Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[VIDEO: Priceless 1989 Ford dealer training films offer timeless amusement]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/20/video-priceless-1989-ford-dealer-training-films-offer-timeless-amusement/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/20/video-priceless-1989-ford-dealer-training-films-offer-timeless-amusement/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/20/video-priceless-1989-ford-dealer-training-films-offer-timeless-amusement/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

1989 Ford dealer training clip - click above image to watch the videos

Y'all remember Robocop? You know, the really excellent Eighties action masterpiece about a shot-to-hell cop that comes back as a bulletproof robot to rid Detroit of über baddies like the ruthless Clarence Boddiker and super villain Dick Jones? Well, what you may not remember about Paul Verhoeven's 1987 masterpiece is all the social satire. From the 6000 SUX (8 mpg!) to the slaps at very privatized health care (Jensen Sport model heart!) to the Nuke 'Em family home game, the satire was rich and sardonic.

But where did Verhoeven get the fodder for his gags? Dunno, but it's been said that 49% of the population doesn't get sarcasm. Which explains how these 1989 Ford dealer training ads got made. Someone at Ford saw Robocop and said, "Yes! That's the medium we've been looking for." Don't believe us? Make the jump and watch two of them (one on the Festiva and Escort, and another on the Crown Victoria) for yourself.

[Source: YouTube via Michael Banovsky]

Continue reading VIDEO: Priceless 1989 Ford dealer training films offer timeless amusement

VIDEO: Priceless 1989 Ford dealer training films offer timeless amusement originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blue ovalBlueOvalCrown VictoriaCrownVictoriadealer filmdealer trainingDealerFilmDealersDealerTrainingEscortFestivaFordFord Crown VictoriaFord DealersFord FiestaFord LTDFordCrownVictoriaFordDealersFordFiestaFordLtdLTDThu, 20 Aug 2009 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford's Drive One campaign moving full speed ahead]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/fords-drive-one-campaign-moving-full-speed-ahead/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/fords-drive-one-campaign-moving-full-speed-ahead/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/15/fords-drive-one-campaign-moving-full-speed-ahead/#commentsFiled under: , ,



After spending a few days with Ford's main-marketing-man Jim Farley and his team, we can truly say that the excitement surrounding the company's new Drive One marketing strategy is palpable. They believe that the story they have to tell is rather compelling; the real struggle will be convincing car-buyers that their vehicles are every bit as good as their competition from Japan -- as recent studies indicate. To show people what's going on behind the scenes, Farley and his posse brought Ford's best and brightest engineers with them to Las Vegas to introduce their dealer-base to the new campaign. They let us tag along so we could see what all the fuss is about, and the dealers we spoke to seemed pretty pumped about Drive One and felt that Farley's new team at Ford was finally listening to them and doing something with their input. Keep reading to find out what else we heard in Sin City.

Continue reading Ford's Drive One campaign moving full speed ahead

Ford's Drive One campaign moving full speed ahead originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fordford dealersford drive oneford marketingford-dealersford. drive one.Ford.DriveOne.FordDealersFordDriveOneFordMarketingjim farleyjim-farleyJimFarleyTue, 15 Apr 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford offers to buy back 81 dealerships]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/10/ford-offers-to-buy-back-81-dealerships/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/10/ford-offers-to-buy-back-81-dealerships/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/10/ford-offers-to-buy-back-81-dealerships/#commentsFiled under:

Ford has a dealer development program aimed at helping those who lack up-front capital open a dealership. The dealer pays Ford back with profits from the business, and slowly buys out Ford's stake. There are 81 dealers in the program now, 62 of which are minorities who the program was originally intended to aid, and Ford has offered to buy all of them out by returning the dealer's full investment.

Some dealers say Ford is trying to shed the minority-owned franchises, and Ford denies the accusation, saying that it is simply trying to let struggling dealers exit the business without losing everything, and that it wants to get its dealer organization in line with its economic reality. To be fair, the offer has been extended to every dealer in the program, some of which even are profitable. As well, for dealers who rely solely on the dealership for income, there's a chance Ford will give them an additional $100,000.

No matter what's the real impetus, at least Ford is trying to make an offer that isn't pennies on the dollar. Said Hispanic dealers' alliance chairman and dealership owner Fernando Varela, "In tough market conditions (when) you're not making any money, they're offering you something. Other manufacturers let you walk off, and you lose your investment." Ford has given dealers until April 1 to decide on the buyout; dealers are asking to have until June 1 to make the decision.

[Source: Automotive News, sub req'd]

Ford offers to buy back 81 dealerships originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dealer buyoutsdealer development programDealerBuyoutsDealerDevelopmentProgramdealershipsfordford dealersford dealershipsFordDealersFordDealershipsminority owned dealershipsMinorityOwnedDealershipsMon, 10 Mar 2008 16:02:00 EST