The New Ford Focus

Now We have had the New Focus here for a few days now, and keep looking at it, and believe me it is worth looking at, because we cant find a picture that captures the true greatness of this car.

Yes it is great to drive-I would say that.

Yes it is comfortable - I would say that.

It looks beautiful in the flesh, but annoyingly i can't find a picture that shows you that, and unfortunately we all buy first with our eyes, and i cant find a picture that will get you into our showrooms to look at what i believe is the best car we have launched for years - Unless you can just believe me on this one and come and take a look, take a drive and make the decision for yourself.

I could at this point start to go through all the new technology that is involved, but they are all in the new brochure, all I will tell you, is that the drive is so smooth it even took some of our lovely pot holed roads and I didn't flinch, thinking I had just buckled a wheel (not the deep deep ones of course) and it corners so positively it makes you feel secure.

All i am trying to say is don't look at the pictures come and look at the real thing!

Most loved business in Buckingham

But we weren't on our own.

Press release

A national campaign to find Britain's most loved local businesses has discovered that Swan School of Dog Training and Buckingham Ford tied to become Buckingham's favourite small businesses.

Hundreds of local people from Buckingham put forward their nominations for their favourite local business as part of a national campaign run by local business champions Richard Clapham of thebestof.co.uk/buckingham.

Richard Clapham from thebestof Buckingham said, "The huge number of local people who took time to write testimonials goes to show just how important great local businesses are to this local community, especially during difficult economic times. Small businesses including those in Buckingham and the surrounding area are the engine room of our economy and lots of local business owners in Buckingham - and their loyal staff - are feeling great this morning because their efforts have been recognised and appreciated by so many of their customers."

Jane James from Swan School of Dog Training said the following:

"This is great news and I am grateful to all those customers (and dogs!) who have supported us. We love doing what we do, have fun doing it and feel our customers have a good time It is always wonderful to have that confirmed. Thanks also to Lizzie and Andew my trainers for their hard work and dedication.":

Ian Redding, MD of Buckingham Ford said the following:

"As a well established local small business we are thrilled at this result and would like to thank those customers who gave us such wonderful feedback. We strive to give a good service to our customers both in the car showroom and the workshop and it is wonderful when our efforts are seen to have the desired effect."

And once again a big thank you to all our customers for sending there messages of love into the best of. The other good news from this is that we came 3rd in the country for the car dealer section with our sister dealership Bicester Ford coming in 3rd overall.

Eighth Car supplied to The convent of Jesus and Mary

Over the 15 years since we have been in Buckingham, the convent of Jesus and Mary, at Thornton college have been loyal customers of ours.

In that time we have supplied at least eight cars to them, mainly Ford Focus 5 doors and Estates, but this time they choose to go for the Fiesta as it suited them, for getting around locally.

Before making the purchase Sister Mary bought three of her colleagues down to make sure they would all be comfortable.

Sister Mary said "We were looking to replace the Focus we had bought from Buckingham Ford, and required something a little bit smaller, James showed us how much space we could enjoy in the New Fiesta, and that this one had been owned by one local person, it was ideal for what we wanted"

Supporting Buckingham School

Buckingham School have now got there own Motor vehicle management course, including there own Garage/workshop for students to learn in.

I hope to visit them soon to take a look at what they are doing with the Ford Escort we have given them, this will enable them to gain practical knowledge working on this vehicle, giving them a better understanding than just the theory side.

Hopefully this will give us some future apprentices, who will start with a greater understanding, of working in a workshop.

Ford press release about new product

This is just an extract of a press release this week re developments coming, and going to be announced at Geneva motor show.

The 81st Geneva Motor Show will be the stage for a series of major new vehicle and customer focused technology announcements by Ford. Ford of Europe Chairman and CEO Stephen T. Odell will unveil a ground breaking new vehicle during a Ford news conference at 14:30 on March 1 at the Ford stand, in Hall 5.

"Today Ford has its strongest product line-up ever and we've got an aggressive plan to keep our vehicle portfolio the freshest in the industry," Odell said. "We have at least 20 new models and derivatives coming across our entire European range - from small cars to commercial vehicles - and at Geneva we will be introducing some of these. From zero emission electric vehicles like the new Focus Electric, the versatile new Ranger Wildtrak and the Vertrek SUV concept - that hints at the next-generation Kuga - to our latest rally car, the Fiesta RS WRC, they will all be on the Ford stand."

Ford also plans the European debut of the C-MAX Energi, a pre-production version of the plug-in hybrid first shown at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, that will launch in Europe in 2013. The vehicle will be built at Ford’s Valencia plant in Spain.

Exciting times ahead. Starting with the new Focus later this month.

A great day out yesterday

The New Ford Focus launch to the dealers, what a great car and packed with new features I had never heard of.

Torque vectoring control - no i hadn't heard about it either, but a great safety feature, designed to improve traction, roadholding and agility when cornering. to us laymen it will adapt the maximum grip you have at each wheel.

Not just making it safer but gives you a better driving experience - and it is standard.

Blind spot information system is available as an option - great for the motorway, when you look in the mirror to change lane, it will illuminate to tell you that there could be another vehicle in your blind spot.

And a range of new engines, with improved power and fuel economy, not the two things you would normally hear in the same sentence.

I will admit i wasn't that excited about this car until yesterday, when i saw it and experienced it for myself, this is a car to get excited about, it was like when the first Focus came along to replace the Escort all over again.

And the new Estate version, fantastic, but I will save that for another day. If you want to come and get a preview of this new car before the public launch on March 11th let me know I may be able to help.

More New Focus information coming every day as i get the news myself.

14 Days Of Love Kindest Testimonial so far

I have received this glowing testimonial this morning, Just to give it a bit of background.

Alan and Sandy came to us after being recommended to us in Milton Keynes, and have been a pleasure to deal with ever since. I won't go on as I think their words say it all.

"We have been purchasing our cars (eight to date) from Buckingham Ford since 1998 and would not consider going anywhere else. Ian and Mike and the Team almost feel part of the family and their personal and friendly service is fantastic. We always do some research on prices before going to see them and they always give us a good deal. The Team, from Ian through to the mechanics, are the epitome of customer service, to whom nothing is too much trouble. We cannot praise them enough and would not hesitate to recommend them to anybody. Our thanks to all at Buckingham Ford for always giving us a pleasant experience when we visit. Keep up the excellent work. (There aren't enough hearts in the business rating, we would give them at least 10). Alan and Sandy Hastings Bletchley Milton Keynes."

14 Days of Love

A big thank you to all our customers who have visited the link below and left us a testimonial, during the 14 days of love.

The campaign is designed to show some love to the local businesses that you appreciate, take a look at what our customers have been saying.

http://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/buckingham/business-guide/feature/buckingham-ford/5170/review

Thanks once again for all those great words