Randall Reed (center), Owner and President of World Class Automotive congratulates the Planet Ford and Planet Lincoln dealerships in Spring, Texas (serving greater Houston area) for making Automotive News’ Best Dealerships to Work For. Also photographed: Sean Burns, General Manager and Operating Partner (left) and Rick Ford, Chief Operating Officer (right)

World Class Automotive Group is pleased to announce that two of its locations have been named recipients of the top 100 automotive dealerships to work for in America!

Randall Reed’s Planet Ford in Spring, Texas and Randall Reed’s Planet Lincoln in Spring, Texas made Automotive News’ inaugural Best Dealerships To Work For list.

“We’re very proud,” said Randall Reed, President and Owner of World Class Automotive. “The management, along with all of the members of the Planet Ford and Planet Lincoln family are now among the elite chosen as the best of the best in the country.”

The list was compiled based on employee workplace satisfaction scores that measured everything, from the quality of the work place to the treatment of the employees. “We have identified those dealerships and the recognition begins with this list of the top 100 places to work–a summary that honors new-car dealerships in the United States that have excelled in creating a quality work environment,” per a statement from Jason Stein, Editor of Automotive News.

“This is quite an honor,” said Shawn Burns, General Manager and Operating Partner at Planet Ford. “We have garnered many awards, but this one is truly special. We believe in creating a quality work environment where everyone can thrive, and this shows that our efforts are working.”

Both dealerships will not only be highlighted in an upcoming October issue of Automotive News, the dealerships and their management teams will be recognized at a gala hosted by the publication on October 17, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois.

Today, the dealership celebrated the top honor from Automotive News with a catered luncheon and party for both dealerships at the Planet Ford location in Spring.

“The automotive business is about the customers and their total satisfaction, but a key to achieving that goal is to have world class employees who enjoy what they do,” said Mr. Reed. “And, we have an incredible team of apparently VERY happy and excited associates numbering over 250 strong!“

About World Class Automotive Group
World Class Automotive Group is owned by Randall and Sherry Reed. The family-owned business is comprised of several dealerships throughout Texas, including: Planet Ford in Spring, Planet Lincoln in Spring, Planet Ford in Humble, Planet Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM in Humble. Hillcrest Ford in Huntsville, Prestige Ford in Garland and Park Cities Ford and Lincoln in Dallas.

About Planet Ford and Planet Lincoln in Spring
Randall Reed’s Planet Ford is located at 20403 I-45 in Spring, Texas. The dealership has earned the honor of being the No. 1 Ford dealer in the area for 12 Years. Planet Lincoln is located at 20440 I-45 in Spring, Texas. Planet Ford and Planet Lincoln, serving the greater Houston area, offer new and quality pre-owned vehicles. In addition, Planet Ford and Planet Lincoln also provide full Service, Parts and Collision Departments.

*Based on retail sales reported by Ford annually since 1998.

The weather in Houston is starting to pick up, and it’s no secret that we’re starting to sweat more and more each hot and humid day. On place we always feel that wall of hot air is when we open up our car door. That’s because inside of our cars is the one of the hottest places. For example, when it’s only 72 degrees outside, the temperature inside a vehicle can rocket to 116 degrees within an hour, even with windows cracked.

Sadly, people still believe that bringing a pooch along for a quick ride and leaving them in the car for a “quick errand” can be harmless idea.  The harsh reality is that every year dogs die after being intentionally locked inside vehicles while their owners shop and run other errands.

Drivers need to be aware that a dog’s normal body temperature ranges from 101 to 102.5 degrees, however dogs can withstand a body temperature of 107 to 108 degrees for only a short time before suffering organ failure, brain and nerve damage or even death.*

If losing your beloved pet wasn’t enough, police are now charging people for their negligence.  Recently, a Seattle man was charged with a felony of animal cruelty after leaving his dog, which suffered a fatal heat stroke, inside his parked car.**

If you see an animal in distress inside a vehicle, call your local animal control agency, police department or humane society immediately. And as always, stay tuned for more automotive news from Planet Ford in Spring. Log on to www.PlanetFord45.com for all of your automotive needs.

*Source: http://www.mydogiscool.com.

**Source: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Seattle-man-charged-after-dog-suffers-fatal-heat-1627394.php

For many students moving to Austin this fall for college, transportation to school and around Austin will be a key issue they will be facing.  A student’s transportation is an essential and vital part of their college life that gives them the luxury to be truly independent. We explore the many options of several vehicles out in the market today and found that only one car stood beyond any other as the best and most suitable option for Austin’s geography, climate and culture. That car is the — drum roll, please — 2011 Ford Fiesta!

The Ford Fiesta is capable of taking on the vast geography changes the city of Austin has to offer.  The city is in the heart of the Hill County, which means there are various elevations in and around the city.  One moment you can be driving at 425 feet above see level the next you’ll have to climb 1,000 feet. The Ford Fiesta has enough torque and horsepower to climb any of Austin’s terrain with ease.

Next, the climate in Austin is fairly difficult to predict, as with any other city in the great state of Texas. One moment you are enjoying great weather, the next you are running for cover from a thunderstorm. This is not a problem with the Ford Fiesta. It is equipped with AdvanceTrac® ESC.  This feature automatically applies the brakes and modulates engine torque whenever it detects wheel slippage, and it helps avoid skidding and fishtailing by controlling under steer and over steer issues. What does that all mean? It helps maintain control under unfavorable conditions such as ice, gravel or rain and provides more confident stopping power.

Finally, “Keep Austin Weird” has become a staple of Austin’s culture. This is why the Ford Fiesta fits in with city’s culture. The Fiesta has no qualms about standing out, from its sleek front end to its distinctive dragon-eye headlamps. A razor-slash side panel highlights the car’s cut-and-run stance, while the upswept rear end makes it look like it’s ready to launch. And with a starting price just under $14k its easy to own one.

Stop by Planet Ford in Spring to see this vehicle before you take off to school this fall.

Lets keep this short. Here are some tips to drive in the rain for a safer driving experience.

• First and foremost: slow down! It takes longer to stop or adjust in wet weather.
• Stay toward the middle lanes – water tends to pool in the outside lanes.
• Maintain proper following distance (3 Second Rule). This needs to be increased in wet weather.
• Drive in the tracks of a car ahead of you.
• Don’t follow large trucks or busses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely.
• Be more alert when driving in wet or slippery conditions. Watch out for brake lights in front of you.
• Avoid using your brakes; if possible, take your foot off the accelerator to slow down.
• Turn your headlights on even in a light rain, or in gloomy, foggy or overcast conditions. Not only do they help you see the road, but they’ll help other drivers see you. If your car has daytime running lights you still should put them on, so vehicles behind you can see you better.
• Before it starts to rain, replace old or brittle wipers.
• Avoid off-road driving: it’s hard to judge the actual depth of puddles and you can easily become stuck, even in an SUV.
• Never drive beyond the limits of visibility. At night rainy roads become especially treacherous. The glare of oncoming lights, amplified by the rain on your windscreen, can cause temporary loss of visibility while substantially increasing driver fatigue. In rainy conditions pedestrians, livestock, and wildlife are extremely hard to spot and even harder to avoid.
• Never drive through moving water if you can’t see the ground through it; your car could be swept off the road.
• When driving through a puddle of uncertain depth, go slow. If it’s deeper than the bottom of your doors, turn around and find another route. Deep water can cause serious damage to a modern car’s electrical system.
• Avoid splashing pedestrians.
• If possible, stay off the road during heavy thunderstorms. Large flashes of lightning can temporarily blind and disorient drivers, and the accompanying high winds and heavy rain can create deadly driving conditions.

Slow down! This should be obvious but it also very important. People are so used to driving certain speeds on certain roads that sometimes they forget the need to slow down when inclement weather presents itself. Be careful and have a safe driving trip.

Technology is constantly evolving thanks to human ingenuity. It is no wonder many Americans have a hard time keeping up with the latest technological trends. It was not that long ago that we thought that CD players were the pinnacle of technological ingenuity. The same can be said with many of the safety features found on vehicles today. First it was the seat belt, next it was the side impact airbags, and then there was the whole explosion of safety features that many of the car manufactures started to offer. But like the constant changing world of technology many Americans started to lose interest in keeping up with all these options. However we are hoping these latest safety features from Ford Motor Co. will help you get interested on what you have been missing. Here is our top 3 list of safety features we believe will get any car buyer exited about safety.

1. BLIS with cross traffic alert

• This feature helps drives change lanes or back out of a parking space with more confidence.
• BLIS can notify drivers when a vehicle has entered their blind spot
• Cross Traffic Alert alerts drives to traffic approaching for the sides when the vehicle is in reverse, such as when leaving a parking space

2. Adaptive Cruise Control

• Provides everything conventional cruise control does- keeps a constant speed without having to work the brake or accelerator pedals-plus automatically maintains a comfortable distance from vehicles ahead.

3. Collision Warning with Brake Support.

• Designed to help drivers avoid rear end collisions be alerting them with an alarm and warning light.
• Uses sensors in the front of the vehicle to help detect moving vehicles ahead traveling in the same direction.
• If the risk of collision increases despite the warning, the brakes are immediately pre-charge, so they can respond quickly when the driver applies them. This helps the driver achieve maximum braking as quickly as possible

Stop by Planet Ford in Spring and ask one of our Product Specialists to show you a car demonstration with the latest Ford safety features.

Last month The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released information breaking down vehicle thefts in the Unites States. The eye-popping information provided an insight into a problem that costs $6.4 billion of claims every year in the U.S. alone.

To show you how often a vehicle is stolen in the U.S.; if you were to read the paragraph above and this sentence in 33 seconds or longer then chances are a car was stole somewhere in the U.S. during that time.

Check out the graphic provided by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  You will see, Texas made the list of states with the most stolen vehicles.  Of those stolen vehicles, only 57 percent are ever recovered.

Unfortunately, some of the stolen vehicles in the Houston area have been of our very own customers.  While some of those customers with stolen cars never end up recovering their vehicle, others whose vehicles were equipped with products like LoJack were able to recover their vehicle thanks to the small Radio Frequency transceiver hidden in one of up to 20 places in their vehicle.

Don’t want to be one of those statistics that lose their vehicle forever? We can help! Stop by Planet Ford in Spring and talk to our aftermarket specialist to see how you can avoid being a statistic in The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration graph.

SPRING, TX- Last month we wrote about Planet Ford in Spring, Texas receiving Ford’s most prestigious award. Well ladies and gentleman, we are grateful to announce that the trophy has arrived at our store! This is the first time in store history that Planet Ford ins Spring has earned the Ford Triple Crown award. The Ford Triple Crown award is Ford Motor Company’s most covenant award given to its top dealerships in the nation.

About The Trophy

To be recognized, a dealership must receive all of Ford’s top awards, which include the President’s Award for customer service; being chosen for the Ford One Hundred Club, an honor based on vehicle sales; and being selected for the Ford Customer Service Premiere Club. Winning a single award takes a lot of hard work, persistence, determination and leadership, and to win three for customer satisfaction, vehicle sales and ESP sales takes Leadership and Teamwork to an entirely different level.

“Earning this award has been a priority for me since I began working at this dealership,” said Planet Ford’s General Sales Manager Shawn Burns.  Shawn also said that he couldn’t have done it without the help of his staff and the great support of his customers.
For more information check us out at www.facebook.com/planetfordspring and www.twitter.com/PlanetFord45.
About Planet Ford SpringPlanet Ford Spring, is located at 20403 Interstate 45, Spring, Texas 77388 and has a diverse selection of new and certified pre-owned Fords. They have the areas most comprehensive fleet service with six diesel technicians on staff. In addition, their Quick Lane service department is open twelve hours a day, six days week and no appointment is necessary. Lastly, their collision center was created with you in mind. Factory-trained professionals coupled with rental cars help to ensure that you get back on the road. For more information visit http://www.planetford45.com.

He’s a sweetheart and ready to climb into someone’s heart. This small kitten is a tabby baby male with gray and white coat. He has already been spayed and would make a great pet for any family. He can be rescued and adopted at Abandoned Animal Shelter, located at 419 East Hufmith in Tomball, TX. The shelter usually has between 20 to 30 dogs and an equal number of cats eligible for adoption. The adoption fee for a dog or puppy is $100 for dogs and $75 for cats. All the pets at AAR are spayed and neutered, vaccinated, wormed and tested for heartworms.

The shelter is open from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.  The phone number is 281-290-0121. Anyone who has lost a pet is urged to go to the center and bring a photo of the missing animal.

As always Planet Ford in Spring is thrill and exited to help out local centers to improve community awareness.

For More Info: http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/19615795