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A short while ago I got a brand new Ford Fiesta from Pye Motors in Morecambe. You may not think this is a big deal, but I have never had a new car until now and most of the cars I’ve had were at least a few years old when I bought them. So this was very good news for me; but even more exciting is that I have now become Brand Ambassador for family-run Ford Dealership Pye Motors.
My new Ford Fiesta at Staveley Mill Yard
The first car I owned was an old black Mini Cooper in the 1970s. It had red leather seats and looked cool, but the windows didn’t open, the engine overheated at the drop of a hat and I was nearly killed when the brakes failed as I was going downhill in Shropshire. The next car was a bright orange Ford Escort that had belonged to my boyfriend. It got me from A to B via most of the UK and I sold it for £300 when I moved to live in Greece. Since then I have had many cars, including Peugeot, Nissan, Rover, Citroen, Toyota and Honda but NEVER a new one. (Travel bloggers may get to see the world but it’s not the most lucrative of jobs.) So you can imagine my pleasure when I was asked to test-drive the new Ford Fiesta this summer – click link to read my review. As you can see from the video, I was VERY excited!
Bedecked with impressive features including Cruise Control, Parking Sensors, Auto High Beam dipping headlights and Blind Spot Information System using RADAR sensors, I was like a kid in a sweet shop trying them all out. I was sorry to return the car and go back to driving my reliable but ageing Honda Jazz, which now seemed very ordinary, sluggish and lacking in any funky techy stuff. Over the coming weeks, I had a number of discussions with Pye Motors and I was DELIGHTED to be appointed their very first digital Brand Ambassador.
Founder William Pye and MD Nick Payne
Managing Director Nick Payne told me the Pye Motors story. His wife’s grandfather William Pye started a vehicle repair business in Lancaster back in 1925. It’s grown greatly since then and there are now three Ford Dealerships in Morecambe, Kendal and Barrow with a team of over 140 staff. Nick says, “We don’t just pay lip-service to customer service; it’s the single most important element of Pye Motors. We have returning customers who’ve been coming to us for many years. This is a family-run business with a proud tradition of going above and beyond whenever we can.” I’ve visited all their branches and each one has a personal, friendly atmosphere that makes Pye Motors quite different from the image I had of a corporate Ford Dealership.
Words that came up in our conversations about the Brand Ambassador role included integrity, community, help, passion and fun. For me to align myself with such a big name, it was vital that we share the same values and that integrity should feature large in our relationship. The company has an excellent reputation locally and Ford is one of the world’s most famous brands, so it was important that they found the right blogger to represent them. My audience fits some of their key demographics and we share a passion for this lovely area.
Pye Motors Awards and Trophies
Pye Motors plays a significant role in the local community and wants to shout more about their Lancashire and Cumbria roots. They sponsor a wide range of competitions and support various charities and local events as well as national campaigns. (A number of staff recently took part in Movember, growing splendid moustaches – some slightly less splendid 😉 – and raising lots of dosh and awareness of men’s health issues.) Both Nick and I feel there is a great deal of synergy in our shared values and interests and that the partnership will work for everyone. As their Brand Ambassador, I will be discovering more about the company and the team and exploring beautiful North West England in an #allnewFiesta.
Ryan demonstrating features of my new Ford Fiesta
On a sunny day at Pye Motors in Morecambe, Ryan showed me the innovative design and technology features of my Moondust Silver Fiesta Zetec. Some of these come as standard, others are extras. We took it out for a drive so he could demonstrate how the Adaptive Cruise Control works; very clever adjusting speed depending on traffic. I was somewhat mind-blown by the Active Park Assist. ‘It uses a combination of different technologies to do more than steer you into parking spots. With Park Out Assist it helps you pull out of them, too. The Parallel and Perpendicular Parking system can sense if there’s space for your car to fit, then reverse you in. The Side Parking Aid also warns you if there are any lateral obstructions.’ I’ve yet to try it for myself, sounds quite mind-boggling – think I need another lesson … Its award-winning 1.1L Eco Boost engine and Stop/Start 6 gears gives very high performance combined with money-saving fuel economy.  Ryan also highlighted the sleek new styling, alloy wheels, large boot and spacious interior. The only thing that my old Honda had better was electric rear windows; possibly worth paying extra for but not vital. You can see more of the car – and Ryan – in this video.
Nick Payne loves the North West and has an extensive knowledge of his home turf. One of the main things I’ll be doing for our collaboration is exploring north Lancashire and south Cumbria, searching out lesser-known places and sharing stories for you to enjoy. Keep up with our travels via my Social Media channels and on this blog. I’ll be using the hashtag #followpye.
Morecambe Bay, Elterwater and Broughton-in-Furness
Click on the link to find out more about Pye Motors Ford Dealership and treat yourself to a test drive in the new Ford Fiesta or one of their other large fleet of vehicles. You can also find them on Twitter and Facebook. Rest assured that, however much I might love my new vehicle and collaborating with Pye Motors, I’ll be retaining my openness and honesty and my views will always be, most definitely, my own. I’m very much looking forward to our quirky travels together and if you see me out and about, give a wave and say hi …
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Around Morecambe Bay: Piel Island off the Cumbria Coast #followpye
Around Morecambe Bay: Barrow-in-Furness and nearby Islands #followpye #cumbria
Zoe Dawes December 13, 2017 at 11:23 am
I’ve already driven over 1500 miles in the car and so far, touch wood, no problems. One feature I really like is the dipping headlights, which come on full beam when it gets dark and the road ahead is clear. As soon as another vehicle comes towards me, they automatically dip. I used to often forget to dip them and was forever being flashed for blinding an oncoming vehicle. Now a thing of the past!
Marianne Turner December 20, 2017 at 3:42 pm
It’s great to see a local, well-established family business embracing the role of Ambassador for their brand. Pye Motors has an excellent reputation for customer service and supporting local charities. I am looking forward to following Zoe on her various journeys in the Ford Fiesta.
John MacBeath December 20, 2017 at 4:55 pm
That car looks really smart and sure you’ll have fun exploring Morecambe Bay with Pye Motors 🙂
Zoe Dawes December 20, 2017 at 4:59 pm
Cheers John – I love my new car. It’s great fun to drive and am really looking forward to collaborating with Pye over the coming months.
Zoe Dawes December 20, 2017 at 5:01 pm
You’re so right Marianne – it’s an innovative step for a local family business to partner with bloggers in this way. I’m very happy to be working with Pye and sure it’s going to be interesting to travel quirkily with them!
Sophia December 20, 2017 at 5:55 pm
I want active park assist! Just got a dishwasher and my mind has been blown by how I’ve gone through life without one, the way you describe park assist makes me feel like I’d never look back. Great article and what a fab sounding company too!
Janett December 20, 2017 at 9:36 pm
Car sounds pretty cool. Right with you on the auto dipping headlights. Fab idea – Defo need some of them in my life! As a Cumbria family business and with the shared values you talked about in your blog, Pye should apply for the Cumbria Family Business Awards too! Lovin the posts Zoe. Keep ‘em coming!
Jacqueline Harris December 21, 2017 at 1:38 pm
How wonderful of Pye Motors to choose such an appropriate and interesting ambassador! I’m looking forward to hearing about related travels. Yes I agree that the parking assist sounds fab – it would have saved me a fortune over the years!
Zoe Dawes December 30, 2017 at 1:54 pm
I haven’t dared use the Park Assist yet Soph! Slowly getting to grips with all the gizmos … So agree about dishwasher – ESPECIALLY over festive season 😉
Zoe Dawes December 30, 2017 at 1:55 pm
Yes, those dipping headlights are brill! Good idea re the Cumbria Family Business Awards Janett; I’ll pass on the suggestion 🙂
Zoe Dawes December 30, 2017 at 1:57 pm
Ah thanks Jackie – I was totally delighted to be asked. Going to be great fun exploring this part of the world with Pye Motors. I’m currently reading the Fiesta manual and discovering more and more features. Could take me a year to get to grips with them all 😉
Graeme Dawes December 30, 2017 at 2:02 pm
This looks like a neat car, especially with the safety features, a five star NCAP rating (the highest), more air bags than the Hindenburg, ABS, EBA, and ESC will make it safe for the kids and all their kit which can be loaded on the roof or accommodated with the 60/40 rear split seats and high roof line. Even if towing the jet bike it wont jack knife on you.
They wont be embarrassed on the school run either with its B&O system, Italian styling and slick paint job.
Along with the six speed,stop start and low drag body this car will be quite frugal yet nippy.
Hank Ford himself would be proud, if not just for the paint choice.
I’d go for that sun roof option.
Zoe Dawes December 30, 2017 at 2:09 pm
Cheers Gra. Frugal and nippy it most certainly is! You know so much about cars so approval from you means a lot. Hopefully you will get a ride in it when you are next in the UK 🙂
Clare Malley January 1, 2018 at 8:34 am
Your car sounds great, Zoë. It must be fabulous driving around in something so new. The parking assistance sounds particularly handy!
Zoe Dawes January 1, 2018 at 4:35 pm
Thanks Clare, it’s such a pleasure to drive and I’m looking forward to having a go at the Parking Assistance when I can work out exactly what to do!
Angus Matheson February 3, 2018 at 5:35 pm
It’s amazing the level of equipment that’s available on cars these days. Features that you would think of as being for top-end luxury cars only are now filtering down to smaller, more affordable cars.
I notice that the Fiesta has cruise control and a speed limiter button. On my car, I only get to use cruise control in Scotland, but with so many speed cameras and averaging speed cameras around, I use the speed limiter button almost daily.
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