Waldorf Ford's Blog

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How do I pick the right Ford truck?

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Administrator

Our sales staff occasionally get asked questions like this, so we thought it might be time to answer it here.

So, we understand you are out looking for a new truck. With all of the advancements Ford has introduced over the past couple of years, we can understand why it it is so hard to pick. Here are some of the questions we ask to help narrow down the choices.

1. Are you going to do any towing? If yes,
a. Is the trailer a gooseneck, fifth wheel or bumper pull?
b. How much weight will you be towing?
c. How often will you be towing and where?
These questions help us determine which size truck you need – F150, F250, F350 etc.

2. How many people does it need to seat (or pets)?
This one helps determine whether you need a regular cab, Super cab or Crew Cab.

3. Will this be your daily driver or just a tow/haul vehicle?
Or better yet – is fuel economy important

4. Do you drive anywhere you might need 4 Wheel Drive?

5. Will you be carrying anything in the bed?
This will help us determine if you need a full 8 foot bed or if a shorter bed will work.

6. Is this for business use or personal use?

We ask all of these to help you make the right choice when purchasing a truck. Since the introduction of the Ecoboost V6, we are finding more and more that people that previously needed a diesel F250, can now have all of their towing and hauling needs met by the F150.

So, if you find yourself truck shopping, we hope you find these questions helpful. If you would like us to help, just stop by and see us. Waldorf Ford is located on Route 301 North in Waldorf, just 15 minutes south of Washington DC. We are proud to be your local Ford dealer.

The future is closer than you think

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Administrator

Remember when you were a kid watching the Jetsons (ok well maybe some of you don’t) and their flying cars that just took them wherever – or Knight Rider when Kitt took over and just drove around itself? It all seemed so far out there, like it was too far out there to ever be a reality. Well, seems like self-driving cars isn’t that far out there afterall. We might just see the future sooner than we thought.

This all comes up in a presentation by Bill Ford Jr. the great-grandson of car pioneer Henry Ford. His points were made to the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. He said that we could be putting our vehicles on auto pilot within the next 10 years. TEN YEARS! I don’t know whether to be excited or scared!

He believes that it will happen in three stages.

Near-term – In the next five years, he said vehicles will be equipped with car-to-car warning systems and will be able to drive themselves in slow traffic and even park themselves.

Mid-term – Between 2017 and 2025, Ford believes cars will have the technology to reduce the role of the driver markedly, and that many automobiles will be at least semi-autonomous. He also talked of “vehicle platooning” whereby vehicles proceed pretty much bumper to bumper through the use of car-mounted sensors. This will improve safety and save space on roads which will by that time be busier than ever.

Long-term – At some point from 2025, Ford said he expected that many vehicles will be fully autonomous.

Now there is no telling when these will actually roll out in Waldorf, or when they will be available in Ford vehicles. But if the push for technology by Bill Ford Jr and Alan Mulally is any indication of the future, Ford will be on the cutting edge and one of the first to put these into production.

Sources: Dailymail and Digital Trends

Importance of a Maintenance Schedule for your car

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Administrator

There has recently been in the news a study that showed that people are keeping their vehicles for 6 years. Compare this to the 4 years people kept their vehicles just a short 8 years ago. What factored into this change? First, the economy. Even though things are looking better today, unemployment is still high and there is still a lack of confidence in the economy. Second, long loan terms. Now that you can finance a vehicle for 72 months it takes longer to gain equity in your vehicle. So people are hanging on to their cars until their are close to being paid off. Third, vehicle quality. The quality of most vehicles is better than it was. Build them better and they last longer.

You have a role to play in the quality of your vehicle too. If you follow a maintenance schedule, you will help your vehicle retain value longer. Which will help you keep it longer and help you get more for it when its time to trade it in. Here are some of the things that you should put on that schedule:

Oil and Filter Change
Regular oil changes are important because motor oil contains additives that have the ability to neutralize acids. Over time, these additives get used up and stop being effective.
Also, oil can absorb water, dust and combustion byproducts and holds them in suspension. Eventually, the oil gets saturated and can’t absorb any more. When the contaminated oil remains in the engine it can cause corrosion.

Ignition System Maintenance
In today’s vehicles, the bulk of the ignition system maintenance involves spark plugs and wires. Worn or misfiring sparkplugs will cost you fuel economy and emissions performance. Most recommendations are to check the performance of your spark plugs at 30,000 miles and plug wires at 60,000 miles. Your local dealer can check this for you, also refer to your owners manual for manufacturer recommendations.

Cooling System Maintenance
Most modern cooling systems and coolant only require replacement every 100,000 to 200,000 miles. When refilling however, it is important to use only distilled water with a concentrated coolant, in order to prevent corrosion and mineral blockage. Always make sure to properly bleed the system after replacing coolant, as air bubbles can dramatically reduce cooling system ability.

Air Filter/Fuel Filter Replacement
A dirty air or fuel filter can cause poor performance, poor fuel mileage and reduced engine life. Changing your air/fuel filter is easy and rule of thumb is to change the air filter 12 months/12,000 miles or fuel filter 24 months/24,000 miles. For the best information, again check your owner’s manual or ask your service advisor.

Brake Rotor and Pad Replacement:
We typically recommend you check the condition of your brake components anytime you rotate your tires. Make note of any unusual wear. Replace the pads when there is still a little of the pad left, wait any longer and you could damage the rotor. Especially check into those brakes if the brake pedal feels spongy when you use them, you hear unusual grinding or squealing, braking is hard or your brake light is continuously on.

Tire Pressure Check: Maintaining the correct air pressure in your tires will not only help improve fuel economy, it will help your tires wear more evenly. The manufacturers put the recommended tire pressure on a sticker on the door jam. All you need is a simple pressure gauge and you can check it yourself.

Tire Rotation: Our rule is to rotate the tires whenever you change the oil. This will help your tires last longer, saving you money in the long run.

Transmission Fluid Change: Most newer vehicles don’t require or recommend a transmission fluid change. It is a sealed system that has the same fluid in it for the life of the transmission. If you have an older vehicle the standard is to change the transmission fluid and filter at 40,000 miles. I will go to our old fall back and recommend if you have any questions, refer to your manufacturer’s owners manual or ask your service advisor for help.

Car Wash: The exterior of your car will not only look better, it will last longer if you wash your car regularly. Road grime and winter road treatments are hard on your vehicle, corroding whatever it touches. So give your car a good scrub – you will feel better once you do!

That about covers everything. Servicing your vehicle properly will help keep it running better for you and help you get more for it when you decide to replace it down the road. If you have any questions about the maintenance of your vehicle, feel free to contact one of our service advisors at Waldorf Ford. We are conveniently located on Route 301 North in Waldorf, just 15 minutes south of Washington DC.

Source: Carsdirect

Things to consider when car shopping

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Administrator

We came across a great article on The Auto Channel and thought they had some pretty great points.

1 – Determine your PRACTICAL NEEDS for a new vehicle;

How will you be using your new car? How many passengers will you be carrying? What type of topography will you be driving on? How far will you be driving each week? Will your new car be too tall to fit into your garage? Will your 6’5” son be able to sit in the back seat? Do you need to haul lots of luggage or recreational gear? Will you be in a car pool? ETC.

2 – Determine your BUDGET and STICK TO IT

Remember the cost of the vehicle is just one of your monthly costs. Fuel, Maintenance, Depreciation, End Value, Insurance, Repairs are just a few of the additional costs of operating a car.

3 – Determine your EMOTIONAL NEEDS, which car or truck really makes you happy when you drive it.

Today’s cars and trucks are made really well and with the proper care will remain serviceable almost forever, the average age a consumer owns their car has risen to over 8 years…so if you hate it you will have a lot of disagreeable moments over the next decade…so you better make sure you are really happy with your choice.

4 – Test Drive, Test Drive, Test Drive, Test Drive

Buying your next vehicle should not just be a couple of hour task but should take place only after careful considerations and research. And after investing your time to do steps 1,2 and 3, and then coming up with your short list of potentials, DON’T BLOW IT! Spend your next two weekends driving each car or truck on your short list.

4A. Do not test drive with your spouse or partner

Do it alone. Then compare notes about each car, by being alone no matter what you are offered or pressured to do, you have a built in excuse not to buy until you talk to your significant other, make sure you are absolutely 100% sure you can have a long term relationship with this vehicle!

TEST DRIVE WITHOUT A TIME LIMIT

Take your Test Drives not for 10 minutes but for hours, take your potential purchases to the same places you will be driving each day, see how it parks in your regular parking lot… see how it handles a trip to the supermarket, see how it handles the bumpy roads on your shortcuts, see how it does in the rain (or snow and ice), see how it does in stop and go traffic, because the decision you make will either make you happy or miserable forever, and aren’t you worth the time to find out?

The team here at Waldorf Ford agrees with all of these points, with the exception of maybe one. We will say, we would rather have you test drive with your significant other, simply because if you do decide to purchase while you are here, the process will be easier. We will not pressure you or hassle you into buying if you are not ready. However if you feel more comfortable without your other half, then we are happy to help you by answering any and all questions and by taking you on a test drive. We want satisfied customers before, during and after the sale.

When you are ready to buy your new car, we hope that Waldorf Ford will be on your short list of places to shop. We are located on Route 301 north in Waldorf MD, just 15 minutes south of Washington DC.

2013 Ford Taurus – Coming SOON to a dealer near you.

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Administrator

The date will be even sooner if you live near Waldorf MD.

Tuesday, February 21, 2011 – a representative from Ford Motor Company will be at Waldorf Ford to train our staff on the 2013 Ford Taurus. We really look forward to these events because it give us a chance to see the car before they are produced in mass and an opportunity to learn more about the car hands on before we start selling them. We are also able to invite our customers, so they can have a sneak peak of what is new as well.

So, what is so great about the 2013 Ford Taurus? Let’s start with the exterior. On all models the hood has been sculpted and flows down to redesigned grilles. The SHO grille will be black mesh, the other trim levels will get a toned down chrome grille. There are other subtle changes that impact the rear decklid, headlamps and taillamps.

Waldorf Ford

Now – under the hood there are two big changes to the lower trim levels. New for 2013, you will have the option of equipping your Taurus with a 2.0L Ecoboost or an improved 3.6L V6 engine. Both of these are currently available in other models, so while new to Taurus, they are not new for Ford. SHO will still be equipped with the 3.5L Ecoboost. Standard on all models is the six speed Selectshift automatic transmission. Just push a button and you can choose to override the automatic and shift gears yourself for more of a performance feel.

New to SHO in 2013 will be the availability of the Sports Performance package. It features a sport-tuned suspension with unique shocks and track-tuned brake calipers, upgraded performance brake pads, a calibrated electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) system, higher-rated springs, tuned shocks, stiffer stabilizer bars and rear suspension to provide a more connected feel between the driver and the road. It also includes a Track Mode/True Off setting for AdvanceTrac® ESC (electronic stability control), which delivers a more spirited driving experience. And it has a 3.16 final drive ratio for quick off-the-line acceleration. The SHO Performance Package also comes with 20″ machined and painted wheels with performance summer tires and a tire mobility kit.

These are just a few of the things upgraded for 2013. If you want to see the Taurus before it starts hitting dealer lots, stop by on February 21st. We hope to see you then!

Something you might not know about Waldorf Ford

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Administrator

(Trophy is the 2009 Trophy. The official announcement for 2011 will be made sometime in Mid March)

One of the accomplishments, we at Waldorf Ford, are most proud of, is that for the sixth year in a row, we are on track to win the Ford Triple Crown. The final results will be announced in the near future. Now, you might think “so what”. You shouldn’t. This means a lot for you as our loyal customer – or you as a potential customer. You see, the Triple Crown is awarded to 25 or less Ford and Lincoln dealers nationally every year. It requires that the dealer be in the top 100 dealers in the nation in sales volume, that the dealer win the President’s Award for excellent customer service and that they are in the top in the nation in parts and service sales or Extended Service Plan sales.

Waldorf Ford makes it into the top 100 dealers in sales (and many times in the top 50) because we sell a lot of vehicles. This gives us a bigger allocation of vehicles and ultimately a bigger selection of new vehicles for you to choose from when you are ready to purchase. Selling a lot of new vehicles also means that we have a bigger selection of preowned vehicles to choose from because of trade-ins. The next part though is where we are different from other volume dealers. We win the President’s Award.

The President’s Award was developed in 1998. Dealers become eligible through survey responses from customers related to their service, satisfaction and overall dealership experience. If we don’t do a good job taking care of you before, during and after the sale, then our scores reflect that. We have currently won the President’s Award six years in a row and 11 times in the last 15 years.

The final qualifier for the Triple Crown Award is to be in the top in the nation in parts and service sales or Extended Service Plan sales. Perennially we are one of the top dealers in the country in Extended Service Plan sales. We want to provide our customers the peace of mind that an extended service plan provides. When your new car’s factory warranty expires, or if you purchased a preowned vehicle, those unexpected repairs can cost you sometimes thousands of dollars. An extended service plan will cost you less and you can pay for it over time if you finance it with the car.

Now that we have gone through the details of the Triple Crown Award, want to know something about Waldorf Ford that you didn’t know? Waldorf Ford is the ONLY dealer in our region to ever win the Triple Crown Award from Ford. That’s right the ONLY ONE! It just proves that we are the only dealer in the region that has a large inventory of new Ford vehicles to choose from, that takes care of their customers before, during and after the sale and that cares about the peace of mind of their customers. You would have to drive to Boston or to Charlotte NC to find another dealer that is proven to provide the same service. Next time you are looking to buy a new Ford, or to have your current Ford vehicle serviced, do you think Waldorf Ford will be on your list? We hope so!

Waldorf Ford is located on Route 301 north in Waldorf, Maryland. Just 15 minutes south of Washington DC.

Black Friday Car Deals in Waldorf!

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Administrator

Yes, we know. Black Friday isn’t traditionally a “car sales” day. Waldorf Ford, Waldorf Dodge and Waldorf Ford Preowned Center have set out to change that! Now we haven’t taken it as far as Walmart, Target, HH Gregg etc by opening at midnight, but we will open earlier than usual – 7:30am – and we will have some AWESOME car deals as well as some great giveaways with each purchase.

We are so excited about it that we made a video!

So when you are out and about in Waldorf, Maryland on Black Friday, stop in and see us at Waldorf Ford, Waldorf Dodge and Waldorf Ford Preowned Center. We are located on Route 301 North, just 15 minutes south of Washington DC.

Black Friday – Just 92 hours away!

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Administrator

Well, 92hours is when our big Black Friday Blackout sale starts here at Waldorf Ford and Waldorf Dodge. If you are looking for the DEAL OF THE YEAR on a new Ford, a new Dodge or a preowned vehicle, you need to get here early. Last year the lines were long when we opened and people drove away with some fantastic cars. This year we expect even bigger crowds. Check out the video for the details:

Waldorf Ford and Waldorf Dodge are located on Route 301 North in Waldorf MD, just 15 minutes south of Washington DC.

Fun at the Southern Maryland Food Bank

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Administrator

Wow, where did the time go. Thanksgiving is right around the corner and not far behind is Christmas and the end of 2011. We at Waldorf Ford and Waldorf Dodge, try very hard to give back to our communities by not only donating money, but by also donating our time and resources. We regularly go to the Humane Society of Charles County to highlight animals in need of new homes. This time we decided to head to the Southern Maryland Food Bank to talk to them about what they do and to see what we, as a community, could do to help them to help others. Check out the video of our visit.

Can you believe the amount of food that they distribute out of such a small space?! We were amazed. As you can see they need more help. So, if you would like to donate food or money, you can contact them at Southern Maryland Food Bank. We are grateful to have them serving our community.

Memorial Day – Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Rally

Posted on May 26, 2011 by Administrator

We have been busy here at the dealership getting things ready for the big Memorial Day weekend. This afternoon things quieted down a bit and I had some time to think about feelings and reasons surrounding the holiday. It seems like there is more going on here than where I have lived before, in part because we are uniquely positioned in Southern Maryland and have a big military and government presence that is an important part of the culture here.

I was talking earlier to some of the guys that work here and found out that a couple of them will be meeting up at All American Harley Davidson to participate in the Rolling Thunder ride in Washington DC. Everyone who goes, has the desire to pay respect to the brave men & women who sacrifice so much in defense of our freedom.

Thousands of bikes will roll through the streets and ultimately end up near the Relecting Pool where Rolling Thunder speakers will take the stage.

I have not gone, but it is on my bucket list of things to do before I am unable to. The men and women who have served, or are currently serving our country, deserve our thanks and our respect. Rolling Thunder parade is one way people show how they feel, what are some of the other ways we can show our appreciation – not only on Memorial Day – but every day? I hope you will join us here at Waldorf Ford in giving a big thank you to all of our troops.