Carey Ford dealer opens

CAREY — A new Ford dealership has opened in Carey, with an owner who's worked in the auto dealership industry for 40 years. Rick Wagner opened his new dealership at 1200 S. Vance St. a few weeks ago, and has since seen success. Wagner said he previously owned a Mazda dealership in Fostoria, but sold it and bought the Carey Ford location. He said he was happy to make the move to a Ford dealership, as he views their vehicles as high-quality. "Ford is a great product line," he said. "It gives you a lot of vehicles to choose from. Ford is definitely the premier brand." Before he bought it, Wagner said the dealership had been at 300 E. Findlay St. for about 60 years. Since the new location is by the highway, Wagner said there is a better chance for passers-by to see it. As the dealership was being constructed, Wagner said he found support in the Carey community, who were eager to help him with zoning and tax abatements. "The community has pulled together to make this dream come true," he said. "Everybody has just been wonderful. The entire community." As the dealership was being built, Wagner made sure to make it a "Trustmark" dealership, which means building the location to Ford's specifications. "It's the highest qualification you can get from Ford brand," he said. "It's a very highly scrutinized process." Wagner said because the dealership has a Trustmark qualification, he gets the "full support of Ford Motor Co.," with access to Ford parts and service. The dealership also is able to finance prospective Ford owners, rather than having to get a loan through a bank, he said. In celebration of its grand opening, Wagner said the dealership is selling special vehicles including the Ford Shelby GT350 and Ford GT40. There also is a chance for someone in the community to win a 2017 Ford Focus. Wagner said no purchase is necessary; those interested just need to come into the dealership and sign up. In addition to more traditional cars, Wagner said the dealership is selling recreational vehicles and is open to buying used RVs as well. Wagner has a history in the car dealership business, as he started as a dealer at 19 and went on to buy his first dealership at 28. His daughter, Alex Wagner, has followed in his footsteps, as she is the general manager of the dealership. "She grew up in the business and then went to college for it," he said.