Sunset Ford Dealer Blog

Commuting has become a lot more high tech than ever before, thanks to the 2008 Focus and a variety of handheld gadgets. Here are some of the most useful and interesting technological tools you can have on your commute:

The 2008 Ford Focus and the Sync system

The Sync system, developed by Microsoft and Ford together, brings a whole new handsfree element to your driving experience. From your cell phone to your MP3 player, the SYNC is able to create a voice-based interface for you to communicate with and manipulate your electronic equipment.

iPod 80 GB Portable Media Device

The iPod, of course, isn’t the only MP3 player you can use on your commute. Whether you have a Zune or an iPod, the SYNC system inside the Ford Focus is able to interface with your device. You can use voice commands to search for a song by artist, title, or even album.

BlackBerry 7303e mobile phone

Much more than just a phone, this device is capable of web browsing, document viewing, and all sorts of other activities. Because it’s Bluetooth capable, it can also interface with your 2008 Ford Focus and its SYNC system, so that you can make handsfree calls with your BlackBerry device. A great alternative to the BlackBerry is the Treo 700p Smartphone, which allows you similar sorts of functionality.

Bose QuietComfort 3 Noise-Canceling Headphones

These amazing headphones will allow you to be able to hear everything from your podcasts to telephone conversations, regardless of how noisy the city may be during your commute.

Olympus WS-310M Digital Voice Recorder

While the SYNC system does have a voice recorder, this device will allow you to record up to 138 hours of audio, and it’s portable. Use this digital voice recorder to make a grocery list, dictate your novel, or just remind yourself to call your mother on her birthday.

Take care, of course, when using any gadget in your car. While the 2008 Ford Focus SYNC system does make things easier and safer with its handsfree capabilities, you still need to be on the lookout for distracted driving in order to get to your destination safely.

With gas prices going up and down around the $4 mark this summer, everyone is talking about fuel economy. Some people who would never otherwise consider buying an economy car like the 2008 Ford Focus are suddenly looking into vehicles along those lines.

In addition to choosing a car that’s good on gas mileage like the 2008 Ford Focus, there are some other things that you can do to save gas. Here are a few tips to make things easier on your wallet when you’re at the gas station:

Drive defensively. If you drive aggressively by speeding, frequently accelerating, and frequently braking, you can lose as much as a full third of your gas mileage when you’re on the highway. While the percentage is smaller when you’re driving through town, you still burn more gas when you’re driving in an aggressive way.

Follow the speed limit. Generally speaking, your fuel economy is optimal at right around 60 miles per hour. While this can vary from one vehicle to another, 60 is usually the point at which fuel economy starts to worsen. For every 5 miles per hour over 60 you drive, you’re going to lose anywhere from 7 to 23 percent on your fuel economy.

Get rid of excess weight. It might be that you’ve got some equipment in your trunk that you’re not using. You should be able to save as much as 2% on your gas mileage by removing 100 pounds from the weight of what your Ford Focus is carrying.

Avoid idling. Idling, of course, gets you zero miles per gallon. While a smaller car like the 2008 Focus is going to waste less gas than a truck with a V-8 engine, idling still wastes gas.

Use cruise control. If your vehicle has cruise control, use it. It avoids all sorts of unintentional speeding up and slowing down, which waste gas in the long run. By using the cruise, you help the engine stay at a constant rate.

Fishing for sport can be a wonderful family hobby. Whether you drive your Ford truck to a secluded lake where you camp and fish for several days, or whether you go to your local fishing hot spot for the day, bringing the family along with you provides a number of opportunities for bonding, and helps you to pass the fishing hobby along to the next generation.

Teaching your children to fish can be challenging, however. You need to be able to make sure they have a good time, but you also want them to learn. Here are a few tips to help you get started teaching your children to fish:

Make it easy. Fish somewhere that’s well-stocked with fish. For a child to become interested in a hobby like fishing, she should have some experience of success.

Make it a learning experience. Show your child how to bait a hook and how to cast, but don’t do it for them to start with. If they struggle, offer assistance, but allow them the opportunity to try doing it on their own.

Make it comfortable. Dress your child in layers, in case the temperature was to rise or drop. In addition, try to provide comfortable seating. Physical discomfort will only distract your child from his enjoyment.

Make it active. The fact of the matter is that children become bored easily. Make sure they’ve got something to do. Even if they only fish for a short time and then go on to another activity, at least they’ve had the experience.

Make it safe. Use life jackets if you’re going to be out over the water fishing. Also, make sure you’ve got a first aid kit handy for the inevitable fishhook accident.
Make it positive. When it comes to teaching children, it can be easy to become frustrated or irritated. Remember that you’re trying to engender interest in the hobby, and be patient and understanding with your children along the way.

If you need a new way to get to your favorite fishing spot, come see us. We’re your Kirkwood, MO Ford dealer and we’ve got just the right vehicle for your needs.

Here in the United States, it is easy to take for granted the quality vehicles, such as a 2008 Ford Focus, we see going down our streets every day. In many ways, domestic cars are so commonplace that we don’t notice their extraordinary characteristics. It takes someone from another part of the world to point them out to us. Only then do we realize how amazing a car like the 2008 Focus can be.

That’s exactly what the FFOC does. The Ford Focus Owners Club, based in the United Kingdom, is a group of Ford Focus owners who get together both online and in person to celebrate their love of the Ford Focus.

Much like other car clubs, the FFOC is open to anyone willing to pay the membership fee. You don’t have to own a Ford Focus to join. Having said that, once you join the FFOC, you’ll be wanting to go out and buy a 2008 Ford Focus soon after.

The Ford Focus Owners Club provides a regular newsletter, a web site, and even an online shop. The newsletter is not only available in print, but it is available on CD-ROM, as well. They have regional meets, where members can get together and display their vehicles.

The FFOC promotes itself at national and local auto shows. Members of the FFOC have also been known to drop flyers on the windshields of other Ford Focus owners.

The FFOC website is a truly amazing thing. It features forums, where you can find Ford Focus reviews, maintenance tips, performance ideas, and just friendly conversation. It has a news section, where you can find out the latest information about the Ford Focus world and the Ford Focus Owners Club. It has a store where you can purchase memorabilia, as well. There are even journals written by Ford Focus Owners at the website.

Your Saint Louis auto dealer can help you learn more about the 2008 Ford Focus, and show you exactly why this car has captured the minds, hearts and imaginations of people all over the world.

One of the dangers of driving a car to and from work every day is the possibility that it will get cluttered. This is especially true if you have a family. Things just seem to get left behind in the car. Keeping your car clean is especially important when you drive an economy vehicle like the 2008 Ford Focus.

Here are some ways you can keep your Ford Focus clean:

•    Keep things that belong in the glove compartment in there. Things like a flashlight, tire gauge, napkins, vehicle registration information and proof of insurance, maps,  and your owner’s manual should always stay inside the glove compartment. If you’ve got to take something out of there, put it back right away.

•    Keep maintenance supplies in the trunk. Things like extra wiper fluid, antifreeze or other liquids should be stored in airtight containers so that they don’t leak all over the vehicle.

•    Keep a trash bag or small trash bin in the back seat, and use it when you have trash. Empty it at least once a week, or more frequently if it fills up quicker.

•    Store Compact Discs in a CD case that attaches to your visor. Better yet, use an MP3 player and avoid the hassle of carrying media around with you at all times.

•    Clean your 2008 Ford Focus monthly. Take everything out of the car and the trunk. Throw away any garbage. Sort everything else into piles. Take the things that belong inside the house inside. Put the things that belong in the trunk back in the trunk. Same goes for the glove compartment.

•    When you clean out your Focus, clean your interior surfaces. Wipe down the doors and the dash. Clean the windows. Shake out the floor mats. Vacuum the seats and the floors.

•    Clean all interior surfaces. Vacuum the floors and seats, wipe down the dash and doors, clean windows and shake out the floor mats.

Commuting in a car like a Ford Focus can be comfortable and easy, but it can also create a good bit of wear and tear on your car. Here are some things you can do in order to keep your Ford Focus or other commuting car in tip-top shape:

•    Keep on schedule. It’s easy, especially when you have a longer commute, to get behind on oil changes and routine maintenance. If you’re driving 50 miles each way to work, for example, you’re going to need an oil change about once every six weeks, rather than every three months. Keep your maintenance up to make sure your commute is a reliable one.

•    Keep it clean. If you’re spending an hour or more in your car each way, you’re likely to get bored. You’re going to want to eat. Often, you’re going to need to drink something. Whenever possible, don’t eat in the car at all. If you drink in the car, use a plastic bottle with a cap so that you can seal the  drink tightly and prevent spills. Use a no-spill coffee cup for your coffee, too. If you smoke, don’t smoke inside the car as you run the risk of burning holes in the interior and stinking up the cabin.

•    Pay attention to your tires. Check your tire pressure weekly. Low tire pressure can affect your vehicle’s performance and even your gas mileage.

•    Drive defensively. Safe driving techniques keep your vehicle out of accidents. In addition, defensive driving tends to be much easier on you engine and your transmission, too.

Doing these three things should help increase the life and value of your 2008 Ford Focus, even if you use it for a long daily commute.

School’s out, summer has begun and you’re thinking of taking off with your friends on a road trip. There is nothing more exhilarating than packing up your new Ford car and just getting away for a while. So before you pick up your friends, read on to find some helpful tips that will make your next road trip something to remember.

The first thing to decide is do you have a destination in mind? This may be the perfect opportunity to visit those American landmarks you always said you’d go and visit. But sometimes it can be more fun to just get on the road and drive. You can hit 5 different states in 5 days and see who makes the best pizza. Or follow the infamous Route 66 and see where it takes you. Whatever you decide, make sure your friends are on board.

Not to be a killjoy, but the next part of your plan has to include vehicle maintenance. If you just bought your new Ford car, then this shouldn’t be too difficult. Just make sure your fluids (oil, washer, coolant) are topped up and you should be OK. If you are due for any scheduled maintenance while you are away, you may want to call and see if you can get your appointment moved up.

If you’re planning to take an older vehicle, then fluids are not the only thing you have to think about. If you have a used Ford car consider taking it to your Kirkwood area Ford dealership and having it checked out by a qualified Ford mechanic. Let them know about your trip and see if they think there is anything that should be done to your car before you leave. After all, no one wants to be a part of a road trip that got stalled on the side of the road two hours after leaving home.