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What do you think of when you hear “Black Friday?”  Some people may associate Black Friday with gadget and tech deals or overly crowded stores.  And while that is certainly true, it is not the only thing it's all about.  Here at the Preston Autoplex in Hurlock, Maryland, we have great deals on new Ford, Lincoln, Hyundai, Mazda, Nissan, and pre-owned vehicles all the way through Cyber Monday!  But our Black Friday deals start NOW; so read along and check them out. First off is Ford.  Ford Motor Company is running a nationwide campaign urging you to “Dream Big!”  This Black Friday sales event is based around getting you a great new Ford for an amazing price.  And here at Preston Ford it means a whole lot more!  We are running a contest all the way through to the end of the year.  Check out the infographic for a better breakdown, but basically you could win 1 of 3 things: $1,500 cash, a 60” Flat Screen TV, or an iPad.  There are three ways to be entered as you can see on the graphic to the right.  It’s an awesome contest and Ford General Manager, Chris Marks, is excited about it too. Also, if you purchase a new Ford now through Cyber Monday, you can get up to a $1,000 Amazon Gift Card or up to a $1,000 rebate on your Ford purchase.  Whatever you choose, you are getting a great deal on a quality Ford vehicle from Preston Ford! Next, we’ll move on to Hyundai.  The Hyundai Holidays Sales Event is another one that ends on Cyber Monday – December 1 st.  The big deals at Preston Hyundai are on the 2014/15 Sonatas and Elantras.  The Sonatas have an automatic $500 Holiday Bonus Cash and a possible $1,000 Retail Bonus Cash for all customers.  Elantra buyers will get the $500 Holiday Bonus Cash too, but will get $1,500-$2,000 back in Retail Bonus Cash.  All of that is on top of any other incentives that are going on too! We’ll head right down the Autoplex to check out Mazda’s Black Friday deals next.  There are tons of discounts here so stick with me.  The biggest of them all is the discount on the 2014 Mazda CX-9.  You can get $5,000 off on certain 2014 CX-9’s here at Preston Mazda!  That is a huge amount of money off on an already well-priced crossover.  Other incentives include 2015 Mazda6s at $1,000 under invoice.  And to beat that we have 2014 Mazda 2’s and 5’s at $2,000 under invoice.  There is also special financing on many Mazda’s for 60-72 months.  This week through Cyber Monday is easily the best time to buy a car from Preston Mazda in Hurlock, MD. The Final Stop on our discount tour of the Preston Autoplex is Nissan.  Holiday Bonus Cash is once again the way to go if you’re planning on buying a Nissan this Black Friday.  The 2014/15 Altima’s and Versa’s Non-S along with the 2014 Sentra will get you $500 Holiday Bonus Cash.  The 2014 Titan will get you a whopping $1,500 back in Holiday Bonus Cash!  So, as you can see, there are certainly deals to be had at Preston Nissan and all of our dealers at the Preston Autoplex in Hurlock, MD.  Now all you need to do is get here before the end of the day on Monday, December 1 st to get your best deal!

Car and Driver has just released their list of the 10 Best Cars of the 2015 Class.  There are about 150 new cars released every year, so to be in the Top 10 is a huge honor.  Here at Preston Automotive we are proud to say that we sell three of the top 10 in this list. First one we’ll highlight is the 2015 Ford Mustang.  There has certainly been a ton of buzz about the Mustangs because they just recently made their way to dealers across the country. Here at Preston Ford in Hurlock, Maryland, we have a handful of these American Roadsters and will certainly be getting more in over the next few months.  One of the biggest reasons for all the hype is the updated suspensions, front and rear.  Previous models of this car were said to have an awfully bouncy rear end.  Even the smallest of bumps in the road made for an uncomfortable ride.  So, Ford seems to have taken that feedback to heart and put an independent rear suspension on the new 2015 ‘Stangs.  Once they did that, they found the front suspension could not work in harmony with the upgraded rear – so they changed the front too. The next two cars that made Car and Driver’s Top 10 list are actually Mazda’s!  First is the Mazda3.  Mazda has recently been churning out great cars, and 2015 will seemingly be no different.  The 2015 Mazda3 is sleek, stylish, and fun to drive.  The Mazda3 is a part of the compact sedan or hatchback category and we have tons here at Preston Mazda in Hurlock, Maryland.  The Mazda3 will achieve about 30MPG city and over 40MPG highway!  Plus you can seat 5 people with all of their gear as well.  It’s a fun little sporty car that should be at the top of anyone’s list. Finally, the 2015 Mazda6 at Preston Mazda is the third car to make the top ten list.  The 2015 Mazda6 has a distinct sporty design, outstanding fuel economy, and tons of options.  One of the optional items available in the 2015 Mazda6 Grand Touring is i-Eloop.  This is an energy capture system and stands for Intelligent Energy Loop.  What this new technology does is stores energy captured during deceleration and uses it for things such as lighting, AC, etc.  With this available technology package the Mazda6 Grand Touring has topped out at over 40mpg highway! We are incredibly proud to have these 2015 models available for our customers.  So make sure you check us out on the web at www.prestonmotor.com.  No matter where you live we are able to ship a car to you.  See the complete list below for the 10 Best Cars of 2015! 1. BMW M235i 2. Cadilac CTS 3. Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 4. Ford Mustang GT 5. Honda Accord 6. Mazda Mazda3 7. Mazda Mazda6 8. Porsche Boxter/Cayman 9. Tesla Model S 60 10. Volkswagen Golf/GTI

Veterans served our country with selfless fortitude.  Whether it was in the First World War, Second World War, Korean War, Vietnam War, or any other war in our history, the Veterans of our Armed Services have been the ones keeping us safe; so today we salute them. Did you know that Veterans Day was first called Armistice Day back in 1919?  Armistice of course means an agreement made by opposing sides in a war to stop fighting; in other words, a truce.  The first celebration of Armistice Day, November 11, 1919, marked the one year anniversary of the end of WWI, and was put in place to applaud those who risked their lives in that war.  However, it wasn’t made a federal holiday until 1938.  And in 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower amended the holiday to include all veterans. Did you know that Veterans Day wasn’t always on the 11 th of November?  It started out as the 11 th, as previously stated, and is currently the 11 th but wasn’t always like that.  For a period of ten years, from 1968-78, Veterans Day was changed to the 4 th Monday in October.  The petty reason for that was to give Federal Officers a three day weekend.  Today, all Federal Offices and most schools are off in observance of Veterans Day. Did you know that Veterans Day in the US is shared with many other country’s celebrations.  There were 19 countries that fought with the Allies in WWI and most – if not all – have celebrations on November 11 th to honor their Veterans.  For instance, this year, the UK is celebrating 100 years since the start of WWI with a big ceremony and moment of silence in London. Finally, did you know that many places give out Military Discounts to Active Duty Members and Veterans on Veterans Day?  This year restaurants such as Denny’s, Olive Garden, and others are giving out free or discounted meals to Veterans with Military ID’s.  Specifically here at the Preston Autoplex we have a $500 Military Discount that we run every day on every car on the lot.  It is just our small way of saying thank you to the men and women that serve, and have served, our great country.  Happy Veterans Day!

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.

There’s more to CPO’s than what initially comes to mind.  The misconceptions that a Certified Pre-Owned car is the same as a used car could not be further from the truth.  In this article, you will learn the many advantages to purchasing a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle. The main reason can be simply stated – the warranties.  Each Mazda Certified Pre-Owned vehicle comes with a confidence-inspiring 12-month/12,000-Mile Limited Warranty.  That comes with absolutely no deductible on covered repairs, which begins when the factory warranty ends.  If the vehicle is out of warranty, then the Limited Warranty begins on the CPO purchase date.  This gives owners peace of mind knowing that if something goes wrong you will be covered within the first year of owning your Certified Pre-Owned vehicle. Another warranty you get with all Mazda Certified Pre-Owned vehicles is the outstanding 7-year/100,000-Mile Limited Powertrain Warranty.  This covers a variety of things all stemming from the parts that “make your car go.”  The engine, transmission, and drivetrain (the components that get the engines power to the wheels) are all parts that are encompassed by the Powertrain Warranty.  It doesn’t cover things that are expected to be replaced regularly, though.  Parts such as the clutch, brake pads, or certain belts will not be covered because they are considered regular maintenance. A third advantage to a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle from Preston Mazda is 24-Hour Emergency Roadside Assistance.  Certified Pre-Owned buyers – even qualified family members – are covered 24/7 with the complimentary Emergency Roadside Assistance Program for the duration of the Powertrain Warranty.  Clearly, the aim of CPO’s is to give owners peace of mind without paying for new car prices. Mazda also requires a 150-Point Detailed Inspection.  Each Certified Pre-Owned vehicle goes through a mandatory inspection.  This is performed by a factory-trained, Mazda technician right here on site at the Preston Mazda Service Building. Buyers also get added confidence with an Autocheck Vehicle History Report and 3-Year Buyback program.  In order to make sure you know exactly what you are getting into, each Mazda Certified Pre-Owned vehicle comes with a full Autocheck.  This is basically the same thing as a Carfax – it reports previous owners, accidents, repairs, and more.  It also comes with 3-Year Buyback Protection from Experian. We’re still not done!  There are other advantages, such as the Available Extended Coverage.  There are various available term and mileage intervals to extend the coverage of your CPO vehicle.  Finally, owners have Transfer Benefits with a Certified Pre-Owned Mazda.  When the time comes to sell your Certified Mazda, it will look even more attractive to potential buyers because the Limited Vehicle and Limited Powertrain Warranties are transferable to future owners – at no cost! Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles bring about a great sense of relief and confidence even though you are technically buying a used car.  CPO’s, as you can tell, are miles above any regular used car. Interesting Fact: Not all dealerships have Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles! It’s easy to find a regular used car on any dealership lot because they are constantly getting traded in.  However, finding dealers that offer Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles is less common.  But here at Preston Mazda in Hurlock, Maryland, we have a great selection of Mazda CPO’s, which you can check out on our website!  Not only do we have Mazda, but we also have Ford, Hyundai, and Nissan Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles.  Our selection is incredible so be sure to check it out!

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!

Since Halloween is upon us I thought I would put together a list of the biggest tricks and treats of the new 2015 automotive class.  All of these vehicles that made the cut are actually in stock at one of the Preston Automotive Group Dealers.  So after you're done reading, be sure to visit our website to find the treat with the coolest trick! Tricks The 2015 Hyundai Genesis is considered the best midsize car at its price point.  One of the coolest tricks this car has up its sleeve is the Automatic Emergency Braking.  This feature works slightly different depending on what speed you’re going.  The Genesis is able to apply full braking from 5-50 mph.  And from 50-112 mph it will apply partial braking and warn you of a possible collision with another car or even a pedestrian.  This is a neat safety trick that will, in theory, result in a lot less collisions. Certain 2015 Mazda’s are equipped with a trick that will regenerate power.  The Intelligent Energy Loop (i-ELOOP) is a brake energy regeneration system that converts a vehicle’s kinetic energy into electricity as the car decelerates.  Mazda has found a way to power headlights, AC/Heat, or your audio system with this stored energy.  This reduces the need for the engine to burn extra fuel in order to generate electricity, thus, improving fuel economy.  Mazda is estimating that i-ELOOP may bump up fuel efficiency by as much as 10 percent!  This i-ELOOP will be available on most Grand Touring models in the 2015 class of vehicles. Ford had a neat trick up their sleeve that they released on the 2013 Escape: A hands-free liftgate.  This simple trick makes life so much easier for all the times where your hands are full but you need to open up the hatch.  It is now possible in certain 2015 Ford Escape models to open the liftgate without using your hands.  It is a very simple life-hack but it can be extremely helpful. The last trick, but certainly not least, comes to us from Nissan Innovations.  Just this year Nissan came up with something called the Smart Rearview Mirror.  I think most people would agree that rearview mirrors are very nice to have – especially anyone who has ever driven a box truck that doesn’t have a rearview mirror.  Well, what if your rearview mirror was a mirror and a camera.  Check out this video for all the details, but basically here’s how it works.  Consider the times when your car is jam packed with people or gear.  This new technology will enable you to turn your plain, old mirror into a video monitor.  At the flick of a switch you can get the view from a camera located on the back of your vehicle.  It’s a very neat trick that enables you to see behind your car or truck no matter what is in the way.  This cool, new technology will be available on select 2015 vehicles, which have yet to been named. http://www.nissanusa.com/content/dam/nissan/innovation/article/smart-rearview-mirror/smart-rearview-mirror-video.mp4 Treats The 2015 Hyundai Genesis has some neat tricks but it is also one fantastic treat.  This completely redesigned luxury sedan is only celebrating its sixth anniversary this year, but it is proving to be stiff competition for other luxury brands such as Cadillac, Audi, and BMW.  Its 3.8-liter V6 engine is a treat because it is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission; making this car extremely desirable. Another treat here at the Preston Autoplex is the 2015 Mazda6.  This midsize sedan has tons of room and a sleek design. Its signature Skyactiv engine is one of the most efficient out there getting up to 38 mpg on the highway.  It also has tons of leg room for the driver and passengers.  All in all this new Mazda6 is a treat of a car to drive. One of the most anticipated cars on the market for 2015 comes from Ford, and that is the 2015 Mustang!  This car is such a treat it is considered the best Mustang in its 50 year history.  The new ‘Stangs have an aggressive design, with an exceptionally powerful engine.  Here at Preston Ford we will also be receiving eleven Roush Mustangs which will have even more horsepower than the 420 that the 5.0L puts out. Finally, but again certainly not least is the 2015 Nissan GT-R Black Edition that we have on our lot here at Preston Nissan in Hurlock, MD.  This speedster is easily the biggest treat we have in stock.  It is one of the best treats on the entire Eastern Shore so far.  It can go 0-60 in a mere 3.2 seconds, and gallops with an astounding 545 horses!  Those numbers are insane, which is why this sportster is such a Halloween treat.

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.

We are excited to announce the 2015 Lincoln Navigator is here at Preston Lincoln! There has been much anticipation over this vehicle and has some new improvements that people are raving about. On the surface, you can see the actual changes to the exterior.  The front end got the sleek, split wing grille that all Lincoln models now have.  It also got a full width taillight, which looks especially appealing.  Both exterior improvements make this luxury SUV even more alluring; and that’s even before you know what’s inside or under the hood. The interior of the 2015 Lincoln Navigator has many standard features.  One of the most exciting is the touchscreen infotainment system, which comes standard on both Navigator styles.  Similar to Ford’s “MyFord Touch,” Lincoln has “MyLincoln Touch.”  It is a very easy to use system that controls everything from music to seat temperature.  The roomy interior is also nice and can fit up to 8 passengers! Perhaps the most important improvement to the overall SUV is the engine.  Lincoln put a 3.5-liter V6 Turbo in this luxury SUV.  That replaces the outdated, gas-hog V8 from the previous model years.  This new, smaller engine will actually provide more power with a higher fuel efficiency.  This is exciting news for large families who need the space that this large SUV provides but would like to save money on gas still.  You could even fit your eight passengers in there while towing up to 9,000 pounds!  That is unrivaled in today’s Luxury SUV market. This is a fantastic vehicle, and we just received three on the lot yesterday! And guess what? One already sold! So, call us at (410) 673-7171 to schedule an appointment to see this majestic beast. If you miss the train on these two, have no fear because we will certainly be getting more in stock.  We also may have some at our Georgetown Lincoln location.  However, in order to know when all of that happens, you’ll need to follow us on Facebook, Google+, and Twitter for constant updates!

Here in the Delmarva region we sure are excited about our sport’s teams.  The Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals are in the 2014 MLB Postseason.  The O’s are looking great after completing a 3-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers.  While the Nationals are unfortunately withering – on the brink of being swept themselves – even though we are hopeful of a comeback.  And of course we have the Ravens and Redskins in the middle of their NFL seasons.  What does it all add up to?  Primetime tailgating season. Now, to have a truly great tailgate you need certain things like music, a grill, coolers, food, beverages, folding table and chairs, and some friends to enjoy it with.  And in order to get all that stuff to the tailgate party, you’re going to need an SUV or Truck that can handle it.  Here at the Preston Autoplex we compiled a list of our top three tailgate worthy vehicles. We’ll start with #3 on our list: The 2015 Mazda CX-5.  This is a Crossover with tons of cargo room for a smaller SUV.  It has a large cargo capacity at 34.1 ft³ even with all the seats in place.  That is plenty of space for 5 people plus all the amenities for a top-notch tailgate.  We have tons of 2015 CX-5’s at Preston Mazda in Maryland. Coming in at #2 is the 2014 Ford Flex.  This wagon is long, seats seven, and is actually very stylish.  This vehicle is somewhat box-like; however, its square shape makes for optimized space.  For instance, where other SUVs or Wagons cut corners with curved edges, the Flex squares them off – adding some style and extra cubic feet.  With seven passengers you’ll have 20 ft³ of storage space – but if you wanted to leave some passengers at home in order to fit more gear, you could fold some seats down and utilize the maximum cargo capacity of 83.2 ft³!  In other words, you’ll have plenty of room. Finally, our #1 pick for best tailgate vehicle is the 2014 or 2015 Ford F-150.  Obviously any truck is going to be awesome for tailgating.  You can fit 5 passengers without worrying about where your stuff will fit.  The 2015 F-150 is even going to be better on fuel economy because of its lighter, aluminum body. Here at Preston Ford in Maryland we have nearly three hundred 2014 F-150’s in stock, with the 2015’s on the way!  We also have 2014 Flex’s in stock, which were #2 on our list.  So if you’re loving the success of the Orioles or Nationals, as well as the Ravens or Redskins, be sure to come out to the Preston Autoplex and check out a new vehicle to make you the king of tailgate season.

Several new laws went into effect in Maryland on October 1, 2014.  A couple of those laws will directly impact drivers in Maryland. The first one is referred to as Jake’s Law and it strengthens the penalties for distracted driving.  Anyone who texts or reads messages while driving and causes an accident that kills or seriously injures another will face up to a year in jail plus a $5,000 fine.  That will be in addition to any other violations you may get charged with such as involuntary man slaughter or reckless driving. This law was named after Jake Owen who was killed in a crash in 2011 by a driver who was talking on his cell phone and rear ended the parents’ car, killing the 5 year old boy who was in the back seat.  Its aim is to be an extension of the handheld device law that prohibits talking on your cell phone while driving. No matter how many laws are put into place, there will still be people that think they need to send that last message or make that quick phone call while driving.  Check out this powerful public service announcement regarding texting and driving. The other law concerning drivers in Maryland is an addendum to the Move-Over Law that is already in place.  You already know that you must move over or slow down for emergency vehicles on the side of the road.  That includes police cars, ambulances, fire trucks, etc.  And now you will have to move over for tow trucks as well.  This new law in will require all vehicles to move over into the next lane, or simply slow down if there is no lane to move into.  It's normally a common courtesy, but failure to comply will result in a minimum $100 fine or 1 point on your license. The common denominator between these two new laws is safety.  This is another step toward making our roadways safer here in Maryland and maybe even other states will follow our lead.  In the event you do get in an accident, trust Preston Automotive Towing to come get your vehicle and one of our three auto body shops to make the repairs at the best price around!