Thank You from Victory Ford!

Hello All!
I wanted to shy away from the car jargon and do-it-yourself postings, and focus a little more on who we are at Victory Ford.

Victory Ford in Dyersville, Iowa is a hometown dealership that has a staff of 38, and is a sister dealership of the Brown's Family of Dealerships located in Guttenberg, Elkader and West Branch, Iowa. As of recent, the Victory Ford family has been focusing on giving more to the community by means of fundraising, donating and supporting multiple causes ranging from supporting the troops, to raising funds for local schools. Our Marketing and Promotions Coordinator, Kaleann Means, has created a Community Events page to keep everyone updated on Victory Ford sponsored events, along with photos and Scholarship information.

From Left to Right: Patrick Valant, Dan Hammel, Kaleann Means,
Kevin Krogman, Jason Waterman, Larry Biermann, Marcy Bernardi,
and Holly Tegeler

With all of this said, 2014 is starting to be a great year for the Victory Ford family. On January 29th, the Dyersville Chamber of Commerce named Victory Ford as the 2013 Business of the Year. Victory Ford was in the running against 4 other businesses in the Dyersville Community, and we are definitely excited to have this honor.

Jason Waterman, General Manager, with
Kevin Krogman, Service Director holding the
2013 Ford Motor Company TSS Trophy

Along with the Dyersville Business of the Year recognition, Victory Ford received the TSS (Total Service Satisfaction) Award given out by Ford Motor Company. The TSS award is given out monthly to Ford Dealers who have the highest TSS percentage. Whomever receives the award the most times every month, receives the trophy. Victory Ford averaged 2013 with 94% Total Service Satisfaction, and received the trophy 3 times in 2013 out of 15 Ford Dealerships in the region. On top of all of this, Victory Ford received the trophy for top TSS in February, 2014!

With Victory Ford receiving the Business of the Year and Total Service Satisfaction Awards, we also have been recognized from Ford Motor Company for our overall Customer Service. Victory Ford was 1 of 7 Ford Dealerships in the state of Iowa to be a President's Award recipient. This is a major honor for our business, and I cannot be more proud of the team I work with every single day.

We honestly could not have done this without the Dyersville area and surrounding communities support and continued patronage. Victory Ford is in it's 16th year of business, and we are looking forward to the next 16! We want to thank every single person that has walked through our doors, attended events and fundraisers, and even the people that wear our Victory Shirts (we all know you love them :).)

To show our thanks, Victory Ford is in the middle of construction to further enhance the customer experience, and to benefit the Dyersville community. This is a very time consuming process (and we definitely appreciate your patience if you do visit us during this time!) Please rest assured we know that in the end it will definitely be worth it! We are looking forward to a brand new waiting room for guests, along with much more additional features!  

Construction area where the new customer entrance will be placed! 

Again, we are extremely thankful for the continued support, and we absolutely cannot wait to reveal our finished construction to benefit the Dyersville community! 

Even if you're not in the market for a vehicle, we would be more than happy to have you out to take a look at the current construction or get a car wash from our top-notch detail department! 

Lastly, just a friendly reminder that Victory Ford's Customer Appreciation Day is going to be June 28th, 2014! Everyone is welcome from the Dyersville community, and we hope to have a great turn out this year.

Image from Customer Appreciation Day 2013

Make the Most of Your Fuel Economy

Gone are the days of finding pocket change stuck between your car seats to buy gas. The price of gas has gone through the roof since the mid 2000s. Auto makers have tried to remedy this by building more fuel efficient vehicles for us to transition a little easier to these fuel costs, but some of us are still hurting. Those of you who can't upgrade to the latest and greatest hybrid, there are some tips and tricks on how to improve the fuel economy of your vehicle. Please keep in mind that some of these tips might not work for you, but it's worth a shot to try and save some green! (And make the world a little greener!)

Mythbusters proved that if you turned your car into a gigantic golf ball, you could improve your fuel economy, but I think you would rather spend the extra money and not look so crazy.

Below are just some of the ways you can improve your fuel economy!

Tire Inflation:
Make sure you have your tires inflated properly to ensure you get the best mileage for your vehicle. Please note that in colder temperatures, your tires will deflate quicker than in the summer. Make sure you check your pressure more often in winter, and check your owner's manual for optimal tire pressure for YOUR vehicle!






Air Filter:
Just as you put air filters in your home to keep your air clean - same reasoning goes for an air filter in your vehicle. We want to keep these clean to prevent things to get into your motor, and to keep even air flow. Keeping a clean air filter can help you with your fuel economy. When the air flow is not even through an air filter, we are making the vehicle work harder, and in turn use more gas. Just an easy step to take to save some pocket change!

DIRTY Air Filter

Brand new CLEAN filter

Clear Fuel Injection System:
A clean fuel injection system can definitely help your fuel economy. This system is similar to a Brita Filter: as you filter water through, debris gets trapped. You need to clean this every once in a while to ensure best results. Cleaning a fuel injection system is no easy feat. Contact the Service Staff at Victory Ford in Dyersville, to see if it's time to get your fuel injection system cleared!

Drive the Speed Limit:
Every vehicle is made differently, which means each vehicle has different fuel economies. Accelerating and stopping erratically during a short period of time really influences your fuel economy. As the story of the tortoise and the hare goes, "slow and steady wins the race." And in this case, it's $$$!
According to FuelEconomy.Gov, for every 5 MPH you drive over 50 MPH, you are paying an additional $0.24 per gallon of gas!

Along with all the tips I gave, Ford also came out with a great article on the smaller things that will save you some money! Click here to check it out.

If you have any additional tips I didn't mention, feel free to add them in the comments!
Kelly

The 411 on Tires

Image from Tour de Fat : Shoes as Bike Tires! 

2014 is finally here! For many people, a New Year's Resolution is in order. For some it could be cutting out sweets, or saving more money for retirement. Others, it's pushing themselves and getting to the gym to prepare for a marathon or two during the warmer weather (which we so dearly miss!) The most important thing you will need to make your workouts more tolerable are a good pair of shoes. Your feet and shoes are the most important factor in your mobility, and same goes for the tires on your vehicle!

Throughout this article, we will look into how to get the most out of your current tires.



There are many factors that determine how long your tires will last: 
How You Drive :
Now, being from the Chicago suburbs, I have a tendency to have a lead foot. I love pretending to be able to drive like Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear.
Just kidding! Although it would be tons of fun to have his job!

Accelerating and stopping quickly is going to wear my tires out a little faster than those of you who accelerate accordingly. Along with that, braking from a farther distance will extend the life of your tires. If you're like me and are experiencing a lead foot, practice makes perfect! Just keep reminding yourself you'll get there when you get there. Not to mention you will be saving some $$$ in the meantime!

Where You Drive :
Depending on where you mainly drive, the road conditions can really dictate the life of your tires. If you're mainly driving on gravel roads, expect more wear in the same amount of time compared to driving on the highway daily. If you're doing a lot of city driving, the extra braking at lights will impact your tread. There are measures you can take no matter where you're driving. See the Rotations and Alignment section below.

Tire Pressure Sensor on Dashboard

Tire Pressure : 
When driving your vehicle, you should be aware of your tire pressures. Since 2008, tire pressure sensors have been built into vehicles, BUT please be aware that these are just machines gauging your tires, and you or a Technician should inspect your pressure regularly. Please keep in mind that for every 10 degree temperature drop, your PSI (Pounds per Square Inch) goes down by 1.

Sticker on Driver's Side Door of a Ford Fusion

Tire pressure changes from vehicle to vehicle. You can find out how much air to put in your tires by consulting the inside of the driver's door, or your owner's manual.
               
Rotations :
Rotations are very influential for the longevity of your tires. Tire rotations increase the lifespan of your tires. The majority of vehicles on the road are FWD, which means the front tires are giving you the power to move your vehicle. This means that the tread on the front tires will wear quicker than the rear. When rotations are performed, you are giving your tires the chance to even out the rear and front treads. For example, I had my tires rotated when I had my last oil change. The front tread was 7/32nds, and my front were 9/32nds. Yes, you could do this task yourself with a simple car jack, but it would take you a decent amount of time to tackle this feat. At Victory Ford in Dyersville, Iowa, we offer this service for $12! Definitely worth your time! Click here to schedule your tire rotation, or call 563.875.2409 today!

Alignment :
If your vehicle tends to be pulling harder on one side over another, you might be having some alignment issues. A vehicle that has poor alignment will cause the tires to wear unevenly or your steering wheel could develop a shake. Our Service Manager, Kevin Krogman, suggests you get a 4 Wheel Alignment about once a year.

We tend to think that 'Out of Sight, Out of Mind' is the best practice for our vehicles. Considering that the majority of the population relies heavily on their vehicle, it has almost become an extremity like an arm or leg. We go to the doctor for prevention of illnesses, and we should be doing the same for our vehicles!

Victory Ford wants to help make this process easier for you. If you buy 4 (four) tires of any brand from Victory Ford in Dyersville, we will give you FREE Tire Rotations throughout the lifetime of those tires. Just mention this blog to our Service Department, and we would be more than happy to assist you!

If you are experiencing any issues with your tires, please contact Victory Ford's Service Department at 563.875.2409 to schedule an appointment! We would be more than happy to have one of our highly experienced Technicians inspect your vehicle and remedy any problems you're experiencing.

Victory Ford's Review of the 2015 Ford Mustang

On December 5th, 2013 Ford unveiled it's new pride and joy - the 2015 Ford Mustang.

With it being the 50th anniversary of the vehicle, it was highly anticipated and Ford had a lot on the line with its popularity. Not to mention Ford had a lot to hide from prying eyes! It's amazing how they hid the new body from the general public for so long! 

For those of you who aren't an avid Mustang enthusiast, here's a brief history for you:

- The Mustang was first rolled out in 1964, and the first person to purchase one was a woman by the name of Gale Wise from my hometown of Park Ridge, IL. Surprisingly enough, she still owns her baby blue beauty, and will most likely keep it in her family for generations to come!

- With the new 2015 model, there are a total of six generations of the Ford Mustang.

- Since 1964, Ford has sold over 9 million Mustangs. The 9 millionth Mustang sale was sold to an Iowa farmer in Story City!

- The Mustang has had many different special-edition models. Some of them were a '68 Red Bird Special built for Virginia and North Carolina, whose state birds are the Cardinal. There was a '70 Twister Special from Kansas, and they also had made a Playboy Pink Mustang which they believe there were at least 10 built in 1968.

In an interview with AutoBlog, Ford shared that some of the inspiration for the sixth generation Pony Car was a panther, Steve McQueen, and the 1964.5 Mustang.

A couple of the Victory Ford employees have owned a Mustang or two in their lives.

Pat Quinn, one of our Sales Consultants, has owned a multitude of Mustangs: a '70, '78, '83 GT, '84 SVO, '86 4 Cyl that he converted into a V8, and a '93 Cobra. His favorite was his '78. He used the motor in the '93 Cobra to put in his '78.

Pat is excited to see the 2015 Mustang. They will not be available until late 2014, so probably the soonest we will be able to set eyes on it is at the Chicago Auto Show in February. Pat is very knowledgeable on the Mustang brand, and if you have any questions you should give him a call at 563.875.2409! He would be happy to talk your ear off about them!

Patrick Valant, our Internet Manager, has also had a few Mustangs. He has owned a '73 Mach I with the original Ram Air and dual exhaust, a '79 Indy Pace Car Special that had a V8 engine, and an '85 GT V8.

1985 Ford Mustang GT

His favorite was probably the 1973 Mach I, but it was really hard to make a decision.

Personally, I think the 2015 Mustang is a fresh take to a classic car that has been in garages for 50 years. They're trying to cater to grandparents by keeping the basics of the Mustang, but also targeting grandchildren with it's newer, more modern lines and technology. Ford had to make a change, and I think it was a very well executed one! Before working at Victory Ford, I had very little knowledge about Ford except that my Dad has had a Ford Windstar since I was in fifth grade (so about 13 years now! Maybe it's time for him to get a Mustang...) After learning about it's history, I might consider purchasing (or leasing) a Mustang in the future!

2015 Ford Mustang from the front

Sure, change isn't always a good thing in people's eyes. A few employees at Victory Ford liked the retro look of the Mustang, and would rather see the Mustang keep that tradition. If you have these same feelings, Victory Ford still has the 2014's available! Although, I think once they see it (and test-drive it!) their perceptions could change.

All in all, Victory Ford is excited to see this Pony Car up close and personal mid next year. We would love to hear what you think about the 2015 Mustang! Feel free to leave a comment below!

Preparing Your Vehicle for Winter

We all know that the winter season in the Midwest can be a harsh one. Just like going to the Doctor for a flu shot, you need to take care of your vehicle before winter and the harsh weather comes. 

By taking these steps below, you will be prepared for the harsh conditions. 

Coolant 

Engine coolant is just that; it cools down your vehicle, and it keeps it from overheating. It also protects your engine against corrosion. For coolant in the winter, a winter ratio is 60% coolant to 40% water (so it doesn't freeze the water.) The Service Department at Victory Ford performs FREE coolant tests! Feel free to give them a call at 563.875.2409 if you would like to schedule yours before the snow hits! 

Engine Oil 

Just like your body getting accustomed to cold weather, your vehicle goes through this same homeostasis. The oil in your engine is influenced by the weather outside, which in the Midwest we experience a lot of days with temperatures below freezing. We need a thinner oil in these conditions. If you aren't sure which oil to use, please refer to your owner's manual. 

Windshield Wipers and Fluid 

Replacing your windshield wipers and topping off your wiper fluid will help you with your visibility during the winter. Make sure to keep extra fluid and wipers in your emergency kit if you run out during your drive! 

Battery Capacity

Just like your body, your vehicle needs energy to keep going. In the winter conditions, you need to create more energy to produce the same amount of energy as you would in the summer. Your battery does just that: use more energy to keep going in the winter. 

To insure your battery is at its full potential, please inspect your battery, cables, terminals and fluid. If you need assistance performing these checks, Victory Ford can check your battery for FREE! Give us a call at 563.875.2409 to schedule this service. 

Emergency Kit

An emergency kit is crucial for your well-being if you get into an accident while driving in winter conditions. 

Store these items in a bag in your truck: 

Other items that will help you if you become stranded are a spare tire (almost every vehicle comes equipped with one, but make sure yours is still ready!) a First Aid Kit, a small bag of sand or salt to aids you if you get stuck in snow. 

Lastly, make sure you keep your gas tank as full as possible during the winter. Gas lines can freeze during the winter, and the more the better! 

Tire Pressure 

Just like we learned in science class years ago, cold air is less dense. Your tires experience the same thing in the winter. You lose the air density (pressure) in the colder conditions. Reference your Owner's Manual to see what pressure your tires should be before taking long drives in the winter! 

We hope this list aids you during this winter season! Make sure you prepare by doing routine maintenance checks, protect you and your passengers, and prevent any accidents by slowing down and keeping your eyes on the road!

Below is a winter kit Victory Ford created! 

Leasing Your Next Vehicle

A term that is thought to be the villain of the car shopping process is leasing. Leasing a vehicle is a very misunderstood term, and the majority of people steer clear of the option due to the lack of information provided.

Throughout this post, I want to share information about leasing that might help you with your future purchase, and maybe think of leasing like the hero instead of a villainous character.

Leasing is an option companies provide to offer alternatives for someone looking for a new vehicle. Not everyone will benefit from leasing, but it could be a viable option for you!

You might want to look into leasing if you can answer 'Yes' to these questions:
- You drive between 10,500-19,500 miles a year (Take a look below to see if you can fit within these mileages)
- You like to trade out of vehicles every 2-3 years

Ford Leasing Options with rounded mileage for monthly/daily values
*Daily mileage is averaged at 30 Day Months

If you cannot answer both of these with a 'Yes,' then leasing might not be for you. You are still more than welcome to continue reading for future decisions, or to even just tell your friends and family :).

Benefits to Leasing: 

• Always have a vehicle with the latest technology
• Avoid negative equity (If Ford says that the vehicle is going to be worth $11,000 at the end of the lease, and it is only worth $9,000 at the end of the lease, Ford takes the hit.)
• Always have a vehicle with full warranty
• Always a lower payment vs. buying a vehicle

Yes, the common argument to leasing is that you won't have anything to show for it once you turn your lease in back to the dealership. The one factor that is typically forgotten is you also don't have to worry about depreciation or trade-in values once you turn in the keys! Ford made a great video showing what happens at the end of your lease.

Choices at the End of Your Lease:

• Walk away completely
• Trade into another lease
• Buy your current lease outright
• Purchase a vehicle 

Buying Vs. Leasing 

When you purchase a vehicle with a 5 year loan term and you trade it in after 3 years, the vehicle will more than likely be worth less than what you owe. When you lease you are paying the difference on what the vehicle will be worth at the end of the lease and what the MSRP is now (i.e. Residual Value.)

Let's face it, the majority of the U.S. population lives on a budget, and the majority purchase a vehicle with cash down and/or financing. The leasing population strongly considers payment as a big driving factor for them. If you are trying to stick to a strict budget, leasing might be the way to go due to the reassurance you will never be upside-down. Let's take a look at an example:

Please keep in mind that this is an example, and might not pertain to everyone
Based on deal at time of print - November 2013 *On Approved Credit* 

You are considering a 2014 Ford Focus, but you cannot decide between a lease or to purchase the car. You can buy the car at a 60 month term with an interest rate at 2.99% for $323/ month (Please keep in mind that Tax, Title, and Licensing Fees are not included.) If you keep this vehicle for two years, and decide to trade it in, the total amount you've paid is $7,752. 

*Also, please keep in mind that in this example we are keeping mileage the same between buying and selling. 

On the other hand, if you lease the same vehicle, drive under 10,500 miles per year for two years, your payments will be $219 month (with your first payment down plus Tax, Title, and Licensing Fees.) When you turn the keys in to your lease, you will have spent $5,256. 

The savings between buying and leasing the same vehicle with the same mileage for the same amount of time is $2,496! 

On top of that, if you buy a vehicle, you will have to pay sales tax on the full amount. If you are leasing  the same vehicle, you will only have to pay sales tax for the amount of time you are leasing it, which is one great reason to lease! Another way to save on a lease is the insurance options that are available to you. 

Insuring Your Lease: 

GAPCoverage 

Another great thing about leasing is that GAPCoverage is included in your lease agreement. GAPCoverage from Ford Credit, for example, can help you when you need it most. It can wave the difference between your current outstanding balance and the insurance carrier settlement. For more information see the program terms and conditions, give Victory Ford a call at 563.875.2409 or visit Vehicle Protection through Ford Credit. 

Along with insuring your vehicle from accidents or theft, there is also normal wear and tear you need to consider. Say you are driving one day behind a semi, and a rock gets catapulted towards your window. If you get a chip in the window, Ford has a program that can take care of it! It's called WearCare®. It protects you against additional charges when you bring your trade in at lease-end. 

Lower payments and higher interest rates aren't the only reasons to lease, because leasing also offers purchasing flexibility. Lessees don't have to worry about owning a depreciating asset or dealing with hefty repair bills once warranties have expired. At the end of the lease term, assuming you've kept the car in good condition and stayed within the prescribed mileage limits, you can simply turn in the car and walk away. 

To pursue the best option for you, please contact Victory Ford at 563.875.2409 or go to our website by clicking here! 

Should I Sell My Car Privately or Trade it in at a Dealership?

Should I Sell My Car Privately or Trade it in at a Dealership?

So you have decided you need a different vehicle! With the reasons being endless from your vehicle needing too much maintenance, to seeing a newer model you just have to have; you need to sell the one you currently drive. The big question that stands between you and driving away in a new car is: are you going to sell your vehicle on your own, or trade it in at a dealership?

Let’s start off by you selling your vehicle on your own:

You want to do this to make as much money as possible towards your new purchase- but are you really doing just that?

Take Michael for example: Michael has a car he wants to get rid of to get a truck he has been eyeing for quite some time. How is Michael going to advertise to potential buyers he is trying to sell his car?

There are a number of different routes to take:

-          Getting a classified ad in the paper

-          Craigslist

-          EBay

-          Using your personal Facebook

-          A sign in your car window

Selling your vehicle is all about getting in front of the right audience. How much time do you think that will take? If you’re going to post anything on the internet you need good photos of what you’re selling to attract potential buyers. You’ll need to wash your car which we’ll say is about 20 minutes to do that. Maybe add an extra 20-30 minutes for vacuuming/ cleaning the interior. Getting the photos would be another 15-20 minutes. Getting it posted to all the internet outlets such as Craigslist, Ebay, etc. could be another 1 ½ hours. You are now up to 2+ hours of your time!

Now say Michael does this and he has 3 interested parties. Michael has to leave work early for one meeting, which he lost pay from work, has to drive 50 miles to meet another interested party and the third party meets him at his house. That’s another 3 hours you’re spending, on top of the lost pay from work and gas to get to the interested party 50 miles away.

We’re now up to 5+ hours and money out of your pocket to sell this vehicle, and still nothing! Yes, there are lucky people who can sell their vehicle in a very short turn-around time. If you’re a patient person (unlike me,) this could be the route for you!

For those of you who are crunched for time and need immediate results, trading in your vehicle might be the way to go! When you trade in your vehicle, you will have less to worry about! At Victory Ford in Dyersville, Iowa we are very diligent in providing our customers with current market value trade evaluations and try to make the process as convenient for you as possible! We are more than happy to get you an online trade appraisal if you need a quick ballpark figure if you do not have time to visit the dealership!

On top of all of this, you also receive a tax credit when you trade in your vehicle. When you try to sell your vehicle outright, some people forget you have to pay taxes. In the state of Iowa when you trade-in your vehicle, you receive 5% tax credit off the value of your trade-in towards your purchase!

When you do decide to come out to the dealership and take a test-drive remember to bring out your trade for a physical appraisal! Victory Ford uses a lot of different factors to appraise your vehicle along with the condition and age of your vehicle. We consult Kelley Blue Book, NADA, among many other guides, along with our experienced consultants who are trained to evaluate your vehicle!