Tech Talk: Truck Safety

In this day and age, drivers are constantly barraged with distractions. These gizmos and gadgets signaling us from all angles make it just that more difficult to keep our eyes on the road. Have you ever caught yourself looking down into your lap or into your hand and realized you could've easily just hit something in that five seconds of inattentive driving? What if you were on the other end? Minding your business when suddenly an impact occurs. In any situation, may it be distracted drivers, a deer, icy roads, etc. you would want to know that you and your family are protected, right?

Well, the new F-150 SuperCrews are built to keep your mind at ease. These trucks have earned a 5-star rating from the federal government and IIHS. One might say, "Well all modern vehicles nowadays come with great safety advantages." Here is how the F-150 SuperCrew stands out among its competition...

The F-150 SuperCrew comes standard with a military-grade, aluminum body and a high-strength steel frame. While this provides a stronger, lighter truck, it also is a lot safer upon impact. The aluminum body is designed to crumple, like an accordion, in a frontal collision leaving the cab intact. The engine block also drops straight down meaning it will not move into the cab, potentially injuring you and your passengers. Take a look at the photo, the cab is virtually unharmed!

But what about the truck bed? Some may think, "Well it's far away from the cab, so does it really matter? Of course it does! When you see a F-150 driving ahead of you, notice the design of the tailgate. Sure it's cool looking, but the point of the ridges and grooves is for safety! They create a more rigid tailgate because the grooves absorb impact better than just a flat design, Simple enough, right?

There are some awesome technological advances that come with not only the F-150, but span across the entire line of Ford vehicles. Like I said above, cell phones have become one of the the most distracting things drivers have on the road. MyFord Touch and the all-new Sync 3 utilize Bluetooth so you can enjoy a hands-free connection with your phone! (I love this feature for calling mom!) This is available as an option on the XLT trim and above (for trucks).

You can also get BLIS Blind Spot monitoring! Read all about that on our post here: Tech Talk: BLIS

Ford also offers plenty of safety features available on most lines as options for you as well. Find out more about what you can get with your new truck here: Safety First With Ford

Whether you're thinking about a new truck, new car, or a new SUV, you deserve the best safety features out there. Here at Victory we will give that to you and explain everything you need to know! Stop out today and get on the road with peace of mind!

#drivevictory

The Kicks on Kim: Get to Know a Salesman

Kim Palmer is our featured salesman this week. Kim is a true veteran here at Victory. He has the knowledge of a librarian when it comes to vehicles. If you can get him talking about Iowa and especially Hawkeye football, you will talk for hours! Even though Kim says he's shy, he's very down to earth and will help you in any way possible. He's a man who stands by his promises and is a very proud of his accomplishments. Read all about Kim below!

 



How long you’ve been with Victory?
- I've been here a while, a very good 7 1/2 years

Where is your home town?  
- I am from Iowa City

How about your family?

- I have my lovely wife, Sue and two sons, Andy and Jake

Did you go to school after high school? 

- I sure did! I started at U of Iowa then went to Christopher Newport College and then finished at U of Dubuque. Go class of 84!

Iowa or Wisconsin, even though I know this answer?

- You guessed it, Iowa!

Do you like cats or dogs?

- I'm not a fan of either, actually

iPhone or Android?   

- Android

What's your favorite sport to watch and what team? 

- I LOVE college football and of course it's gotta be THE HAWKEYES!

If you could have one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? 

- Prime rib, it's to die for!

Favorite musician/band?  

- Led Zeppelin (I found this to be super cool. One of my all time favorite 70's rock songs is "When the Levee Breaks." Led Zeppelin IV is still one of my favorite albums as well!)

Favorite Holiday?

- 4th of July

Favorite movie?  

- Lonesome Dove

Dream vacation? Where is it?  

- I would love to take an all around the world cruise

Proudest moment so far in your life? 

- The birth of our sons

What you do in your free-time?  

- I like to ride my Vulcan Classic 1600

Favorite Ford vehicle? 

- F-150 XLT. Best truck on the market!

Last but not least, Why come buy a vehicle from you?  

- I follow through on my promises. What I say is truly what you will get!

Any other interesting facts about you? 

- I'm terribly shy

Next time you're in the area or have a chance to visit Victory, stop by and give Kim a big "hello." You won't regret it!

#drivevictory

All About Shaull: Get to Know a Salesman

Next on the podium is Jeff Shaull! Jeff is one of those guys you can go to and will be interested in whatever you say. He's always saying "hello" and "how are you," showing he truly cares about everyone. He also had one of the quickest responses to my questions, way to go! lol Get to know Jeff a little better...

Where do you call home? 

- I grew up in Marengo IA, but have been in Dyersville since 1990 so I am ALMOST a local! 

Who do you call family? 

- I have a wife, Sue, and two kids, Carter and Lauren, who are senior and sophomore at Beckman respectively. Go Blazers!

How long you’ve been with Victory? 

- Since February of this year

College (if any)? 

- University of Iowa

Iowa or Wisconsin?

- Well if I said Wisconsin, I would be a traitor! Of course it's Iowa! GO HAWKEYES!

Cat or Dog? 

- I don’t have any pets but I would consider myself a dog person

iPhone or Android? 

- Android

Favorite Sport and what team?

- I love baseball and I love my Chicago Cubs! 

What's your favorite food? 

- Good question. I love to cook and have lots of favorites, but in the end I could eat pizza every day!

Favorite musician/band? 

- Have almost 12,000 songs on my iPod but Bob Dylan is probably my favorite. (He likes a good ol' Minnesota boy)

Favorite Holiday? 

- 4th of July

Favorite movie? 

- Probably either “A Few Good Men” or “Sling Blade” can't go past either one when I see them on TV

Dream vacation?  

- Would love to go back to Jamaica (I wish I could just say that I've been there once!)

What is your proudest moment of your life so far?

- Any time I am watching my kids do what they do best. Carter is very active in the Arts and Lauren is involved with multiple sports.

What you do in your free-time? 

- What free time?!

Favorite Ford vehicle? 

- Edge Sport

Last but not least, why come buy a vehicle from you? 

- Because I am the handsomest sales person in the dealership… Seriously though, I try to make it a great experience and make friends of all my customers!

Any other interesting facts about you?

- Believe it or not I have run 3 full marathons in under 4 hours in my life. 

So we now know not to race Jeff long distance, he will run you out! We also know that he will be honest and treat you with respect that you deserve! Come visit Jeff. Talk baseball, Iowa, music, anything!

A Look at Sedbrook: Get to Know a Salesman

It's been a week or two since I've last posted about a salesman here at Victory. Rightfully so, because the next featured player is Ryan Sedbrook. This guy is so focused on customers and work that he took a little longer to get back to me. That's dedication! But anyways, Ryan was the first person here who had to endure a car ride with me and my yapper back from Guttenberg. Woo! Maybe that's why I bought my Edge from him, as a token of gratitude. Haha. All thing aside, Ryan is super genuine and will make anyone feel comfortable in his presence. Get to know him like I know him and you'll see why he's worth a trip to Victory!

Where's your hometown? 

- I am from good old East Dubuque 

Ryan & Dina at her wedding

Who do you call family?   

- I want to mention my one spoiled little sister named Dina. (Love you sis)

How long you’ve been with Victory?

- Right at two years now 

So the big rivalry, Iowa or Wisconsin?

- Wisconsin of course. They make the best cheese... 

Are you a cat or dog person? 

- Dog for sure

iPhone or Android?

- Android.   iPhone is a pain in the ass and overrated!

You're cooking dinner for yourself, what are you making? 

- Cant go wrong with a nice medium rare steak (I completely agree!)

What's playing on your radio?

- Anything as long as it's not 99.3 just because I know it makes Patrick so happy! (The internet department HATES crusty country. Thankfully Ryan has our backs.)

If you could have one holiday, which one would you choose? 

- Christmas.  I enjoy giving gifts and making people happy!

Out of all of the movies, which one could you watch over and over? 

- Gone in 60 Seconds with Nicholas Cage. Not the one from 1974! 

You've won a free vacation to anywhere of your choosing, where is it? 

- After today, just about anywhere warm is okay with me!

What you do in your free-time? 

- Ride my Harley. I know most of you are SO surprised! (He loves his Harley. I actually rode back with him from a meeting once and it was super fun... and loud!)

Favorite Ford vehicle? 

- Hands down I would have to say the F-150 Raptor. How could you go wrong with big block power in a truck that is factory built to be as off road capable as the Raptor!? 

Last but not least, why come buy a vehicle from you? 

- I'm going to make your car buying experience fun and make sure all of your needs are taken care of! 

And he truly will! I know first hand! Even though I am an employee, he still treated me like an outside prospect. He even made sure to show me all the features of the Edge even when I told him he didn't need to! Come in and talk with the guy. He makes some great jokes and isn't afraid to be himself! You'll be sure to leave happy!

The Wrap on Rasmussen: Get to Know a Salesman

I'm back with another weekly addition of "Get to Know a Salesman." This week it's my other training partner in crime, John Rasmussen! It was great to get to know him outside of work and see what he was all about. Orlando and John actually worked together before and it was fun to hear them talk about their experiences together and all the fun they had back in the day! With lots to say, here's what John is all about!



How long you’ve been with Victory?
- I've been here for 7 months now

Where is you hometown?

- Walker, MN is where I grew up, but now I live in Manchester. (He's a Minnesotan like me)

Who do you call family?

- I am married with two kids. My son is 27 and my daughter is 23.

Did you attend college?

- Yes. I went to Luther College where I majored in Elementary Education and Music

Iowa or Wisconsin?

- IOWA

Cat or Dog?

- Dogs! I have a 4 year old Jack Russell/Rat Terrier mix.

iPhone or Android?

- iPhone

What's your favorite sport? What team?

- I love football and especially the Hawkeyes!

You're planning dinner. What will you make?

- If I could, ice cream!

What music is playing on your player?

- I'm showing my age with this one, but Chicago is my favorite band. (I'm actually a HUGE Chicago fan thanks to my dad, so John shouldn't feel so old!)

Favorite Holiday?

- Christmas. I love being with my family and having that Christmas spirit.

Favorite movie?

- A Christmas Story. It's classic.

Dream vacation?

- Hawaii

Proudest moment in your life so far?

- Graduating college

What you do in your free-time?

- I love to listen to music. I also frequent my garden and hone in my green thumb skills!

Favorite Ford vehicle?

- The Edge

Last but not least, why come buy a vehicle from you?

- I am a friendly, hard-working person. You can trust me to get you the best deal I can and I want to treat you as best as I can while you're here!

Any other interesting facts they should know?

- I sing in the church choir. I was also a teacher for 12 years before becoming a car salesman. 

John is one of the kindest persons and I guarantee he will make your business at Victory as smooth and inviting as possible. He's dedicated and is here for you!

Tech Talk: BLIS Blind Spot Monitoring

Back when I was in college, I drove a 2001 Hyundai Sonata. It was a great little car and was definitely reliable, besides the paint coming off the bumper making it look like a cow. (It was nicknamed Bertha the Cow in high school.) So one night I was meeting my now husband for dinner. I was at a 4-way intersection with a turn lane. I realized that I needed to be in said turn lane, so I quickly lurched the car over. As I did, a nice little sports car drove up and I hit him on the side. Long story short, insurance covered the accident. But what I'm getting at is that if I had blind spot monitoring, the accident could have been avoided!

Yellow LED ON

Cars nowadays usually have some sort of collision warning. It's a safety standard and prevents SO many accidents. Ford has come up with its BLIS: Blind Spot Information System and let me tell you, it's WONDERFUL. I know first hand as it is equipped in my Edge Sport!

The first feature of BLIS is the blind spot monitor. The vehicle has sensors in the rear sides and the front. It can detect a moving vehicle within a ten foot radius, making it clear that there is or isn't someone you can't see. On the side mirrors is a little icon and when someone is moving in your blind spot area, a yellow led will come on. This tells you, "HEY! Don't cross lanes, someone is near you!" Ford warns that it only detectable on moving vehicles. It will not detect people or animals. Mosyt importantly, shrubbery of sorts will still get hit. Sorry shrubbery.

I just had to throw this in, carry on...

BLIS also has cross-traffic alert. This feature allows you to be aware of any oncoming side traffic when parked. It has a range of 45 feet! When BLIS detects a vehicle, you will receive a notification on the dash and a beeping noise will sound. What's nice about this is it also will tell you whether the vehicle is approaching from the right or left. Cross-traffic alert works both when pulling forward and backing out of a spot.

Lastly, BLIS also utilizes the brakes when coming approaching a vehicle, like at an intersection. The audible will sound as it senses that a car is in your path. Then it will maximize the braking power of the vehicle making the collision as slow and safe as possible. Not only does BLIS save your life, but it also saves the lives of other drivers around you! Pretty neat!

See, if only I had had BLIS in my Sonata! I would've saved a lot of people time and money! Now is it a guarantee that you will never get in a collision? No. Technology is not full-proof and that is why Ford wants you know that we are humans and you must still be fully aware of your surroundings when driving a motor vehicle, and I say in every aspect of life!

If you want to learn more about BLIS, stop on out and say hi and we can show you just how safe one of our vehicles is! Or you can click on this link and read about it: BLIS

#drivevictory

A Chat With Orlando: Get to Know a Salesman

This week's salesman is Orlando Ramos. He's the newest member of our team and I was lucky enough to spend several hours in an Explorer with him last week. We were on our way to Des Moines for training along with John Rasmussen, another colleague here at Victory Ford. The sole driver of the trip, Orlando was always in good spirits and made us laugh. The trip was enjoyable and there never really was a dull moment. After the trip, I thought it was a perfect time for everyone else to get to know Orlando, like I had the chance to during our travels. So here he is, the "new kid on the block," Mr. Ramos take the stage!

How long you’ve been with Victory? 

- I've been with Victory for a good two months!

Orlando and Gunner enjoying a ride!

Where is your hometown?  

- St. Domingo, Chihuahua Mexico 

Who do you call family?

- I have my parents and my three brothers. I also have my dog Gunner. He's a boxer so he's super fun!

You're pretty young. Did you go to college?

- Some at Iowa, but I decided to be a working man instead!

The age old question around here, Iowa or Wisconsin?

- IOWA, DUH!

Dog or cat?

- Dog!

iPhone or Android?

-  Android

What is your favorite sport and then what team? 

- I used to wrestle, so wrestling. Plus you HAVE to root for Iowa wrestling!!

What is your favorite food? 

- Any and all ice cream

Who is playing on your iPod right now? 

- Keith Whitley

Favorite holiday? 

- Thanksgiving

Favorite movie of all time?

- La Bamba. Richie Valens is a hero

Your dream vacation. Where is it? 

- I would LOVE to travel throughout Europe

Moment you're most proud of? 

- Selling my first automobile

What you do in your free-time? 

- Hit the weights!!!! (Right after dinner on our trip, he hit the gym for a good couple of hours)

Favorite Ford vehicle? 

- F-150

Last but not least, Why come buy a vehicle from you:

- Friendly smile, will work for you to get you the best deal 😊 

Any other interesting facts about you?

- I'm bilingual, so I can definitely help out any Spanish speaking customers out there!

Orlando is fun and colorful, just like the city! He's here for you and would love to help you get into your next vehicle! Come say hi, hola, buenos dias, or whatever you would like! 

Mitch's Pitch: Get to Know A Salesman

It's time to meet our wonderful sales guys here at Victory! Every one of our guys is factory certified and dedicated to helping you find your next vehicle. Not only do they make Victory's brand stronger, they're also a bunch of fun, exciting guys to have a chat with! So what better than to get comfy in some big leather chairs, sit next to the fireplace, and have a conversation about each salesman's life and what not?! Okay, so I didn't provide comfy chairs, nor was there a fireplace, but Mitch was very happy to answer some questions and let you all get to know him a little better! Sit back, perhaps in YOUR big, comfy chair and see what Mitch is all about!

Let's start off with a simple one. How long you’ve been with Victory?

Mitch & His Sister, Morgan

- 3 years and 3 months

Where is your hometown?
- The big city of Earlville, Iowa

What about your family?

- I have one sister, her name is Morgan. My mom’s name is Melissa and father's name is Todd

Did you go to college?

- I am a junior at the University of Dubuque

Important question around here, Iowa or Wisconsin?

- (With much enthusiasm) IOWA... GO HAWKS!

Are you a dog or cat person?

- Dogs are a man's best friend

iPhone or Android?

- iPhone, because that's what Santa brought me two years ago

What is your favorite sport and what team do you root for?

- Football is my favorite sport. I am a Cowboys fan and they WILL win the Super Bowl this year. You heard it from me first (gives big grin)

Some of the typical questions now. What is your favorite food?

- Anything you put in front of me (I can attest to this as I've went to lunch with him. He will eat anything and everything. I don't know about a salad though.)

Favorite musician or band?

- Justin Moore. Best music my ears have heard

What is your favorite holiday?

- Christmas because of the quality time I get to spend with my family... and the month I get a break from school!

Favorite movie?

- Days of Thunder, no questions asked

Your dream vacation, where is it?

- Going to Speed Weeks in Daytona!

Mitch in High School Football

Proudest moment in your life so far?

- Playing state quarterfinals my senior high school year of football

What you do in your free-time?

- Work on my race car and spend time with my family. (he pauses and then says) oh yea and homework

What is your favorite Ford vehicle?

- The Superduty! Total powerhouse! Nothing on the market more capable than a Superduty! (he also owns one)

Last but not least, why come buy a vehicle from Mitch Manternach?

 - I make your car buying experience fun and easy

Any other interesting facts about you?

- I love hunting, fishing, and being outdoors

Always has a smile on his face!

Come and say hello to Mitch and the rest of the awesome staff here at Victory!

#drivevictory

Do You Smell What the Rock is Cookin?!

Famous "People's Eyebrow" ca. 1999

If it's oil, grease, and diesel fuel, then you're darn right you're smellin' what The Rock is cookin! Wrestling fans of the late 90's and early 2000's know him as WWF's "The Rock" with that classic opening line, but Dwayne Johnson has gone beyond show wrestling in the last decade. Now a star of many movies such as the Fast & Furious series and other great action films, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is also a loyal Ford fan. In a Facebook post from October 2nd, the mega star posted, "I currently own three Fords, but my relationship with them began when I was
15 years old and bought a classic blue '77 Thunderbird as my first car. It was $40 ... it was all mine and I've been a FORD man ever since."

He is showing that loyalty by becoming the new spokesman for Ford's Service campaign. He now leads a crew of experts called "The Specialists." These experts are dedicated to their individual craft and know what it takes to be a great service member. There are three team members under Johnson. Slick is the oil specialist. Treads is the tire specialist. Maestro holds the team together as the service advisor. We will get to watch their service exploits soon and I'm sure Johnson won't disappoint. The guy knows how to make something exciting, intense, and full of fun! And what better than to do it with Ford and its crew members?! 

It's great to see Ford polishing and shining up their Service entity. It's a HUGE part of Ford that a lot of people don't get to see as sales dominates most media. I'm sure Victory's service team will be pumped to have The Rock on their side!

The campaign begins October 12th and will be on television, digital media, social media, and radio! 

Be sure to tune in and once you have, stop out to Victory Ford and meet our very own Ford Service Specialists! Though they may not have names like Treads and Slick, they'll be sure to provide you with the excellent quality service you expect from Ford!

#servicevictory #drivevictory

Ford Drives U - College Program

So we all know that it's happened. Kids, teens, and young adults are back in school. After those wonderful 3 months of sitting in the sun and having the freedom to do almost whatever, it came time to strap on the ol' boots and get back to studying. What a joy! 

It reminds me of the forever great Billy Madison song, "Back to school, back to school. To prove to daddy that I'm not a fool..." Besides those select few, I'm sure most students were thinking something along those lines as they entered the classroom on that first day. 

And why wouldn't they? School is something so essential, but stressful, especially college. College students not only have super tough classes, but they're figuring out their social lives, living situations, and how to become worthwhile citizens in a day and age where we don't know what will happen tomorrow.  Not to mention, many of them are driving their first cars. These were probably passed down from their parents, or maybe even worse, their grandparents. These rust buckets are on their way to car heaven and no college student wants to have to pay for repairs and roadside assistance. (P.S. we have a free app for that! Get it here)

That's why Ford has started their Ford Drives U college student program. With proof of college eligibility, you are able to get a $500 rebate on a leased or financed new vehicle! You also get to keep any rebates going on at the time of purchase! It's a way of Ford saying, "Thanks for your hard work and continuation of your education." This program is offered to both part-time and full-time college students 18 years and older! Here are the simple criteria to get your $500...

Who You Need to Be:

- Current full-time student or part-time student

- Must be enrolled at an accredited Four-Year College/Univeristy, Junior College, Community College, or Trade-School

- Can also be enrolled in an accredited Graduate School program.

- You have graduated, or will graduate, between May 1, 2013 - January 4, 2016

What You Need to Show:

- If graduated, copy of diploma

- Copy of final transcript

- Must be currently enrolled in at least two classes or a total of 6 credits

- Proof of enrollment status

   * Current class schedule

   * Report card

   * Dated letter from school confirming enrollment

Now this may seem like a lot, but you already have all of this anyways when you sign up for classes! It's quite simple really!

Along with the Ford Drive U, Victory has their $500 UNDER INVOICE sale extended through October 3, 2015. You not only get that $500, but you also get thousands off of MSRP. It's a great time to buy all around!

#drivevictory