Hello and welcome to the Rebel Ford December e-news. It’s our last for 2007 but there’s still plenty to be excited about.

For starters there’s the great news that the all new Ford Mondeo has won a coveted “Car of the Year” title from Drive. It took out the “Best Medium Car” segment and it bothered quite a few, much more expensive models in the overall competition.

Also this month we wrap up the V8 Supercar Championships and celebrate Jaimie Whincup’s win of the Barry Sheene Medal. In case all that wasn’t enough we take a look at the little Ford concept making big waves and offer some tips on how to make sure the upcoming holidays are as enjoyable as they should.

From all the team here at Rebel Ford, we wish you all a very merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year.


Darren McCormack,
Dealer Principal
Rebel Ford Elizabeth & Pooraka.

We make the process of organising your finance and investments quick, easy and straightforward.

The Ford Mondeo has only just landed on Australian soil, but it’s already been declared “Best Medium Car” by Drive’s annual “Car of the Year” awards.

In an increasingly growing segment the Mondeo lead the pack thanks to its superior interior space, safety features and refined driving style to take out the prestigious award.

"It has a Falcon-sized interior with a Camry-sized exterior,'' said one judge after the initial vehicle inspections. After grueling driving tests from the panel of expert journalists the Mondeo was still ahead of the competition, with the judges praising its handling.

“The six-speed auto is intuitive and offers an excellent manual gearchange mode. Ride comfort is also praiseworthy, with the firmish suspension both absorbing bumps and maintaining body control.”

The all important value for money factor was also appreciated by the expert panel of judges, with one remarking “You sure get a lot for $30,000," while another stated "It does almost everything that a car does that is $5000-$10,000 more expensive.''
 

To find out for yourself what makes the Mondeo the leader in its field, contact us for a test drive today.

Christmas is a wonderful time of year – plenty of good food, good friends, good weather, good times. But it can also be a stressful period, with pressure coming from every angle. Before you realize it extra tension is placed on finances, relationships, work, families and even households. So how can you make it through the Christmas period with your spirit intact? Hopefully these pre-Christmas rush tips can help!

BE PREPARED – It happens at the same time every year, but it still has a habit of creeping up quietly. If you have at least a rough idea of where you’ll spend it, how you’ll get there and who you’ll be buying presents for you can avoid last minute and expensive melt downs. If you plan on visiting more than one place on Christmas day, it’s a good idea to set flexible times for each and warn that you could be a little behind schedule. If you’re traveling any distance make sure your vehicle is up to the task and serviced ahead of schedule – breaking down on Christmas day is the worst thing possible.

BUDGET – With the rush of catalogs, special sales and last minute gifts it’s all too easy to not just stretch the budget, but totally destroy it. Before you even go near a shopping centre, write a list of who you’ll be giving presents to and brainstorm some ideas for each. A considerate and useful present trumps an expensive present every time. Also avoid the temptation for “just one more”, especially where children are involved. Christmas morning is already a sensory overload; one less noisy toy won’t ruin their day.

DON’T OVER DO IT – There’s too much of everything this time of year – food, drink, invitations, shops. Enjoy yourself, but over indulging doesn’t mean you’ll have a better time. Where possible stick to regular sized meals and avoid snacking for the sake of it. If you’re drinking be sure to pace yourself – no one wants a drunk spoiling a day of celebration. And it should go without saying if you’re drinking don’t even think about driving.

NARROW MISS FOR WHINCUP

It was a thrilling conclusion to the 2007 V8 Supercar Championships at Phillip Island, with Ford’s Jamie Whincup narrowly missing out on the championship by just 2 points to Garth Tander. The thin margin is the closest in the series history and naming the champion went all the way to the wire in the final race of the series.

The championship was within Whincup’s grasp but couldn’t manage to pass Todd Kelly despite making up several places in the final laps. The young driver was disappointed with his results, but remained optimistic about his effort this season.

"I can go home and look in the mirror and say I did the best job I possibly could, and today that was second best," he said after the race.

"I was 10th last year, and I've improved eight places to the front of the pack which is a good achievement, I believe. I can say I'm ahead of some pretty good class out there."

It wasn’t all disappointment for the young driver though as he’s been named winner of the Barry Sheene Medal. The medal recognizes not only the results and talents of drivers, but also their sportsmanship and attitude.

To view a full season wrapup, visit the official V8 Supercar Championships website here.