Blog

Tired of uneven roads, potholes, road work, icy roads, or even shoveling snow?  Love clean/sustainable energy, job creation across the country, and new technology?  Well then you should know about Solar Roadways.  This idea made its way out to the internet world earlier this year with a video entitled Solar FREAKIN’ Roadways.  Since then, this video has gotten more than 18 million views and has educated even more than that. You NEED to watch this entire video to get a grasp on all that can be done with Solar Roadways.  There are tons of little things you don’t think about that will go along with this new roadway technology, and all those things are explained in the video. This is already a big project but it is going to be something huge by the time it is done.  So far, engineering couple Scott and Julie Brusaw have gotten funding from the Federal Highway Administration for $750,000.  They have also raised over 2 million dollars from regular people like you and me on a crowdfunding website called Indiegogo.com.  This “thing” is actually happening, and hopefully people, municipalities, and towns will be willing to try it.  If they try implementing it in smaller places like parking lots, driveways, and bike paths first, then law makers and other influential people will see how well it works and hopefully get behind it in order for it to grow.  As a matter of fact, this is not the only attempt at a solar panel roadway. Just last week in Amsterdam, Holland, they converted a 70 yard stretch of bike path into solar panels named SolaRoad.  They did not use the hexagonal design that The Brusaws came up with, but the idea is very similar.  It is said that up to 2,000 commuters will walk and bike on the path every day.  Back here in America, The Brusaws have already built a prototype parking lot on their property in Sagle, Idaho, and have many projects set up to start for businesses all around their hometown in the near future. It is things like the bike path in Amsterdam and the parking lots The Brusaws are building with the FHA grant that will get this energy revolution moving along.  There are tons of advantages to this type of system.  The biggest one was pointed out toward the end of the video above; Solar Roadways, if implemented on all major highways in the US, would generate 3X’s the amount of energy we currently use.  It would also create an amazing number of jobs for engineering, construction, and maintenance of these systems for now and throughout the future.  It will help prevent accidents with its pressure system; warning you of something stationary on the road ahead.  There are countless benefits and of course some obstacles but nothing that is insurmountable. People are getting excited about this revolutionary idea.  It could be upon us sooner than we think too.  Scott Brusaw says, “With this team in place, we hope to finalize the product for market by the end of this year.”  That doesn’t mean all the roads will be replaced immediately, but it is coming.  Soon enough we will all be driving on these new Solar Roadways.

It’s November and the cold weather is setting in on Delmarva and around the country.  Cold weather can bring about some things that make life more difficult.  Knowing this, I’ve put together a list of life hacks.  I’m sure most of you have seen the various life hacks that show up on your Facebook news feed every now and then.  These life hacks are all about how the cold weather affects you and your vehicle. Put some hand sanitizer on your car key if the lock is frozen. If you still must use a key instead of a fob to unlock your car, then this is a good one for you.  Any amount of moisture that gets trapped in your car lock will freeze on a cold night.  So, squeezing some hand sanitizer directly into the lock will melt the ice because of the alcohol content of the sanitizer.  You could also apply it to your key and insert it into the lock.  Either way the alcohol will break down the ice and unfreeze it. Park your car facing east to defrost the windshield. Overnight your car is sure to accumulate some frost or ice on the windshield when the weather gets close to or below freezing temperature.  Parking it facing the east will enable the morning sun to clear some of the ice off before you actually come out to do it yourself before you leave for work.  Depending on how bright the sun and how long your car sits in the sun, you may not have to even scrape any ice off at all.  Now, that would make for a good start to the day! Carry a little bit of kitty litter in your car all winter long. If you get stuck in the snow this little life hack will come in handy this winter.  Say you’re tires are spinning in the snow; you’re stuck.  Sprinkle a bit of kitty litter in front of each tire in order help you gain traction.  The next life hack is a little extension of this idea.  Also it may not be a bad idea to keep a small shovel in your car during the winter months to help dig you out of some tight spots when kitty litter just won’t do the job. As a last resort use the car’s floor mats to help you get traction. If you don’t have kitty litter, salt, or a shovel, you can take your car mats off the floor and lay them on the ground in front of the drive tires to gain traction.  This may damage your mats, so this should be used as a final resort. Stick your windshield wipers up off the glass to prevent ice from sticking to them. Anytime you are not using your car, pull the wiper blades up so they stick out perpendicular to the windshield.  This way they will not become frozen to the windshield if it were to snow.  This is great to do overnight or even when you’re parked all day at work.  Ice can damage your blades over time and could even scratch your windshield if you were to try to use the wipers with ice stuck to them. Ice-proof your car by misting a 3:1 mixture of distilled vinegar and water before a storm. This will prohibit ice from forming on any surface that you spray.  You will still have to clean the snow off, but at least there will be no ice underneath!  And if you forget to do this before the storm, you could spray the mixture directly onto your icy windows to melt the ice. Finally, don’t leave electronics in your car. The cold air will drain the battery without even using them.  If you usually keep your iPod in your car for music while driving; don’t.  The battery will almost surely be drained the next time you get in.  Especially don’t leave more expensive electronics in there like your laptop, tablet, or phone.  This may do more than drain the battery; it may actually have more lasting effects. Hopefully these cold weather life hacks will get you through the winter this year!

The Roush Mustang is a big deal, and it has been confirmed by Preston Automotive Group Vice President, David Wilson Jr., that we will be getting a total 11 later this month.  The 2015 Roush Mustang will be one of the most sought after sports cars for this upcoming model year. First of all, for those that don’t know, Roush Fenway Racing has several of the top cars in all of NASCAR.  They are a racing company that features drivers such as Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.  Roush Fenway Racing stands as the winningest team in NASCAR history and boasts the most wins in the Nationwide Series. Now, Jack Roush started his partnership with the Ford in 2008.  And already by 2015 they are producing one of the most anticipated and highly touted cars on the market.  Roush is planning to have various trims available, broken down in familiar RS, RS1, RS2, and RS3 packages.  They have not released specs on the RS3, but they have given out information on the first three trim levels.  All feature a new body kit, which they are referring to as the R7.  That body kit includes a new trapezoidal front grille, front bumper, trunk lid spoiler, and rear diffuser.  There are also several other options that can be added on to the exterior such as a hood scoop or side scoops. The interior of all these Roush Mustangs will also be exquisite.  Embroidered floor mats and a serialized dash badge will differentiate the car from any other Mustang.  Buyers will also have the choice between other add-ons such as Recaro seats, leather trim, and a custom gauge cluster. As for the engines, the RS will come with a 3.7L V6 engine running at an even 300 hp.  The RS1 will come with the 2.3L EcoBoost 4-cylinder and a slightly improved 310 hp.  Finally, the RS2 will run the road with a 5.0L V8 engine and a tremendous 435 hp.  The RS1 and 2 will also get a quad-tip exhaust system to go along with the aggressive look of the R7 body kit. Again, here at Preston Ford in Hurlock, MD, we have ELEVEN of these Roush Mustangs in transit as we speak.  This is a huge deal for us and we’d like for one of these to be yours!  In order for that to happen, you have to follow us on Facebook, Google+, and Twitter to get updates on when these American Beauties arrive.  You can also call us at (410) 673-7171 every single day until we have good news for you.  Other than that, simply check out our Ford website for other great deals at www.prestonford.com.

The Ford F-150 is perhaps the most anticipated vehicle of the 2015 model year.  The F-150 has already been the #1 selling truck in America for the past 37 years, and there is no doubt that will continue through 2015.  We’re very excited about these trucks and cannot wait until they arrive later this year! The 2015 F-150 will come available in Regular Cab, SuperCab, and SuperCrew models.  There will also be five trim levels to choose from including XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, or Platinum.  So, if you multiply it all together, you find that there are 15 different ways you could get your 2015 F-150 – not to mention all the available options you have choose from.  From differing bed sizes to various luxury options, you can truly get an F-150 to meet your specific needs. To jump on board the fuel efficiency train – like everybody seems to be doing – Ford has made a 2.7L 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine available.  It will still have similar towing and payload capacity; however, it will be able to achieve impressive fuel economy because of the smaller yet capable engine.  The official fuel specs aren’t out yet, but it is rumored that the 2015 F-150 will average somewhere in the mid-20s, which is high for a truck. The aluminum body is also 700 pounds lighter than last year’s model, so that will enable an increase in fuel economy even with the bigger 5.0L V8 engine.  This revolutionary change is seen as Ford taking the lead and setting the future standard for trucks.  Like I said, F-150 has been the best-selling truck in America for 30+ years, so a change this big came as a pleasant surprise to many. Now, using aluminum is tricky because not all body shops will be able to service an aluminum body.  But have no fear, our service technicians in Preston, Cambridge, and Snow Hill are all certified to work on an aluminum bodied vehicle. We’ll be on social media alerting you of everything from when they arrive, to how many we have, to who you should call.  So, be sure you are following your closest Preston Automotive Group Ford Dealer on Facebook, Google+, and Twitter to keep updated on these 2015 Ford F-150’s.

Anticipation is building for the 2015 Mustangs.  They are set to be released sometime in October and people have been raving about them since they were revealed in December of last year (2013). 2015 Mustang at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway taken by Preston Automotive Group President, Dave Wilson. This sports car is massively better than the one it replaces.  In fact it is even being said that the 2015 Mustang is the best one since – get this – the very first Mustang 50 years ago!  One of the biggest changes that experts love are the updated suspensions, front and rear.  Last year’s version of this car, and every model up until now with the exception of a few years in the middle, was said to have an awfully bouncy rear end.  Even the smallest of bumps in the road made for an uncomfortable ride.  Ford took that pent-up feedback and put an independent rear suspension on it.  Once they did that, they found the front suspension could not work in harmony with the upgraded rear – so they changed the front too. This Mustang comes with a wide range of engine options from a small 2.3-liter 4 cylinder EcoBoost engine to a 5.0L V8 beast in the GT.  The GT gallops with an incredible 435 horses.  Even in the base model you get a fair 300hp.  The interior has been ramped up as well.  You get the classic three-spoke steering wheel, touchscreen display, and aluminum accents on everything.  It gives you a luxurious feel in a true American sports car. Now, there are of course better sports cars on the market.  However, none of those will be able to compare in price to the 2015 Mustang.  Not saying the Mustang will be cheap, but all of those so-called better cars will cost substantially more money.  This totally revamped Mustang easily gets you the most bang for your buck, and we will be getting them at each of our five Preston Maryland and Delaware Ford Dealers in as little as three short weeks!  We’ll have them in Georgetown and Lewes, DE, as well as Pittsville, Denton, and of course Preston.  Please follow us on any one of our Facebook or Google+ pages to keep up to date on their arrivals!

Vehicle recalls are something that happen more often than you might think, but owners may not always know their recalled vehicle needs to be repaired.  Just to be clear, I’m not referring to any major recalls like the Toyota sticking gas pedal incident or the Firestone tires on Ford SUV’s because of course those are recalls that everyone hears about on national news.  I’m talking about those smaller recalls that just about every car brand has at one time or another for things such as faulty airbags or switches for example.  So, it is just as important to know about the little recalls as it is to know about the larger ones because they are both threats to your safety.  And now there is any easy way to keep up on those threats with safercar.gov. Safercar.gov is a government website run by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA).  This site exists solely to inform consumers on everything to do with vehicle safety.  From recalls, to investigations, even to common complaints – safercar.gov is the catch-all site to ensure you and your family are safe in your vehicle. There are a couple ways to see if your car is on a recall list.  You could search as specifically as the VIN number or as general as the vehicle year, make, and model.  Regardless of how dependable your make of car usually is, everyone should take a look at this site anyway.  It’s fast, simple and you have nothing to lose except about thirty seconds of your time.  However, if you do end up finding something about your car involving a recalled item, then I’ll bet you’ll be glad you checked.  And even more than that, taking a couple seconds to check for your car could save your life or many others. If you got your car, truck, or SUV from Preston Automotive Group and it turns out to have a recall, no matter how small or large, you can be sure that one of our three auto body shops – in Preston, Snow Hill, or Cambridge – will be able to help get you in-and-out and safely back on the road.

Every model year, Edmunds.com, an automotive review website, sends out a testing team that reviews over 200 new vehicles. They take each vehicle on a standardized road-test loop and on the test track under controlled conditions. After this process is complete, they compile the scores for each car and present each vehicle with the awards they qualify for. Here at the Preston Ford Maryland Dealer we are excited to announce that three of our sedans made the Top Rated List! The 2014 Ford Focus, Fiesta, and Fusion Sedans all received an “A” rating – meaning they qualified for a “Top Rated” award. This award pits vehicles of similar size and price class against each other and only the best come out on top. This year the Focus, Fiesta, and Fusion are joined by the likes of the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and Rolls-Royce Ghost among others. That is an impressive list to be on, and that is why we’re so excited at Preston Ford. This is also the very first year Edmunds has had this award – another reason why we take such pride in this recognition of the vehicles we sell here at Preston Automotive Group. These are certainly not the only Ford vehicles that won awards though. The 2014 Mustang was named to the Most Popular Entry Sport Car list. The Focus and Fiesta Hatchbacks as well as the Fusion Hybrid were Top Rated Award recipients too. So, Ford, obviously being one of the more established car brands around the world, has struck gold with these three 2014 models in particular. We still have plenty of these 2014 Fords in stock at any of our locations. We have our largest selection of Ford Sedans at the Preston Autoplex. But we surely do have the Focus, Fiesta, and Fusion still stocked in our two Boulevard Ford locations as well as Pittsville Ford and Denton Ford. They will be going quickly in order to make room for the new 2015 models, though, so make sure you get out to one of our many Preston Maryland Ford locations to test drive these Top Rated sedans for yourself!

The National Insurance Crime Bureau announced its Hot Wheels report last week, the bureau’s annual release of the ten most stolen vehicles in the United States. The list features a perfect split between import and domestic automakers, with Honda’s Accord and Civic cars topping the list. Full-size pickups made up a considerable chunk of the list, taking the Nos. 3, 4 and 6 spots. Two other Japanese automakers also made the list with two from Toyota and one from Nissan. The following lists include figures with total thefts based on data submitted by law enforcement to the National Crime Information Center. NICB’s 2013 Hot Wheels Top-Ten Most Stolen Cars in the U.S. Honda Accord (53,995) Honda Civic (45,001) Chevrolet Pickup, Full Size (27,809) Ford Pickup, Full Size (26,494) Toyota Camry (14,420) Dodge Pickup, Full Size (11,347) Dodge Caravan (10,911) Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee (9,272) Toyota Corolla (9,010) Nissan Altima (8,892) The report also included the top 10 model-year 2013 vehicles stolen in the same year. NICB’s 2013 Hot Wheels Top-Ten Most Stolen MY 2013s in 2013 in the U.S. Nissan Altima (810) Ford Fusion (793) Ford Pickup, Full Size (775) Toyota Corolla (669) Chevrolet Impala (654) Hyundai Elantra (541) Dodge Charger (536) Chevrolet Malibu (529) Chevrolet Cruze (499) Ford Focus (483)

There are many benefits to buying a pre-owned vehicle from the Preston Automotive Group. Preston Automotive Group is currently in their Mission Possible Pre-Owned Surplus Sell Off.  They have a surplus of pre-owned vehicles due to thier Top 100 Sales Drive. Pre-Owned vehicles can often be just as appealing and worth the money as new vehicles. The first benefit is price.  Buying a new vehicle is expensive, especially once you get into high trim levels.  A used car is going to be less expensive and could even allow the customer to step up to a nicer model than expected.  It becomes possible to get all the features desired in a vehicle that would be extremely expensive when buying new.  Most used vehicles have desired features that are also available in new. Another important benefit is that used vehicles don’t depreciate as much as new vehicles.  Cars lose value with each passing month and mile.  The steepest decline in a vehicles depreciation happens right away.  Some models lose 40 percent or more of their value in the first year.  With a used vehicle there is no depreciation set to hit the second the vehicle is driven off the lot.  There is also mental depreciation.  There isn’t a need to worry about the first parking lot ding or rock chip in the paint because chances are that the cars previous owners took care of that.  Vehicles don’t lose nearly as much value after the first year that they are driven off the lot. There is also a lot of choice with a used car.  Although they can’t be made to order a customer can find a model and option package which might not be made any longer.  There are a lot of pre-owned vehicles out there that have only had one owner.  The chances of these vehicles being in excellent condition is very high.  A car with owner is less likely to have problems with it since many owners of newer model year vehicles keep their vehicles clean if they know they are going to trade it in. There are also many certification programs that are available on used vehicles. The general benefits of Certified Pre-Owned vehicles include manufacturers usually consider only late-model, low mileage used cars and trucks with no history of major damage.  These vehicles are usually practically brand new.  Another benefit of a certification program is that the vehicles which are certified pre owned undergo a rigid inspection process of mechanical and cosmetic items before they become certified.  Certified pre-owned vehicles are normally covered by a warranty which extends a lot longer than the original factory warranty.  The warranty usually includes the same features as a new vehicle warranty.  There is also a lot of special financing which is available for Certified Pre-Owned vehicles.

Kelley Blue Book has put together a list for 2014 of the 10 Best Sedans under $25,000. Of the 10 vehicles on this, Preston Automotive Group offers four. The first vehicle to make the list that is available at Preston Mazda is the Mazda6. The Mazda6 came in at number seven on Kelley Blue Book’s list. The engine is a 2.5L inline four cylinder with the fuel economy at 25/37 city/highway. It is front wheel drive with a 6 speed manual transmission. The Mazda6 has a smooth and responsive powertrain with quick acceleration and impressive fuel economy. It is a five passenger sedan offered in Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring. Standard features on the base manual transmission Sport include 17 inch alloy wheels, cloth upholstery, a 3.5 inch multi information display, a four speaker sound system and many more great features! Standard safety features include antilock brakes, traction and stability control, front side airbags and full length side curtain airbags. The Mazda 6 also has plenty of room for its rear passengers. They will feel as though they are seating in a first class cabin rather than coach. There is also generous headroom even for those who are taller. The interior of the Mazda6 is clean and functional. Polished aluminum trim accent the cabin, while the Grand Touring’s leather upholstery features contrasting stitching. The materials and quality are among the best in its class. The 2014 Mazda3 comes standard with a six speed manual transmission and a four cylinder engine that reviewers have said provides enough power around town. If desired, a more powerful four-cylinder engine is also available. The EPA reports that the 2014 Mazda3 gets up to 30/41 mpg city/highway which is excellent. No matter which engine is chosen terrific handling and crisp steering make the Mazda3 one of the most fun to drive model in its class. The Mazda3 offers two different engine and drivetrain choices. The first is a 155 horsepower Skyactiv 2.0L 4 cylinder engine with a choice of Skyactiv-MT 6 speed manual or Skyactiv Drive 6 speed automatic transmission. The second engine available is a 184 horsepower Skyactiv 2.5L 4 cylinder engine with Skyactiv drive 6 speed automatic transmission with sport model. There are excellent available features for the Mazda3 that add to the luxury of the vehicle. Moonroof with one touch open is one of them; this is great if the buyer wants fresh air on a nice spring afternoon. Another luxury available is 6-way power driver’s seat with manual lumbar adjustment as well as heated front seats. For the customer’s convenience they can get the Mazda keyless entry and start system. This means they do not need to have their key out in order to get into the vehicle, in order to start the Mazda3 all the customer has to do is place their foot on the break and then push the start button. This makes it much easier to get somewhere quicker. Mazda Connect infotainment system is yet another great feature that Mazda offers for the Mazda3. With the infotainment system the customer gets the 7 inch full color touch screen display, multi-function commander control, navigation system, Bose 9 speaker surround sound system, SiriusXM satellite radio with a 4 month trial subscription and SMS text message auto deliver and voice reply! The Altima driving experience is where innovation pays off. The Altima has a fluid, powerful acceleration, refined handling and a class leading 38 mpg. Passing the pump in an Altima is as easy as passing the truck in front of you! The technology in the Nissan Altima is unbelievable; the driver focused technologies in the Altima aren’t just there for show they have purpose. The instrumentation is designed to keep you informed while helping minimize distraction on the road. The Nissan Altima is equipped with moving object detection that can help alert you to things you might have otherwise missed. The tires can let you know when they need air as well as when they have enough air. The Nissan Altima is not only innovative but is also an extremely safe vehicle. NASA research determined that the posture of astronauts naturally take in the weightlessness of space. Nissan Engineering used this research to develop front seats that optimize comfort and reduce fatigue! It earned a 5 star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s New Car Assessment Program! It has also been named one of the best ten sedans under $25,000 by Kelley Blue Book. The Altima has a class-leading highway fuel economy and powerful acceleration. The engine body and chassis are lighter than ever and the aerodynamics has been slimmed downed! The Altima is one of the select group of Nissan vehicles to wear the Puredrive badge, Puredrive is a key part of Nissan’s commitment to achieve lower levels of CO2 emissions. The final vehicle that made the list is the 2014 Ford Fusion which is now in stock at Preston Ford. The Ford Fusions are big on fuel efficiency. The lineup of Fusion models include the Hybrid and the Energi Plug-In which are each powered by a combination electric motor and gas sipping 2.0L gasoline engine. The Fusion has a sleek silhouette and conveys a sense of agility. The Fusion has a very distinctive look with its bold, hexagonal frill and low profile laser cut projector headlamps. When you open the door you will notice available ambient lighting with seven color choices that will help establish the mood. The available leather trimmed seats and heated front seats convey luxury while also keeping you comfortable. The available technology features on the 2014 Ford Fusion will do everything to make your drive more convenient and also help protect you and your passengers in the event of an accident. The voice activated Sync with MyFord Touch allows the driver to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road at all times. A great feature available on the Fusion is the adaptive cruise control function. The sensors detect traffic slowing ahead and make your vehicle also slow down, when traffic has cleared the vehicle resumes at the set speed. The Fusions can also have active park assist. By: April Green

Between the dates of October 19 th and October 30 th Preston Automotive Group is proud to present their Trunk or Treat events! We have events going on at four of our wonderful locations! The first Trunk or Treat takes place on October 19 th at Denton Ford in Denton, Maryland.  This Trunk or Treat will be held from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. and will be fun for the whole family!  There will be a children's costume parade and after the parade is over judges will choose an overall best costume and a scariest costume!  These two lucky winners will receive a special prize!  There will be plenty of treats which are being provided by local businesses as well as face painting!  Also at Denton’s Trunk or Treat, Caroline County Humane Society will be on location with adoptable pets.  If you are looking for a new pet for your family make sure you make an appearance at Denton Ford's Trunk or Treat!  To help raise donations for the pet pantry there will be a vehicle to fill with pet food from October 1 st until October 31 st! Be sure to stop by Denton Ford at any time and make your contribution to the pet pantry! Let’s fill that trunk with plenty of animal food! Preston Hyundai's Trunk or Treat The next Trunk or Treat taking place is on October 26 th at Preston Hyundai located on the Preston Autoplex from 1 pm until 3 pm! Again there will be face painting and treats made by local businesses.  At Preston Hyundai there will also be a contest for the best decorated trunk! The lineup for the children’s costume parade will begin at 2pm.  There will be prizes for the 1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd best costume. Along with all these fun activities there will also be pumpkin decorating, you can decorate your pumpkin however it suits you! The very next day on October 27 th there will be a Trunk or Treat at Cambridge Autobody!  At this time Cambridge Autobody will also be celebrating their one year anniversary.  This particular event will begin at 1 pm and end at 4 pm.  The line-up for the children’s costume parade will begin at 1:30 pm and prizes will be given to the scariest and the overall best costumes! There will also be face painting and treats provided by local businesses!  At Cambridge Autobody there will also be a classic car show! If you love classic cars this is the place to be on October 27 th! You don’t want to miss these fun activities and a spectacular car show! The final Trunk or Treat event of the month will be at Snow Hill Autobody from 6 pm until 8pm!  The line-up for the costume contest will begin at 6 pm.  Bring your children in their Halloween costume and looking scary!  Treats will be provided by the Preston Automotive Group, Pittsville Ford, and the Autobody’s of Preston and Cambridge!  Snow Hill Autobody didn’t want to forget about the parents at the event so there will be drawings for a free detail from Pittsville Ford.  There will also be drawings for a free oil change from Snow Hill Autobody! Be sure to look out for our Trunk or Treat events on Facebook!  All you have to do is like our Facebook pages and you will easily be able to find the event! We hope to see you there!