Motor Trend Car of the Year Ford Fusion, and Ricart's economic grassroots movement

So here's how we are going to give a leg up to the American economy, but we need your help to do it. That's where the real "we" part comes in.

Nope, no hand outs, bail outs, or time outs. Nothing like that at all. What we are going to do is continue to sell Fords, the best quality vehicles available anywhere, and you are going to tell as many people as you can about Fords. Piece of cake.

Since we have been a Ford store since 1953, our part as Ricart Ford is pretty easy. We just keep offering folks the Ricart Experience. You know, the $1,000 low price guarantee, the best trained personnel in sales and service, selection, six acre test track, etc...

Your part in this big economic boost we have planned is easy too! Just tell your friends and family, even complete strangers little tid bits about Ford, like the 2010 Ford Fusion winning Motor Trend's Car of the Year Award. How about F150 being Motor Trend's Truck of the Year last year. Tell them about the Ford and Microsoft SYNC System that only Ford offers, or the fact the F-series has been the best selling vehicle line for over thirty years! Oh, and don't forget to mention Ford didn't take a dime of government money, and has posted a profit with American vehicles like the Taurus, Edge, Focus, Escape, Fusion, Explorer, Expedition, F-series, E-series, Mustang, and Flex.

By combing the quality of vehicles built by Ford, the quality of your buying and ownership experience provided by Ricart Ford, and you getting the word out to as many people as possible, we can create one of those 'grass roots movements" that's all over the news lately, and stage our own economic recover right here right now.

Ricart Ford in The Ricart Automotive Megamall is working with 101 Mobility to offer affordable technologies that make driving and enjoying a motor vehicle accessible to people with physical challenges, or who have family members who require special transportation considerations.

On Saturday, October 24 from 9a-12n, Ricart Ford will host informative and enlightening presentations by 101 Mobility in the Ford Showroom at 4255 South Hamilton Rd. which will showcase the tools now available to assist in making vehicle ownership and operation easier or even possible for many. From lifts, to ramps, to sources of funding assistance and more, 101 Mobility, a leader in local mobility and access equipment, and Ricart Ford will provide valuable information beneficial to anybody with mobility and vehicle questions. The Ricart Ford Mobility Team will also discuss the various manufacturer programs available to assist in the purchase of mobility devices and conversions for passenger vehicles.

Along with the displays and demonstrations, including a fully functional demo auto lift, refreshments will be served during the event, and 101 Mobility is offering free installation of all new mobility products sold at Ricart Ford that day. Guests can also register to win a 101 Mobility scooter.

Anyone with questions can call 866-392-3394. More information about 101 Mobility can be found at http://www.101mobility.com/, and about Ricart Automotive at www.ricart.com.

What'd we learn from Cash for Clunkers?

The “Cash for Clunkers” program reaffirmed something for us at Ricart Automotive that we have always known… Americans really love their cars. We could tell by looking at the woman who tearfully sat in her late 80’s Buick one last minute before driving off in her new 2010 Fusion with a smile as wide as a four lane highway. We could tell when a family asked us to take pictures of their old van and email the pictures to their house, where they would keep them as a reminder of all those miles they shared before it became a clunker. They also had us take pictures of their new Escape. The really amazing thing is, these were not rare occurrences during the “Clunkers” program.

A lot of people were sad to be trading away their old, rust and primer spotted, have seen much better days (some even with duct tape repair jobs), cars and trucks. Of course, all those very same people will soon be just as madly in love with their new Escape and Focus, Fusion and Flex, Ranger and Edge as they were with their clunker… probably an even deeper love because the economy, safety features, and quality of their new Ford is far superior to what they just got rid of. Oops, better make that traded in instead of “got rid of “. It seems like a much more fitting end to a beloved family member. And that’s the point driven home to us during “Cash for Clunkers”. No matter how much we deny it, and try to research it away, buying a new car is an emotional experience. The promise of an exciting new relationship with your latest ride, and the fond memories of your former wheels racing through your mind are a lot like feelings we usually save for our family and closest friends, probably because we see our vehicles as both.

The Ricart Automotive Family thanks and congratulates all those folks who made a new Ricart vehicle part of their family, and became part of ours during the “Cash for Clunkers” program

Ford F150 Raptor Arrives at Ricart Ford

Its existence has been rumored for a long time now. Its heritage is undeniable. Its name says it all. The 2010 Ford SVT F150 Raptor is now prowling the lot at Ricart Ford in The Ricart Megmall, and is ready for you to climb in and rip it up at your favorite off-road site… and even some places you could never dream of before the rise of The Raptor! Chances are, if the thought of being airborne in a truck at seventy miles an hour scares the living daylights out of you, then you should step away from this article and go read about the other F150’s available for you. But if you have the brass, and are willing to eat tacks, point that right big toe toward the floor, and let’s go !

The first thing you probably noticed about the Raptor is the look. This is an off-road truck, not a race car in truck’s clothing like the Lightning was. Raptor has been designed and built with the singular thought of taking your four wheel drive experience to an all new level, unless of course you are a professional Baja Racer. That’s why the Raptor’s development included painstaking tests which recorded the stresses and strains placed on all components so the SVT Team could clearly identify and rectify any issues that caused a part to perform at less than peak or even fail due to the demands placed upon it.

When you stop by Ricart Ford to scope the Raptor, take a look underneath the beast. That long traverse suspension that used to require aftermarket parts and work, and a pretty good sized pile of money was developed by the Ford SVT Team and Fox Racing, including Raptor only shocks. The front shocks have 2.7 more inches of travel than a regular F150, allowing for control of the massive forces placed on them during off-road impacts (like when your Raptor catches some brutal air). The rear bypass shocks, with extra oil to keep them cool, use an internal bypass system which, in a nutshell means you will not have to adjust the shocks while on course, maintenance is never an issue, and the chance of damage due to course debris is non-existent. No muss, no fuss!

The Ford F150 Raptor also incorporates a special SVT created powertrain function named Off-Road Mode which is push-button activated and leaves the butterfly valve wide open during acceleration, giving you a linear throttle response instead of losing power as you acceleration reaches its end like on a regular truck. If you read that last bit and are scratching your head, don’t worry… just click here for a full tour of the Raptor on Ford’s website. Oh, and the Raptor has been so well conceived and designed, the U.S. Border Patrol may be using them soon.

From the tires, to the metal used to manufacturer its components, to Fox Racing’s involvement, to the tests used during its development, to pretty much everything about the new 2010 Ford F150 Raptor, it all ads up to a true off-road truck that will take your breath away while with its looks and innovations… and leave your stomach behind you when you let it do what it was designed to do on an off-road course. Stop by Ricart Ford in The Ricart Megamall and see "it" for yourself!

Cash for Clunkers on now at Ricart Ford

This old Caddy was the first fuel swilling car taken off the road at Ricart Ford just minutes after the official start of the Federal Government's Cash for Clunkers program. While the Caddy had served them well over the years, the couple who traded it in will see dramatic savings in gas in their new 2010 Fusion, with the best mileage of any mid-size sedan. Add that to the quality, craftsmanship, and styling of the new 2010 Ford Fusion, and you get a vehicle they will be thrilled with for years to come, and by the looks of how clean their caddy was, WE MEAN YEARS!

Young folks are getting in on the Cash for Clunkers Program at Ricart Ford as well, and we have seen a really good mix of all kinds of people taking advantage of the best slection in the region of Focus, Fusions, Escapes, trucks... the whole gammut of all the new Ford vehicles that meet the CARS criteria, so if you have been sitting on the sidelines so far, it's probably a good time to stop by Ricart Ford for a visit to see exactly what the program can mean to you. If you are interested, give us a ring at 888-355-6934.

Gotta go, there's this nice lady who wants to drive an Escape on the test track...

Ford Transit Connect really is a commercial system, not just a van!

We had the Ford Transit Connect in store, and everyone who came to see this pre-release, sneak peek all had positive feedback... even the guy who worked at one of Ohio's state prisons, who thought the Transit Wagon set up would be great for transporting their "wards of the state" in. We'll take his word on that one, but all the other available features, systems, technologies, and possibilities make Transit Connect the correct choice for businesses of all kinds.

Some of the cooler features include the "Tool Link" system by Dewalt that lets you know if you have left any tools outside of your Transit Connect BEFORE you leave the job site. And speaking of sites, the in-dash Windows CE computer will keep your office on wheels connected by hands free telephone, to the Internet, and it will even let you print to the available wireless printer! Add the Garmin nav system, and you are good to go out and take your business almost anywhere... literally! If you want more information on Transit Connect, check it out here, or give The Ricart Ford Commercial Vehicle Team a call at 800-332-5872.

CARS math equals, Hurry Up!

At Ricart Ford we sat down with a calculator and did a little simple math involving the numbers you have heard thrown around whenever you hear about the "Cash For Clunkers" program.
The first number is one-billion, the amount of money the program has been given. That looks like this...
$1,000,000,000. In case you haven't counted yourself, that's with nine zeroes!
The next number is $4,000, and that's the average amount to be given by the program when you trade an uneconomical vehicle.
So, if you divide $1,000,000,000 by $4,000, you get 250,000 that will get the cash.
In today's automotive environment, that is 8 days worth of new car sales across the United States. Eight days!
The CARS program will certainly help many people to get a more economical ride, but the resources are limited, and will be honored on a first come, first served basis, so the early bird will indeed catch the worm. That's why at Ricart Ford, we invite our customers to visit our store in The Ricart Megmall now to lock in the new Ford they want, and make certain everything is in place to help make sure they do not miss out! There's even a special number they can call to set up their visit, 888-355-6934.
That sure is a bunch of numbers, so even if you aren't very good at math, the result is clear... if you are planning on going with the CARS program, best to come see us sooner than later!

Ford President's Award given to Ricart Ford

Over the years, Ricart Ford in the Ricart Megmall has received all kinds of awards. Awards from J.D. Power and Associates for being the largest volume Ford store in the country. Awards like the Consumer’s Choice award, which we have been given eight years in a row. Awards like Ford’s Blue Oval Certification for consistently meeting our customer’s expectations in sales and service. Well, we now can add The Ford Motor Company President’s Award for achieving the highest levels of customer satisfaction in sales and service… in other words, it’s an award for surpassing the expectations of our customers, and it is an award that very rarely is presented to a volume Ford store like Ricart Ford.

The Ford President’s award is based on the satisfaction surveys our customers receive, fill out, and return to Ford after they purchase or have their vehicle serviced here at Ricart Ford, and it really means more to us than any of the other awards we have gotten. It says we provide you an automotive experience you can’t get anywhere else. It shows we mean it when we say you are the most important part of our Ricart Ford Family.

If you are already part of the Ricart Ford Family, thanks! If you have yet to join the fold, we look forward to meeting you soon and showing you exactly why Ford and our customers have bestowed the honor of The President’s Award on Ricart Ford.

Ricart has Carroll Shelby autographed Mustang GT500 KR

Dick Dastardly's Mean Machine.

Marty McFly and Doc Brown’s Delorean.
Speed Racer's Mach 5.

Sure, all three of the cars above are truly one of a kind. So is the Carroll Shelby autographed 2009 Shelby Mustang GT 500 KR at Ricart Ford… the only difference is you can actual own the KR!

We’ve written before about the KR, so chances are you know it is a very limited production model. As a matter of fact, the autographed KR is number 512 for the 2009 model year, and is the last Shelby GT500 we will have for retail sale.

Of course, this probably isn’t the kind of car a kid would buy to tool around town in. The KR is for a serious car lover, one with a passion not only for the iconic Ford Mustang but who also appreciates the customizing these cars go through at the Shelby shop, tweaking them to the highest possible performance levels and creating a truly special driving experience. If you are such a driver, then the Shelby GT500 KR is the Mustang you have long dreamed of, and at Ricart Ford in The Ricart Megamall, you can make that dream come true in one of the four Mustang KR cars. You even have the choice of Black, Silver, or Red! At Ricart Ford, we have other very special Mustangs available, like the Mustang Bullitt package, and the Shelby GT500 (without the KR customization). See them all here.

Basically, it boils down to this… Ricart Ford has your dream Mustang waiting on you. As for the Mach 5, Delorean Time Machine, or The Mean Machine, you are on your own.

Ricart Ford view of winter storm.

If you live in one of the many places from the Midwest to the Northeast which has the recipient of ice and snow this past week, then you or someone you know has had or still has a car with ice patches covering some, most, or all of it… except the little peep hole you gouged out on the windshield so you could at least move the thing so you could shovel your driveway or parking space. (Of course you would never ever drive around the streets with just a peep hole, right?)

Well, seeing that Ricart Ford is located in Columbus, Ohio, we did get the ice and snow. We also thought a few tips on dealing with it are in order.

So when your vehicle is covered in ice, what do you do? If you are unable to hop the next flight to Miami or someplace even warmer, then Plan “A” of waiting on a white sandy beach until June and the natural melting of the ice before you return just isn’t an option for you.

Since you should never pour water on the vehicle to melt the ice, as this can cause “spider webbing” in the paint, you’ll probably want to go with Plan “B”. If you are able to open a door to the vehicle, just start it up, turn the car heater to defrost, adjust the heat setting as high as it goes, and turn the blower on low. Because heat rises, the top of the car is where the ice will begin to melt first. As water builds up between the car and the melting ice, you can lift the ice off in manageable pieces, but try to avoid sliding the ice off as much as possible to avoid any dirt in the ice or water scratching along the painted surface. If you can not open the door, then a long (out door) extension cord and a hair dryer can be used to melt enough ice around one of the doors to allow you to get in and move on with Plan “B”.

If windshield icing is the problem, you can also spray a mixture of ½ water and ½ vinegar on the glass to help melt the ice faster.

Obviously mentioning driving around with just a peep hole through the ice on your windshield was just a joke, because if you do drive around with ice and snow on your car, it’s gonna start breaking off as you drive and it melts, and when it does, you place all the vehicles around you in danger of being hit by the frozen debris as it flies off your car. Oh, and if you check with Law Enforcement Officials in your area, you will probably find it is illegal to drive around like that in your community, but enough of this standing on a soap box… you’ll do the right thing.

We hope this helps you with any future iced car problems, and if you ever need any other vehicle advice or assistance, just contact your Ricart Ford Family. Drive safely!

Consumer Reports recommends lots of Fords, and Ricart has them all.

It’s the start of a new year, and the accolades for Ford just keep on coming, all hot on the heels of Motor Trend’s choice of the new 2009 F150 as “The Truck of he Year”.
This time it’s Consumer Reports singing the praises of The Blue Oval by placing six Fords on its list of eight recommended vehicles from the Big Three American Manufacturers. Chevy managed to land two cars on the list, and Chrysler had none.

Consumer Reports is planning on releasing the list in their February issue, a couple months earlier than the norm, and on it will be the Ford Fusion, Taurus, and Taurus X along with the Mercury Milan, Sable, and MKZ. According to CR, this early release is a shortened list, with the complete version due in a couple of months when testing of all models and brands are complete. Looks like they just couldn’t wait to get the word out!


As part of its praise for Ford, the nation’s leading consumer periodical said that almost all Ford vehicles rank average or better for their reliability. As a matter of fact, David Champion, CR’s chief car tester said, “Ford has been doing a lot right on reliability for the past five years. It’s not immediately apparent that the Ford Fusion would be more reliable than the Toyota Camry, but it is…”

Hmmm… Fusion more reliable than Camry according to Consumer Reports, and when you buy a Fusion, the cash doesn’t hop a boat to Japan. Kind of makes you wonder why people here in The States are still buying the Toyo doesn’t it? Are you on your way to Ricart Ford in The Ricart Megamall for that new Ford yet?