Fact: Karen Fehr is a fast walker, and she’s hilarious. We love her!
Fact: Not everyone can pull off a wink, Karen sure can!
Fact: Shawn Hildebrandt almost fell while running backwards in Phoenix Kitchesn & Designs.
Fact: Ryan Fife was great.
Fact: Karen Ann laughed too much while watching the outtakes.
Fact: Cheryl said, “It’s not THAT funny”.
Fact: Karen Ann’s favourite outtake got cut. :(

What a great team we have here!

Jon, Shaun, Rob and Brad stayed after shift just to make sure that the tire and tool room for the shop got all cleaned up. Amazing work guys. So glad you are part of our Family here at Steve Marshall Ford Lincoln.

While they might moonlight as shop cleaners, they are excellent technicians!

The engine and brakes of a vehicle work directly through the tires. Even the most advanced traction and stability control systems are limited by the tire’s ability to hold the road. If a consumer has tires that are worn, under inflated, or not suited to the environment, they put themselves, their vehicle, and others at risk.

Check out how to get the most value and safety from your tires here.

Name Brand tires including Goodyear, Continental, Michelin and tonnes more safe and economical snow or all season tires are all sold here!

If by some chance someone else has a lower price, bring in a their current advertisement on the same tire… and our Parts and Service team will match or beat the price. — Among the list of 10 Reasons to Service at your Ford Store.

Talk about Price Guarantee on all brand of Tires!!! Plus free storage for your Winter and Summer tires during the Nanaimo seasons.

Snow Tires

Snow tires provide ultra grip in those icy conditions. Including that “corner” bridge on the Parkway by College Drive that ices all the time.

How do Snow tires Grip?

To start with they are engineneered differently. Good snow tires look almost like a performance tire, with small close together tread squares and wedge shaped gaps between tread blocks, helping to keep the snow out of the tire grooves. Snow tires are made of a softer rubber compound, softer rubber allows it to cling to ice in the winter when the rubber is cold. Lastly snow tires are deisgned with “siping”. Siping are thousands of tiny cuts made in several direction on the tire that provide thousands of tiny bits (ironic?) of grip going straight and around corners.

How does the regular Joe know they’re looking at a TRUE Snow Tire?

The Rubber Association of Canada has developed a set of performance standards for Severe winter tires and an Icon of either a Snowflake or a Mountain will identify an approved Snow Tire.

All Season Tires

All season tires are cost effective and could provide you with great versatility year round. Including the hot sticky and cold rainy seasons.

They’ll provide you with tires all year long.

What do they mean by All Season?

All Season is just how it sounds. These tires will provide adequate traction on wet and dry road conditions. They will work best during the average condition of all seasons!

They are not engineered specifically for any season or speed. But will work great in minimal rain, even less snow, and maybe a bit of cold. I wouldn’t recommend driving in a snowstorm or when the roads are flooding.

Mainly picture a cozy fall day with the Maple tree leaves still dry enough to rake and jump in…and that sweater grandma knitted you is enough to keep warm. This is the time that all season will provide value.

Here on Vancouver Island, where we don’t normally get to frolic in dry leaves, All Season tires will provide a safe ride at a value you can’t beat for 10 months of the year. Three and a half Seasons for All Season Tires in Nanaimo!!

In a 2011 Maritz Research study, 42% of all consumers say fuel economy is an extremely important new vehicle purchase consideration. Which is up 13.5% from 10 years ago. Generation Y (or Milennials) rank fuel economy even higher and rated it most often as having the greatest impact on their vehicle purchases.

Ford and Lincoln products lead in fuel economy in 12 of the vehicle classes. Four Ford models deliver 40 mpg or better, which is a claim no other full-line automaker can match.

For extreme fuel economy be sure to check out the Ford Fiesta, which can go 920 KM on a tank of gas! There’s also the redesigned 2012 Ford Focus, and the last year of the Ranger too! Even our Super Duty trucks get better fuel economy than previous years, and their competitors.

Press Release:

As seen in the Nanaimo Daily News:

Nanaimo’s Steve Marshall Ford raised more than $1,800 for the Woodlands Secondary School’s senior girls basketball team in a unique fundraiser held last weekend.

The “Drive 1 4ur School” fundraiser saw the car company give $20 to the basketball team for every test drive that was taken in their cars during the event.

Carl MacDonald, coach of the basketball team, said there were 91 test drives taken and he really appreciates Steve Marshall Ford and the company’s contribution to the team.

Sherdan White, the company’s promotions manager, said the idea was to put more people behind the wheels of Ford vehicles in the hopes they will buy.

This means that you can visit our service department directly to have your glass or windshield repaired or replaced without ever having to do the Windshield Dial a Claim with ICBC.

It’s so easy! If you have Comprehensive coverage, you can just visit us directly to get your windshield or other auto glass replaced or repaired. ICBC Glass Express shops meet industry-leading standards for quality work and customer service. You can count on them to safely repair or replace your auto glass.

Click here to book an appointment with our service department online.

ICBC Glass or Windshield Claim website

Updated with new video the morning of Thursday, April 28th.

We wanted to show our incomparable support for the Canucks, find a way to help our local food bank, and have some fun during the play offs that are happening right now…  Steve Marshall Ford Lincoln acquired 100 Canuck jerseys!

We are giving away a Canucks jersey (no purchase necessary) to anyone who brings in a non-perishable food item or a monetary donation for the Salvation Army and test drives a new Ford or Lincoln vehicle on April 28th or 29th.

That’s it! So easy (and rewarding) to Make a Difference in Nanaimo! Get your FREE Canucks jersey:

1. Bring a non-perishable food item, or a monetary donation, for the Salvation Army
2. Test drive a new Ford or Lincoln vehicle
3. There are only 100 jerseys

Limit: One per household. Must be 19 or older.

Can I go wrong buying a new F-150 with regards to quality and reliability? – Sean

Vaughan: Uh, no, you can’t. Thanks for your letter, Sean.

Cato: I will, and will use facts to support it. First, vehicle longevity. Sean is right to suggest Toyota has everyone else trumped. According to DesRosiers Automotive Consultants, more Toyotas built in the last 25 years are on the road now than any other vehicle brand. Eighty-two per cent of Toyota’s light trucks and 72 per cent of Chevy trucks and 64 per cent of Ford trucks. That’s the long-range stuff.

In J.D. Power’s 90-day Initial Quality Study, the F-150 and the GMC Sierra are both Top 3 pickups. No Tundra there; it’s had its problems. The facts suggest Ford and GM pickups are better.

Vaughan: For the record, I also like what Ford has done with the engine lineup of the 2011 F-150.

Cato: Right. New, notably more fuel-efficient engines right across the line. Sean, my first pick is the F-150.

Vaughan: I defer to the great Cato and his facts.

On June 1st, 2 flags and 7,000 greeting in 12 books left Nanaimo for the troops in Afghanistan.

They were distributed to all the Canadian troop bases, including Forward Operation Bases(FOBs)through the chaplains.

This flag has travelled over 24,000 km. and is signed by 100 “heroes”-Canadian Forces from Army, Navy and Air, from Privates to Captains.

This flag was raised at the Kandahar Air Base,and went out on missions in Chinook helicopters.

It will be on display at various locations around Nanaimo this Spring 2011.

Last year, over $18,000 in prizes and scholarships was awarded to the winning schools and students. Each student on the top three teams will receive a scholarship to BCIT’s Motive Power Program and an Automotive Retailers Association scholarship to the post secondary institution of their choice. The winning school’s automotive department will also be presented with a Ford Focus courtesy of MSA Ford, Abbotsford and Steve Marshall Ford, Nanaimo.

Press Release:

“I’m so glad I did ACE-IT instead of just regular grade 12 – I’m doing something I love,” she says. “I wanted to come to school every day.” In grade 10, Victoria participated in a trades co-op program, earning credits by completing a three-week work placement at Steve Marshall Ford, changing oil and learning what she could from the veteran mechanics in the shop.

Ann Marie Ebdrup has put together a team of leaders that have taken on both a sense of ownership and sense of family at one of the most reputable dealerships in the country. From the technicians in the garage to the sales representatives on the floor, her crew has made a name for themselves in an industry that has struggled during the world’s greatest recession in decades.

Ford Motor Company of Canada was the only company to see positive sales in the past few years, while GM and Chrysler were forced into bankruptcy protection. Ford Motor Company continued its climb this year and has fared better than most with its best September
sales since 1978, jumping a whopping 63.7%. August was similar with sales reaching highs not seeen since 1990, keeping the company in the leading sales spot in the country. Analysts speculate that Ford could overtake General Motors in the Canadian sales race for the first time in 2010.

Ford’s financial stability stems from the financial foresight and the steps taken by senior management, under the direction of chairman Alan Mulally, more than four years ago. But the reputation of the company as one of the leading automotive dealers in the country, comes largely from the faces at the door.

“All you need is good people. The car industry has had such a bad reputation in recent years, but with a team like ours, the customers can’t go wrong by walking in here,” said Ebdrup.

Steve Marshall Ford in Nanaimo has gone through some changes in the past few months and those improvements have created a family environment that cannot be beat by any of the competitors.

There’s a simple philosophy behind many of the changes. Instead of managers running their departments from a topdown approach, Ebdrup has created leadership positions.

The concept came from Dale Griffis, or “Doogie” as he is more affectionately known around the shop. He introduced the idea of having leaders set examples for all staff. Ebdrup embraced the idea and so, rather than becoming the sales manager, Griffis now has
an elaborate business card that identifies him as a sales leader.

“I just loved the idea right away, so we ran with it,” Ebdrup said. “It makes so much sense because we want to continue our reputation as leaders in the industry and I want our team to lead our crew. Instead of managers telling people what to do, I have
mentors for people to look up to.”

The changes made in the past few months have fostered a family atmosphere at Steve Marshall Ford. This sense of ownership becomes clear as soon as people walk in the door.

Customers don’t feel like they are talking to a sales person at Steve Marshall Ford. It feels like you’re talking to a friend or a family member, who are looking to get you in the best vehicle for your needs and for the best price, Ebdrup explained.

Every month, her leaders, who consider themselves family, get together for an evening of food and celebration. The tight crew has truly bonded in the past few months in ways never seen before.

But the family concept has been around the shop for years. Some of the team leaders started out in the garage cleaning cars. They
have grown into new positions and their experience and familiarity with Ebdrup’s philosophies make them the perfect mentors for any of the newcomers.

The family approach to her business comes from her personal experience. Ebdrup has been in the industry her entire life. She was
practically raised in her father’s dealership in Campbell River. At age nine, she was working the switchboard and regularly graduating
to new responsibilities.

Eventually, in 2000, she had the offer to take over the Nanaimo dealership, which her father bought in 1997. It was the best option for her. Growing up in Campbell River, she wasn’t comfortable running a dealership where everyone knew her connection to the owner.
She may be daddy’s girl at home, but she is far from the boss’ daughter around the dealership.

“Hello Mr. Marshall,” she said answering the telephone. This professional salutation was an idea her father came up with when she first joined the family business. It was agreed, from the start, she would never refer to him as Dad at work.

Depending on what they are talking about, Ebdrup switches from “Mr. Marshall” to “Dad,” depending on the topic of conversation and whether it’s personal or business related.

This family/business dynamic shines through in her approach to running her own dealership. Her staff are an extended family. They collectively critique each other, making suggestions about how to improve the overall service in the shop.

With a sales team eager to help, backed by some of the best overall quality vehicles on the market, it’s no wonder why more buyers are turning to Steve Marshall for their cars, trucks and SUVs. In Nanaimo, Ebdrup is confident she has the best team on the ground. It’s a team she can trust.

While the comments after the article are really where the Social Media awareness and how it relates to the consumer is exciting, the article and video themselves bring about the invitation to discuss! Be sure to read the comments after the article!

Excerpt from MackCollier.com

The Question was: Are there any areas that Ford can point to where social media has either lowered business costs, or improved existing processes?

Jim Farley’s Answer: What happens is, by launching the vehicle early, getting people involved in talking about the new global Focus or the new Fiesta is the US before it goes on sale, we can lower the amount of traditional advertising we do after the vehicle goes on sale. That’s where the massive cost savings have been. I’ll give you an example; On the Fiesta Movement, we had higher unaided nameplate awareness than Fit or Yaris, and we spent 10 cents on the dollar, than a traditional tv ad campaign. So by starting earlier and using social media to spread the word about the new product, we’re really reducing the amount of traditional advertising we have to spend.

It was a 1995 Mazda 626 DX. A great sedan for the growing family!! Right when they were looking for a larger car, they win!!!

Amazing.

Thanks to Shawn for summing up what happened! Congratulations to Trish and family!

Thanks to everyone for coming out, watch for our next Roundup when you can have another chance to win a Mystery Car!!

Cars making the 2010 list were chosen based on safety, fuel economy, interior size, comfort and technology. They also were judged on fun-to-own and fun-to-drive factors – which kbb.com calls that “je ne sais quoi that separates the dullards from the brilliant.”

Read the entire article on KBB.com.

Who will be the next to win??