Ford Transit Connect Wagon Offers Versatility and Flexibility

PEKIN, Ill., – Have you ever wanted to pursue your goals or hobbies but felt you didn’t have the resources you need? The Ford Transit Connect Wagon offers versatility and flexibility; two things you need to fulfill your passions. Devin Stovall, the winner of the 2016 Ford Transit Connect Wagon giveaway, is proving this to be true.

The recent giveaway winner plans to use his Ford Transit Connect Wagon as a mobile bicycle and wheelchair repair shop! Stovall works full-time at a bicycle shop, but plans to use his free time to help BMX bikers, mountain bikers, and senior citizens repair their wheels.

Stovall is a great example of how important having the proper resources to pursue your passions can be. Many Americans are looking to supplement their income by starting side businesses, something that has been made ever more convenient by the popularity of the Internet world and social media platforms. But while technological advancements help to an extent, having the space and resources to create these business ventures is crucial. In the case of Stovall, his Transit Connect provides him with the mobile office space he needs. It also provides him with the ideal vehicle for his family in his everyday life. You can learn more about Devin and his endeavors by clicking here.

If you think it sounds like the Ford Transit Connect Wagon offers versatility and flexibility you need to start pursuing your dreams, you can test drive one for yourself at Velde Ford Pekin. We think the Ford Transit Connect Wagon provides the perfect opportunity to grow your side business, follow your dreams, or take your family wherever your heart desires!

Don’t forget to stay up to date on all of your vehicle maintenance needs this summer. Use our Summer Car Care pages at Velde Ford Pekin to help you with your car service needs. Learn all about your cooling and A/C systems, your fuel system, your exterior lights, how to prevent sun damage, and why it’s important to fix cosmetic damage to your vehicle.

Located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554, Velde Ford of Pekin is committed to providing customers outstanding service. We want you to enjoy your car buying experience. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to stop by the dealership or visit our website at www.VeldeFordPekin.com. You can also reach us at (888) 221-2804. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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Ford SYNC Vehicle Technology with MyFord Touch

PEKIN, Ill., – We want to give you the best car experience possible at Velde Ford. That’s why we’ve created our new Ford SYNC Vehicle Technology with MyFord Touch informational page. We want to help you understand and utilize your vehicle’s technology capabilities. Visit the Ford SYNC Vehicle Technology with MyFord Touch page on www.VeldeFordPekin.com.
Page details include:

SYNC Hands-Free Calling
With SYNC Hands-Free Calling, you can make calls from your cell phone through your vehicles speakers, without ever taking your eyes off the road.

Ford SYNC 911 Assist
In the case of an accident, this feature allows your vehicle to call emergency services for you if you’re unable to make the call yourself.

Infotainment System Voice Recognition
This feature is activated by a button on your steering wheel and allows you to make a call, send a text, or control your music without taking your hands off the wheel.

SYNC AppLink with Voice Control
SYNC AppLink allows you to control your favorite apps on your smartphone while driving. You can listen to sports broadcasts or your favorite music and radio apps.

Ford SYNC 3 plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Control your smartphone through the speakers of you car and utilize navigation, make calls and listen to voicemails without becoming a distracted driver.

Siri Seamless Integration
Use Siri as you normally would on your iPhone with the Siri Eyes Free feature. You can use this feature to check traffic conditions and look for restaurants in your area.

Music Search and Control
Control your in-car music by connecting your devices through Bluetooth or with a USB cord. Then use your voice to pick your songs!

Climate Control Through Ford SYNC
Save your preferred climate settings and return to them later with a simple voice command.

Ford SYNC Connect
Available with SYNC 3, use the FordPass app to track your car’s location, start your car remotely, and lock and unlock your car from your smartphone.

We want you to have the latest and greatest technologies in your vehicle to make your driving experience the most convenient it can be. With our new Ford SYNC Vehicle Technology with MyFord Touch informational page, we hope you can get an idea of your vehicles capabilities!

Located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554, Velde Ford of Pekin is committed to providing customers outstanding service. We want you to enjoy your car buying experience. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to stop by the dealership or visit our website at www.VeldeFordPekin.com. You can also reach us at (888) 221-2804. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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5 Red, White, and Blue Recipes for 4th of July

PEKIN, Ill., – How are you planning to celebrate your 4th of July? Whether you’re having a huge cookout or a small gathering with friends and family, these 5 red, white, and blue recipes for 4th of July are guaranteed to spice up your celebration!

1. First, you’ll want a patriotic appetizer! What cookout would be complete without deviled eggs? Try this tutorial on how to make red, white and blue deviled eggs! It shows you how to dye the eggs and how to make the filling, as well as how to cook the perfect hard-boiled egg.

2. Next, you’ll want some side dishes. Start with this red, white, and blueberry caprese salad. This creative side dish is pretty to look at and delicious to eat!

3. As another side dish, try this red, white and blue pasta salad. It includes a recipe to follow, but once you learn how to dye the pasta you could easily alter it to your own favorite pasta salad recipe!

4. Time for the main course. We found these fun red, white, and bleu cheese sliders. It’s a pretty simple recipe perfect for grilling.

5. Last but not least, don’t forget about dessert! These red, white, and blue cupcake cones are cute, delicious, and very kid friendly.

No matter what you have planned for this summer’s 4th of July celebration, these 5 red, white, and blue recipes for 4th of July will help your holiday be a success! If you have any favorite patriotic recipes that we missed, be sure to share them with us! If your 4th of July plans include traveling, take a look at our Summer Car Care pages to help you keep up on your seasonal vehicle maintenance. We include tons of helpful info about your cooling and A/C systems, fuel system, exterior lights, cosmetic repairs, and sun protection!

Located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554, Velde Ford of Pekin is committed to providing customers outstanding service. We want you to enjoy your car buying experience. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to stop by the dealership or visit our website at www.VeldeFordPekin.com. You can also reach us at (888) 221-2804. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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Escape the Room – Ford Edition

PEKIN, Ill., – The popular interactive game experience Escape the Room has partnered with Ford to create the largest game concept of its type. Escape the Room – Ford Edition, or Escape NYC was compiled by a partnership trifecta: Ford, Escape the Room designer Victor Blake, and the I LOVE NEW YORK campaign.

Escape the Room is an interactive game experience that involves players and their ability to solve puzzles, clues, and find hidden objects in order to escape the room they are seemingly trapped in. This weekend, June 23-26, competitors will participate in the largest Escape the Room experience yet, complete with the first drivable experience of its type.

Housed in midtown Manhattan’s Moynihan Station, the game will take up 35,000 square feet. We think the coolest part, is the incorporation of the 2017 Ford Escape and all of its latest technology features. Although the game experience itself is kept top secret, we do know that Escape NYC uses SYNC AppLink, SYNC 3, and SYNC Connect features, as well as some safety features like the collision warning, park assist, and rearview camera.

As well as the integration of the 2017 Ford Escape and it’s awesome features, the I LOVE NEW YORK campaign aims to raise awareness and bring light to some lesser known destinations in New York.

So what do you think? Would you try to Escape the Room – Ford Edition? If you’d like to try out a 2017 Ford Escape without all the pressure of an interactive game experience, you can come down to Velde Ford in Pekin and test-drive one for yourself! Call us at (888) 221-2804. We would love to tell you all about the latest technologies and safety features offered on any of the Ford Vehicles.

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Stop by the dealership located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com for more information.

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10 Summer Bucket List Ideas

PEKIN, Ill., – Who says summer bucket lists are just for kids? Although our 10 summer bucket list ideas can definitely include children, they’re also perfect for any adult looking to be a little adventurous this summer. Don’t let the good weather pass you by! Take advantage of the upcoming summer months! Can you check everything off of our list before fall rolls around?

1. Take a road trip

Taking a road trip doesn’t have to be a huge time commitment. It doesn’t call for much planning either! Grab a friend, pack some snacks, fill up your tank, and just drive! You might be surprised at the fun things you find on your little adventure! If you’re the type of person who needs to have a plan, head to Chicago with our 5 fun Chicago destinations. Chicago is less than 3 hours from Pekin! If that’s too far, Champaign is just a little over an hour drive!

2. Go camping in the backyard

Camping is great summer bucket list item because you can make it as big of a deal as you want! Setting up a tent in the backyard with the kids can be just as much fun as planning a camping trip over a long weekend. Not only are you within close range of running water, running inside is easy in the case of inclement weather! You can still do all the fun camping things like roasting marshmallows over the fire pit and sleeping on air mattresses in sleeping bags, all while being a few steps from indoor bathrooms!

3. Try something new

Summertime presents a great opportunity to try new things! What is something you’ve always wanted to do but never actually done before? Have you ever gone paddle boarding or kayaking? What about hiking or rock climbing? Make a commitment to yourself this summer to try something new and exciting! It could be something as small as trying a new food or recipe! Step out of your comfort zone!

4. Cook a meal from farmers market ingredients

This summer, the Pekin Farmers Market will be held every Thursday through September 3rd from 4-6pm. A great meal to prepare from farmers market ingredients would be a fresh omelet! You can find farm fresh eggs, veggies and cheese to cook a delicious breakfast, all while supporting your local farmers!

5. Attend an outdoor concert

Live music is always a great time, but take advantage of the good weather and go to an outdoor show! Whether it’s a big name artist or a small local band, you’re sure to have a great time listening to some music under the sun or the stars!

6. Read a new book

Make yourself a list of books you’ve been dying to read. Maybe they’re the classics you never got to or an author a friend recommended. Whatever the case, summer is a great time to catch up on the reading you’ve been falling behind on.

7. Plan a picnic

Whether it’s you and a friend, you and your kids, or you and your significant other, who doesn’t love a good a picnic? Pack up a lunch and blanket and take it to your favorite beach or other outdoor area! If the weather isn’t looking so great, you can always try an indoor picnic on the living room floor!

8. Tie Dye

Do you have some old dingy white clothes lying around? Run to the local craft store and pick up a tie dye kit! Turn your unwanted clothes into works of art. You could also try tie dying old white shoes or sheets! Tie dye is a great outdoor activity for kids and adults!

9. Start a garden

Have you always wanted to start a garden in your backyard? Summer is the perfect time! If you don’t have space in your yard for a garden, you could try this fun DIY window box garden! Plant fruits, veggies, herbs, or flowers! Watching something grow is always rewarding!

10. Watch fireworks

Summer is pretty much the only time to catch a fireworks show. Fourth of July will be here before you know it, so make sure you plan to head to a fireworks display. If you’re bringing the kids along, sparklers are always a fun activity! Just be sure to review safety with them and make sure sparklers are allowed if you’re in a public park.

Summer is the best time to check off some bucket list items! Can you complete all of our 10 summer bucket list ideas? Did we miss anything? Let us know! If you’re planning any road trips this summer be sure your vehicle is running smoothly! Check out our Summer Car Care pages to find tips and tricks on keeping your cooling and A/C system, fuel system, and exterior lights in working order. You can also look at our cosmetic repairs page for more info on fixing your dings and dents, and our sun protection page for tips on how to protect your car from the sun this summer!

Located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554, Velde Ford of Pekin is committed to providing customers outstanding service. We want you to enjoy your car buying experience. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to stop by the dealership or visit our website at www.VeldeFordPekin.com. You can also reach us at (888) 221-2804. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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5 Fun Chicago Destinations

PEKIN, Ill., – Summer has officially arrived in Illinois and we’d like to inspire you to take a road trip adventure! We picked 5 fun Chicago destinations to see this summer. Chicago is located about 170 miles northeast of Pekin, right on Lake Michigan. It will take you a little less than 3 hours to get there, the perfect distance for a road trip! We think you’ll like these fun places:

Oz Park 

Oz Park is The Wizard of Oz themed park located in the Lincoln Park community of Chicago. The park was originally an effort to enhance the community. Now it serves as a unique playground and park featuring fun statues of Oz characters.

Lincoln Park Zoo 

Lincoln Park Zoo is a completely free outdoor attraction located in Lincoln Park in Chicago. The zoo features tons of different wildlife including mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Did we mention it’s free?

Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool 

Originally built in 1889 as part of a Victorian garden, the lily pool was adopted by Alfred Caldwell in 1936. The Lincoln Park Conservancy picked it up in 1997 and brought it back to its former glory. They now maintain the beautiful 2.7 acre historical landmark.

Navy Pier 

Navy Pier is one of Chicago’s most well renowned attractions and landmarks. With so much food, the Ferris wheel, and its redeveloped atmosphere, there’s something at Navy Pier for everyone. Be sure to check their website for lists of events and activities.

The International Museum of Surgical Science 

If you need to get out of the heat or the rain this summer, and you want a different museum experience than the art, science, and field museums offer, check out the International Museum of Surgical Science. The IMSS is the only museum in North America dedicated to the history of surgery!

We hope these 5 fun Chicago destinations pique your interest and motivate you to hit the road! If you decide to go on any road trips this summer, be sure your car is up to date on all of its maintenance. Head over to our new Summer Car Care at Velde Ford Pekin pages to help you keep your car running smoothly. If you’d like to schedule a service appointment you can fill out our online form. Don’t forget to check our Service FAQ page for more information.

Located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554, Velde Ford of Pekin is committed to providing customers outstanding service. We want you to enjoy your car buying experience. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to stop by the dealership or visit our website at www.VeldeFordPekin.com. You can also reach us at (888) 221-2804. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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2017 Ford Fusion Earns A Top Safety Pick+ Award

PEKIN, Ill., – The 2017 Ford Fusion earns a Top Safety Pick+ Award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) by earning good ratings in all five crashworthiness tests. Each test targets a different area of the vehicle and how it will hold up in the case of a crash.

These five tests include moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, head restraints, and front crash prevention. To earn a Top Safety Pick+ award, a vehicle must receive good ratings in all categories, as well as have a front crash prevention system with an advanced or superior rating. The 2017 Ford Fusion received superior marks in the front crash prevention category.

The 2017 Fusion was designed with a new modified front-end structure, which helped it get a good rating in the overlap front test. As well as this addition, the new Fusion offers an optional active braking system to help drivers avoid collisions. This improvement helped it receive its superior rating in the front crash prevention category.

As well as the new safety features, the Ford Fusion’s other features include a pedestrian detection system, hands-free parallel and perpendicular parking capability, lane-keeping assist, and Blind Spot Information system with cross-traffic alert.

We’re happy to announce that the 2017 Ford Fusion earns a Top Safety Pick+ Award from the IIHS. If you’d like to test drive the 2016 Ford Fusion, come down to Velde Ford Pekin, or schedule an appointment online! If you need any help with your routine maintenance this summer, be sure to check our new Summer Car Care pages for tons of helpful information about your cooling and A/C system, exterior lights, fuel system, cosmetic repairs, and sun protection!

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Stop by the dealership located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com for more information.

Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram