ALL-NEW FORD FLEX

With distinctive design and technology, the all-new 2009 Ford Flex-which arrives this summer-defines the crossover category. It has available seven-passenger seating and limo-like second-row legroom; AN OPTIONAL UNIQUE REFRIGERATOR SYSTEM for thirsty travelers; and a two-tone roof option and an available distinctive Multi-Panel Vista Roof to let in the sun (after dark, an optional ambient lighting system offers a choice of seven colors to set the interior mood). The all-new Flex shows off its intelligence in safety too, with an available rear back-up camera, standard AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control (RSC) and standard three-row Safety Canopy side curtain airbags. Under the hood, an award-winning 3.5-liter V-6 engine mates with an efficient 6-speed transmission and available intelligent all-wheel drive to provide powerful, confident road manners. Look for it to arrive here at Big Valley Ford Lincoln Mercury in time for those summer road trips!

Ford Launches "Warriors in Pink" Mustang

Ford Motor Company, which has dedicated more than $95 million in cash and in-kind contributions for breast cancer education and research for 14 years, announced that is doubling its contributions to Susan G. Komen for the Cure each time it sells a "Warriors in Pink" package for the 2009 Ford Mustang.

Available on the Mustang V-6 Premium Coupe and Convertible model, the limited 1,000 units will include a unique grille and will add a pink ribbon and pony fender badge, pink Mustang rocker tape striping, charcoal leather seats with pink stitching, aluminum-spoke steering wheel with pink stitching and charcoal floormats with pink ribbon and contrast stitching. Three body colors will be available: Black, Brilliant Silver and Performance White.

Ford's goal in 2008 is to donate more that $1 million for the Cure through these sales of the special Mustangs, Warrior in Pink apparel and other fundraising efforts.

The Warriors in Pink apparel collection for men and women feature important symbols signifying the message of hope, strength and unity in the commitment to the fight against breast cancer. All apparel is available on http://www.fordcares.com/ and 100 percent of net proceeds are donated to Komen for the Cure.

The limited-edition 2009 Mustang with Warriors in Pink will be available through Ford dealers this summer.

Ford and Funkmaster Flex Muscle

Ford and DJ Funkmaster Flex , the hip-hop guru of car customization, have turned the Funkmaster's red hot Ford Expedition concept into a limited-edition production SUV. The stylized version of the full-size SUV, dubbed the 2008 Ford Expedition Funkmaster Flex Edition, hit Big Valley Ford-Lincoln-Mercury in late fall.

It seems Funkmaster Flex is finding new ways to connect to customers. He appears to be a perfect fit for the Ford brand because he brings so much energy and enthusiasm to the table. Ford research shows that nearly half of all new vehicle buyers are adding unique touches to their vehicles and Expedition is no exception. Modifications to the Expedition are as diverse as the needs of buyers - from adding additional off-road capability, to custom cargo storage, to adding touches for increased urban street appeal.

Funkmaster Flex, a major influence in hip hop culture, has developed a young fan base of urban automotive enthusiasts who take pride in their personal style. Their vehicle often defines their lifestyle. Ford wants to reach these buyers with this new customized Expedition.

Highlights of this limited-edition Expedition include 3d Carbon body kit with custom front/rear fascia and side skirts. two-tone Black and Colorado Red paint with Orange pinstriping, Funkmaster Flex badges on fenders, Black leather interior with contrasting Colorado Red stitching, Colorado Red shifter, center stack and door appliques, Funkmaster Flex stitched logo headrests, 20-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels and more!

The limited-edition run of Expedition Funkmaster Flex Edition, based on the existing short wheelbase, Limited model, is available now at Big Valley Ford-Lincoln-Mercury, Stockton, Calif. Call us at (800) 867-1516 or visit our website at BigValleyOnline.com for details.

What is GPS???

Have you often wondered what is GPS? GPS stands for "Global Positioning System". A GPS is a Global Navigation Satellite System that uses a number of satellites to send transmission data from earth, the satellite, and back again.

A GPS requires the use of a receiver that enables the system to determine elements such as location, time, direction and speed.

Today, it is common to see cars that have GPS systems included, however you may be surprised to discover that the GPS system was designed and developed by the United States Department of Defense. Originally, the system was referred to as the Navstar GPS, but today people simply refer to it as a GPS.

If in the unfortunate event your vehicle is stolen, you can track where it has been taken with GPS. In addition, you can program in your point of departure and destination and your GPS will give you complete directions for a trip. It can tell you how long your trip will take and the exact route you should take.

What is fascinating to note is that when the satellite receives the information regarding the user's location, it determines where the person is located based on the amount of time it takes for the satellite to obtain the information from the receiver. This is a process known as "triangulation". Since there are 24 satellites in orbit, the GPS system doesn't rely on the information obtained from one. It uses several more satellites to create a latitude and longitude reading. Then the system begins to add all the coordinates and information together and creates an electronic map.

Today's GPS systems are extremely accurate. The 24 satellites are constantly in motion, circling the earth. They have been estimated to travel at speeds of 7,000 miles per hour!

Navigation system are available on several Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. Visit us at Big Valley Ford-Lincoln-Mercury in Stockton, Calif., and we will be happy to demonstrate this amazing technology!

Ford Model T Turns 100

The car that put the world on wheels, the Ford Model T, is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2008, and Ford is planning a year-long series of celebrations.

Celebrations will officially commence at the 2008 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in Amelia Island, Fla., March 7-9. Ford has many other regional events in the works for a year filled with celebrations, including a special Model T display at the West Coast's largest Ford enthusiast car show - the Fabulous Fords Forever! event at Knott's Berry Farm Amusement Park in Anaheim, Calif., on April 20. In July, Ford Motor Company will be the title sponsor of the Model T Ford Club of America's "T Party 2008" to be held in Richmond, Ind. For more information on the "T Party 2008" centennial celebration, please visit http://www.tparty.com/.

0% Financing Event!

Going on now at Big Valley Ford-Lincoln-Mercury located in Stockton, California, a limited-time 0% financing event on all 2008 F-150's (excluding the Harley Davidson package). Get 0% for up to 60 months! We have the largest selection in the area - over 60 new F150's in stock, ready for immediate delivery. Call (800) 867-1516 or visit us online at BigValleyOnline to view our extensive inventory.

An Arm AND A Leg?

Everybody's trying to save money on fuel these days. With average prices creeping toward the $4 mark without any signs of coming down, who can blame the thrifty driver. I'm personally one of the millions of drivers who commute an average of 50+ miles a day, so I've tried to employ fuel-saving techniques, like shopping at grocery stores that offer a discount on fuel. Here are three more ways to save money on your fuel expense each month.

1. Carry a notebook around with you and jot down gas prices in the areas you drive through each day. Make a note of the times and dates as well. Some stations change their prices at regular intervals. By keeping track, you can fill your tank on the days before they raise their price

2. Don't make any assumptions about gas prices based on the size of the of the business. Places like Sam's Club and Costco usually have the best bargains on the inside, but in my experience are not necessarily cheaper than local independently-owned gas stations.

3. Use the internet. Several online sites give updated information about where to find the least expensive gas in a given area. This tool is especially useful if you're traveling outside your area. Two the more popular sites are http://GasBuddy.com and http://GasPriceWatch.com.

Following these tips and simply thinking about your options can help save you money on fuel for your Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle. And who doesn't enjoy saving money these days?

Happy traveling.

Virtual Vehicles Drive Real World Traffic

Since April 2007, more than 2 million digital vehicles have been downloaded for use in "Sims 2," a virtual world created by Electronic Arts. Sims players can treat their digital selves to the Mustang, Focus, Fusion and Edge (released in March 2008). Some players even customize their virtual rides with new colors, while others create machinima, or in-game movies, of their Ford vehicles to post on online video sites like YouTube. As a result, more than 34,000 players have visited fordvehicles.com to check out Ford's real world offerings.

Building a Smarter Dummy

Ford is developing a high-tech insert for crash test dummies that is similar in size and shape to a 6-year-old's abdomen, aiming to improve tests for children's vehicle safety.

The prototype is part of an effort to make pediatric crash dummies and tests more realistic. The hope is they'll lead to better vehicle restraints for children. Partners in the collaboration include Wayne State University in Detroit, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and the Takata Corp., which makes automotive safety systems. Crash tests mainly focus on head and chest injuries, according to Steve Rouhana, a technical leader in Ford's crash dummy testing. ''We really didn't have the technology before to accurately measure abdominal response,'' he said. The silicone prototype features sensors that measure the severity of injuries sustained by the dummies during crash tests.

Today's Buzzword...Ozone

We all hear the earth's "ozone" is depleting, but what is ozone? Simply put, there are two types of ozone. There's the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere that protects the earth and its inhabitants from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays, and there's ground-level ozone, also known as tropospheric ozone, or smog. This pollutant may trigger a number of respiratory problems and forms when VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and NOx (nitrogen oxides) react in the presence of sunlight. Emissions from a variety of sources, including motor vehicles are some of the major sources of VOC and NOx.

Now you know!

The image above is a view of the ozone layer over the south pole 11/16/07. Source http://www.nasa.gov/ (Purple center indicates ozone hole).

Star of Detroit's Auto Show

2009 Ford F-150

The centerpiece of the Ford display at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) was the preliminary look at the new 2009 Ford F-150. The award-winning truck has been redesigned for 2009 to provide even greater "Built Ford Tough" features, as well as a long list of innovative technologies.

Be sure to visit autoshows.ford.com or fordvehicles.com for more highlights of the year's auto show and this impressive new truck. Of course, keep an eye out for future posts too. I'll be bringing you much more F-150 info in the coming months.

Welcome!

Welcome to the official blog of Big Valley Ford-Lincoln-Mercury, located in Stockton, California. The focus of this blog is to provide news and commentary relevant to the automotive industry, particularly Ford, Lincoln and Mercury.

I know what you must be thinking...BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. Another blogger droning on and on about a subject only they find interesting. On the contrary, I didn't choose the car business, it chose me. I landed in this industry not by choice, but out of necessity. Translation...I needed a job! That was over 6 years ago and I've come to really enjoy it, finding it very interesting and those I work with some of the funniest and entertaining people I've ever met, nothing like the stereotypical "used car salesmen" we all dread.

Blogging is a relatively new concept to me. Oh, I'd heard of it, but thought blogging was only done by insomniacs furiously typing out commentary in the middle of the night, never to be appreciated by the outside world, except maybe other bloggers. In fact, my spell-check doesn't even recognize the word, wanting to change it instead to "bog" or "bogging".

So, writing this blog is definitely a new experience for me. It's a little reminiscent of my first drawing class. An entire sketch book full of blank pages, soooooo empty, waiting for me to put pencil to paper and create something beautiful, hoping I wouldn't run out of creativity mid-way through the course.

I hope you enjoy the information, news and commentary I plan on posting and I encourage you to post your own comments and feedback as well. So, without further adieu...