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The entire Eastern Shore of Maryland and Delaware is bracing itself for brutal temperature drops tonight.  We’re here to give you some tips and things to think about with the sub-zero temperatures looming. First of all you’re going to want to avoid unnecessary exposure to the freezing cold.  Be aware of both the actual temperature and the wind chill factor when preparing to go outside.  Remember that most of your body heat is lost through your head so wear a hat – and preferably one that covers your ears.  Covering your hands with gloves is also recommended; however, mittens are better.  Also, dressing in layers will insulate you better if you’ll be outside for an extended period of time. Now, to homeowners, these sub-zero temperatures could create havoc if you are not prepared.  Freezing pipes are one of the most troublesome things for homeowners when the temperatures drop.  To protect your home’s pipes from freezing and bursting you can do several things.  For one, let the cold water drip from your faucets that are served by exposed pipes or pipes in exterior walls.  By letting the water run even at a trickle, it helps prevent freezing because the water that is flowing must – if only slightly – be above freezing.  And you’ll want to be sure you know how to shut off water valves in the event of a burst pipe. Another thing to remember is to close your crawlspace vents.  This will ensure a minimal amount of the cold, outside air to get into your home.  And usually pipes run through crawl spaces so by keeping them shut off to the frigid air, you take another precaution to help prevent freezing pipes. Outside the house, be sure to disconnect water hoses and make sure those faucets are not dripping.  You could even seal up the area around the nozzle with a cap to prevent cold air from traveling inside the house through the pipe. As for pets or livestock, you should obviously keep them indoors.  Pets such as cats and dogs should be kept in the house.  Whereas livestock such as chickens, cattle, and horses should just be kept under some sort of shelter whether it be a coupe for the chickens or stables for the horse and cattle. All of these tips should be taken into consideration tonight and throughout the winter.  However, tonight into tomorrow you should take extreme caution because a Wind Chill Advisory is in effect from 9 PM to 9 AM for almost every zip-code on the Eastern Shore.  The real temperature for Preston is expected to be 9°, and with the wind chill it will feel like -6° overnight on January 7, 2015.  Be safe and take the necessary precautions tonight.

The Preston Automotive Group had a huge month of December in 2014 with many of our dealers having their best month of the year.  Preston Hyundai had the best December in their history.  Preston Mazda made December the best month of their calendar year.  And of course Preston and Denton Ford reached our highest ever ranking at #5 in the Country for December Sales and #72 in the Nation for Year to Date Sales.  With all those cars going out the door, you know we have a ton of trade-ins that came onto our lot.  Over 400 vehicles in fact!  Such a large Pre-Owned inventory means that we need some kind of sale to get rid of it all.  So, the Preston Automotive Group would like to announce the Surplus Sell-Off Sale! So, we took a look at a list from CarGuru.  They ranked the most searched-for used vehicles of the entire year of 2014.  We cross referenced that with our larger than life inventory and here’s what we came up with! The car they ranked number one was the Jeep Wrangler.  A more than capable and proven off-road vehicle, the Jeep Wrangler was the most popular pre-owned vehicle of 2014.  We have nearly 20 of these Wranglers at our various Preston Automotive Group locations throughout the Eastern Shore.  We have all different model years and trim levels too. Next on the list was the Ford F-150.  Out of all our locations, we have over 50 Pre-Owned F-150’s at excellent prices!  From the basic XL models to the Harley Davidson Customized Edition, we have many different pre-owned F-150’s.  During our Surplus Sell-Off we are going to get rid of these best-selling, American trucks at unbelievable prices, so don’t miss it! Third on CarGuru’s list was the Chevrolet Silverado.  We don’t have quite as many of these, but the 11 that we do have are top notch.  Most of these Silverado’s are at the Preston Autoplex, although we still have some at Boulevard Georgetown and Millsboro Automart.  Click the link to check them out! Another Chevy vehicle comes in as the fourth most popular used car in 2014: Chevy Camaro.  These cars just scream FAST!  We have two great looking Camaro’s at the Preston Autoplex located in Hurlock, Maryland, at the intersection of routes 318 and 331. Next up is the Toyota Camry as we do not have any Dodge Chargers at the moment.  The Camry is one of the safest, most-reliable sedans in the world and we have five of them spread out between our various locations; including an amazing Internet Special that is discounted more than $7,000 from MSRP located at our Boulevard Georgetown location! Next on the list is the Ford Mustang – a speedster we sell a TON of!  We have Mustangs as new as model year 2013 and we even have a GT500.  They are American Classics and you could get a pre-owned ‘Stang at FIVE of our locations: Georgetown, Lewes, Millsboro, Pittsville and Preston.  And all of our locations are participating in the Surplus Sell-Off Sales event during the month of January and beyond The Honda is a brand known for long-lasting vehicles and fuel efficiency, so next up on our list is the Honda Accord.  At the moment we have nine used Honda Accords at our various Preston locations.  They are great economy cars, which is why they made our list of most popular used cars of 2014! The last car to make the list is the always reliable Nissan Altima.  We have a Surplus of Altima’s at many of our Preston Automotive Group locations.  From Georgetown, Delaware, to Preston, Maryland, we have the Pre-Owned Nissan Altima for you! So, check out any of the links above or go straight to our website to view every single car we have at www.prestonmotor.com.

The forecast for this Wednesday and Thursday, January 7 th and 8 th, are cold to say the least.  The Eastern Shore of Maryland and Delaware is slated to get a few inches of snow on Tuesday January 6 th, with the following two days staying in the 20s or lower.  It’s even possible the feel for Wednesday and Thursday to be in the single digits.  So, with that being said, there are some things to be aware of this week. The Eastern Shore of Maryland is directly in the path of the jet stream, with snow set to hit Tuesday January 6th. You need to make sure your vehicle is reliable and will still be able to get you to work on these cold days this week.  One of the main things to check is your vehicle’s battery.  Does your car start up slowly?  Maybe it takes a couple turns of the ignition to start?  You may want to look into the amount of Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) that your battery still puts out.  CCA/cranking amps determine how much power you have to start your car in cold climates.  The best way to check this is to take it to your Maryland or Delaware dealer or service shop to get it tested.  A battery that no longer produces the needed amount of CCA’s to start your vehicle is not good and will leave you stranded where ever you are.  If you pay attention to your car's battery and conduct a few tests and observations along the way, you'll reduce your risk of being stranded on the road. Also make sure you have sufficient windshield washer fluid in your reservoir, AND make sure it’s not too watered down because it may freeze if it’s too diluted.  Think about having a blanket and flashlight in your trunk as well, just to be safe in the direst of situations. Another thing you’ll want to think about is the amount of time you’ll need to get to work.  If snow or ice accumulates overnight then you’ll need to give yourself extra time to warm your car up and scrape the snow/ice off the windows.  It’s often something people forget but if you can’t afford to be late for work, then it’s something you’ll want to remember!  Warming your vehicle up before driving is one major thing you can do to lengthen the life of your car in general. It’s not too often that the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Delaware gets this cold, but it is almost guaranteed it will be in the single digits at some point this week so the best you can do is to be prepared.  Get your car’s battery checked out as well as anything else you might be wondering about before the cold temperatures hit Delmarva!

With 2014 in the books, Car and Driver added up all the sales and put together a list of the Bestselling Cars of the past year.  These aren’t necessarily the vehicles that cost the most money; we are strictly looking at volume – total units sold.  Car and Drivers list was 21 vehicles long, and 9 out of those 21 vehicles are sold by member dealers of the Preston Automotive Group!  We are so proud to sell nearly half of the cars on this list so let’s start it out with #1. Claiming the top spot was the Ford F-Series, which should come as no surprise to anybody considering the F-150 has been the bestselling truck in America for 37 years.  Now, the F-Series encompasses more than just the F-150; it represents the F-150, 250, 350, 450 and 550.  The F-Series sold over 679,000 units in 2014 – that is 200,000 more units than its closest competitor.  If the big aluminum risk pays off, then we should see an even stronger hold on the top spot in 2015. We’ll skip down to the 7 th spot where the Nissan Altima comes in.  It is the first of two Nissan’s to make the Bestsellers List.  Of course the Altima has been towards the top for a while because of its efficiency and cost effectiveness, and Nissan recorded just over 303,000 units sold in the past year.   Next, a group of Ford’s took up spots in the middle of the list: #10 Fusion, #11 Escape and #15 Focus. Ford showed off the Fusion’s wild side with a redesign in 2013 and people loved it; they sold 283,694 Fusions in 2014. The Ford Escape came in next with 280,609 units sold.  And skipping a few spots down to #15 we have the Ford Focus, which sold 204,751 units last year.  The current Focus is one compact that requires no apologies and is getting a refreshed look for next year, so we should see it back on our list in 2015. Next up are a pair of Hyundai’s.  The Sonata missed catching the Elantra by a mere 4,151 units.  So, that put the Elantra at #16 with 203,163 units sold and had the Sonata at #17 with 199,012 units sold.  Both are great on fuel economy and look great.  Perfect for commuters, first time drivers, and anybody else who wants a great, economical car. We have two SUV’s to close out the top 21 Bestsellers List: one Ford and one Nissan. The Ford Explorer slipped down to #19 by only about 1500 units, but it’s the SUV that many would argue kicked off the SUV trend back in the 1990s.  This past year they sold 191,530.  The very last SUV to make the list at #21 is the Nissan Rogue.  It was just redesigned for 2014, undoubtedly contributing to its success, and sold ultimately capped off our list by selling 184,320 units. We are proud to offer 9 of the top 21 Bestselling Cars of 2014 at our dealerships around all of Delmarva.  We are sad to see 2014 go, but from all of us here at Preston Automotive Group we want to wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year!  See you next year!

Millsboro Automart, a used car outlet in Millsboro, Delaware, has over 100 great pre-owned cars to choose from.  So, to help you out, we sifted through them to find the most powerful vehicles we have right now.  Some of these are great for work vehicles, some will be great for towing and hauling, and others are customized vehicles, but no matter what you are gonna want to check these bad boys out! 10. 2002 Ford Thunderbird Hardtop This slick roadster packs a 3.9L V8 engine under its long, red hood.  That may not seem like a ton of power but this car can move! It’s equipped with a Double Overhead Camshaft (DOHC) which allows this car to have 32-valves.  You see, DOHC is exactly what its name suggests: a gasoline combustion engine with two cam shafts located above each row of cylinder heads.  This 12 year old Thunderbird has a mere 33K miles on it and runs with rear wheel drive. 9. 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche LT This American pickup runs on a 5.3L Vortec 1000 V8 SFI Flex-Fuel engine.  5.3-liters isn’t all that large for a full-size pickup but it will get the job done.  The Vortec engine was created back in the 1980s by Chevy and was called the Vortex not Vortec.  Basically what it does is create a vortex inside the combustion chamber making for better air/fuel atomization.  It’s simply a way that Chevy has made themselves different from other car brands.  The Avalanche is one of few Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFV) and that means it can take either gasoline or a gasoline-ethanol mix (E85), which is often cheaper than unleaded gasoline. 8. 2002 Ford F-150 Harley Davidson Model This customized truck has been lowered and outfitted with custom rims and tint.  This F-150 runs on a 5.4L Supercharged V8 Triton engine.  The Triton is simply Ford’s name for one of its engines in the Single Overhead Camshaft family.  This engine has top of the line power and was on the Top Ten list back in 2002.  It’s also supercharged giving it tons of power, thus making it onto our list! 7. 2010 Ford F-150 FX4 This is our newest vehicle on the list, and it’s an FX4 so it has every available option.  It is equipped with a 5.4L EFI V8.  This is another FFV, so it can take E85 fuel as well as normal gasoline.  It’s an automatic transmission with Four Wheel Drive.  It also has Electronic Fuel Injection which creates the perfect air/fuel mixture and takes away the need for a carburetor. 6. 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Next up is our first Dodge Ram Truck to make the list.  This full-size pickup is packed with power in the form of a 5.7L V8 Hemi Multi-Displacement engine.  It’s a bit of an older truck being almost 9 years old, but with its multi-displacement system (MDS) it can be a little more fuel efficient than the other V8’s.  Simply put, the MDS will shut off four of the cylinders while you’re in lighter load conditions (which is most of the time).  That way you get max towing and payload capabilities from your V8 when you need it and max gas-savings when you don’t! 5. 2010 Dodge Ram 1500 Sport This next Dodge Ram is virtually the same as the aforementioned one, the only differences being the sport package and the newer model year.  It has the same powerful 5.7L V8 Hemi with MDS, but has other sport options such as the bed side-rails and sport wheels. 4. 2013 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie You may be thinking, a third Dodge Ram in a row!? This one is only a year old and is a Laramie which is Dodge’s top model.  This powerful truck is equipped with the same 5.7L V8 Hemi but has absolutely every option on it!  Comes with an automatic transmission and Four Wheel Drive.  This big, bad truck will be able to haul anything and everything you need! 3. 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD LS This is our first truck on the list that breaks into the 6.0L engine range.  It’s equipped with a 6.0L Vortec 6000 V8 engine.  That engine sounds really fancy and powerful, and it is but here’s what it all means: Chevy created the Vortex engine like we previously stated, but the 6000 stands for the approximate volume of engine displacement in cubic centimeters.  To give you a reference point, the largest Vortec engine is an 8100 and there is a 6000 in this particular Silverado, so it is considered very power packed. 2. 2004 Ford Excursion Limited This massive truck is clearly customized and we think it looks great!  Underneath the hood it packs a powerful punch with a 6.0L Turbo-Diesel V8 Powerstroke engine.  These Diesels are very sought after now-a-days and this one shouldn’t be any different.  The turbocharger improves fuel economy, creates less emissions, and gives more power at low speeds among many other things. 1. 2013 F-250 Super Duty King Ranch The number one most power packed pre-owned vehicle we have here at Millsboro Automart was deemed to be this 2013 F-250 Super Duty.  It has a 6.7L 32-valve Powerstroke V8 Turbo-Diesel engine under the hood.  That is absolutely mean all by itself but it is paired with the King Ranch body style which makes it all the better.  King Ranch is the second best body style that Ford offers, so you know that this truck is packed with power and tons of options. As you can see we have a ton of pre-owned power all in one location here at Millsboro Automart located in Millsboro, DE.  You can visit our website www.millsboroautomart.com or come in and see us to drive one of these powerful vehicles!

Millsboro Automart, a used car outlet in Millsboro, Delaware, has over 100 great pre-owned cars to choose from.  So, to help you out, we sifted through them to find the most powerful vehicles we have right now.  Some of these are great for work vehicles, some will be great for towing and hauling, and others are customized vehicles, but no matter what you are gonna want to check these bad boys out! 10. 2002 Ford Thunderbird Hardtop This slick roadster packs a 3.9L V8 engine under its long, red hood.  That may not seem like a ton of power but this car can move! It’s equipped with a Double Overhead Camshaft (DOHC) which allows this car to have 32-valves.  You see, DOHC is exactly what its name suggests: a gasoline combustion engine with two cam shafts located above each row of cylinder heads.  This 12 year old Thunderbird has a mere 33K miles on it and runs with rear wheel drive. 9. 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche LT This American pickup runs on a 5.3L Vortec 1000 V8 SFI Flex-Fuel engine.  5.3-liters isn’t all that large for a full-size pickup but it will get the job done.  The Vortec engine was created back in the 1980s by Chevy and was called the Vortex not Vortec.  Basically what it does is create a vortex inside the combustion chamber making for better air/fuel atomization.  It’s simply a way that Chevy has made themselves different from other car brands.  The Avalanche is one of few Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFV) and that means it can take either gasoline or a gasoline-ethanol mix (E85), which is often cheaper than unleaded gasoline. 8. 2002 Ford F-150 Harley Davidson Model This customized truck has been lowered and outfitted with custom rims and tint.  This F-150 runs on a 5.4L Supercharged V8 Triton engine.  The Triton is simply Ford’s name for one of its engines in the Single Overhead Camshaft family.  This engine has top of the line power and was on the Top Ten list back in 2002.  It’s also supercharged giving it tons of power, thus making it onto our list! 7. 2010 Ford F-150 FX4 This is our newest vehicle on the list, and it’s an FX4 so it has every available option.  It is equipped with a 5.4L EFI V8.  This is another FFV, so it can take E85 fuel as well as normal gasoline.  It’s an automatic transmission with Four Wheel Drive.  It also has Electronic Fuel Injection which creates the perfect air/fuel mixture and takes away the need for a carburetor. 6. 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Next up is our first Dodge Ram Truck to make the list.  This full-size pickup is packed with power in the form of a 5.7L V8 Hemi Multi-Displacement engine.  It’s a bit of an older truck being almost 9 years old, but with its multi-displacement system (MDS) it can be a little more fuel efficient than the other V8’s.  Simply put, the MDS will shut off four of the cylinders while you’re in lighter load conditions (which is most of the time).  That way you get max towing and payload capabilities from your V8 when you need it and max gas-savings when you don’t! 5. 2010 Dodge Ram 1500 Sport This next Dodge Ram is virtually the same as the aforementioned one, the only differences being the sport package and the newer model year.  It has the same powerful 5.7L V8 Hemi with MDS, but has other sport options such as the bed side-rails and sport wheels. 4. 2013 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie You may be thinking, a third Dodge Ram in a row!? This one is only a year old and is a Laramie which is Dodge’s top model.  This powerful truck is equipped with the same 5.7L V8 Hemi but has absolutely every option on it!  Comes with an automatic transmission and Four Wheel Drive.  This big, bad truck will be able to haul anything and everything you need! 3. 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD LS This is our first truck on the list that breaks into the 6.0L engine range.  It’s equipped with a 6.0L Vortec 6000 V8 engine.  That engine sounds really fancy and powerful, and it is but here’s what it all means: Chevy created the Vortex engine like we previously stated, but the 6000 stands for the approximate volume of engine displacement in cubic centimeters.  To give you a reference point, the largest Vortec engine is an 8100 and there is a 6000 in this particular Silverado, so it is considered very power packed. 2. 2004 Ford Excursion Limited This massive truck is clearly customized and we think it looks great!  Underneath the hood it packs a powerful punch with a 6.0L Turbo-Diesel V8 Powerstroke engine.  These Diesels are very sought after now-a-days and this one shouldn’t be any different.  The turbocharger improves fuel economy, creates less emissions, and gives more power at low speeds among many other things. 1. 2013 F-250 Super Duty King Ranch The number one most power packed pre-owned vehicle we have here at Millsboro Automart was deemed to be this 2013 F-250 Super Duty.  It has a 6.7L 32-valve Powerstroke V8 Turbo-Diesel engine under the hood.  That is absolutely mean all by itself but it is paired with the King Ranch body style which makes it all the better.  King Ranch is the second best body style that Ford offers, so you know that this truck is packed with power and tons of options. As you can see we have a ton of pre-owned power all in one location here at Millsboro Automart located in Millsboro, DE.  You can visit our website www.millsboroautomart.com or come in and see us to drive one of these powerful vehicles!

Ford’s Blueprint for Sustainability advances to the next level in 2015 with the F-150 lineup.  Among all the gas-powered trucks sold in America, the 2015 F-150 gets the highest EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings.  There are a few reasons for this. First of all, Ford is enlisting the help of an EcoBoost Engine.  They have had an EcoBoost F-150 since 2011, and the 2015 F-150 has a small yet powerful 2.7-liter EcoBoost Engine.  According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this new truck will achieve 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined.  That is anywhere from 5% to 29% better than current F-150 models, depending on the engine and drivetrain configuration. The improved performance is enabled by saving weight through the use of high-strength, military-grade aluminum alloys to make up the body of the truck.  With this revolutionary change, the 2015 F-150 has dropped 700lbs. A combination of the EcoBoost Engine and the dropped weight have made the 2015 Ford F-150 the most fuel efficient gas-powered pickup in America. 2.7-liter Ecoboost Engine in the 2015 Ford F-150 3.5-liter Ecoboost Engine in the 2015 Ford F-150 This new full-size pickup truck has four available engine choices: the aforementioned 2.7-liter EcoBoost, a new standard 3.5-liter V6, a more powerful 5.0-liter V8 and a Premium 3.5-liter EcoBoost.  Depending upon the engine and drivetrain combinations, the new F-150 tows as much as 1,100 more pounds and hauls as much as 530 more pounds than the 2014 F-150, all the while weighing less and being the most fuel efficient in America. “We set out to create the future of tough with the new F-150,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “We are delivering with the toughest, smartest and most capable F-150 ever – and now the highest EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of any full-size gas-powered pickup in America.” Very First 2015 F-150 to hit the Eastern Shore at Preston Ford! The very first 2015 F-150 has just hit the ground at Preston Ford in Preston, Maryland, located on the Eastern Shore.  It is a 2015 F-150 Lariat with the FX4 package.  Preston Ford is extremely excited to have one of the very first 2015 F-150’s on the Eastern Shore.

Tuesday, December 16 th, the Senate passed the Tax Extenders Bill that expands the Section 179 deduction limit thru December 31 st 2014.  This has quickly become a huge deal for local businesses big and small. It gives them the ability to write-off 100% of equipment purchases, including vehicles for business use, up to $500,000. In addition to the increased limit of $500,000, Section 179 deduction will also reinstate the 50% Bonus Depreciation. The bill is a one-year, retroactive extension of the tax breaks, even though it only last through the end of this month. Only this 2014 tax year will be covered by the measure and therefore it is a good business decision for many to buy/finance equipment, such as new vehicle purchases from Preston Ford Commercial Trucks, immediately to make the December 31, 2014 cutoff for the write-off provisions. “We are excited to hear that the Section 179 deduction has been expanded,” says Dave Wilson Sr., President of Preston Ford and Preston Automotive Group, “Not only will our Ford Commercial Truck customers and buyers be able to take advantage of the expansion but we as a business will be able to as well.” Preston Ford’s Business Preferred Network Commercial Truck Department has seen a large increase of businesses buying new commercial Ford vehicles since the bill was passed. Preston Ford, Ford Dealership of Maryland and Delaware, is currently in pursuit of becoming a Top 85 Ford Dealer in the Nation and has helped accommodate the bills passing by lowering prices on their Ford commercial vehicles and other Ford vehicles.  Preston Ford has over 1000 Ford Commercial Trucks in one location at the Preston Autoplex in Preston, MD. This tax break extension will also directly affect sales in the Preston Nissan Commercial Department.  As of now, Preston Nissan of Maryland has over 30 new commercial vehicles: The NV Cargo Van, Passenger Van and NV 200.  These vehicles are mostly left all white to make it easy for businesses to customize them with their own insignia and color scheme.  This tax deduction expansion is huge and business owners will understand that now is the perfect time for them to buy! Check out vehicles for any type of business at Preston Ford and Preston Nissan located on the same 38 acre lot in Preston, Maryland.  The Top 100 Sales Drive and the extension of this bill are both huge reasons to buy now.

What is the most searched for vehicle on Cars.com?  Well, to find out they put together a list and it may or may not necessarily surprise you which ones made the top of that list.  Ford is the top selling American Car Brand in America, so it shouldn’t be a huge surprise that a Ford vehicle made the top of the Most Searched list. The Ford F-150 was by far the most sought after truck on Cars.com.  As you can see in the diagram below, the F-150 topped searches in 30 out of 50 states!  The F-150, which is represented by the pink color, has taken over the entire Midwest and most of the rest of the country.  It’s no wonder that the Ford F-150 has been the best-selling truck in America for the last 37 years.  The 2015 F-150s are not out at dealers yet, but they will be particularly special because of the new aluminum body they’re receiving.  This has been making news headlines for the better part of a year because it is such a revolutionary idea.  It will make the 2015 Ford Truck weigh in at a whopping 700 pounds lighter than its 2014 version; yet, will still be able to tow even more than before on some models.  The best-selling truck in America was by far the most searched for vehicle on Cars.com. Second on that list was another Ford; one that was being redesigned in its 50 th year of existence.  If you haven’t guessed by know, the car we’re referring to is the Ford Mustang.  This historically significant sports car came up as the 2 nd most searched for vehicle on Cars.com.  So, by state, the Mustang (dark purple) was searched most in 10 out of 50.  If you combine the F-150 and Mustang, you see that Ford dominated the search results – owning 40 out of 50 states!  This year’s Mustang was made with an independent rear suspension and sports a new, fastback look.  We’ve sold several 2015 Mustangs at Preston Ford since they’ve been out in late October, and we still have several more on the ground with Convertible Mustangs on the way! Some of the runners up include the Honda Accord, which was the most searched car in Maryland, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, and the Chevy Silverado.  Gone are the days of people coming into dealerships for information on new cars.  With the Internet at our fingertips anywhere we go, most people go through extensive research in order to narrow their car search down.  And like we said, Ford has dominated the searches on Cars.com.

The 2015 ‘Stangs have been providing us with some excitement for a couple months, but Ford says, It’s time to turn up the heat! That’s right, the 2015 Mustang Convertible is set to hit dealerships across the country later this week.  With five different Ford Dealers being a part of our Preston Automotive Group, this is something that we are extremely excited about! The Ford drop-top Mustangs are sleek, sexy, and fast!  Now they’re not very practical for most winter climates, especially here in Maryland, but you’re going to want to have one of these when the summer sun rolls around here on the Eastern Shore.  Just think about having the rag-top down, the sun beating on you and the wind whipping through your hair.  These topless ‘Stangs are going to all be equipped with a manual transmission too.  If you would happen to want one with an automatic transmission, it can be done but will set you back about an extra $1000.  When they hit showrooms around the country later this week or next, they’ll be marked up a minimum $5500 over their hardtop counterparts. Preston Ford is expecting at least two of these hot 2015 Rag-Top Mustangs within a week or two.  However, Preston Ford is not our only Maryland or Delaware Ford Dealer that is expected to receive some of these drop-tops. Both Boulevard Locations, in Georgetown and Lewes, DE, are expecting some ‘Stangs too.  An interesting fact that maybe people don’t realize is that we can get you a Ford (or any vehicle for that matter) from any one of our five dealerships no matter what dealer is most convenient for you.  We have dedicated runners that transport cars from dealer to dealer every single day.  So, if you live closest to Pittsville Ford in Maryland but want a 2015 Mustang Convertible from Preston Ford, we can make that happen for you with no problem at all!  So, come out to your nearest Preston Automotive Group Dealer for a new Ford. Meanwhile, amidst the hype of the Drop-Top Mustangs, its fastback counterparts are being nominated for a huge award by AutoGuide.  They were just recently put up for AutoGuide.com 2015 Car of the Year!  While we are excited about this as well, it doesn’t come as a shock.  This was to be expected that the redesigned 2015 Mustangs would be raking in award after award.  This is just a nomination, but it proves just how great this American Classic will be this year.

Ever heard of flat-spotting? Maybe you’ve heard but you’re not sure if you should be worried about it.  Perhaps you’re already worried but aren’t sure what to do about it.  Well check this out to see what everybody should know about their tires! Flat-spotting is the phenomenon when the weight of a car presses down on the tires and actually changes the circumference from circular to … less circular.  Out-of-round tires cause vibration, which you might have noticed the last time your car was parked on a cold night.  Under the right conditions, an immobile tire that sits through the winter months under the weight of even a small car can warp the tires and create a “flat” spot on one side.  It becomes a bigger problem in different temperature extremes: hot and cold.  With winter right around the corner you should know how to safely store your vehicle; and more specifically your tires. Flat Stoppers are another way to prevent Flat-Spotting. First of all, Brian Grimm, Body Shop Director for the Preston Automotive Group says, “Tires should be stored as clean as possible.”  You might not be able to see it but the dirt and brake dust on the surface can mess with the compound at a molecular level.  That may be hard to believe, but it is actually true and has been proven.  So, a soapy scrub down will get the rubber nice and clean. Another precaution to take is to fill the tires to their correct pressures before storage.  It is recommended that whether you leave the tires on the vehicle or take them off, you should check the pressure periodically throughout the winter as pressure will drop with the temperature. The experts also believe you should keep tires out of direct sunlight to avoid damage.  If you store them in your garage and it has windows, consider covering them.  UV rays will cause seen and unseen damage to your tires, so it is recommended to keep them out of the sun. If you want to be extra-careful, you could even remove the wheels and tires and store them in a temperature-controlled room.  So, if you choose this route, you could do one of two things with the now wheel-less car.  You could put a set of junk wheels and tires back on if you have them and set the vehicle back down.  You could also put it up on jack stands for safekeeping if you have the space for that too.  If none of these suggestions sound good to you, then you could always just move your vehicle occasionally.  Roll the vehicle back and forth every couple weeks so it’s not sitting on the same patch all the time. This is one of those things that can skip people’s minds but it is a very real problem if you leave a vehicle sit stagnant for the winter or summer months.  Take these precautions this winter and you’ll be all ready to go once the snow melts.  Our Body Shops in Preston, Cambridge, and Snow Hill will be coming out with more tips such as these in the coming months.  As always, check back to our blog for more information about all things automobiles!

The Holiday Season is upon us and Christmas is fast approaching!  It is truly a wonderful time of year for most people; however, those families that may be slightly less fortunate may not have enough money to buy gifts for their children on Christmas.  That is where Toys for Tots comes in. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation provides the funding and support needed for a successful annual toy collection and distribution campaigns.  They were founded by Major Bill Hendricks of the USMCR back in 1947.  That makes this Christmas giving-tradition nearly 70 years old!  At this point they have given out nearly a half a billion toys to less fortunate children all over the United States. Coming directly from the official Toys for Tots website, they say, “Local campaigns are conducted annually in over 700 communities covering all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.  Ahead of the campaign, part of their job is to find businesses and companies that are willing to become drop sites for toys each year.  This year, Preston Nissan is one of the few drop sites on the Eastern Shore.  Preston Nissan is accepting unwrapped and unopened toys through December 22 nd.  That deadline will be here before you know it so come out to the Preston Autoplex – specifically the Nissan building – with your toy in order to donate.  If you are not in position to donate, but would instead like to request a toy for your little boy or girl you can do that on the Toys for Tots website.  But you need to hurry because there are different deadlines to request a toy based on which county you live in. We hope that those who are fortunate enough will donate a toy because we are trying very hard to fill up one of our new 2015 Nissan NV200’s with donated toys.  The employees of the Preston Autoplex have been supporting the toy drive, but we need your help!  If you can afford an extra toy, we ask that you please donate it to our Toys for Tots drive before December 22, 2014.  If we can manage to fill the truck we will certainly be posting a picture on Preston Nissan’s Facebook page to show how selfless the people in our area are, so make sure to bring in your donation then keep an eye on our page!  Merry Christmas!