Snacks for Schools is back!
With summer winding down and the school year fast approaching, we’re kicking things into gear this month. First, by launching our annual Snacks for Schools food drive benefitting 360 Communities. 360 Communities delivers safety and stability that improves lives. With effective and holistic programming, they leverage community partnerships, build trusting relationships, and break cycles of violence and poverty. 360 strengthens communities with measurable success. We consider it a tremendous honor to partner with them each year.
Last year, we broke records thanks to generous donations from Post Consumer Brands, Treehouse Foods and the amazing members of our community and team. We donated a total of 1,464 pounds and matched it with $1,464. Help us donate 2,000 pounds this year by bringing non-perishable snacks, foods, and brown paper bags to any Apple Autos location now through Labor Day!
It’s the Summer of Giving at Apple Autos!
With our 11th annual Oil Change for Hope wrapped up, we’re excited to be diving head-first into a sunny season of GIVING at Apple Autos.
Here’s what’s on the docket this month across all 5 of our locations
All Ford Car Show Benefitting Every Meal
What a turnout! 300+ classic cars lined our Apple Ford Lincoln Apple Valley lot on Sunday, June 5th. We had great food, grilled by our local boy scouts, and a special demonstration from our local fire department, using the Jaws of Life to saw a couple clunkers in half!
But our favorite report is the amount of donations raised for Every Meal. Over 130 pounds on non-perishables were donated, making 104 meals for kids most in need! We continue to be amazed by the outpouring of generosity in our community.
Free Bikes 4 Kidz Giveaway at Apple Ford Shakopee
A few years ago, we had a company-wide Volunteer Day with Free Bikes 4 Kidz, where we cleaned and refurbished donated bikes for kids who needed them most. This month, we had the rewarding opportunity to give the bikes away!
Together with Shakopee Schools and Free Bikes 4 Kidz, we hosted an official Bike Giveaway at our Apple Ford Shakopee Store! 200 kids came to pick out a bike and get sized for a helmet just in time for the summer.
Free Bikes 4 Kidz Ironman Bike Ride Another year, another bike ride!
We’re happy to be back as the main sponsor for the Free Bikes 4 Kidz MN Ironman Bike Ride this year. With routes of 31, 59.6 (96.5k) and 100 miles, there’s something for everyone. The 5-mile family ride on the winding Minnesota River Valley Trail gives even the littlest pedaler a ride to remember.
The ride starts in downtown Shakopee and winds its way back into the heart of town, Huber Park.
Free Bikes 4 Kidz is one of our favorite non-profits to partner with. It was born as a one-time hobby in a two-car garage. A group of passionate cyclists collected, refurbished, and gave away 250 bikes over a two-week period. Since then that hobby has grown to become the largest organization of its kind in the country, with 14 locations in the US!
Apple Autos Scholarship Recipient Send-Off
We’ve always said we love investing in the next generation! One way we do is by providing $20,000 in scholarships to the students in our community each year.
This year, we wanted to switch it up a bit and host our very own open house for graduating seniors! We had students visit our Apple Valley location, grab some lunch, a free professional headshot, and resume review.
We love to meet our seniors and hear all about their post-grad plans ambitions. Some are pursuing a career in trades, while others are going to 4-year universities for majors like Nursing, Communications, Biology and more!
Denim Days at Apple Autos
To further our mission of delivering safety and stability to our local veterans, Apple Autos is partnering with Every Third Saturday for the month of April. ETS is a non-profit organization committed to helping veterans find purpose in their life after military service.
For the entire month of April, Apple Autos is donating $1 of every service at all locations to ETS. We’re also matching all service donations up to $5,000! So come help us make a difference this month by scheduling your next oil change or general maintenance. OR, show your support by donating a new pair of jeans! We’re going to fill the show floor trunks until they overflow with denim.
Is it time to make the switch to electric?
Raise your hand if you have been personally victimized by these gas prices recently. No, but in all seriousness if there was any time to switch to electric, it’s now. Here are a few reasons to consider making the move:
- Cheaper Maintenance. The maintenance costs of electric vehicles tend to be cheaper given that there are fewer moving parts in electric cars compared to the petrol-powered ones.
- The Clean Green Machine. Electric cars draw the energy from electricity rather than mechanical engines powered by fuel. So if reducing environmental pollution is important to you, give EV’s a gold star!
- Time-Saver. Electric cars can be charged at your house. Say goodbye to the days of being late to work because you didn’t stop to get gas on your way home the night before.
- Quiet drive. What do you call a car with no combustion engine? A quiet driving experience.
- Longevity. Given that electric cars have fewer moving parts as compared to petrol-powered engines, they are less susceptible to loss of parts due to wear and tear. This gives them a longer life which benefits the users of the car as well as reducing the amount of waste that the car produces in unsalvageable spare parts.
It all sounds pretty nice, right? Well, lucky for you, we know of two really, really great electric car options.
The Blue Oval forecast has had clouds swelling with anticipation of an electric future for years now. But the strike that finally followed the rumblings was a double-edged flash none of us saw coming.
The Ford F-150 Lightning and the Mustang Mach-E sent shock waves across the globe, making a Tesla-saturated society wonder: Is it really Elon’s world, and we’re just living in it? Or can two play this game?
If you see electric in your future, it’s never too early to start shopping options. Let us just say, there’s a reason why Ford’s latest EV debuts have topped consumer charts since they made their appearance.
A December to Remember: Apple Autos Gives Back
A December to Remember: Apple Autos Gives Back
As the holiday season winds down, we can’t help but reflect on a record-breaking year of giving here at Apple Autos.
The 12 Mom’s of Christmas
On the Wednesday before Christmas, we gathered with our friends White Bear Mitsubishi, The Bear Lot, Friendly Chevrolet, Miller Auto Plaza, Gilleland Chevrolet, and Volkswagen of Inver Grove, and surprised 12 single mom’s with cars for Christmas at Newgate School in Minneapolis.
Because of our amazing friends and partners, we were able to stuff the trunks to the brim with toys, gift cards, services, and more for each mom and her child(ren). The generosity and outpouring of support demonstrated by our community each year leaves us floored. We can’t wait to continue this tradition and want to thank every business and individual who donated time, services and gifts to making this possible.
Give Back to Kids
On top of the 12 Mom’s of Christmas, we launched our 4th annual Give Back to Kids event in November and December. In past years, we’ve given $25 of every vehicle purchase to 1 of 5 charities we support. This year, we decided to also donate $1 of every oil change to the cause!
Because of our loyal customers, we were able to donate a record breaking $44,000 to the charities, Girls on the Run, The Link, Free Bikes 4 Kidz, 360 Communities, and Every Meal.
Thanks for a great year, 2021! We can’t wait to see what 2022 has in store.
As the fabled 70’s rock band ACDC once told us, “It’s a long way to the top,” but that doesn’t intimidate the best-selling truck brand in the world. Becoming the biggest US-based EV manufacturer may seem ambitious, but for the Blue Oval, it’s only a matter of time.
Ford CEO Jim Farley has announced that the automaker is planning to produce 600,000 electric vehicles per year by the end of 2023. In case you’re wondering, that is double the amount of their original goal number. The Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning and E-Transit will be among the productions aggressive out-put according to Automotive News.
Admittedly, Farley stated, the demand for EV is “so much higher” than the company anticipated. The Mustang Mach-E alone has claimed territory in three continents so far. Then there’s the Ford F-150 Lightning, who has been shattering records since its debut, reaching 100,000 pre-orders in the first three weeks.
Due to extreme demand for the F-150, Ford previously chose to invest $250 million to boost its productions, creating 450 new jobs to achieve building 80,000 trucks a year. Though now that the manufacturing goal has now doubled, it is uncertain how that initiative may be altered.
Of course, before Ford can achieve its goal of becoming the largest EV producer in the US, they are first coming for the silver medal under Tesla’s current undisputed reign. And it’s no open road. Long-time Ford competitor, GM is expecting to sell 1 million electric vehicles by 2025 and let Ford know that “two can play that game” when they began ramping up production by converting current plants and opening new ones in the US over the coming years.
We suppose time will only tell. It’s a long way to the top if you want to rock’n’roll.
With that being said, the electric revolution is in full force and it’s time to get on board!
Here are some benefits if you’re considering a switch to EV:
- No fuel required so you save money on gas. On average, drivers save about $700 in fuel costs per year while driving electric cars.
- Environmental friendly as they do not emit pollutants.
- Lower maintenance due to an efficient electric motor.
- Better Performance
- Instant Acceleration
- Reduced sound/smell
How do you know if going electric is the right decision for you? Consider thie simple formula:
You drive less than 200 miles per day + have access or the ability to charge at home and/or work = Perfect Fit.
Check out the Truck everyone’s talking about and why you’d be doing yourself a favor to order one.
What Accessories Does Your Truck Need?
There are many ways to customize your vehicle with aftermarket accessories, but do you know what’s best for you and your lifestyle? Since you have several options, we developed a short list to help you pick what’s right. Read the rest of this entry »
When we launched our second annual Snacks for Schools campaign in August 2021, we had no idea how much traction it would get.
On top of the extensive generosity of our customers and team members, we received a call from Treehouse Foods asking if we would accept 400+ pounds of snacks! No less than a week later, we were notified that Post Consumer Brands wanted to contribute one full pallet of non-perishables to the campaign benefitting 360 Communities. The most exciting part is we’ll be donating $1 for every pound of food.
We’ve been partnering with 360 communities for the last several years to support their mission of delivering safety and stability to families and individuals our community. Food insecurity is much more prevalent than most of us realize. One place it’s easy to be overlooked is in our schools. No child should have to wake up wondering where their next meal is coming from. We are fortunate to have both a generous community and the resources that allow us to do something about this.
“Honestly, there are days when students arrive at my office asking for a snack and it turns out to be the ice breaker for sharing and getting support about something going wrong in their day.” – Community teacher
“With many students facing food insecurity, it’s a huge gift to be able to offer a daily snack to those in need! That extra nutrition helps them get through their day, focus on learning, and shine brighter at school!” –360 Communities Member
We are floored at the generosity in our community and are excited to announce that we donated a record-breaking 1,464 pounds + $1,464 to 360 Communities this year!
We were so excited and humbled to partner with Wells Fargo Auto for the second year in a row to present a brand new payment-free vehicle to a former US Army Sergeant earlier this month at the Minnesota State Fair during Military Appreciation Day.
Michael Diehn is a purple heart veteran who served 7 years in Iraq from 2001-2006. He was injured in October of 2003. After 6 months of rehab in Germany, Michael re-enlisted and was deployed to Iraq where he was honorable discharged in March of 2006.
Together with Wells Fargo and the Military Warriors Support Foundation, we presented Michael, his wife Jessica, and their three children with a payment-free 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid. In addition to the vehicle, and with a tremendous amount of help from our community, we were able to fill the trunk with items based on the family’s hobbies and interests. We’ll never have sufficient words to describe our gratitude, but believe this is a start.
For more information on how you can support wounded veterans, visit www.militarywarriors.org
Get complete confidence on car test drives. Here’s everything to look, listen and smell for (really). PLUS: A free downloadable checklist to take with you
In car buying, the test drive is the moment of truth.
A test drive is typically the last thing that happens before a customer goes to buy a car. In fact, more than half of all shoppers buy the very first car they test drive, according to Cox Automotive.
That isn’t always a great idea.
Dealers know that, if you’ve reached the point where you’re ready to test drive a car, you’ve likely done so after hours of research. You’ve checked out lots of different models and prices. You aren’t going into a test drive blind.
Except, in a way, you are going into it blind.
The Huge Change That Happens When You Test Drive a Car
You might not realize that the entire car shopping game changes when you arrive at a dealership.
When you were scanning through options online, you were evaluating the car market at large. Maybe you looked at reliability ratings, reviews, and resale values. All that stuff matters. But when you test drive a car, the real question becomes:
What is the exact condition of the exact vehicle you are looking at?
Have you ever seen a set of clothes that looked great on the rack but didn’t work at all when you tried them on?
Or have you ever purchased two sets of the same jeans, and found that each one fit just a little bit different?
The same thing can happen with cars. With new vehicles it isn’t as much of an issue. Manufacturers put each car that rolls of the line through a rigorous inspection. Similarly, any vehicle that receives a “certified pre-owned” label from an automaker like Ford or GM has to undergo a 150+ point inspection to do so.
For all other used vehicles, conditions can vary. Which means it’s on you to determine good from bad.
What Most Dealerships Won’t Tell You
At Apple Autos, we believe you have the right to know exactly what you’re getting into when you buy a used car. That’s why we label every used car on our lot — not only the certified pre-owned models.
Our mechanics assign a quality rating to each vehicle. We then slap that rating right on the windshield so that any shopper can see it clearly.
We do this because our entire business model is different. We don’t work on the type of profit-based commission model you’ll find at most dealerships. Our salespeople get paid the same regardless of what car you buy. Which means they have no incentive to steer you in any direction other than toward the perfect car for you.
In fact, we’ve set up our system so that we’re essentially penalized if we get it wrong. We back every used car we sell with a 30-day exchange policy, no questions asked. That means if you were to change your mind for any reason, you could swap out the vehicle and apply what you spent toward any other car on our lot.
We wish every car dealership offered you this type of confidence and transparency. Unfortunately, most don’t. But because you deserve the best, we had our staff of mechanics and car experts compile a list of the most important things they check when inspect a car. What do they look and listen for? What are the biggest warning signs they try to spot?
We’ve put all of that information into this guide. And to make things even easier, we’ve created a downloadable checklist that will help you remember it all the next time you go to test drive a vehicle.
It’s the closest we could get to having one of our mechanics ride along with you. But don’t worry. They’ve reassured us that this list gives you everything you need to make the correct “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” call during your next test drive.
The Test Drive: What To Check Before You Get in the Car
A good test drive isn’t only a drive. In fact — boring as this may sound — the process starts at the salesperson’s desk.
- Ask to see the reconditioning paperwork. That’s the list of stuff that the dealership did to the vehicle after they purchased it. Why does it matter? First, because it gives you a list of things to look for and pay attention to when you drive. Does the new suspension feel squishy? Are the brakes too grabby? It’s even more worrying if a dealership doesn’t have any service records at all. At a minimum there should have been a basic oil change with lube and filter replacement. “Some dealers just don’t inspect their cars,” says Ryan Huffman, general manager of Apple Ford Shakopee. “They literally take a trade-in, run it through the car wash, and put it on the lot.” That’s not a trade-in you want to buy.
- Ask to see the vehicle history report. Tools like AutoCheck or CarFax are a must-see before purchase. “That will tell you if the car’s been in any accidents,” Huffman says. “Minor fender-benders may be no big deal, but if it’s something big that required a tow truck, you might want to reconsider.”
How to Visually Inspect a Car Before a Test Drive
Once you’re satisfied with the paperwork, it’s time to check out the car in person.
You’ll want to give the vehicle a thorough visual inspection even if you’ve already spent time looking at it out on the lot. Take it slow and do the following:
- Check the tires. People often fail to look at the tread on a used car’s tires. That’s a huge mistake. If you have to replace the tires in a few thousand miles, it’s like adding $700 or more to the price of the vehicle. You don’t need to be an expert to check tire wear. Use the penny test, where you place a one cent piece in the grooves of the tire tread. If you can see most or all of Abe Lincoln’s head, the tires don’t have a ton of life left.
- Examine the windows. Make sure there are no cracks.
- Check the body panels too. Look for signs of rust, scratches and dings, or places where touch-up paint was applied. The less, the better.
- Open and close every door. A couple of reasons why. The first is safety. if the doors don’t open and close smoothly, it could indicate frame damage occured at some point or another. (This should have shown up in the CarFax, but the reports aren’t always 100% accurate.) Second, you’ll want to notice how easy it would be to get in and out of the vehicle from all angles. Don’t just look at what it’s like to get in and out of the driver’s seat. You’ll want to see how it feels to be a passenger, which your friends (or children) will be.
- Pull out your measuring tape. Many of today’s cars, trucks and SUVs are bigger than ever. Those dimensions may not be compatible with your garage.
What Else to Check Before You Start Your Test Drive
Once you’ve examined the vehicle from the outside, you’re almost ready to hit the road. You can step into the vehicle. The first thing you want to notice? The smell. If the previous owner was a heavy smoker, you may be able to tell. Will that drive you crazy? Even more important: Does it smell damp? If so, that could indicate that the vehicle was in a flood — and you don’t want that. Assuming the car passes the sniff test, but before you put your foot on the gas pedal, check out the following.
- Load in any special cargo. If there’s anything in particular you plan on keeping in the car, bring it with you to the dealership so you can test it out. “Maybe you have a big family and you need three car seats,” Huffman says. “A lot of cars won’t fit those. You have to put them in to see if there’s room.” Similarly, maybe you plan on hauling tools, a bicycle, or golf clubs. Now’s your chance to see how easily everything packs in and out.
- Test the lights and mechanical features. Before you’re on the road, roll the windows down and back up. If it’s a pickup, drop and lower the gate. If it’s a convertible, drop and raise the top. Open and close the sunroof, buckle and unbuckle the seatbelts, adjust the side- and rear-view mirrors. Then flip on the headlights, taillights, and turn signals. Check the dome light. Make sure everything’s moving and turning on smoothly. If something is broken, ask if it can be fixed.
- Check the A/C and heating too. Even if you’re shopping during the hottest part of summer or the coldest part of winter, you’ll want to flip on the heat and air conditioning. See how long it takes for the desired to come out of the registers. A long delay could indicate an issue.
- Ask for a technology tour. If you’re new to the car buying market after several years, even used cars may have new features you don’t recognize. Technology like rain-sensing wipers, automatic cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring can be confusing the first time you use them. Have the sales consultant show you how everything works. If there’s a mysterious dashboard button, ask about it. If you plan on connecting your phone to Bluetooth, Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, make sure they walk you through the process.
- Start up the car and do this. Before you set out on the drive, have the salesperson turn on the car. Then pop the hood and listen for any rattling, ticking, or anything else that just sounds “off.” You don’t have to know what every single noise means. You just have to notice it. It’s the car salesman’s job to explain it to you. Then, if they say it’s no big deal, you use your BS-detector to determine if they’re telling it to you straight.
How to Test Drive a Car
Here’s something that not everyone considers: You may want to start your test drive in the passenger seat. Why? “That way you can keep playing with the buttons and features while getting a feel for how the car drives,” Huffman says. “You can get to know the vehicle without having to focus on the actual driving.” This ride time is another chance for you to test out the A/C, heater, navigation system and audio system.
Then after five or ten minutes, have the consultant pull over. Here’s what to do when you take the wheel of your test drive:
- Assess the driver’s seat. Notice how the seat itself feels. Are you comfortable? You could be spending a lot of time there, so this matters a whole lot.
- Check your view inside and out. Notice the car’s gauges. Are they easy to see and read? Also pay attention to any blind spots. Are they significant? If so, are there cameras that cover the area?
- Drive at varying speeds in varying situations. Don’t limit your drive to stop-and-go city traffic. Take it out on the highway to see how it rides at 60 or 70 mph and then navigate to gravel or otherwise bumpy roads to feel out the suspension. If you’re from the area, stick to roads you know, says Huffman, so you have some basis of comparisons. If not, plot your drive ahead of time, so the sales consultant doesn’t keep you on smooth pavement.
- Check the brakes. Be sure to give the salesperson riding with you a heads up before you do this. And don’t do it in any situation that could be risky. But you’ll want to see how well the car slows down. The car should decelerate smoothly. If the car vibrates, or you hear a squealing sound, it could indicate that the brakes need to be replaced — or have been replaced with sub-standard parts.
What to Do After Your Test Drive
As we talked about at the start of this article, the test drive is the moment of truth for car shoppers. Dealers and their salespeople know this. Which means that, if your drive went smoothly, they’ll be expecting to get down to business.
Don’t — especially if it’s the first car you’ve tested. A side-by-side comparison with two or three vehicles can help you notice nuances in handling that you’d likely miss by doing just one drive. “The sales consultant might want you to drive one and then buy it, but it’s just not that easy,” says Huffman. “You want to have at least a couple things to compare.”
If you’re pretty sure you do want the car, play it cool. While a few dealerships (like ours) offer no-hassle pricing that puts our best price right upfront, dealerships that negotiate are different. Often, they’ll mark up their cars higher but then cut their prices later in the month in order to hit a quota or bonus tier. To get those discounts, your strongest point of leverage is your feet.
Here are a few other things you should keep in mind after your test drive:
- Ask about the gas. Some cars require higher octane fuel than others. If you don’t want to pay a premium at the pump, you need to know this.
- Also find out: What are the terms of the warranty? A quick way to cut to the heart of the matter is to simply ask, “What doesn’t it cover,” says Apple Ford Lincoln finance manager Toby Hewitt. “If the warranty covers everything but wear and tear and basic maintenance, perfect. You’ve got a great warranty.” If the dealership offers you an extended service contract, here’s how to assess whether or not that’s a good idea.
- Ask to take the vehicle to your own mechanic. Yes, this article gives you a lot of what you need in order to test drive like a pro, it’s always to get a second opinion. And if the salesperson says “no,” for some reason, that’s a clear red flag. Time to move on.
- See if you can spend the night with the vehicle. Buying a car is a big investment, which is why we offer extended test drives. “Customers can take the vehicle home for a day or weekend at no charge,” says Huffman. “They can put miles on it, run errands, take the kids places—whatever they need to feel confident in their decision.” See if the dealership will give you the chance to truly get to know the vehicle.
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