Are you shopping for a new or used vehicle? It’s a good idea to do the math on the gas mileage of your old car compared to the model you want to test drive at the car dealership in Maryland. This is important even for city-only driving, but if your travels frequently take you out of the Baltimore area, that new or used car gas mileage issue becomes a big part of preserving your bottom line. How much can you save over a year in fill-ups with that new-to-you car? Do some quick math to find out—start with an estimate of how many miles you drive per month. Multiply that number by the average gas price. Divide that number by the number of miles per gallon your current car gets and that’s how much you spend each month on gas.

Now do the same math for the new or used car you want the Maryland dealer to hold for you, and compare the amounts. Do you save money with the new model? If not, ask the dealer to show you some vehicles that at least match your current vehicle's MPG. Don’t forget that if you’re financing your new car, you’ll be required to carry full insurance on the vehicle, so any savings you can get from better gas mileage, bigger down payments, and good trade-in value will help you in the long run.

If you’re negotiating terms for a new or used car with the Maryland dealer and want to apply for dealer financing, you’ll be required to carry full insurance on the vehicle before you can drive it off the Baltimore dealer lot. Full coverage protects your investment in case of an accident, and if you know how to shop for insurance, you can save money on the policy. The terms of your loan agreement will spell out the exact requirements, but “full coverage” usually means carrying at a minimum the amount of liability insurance required by law, plus uninsured motorist coverage where required, and other protection. "Full coverage” doesn’t mean paying for extras you don’t have to carry.

For example, is there a towing or roadside assistance option in the insurance package? You can save money by opting out of it, especially if you’re already protected by another policy. Many credit card holders and AAA members get this as a benefit; insurance companies don’t pay duplicate coverage claims. Do you really need that insurance on the contents of your trunk? Cut out the optional coverage you don’t want and keep only what you can afford. The new car purchase you make with your favorite used car rep is an important investment; insurance protects that investment as long as you set reasonable deductibles and avoid spending money you don’t have to on extras.

Washington DC Ford dealers have plenty of different cars and bargains to choose from; dealerships and lenders also have competing terms and rates for auto loans. When it comes to getting a new or certified used Ford, Lincoln or Mercury, don’t limit yourself to comparing prices with your auto dealer rep in Maryland. Compare interest rates and terms the same way you shop for the car itself—you could find some good savings on your next car loan. Did you rely on your current bank for your previous Ford auto loan? This time, compare financing terms with the dealership or other financial institutions in Washington DC.

Chances are good you’ll find someone willing to work with you to get better terms. Any break on interest rates, the length of your auto loan and the down payment amount could give you extra room in your monthly car budget, and more favorable terms save you money over the lifetime of the loan. That’s money you could use to get into a better Ford.

As you compare lending terms, do the math on three important areas—the interest rate, the length of the auto loan itself, and the size of your down payment. How do those figures change with shorter or longer loans? Bigger down payments? Can you afford to take a shorter loan? It can be a money-saver over the long term when it comes to paying interest. You may find a lender or the dealer willing to give you more favorable terms depending on how flexible you can be in these areas.

Shopping at your local Washington D.C. Ford dealership isn’t only a symbolic patriot act, but it’s also a smart one. Forget everything you’ve heard about foreign cars holding superiority over American manufactured vehicles—when it comes to getting the most bang for your buck, buying American pays off.

Warranty Worries?
It’s something that every prospective car owner should take into consideration—at some point in your vehicle’s life, it’s going to need maintenance. And issues like local terrain conditions and driving habits play into that heavily. Buying American from your Washington DC Ford dealership ensures that even if the manufacturer goes out of business, you’re covered. Why? It’s as simple as logistics. Simply put, in America there are more mechanics capable of servicing American-made cars than there are mechanics capable of servicing foreign vehicles. Not to mention that replacement parts are far more easily accessible.

Bailout Considerations
It’s something you should be well aware of. American car manufacturers are not alone in experiencing the woes of economic downturn. The fact is, manufacturers abroad have also appealed to their respective governments for help in weathering the global economic storm. Keep this in your back pocket the next time someone tells you that foreign car companies have made wiser decisions than American ones.

Some people buy cars to express their sense of fashion. The urban youth have their tricked-out Mitsubishi Eclipse. Italian clothing designers have the Lamborghini. But rugged individualists—and those who prefer simplicity, quality and dependability—have the F-150.

If you’re someone to whom fashion is only a word, or a concept you’d rather not waste time dwelling on, you’re likely in the market for durability over flash. Practicality and dependability mean a lot to most of us, and it’s for that very reason that the Ford F-150 is one of the best selling pre-owned vehicles on the planet. A quick trip to your local pre-owned Ford Baltimore dealership will show evidence of that fact in the front-and-center lot placement of its F-150 inventory.

And if an F-150 happens to express your sense of down-home fashion, all the better. The good news is, down-home’s always in style no matter where you are, whether kicking up dirt on a backroad in Albuquerque or cruising a four-lane boulevard in New York City. The bottom line? Simplicity can be elegant. Especially if you’ve got a set of matching work boots to pull it off.

Over the past few years, the country has seen quite a shift towards exploring alternative fuels to power their Fords.  Alternative fuel-powered vehicles are slowly entering dealerships across the country, so I’ve put together this short list of just a few of the different types that are available now, and what is being developed.

Hydrogen: Most of the research being done in this area is with hydrogen fuel cells that would power a car or truck.  A car powered by only hydrogen would produce no emissions, just water vapor.

Ethanol: Arguably the most widespread in recent years, ethanol is a biofuel typically made from corn.  There are vehicles sold today that can run on a gasoline/ethanol mixture.  Unfortunately, ethanol is not as fuel efficient as gasoline (one gallon of gas gets you further than one gallon of ethanol) and it can cost more per gallon.

Electricity: While a vehicle powered purely by electricity would need to be plugged in before use, many hybrid cars and trucks use both electricity and gasoline to reduce their environmental impact, and are popular at your Maryland Ford dealerships.

Most Baltimore residents, including Rich Morton are trying to do their part to reduce their impact on the environment.  We look forward to bringing you more information about alternative fuels as it becomes available, and our dealership will keep working to carry the latest in automotive technology at our Washington DC Ford dealership.