“Green” Motor Oil: Innovative or Recycling Taken Too Far?

By Kristin Keller

Of course, environmental concerns are in the forefront of our minds here in Orange County.  And oil prices and sourcing are a constant concern.  But do we want recycled motor oil?  Valvoline is wagering that we do.  Earlier this year, they released bright green bottles of “NextGen” oil into the marketplace.  The NextGen oil features 50% conventional oil and 50% recycled oils.

Can - and should - oil be green?

“The petroleum base doesn’t wear out,” states Valvoline, “but the impurities need to be removed and the additive package replenished.”

Universal Lubricants based out of Wichita has released their own commercial version for dealers and independent shops.

Both makers believe their oils reduce dependence on foreign oil, reduce pollutants created during manufacturing, and reduce the need to find and drill new oil.  They also claim their oils surpass all requirements of the American Petroleum Institute.

So, what do you think?  Would you buy or recommend this oil?  Would you like Tuttle-Click Ford Lincoln in Irvine to carry recycled oils as an option for your next maintenance visit?

Speaking of oil, how long has it been since your last oil change?  Most vehicles need an oil change every 3000-5000 miles.  Start-and-stop driving conditions in and around Irvine may be hard on your engine.  Regular maintenance protects your automotive investment and helps ensure the longevity of your Ford or Lincoln.  Call us today at 949-472-5250 or click here to schedule an appointment at our Irvine Quicklane Tire and Auto Center.  Or click here to ask a Technician about a service or maintenance question.

Can SYNC keep you healthy?

by Kristin Keller

Want to check your blood sugar?  Want to know the Orange County allergen alerts for the day?  Soon, there might be “an app for that” in your Ford vehicle.  Ford researchers are developing software that would integrate with your SYNC system to keep you healthy and well by monitoring chronic diseases.  Proposed are industry-first voice-controlled in-car connections to an array of health aids from glucose monitoring devices, diabetes management services, asthma management tools and Web-based allergen alert solutions.

“Ford SYNC is well known in the industry and with consumers as a successful in-car infotainment system, but we want to broaden the paradigm, transforming SYNC into a tool that can help improve people’s lives as well as the driving experience,” said Paul Mascarenas, chief technology officer and vice president, Ford Research and Innovation.

These efforts are in beginning stages, but Tuttle-Click Ford , an Orange County Ford dealer, likes to keep our Irvine customers up-to-date on technology advances and upcoming products.  “Ford is also examining other more long-term health and wellness technologies and ideas related to, for example, heart rate, relaxation and reducing stress,” a Ford Staff Report says.

Ford's SYNC technology makes connectivity and communication while driving in Orange County easier.

Current SYNC features include: Hands-free Calling, Turn-by-Turn Directions, 911 Assist™,  Music Search, Vehicle Health Report, Personalized Daily Info, Business Search, Traffic Alerts, and Audible Text Messages.  SYNC is available on Ford Edge, Ford Escape, Ford Expedition, Ford Explorer, Ford F-150, Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus, Ford Mustang, Ford Taurus, and Ford Super Duty.  These 2011 and 2012 Ford vehicles are all available at our Irvine Ford Lincoln dealership in Orange County.

Ford Fiesta Becomes Segment’s First to Earn Top Safety Ratings in World’s Largest Auto Markets

The Ford Fiesta is now the first car in its segment to earn top crash test ratings in each of the world’s largest auto markets that perform safety testing, the U.S., China and Europe.

Beneath Fiesta’s stylish exterior is a structure crafted from high-strength steels engineered to preserve quality and enhance driver and passenger safety. More than 55 percent of Fiesta’s body structure is made from ultra-high-strength steel, and the extensive use of high-strength, lightweight boron steel helps protect critical occupant safety zones.
Fiesta offers a segment-exclusive available driver’s knee airbag, developed to help reduce lower-leg injuries in the event of a frontal collision and to work together with other safety features. The knee airbag joins a suite of Fiesta safety features that include dual-stage, first row airbags, side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags.
“Smart” Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) sensors determine occupant weight and seat belt status to optimize deployment force. The Fiesta also features class-exclusive smart sensors that use pressure pulse from a side impact to deploy up to 30 percent faster that traditional airbags with acceleration-based sensors.

Stop in Tuttle-Click Ford  today and take the Fiesta out for a spin or browse our online inventory from home and contact our internet sales team for a hassle-free quote.

Farewell Tribute to Mercury

You may have noticed that Tuttle-Click Ford Lincoln Mercury is now just Tuttle-Click Ford Lincoln.  Ford decided last year to drop the Mercury brand and we, like many in the industry have mixed feelings on this subject.  Mercury has joined Pontiac, Saturn, Oldsmobile and Plymouth in the list of now-defunct Detroit car brands.  A quick look around the Internet digs up many conflicting opinions on the Mercury brand:

“Mercury—as a brand of cars—ceased to be different, relevant or compelling decades ago. Mercury came about to combat midpriced cars from Oldsmobile and Dodge in 1939. Over the decades, the principle of the decreasing mean saw Fords and Mercurys become ever more similar, sapping the brand of any distinctiveness. It starved for identity. Industry watchers noted the floundering when FMC attempted lame fixes and half-hearted saves, including the radical idea of introducing sub-brand Merkur in 1985.” -Rex Roy, Popular Mechanics

“Edsel Ford is revered in the family and Mercury was his creation.  This is the end of an era” John Wolkonowicz, a former Ford product planner.

“As I’ve often said in the past few years, Mercury is Ford’s Buick; meaning that there is no reason for it to exist and that the brand is irrelevant in today’s world. [But I] liked how Mercurys looked and drove.” – TheAutoChannel.com

“Mercury started to have a separate identity in the 90s when it had the Cougar coupe and the Villager minivan….but they chickened out and reverted back to only selling renamed Fords.” “So long Mercury, it was nice knowing you. Great line with what I always thought had good engineering lines and better interior than comparable Fords. Had a sweet Cougar back in the 90′s. Financially good move for Ford but I hate to see another great American brand go by the wayside.”- Commenters on USAToday

So what do YOU think of the end of the Mercury era?  What was your favorite Mercury vehicle?  You can still get a quality preowned Mercury at Tuttle-Click Irvine.  Click here to see our current inventory of used Mercury, including Grand Marquis, Mariner, and more.

Online vs Traditional Car Buying

by Kristin Keller

“There are two entrances into today’s new car dealership.  The first entrance is the traditional one where customers walk onto the car lot, wait for a salesman to approach them, hear the sales pitch and then hash out a deal in a sales office.  The new entrance leads into the ‘virtual dealership.’ Shoppers can read car reviews, scope out photos and price their dream cars — all on the Internet.  Which of these two paths to new car ownership result in a lower price for the consumer? And, which of these two approaches will be the most pleasant buying experience for shoppers?”  — Philip Reed, Senior Consumer Advice Editor, Edmunds.com

According to recent statistics from Edmunds, internet buying accounts for about 30 percent of all vehicle sales.  So is shopping online right for you, or should you visit the dealership?  Let’s look at the two options so you can decide what is best for your next car purchase.

Internet Shopping – Internet Sales Managers offer a different buying experience.  His or her computer skills and ability to correspond via e-mail, monitor Web sites and grasp the psychology of on-line buyers made them a natural for this position.   Internet Sales Mangers tend to focus on quantity of sales, rather than on maximizing profit.  Therefore, the initial price quotes from an Internet Sales Manager are often very close to the absolute lowest selling price for a given vehicle (of course you may negotiate with a traditional salesperson and end up at the same price).  Test drives and vehicle demonstrations are still a part of the process, but typically your time spent at the dealership is much less.

In-Person Shopping – Many customers still prefer the traditional car buying experience.  If you want a lot of personal attention, a more hands-on approach and more extensive test driving and demonstrations of the vehicle, it makes more sense to visit the dealership and deal with a traditional salesperson.  While many customers have been turned off by high-pressure tactics and sneaky practices, Tuttle-Click offers honest, up-front pricing and works with you every step of the way to ensure your comfort and satisfaction throughout the buying process.

Tuttle-Click strives to provide a hassle-free experience and fair prices, so whatever you decide, we know you’ll be satisfied with your deal and the service you receive.

To reach our Internet Salesperson, click here and fill out the form on our website or call 800-414-7516.

Tuttle-Click, on the Corner of Rockfield and BAKE

By Britni Threlkeld

I love to bake! I have been baking for years and find every excuse in the book to bake up something sweet. My excuses range from the usual holidays & birthdays, to “Because It’s the Weekend” Cookies or “Just for the Heck of It” Pies. I share my love of baking with my co-workers at the Tuttle-Click Automotive Group and I am loved for all my sinfully sweet treats. I love to try out a lot of new recipes and keep my creative juices flowing.

One common recipe that is a HUGE hit among my Tuttle-Click family is my Monkey Bread recipe. For those of you who have not tried or heard of Monkey Bread, it is a must! Monkey Bread is also known as African Coffee Cake, Golden Crown, Pinch-Me-Cake and Bubbleloaf. The bread is a sticky gooey pastry covered in cinnamon sugar doused in melted butter and brown sugar and comes complete with a delicious Cream Cheese icing. This bread is better than Cinnabon any day!  The Technicians in our QuickLane service center are my biggest fans.

Our Ford dealership in Irvine will feature a café after our construction is complete, and will sell gourmet coffees and bakery goodies, as well as sandwiches.  I know that even when the café opens, I will get requests for my treats.

Formerly a secret amongst our Orange County dealership employees, here is the recipe that is so loved throughout the Tuttle-Click family and is sure to be a huge hit with your family.

Britni’s Motor Monkey Bread

4 cans refrigerated biscuits
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 sticks butter (3/4 cup)
1/2 cup white sugar
2 Tablespoons cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins (these are optional, it’s great with or without them)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9-10 inch tube pan.

2. Mix white sugar and cinnamon in a medium sized plastic bag. Cut the biscuits into halves or quarters and place six to eight biscuit pieces in the sugar cinnamon mix. Shake well.

3. Arrange pieces in the bottom of the greased pan. Continue layering until all the biscuit pieces are coated and in the pan. If you are using raisins, place them among the biscuit pieces as you are layering.

4. In a small saucepan, melt the butter with the brown sugar over medium heat. Boil for 1 minute. Pour over the layered biscuits.

5. Bake for 35 minutes. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a plate. Pull apart and enjoy!

Icing Recipe

Ingredients:

1/2 pound cream cheese
1/2 pound butter
1 pound powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Directions:

1.Allow cream cheese and butter to get to room temperature.

2. Beat butter and cream cheese together in a large bowl with a mixer.

3. Slowly add in the pound of powdered sugar.

4. After all the powdered sugar is added mix for 12 minutes (do not mix less than that).

5. When almost done, add in the extract and lemon juice.

All SUVs Are Great Going Straight. Can Yours Handle The Curves? Ford Curve Control Can!

Ford’s done it again. The 2011 Explorer is going to bring Curve Control to everyone. Over the years, our history-making Explorers have brought industry-leading technology to the market.

Curve Control debuts as standard equipment on the all-new 2011 Ford Explorer going into production later this year, and will be offered on 90 percent of the company’s North American crossovers, sport utilities, trucks and vans by 2015.

The technology senses when a driver is taking a curve too quickly – a situation found to contribute to about 50,000 crashes each year in the U.S. – and rapidly reduces engine torque and can apply four-wheel braking, slowing the vehicle by up to 10 mph in about one second.

“Too many accidents stem from drivers misjudging their speed going into curves and freeway off- and on-ramps,” said Sue Cischke, Ford group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “Ford’s Curve Control technology senses a potentially dangerous situation and reduces power and applies brakes more quickly than most drivers can react on their own.”

What do you think about the move? Is this a feature you’re looking for in a SUV for safety? Let us know!