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Foster Coach Sales, Inc. - News and Views |
FOSTER COACH HAS PURCHASED (20), 2010, 6.0L DIESEL CHASSIS FROM OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER, AVAILABLE TO OUR CUSTOMER BASE, ONCE THE CHASSIS ARE DEPLETED FROM FORD AND MEDTEC.  CHICAGO AUTO SHOW Medtec Ambulance and Foster Coach were asked by Ford Motor Company to display a new ambulance in their booth at the Chicago Auto show in their “Work Truck” booth. Attendance there is usually over 1 million
people over the course of the 10 day show, so exposure was awesome. It was a privilege and honor to be asked to show in their booth at such a highly visible show.
  STEVE FOSTER'S AUNT STELLA JUMPS OUT OF AIRPLANE
For her 90th birthday, Stella goes skydiving. It was Stella that loaned money to Floyd Foster to start Foster Coach. That was over 50 years ago and she is still full of life! Click the play control to watch the video. FOSTER COACH SALES, INC. AWARDED MEDTEC “DEALER OF THE YEAR” AGAIN IN 2009 All of our salesmen, Kevin, John, Andrew, and Steve, led Medtec’s dealer network in sales again this year. Foster Coach Sales, Inc. had the top producing sales people again and we would like to thank all of our customers for helping us achieve this goal. After we celebrated our 50 years of continuous service, we look back on all the wonderful customers over the past and would like to take this opportunity to say “Thank You” for your continued support of us and our products. We have led the nation in sales and service once again and have for the last 15 years straight. We could not have done it without you the customer and our fine support team here in Sterling. We look forward to the next decade with pride and optimism. We could not be where we are today if it was not for all the fine support staff in Sterling, as we are told daily in the field how important of a part they play in our success. As we continue to meet the challenges of today’s market we look forward to the future and proudly reflect on the past. FORD ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF GAS AMBULANCE 2010 MODEL To read more, click here... LATEST ON FORDS CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THIS COULD HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON YOU To read more, click here... GREAT NEWS FOR WISCONSIN SERVICES Wisconsin EMS Association Department Members can purchase a new Medtec Ambulance and receive a $2,500.00 rebate from Medtec for Medtec AD and PD models, a $1,000.00 rebate for the FD models, and $3,500 for AD models. Medtec is a buying partner with WEMSA for the next two years. Non members can visit their website for further membership details. www.wemsa.com Service or Corporate memberships are needed to receive the rebate. The rebate will be distributed to the department from the Association after the unit is delivered. GREAT NEWS — FORD HAS REINSTATED ITS EXTENDED WARRANTY OPTION. After about ten years of no longer being available, Ford Motor Company has brought back its optional extended service plans. There are five optional coverages: Power Train Care package, Base Care package, Extra Care package, and Premium Care package. All of these can be added to extend the warranty to 6 years/100,000 miles. This must be ordered before the 3 year/36,000 mile warranty has expired. Also, there is a Diesel Engine Care package that can be added anytime before the 5 year/100,000 mile standard warranty is met. This can extend the engine warranty to 7 years/200,000 miles. There is a surcharge for Ambulances of coarse, but we feel it is a worthwhile option to look into. See your local Ford dealer for the details and best option for your service.
CHASSIS UPDATE FOR TYPE II AND TYPE III AMBULANCES BELOW IS INFORMATION AS WE HAVE RECEIVED IT FROM FORD AND OUR MANUFACTURER’S: FORD 2010 CHASSIS UPDATE FORD E-SERIES DIESEL---BOTH VANS AND CUTAWAYS There are a limited supply of 2010 Ford van and cutaway diesel chassis available. These chassis have engines built to the pre-2010 diesel emission standards. Ford is working on a diesel motor to fit in an E-series, but there is nothing out there yet. FORD E-SERIES GAS—BOTH VANS AND CUTAWAYS 2010 will be the first year for the Ford gas engines with an ambulance prep package to be certified for ambulance use since 1987. These chassis will differ from the old gas units in the fact they will be fuel injected in lieu of carbureted, and should run a lot cooler. The lighter gas engine should also allow for more payload on the front axle and maybe improve front end maintenance. We trust Ford has done their homework after the gas engine fiasco in the mid 1980’s and there will be no problems. There will be a single alternator rather than dual alternators. FORD F-SERIES DIESEL CHASSIS The initial 2010 F-series chassis will have the Navistar 6.4 liter motors that were in the 2009. There will be a chassis interruption in the middle of the year for changeover to the new 6.7 Scorpion SCR [Selective Catalytic Reduction] motors for 2011. These chassis will have a urea tank added to them. Estimated cost increase $6,000.00 to $7,000.00. Estimated weight increase 300-400 lbs. This will require a fuel heater as urea freezes at 12F degrees—it starts to turn to decompose in an open system at 85f degrees. FORD F-SERIES GAS CHASSIS There will be no F-series gas units available with an ambulance prep package. CHEVROLET G-CUT CHASSIS Initial production will be the same motor as 2009, but on a very small scale. Manufactures have already seen their chassis requests cut back by over 75% in most cases. This means the 2010i SCR engines will be all that is available around June of 2010. Once again, a $5,000.00 to $6,000.00 estimated increase in cost and another added 300-400 lbs. CHEVROLET C4500 This chassis has been discontinued. DODGE RAM 4500 Production has halted on this chassis at least until 2011 model year. DODGE SPRINTER This chassis will be available and later versions will also have the SCR requirements. At that time they will be labeled as Freightliner or Mercedes. This chassis is available in a van or a cutaway. Local service can be a problem however for rural areas as to a limited number of servicing dealers. INTERNATIONAL 4300 These chassis will not have a SCR system required as they are the only chassis that will use an EGR [Exhaust Gas Recirculation] system designed and tested by International to meet the new emissions without it. This is done thru the EGR systems cleaner exhaust and exhaust emission credits owned by International. Estimated cost increase however will be $6,000.00-$7,000.00, but no urea tank is required. FREIGHTLINER M70 CHASSIS Freightliner will have to use the SCR system also. Same weight additions and cost increase estimates. I have been in the ambulance sales business since 1973, and have never been as confused as I am now. I hope this all works out, and I am sure it will as we move forward. Like anything else, we fight change, only to find out that it was for the better. [At least I hope it does this time!] I am positive there will be a rush to get one of the old chassis and we have positioned ourselves to meet the needs of our customers with demos and chassis available. But when they are gone, they are gone, and we will have to change with the times. We did in 1987 when the diesel came out and replaced the gas motors, and after the initial few years it developed into a good option. Let’s hope the urea does not create too many initial problems and the transition is smooth. Medtec has been allicated approximately 150 chassis in the 6.0 liter diesel motor through the rest of 2009. When these motors are gone, the rest of the chassis will have gasoline motors. Rumor has it that Ford is presently developing their own engine, a split from International—a 4.4 liter diesel for 2010 for all E350, E450, and F450 models. FUEL Bio-diesel fuel is not an acceptable fuel if it is over 5% soy in the new 6.4 motors and not recommended for the older motors either. Ford will not cover damage thru the warranty if it is found to be higher that 5%. [see Ford owner's manual page 12 and Ford delivery checklist] There is a sign off sheet for the customer to sign at delivery explaining the service intervals and requirements. There is a fuel additive product available from Ford that Ford recommends to be added to the fuel we currently use for all their diesel motors. It is available from Ford dealers across the parts counter. It is called Cetane Booster and Performance Improver and each 20 ounce bottle treats 120 gallons of fuel. Click the links below for more information. MAXXFORCE Emissions Information StableGuard™ Urea Premix Protection for SCR NOx Reduction Systems Cummins 2010 Emissions Cummins Aftertreatment System Ford Super-Duty's new 6.7L Scorpion diesel — Click for more... Ford's Scorpion Diesel Said To Have Big Sting! — Click for more... INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL SERVICE INFORMATION Biodiesel Fuel and Biodiesel Blends Engine Family: All International® Diesel Engines Engine Family: All International® MaxxForce™ Diesel Engines 2007-up Model Years Description This TSI contains policy and position statements for biodiesel fuel, biodiesel blends, recommendations for storage and use of biodiesel blends, warranty coverage, and the impact of biodiesel fuels on engine emissions. To read more, click here... CHEVROLET CHASSIS A 14,050 pound GVW chassis, with 159” wheelbase and Dura-Max diesel. The diesel engine is the 250 hp Dura-Max with the 4L85E transmission equipped with GM’s ambulance prep package. OUR PLANS Assist in helping our customers keep the present unit in service until a resolution is available. Foster Coach Sales, Inc. brings over 66 years of combined service experience in our service department. We know what it takes and where to look to keep you going longer than you anticipated. We offer loaner/rental vehicles to substitute for your unit while it is being serviced. We also offer a full service body shop to freshen up your unit. Keep in mind that if you postpone your purchase, you may have to budget more for replacements in the future. Please call Ron at 1-800-369-4215 for assistance. We have (20), 2010 Ford E450 Chassis in stock for sale once the Medtec supply is gone. We now have a "Closeout Parts and Cots" e-commerce page and inventory of parts we are selling online. |
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