by Chris Wilson

(Photos: Gainesville Ford "spokesperson" Nicolette Alvarez & the Ford Focus)

If or when you’re in the market for a new or preowned car, Gainesville Ford features more than 600 new and used vehicles on the lot. The business, located on Main St. in Gainesville, also has an impressive service shop, a website that can take you through the buying process and a local operator in Gainesville Ford owner/president and Jonesville area resident Joseph Alvarez.

Alvarez says prior to his taking over the business in May 2000, the company had out-of-town owners. “We wanted to make sure we had a guy who would operate here in town, who would circulate amongst the people and give them a good deal,” says Alvarez. “We wanted someone who would network and help support the community.” Among some of the local charities Gainesville Ford  supports are the Children’s Home Society, the Boys Club & Girls Club and STOP! Children’s Cancer.

“I try hard to do business with those who do business with me,”?says Alvarez. “I like that loyalty. I also believe strongly in supporting our community by doing business here in Gainesville. I think we owe it to our community to keep the tax dollars here. I urge people to have that same philosophy.”

Gainesville Ford has a local spokesperson Nicolette Alvarez, age 10, the daughter of Gainesville Ford dealer Joe and Michelle Alvarez. Nicolette, who attends Oak Hall School and loves to play soccer, can be seen in most of Gainesville Ford’s advertising. She also represents the dealership at a number of public events. The Alvarez family also has two more children — Ava (age 8) and Preston (6).

The dealership employs more than 100 people. “We have a lot of employees who have progressed in the business and we believe in promoting from within,” says Alvarez. “We hire students from the University of Florida part-time and we work around their schedules. They make good money and they learn what it’s like to work on commission.”

Gainesville Ford has something to offer just about anybody who is looking for a vehicle, whether it be a car, truck or even commercial trucks. Alvarez says the dealership specializes in “program cars,” which are purchased from Ford Motor Company through a closed auction. “They are one-year old to current year model vehicles and we can literally save people as much as 50 percent of what that car was listed for,” says Alvarez. “Not everybody is interested in buying something brand new. They can still save that first year and second year depreciation and still get a late model vehicles.” Alvarez says the vehicles that get put into the “program car” category originally were leased or loaned to Ford employees.

On the other end of the scope, we have used cars that you can buy for as low as $150 a month,”?he explains. “It might be something mom and dad are looking to get for a son or daughter going off to college or for high school. We carry from entry level all the way up the food chain, depending on your budget.”

Alvarez says he is impressed with the most recent Ford products. “The new models that Ford has brought to market the past couple of months have been phenomenal and are selling phenomenally,” says Alvarez. “The Ford Fusion is breaking all kinds of sales records throughout the country. The Ford Edge, with SYNC technology, is incredible.”

SYNC technology, which is factory-installed, is something new to the car industry and Ford has an exclusive partnership with Microsoft to make the technology available in 12 vehicles, including some Lincoln and Mercury models. “It takes the distraction away from the driver,” says Alvarez. The voice-activated technology can be used for communication and entertainment, by allowing access to the driver’s mobile phone and digital music players or USB?storage devices.

“With all the success and accolades that Ford has had recently, it is really showing in our showroom with increased traffic,”?says Alvarez.

Gainesville Ford, which also services about 100 vehicles per day, has the only Ford-authorized full-line body shop in Alachua County and the surrounding areas.

Another thing that makes the company easy and fun to do business with is its extensive website at www.gainesvilleford.com. “You can probably go through 90 percent of the transaction on our website,”?says Alvarez. “From the building of the vehicle to communicating, short of - but not really out of the question - us delivering the vehicle right to your home. We’re working towards getting there.”

The Gainesville Ford website allows visitors to research various makes and models, check out detailed information on Gainesville Ford’s complete new and preowned inventory and negotiate prices.

“We believe in trying to fulfill our customers’ needs, make it a relaxed buying experience and a relaxed service experience.”

For more information, visit Gainesville Ford at 3333 N. Main St. in Gainesville, online at www.gainesvilleford.com or call 376-5371.