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Ford Customer's Benefit, from Higher Resale
Values, Fewer Warranty Repairs
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- Ford's dramatic gains in quality are contributing to a 23 percent year-over-year improvement in resale value of Ford vehicles with one to five years on the road – outpacing the industry average by 4 percentage points
- On average, the redesigned 2010 Ford Taurus is selling 50 percent higher at auction than the 2009 Taurus after one year in service
- Ford has reduced its warranty repair rates on vehicles in their first three months of service by an average of more than 40 percent in each major business region around the world in the past three years
- Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles' initial quality in the U.S. has improved for five straight years. Ford vehicles now have the fewest number of defects of any full-line manufacturer
The resale value of newer Ford Motor Company vehicles rose 23 percent in the past year alone, the result of stronger demand for Ford's new vehicle lineup and improved quality and durability ratings.
At the same time, warranty repair rates on Ford vehicles have declined by an average of more than 40 percent globally in the past three years.
Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles with one to five years on the road are fetching significantly higher resale values at auction in the first quarter of this year compared to the first quarter a year ago. Overall, the resale value of Ford's three brands at auction rose 23 percent from a year ago to outpace the industry, which saw resale values increase by 19 percent, according to the latest North American Dealers Association auction data.
"Wholesale price performance was extremely strong throughout 2009, and during this period Ford, Lincoln and Mercury products matched or exceeded the performance of the overall market," said Tom Webb, chief economist, Manheim Consulting, the world's largest provider of automotive remarketing services. "And, in 2010, Ford products have outperformed the overall market, especially in the increasingly important segments of compact cars, midsize cars and crossover vehicles."
For example, on average, the redesigned 2010 Ford Taurus is selling 50 percent higher at auction than the 2009 Taurus after one year in service. Similarly, the 2010 Ford Fusion V-6 commanded 26 percent more at auction than the 2009 model after one year in service.
"Wholesale used vehicle prices have generally been firming over the last year and a half; however, the price performance of Ford products has generally exceeded that of the market as a whole," said Tom Kontos, executive vice president, Customer Strategies and Analytics, ADESA Analytical Services, which is a used vehicle auction network.
Rising resale values means more money in customers' pockets when it is time to sell or trade in for a new vehicle. Combine these savings with lower repair and maintenance costs and better fuel economy, and the cost to own a Ford product drops dramatically over the life of the vehicle.
Aggressive product refreshenings
Fueling Ford's improved resale value is the company's strong vehicle lineup that includes many new and redesigned cars and trucks. Ford gained market share in the U.S. last year, while improving transaction prices.
Strong retail performance, in both transaction price and sales of a new product, serves as an early indicator of that product's future resale value. When combined with Ford's quality rankings, these factors help Ford vehicles hold their value.
"The positive reception by consumers of our recent product introductions and freshening is reflected in our higher transaction prices and increased market share," said Jim Farley, Ford's group vice president of Global Marketing.
Laser-like Focus on quality
Ford performance in third-party consumer quality rankings has been steadily improving for the past several years. Years of a consistent and disciplined focus on quality is paying off, including a marked decline in warranty repair rates.
Ford has reduced its warranty repair rates on vehicles in their first three months of service by an average of more than 40 percent in every major business region around the world in the past three years.
Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles' initial quality in the U.S. has improved for five straight years. Ford vehicles now have the fewest number of defects of any full-line manufacturer, according to the GQRS study conducted by RDA Group.
For Ford customers, this means fewer trips to the dealership for repairs. This also means savings for Ford as the company has reduced its warranty repair costs by $1 billion in the past three years.
"We are operating with a truly dedicated discipline to quality," said Bennie Fowler, Ford group vice president, Global Quality. "The results are paying off for our customers with fewer trips to the dealership and a higher satisfaction with the Ford, Lincoln or Mercury product they purchase."
As Ford's newest vehicles hit the road, company officials expect resale values to continue to improve and warranty claims to continue to decline.
Ford's commitment to world-class quality and a positive ownership experience extends beyond just preventing things that go wrong. Customer-driven product features, such as fuel economy, craftsmanship, quiet interiors and high-tech in-car communications systems are designed into the vehicle to deliver an exceptional product at an affordable price.
"The difference in Ford's products today is significant," says Farley. "We're proud of the progress we've made. It feels good to be able to deliver great-looking vehicles and industry-leading quality at an affordable price in every sense of the word."
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| "Swap Your Ride" Sales Event
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Ford is in the midst of a product renaissance that helped catapult it ahead of other U.S. automakers in sales in recent months – and helped it place vehicles in the top five positions on twelve of our best car ranking lists. With its newfound confidence, the company has set out to steal loyalists from other brands.
Autoblog reports, “The company's ‘Swap Your Ride’ campaign is back in full swing, and will run wide open until the end of next month. All you have to do to qualify for zero-percent financing and a $1,000 trade-in bonus is simply hand over the keys to your old set of wheels.” Customers trading in a competitor’s product under the program qualify for the $1,000 trade-in bonus.
A few cautions are in order. Any program using a “trade-in bonus” still relies on the dealership to estimate the value of your trade-in before applying the bonus, so shoppers should be certain a Ford dealership doesn’t low-ball the trade-in, then add the “bonus” just to bring it back to market value. There are also some important exceptions. The offer doesn’t extend to any Ford hybrids. Some high-performance special editions like the Shelby GT 500 Mustang and SVT Raptor pickup are also excluded.
The incentive campaign, FourWheelsNews notes, “will start with over a dozen TV commercials that will show owners of rival brands praising Ford cars after taking week-long test drives.”
The Detroit Free Press explains, “Ford randomly picked 31 people who were driving competitors' cars and trucks in Texas and California and allowed them to test-drive a Ford for a week.” The test drivers weren’t necessarily car shopping. “At the end of the week, TV celebrity and Ford ad pitchman Mike Rowe” interviewed the participants for commercials.
If it sounds familiar, that’s because you may have seen the same campaign before. The UPI notes that the program mimics “a marketing campaign that began in 2007.”
If you're in the market for a new car, check out the U.S. News rankings of this year's best cars as well as this month's best car deals.
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Ford Hybrids Earn Top Green Vehicle Kudos From KBB.com
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Just in time for Earth Day and for the second year in a row, the Ford Escape Hybrid and Ford Fusion Hybrid have earned spots on kbb.com's Top 10 Green Cars for 2010 list. Vehicles chosen were required to offer fuel economy and CO2 emissions superior to the bulk of vehicles in their class, while providing customers with safety, creature comforts and driving enjoyment. For more information, visit
www.kbb.com/GreenCars2010
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Ford Makes Selecting the Correct Four-wheel-drive Mode Easy
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When the all-new Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle goes in to production later this year, it will offer an advanced terrain management system that takes the mystery out of four-wheel drive. They system will optimizing powertrain behavior for specific situations and road conditions and make it easy for the driver to choose the correct setting for the terrain.
Ford Explorer with intelligent 4WD and terrain management eliminates guesswork, using simple icons to help drivers choose the correct setting at the simple turn of a dial for the climate or surface situation they may be driving. The icons depict the various settings to best suit driving conditions.
Todd Hoevener is the vehicle dynamics manager for the new Explorer. In this short video, he gives an overview of the terrain management system.
“One of our goals with the new Explorer is to deliver four-wheel-drive capability with easier and intuitively operated control,” said Jim Holland, Explorer Chief Engineer. “The selectable settings are contingent upon weather and conditions, so the system is easily operated and understood. Ford terrain management makes it easier for SUV veterans, while making confidence-building Explorer capability even more accessible to segment newcomers.”
Employment of intelligent 4WD with Ford terrain management allowed Explorer engineers to deliver the “any road, anytime” capabilities that SUV buyers expect, while eliminating weight.
Less driveline mass will help the new Explorer with V-6 power deliver an estimated 25 percent better fuel economy than the 2010 model.
Intelligent 4WD with terrain management works by optimizing Explorer powertrain and braking systems to best suit a variety of situations, allowing vehicle behavior characteristics to provide appropriate traction and driver control. Ford anticipates that the system will really be a stress-reducer and confidence-builder, especially when driving in adverse conditions.
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Aggressive Driving: Asking for Trouble
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Aggressive drivers are becoming the norm, according to a Media and Injury Prevention Program at the University of Southern California.
"Aggressive driving is now the most common way of driving," says co-director Sandra Ball-Rokeach. "It's not just a few crazies -- it's a subculture of driving."
Stories of aggressive drivers chasing, punching or shooting their victims are common. But you might avoid becoming a victim if you know how to remain calm and avoid acting upon your feelings.
Are you an aggressive driver?
Do you:
- Speed up when someone tries to pass you?
- Tailgate people who are going slower than you?
- Weave in and out of traffic?
- Pass cars on the right?
- Flash your headlights at vehicles?
- Overuse your horn?
- Make obscene gestures?
- Yell out your window at people?
- Race for a position on the highway?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration considers some of these behaviors aggressive. So next time, think twice before doing any of these things.
Safety and preventative measures
To avoid an encounter with an aggressive driver, remember these tips:
- Don't block the passing lane.
- Avoid blocking the right-hand turn lane.
- Don't take more than one parking space.
- Don't tailgate.
- Don't stop in the road to talk with a pedestrian or other drivers.
- If you travel slowly, pull over to allow traffic to pass you.
- Avoid eye contact with an aggressive driver.
- Keep your eyes on the road.
- Keep away from erratic drivers.
- Don't challenge other drivers by speeding up to hold your own in your travel lane.
- Ignore gestures; do not return them.
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Free Service Clinic
We invite you to attend our Free Service Clinic on May 4th Tuesday at 6:00pmat Thoroughbred Ford off of I-29 & Barry Road. This Service Clinic is going to provide you with important tips about your vehicle which will bring you long-term value and enjoyment from your vehicle. Also we will provide you with a complimentary snack and drinks. Please call to reserve your place at 816-505-1818 ask for either Adrienne or Tammy.
FYI: June 8th at 6pm we will have another Women's Free Service Clinic. If you have any questions call us at Thoroughbred.
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Congratulations to Kirsten Deppe
She won a Free Works Package
for following us on Twitter @THOROUGHBREDFRD.
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We do not rent, sell or exchange email addresses. We encourage you not to unsubscribe so that we can keep you informed about promotions, new vehicles, service tips and service specials, but if you choose to, you can click here to unsubscribe.
© 2010 Thoroughbred Ford. All rights reserved. You can write to us at: I-29 at Barry Road, Kansas City, MO 64154.
Phone 816-505-1818
You are subscribed using the following email address: #CLIENT_EMAIL#.
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- Ford Customer's Benefit, from Higher Resale
Values, Fewer Warranty Repairs
- Ford Hybrids Earn Top Green Vehicle Kudos From KBB.com
- Ford Makes Selecting the Correct Four-wheel-drive Mode Easy
- Aggressive Driving: Asking for Trouble
- Free Women's Service Clinic
- Congratulations to Kirsten Deppe
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