A Customer's Testimonial on Ford Safety Sent to Mr. Allan Mulally, president and chief executive officer of Ford Motor Company: FW: My New F-150

I recently purchased a 2009 For F-150 and I am writing you this email to praise the safety features of that vehicle that saved my life. I was recently at the Texas State Fair and was looking at the new Ford vehicles because we will soon be in the market for my wife a new SUV, and I told one of the representatives my story. They told me that I should send the pictures in to someone at Ford. I did a google search for contact info at Ford, and I am taking a guess at your email address from your name.

On May 9th, I was driving on south Interstate 45 from Dallas to Houston at 5 in the morning. It was pitch black outside and as I came over a small hill in the road, there were 6 cattle standing across the freeway. I was traveling 65-70 miles an hour and I did not have time to react and swerve away from the cows. I hit and killed 3 of the cows. I don't remember much of the wreck, but I do remember that I walked away from it. Once the police arrived on the scene, the were sure that anyone in the vehicle was surely dead. As every new officer and helping passer by came upon us, I was asked if I had checked on the people in the vehicle. They were surprised every time that I told them that I was the only one in the vehicle. They would ask how I was even standing after the wreck. I firmly believe that God put me in an F-150 exactly one week before the accident for a reason. The truck was totaled, and looking at the damage, I can see how anyone would not believe that I walked away from the accident. I had a twisted vertebrae, dislocated ribs, a concussion, and some burns from the airbag. All of that is fixable, and the one thing that I also have is my life. If I would have been in my previous vehicle, they said I would have been decapitated. On my F-150, the hood rolled back over the windshield and shielded anything from coming through it. The frame kept the cockpit in tact and overall, this truck truly performed the safety features to the max. No-one ever thinks of hitting 3 900 lb cows when they think of auto accidents, but your engineers and designers have put features into this truck that will save hundreds of lives, and I am sure glad they saved mine. My wife were married in March and this accident happened only 2 months after our wedding. Now we are expecting our first child, and I will only trust Ford vehicles with my wife and family in the future. I have attached a picture of the truck and I will say, the sales staff was fantastic in assisting me with getting a new 2009 F-150.

Thank You So Much,
J. Cross

The students of Foster Elementary HAVE A PLAYGROUND!!!

The students of Foster Elementary HAVE A PLAYGROUND!!!

Kids selling lemonade, washing cars and bringing in pennies, dimes, nickels and quarters got us closer to our goal.

Generous donations from friends, families and neighbors got us closer to our goal.

Local businesses like the Conservatory and D&D Collision stepping up to help the cause got us closer to our goal.

Now, with a generous $25,000 donation from Planet Ford in Humble….

We have reached our goal!!

See the video here at: http://fosterelementary.webs.com/index.htm#v116249631

Thank you to everyone who made the playground a possibility. It is a wonderful testament to why we choose to live and raise our families in Kingwood!

On July 4th, 2009 vandals set fire to the playground equipment at Foster Elementary in Kingwood, Texas. HISD does not provide the playground equipment or replacement. It will have to be replaced by Foster PTA fundraisers and donations, along with assistance from Foster Elementary. Initial quotes from HISD were around $80,000 to replace the equipment. We are in the process of getting different bids from many playground companies - our current projection to put a new playground in is $40,000 - $45,000.

There are currently no suspects in this crime. Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and charging of a suspect. If you have any information about the fire, please contact Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS.

2009 Ford Focus has it all – safety, fuel economy and technology and now a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Ford's smallest North American car, the sporty two-door Focus, has a new award to add to its list of reasons to buy – a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Features that helped the 2009 Focus earn the rating include six standard air bags, standard ABS and available stability control. With fuel economy up to 35 mpg, Focus also will be among the first vehicles to offer MyKey™, which encourages safer teen driving by allowing parents to program limits like top speed and radio volume when their teen is driving.

Do you qualify? "Cash for Clunkers" - CARS (Cash Allowance Rebate System)

Commonly known as the Cash for Clunkers program, the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) is the government's new vehicle trade-in program and Randall Reed's Planet Ford 59 in Humble is your expert.

There are two cash vouchers that can be issued when a consumer purchases a new, not used, car. If the new car gets 4 miles per gallon more than their current car, you may qualify for a voucher of $3,500 toward the purchase of a new vehicle. If the increase is 10 miles per gallon, you may qualify for a voucher of $4,500 voucher toward the purchase of a new vehicle.

We will make it easy for you to receive your incentive, recycle your old vehicle and save on a new, high-quality Ford vehicle.

CLICK HERE to submit your trade information and desired new Ford vehicle information and let us help you figure out what rebate you may qualify for.


Or CLICK HERE to research your trade with Ford.

With many Ford vehicles eligible, we are confident you will find the model that fits your needs.

To be eligible for the program, you must trade-in a vehicle that meets the following criteria:

• Must have been manufactured less than 25 years before the date you trade it in
• Must have a "new" combined city/highway fuel economy of 18 miles per gallon or less
• Must be in drivable condition and must have been continuously insured and registered to the same owner for the full year preceding the trade-in

Note: For some transactions, work trucks (very large pickup trucks and cargo vans) only qualify if they are 2001 model year or earlier.

In addition to the government incentive, you may also be eligible for additional Ford discounts. Contact us today to get your best deal at 866-844-5995.

Congratulations Ford... 106 Years as an American Icon

Click on the image below to read the article.

Randall Reed’s Planet Ford 59 Participates in the Ford Advantage Test-Drive Program Benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

Even in these difficult times, we believe it is important for our business to give back to the communities it serves. So thru June 1, 2009, Planet Ford 59 and Ford are providing the opportunity to help raise up to $1 million for Susan G. Komen for the Cure,® part of Planet Ford’s and Ford’s ongoing commitment to fight against breast cancer. As a 15-year National Sponsor of the Komen Race for the Cure,® Ford has dedicated more than $100 million in donations and in-kind gifts.

The Ford Advantage Test-Drive is a national program, available to all consumers in one of two ways.

1.) At Race for the Cure events, participants will receive a certificate redeemable for test-drives at Planet Ford 59.
2.) Certificates are also available for download at www.FordCares.com.

Consumers should bring the certificates to Planet Ford 59, take a test-drive and receive a special code (Dealer Sales Code e.g., 88A23). Once consumers have their special code, they then log into www.FordCares.com, type in the code, and Ford will donate $20 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure on their behalf – to the Komen affiliate in the city of their choice.

Please join us at Planet Ford for the Ford Advantage Test Drive for the Cure event.

Car shoppers turn increasingly to Ford. It's gaining notice by avoiding bailout help.

BY BRENT SNAVELY • FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER • April 9, 2009

Evidence is mounting that the few customers who are shopping for new cars and trucks in this tough market are increasingly turning to Ford Motor Co. because it hasn't asked for federal aid and is perceived as healthiest of the Detroit Three.

Craig Lahti, 32, of Wixom grew up in a "GM family" but purchased a Ford Focus last month.

"It was largely due to the fact that they've managed their business affairs better, in my opinion," Lahti said. "Not only ... did they not take the loans, but just seems that they are heading down the right road."

General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC have accepted $17.4 billion in federal loans and are now struggling to meet the terms mandated by the federal government in order to receive additional funding. Ford, in contrast, decided in December not to ask for federal loans, even though it reported a record $14.6-billion loss for 2008.

Since then, Ford executives and dealers have been pushing the message that "Ford is different," which seems to be resonating with customers.

Art Spinella, president of CNW Marketing Research in Bandon, Ore., said his research shows that the percentage of people who list Ford as a top brand to shop increased 12 points during the first quarter of this year compared with last year.

"It indicates that Ford really dodged a bullet," Spinella said.

Spinella said Ford is mostly attracting buyers who previously preferred to buy GM and Chrysler vehicles, but are worried about the possibility of those companies filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Last Friday, Tustin, Calif.-based AutoPacific said only 3% of Americans participating in a recent online survey were unaware that GM and Chrysler had received billions of dollars in federal loans. It also said 72% of respondents were more likely to buy a Ford vehicle.

Jesse Toprak, executive director of industry analysis for the automotive Web site Edmunds.com, said the number of visitors who shopped for Ford vehicles during the first three months of the year increased 12% compared with the same year-ago period. Meanwhile, the number shopping for GM and Chrysler vehicles declined 19% and 15%, respectively, during the same period.

Despite the positive research about Ford, the company continues to struggle. In March, Ford U.S. sales of new cars and trucks declined 40.8% compared with the same month a year ago. Industry-wide sales, by comparison, showed a decline of 36.8%.