Leif Johnson Auto Group

Latest Posts

2016 Ford Explorer

Published by leifjohnsonfordatx

The 2016 Ford Explorer has just arrived at Leif Johnson Ford, and she’s a beauty.

Here’s what we’ve loving about our newest addition:

The new body style: The sharper angles are sexier than ever.
The 180 degree camera is a convenience not afforded to previous Explorers. This includes front and rear wide-angle lens cameras that have their own built in washers. Fancy, eh?
An active grille closes on the freeway to reduce drag and opens at lower speeds, thus offering more air.
Smart charging USB ports charge smart devices up to two times faster than conventional ports
The Sony sound system is back, but better than before. Live Acoustics and Clear Phase are made to bring realistic concert-quality audio on the 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum trim. Also noteworthy: This is the first time high-end Sony home audio technology has been used inside a vehicle!
The premium version boasts acoustic glass, brushed-aluminum and satin-finished ash wood trim pieces, plus a heated wood and steering wheel wrapped in leather, just to name a few things about the snazziest of interiors.
Parallel/perpendicular Parking Assist always comes in handy.
The new available engine: a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 280 hp.
Same as Ford previous, the inflatable seatbelts helps to keep your family extra safe.
The Explorer has been the America’s best selling SUV for years and years, and it’s only getting better and better. Call us today ((512) 454-3711)) to schedule a test drive of this luxurious yet family friendly ride today!

Summer Car Tips

Published by leifjohnsonfordatx

It’s summertime in Texas, and the living is easy. And really, really hot.

Leif Johnson Ford is here to prepare you for these sizzling months.with some quick summertime vehicle tips.

If possible, keep your car in the garage or keep it covered to sidestep much damage from the sun. Sun damage on cars can fade paint and interior materials over time.
This is another tip for older cars or even newer cars without a reliable air cooling system. (AKA probably not a Ford….Ha. But really.) It’s possible you may need a recharge as this hot summer gets under way. You definitely do not want any coolant issues in Austin, Texas in July, right?! If your AC just isn’t seeming to get cool enough, stop by Leif Johnson Ford and have a service tech check it out for you!
Here’s one for the safety of your kiddos: You may think you would NEVER leave your kiddo unattended in a hot car, but the fact is this: Nearly 1 in 4 parents of a child under 3 has forgotten the child in a car. If your kid is silent and you are distracted, it is possible that this could happen to you, and it’s definitely better to be safe than sorry. Here’s what you do- Leave ONE shoe in the backseat near your little one’s car seat. You aren’t going to want to walk on any hot sidewalks or inside a store without your shoe, and you’re sure to notice this mistake as soon as you walk out of your car.
If you do a lot of driving on dirt or gravel roads, or even if you’ve just never checked your air filter, it may be time for a change. A clogged air filter can definitely make your fuel efficiency substantially lower. Replacing a dirty or clogged air filter may improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent!
Summertime is famous for crazy downpours, and you don’t want your blades to fail you here. When replacing a wiper blade, it’s best to replace the entire blade, not just the rubber part. Our Auto Part store would be happy to help you find the right make and model!
If you’re driving a lot of miles this summer, you’re going to want to make sure your oil is on par. There’s two things you’re wanting to check here: The level of the oil and the color of the oil. To check your oil, let your car run for a few minutes, then park it on a level surface and turn your engine off. If the oil is low, either add another quart or completely change the oil. As for how the oil should look? It should be brownish yellow and clean on the stick. If the oil is a dark color or there’s a lot of grime in there, it’s time for an oil change AND oil filter replacement.
Because newer cars are more likely using synthetic blends or oil weights that are fine for year-round use, this tip is more for older vehicles. In the summer, use thicker oil to protect engine components when it’s steamy out and oil flows more easily.
Tire pressure changes as the temperatures rise– take a look at your owner’s manual or the sidewall of your tire to see what your tire pressure should be. Proceed to check it with a hand pressure gauge or just let your friends here at Leif Johnson Ford do the dirty work for you!

Regular maintenance is really key here. Oil changes, tire rotations, and other basic car tasks are important, no matter the time of year, and no matter the weather you should be checking your oil and tire pressures now and again. If you’re uncertain about the status of any of these things, we are here for you! Give us a call at 512-454-3711. We look forward to your summer visit!

Customer Highlights: Transit Families

Published by leifjohnsonfordatx

The Ford Transit is a great choice for those needing lots of space for a slew of passengers. This means the Transit makes for a pretty perfect family vehicle. Plenty of room is a definite perk, but let’s not forget added bonuses like the Ford Sync system–to keep the family entertained– and the rearview backup camera– to keep your clan safe. The 2015 Transit even offers advanced features like, Quickclear™, which allows you to rapidly remove ice, snow and mist from the windshield with a simple push of a button. It’s convenience with a bit of luxury thrown in too. That’s why these families couldn’t have made a better choice than the Ford Transit.

Meet Candace– Mama, Realtor at Kevin Williams, Dog-owner and in general, ONE BUSY LADY. What’s the ideal vehicle for hauling clients, kids and pups? The Ford Transit, obviously.

Next we have Todd and Christi. Picture above is one of their FIVE little ones. That’s right. Five. That’s a lot of car seats, y’all. These parents have their hands full, and they need a vehicle that’s ready to go along for the ride of their life. Can you take a guess at what the best one for this full house is? If you guessed the Ford Transit, we have a winner!

There you have it! The Ford Transit: Spacious, safe, fun and perfect for your big crew!

Employee Highlights: Marri Stokes

Published by leifjohnsonfordatx

We just wanted to take a moment to give a shout out to the wonderful Marri Stokes, our internet director here at Leif Johnson Ford. She has just reached seventeen years of working with us, and we couldn’t be more thankful for her hard work, wonderful attitude and incredible leadership skills. She works remotely, so though we don’t see her often, we don’t know what we would do without her! Like the Charlie of Charlie’s Angels, she is rarely seen but a vital part of our team just the same.

When asked what her favorite thing about working at Leif was, she told us this:

“Our company truly values people on a personal level, both employee and customer. Just like a family we have celebrated life’s great joys together and we have held each other up through life’s great pains. Leif Johnson Ford is a place full of people who care deeply about the friends they work with, the people they serve and the work they do. It’s a joy and honor to get to work for such a place.”

We are so very honored to have had her as part of this family for seventeen years!

Road Trip Tips from Leif Johnson Ford

Published by leifjohnsonfordatx

It’s almost summer, and that means it’s the absolute perfect time to make memories by hitting the road.

Before you and yours head out on that summertime road-trip, Leif Johnson Ford has a few tips to keep you safe and make your trip as fun and simple as possible.

1. Download handy car apps like Breakdown Lane App and Waze.

Waze alerts you of traffic and allows you to interact with others on the road, while Breakdown Lane App will show you an instant map of the closest mechanics and their customer rankings, complete with reviews and ratings from Car Talk website visitors.

2. Don’t over drive, and make frequent stops.

Stop for a short break every few hours to walk around to help stay alert. Also remember that professional truckers aren’t supposed to drive more than 11 hours in a 14-hour workday, and it’s been proven that driving tired is just as dangerous as driving drunk. A tip from your friends at Leif Johnson Ford: Don’t do it!

3. Don’t forget the Basic Repair Kit

Have a repair kit on hand for those DIY fixes. The most important things bring along are a few different sizes of regular and Phillips-head screwdrivers, vice grips, bailing wire to secure an errant muffler and a roll of duct tape.

4. Check the Air Pressure, and don’t forget the spare!

Check tire pressures, spare included, Before you leave for your trip, check its pressure, and make sure you have everything to install the latter if need be.

5. Remember to frequently check gauges.

Sure, they look nice with all of their pretty colors, but they’re not just there for show. At some point something will go wrong, and there’s a good chance these gauges will let you know before your car is sent into breakdown mode.

6. If you’re going up a steep hill or a mountain, DON’T speed up.

Say what? But really. Your engine is working a lot harder to get your car up a hill, and slowing down just a tad will help you by saving wear and tear, lessening the damage done by overheating, and improving your gas mileage. And don’t forget those steep places without guardrails. Slowing down can be not only beneficial, but even lifesaving, y’all.

7. Don’t be too speedy for too long.

It’s easy to get into a bit of a daze and end up so driving along at a pretty fast pace. Here’s the thing: This is a lot of demand on your car’s engine, and causes your vehicle to work much harder than it would at 55 mph. If you go with the flow (aka speed limit) you’ll end up keeping your engine’s lubricant alive longer and, ergo, your engine’s component alive as well.

And last but not least,

8. Get Your Car Checked Out

Don’t wait until you’re on the road to check that your vehicle is ready for a long trip. Take your vehicle to Leif Johnson Ford to be thoroughly serviced before you go. You can rest assured in knowing that we will make sure your vehicle is summer road-trip ready. Call us at (512) 454-3711 and set up an appointment today. We look forward to your visit!

Wesley’s Top Five: 2015 F-150

Published by leifjohnsonfordatx

Salesman Wesley first started as part of our Leif Johnson Ford team back in 1995. We love having his fun, knowledgeable and Ford-loving personality as part of our team. He was recently recognized by Ford as a Level 4 Achiever for Employee Excellence, and we couldn’t be more proud of him for this achievement.

When asked what his favorite vehicle is, he said it was definitely the 2015 Ford F-150. We’d love to share with you Wesley’s F-150 Top 5. (Complete with commentary!)

1. Twin panel moonroof.

It’s huge—like a swimming pool!

2. Adaptive cruise control.

Takes stress out of driving and paces your driving. Let’s you just chill out while you drive!

3. Power deployable running boards.

They come down really low, making it very easy to get in! Great for grandma, but it goes right back into the truck, making for better fuel efficiency.

4. Multi-contour seats.

Massaging, air conditioned AND adjustable. Promotes circulation and when you get to wherever you’re going you feel refreshed.

5. The power!

Great mileage and even greater performance!

To contact Wesley for your own F-150 (or other great Ford) test drive today, email him at wstaton@johnsonford.com or call at 512-706-6222!

Sync Tips from Leif Johnson Ford

Published by leifjohnsonfordatx

Hello, Austin (and beyond )! With Sync 3 about to make a debut, today our friendly Leif Johnson Ford sync tech Peter wanted to share some quick tips just with you. These seven pointers will help your sync system work as smoothly and efficiently as possible. If you have absolutely any more sync-related questions or thoughts, just contact the email at the bottom of this post, and one of our techs will be with you asap!

Because of Austin’s hands free law, make sure blue tooth is always on so that calls goes directly to car.
Make sure when phone is connected, that you are only answering it and receiving calls from the car, not the phone.
If you need to have a private phone call, find a place to pull over engage privacy mode. Privacy mode is a way for the car to send calls to the phone so that you can talk without the phone disrupting the car’s control.
When using privacy mode, make sure you hang up from car not the phone.
When using voice commands to call somebody, make sure you are speaking forward with eyes on the road and driving normally. The microphone is designed to pick up your voice as though you are speaking into windshield as you keep your eyes on the road.
If SYNC has trouble understanding your voice command there are three things you can do. 1. Go into phone menu and phone book to entry you are having trouble with. From there check to see how computer pronounces name. Say it the way your SYNC would say it. For example, Manchaca, which Austinites pronounce as “Man-shack,” must be pronounced “Man-chah-kah.” 2. Make sure you are saying name exactly as is in phone book. If Joe is in your phone book as “Joe annoying neighbor” yo must say “Call Joe annoying neighbor” 3. Sync does best with both first and last names. She may confuse other entries without first and last name. If you have Joe in your phone book as just Joe and also have a Boe Baggins, she’ll ask you if you mean Joe or Boe. This is because she can’t compare Joe’s nonexistent -last name to Baggins.
Most importantly— When in hands free mode and hanging up, hold button down until you know for sure you have hung up. This can take as long to three seconds.

If you have questions- mytouch@leifjohnsonford.com

Need For Speed– Customer Highlight

Published by leifjohnsonfordatx

Taylor Anderson has a self professed “need for speed.”

Back in 2012, he bought his 2013 Mustang from Leif Johnson Ford, and today he was back for a routine oil change and tire rotation. When asked how he likes his Mustang, he enthusiastically tells us, “It’s been so great.”

Taylor is a twenty year old studying law enforcement at Texas State, but he has a pretty impressive hobby on the side. At the age of only 17, Taylor became a pilot. His dad is also a pilot, so you could probably say that flying runs in this family. A Mustang is most definitely the perfect vehicle for an adventurous and adrenaline-craving spirit such as Taylor.

As he waited for his current Mustang to get serviced up, Taylor couldn’t help admiring our more current model. In fact, before leaving, he made sure to test drive the 2015 Mustang Convertible.

We couldn’t be more proud to help fuel Mr. Anderson’s need for speed!

Happy Earth Day! #BuiltFordGreen

Published by leifjohnsonfordatx

Happy Earth Day!

Fun Facts:

In recent years, Ford has made it a priority to reduce worldwide greenhouse emissions.

25 bottles of water are used in the carpeting of each 2015 Ford Escape.

H.I. Heinz and Ford are in the process of attempting to turn tomato skins into floor mats.

Ford uses old nylon carpeting to make resin for engine cooling fans and engine covers.

Ford Escape and Focus are more than 80 percent recyclable.

Paint fumes are turned into fuel at Michigan Truck Plant.

Ford Dearborn’s Truck Plant has the World’s Largest Living Roof, coming in at 10.4 acres of a drought resistant perennial groundcover called sedum. Sedum helps absorb up to 4 million gallons of water annually and is part of a storm water management system installed at Rouge. This roof also produces oxygen and provides natural overhead insulation for the final assembly building, which reduces energy costs.

Ford is the first two time winner of EPA’S Energy Star Award.

Since 2013, the Ford Motor Company has reduced greenhouse emissions by 9%

Between 2011 and 2016, Ford is estimated to reduce waste per vehicle by 40%.

These are just some of the ways that Ford is proud to be a partner in sustainability. Making driving greener one vehicle at a time!

Customer Highlights: Ken and Mark

Published by leifjohnsonfordatx

Ken and Mark O’Dea are brothers, and they’ve both inherited some rather adventurous spirits. So far, they’ve made their way from New Jersey all the way to Austin, Texas and Leif Johnson Ford, though the latter wasn’t exactly intentional. After riding their motorcycles all throughout trails in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, they came to Austin to ride on the famous three sister trails of the Texas Hill Country. Unfortunately, their truck started having some maintenance issues once they got here, so they flat-bedded their way out to us.

But why choose Leif Johnson Ford, when they had never even heard of our dealership living way up north? That answer is pretty simple: The customer service. Ken says he had called another dealership in the area and didn’t receive much of a welcoming vibe. That’s when he called us, and talked to our service advisor Darla. “Darla was awesome.” he told us. He let us know that, not only was she knowledgeable and friendly, but that she also sounded excited to help out. She told Ken and Mark about Greg, Leif’s very own “diesel specialist” , and the rest is history.

I- the social media representative for Leif- had the pleasure of meeting Ken and Mark as they sat by their motorcycles, waiting for their truck to be ready for the road. I loved that these two were not going to let anything stop them from their adventures- and that Leif Johnson Ford had the chance to be a helping hand in this exhilarating chapter of their lives. We couldn’t be more elated to help them get back to their journey!