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Winter Travel Checklist

Planning on doing some holiday travel this weekend? While your Ford can get you there safely, it's still important to prepare for an emergency. Here are a few things you'll want to stash in your trunk before you leave for the holidays:

Blanket, just in case. You might also consider taking along some newspaper for extra insulation in extreme conditions.

Chains, if you plan to travel to ski areas or other places where chains are required. If snowy weather looms in the week before your trip, consider packing your chains just in case. Even major highways require chains during some winter conditions.

Defroster. Make sure this is operating correctly before you go.

Heater. Yeah, that better be working. Enough said.

Sand or other substance to use for traction under wheel in icy conditions.

Shovel. Useful in the snow.

Snacks. Pack a few non-perishable or long-life snacks and a bottle of water for your trip. An energy bar can be a beautiful thing when you’re snowed in and the truck stop vending machines are empty.

Warm clothes, including gloves with a good tread to help you hold tools in inclement weather. If you plan to bring along tire chains, throw in a pair of work gloves. Regular gloves often tear.

Windshield scraper. You need to have one of these if you’re planning to park overnight, or even park for a dinner break in the cold. (Heck, if it’s cold enough, you might need one for a brief gas and bathroom break.) A small broom to sweep off snow will also help. The snow make look festive atop your car, but it can be darn distracting when it starts falling on your windshield while you’re driving on the highway.

Courtesy of SharpMan.com (http://www.sharpman.com/checklist_for_a_winter_road_trip.htm)

Should You Lease Or Buy A Car?

When it comes to buying or leasing a car the options can be confusing. To help you make an informed decision we have provided the information below. We hope you find it informative and useful.

When you buy the new or used car you pay for the entire cost of the vehicle. When you lease the new or used car, you pay for only a portion of the vehicle’s cost, which is the part you use during the time you are driving it.

Buying

Who Owns It

Whether you pay for the car with cash, or finance it and make monthly payments, either way it’s yours. Of course, if you’re financing it, you’ll have to meet the obligations the lender requires, like a certain down payment amount and timely monthly payments. If you don’t, they have the right to repossess it.

Up-front Costs

If you’re financing it, the bank will probably request a down payment. You can also trade-in another vehicle and use any equity towards your down payment. The amount of the down payment is usually based on the lender’s requirements and your credit score.

Future Value

Your vehicle will be worth whatever you can sell it for in the future and that depends on how well you maintain it. (Be smart and protect your investment with regular scheduled maintenance by a factory-authorized facility!)

End of Payments

Once you’ve paid off what you owe on your contract, that’s it. Your vehicle is 100% yours. The lending institution will send you a Lien Release as proof that the vehicle is completely paid off and all yours.

Leasing

Who Owns It

You do not own the car when you lease. You’re paying for the use of the vehicle, but the finance institution that you leased it through actually owns it. This is usually why you pay less per month in a lease than if you were to buy the car. .

Up-front Costs

Leases often do not require any type of a down payment. All you usually have to pay is the first month’s payment, a security deposit, the acquisition fee and other fees and taxes. But, as with a purchase, if you want to lower your monthly payments you can always pay more upfront.

Future Value

In most leases you don’t end up owning it so you don’t end up selling it. That’s the financial institution’s job. Although you may have mileage limits and wear and tear guidelines that, if you exceed them, could cost you extra money when you turn your vehicle back in.

End of Payments

Most people return the vehicle at the end of the lease term. But some like to purchase it during their lease or at the end. Others like to trade it in before their lease is over. Just ask us about these different options before signing any paperwork and we’ll make sure you have your lease set up the way you want it.

Best Cars to Lease

The best cars to lease are those with the best book value after the term of the lease. Since they depreciate less, you pay less. Review the lease ratings to see which cars retain their value.

Ford Explorer History

Ford's most widely-known SUV has a history and a reason behind its success.

All of this helped make the Ford Explorer not only the sales champ of its class but also
one of America's most popular vehicles. Though not always the best SUV for design,
performance or other qualities, Explorer regularly finished among the top-10 sellers
through 2000 -- and was often in the top five. Needless to say, the Explorer became
as vital to Ford Motor Company's bottom line as the full-size F-Series pickup truck line
(America's top-selling vehicle of any kind since 1980).

But nothing lasts forever, and the Explorer has lately lost much of its sales luster in a
market where truck-type SUVs are increasingly seen as anti-social against the backdrop
of global warming, record gas prices, concerns about future energy supplies, and other
troubling global realities. The sharp drop in Explorer sales is one reason Ford Motor
Company continues to post huge losses in the North American market -- a record $12.8
billion in calendar 2006 alone -- and is now fighting for its very survival.

Read more: bit.ly/TseYMl

41st Annual Medora Christmas Festival

The 41st Annual Medora Christmas Festival will be Saturday, December 1^st. Planned events for this year will include the Light Up the Town contest for residents of Carr Township with judging to be held the night before the festival. The festival will start off with Breakfast with Santa from 8AM to 10:30AM. There will be a Baking contest, Baby contest, Pet Pictures with Santa to benefit Red Sky Rescue and a Cake Walk. Vendors will line the streets starting at 9AM, the Crowning of the 2012 Prince and Princess will take place on stage at 12:30 and the Parade will begin at 1:00PM. There will be stage entertainment throughout the day and a Tree Lighting at 5:30 in front of Medora Public Library to conclude the day’s events.
Additional Info: For more information please call 812-966-8887 or 812 528-0142 or email sbowers85@yahoo.com.

Avoid “Turkey” of a Weekend with Pre-Trip Vehicle Check

One way to avoid a turkey of a Thanksgiving road trip is to make sure the vehicle you will be driving is running well. A 10-minute pre-trip check is small potatoes compared to a big helping of inconvenience if you break down many miles away from home, according to the Car Care Council.

“A pre-trip vehicle check provides peace of mind, helping reduce the chance of costly car trouble and providing an opportunity to have any repairs performed by one’s own trusted technician before hitting the road,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “While no inspection can guarantee a car’s performance, it’s comforting to know proper precautions were taken to ensure a stress-free Thanksgiving road trip.”

The Car Care Council suggests the following 10-minute vehicle check to help ensure safety and reliability on the road:

• Check the tires, including tire pressure and tread. Uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment. Tires should also be checked for bulges and bald spots.
• Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering and brake and transmission, as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.
• Check the hoses and belts that can become cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or show signs of excessive wear. These are critical to the proper functioning of the electrical system, air conditioning, power steering and the cooling system.
• Check lighting to identify any problems with exterior and interior lighting as the chance of an accident increases if you can’t see or be seen.
• Check wipers. Wiper blades should be replaced every six months. Make sure the windshield wipers are working properly and keep the reservoir filled with solvent.

The Car Care Council also recommends that motorists restock their emergency kit. To save on fuel costs during the trip, the council suggests that motorists avoid aggressive driving, observe the speed limit and avoid excessive idling. Gas caps that are damaged, loose or missing should be replaced to prevent gas from spilling or evaporating.

Courtesy of: http://www.carcare.org/2012/11/avoid-turkey-of-a-weekend-with-pre-trip-vehicle-check/