” …

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/06/04/1990836/jeff-harshbarger-taps-his-bass.html

Since 1995 we have supplied a entire fleet of cars, crossovers, and SUV’s to the Festival for the visiting entertainers use. This fleet includes new Fords, Lincolns, Mercurys and Toyotas. At the end of the Festival and starting on Monday June 21st we will offer this entire fleet at steep discounts to the public.

 

For more information please contact Brad Doenges of Doenges Ford Lincoln Mercury Toyota in Bartlesville Oklahoma at (918) 333-0900.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Doenges Ford-Bartlesville Oklahoma-a Genuine Legacy

By Russ Mullin Guest Contributor

To Live-To Love-To Learn-To Leave a Legacy. The term legacy implies leaving something of value for others to enjoy and or benefit from. Before you can pass along or bequeath value you have to earn the value. True value is earned by design, desire, vision, sacrifice, giving, learning , passion and hard work.

Giving Back to the Community. We hear this term a lot and at times  “giving back to the community” echos  a shallow rhetoric theme.  Some businesses have no idea what giving to their community really is. I have seen ads in different forms of media proclaim “We give back to the community”.  Action speaks louder than words.  The business that really gives back value does so incognito. You don’t need to brag about it.

A local, hometown business is dependent on the local population for survival and success. The business must offer their products at a fair price and excellence in service after the sell.  Excellent service is another over used and abused word. When we discuss the  equation of a Legacy  the terms service and excellence must be defined.

What is Excellence in Service? To achieve excellence does this mean satisfy 100% of your customers 100% of the time?  I think we would both agree this is a fantasy. No one person or company is 100% .  But 97% or 98% is a fantastic number to shoot for.

The 3% Brain Damage  Rule. I have found in my business career that there are three people out of every one-hundred I cannot satisfy regardless of what I do.  Sometimes I think these three customers are people who’s  sole goal in life is to complain and spread misery, they are radioactive in any environment they occupy. If you work in any customer service environment you will meet three jerks out of every 100 customers you encounter. To prevent brain damage when you encounter a jerk just say to yourself “one down two to go”.

Excellent Service is Not A Destination. Now I don’t want to leave the impression that the other 97 customers are always in the “hunky-dory” mode. We have our service problems but I can tell you we solve 99%  of all service issues.  You may ask well how about the other 1% ?  Well there is at least one loon out there  for every 100 customers who will never be satisfied. I call it one of  life’s mystery that will never be solved.

So What Does All of This Have to do With The Doenges Legacy? Before you can even be considered a Legacy excellent service needs to be an integral function and part of you business DNA. Excellent Service covers a wide net. You need to think in terms of Service in the following four areas.

• Excellence in Service to Your Customers
• Excellence in service to Your Employees
• Excellence in Service to Your Vendors
• Excellence in Service to Your Community

To build a legacy you need to hit the ball out of the park on all four of these service levels. Then you have to do it for five or more consecutive years.

The Doenges Family has been an Excellent Service Provider in All Four Arenas For the Last 69 Years! The Doenges team has mastered these  four areas of Exemplary Service for 69 years. How many other enterprises, nationwide,  have achieved this plateau of distinction? Well we both know that answer, few and far between. 

Awards Should  be  Designed to Recognize Superlative Achievement. One proud community in Northeast Oklahoma hosts a prestigious Award Program called the Legacy Hall of Fame . According to Julia Crouch the Bartlesville Community Foundation that produces the event; The  2010 Legacy Hall of Fame honoree, the Bill Doenges family, represent generations of giving back to the community of Bartlesville.

Bill Meets Bert 69 Years Ago-The Start of Another Bartlesville Legacy. Crouch  continues, the Doenges family story came to life in Bartlesville in 1941, when William C. “Bill” Doenges, purchased the Ford dealership from Bert Gaddis. Bill had already been working in the car business for over twenty years, operating numerous dealerships, including Tonkawa and Coffeyville. Bill continued to expand his business and bought the Ford agency in Tulsa in 1948.

How Bill and Elizabeth Spreed the Wealth. Crouch added , the car business wasn’t the only love that Bill Doenges passed on to his family. He and his wife Elizabeth really cared about this community. Through their leadership and financial support for dozens of organizations, sports teams, and causes, the couple set a great example for others to follow. That spirit of generosity is seen in present-day Bartlesville, as the Doenges family continues to invest quietly in valuable programs and community projects, including being the longest-running sponsor of an American Legion baseball team in the United States.

Today, two generations later, Doenges Toyota Ford Lincoln Mercury continues its success as a premier auto dealership in Bartlesville.

For more information please contact Brad Doenges of Doenges Ford Lincoln Mercury Toyota in Bartlesville Oklahoma at (918) 333-0900.

Popularity: 2% [?]

The 2011 Ford Shelby Mustang GT 500 Meets Will Rogers in Bartlesville Oklahoma

Will Rogers at 155mph- I understand that at 155-mph that the divided white line down the center of the Will Rogers Turnpike appears to change to a solid white line. Is that Fact or Fiction? Before I can answer that let me introduce a special team.

Ford’s High Performance SWAT team– the Service Vehicle Team–”SVT”.  So now back to the Fact or Fiction 155mph question. That answer starts right here. Ford has assembled a talented team of high  performance  engineers with a unique DNA.  Their DNA is a braid of performance, style, speed, and pure class that they inject into everything they touch. This handpicked Ford Performance Vehicle Design SWAT team has their own moniker the Special Vehicle Team or “SVT” for short.

A Current Example of their Talent: The 2011Ford Shelby Mustang GT 500. For instance they have injected this DNA braid into the  2011 Ford Shelby Mustang GT 500. There is no other car that can measure up to the Shelby Mustang in its price range. I think the vehicle is actually underpriced. You get a lot more than you pay for. You could say this is due to their lean, tough and smart design philosophy.

The Speed Daemon-This Car is Fast!   From a dead standstill to 155mph not only does the illusion of the solid white occur as you close in on the 155mph mark, it does so amazingly quick. If I reavealed how quick -I might be breaking the law!

Onward!…..Why the 2011 Ford Shelby Mustang GT 500 is intoxicating. One reason of many the performance and speed is intoxicating lies with the SVT’s  talent in developing an all aluminum-block engine. This aluminum engine dropped 120 pounds as compared to its 2010  predecessor. Combine  this with the boost in horsepower to 550 the results for brute  power and speed are reaching obscene levels.  With this in your driveway you will have the  hottest car in the neighborhood, if not the entire city.

Say Goodbye to the Gas Guzzler Tax. Nifty trick here. Add more speed and power and at the same time increase the gas mileage. They figured a way to squeeze a few more miles per gallon thus abolishing the gas guzzler tax. The weight loss combined with the introduction of electric steering has for one improved the feel of the road. The beast is easier to handle on tight curvy roads.

But wait there is more!!! What in the world is electric steering? Electric Steerings is invisble to the operator but a marvel because of all the benefits it brings to your driving enjoyment.                                                                                  

Let me explain.                                  

Electric Power Steering Eliminates:

1. The old fashioned steering pump that sucks up to 10 horsepower.
2. Hoses, leaks and grinding. No longer do you have to buy power steering fluid or check for leaks.
3. All that extra weight due to the pump, hoses, brackets and the harness is jettisoned. This adds not only to your fuel economy it just makes the car faster.
4. The extra noise decibel level brought on by the hydraulics of a mechanical power steering system. You benefit from a surprisingly quite ride. Now just sit back and enjoy the quite roar and hum of the 5.4L 550hp power plant.

Here are two short videos that give you a bird’s view of the 2011 Ford Shelby Mustang GT 500

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?0VqtX70&feature=youtube_gdata

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jebA0L0RDjg&feature=youtube_gdata

Have you ever been in a dealership and read something about torque but really have never understood what 400 or 500 pounds of torque really mean?  If so go check out these two sources. The short and sweet version is here .  http://largiader.com/articles/torque.html

Horsepower=Speed.Torque=acceleration and towing ability. A car could have 500HP and 100 torque. It would accelerate from 0-60mph in 10 seconds, but reach 180mph. A car could have 100HP and 500 lbs torque. would accelerate from 0-60mph in under 4 seconds, but only reach 110mph.    

 When you go to  http://largiader.com/articles/torque.html  Bruce Augenstein explains in detail how torque works.

For more information please contact Brad Doenges of Doenges Ford Lincoln Mercury Toyota in Bartlesville Oklahoma at (918) 333-0900.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Ford Mulally Performance: The 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

$20,000 Emblem
Is it a Audi 6,  Infinti M45X, Lexus LS 460 or the Mercedes E Class?  Most people’s first impression of the new 2010 Ford Taurus SHO is  “this is an European  performance vehicle”.  If I covered the Ford emblem you could guess any one of these high dollar competitors. Take any one of the above mentioned emblems and put it on the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO and now you can add twenty grand to the MSRP. This is how far the Taurus SHO has advanced.

There are a lot of reasons I say this:
1.) Styling : Let’s face it, no matter what the product is, if you don’t like the styling you ain’t buying it. Graceful lines with curve appeal, low, sultry and sexy puts the SHO in class all by itself. This alone is a great reason to own the new 2010 Taurus SHO, curb appeal deluxe.
2.) Creature Comforts: Number one on my list for the ultimate ride are the seats that give you a relaxing massage. These seats make you look forward to that long road trip. Not only do you arrive in style, you will arrive relaxed. Smart and strategically located ambient lighting in the front and rear foot-wells, door handles and cup holders  prevents fumbling or distraction at night and any time you are driving. The overall panel and scope of gauges, knobs, and dials are all available in five easy on the eyes color combination’s of Ice Blue, Orange, Green, Soft Blue, Red and Purple.

3.) Raw Power: Simply put the raw power screams WOW! The Eco-Boost provides an exhilarating thrust as soon as you push the accelerator to the floor.  The power comes as a natural complement to the electric power assist steering, the heavy duty springs, the tuned shocks, plus the stiffer stabilizer bars and new rear suspension provide a more connected feel between the driver and the  road.

4.) Engineering: Quite. This dynamo is real quite. The SHO is a real feat in fast forward and future engineering. Even if you never experience the thrill of purchasing a new a new Ford Taurus SHO at least make it a mission to drive one.

True BLIS: The Blind Spot Information System with the appropriate acronym “BLIS” , takes the fear out of changing lanes, plus adds a layer of safety in transportation that will save lives.

4A) Superman Paint Have you ever been a bit apprehensive about taking your performance machine on one of the gravel back roads?; Or had your heart sink as you get stuck behind a truck hauling some type of debris flying out of the cargo bed? If so another kudo to the engineering team was the treatment of the paint. They have produced a paint worthy of the “Superman Kryptonite” title. Throw away your touch up paint, the Taurus paint finish is chip resistant. How much value will this add to your SHO at trade in time? Check out this two minute video I’ll call “War Paint” http://www.fordvehicles.com/2010taurus/?id=/demos/video01                    

5.)Technology: BLIS, as mentioned above is Fords unique blind spot detection guidance system. Today we have smart cars and part of that system is the Navigation System SIRIUS Travel Link™ . Ford’s Navigation intelligence provides useful travel information such as approaching weather, recommended travel stops  for fuel, food and beverages. The  new crystal clear HD Radio™ reception is loud and clear even in the middle of the Mojave desert.

Like The Expensive German Model

Ford’s Adaptive Cruise Control senses the time and distance needed to decelerate and slow down your vehicle to a safe driving speed to avoid any potential driving hazards  The Collision Warning with Brake Support puts into motion exatly what the name implies, an alarm to help you stay clear of a potential collision.

Where and the heck are my Keys? Ford’s Intelligent Access and Push Button Start prevent that mad dash looking for your keys when you are already running five minutes late. How about that for peace of mind and or surprising your boss because now you are always on time! For all the details our in-house expert is  Bill Hight .

For more information please contact Brad Doenges of Doenges Ford Lincoln Mercury Toyota in Bartlesville Oklahoma at (918) 333-0900.

Popularity: 2% [?]

The 2010 Ford Taurus SHO-The New Ford a Metamorphosis with Class

If you have not seen the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO when you do, it will take your breath away. Before I can talk about the New 2010 Ford Taurus SHO and what a remarkable machine this is I need to discuss the Old Ford. A short story about  the Old Ford gives readers a new appreciation for what the New Ford has accomplished.

There has been a huge paradigm shift within the New Ford Motor Company, concerning the customer, the dealers and the general state of the automotive business.  There has also been a huge paradigm shift in how people think about the Big Three Automakers.

Street Talk

I get stopped all of the time and people tell me they will never buy a vehicle from GM again. In a way they are lucky. Just about the time GM was graveling for a handout Ford was well on its way to new leadership in product and customer service.

What is the first thing that pops into your imagination when you hear the words Ford and Taurus in the same sentence? OK..now be honest. The old Taurus was a remarkable car only in the fact that it sold almost eight million units, for what  was basically an unremarkable vehicle. If you agree with me shake your head yes. What I mean is that I don’t think you will see a 1986-2005 era Ford Taurus on the Barrett-Jackson circuit in years to come

The first generation of the Taurus started in 1986 and ended in 1991. That year, 1986,  the Taurus was named Motor Trends car of the year with such advanced features as aerodynamic styling and an ergonomic designed interior. Both features well received and ahead of it’s time for the motoring public.

Top Seller

1992 marked the start of the second generation Taurus. Although the redesign was not all that much, due to the right price point the Taurus continued to be a top seller. Then the third generation Taurus hit the show rooms in 1996 and continued for four model years until 1999. This 3rd generation brought in a whole new design and it you traveled much and if you wanted to rent a car over 50% of all rental fleets were stocked with the Taurus.

The Mulally Lifeline

The new millennium ushered in the 4th generation Taurus. The 4th generation Taurus was destined to the eternal automotive graveyard due to poor leadership and v vision at Ford in the early  2000’s. Taurus was on its last leg. That all changed on September 5, 2006. That was the day that Ford announced it had hired Alan Mulally as the the new CEO of Ford. Mulally  not only saved the Taurus, he injected a new DNA into Ford; Mulally began a crusade  for  quality, first class products.

The fifth generation or the 2008 and 2009 Taurus basically was a search and rescue mission in preparation for the  launch of the sixth generation Taurus in 2010. Before Mulally the idea was to drop the Taurus and introduce the Ford Five Hundred as it’s replacement. The 500  was a  step in the right direction but Ford customers had a hard time trying to figure out just what was the 500?

Actually 24 years in the making we now arrive at the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO. That being said I will present a in-dept review of the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO in my next post. If you are in my geo area I have a black over black ready for a new home.

For more information please contact Brad Doenges of Doenges Ford Lincoln Mercury Toyota in Bartlesville Oklahoma at (918) 333-0900.

Popularity: 1% [?]

A Bartlesville Benchmark Since 1968- Doenges Toyota

In 1968, when the first Toyota came rolling off the transport truck at Doenges Ford, there were a lot of people stopping to look. To say the little Japanese cars didn’t quite look right amongst the bigger ‘69 Ford Mustangs, Torinos, Galaxys, Broncos and F-Series trucks would be an understatement.

But Bill Doenges thought he was on to something. You see, that little car was built pretty well, and best of all got an amazing 26 miles per gallon.

Toyota has come a long way since then, and so has Doenges Toyota, now in its third generation of the Doenges family.

We’ve been with many of you from your very first car to your very first family car, to the car you drive to see your grandchildren. There’s been a lot of press lately about how Toyota’s rapid growth led them to overlook the quality of certain aspects of their vehicles. Over the past few months, Toyota and Toyota dealers like Doenges have tirelessly made strides to correct the issues and live up to what Toyota drivers expect in their vehicles. Every customer will be satisfied. Completely Satisfied Customers, a Doenges Ford Lincoln Mercury Toyota trademark and tradition for the last 69 years.

Just like Bill stood beside Toyota in 1968, Doenges Toyota stands beside the brand today. When you purchased your Toyota from Doenges, you didn’t buy it from a big corporation. You bought if from a family owned business, with a deep history of almost seventy years in the community and a Sales and Service staff that we believe reflects our passion for what we do.

Despite the recent troubles for Toyota, and despite predatory sales techniques like government-owned General Motors using tax payer bail-out money as incentives to bribe Toyota owners to hand in their keys, you have stood beside us. We thank you. To thank you for standing beside us.

For more information please contact Brad Doenges of Doenges Ford Lincoln Mercury Toyota in Bartlesville Oklahoma at (918) 333-0900.

Popularity: 3% [?]

When Does a Safe Toyota Become Dangerous?

Are You Paying Attention?…”Stay In Your Lane Meat-head!”

We all possess in town driving patterns that are predictable. There is a left hand turn that I take everyday, sometimes multiple times a day into my neighborhood that falls in this predictable category. It will help if I can help you visualize what I look at everyday as I approach this left-hand turn. Everyday it gets a little more scary. It is not a matter of if but when someone is going to be hurt and hurt bad.

I Bet You Witness What I Witness Everyday

I make this turn approximately 150 feet from a crest of a small hill, so the oncoming traffic has plenty of time to see me. I have sufficient time to see them coming as well, as their vehicle tops the crest and the road flattens out.  The traffic moves at a constant clip of 45MPH, sometimes a little faster. However speed is not the problem here. Drifting left of center for eight out of ten cars is. Having made this same turn for the last twelve years the frequency of this drifting  has gone from zero to close to 80%.

What has Changed Over the Last Twelve Years to Raise the Risk Level of the Left-hand Turn?

• It is not the vehicle. Cars, trucks, SUV’s are all manufactured safer today than they were in 1998.
• The road I use to make the left hand turn has been widened and improved, it is a safer thoroughfare.
• The weather is the same. Global warming has nothing to do with it.

So that leaves one variable. The driver. Everyday as I watch one car after another drift left of center headed directly for the center of my front grill, I flash my lights to wake them up. If I don’t it could be “curtains”,

The  Definition of a Drifter up to 1998: Tramp_Wanderer_Vagabond_Hobo_Transient_Rolling Stone_Vagrant

Starting in around 2001 a new definition has emerged to define a “Drifter”, Automobile drivers that have a phone held up to their ear, sitting in their lap or in the palm of their hand. These drivers are paying more attention to their phone than they are to the road. As cars continue to improve in safety driving skills seem to diminish in the same proportion.

Today The # 1 Hazard to Your Overall Car Safety

The number one safety issue for any car, truck, SUV or van is the cell phone. Why stop at cars and trucks? Excuse me for being a dim-wit for not mentioning the following,  How about passenger trains, freight trains, airplanes, boats or any piece of machinery that requires your undivided attention to operate.

What Causes More Accidents A Defect in the Car of the Driver?

As manufactures continually upgrade the performance and safety of vehicles they also give the driver a false sense of security.  I came across an interesting point of view about car accidents, asking…..is it the driver or the car?, this is a short but poignant  article by Jon Hamilton, click on this link.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123610366&sc=17&f=1001

When Does A Safe Car Become Dangerous?

Recently Toyota had a recall on various different models concerning a possible “sticky peddle” that could cause a sudden and unsafe boost in acceleration. This defect has been confirmed in less than 20 cars worldwide. To maintain Toyota’s long tradition of building safe cars the manufacturer decided to recall every car made that in any way shape or form could be affected by this malfunction. A blanket recall regardless if any Toyota sold had the defect or not, Right now Toyota is upgrading 50,000 cars a day. That is how you keep a safe car, safe.

As a Toyota dealer my first duty is to serve our local customer needs first, and then any Toyota customer worldwide  thereafter. If you have any questions or if can provide any help call me at 918-333-0900. I have and will always be proud to represent the Toyota Corporation.

For more information please contact Brad Doenges of Doenges Ford Lincoln Mercury Toyota in Bartlesville Oklahoma at (918) 333-0900.

Popularity: 15% [?]

Cover-up? Toyota Chooses The Hard, Painful and Honest Alternative Route

Toyota Not Only Talks the Talk They Walk the Talk

Today in corporate America it is unusual to see a corporation take complete and total responsibility for their shortcomings right out of the box. Isn’t it refreshing to by-pass the dance and get to the core issue, raise your hand, take a hit in revenue and fix your problem?

No Guts, No Glory. The What Ifs

Admit it, doesn’t it take guts to ground your entire fleet of hundred of thousands of vehicles for sale to stop the bleeding due to seven or eight cases of accelerator malfunction?   For some major corporations that is a recipe  for a cover-up. Perhaps we all could have avoided this deep recession if some of our storied financial and insurance institutions had taken the same route as Toyota dating back to the spring of 2008.

No Brains. No Headaches.

How many times have you shaken your head at some of the stupid corporate decisions made by multimillion dollar a year executives who asked and received bailout out money? I guarantee you that a lot of these guys have never suffered a headache since they were promoted to the corporate big chair. No Brains. No Headaches. So I’m proud to be associated with two of the outstanding automobile manufactures in the world. Ford and Toyota. Your safety always comes or precedes corporate profits and you can take that to the bank. Now I’m not so sure we can say that about our government owned automobile manufactures.

The High Road: Why Toyota Corporation and Doenges Toyota are in Total Alignment

The safety of our customers and others is the most important thing.

I have great confidence in the Toyota Corporation and it leadership to do the right thing to insure everyone’s safety. Toyota has been a leader in Safety for over fifty years, and they are proving it now.

The Real Two Issues
Toyota has identified two issues that may cause unintended acceleration:

1. Floor Mat Entrapment The easiest way to assure that you do not experience “floor mat entrapment” is to not operate your vehicle with the floor mat until it has been inspected and/or repaired by your dealer.

2.  Sticky Pedal. The “sticky pedal” concern has been verified on very few vehicles. I have heard six to eight. However with Safety a top priority, one vehicle so disposed is one too many. The problem  appears to be associated with vehicle age and wear. If you do not experience any restriction or abnormal operation of your accelerator pedal Toyota has assured us that it is safe to drive.

What to do if you experience an accelerator pedal that is hard to depress, slow to return or “thumps” during operation, You should drive the vehicle to a safe location, shut off the engine and contact a Toyota dealer for assistance.

If you experience an accelerator pedal that sticks in a partial open throttle position do the following maneuver. The vehicle can be controlled with firm steady application of the brakes. The brakes should not be pumped repeatedly because it could deplete vacuum assist requiring additional brake pedal pressure. The vehicle should be driven to the nearest safe location, the engine shut off and a Toyota dealer contacted for assistance.

Toyota has engineered repairs for both of these concerns.                                                                                       A,) Toyota will notify customers when to bring in their vehicle for the fix.
B.) As of today, February 04,2010 we have received our first shipments of repair parts and have begun the safety updates according to the schedule Toyota has developed.

Doenges Toyota will be open extended hours and provide shuttle service to customers in an attempt to minimize your inconvenience.
Toyota, government agencies and independent testing have not identified any other causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles. If you have experienced any problems with your vehicle involving accelerator operation or have any concerns about the safety of your vehicle, please contact me, one of my associates at 918-333-0900 or your Toyota dealer.

If you have not experienced any problems with accelerator operation Toyota has assured us that your vehicle is safe to drive. For information on these issues and to find out if your vehicle is involved go to: www.toyota.com/recall/. If you have further questions or concerns please call me or one of my associates at 918-333-0900.

We are in the process of updating our entire Inventory of Toyota Models to the very latest Toyota Specifications [as of today] They are safe and available to the Retail Market. We are not closed and all of our Toyota models are for sale and we do in fact continue to sell vehicles. Toyota has a well deserved reputation for reliability and safety. Plus we have our Toyota Sales Consultants and Assistant Service Managers  available to answer any and all of your concerns or questions.

For more information please contact Brad Doenges of Doenges Ford Lincoln Mercury Toyota in Bartlesville Oklahoma at (918) 333-0900.

Popularity: 18% [?]

Seat Belts and Ford: The Good The Bad and the Ugly

Seat Belts and the Ford Motor Company: Why Ford Earns Four Gold Stars

How many of you would buy a car without seat belts?

If I put this question to a vote, I bet not one hand would go up.

How many times have you read or heard a story about an auto accident involving a fatality or a serious injury and you silently whisper to yourself “I wonder if they were wearing a seat belt?”…. If you have nod your head yes.

Before I can talk about seat belts I want to let you in on a dirty little secret with an unique slant. In order to so I have to put this story in context. I will start with a survey by an auto retailer that was a selfish hoax.

They Must Have Been “Smoking Crack“I read a story the other day stating that Car Max ran a survey and came up with the following statistic. According to the genius who conducted this survey safety was not important.  That out of six factors consumers considered most important safety ranked next to the last, Whoever conducted this survey must of been smoking crack. Why? …….How many of you would ride in an automobile if you knew that all of the safety features were disabled?? Zero.

Look at the Above Photo. Obama, Reid, Pelosi. The image is cut off at the bottom and what you don’t see is the inscription “Truth in Advertising” Now depending upon your political cup of tea what you read could be truth in advertising or false advertising.  Rant: This is Off Topic But It Must Be Exposed:

Wouldn’t it be nice to buy a car without any games? There are certain car dealers and or organizations that are addicted to advertising subterfuge. They think they are so clever by trying to force feed the public misleading advertisements and making  a weak attempt to come off as straight shooters. Total nonsense.

In this case Car Max is pushing their agenda. According to this Car Max survey affordability is the #1 concern that consumers consider before buying a automobile. Really! Well…Duh!

The Truth: How Dumb Do They Think We Are?

Car Max only sales used cars. New cars cost more than used cars. So why would Car Max’s survey profoundly state that the number one factor consumers consider when they buy automobile is affordability? Well…Duh! That is like a fast food restaurant conducting a survey saying that the number one thing people consider before eating fast fast food is that they are hungry.

A Misleading  Ad Disguised as an Online Survey.  Shame on You Car Max!

Any survey can be rigged to get the answers you want. You don’t believe me do ya? Well mosey on over to this link http://media.carmax.com/pr/carmax/smart-release-2-19.aspx.

Now is that a real survey or is that a deceptive ad written to look like a survey? This advertisement is self serving for CarMax and does not benefit you the consumer one iota, Sophomoric attempts like this are the very reason so many hard working , salt of the earth dealers are stereotyped as con men ,cheats and chisels. From time to time a few LOSERS can sink the entire fleet by blessing and condoning this advertising mentality, Message to the Car Max Advertising department :You guys are LOSERS.

Dean Jaradi Could Save Your Life:

I hope you never have to send Dean Jaradi a thank you card. If you did it would be because he saved your life or that of a loved one. The reason? Dean Jaradi is the inventor of multiple seat belt designs his latest is the rear INFLATABLE seat belt. Check out the video on the right side of this post. Dean is an engineer for Ford that has at least four US Patents for rear seat belts. Another reason Ford stays ahead of the market.

Creature Comforts You Will Enjoy With Fords Inflatable Rear Seat Belts:

This is how the new inflatable seat belts differ from today’s current seat belts; Comfort. The inflatable seat is padded on the outside and has a smooth feel against the body and or skin. You will be pleased to learn that securing baby seats and children seats is done with confidence. Add to this the subtle softness of the seat belt, tiny tots ride in real comfort.

How Ford Stays Ahead of the Market

One way a company stays ahead of the market is attracting and keeping people of talent and vision. Great companies weave the DNA of great minds into their culture. Dean Jaradi is one of these great minds. Jaradi is an engineer for Ford that has in his Ford employment portfolio at least four US Patents for rear seat belts. On a personal note and speaking from experience, had this inflatable rear seat belt been available a few years ago, a friend of mine would be alive today. Now think about Princess Diana.

For more information please contact Brad Doenges of Doenges Ford Lincoln Mercury Toyota in Bartlesville Oklahoma at (918) 333-0900.

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