2018 Ford F150 Lariat Diesel My Week Behind The Wheel!

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September 5, 2018 by Kaye Leave a Comment

2018 Ford F150 Lariat Diesel My Week Behind The Wheel!

Have you checked out the 2018 Ford F150 Lariat Diesel? It’s the 2018 Motor Trend Truck Of The Year! But, that’s not the only accolade it received:

2018 Motor Trend Truck of the Year^®
2018 Kelley Blue Book KBB.com Best Buy Award Winner**
2018 Truck of Texas – Texas Auto Writers Association
2017 IIHS Top Safety Pick on Crew Cab/Extended Cab with optional front crash prevention
2018 MotorWeek Drivers’ Choice Award – Best Pickup Truck

I love checking out all the new vehicles Ford loans me! This week I had the opportunity to check out this pickup, and it was so sweet! With the extended cab it was able to easily accommodate my daughter and her children as we ran some errands.

I am not used to driving such a large vehicle and I was a bit nervous, at first, but, it was so easy to handle I didn’t have to be worried at all. It was super smooth, very comfortable, and now I would definitely consider a truck for our next vehicle.

My Take After Driving The Ford F150 Lariat Diesel

The Ford F150 Lariat Diesel is a beautiful truck! Featuring the newly developed RECARO® front seats that provide more aggressive styling and seat support. They also have heated and cooled seats. Let me tell you, I sincerely appreciated the cooled seats! In Texas climbing into a hot vehicle can be unbearable, but, with the cooled seats, it helped me “keep my cool” while the AC did it’s job to cool the interior.

I also was happy that the back seats could folded up to carry more inside.

The 2018 Ford F150 Lariat Diesel is powered with Ford’s new 3-liter Power Stroke V6 engine, with 440 pound-feet of torque and 250 horsepower. It also comes with an Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy rating: 30 mpg on the highway, 22 mpg in city driving, and 25 mpg overall.

I was super surprised at how well the fuel held up. I thought in such a large vehicle I would be at the gas station a few times. I drove it what seemed like almost non-stop for a week and never had to stop at a gas station, at all!

When you think about full-sized diesel pickups, you often think about powerful yet noisy engines. I was surprised after driving this F150 Diesel Lariat at how exceptionally quiet it is. In fact, everyone that found out it was a diesel was surprised, too. Plus, the engine is also powerful — even on low areas.

The All New Ford+Alexa

Plus, this all-diesel pick-up features the newest technology! It introduces the Ford+Alexa app that connects via SYNC® 3 AppLink®. You can use it for traffic information, real-time alerts, voice navigation, Waze, and even accessing the internet.

Ford has done an excellent job with the Ford F150 Lariat Diesel in terms of silent operation, fuel efficiency, and overall performance. If you are looking to save money when it comes to fuel, especially if you are a high-millage driver or you want to keep your car for several years, this addition to the Ford family is perfect.

Be sure to check it out at your local Ford dealer!

2018 Ford EcoSport: My Week Driving This Sweet Ride!

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July 6, 2018 by Kaye Leave a Comment

2018 Ford EcoSport: My Week Driving This Sweet Ride!

I love it when Ford brings me a new car to test drive for a few days! This time it was the 2018 Ford EcoSport SES 4Wheel Drive Compact SUV!

When my kids were young we drove SUV’s and Vans because it was just the perfect size, of course we were also youth pastors and had a multitude of teens in any car we drove, at any given time! lol So, we actually took that into account when purchasing vehicles.

The Ford EcoSport is the newest member of the Ford Family. This five-passenger compact SUV offers two engines and an automatic transmission. The first one is a turbocharged three-cylinder EcoBoost engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission which achieves 123 horsepower and 125 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, the second engine option is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder which includes an all-wheel drive as a standard feature for the optimal performance.

SUVs come in different sizes and shapes, but, if you’re looking for something that’s more compact, but doesn’t sacrifice comfort, check out the 2018 Ford EcoSport!

The Ford EcoSport is loaded with cool features:

Higher seating
Hill Launch Assist
Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system
Electric power-assisted steering
Height Adjustable Front Headrest
Folding Grab Handles With Coat Hooks
Electric Swing Gate Release With Chrome Lever

Smart Entry With Capacitive Sensor

Onboard Control On Steering Wheel
Safe Clutch Start Crash Unlocking System (Door Unlock with Light Flashing)
Leather-trimmed steering wheel with chrome inserts and remote audio controls
Leather-trimmed handbrake handle and gearshift knob
Electrically-operated front and rear windows

Ford MyKey technology
Ford SYNC 3 DAB radio with Touchscreen, Emergency Assistance, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, USB connectivity and speakers

The Ford EcoSport has a Hill Launch Assist that holds the brake for a few seconds after you take your foot off. It gives you time to smoothly accelerate without rolling or causing accidents. If others park too close to your car, no need to worry! The Hill Launch Assist is useful when you are stopping and starting on a slippery surface.

It also has an Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system that can determine how much grip, cornering balance or responsiveness is needed in dry, wet or icy condition. It has a torque on demand system that delivers exceptional handling and improved efficiency when driving.

The Ford EcoSport is the quietest SUV around. We all know that driving SUV’s can be noisy and annoying, but, not the EcoSport. It has the quietest interior in its class. No matter how noisy it is outside, you can still drive relaxed and comfortable.

It also features a power-assisted steering that responds to every situation. The EcoSport’s Electric Power-Assisted Steering automatically adjusts to your speed and condition. When driving at low speeds, the system makes the wheel feel lighter making it easier to maneuver. When driving at higher speeds, since you need greater control, it firms up the steering.

The 2018 Ford EcoSport has ultra contemporary design and styling, inside out. If you still have the need for an SUV, but, want to downsize a bit, this may be the car for you!

For me, personally, I love the design and interior. The interior is sporty but, looks great. I love that I can choose the color of the ambient lighting, too, I chose purple 🙂 There are several colors to choose from to fit your style!

I love all of the features, really… I guess the push button start was a favorite, as well as the moon roof and the safety features. It helps with lane changes by telling you if there’s something in your blindspot and, of course, the back up camera is the best! I LOVE that they have raised the touchscreen. Normally most cars I have seen have the touchscreen with the backup camera and the navigation embedded in the dash which makes them lay down a bit and sometimes it’s not as clear depending on your lighting and the time of day.

The fact that this one sits upright and is raised more out of the dash instead of embedded into the dash makes it much easier to see at any time of day and in any lighting. It is very vivid, I can’t say enough about it.

I also LOVE the electric swing gate in the back. I cannot tell you how many times I have hit my head on an overhead door. Also, I was impressed with the fact that the Cargo Management System with adjustable cargo shelf.

I love that when you have the “shelf” in place and someone looks in your car to see what’s in the back – they can’t see anything, at all, it’s pitch black making you think it’s empty. to me, that has to be a theft deterrent, since they think you don’t have anything in the car because you can’t see it, it looks like a black floor board.

All in all I was very pleased with everything about it. The gas mileage was great, the features I loved, the size and space were great. I can’t think of anything I didn’t like about it, if anything I would say the leg room is less than a normal, larger SUV, but, surely if you buy a compact SUV you know that already.

You can read more about the 2018 Ford EcoSport on Ford’s website or you can also check your local dealership or visit their Facebook Page.

Ford Hosts Texas Is Family Event; Donates 38 Vehicles To Support Ongoing Hurricane Recovery Efforts

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May 11, 2018 by Kaye Leave a Comment

Ford Hosts Texas Is Family Event; Donates 38 Vehicles To Support Ongoing Hurricane Recovery Efforts

Nine months after the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, Ford Motor Company is reinforcing its commitment to the Houston community and continuing its support of ongoing recovery efforts in southeast Texas. I am lucky to be invited to witness Ford’s charity event to help those affected by the Hurricane.

Ford employees, Houston-area Ford dealers, and local nonprofits are gathering at Houston Food Bank on Friday, May 11, for a Texas Is Family community event that marks the donation of 38 Ford vehicles to eight organizations in the state. Vehicles will be used to enhance ongoing relief efforts by delivering food, mental health, and medical services, as well as items such as diapers, personal hygiene kits, bug spray, cleaning supplies and coolers. Some vehicles will serve as first responder rescue and evacuation vehicles for future emergencies.

The Texas Is Family event demonstrates Ford’s strong connections in the Houston community and brings together many of the nonprofits the company has been working with since recovery efforts began last August. Nonprofits participating in today’s event include:

Houston Food Bank is moving its emergency food pantry outside to serve as a pop-up food pantry for designated clients; Ford employee volunteers are working to facilitate the pantry and assist clients.
The Salvation Army is providing beverages from its canteen – the vehicle used in disasters to serve first responders – as well as information about the services it offers.
American Red Cross is providing information about long-term recovery efforts in Texas and distributing materials related to its home fire campaign; with hurricane season beginning June 1, the organization is also distributing hurricane and flooding preparedness checklists.
First Book is hosting a pop-up library for representatives from up to 20 local schools to come pick up books and supplies for their teachers; Ford employee volunteers are assisting school officials in selecting and packing books.

“Ford is the best in Texas because of our longstanding commitment to being a good neighbor, strengthening communities and helping make people’s lives better – in good times and in times of need,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company. “We want to thank all of our employees, dealers and nonprofit partners who stepped up when the people of Houston needed them most. As another hurricane season approaches, we stand strong in our pledge to continue to help families and communities get back on their feet.”

Along with Houston Food Bank, American Red Cross, and The Salvation Army, nonprofits receiving vehicle donations from Ford today include Team Rubicon, ToolBank, Catholic Charities, San Antonio Food Bank and North Texas Food Bank. The vehicle donations are part of a commitment Ford Motor Company and Houston-area dealers made in September to raise $3.5 million to support relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

Ford has provided a special Texas Is Family assistance bundle to more than 8,000 customers who lost or had vehicles destroyed in the disaster. This offer includes the same no-haggle, below-invoice price Ford employees and their families receive, as well as payment deferrals. More than 1,500 first responders in hurricane-affected areas have received a special $1,000 discount (in addition to all available incentives) on the purchase of a new Ford or Lincoln vehicle.

Ford has a long history of supporting disaster relief in the United States and around the world. In 2016, Ford implemented its first Disaster Relief Mobility Challenge, providing grants that enabled three nonprofits to purchase a custom Ford Transit cargo or passenger van to support their unique disaster response needs. The recipients – Team Rubicon, ToolBank, and Catholic Charities – all received their vehicles last summer and also used them to support Hurricane Harvey relief.

Houston is one of 26 markets in the United States and Puerto Rico where Ford and its dealers have expanded their commitment to meet community needs by collaborating on programs and nonprofit outreach. The initiative, known as Operation Better World, was launched in 2008. Program outreach in Houston includes:

Ford Driving Dreams educational program has donated 20,000 books to children in need and awarded more than $200,000 in scholarships to 100 high school students in the area over the past two years. Tonight, Ford Driving Dreams is awarding another $100,000 in scholarships to a new group of 50 students – marking the third consecutive year Ford Fund and Houston-area Ford dealers are helping local students pursue their academic dreams of going to college.
In February, Ford collaborated with Congressional Black Caucus Foundation to recognize 27 community members with a Ford Freedom Unsung Heroes of Harvey award. These awards were given to individuals who went above and beyond to support the community in an extraordinary way through hurricane relief efforts.
Also in February, Ford Fund and Latin GRAMMY Foundation donated $20,000 in musical instruments to help reopen A.C. Blunt Middle School in Aransas Pass. Hurricane Harvey caused severe damage in this community, including to the school’s music program. Immediately following the hurricane, students attended school in temporary spaces; six months later, they were excited to return to their school to play music once again.
In April 2017, Ford Fund hosted more than 225 teens as well as their parents in its Driving Skills for Life program.
Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Player of the Week recognizes student-athletes who excel on the field, in academics, and in community service.

Overall, Ford Motor Company, Ford dealers, and Ford Fund have invested more than $30 million in Texas communities since 2000.

About Ford Motor Company Fund:

Ford Motor Company Fund is the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company. Established in 1949, Ford Fund invests in transformational programs that advance innovation, empower people, promote social mobility and improve community prosperity. Ford Fund works with local and global partners to create opportunities in education, encourage safe driving, enlist employee volunteers and enrich community life. Ford Fund’s signature programs include Ford Blue Oval Scholars, Ford College Community Challenge, Ford Driving Dreams, Ford Driving Skills for Life, Ford Next Generation Learning and the Ford Volunteer Corps. For more information, visit http://community.ford.com or join us on Facebook and Twitter.