SAMPLE DEALER LETTER TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

Please contact Congress today to enact temporary financial assistance for the domestic auto industry!! Step-by-step instructions for your participation can be found by clicking on the following link: www.grabdemocracybythehorns.com

  

 

 SAMPLE DEALER LETTER TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

 Dear Member of Congress:

 On behalf of my dealership (insert name)____ and my (# of employees) ___ in (City, State) ___, I am urging you to enact legislation that would provide temporary financial assistance to the domestic automotive industry.

Due to the frozen capital markets, manufacturers and auto finance companies, require access to the credit our customers need to buy automobiles from your dealerships. Liquidity and affordable credit is necessary for auto companies to produce cars and trucks and allow auto finance companies affordable lending for our customers.

The failure of one or more of these manufacturers and their component suppliers could eliminate as many as five million jobs. Our industry represents almost four percent of U.S. gross domestic product and represents ten percent of U.S. industrial production by value. Beyond our industry, ordinary Americans on Main Streets across the country would feel the brunt of a meltdown in this industry, including in our local community.

The auto industry, including our dealership, supports dozens of local businesses that are intertwined in our community providing multiple more jobs. I am writing because I fear much of this will be lost and the impact to my community severe if the domestic auto industry is allowed to fail under the weight of the current economic chaos. I believe I have good reason to request your support.

I cannot urge you strongly enough to take action on behalf of my dealership, community, and my industry. Helping our industry in the short-term will have a much lower cost than addressing the effects of a failed industry in the midst of an economic turnaround. Sadly, I fear the price of inaction is greater than my business can bear.

On behalf of our employees and their families, we urge you to enact legislation that will ensure that Chrysler can weather the current crisis and return to health.

Thank you for your time to hear my concerns.

 

Sincerely,

 

DEALER PRINCIPAL SIGNATURE

NAME OF STORE

Driving the United States’s Economy

A healthy US Auto Industry contributes to a healthy US economy for all.

See the report below from NADA

——————————————–

The United States’s dealers maintain a multi-BILLION dollar retail industry.
Average sales per dealership……………………………………………….$33.4 million
Total sales of all new-vehicle dealerships in the United States …. $693.3 billion
Dealership sales as % of total retail sales in the state………………18.0%
Estimated number of new-vehicle dealerships ………………………..20,770
Dealers provide thousands of well-paying jobs in the United States.
Total number of new-vehicle dealership employees in the United States ……..1,114,500
Average number of employees per dealership………………………………………….53
Average annual earnings of new-vehicle dealership employees………………….$48,339
Dealership payroll as % of total retail payroll…………………………………………….13.4%
Annual payroll of new-vehicle dealerships ……………………………………………….$54 billion
Average annual payroll per new-vehicle dealership …………………………………..$2.59 million
Dealers generate hundreds of millions of dollars of tax revenue for state and local
government through:
 Sales Tax Revenue
 Corporate Tax Revenue
 Payroll Tax Revenue
*Numbers reflect annual economic activity during 2007
NADA

412 First Street S.E., Washington, D.C.

(800) 563-1556

Fax (202) 479-0168

www.nada.org
Source:(NADA)

U.S. Department of the Treasury Warns Dealers About Fraud

Treasury Dept. Fraud Alert

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 29. 2008) — NADA has received the following FRAUD ALERT from the U.S. Department of the Treasury to warn car and truck dealers about unscrupulous buyers:

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AND DISSEMINATION

Fraud Alert – Bogus Treasury Notes, Bonds and Account Numbers

The U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury), Office of Inspector General (OIG), is investigating incidences whereby individuals are using fraudulent Treasury-related financial obligations or accounts to purchase or attempt to purchase vehicles from automobile dealerships or pay debts.

The following scheme was recently identified in Arizona:

In September 2008, it was reported to the Treasury OIG, Office of Investigations (OI) that an individual attempted to purchase a $67,000 automobile at a dealership in Phoenix, Arizona utilizing a bogus promissory note and bond.  In this instance, the  purported value of the note was $75,000.00 and the bonds were purported to represent government obligations of $150,000.00 and in another instance, up to $900,000,000.00.  Dealers must be alerted to the use of these types of notes and bonds, which, might or might not be referenced as “U.S. Treasury” bonds or promissory notes; however, they are identified as “personal promissory notes” and/or “private offset bonds,” and often contain the name of the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, currently Henry Paulson, on the document.

The name of the Treasury Secretary (Henry Paulson) would not appear on any document listed as a private bond or promissory note since these items are not backed or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.  Moreover, the only type of paper bond issued by the U.S. Treasury that a citizen can purchase today is a U.S. Savings Bond.  All other Treasury Bonds are electronic transactions and the buyer does not receive an actual hardcopy document.

A similar scheme was also identified occurring in Indiana:

It was reported to the Treasury OIG that unauthorized individuals were providing automobile dealerships and other retail businesses with bank routing and account numbers in Indiana to purchase vehicles or other property, and/or to payoff personal debts.  They represented these account and routing numbers to be personal grant or bank accounts, and directed the dealerships to electronically debit these accounts to fund payments for their purchases. In the reported instance, the account was a Treasury account for vendors to electronically transmit payments TO the Treasury Department.

If you have any information regarding such Treasury-related fraudulent activities, we request that you contact the Department of Treasury, Office of Inspector General (OIG), Office of Investigation’s Hotline at 1-800-359-3898 or via email at:

Hotline@oig.treas.gov.

Car Dealerships approached by a person or persons giving these or similar circumstances should consider the potential for fraud.  Should you suspect fraudulent activity, it is recommended that you contact the OIG Hotline or the local police immediately. Additional information regarding this and other similar fraud schemes can be found at the following Department of Treasury Web site:

http://www.treasurydirect.gov/instit/statreg/fraud/fraud_bogussightdraft.htm.

Introducing the 2009 F-Series Super Duty® Cabela’s Edition

Introducing the 2009 F-Series Super Duty® Cabela’s Edition

Ford is the Official Truck of Cabela’s, the largest
direct marketer in the world and a leading specialty retailer of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear. Ford F-Series trucks are currently on display at 16 Cabela’s stores nationwide. To see Cabela’s Field Guide Story review of the 2009 F-Series Super Duty Cabela’s Edition, read below.

Cabela’s currently operates 28 destination stores covering almost 4 million square feet of retail space and drawing more than 45 million people per year. The Dundee store is a top tourist attraction in Michigan.

Cabela’s opened two stores in 2008: Scarborough, Maine, and Rapid City, South Dakota. Look for more store openings in 2009.

You can see all the results of recent changes and improvements at Dick’s Mackenzie Ford.

Dick’s Mackenzie Ford

4151 SE Tualatin Valley Hwy
Hillsboro OR 97123
800-783-0863

503-214-5029

http://mackenzieford.com

http://dicksautogroup.com

The best Portland area new Ford dealer near Beaverton Oregon.  Come see the fuel efficient Ford Focus and awesome new 2009 Ford F-150 truck.

Source:(FORD)(Cabela’s)

Drive a Legend

Cabela’s Celebrates the World’s Foremost Outfitter’s truck -
Built Ford Tough

Author: Cabela’s Staff

2009 Cabela’s Edition Super Duty®

Cabela’s is proud to introduce the 2009 F-Series Super Duty® Cabela’s Edition; a collaboration with longtime associate Ford Motor Company, maker of the most capable pickups in America. Only Ford could make a truck to meet Cabela’s specifications.

Be among the first to see and drive the legendary Cabela’s Edition, which was unveiled in September amid fanfare and excitement that is rapidly spreading through the sporting world.
Interior

The Super Duty Cabela’s Edition marks the close relationship between two icons – Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, and Ford Motor Company, the most respected name in trucks.

The limited-edition trucks, available in the popular F-250 and F-350 models, have all of the strongest, toughest, features of Ford’s 2009 Super Duty, plus exclusive features for outdoorsmen who expect a lot from their trucks.

Features include:

* 2009 Cabela’s Edition Super Duty® Interior Distinctive Cabela’s logos throughout the interior and exterior, including the seats, all-weather floor mats, rubber bed mat, wheel center caps, tailgate and body.
* A locking storage case located out of sight under the rear seat for transporting and securing rifles, shotguns and other valuable gear, plus a padded center console that can also be locked to protect valuables.
* Optional Tough Bed liner, a unique, factory-installed, spray-in bed liner.
* Class-leading towing and hauling capacities.
* Unique two-tone paint scheme in five colors: Black, Oxford White, Forest Green Metallic, Royal Red Metallic and Brilliant Silver Metallic with Sterling Grey Metallic lower body accents, running boards and wheellip moldings.
* Standard cloth seats with the Cabela’s logo or available aniline leather trimmed seats with a unique two-tone embossed grain pattern.
* Wheel center caps Color-keyed bumpers, door handles, mirrors, step bars and grille.
* Custom-molded mud flaps and Ford’s FX4 off-road package.

The 2009 Super Duty Cabela’s Edition is now available at Ford dealerships across the country. Be part of the legend. Drive a Super Duty Cabela’s Edition truck.

2010 F-150 SVT Raptor—The Ultimate Off-Road Truck

“The first and only Baja 1000 Trophy Truck you’ll be able to buy from a dealer.” Ford claims!

SVT lives on in one of the most significant trucks to built by Ford Motor Co.  This truck will a proving ground for new technology; more efficient, powerful and capable engines that will move us into the next era and beyond.  Great Job Ford!

News Release (FORD)

Ford, the definitive leader in tough trucks, is further building on its solid foundation of the new F-150 to deliver the all-new 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor, a purpose-built, high-performance off-road truck that’s versatile enough to take on the most challenging desert adventures, as well as the everyday commute.

“Ford trucks have been a mainstay on the off-road racing scene for more that 20 years because of our long history of capability and durability,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president for Global Product Development. “With the F-150 SVT Raptor, we will be delivering a true off-road performance truck with the proven ‘Built Ford Tough’ capability and durability that is at the core of every F-150.”

Ford and off-road racing

Desert off-road racing is something Ford knows and does well, with eight championships in nine divisions in the 2007 “Best In The Desert” series and four more titles in CORR (Championship Off Road Racing). Ford has also shown its leadership at the Baja 1000 race — 12 Ford-powered vehicles have won the overall title for four-wheel vehicles, the most of any engine manufacturer.

With interest in off-road performance growing steadily, the F-150 SVT Raptor was designed to fulfill the desires of that highly demanding market. The high-performance off-road truck market is one that’s largely untapped, allowing the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor to set the bar for this type of vehicle.

“Most of the major manufacturers have focused on on-road performance, so when we looked at what was available in off-road truck performance, it was somewhat limited,” said Mark Grueber, Ford product marketing manager for pickups and large SUVs. “This was the perfect opportunity for Ford to further differentiate the F-150 from other trucks on the market.”

Looks tough and fast

The tough, chiseled look of the new Ford F-150 has been taken to a new level with F-150 SVT Raptor. The agile performance truck was designed to give the impression that it’s always on the move.

Noticeable differences between the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor and the conventional F-150 will include a distinctive grille that has the Ford name carved into it; front bumper, vented hood, front fascia and fenders, functional hood extractors, fender extractors with “SVT” bored out, as well as visible Fox Racing Shox.

Another key difference between the F-150 SVT Raptor and the base F-150 is that it is more than seven inches wider. Ford designers took advantage of this difference and highlighted it with distinctive marker lamps. When turned off, the marker lamps are well integrated into the F-150 SVT Raptor’s front end, as opposed to on top of the cab. When lit up, Raptor’s imposing stance is immediately recognizable.

While the exterior design of the F-150 SVT Raptor is about creating an image, the interior design is about creating the feel of the truck, and both must complement each other.

Design elements from the unique grille and front fascia have been carried through to the interior on the console and dashboard. The steering wheel is wrapped in black leather and features a molten-orange leather strip that serves as a centering sight line – which is especially useful in extreme driving maneuvers that can often cause the driver to lose perspective of the steering wheel’s center point.

Revved up and ready

The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is powered by the F-150’s proven 5.4-liter Triton® V8 three-valve engine, which delivers 320 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque. A new open-valve fuel-injection strategy improves the air/fuel charge conditions in the combustion chamber, allowing greater spark advance at higher loads and engine speeds.

A new 6.2-liter V8 engine will be available after launch. The 6.2-liter engine features all-new architecture specifically designed for robustness in a truck application. Given that reliability and longevity under harsh conditions are key to truck customers, the Ford team performed extensive testing to ensure the 6.2-liter V8 engine would live up to the “Built Ford Tough” promise.

Take off and landing

Building a high-performance off-road truck is not just about the horsepower – it’s about the suspension. The F-150 SVT Raptor doesn’t disappoint, with 13.4 inches of usable travel in the rear suspension and 11.2 in the front.“With the F-150 SVT Raptor, we changed the axle, the whole front suspension is different – new upper A arm, new lower A arm, new tie rods, new half-shaft joints,” said Jamal Hameedi, Ford SVT chief engineer. “The suspension does all the work to keep the truck’s attitude stable.”

In addition to a beefed-up suspension, the F-150 SVT Raptor also boasts unique internal-bypass Fox Racing Shox.

“This truck is also going to be a daily driver. We brought together a lot of experts to ensure the on-road steering precision and comfort was there too,” said Hameedi. “That’s where Ford expertise really came to the table and complemented Fox’s off-road expertise.”

Specialized Technologies

The F-150 SVT Raptor provides the complete package for off-roaders, including state-of-the-art technologies to keep it at the top of capability.“For many years, enthusiasts have been struggling with the performance of electronic technologies in the extreme off-road environment since that was not the environment they were designed for,” Hameedi said. “What SVT has done is tailor technology to function in both an on-road and an extreme off-road environment.”

The F-150 SVT Raptor will be built alongside the new F-150 at Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant at the historic Rouge Center in Dearborn, Mich. It will be available in spring of 2009.

The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R will take on Baja 1000

The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R, which features modified components, was developed by SVT and Ford Racing specifically to race in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 – one of the most grueling off-road races on the circuit.

Prepared for racing in long-distance off-road endurance events, the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R uses stock components of the F-150 SVT Raptor, including the transmission, brakes and axles. The frame – the part of the truck that will take the most stress – is the same proven fully boxed frame that delivers class-leading towing and hauling in the base F-150. The race truck is powered by a specially calibrated 500 horsepower, 6.2-liter V8 engine. Placing the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R in the Baja 1000 also serves as a test bed for development of the production F-150 SVT Raptor.

Ford is bringing some of the best stock class off-road truck drivers together to drive the F-150 SVT Raptor R in the Baja 1000. The team includes driver of record Steve Oligos and co-drivers Randy Merritt, Greg Foutz and Bud Brutsman who will compete in class eight for moderately modified full-size pickup trucks.

The Baja 1000 will run Nov. 20-23. The intense off-road endurance race runs from sea level up to 7,000 feet over 1,000 kilometers of sand, rock and mountain passes on the Mexican Baja Peninsula.

Preproduction vehicle shown

—————————————————————

You can see all the results of recent changes and improvements at Dick’s Mackenzie Ford.

Dick’s Mackenzie Ford

4151 SE Tualatin Valley Hwy
Hillsboro OR 97123
800-783-0863

503-214-5029

http://mackenzieford.com

http://dicksautogroup.com

The best Portland area new Ford dealer near Beaverton Oregon.  Come see the fuel efficient Ford Focus and awesome new 2009 Ford F-150 truck.

Dodge and Jeep are the Most Economical SUV’s to Own!

Edmunds.com has determined that the Dodge Durango and Jeep Patriot are both the least expensive and most economical SUV’s in the class to drive.  This is not a new report.  This was done ealier this year when gas wsa over $4 per gallon.  Granted, not everyone needs or even wants to drive a SUV.  If you are one of those people where either lifestyle or other indicates that a SUV is your vehicle of choice.  Then the Chrysler Corporation makes the SUV for you.  You can have the Durango with leading space for both people and cargo or you can opt for the more deminutive but dependably capable Jeep Patriot.

Source:

Despite high gas prices and general economic uncertainty, many consumers are still in need of sport utility vehicles and are looking for the best values in the marketplace. A study by Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, reveals that the Jeep Patriot is the least expensive sport utility vehicle to own. The results are based on Edmunds.com’s True Cost to Own℠ data, which incorporates projected model-specific average vehicle ownership costs, consisting of depreciation, financing, taxes, fees, insurance premiums, fuel costs, maintenance and repairs. Edmunds.com’s True Cost to Own℠ data accounts for total vehicle costs over a five-year period.

“Even though gas prices are high, some consumers are still in search of a sport utility vehicle to meet their needs,”said Jesse Toprak, Executive Director of Industry Analysis, Edmunds.com. “For those consumers, vehicles like the Jeep Patriot and Nissan Rogue are relative bargains in their segments.”

The following True Cost to Own℠ data is based on a price of $4.09 per gallon for regular gasoline (the national average on July 15):

“One of the most telling aspects of TCO℠ is how vehicles with similar initial costs can have very different total ownership costs, primarily as a result of dissimilar depreciation rates,” said Joe Spina, Senior Remarketing Manager, Edmunds.com. “Almost counter-intuitively, large SUV’s are now being discounted so heavily that ownership costs have dropped to the point that they are actually a good buy for the right consumer — someone who needs an SUV and plans on keeping it for several years.”

Edmunds.com’s True Cost to Own℠ calculations make the following assumptions:

• Ownership expenses are for a five-year time span
• Vehicles are driven 15,000 miles per year
• Vehicles are financed using traditional financing and not leased
• Buyers pay 10 percent down on the vehicle
• Buyers are in the “Gold” credit tier for the purpose of determining the finance rate
• The loan term is 60 months
• Buyers represent the average demographic in their state for insurance rates

Edmunds.com True Cost to Own℠ is available at no charge to Web site visitors, and provides ownership costs regionally for both new and used vehicles.

You can see all the results of recent changes and improvements in Dodge Chrysler Jeep products at:
Dick’s Country Chrysler Jeep Dodge
767 SW Baseline Rd
Hillsboro OR 97123
503-214-5014
800-783-4891

http://dickscountrydodge.com

http://dicksautogroup.com
The best and #1 rated Portland area Dodge dealer, Chrysler dealer, Jeep dealer near Beaverton Oregon. We have the 2009 Ram and 2009 Dodge Challenger available and instock for sale. Also come and see our Internet Special prices on used, preowned and certified vehicles.

Ford Sales are Up!

I am not sure what all the Scott’s are know for, but Ford is known to the Scott’s for making great cars. Ford Motor Company’s new car the Fiesta wins tops awards as it is selected as “Scottish Car of the Year 2008″. This great car will be showing up in dealers in the US in the next year or so. Great job Ford. We know you can build them and we will come!

It is not just Scotland that loves Ford cars, all of Europe does. Take a look at this quote.

COLOGNE, April 15, 2008 – Ford of Europe gained market leadership in March across the main Euro 19 territories, with a market share of 9.9 per cent. Against the background of a weaker industry, Ford sold 187,400 vehicles in these 19 markets last month. When strong sales in Russia, Turkey and the 30 Ford European Direct Markets are added, total sales for the month were 221,100. Ford sales across all its 51 markets have grown by 7,500 during the first quarter of the year to reach 501,500 vehicles.

What an exciting time to represent such a fantastic forward looking manufacturer!

You can see all the results of recent changes and improvements at Dick’s Mackenzie Ford.

Dick’s Mackenzie Ford

4151 SE Tualatin Valley Hwy
Hillsboro OR 97123
800-783-0863

503-214-5029

http://mackenzieford.com

http://dicksautogroup.com

The #1rated Portland area Ford dealer near Beaverton Oregon.

(Source)

Ford Fiesta Named Schottish Car Of The Year

The all-new Ford Fiesta has been named “Scottish Car of the Year 2008″ at the 11th annual Association of Scottish Motoring Writers (ASMW) awards dinner in St Andrew’s, Scotland.

A jury of 17 Scottish automotive journalists reviewed every new car available and, in an exhaustive selection process,  short-listed eight category winners. At the ceremony, the all-new Fiesta was crowned with the prestigious award thanks to its qualities of style, dynamic driving and value for money.

This is the second successive year that the ASMW has honoured Ford with the title of Scottish Car of the Year – in 2007 the award went to the Ford Mondeo.  Also this year, recognition was given to the new Ford Kuga, which collected the category award for “best 4×4 crossover” vehicle.

The awards were presented by President of the ASMW, Bill Caven, who commented: “To win the Scottish Car of the Year once is a marvellous achievement for any manufacturer. However to triumph again the following year is absolutely unbelievable.

“The all-new Ford Fiesta was simply streets ahead of everybody else when it came to offering something fresh, dynamic and value for money. Within hours of getting our first drive in the car we were all blown away by the experience.
And when you consider the high calibre of the other new models up for consideration it is a truly tremendous feat by the Blue Oval.” Continued

Bill added: “There is always a degree of trepidation amongst motor manufacturers when it comes to replacing a best-selling model with the next generation car. Will it live up to past reputation and appeal? Will it take the brand forward? Ford has maintained from the outset that the new Fiesta would set the benchmark in its sector. It has certainly delivered big time and been true to its word. This is going to be an enormous seller for them in the coming months, and deservedly so.”

On receiving the award, Ian Slater, Vice-President Communications and Public Affairs for Ford of Europe, said:  “We are delighted the new Ford Fiesta has been voted the 2008 Scottish Car of the Year.  I am especially pleased for the Fiesta project team of designers and engineers, that their vision and hard work has been so generously rewarded.  Everyone at Ford joins me in thanking the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers for this accolade.