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Customer Highlight: The Head Family

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This week our Riata Ford  location had the chance to be a part of the beginning of a legacy! The Head family is starting their floor restoration company, and we are honored to sell them the first truck that will help to kick-start this business. Kimberly Head was kind enough to answer a few of our questions about their buying experience, and we were so thrilled to hear about her “Absolutely AWESOME” time spent with us. Check out the interview below, y’all!

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1.) How was your truck buying experience?

Absolutely AWESOME.  Here are some key points.

  • Josh was absolutely the best car/truck salesman we have ever dealt with.  He did everything we asked.  He made sure we were comfortable.  What I liked the most, is instead of feeding us bad information, he was honest if he didn’t know a specific, went and asked and got back to us ASAP.  I felt like I was taken care of instead of just a pay check.  I actually told him while I was there that he was the best I had ever dealt with.
  • Your online experience is great.  The website is easy to use & has good information, pictures and search functions.  Makes for a great experience.
  • While we drove 3+ hours to get there.  That was about price, selection, and Josh’s attention to us w/o being overbearing.  I would drive again to have that good of an experience.  And, we will be recommending others to take the drive

2.) Favorite things about your new ride?

  • It is beautiful (inside and out). We love the EcoBoost engine and the Multi-functionality – We will be using for personal and business and meets our needs in both areas. It’s so important to have a vehicle that looks good if you are trying to gain customers in a business. We’ll also be able haul supplies and take our crew with us to jobs, and fit our three teenagers in the back seat. And there will still be leftover room!  We feel confident that we have a truck that is dependable and can get the job done, whatever that may be.

3.) What adventures do you plan on taking in your new ride?

  • Most importantly… We are starting a business in floor restoration, hard surface cleaning (man made tile / grout / natural stone, concrete, carpets, patios, fiberglass).  OASIS SURFACE SOLUTIONS  This vehicle is fundamental in our success and we chose Riata Ford to start this journey with.  This journey is going to lead us to a future of freedom and flexibility so that us, our children, and future generations have something they can say was built from the ground up.  You are a part of that.  So, unbeknownst to you and your company, you are the beginning of our legacy.  I know that we will be back as our company grows.  But know that because of your affordability, quality, and engagement with us, you helped us get this going.  I am looking forward to coming to buy additional vehicles as we branch out.  Our adventures start now!!!
  • Oh, & let’s not forget – We are big Salt Water fishing family.  Look for us on Padre Island.  The truck will be in the sand, but we will be in the surf hauling in all the Monster Fish!!!

We are so excited to welcome these adventuring  entrepreneurs to our Ford family!

Employee Highlight: Keith Anders

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Keith Anders has been a service advisor with Leif Johnson Ford for two years now. We are so thankful to have him on our service squad. In honor of his time spent with us, we wanted to take a moment to ask him a few questions. Read on to get to know the one and only (okay maybe not one and only, but our one and only!) Mr. Anders a little better!

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What is your favorite thing about working at Leif? : My favorite thing is the other employees. They make my day go by a little faster and put a smile on my face.

What have you learned working with us? :  Patience! (Laughs) I’ve learned about the different dynamics of people. About different backgrounds, and about how to talk to people and communicate efficiently.

What do you like to do when you’re not at work? : I like to spend time with my family. I have an eleven month old daughter and another one on the way. I’ve been married five years. We actually just got back from a family road-trip to California!

Congrats to Keith on his two year work anniversary and even more congrats on his new family member on the way!

Speaking of family. Here at Leif Johnson Ford, we are all about our family AND your family too. That’s why participating in Susan G. Komen’s Race for the Cure is so important to us. The community and their loved ones are a huge part of why we love giving back, and the above commercial showcases this beautifully. Check it out and let us know what you think.

 

How to Drive in Fog

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We’ve been having some foggy days in Austin this week, and fog never makes for the most ideal or safe of driving situations. It is able to drastically reduce visibility and thus makes the road much more hazardous than normal. But have no fear! Leif Johnson Ford is here to give you a few pointers on how-to safely drive in foggy conditions.

  1. Slow down. This one may seem obvious, but not all follow this important rule. It is so important to account for increased reaction times and to actively try not to rush.
  2. Keep a larger distance between you an other vehicles on the road, especially if the road is wet. It is normal to want to drive closer to the car in front of you to keep it in sight, but this can increase your risk of collision.
  3. Turn on your low beam headlamps. High beams can cause light to reflect back off water droplets in the air, which has the power to damage your view even more.
  4. Use your fog lights if your vehicle has them. They help to further illuminate the road when it’s foggy and make it easier for other cars to see you.
  5. Always turn on your wipers an defrosters. These will help you to see and reduce the glare that comes from oncoming cars.
  6. Roll down your windows. While other senses (in this case, sight) or impaired, others have the power to become heightened. If your hear any strange noises, like a squealing or crunching sound, try to safelu pull over to the side of the road.
  7. Follow the right-side pavement line when your seeing is impaired. It will help to guide you in circumstances like intense fog. This is safer than using the center line, which has the potential to bring you closer to oncoming traffic.
  8. Don’t stop on the road, even if visibility is highly reduced. This could cause an accident. Instead, pull over to a safe area whenever you can.
  9. After pulling over, turn on your hazards lights so other drivers will see that you have parked and thus don’t try to follow you. Avoid using your hazard lights when in motion, as this is illegal in many states.
We hope these simple but potentially life-saving tips were helpful. Stay safe, friends!
(Thanks to Ford Motor Company for the helpful video!)

 

How to Protect Your Vehicle from the Cold

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It may be 75 degrees in Austin today, but even in Texas it is bound to get chilly eventually. That’s why we’re here to give you some great tips on how to protect your vehicle from the cold! Read on and be winter ready, y’all!

  1. Check your battery. Battery issues are the number one reason for car breakdowns, and cold weather is especially likely to drain your battery life. Check your battery terminals and cables, making sure they’re tight and free from corrosion. Proceed to coat with grease or petroleum jelly to keep deposits from forming. If the battery looks swollen or casing is cracked, take your vehicle to your nearest Leif Johnson Ford service center to be checked right away.
  2. Monitor your tires Tire pressure drops considerably as the weather gets colder. This effects your car’s handling and stopping abilities. Check your tire pressure every month, and fill your tires properly with the amount listed on your driver’s side door jam.tires
  3. Check and change your oil. Colder temps cause oil to thicken, impeding its ability to travel through your engine. This is another issue that may lead to a breakdown. Your owner’s manual will instruct you on the best oil to buy for your vehicle.
  4. Inspect belts and hoses for cracks or fraying. They are more likely to be brittle and break in the wintertime. A damaged belt will reduce your engine’s efficiency and a leaky hose could lead to an overheated engine, which could lead to costly repairs that you don’t need in the holiday season.
  5. Keep your gas halfway full at all times to prevent a gas line freeze up.
  6. Check your coolant level whenever you fill up your tank. Being low on coolant, aka antifreeze, can prove extremely detrimental to your vehicle’s engine.
  7. Examine your wipers. In the winter, they need to be in top shape to handle ice and even the occasional and quick snow flurries in Texas. If the rubber is cracked, broken or falling off it is time to replace. Be sure to use a windshield washer fluid with the required freeze protection level for your area.
  8. Inspect your windshield, looking for any cracks or chips. When temps drop below freezing, cracks are more likely to spread as the glass becomes more concave, and the moisture in chips can freeze and expand.
  9. To protect your windshield while driving, try your best to avoid flying debris than can damage your vehicle
  10. Always travel with an emergency kit in your trunk. In extreme cold, this is even more important, as you’re more likely to break down. Include jumper cables, a charged jump starter, a charged cell phone, a phone charger, tire chain and abrasive materials like sand or kitty litter. Also include a small shovel, a flashlight, an ice scraper, rags or paper towels, blankets, flares, bottled waters and snacks such as energy bars. It sounds like a lot, but believe us- in case of emergency your crew is going to be glad they rode with you!

If you have any more questions or want us to help making sure your vehicle is winter ready, give us a call at 512-454-3711 today! We look forward to seeing you!

(Big thanks to Ford Vehicles for an awesome how-to video and instructions!)

What We’re Thankful For

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This Thanksgiving we at Leif Johnson Ford are thankful for so many things.

We’re thankful for our families, both our biological ones and the ones we’ve made ourselves out of amazing team members and customers.

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We’re thankful for food, and especially for the epic potlucks that our employees outdo themselves with each and every year.

We’re also so thankful for the opportunity to give back to our fellow Austinities.

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One of our favorite ways to get back is by participating in Earning by Learning. Each year, our Ford team goes to different elementary schools to listen to kids talk about the books they’ve read. At the end of the year, the kids are rewarded with money for the amount of books completed. It’s such a fun way to inspire kids to read, and we have such an amazing time taking part in this and many other community activities.

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Last but not least?

We’re thankful for YOU! Being your Austin Ford specialist is the greatest honor.

Happy Thanksgiving, y’all!

Race For The Cure with Leif Johnson Ford

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Race For the Cure is known for fighting breast cancer both globally and locally. Whether it’s  education, screening, treatment, follow-up care, survivorship support, advocacy or research, Susan G. Komen is attacking this disease. Since 1999, Komen Austin has invested nearly $11 million into breast health services and educational efforts in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties. Globally, almost $5 million has been raised to fund research studies in search for a cure.

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Ford is a proud sponsor of Race For The Cure, and our team here at Leif Johnson Ford loves having the chance to take part in this race. This is just one of the ways our LJF family is able to give back to our amazing Austin community; We couldn’t be more thankful for these opportunities to  that allow us to give back to strong and inspiring fellow Austinites!

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Under the Hood with Barry Beard

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As the winter season approaches, it is a good idea to check your vehicle out before it gets too chilly. Our friend and expert service advisor Barry Beard recently gave us some quick but handy tips for what to check under the hood, and we couldn’t wait to share with our Ford family and friends!

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  • Everything should be easily marked underneath the hood.
  • There are handles for your transmission fluid; It’s important to remember to always check your transmission fluid while your engine is running, while the car is in neutral and parking brake set.
  • Your oil is also easily marked. You will be able to read the hash marks to check for minimum and max fill. Revert to your owner’s manual for the specific amount of oil your vehicle takes.
  • You’ll also want to make sure your coolant reservoir is always full, or at least in between the lines.
  • From there, top of your windshield wiper fluid. We all know what a pain those pesky Texas bugs can be on your windshield.
  • Last but not least, check your brake fluid. Make sure it’s to the maximum line. If it does drop below, it’s time to visit your local dealership and possibly have your brake pads checked.
  • Now that we’ve covered the fluids, remember to always check your air filter, which is usually easily removed by a little unclipping.
  • For a better idea of where to find each of these parts, check out the above video. For any other questions or if you’d like to have your vehicle serviced by our Ford experts, ask for Barry Beard at 512-454-3711.

Employee Highlights: Barry Beard

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Congrats to Mr. Barry Beard, our current employee of the month at our Truck City Ford location!

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Watching Barry for only a few minutes, it becomes obvious that he loves both his job and the customers that he works with. His customers love him right back, and he has thus become Ford famous in Buda, Texas for his awesome service skills. We took a few minutes to interview Barry to learn even more about The Beard himself.

What is your favorite part about working at Truck City Ford? : The great customers! We have such a great customer base, they turn into family and friends.

What have your learned working at TCF? : I’ve learned to believe in myself. If you put your mind to something you can achieve anything. I also had one boss tell me “Build your company inside of this company, and you’ll be successful.”

What are your hobbies outside of work?: I don’t have hobbies, I have kids. *Laughs* I have four kids. 13, 7, 4 and 2. (That’ll keep you busy!) I also like to hunt, fish, spend time outdoors. All that fun stuff.

We love chatting it up with Barry and our so glad to have incredible people like him as part of our Ford fam!

Customer Highlight: Victoria

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Victoria Horowitz bought a 2015 Ford Fusion and she couldn’t be happier with her LJF experience.

We love taking the time to get to know our customers, so we asked Victoria a few questions to learn about her life and her new Fusion love! Read on for this week’s customer highlight on Mrs. Horowitz!

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What she loved about Leif Johnson Ford: ‘Josh and Isaac really made it happen for me.’

Her favorite Fusion feature: ‘It’s so random but my favorite feature is the electronic parking break…lol! I also love the little screen above the steering wheel that displays info.’

Why the Fusion is perfect for Victoria: I’m a realtor so the car is sporty enough for me and sleek enough for clients.’

The perfect purchase for a wonderful customer!

Want to be our next customer highlight? Come in to Leif Johnson Ford today!

How To: Keep Your Car Looking And Smelling New

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You know that delightful scent of stepping into a brand new car?

Or the feel of gazing at your Ford after its had a detailed car wash?

What if we told you that you could keep that new car smell and look with just a few simple steps? Read on, Fordies!

Washing the outside:

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  • Make sure you are using a proper car soap, not regular soap.
  • Get two buckets. Fill one with soapy water and the other will regular H20.
  • Start by dipping the sponge in soapy water and begin cleaning your car. Alternate to the regular water, removing any debris you may have collected from the car. Rinse and repeat over the entirety of your vehicle.
  • Make sure to dry off your car after soaping. If you don’t, you might end up with unwanted spots.
  • Tip: Try using a microfiber cloth. They work really well!
  • When you move on to cleaning your wheels and tires, make sure to use a product that is water based and noncorrosive.
  • Clean the glass last (Windex works great!) , as it will have dirt and grime collected from the previous steps.

The inside:

  • When cleaning the inside of the windshield, use a cleaner that’s ammonia free. Ammonia has the possibility of harming the interior of your car.
  • Quick tip: To keep your mats clean, try using compressed air!
  • Also try using this compressed air on the vents to keep your car smelling new. Throwing a dryer sheet under the seat will also keep your Ford smelling extra lovely.
  • There you have it. Follow these steps to have the freshest, cleanest ride around.

If you’re looking for something even snazzier than a clean car, try some Ford add-ons! Our detail manager has the hook-up and the 411 on updates. Need in house window tinting, a leveling kit or front and rear bumper replacements? Our accessory manager is your gal! Call 512-706-6204 and ask for Misty!

Warning: Might make your friends jealous. Tell them your secret? Or don’t.

(Thanks to Fordie/Car hack pro Lewis for these awesome tips!)