Once you start the search for a new or used Ford, one area to give special attention to is the gas mileage of your existing vehicle compared to the Dayton Ford model you want to test-drive. Whether your travels frequently take you out of the Dayton, Ohio area or you’re strictly a city driver, the gas mileage issue on a new or used car becomes a big part of preserving your bottom line. How much can you save over a year? Do some quick math to find out—how many miles do 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.

Do the same math for your favorite Ford model for sale at the Dayton lot and compare the amounts. Do you save money with the new model? If not, keep looking at Interstate Ford until you can find one that at least matches the MPG you currently get. Don’t forget that if you’re financing your new car, you’ll be required to carry full insurance on the vehicle—any savings you can get from better gas mileage, bigger down payments, and good trade-in value will help you in the long run. Ask to see a selection of Ford models that get at least the gas mileage you’re used to now—if not better MPG ratings.

If you’re looking in the Dayton, Ohio market for new Ford cars or used models, you’ll find plenty of online tools to help you decide what kind of car to buy and what kind of financing is right for you. You can even get help figuring out your credit score. But two Internet tools available at InterstateFord.com you should definitely use are the payment calculator and the purchasing power calculator. How do these calculators help you shop for a new Ford car?

The payment calculator helps you determine what your monthly payments would be for a new or used car at the dealer lot in Dayton Ohio—just enter your used car’s purchase price, subtract the down payment and trade-in, plus the term of the car loan and interest rate. This is much different than the purchasing power calculator—which uses the same information in a different way. To determine your buying power for a new or used Ford, start by entering the amount of money you can afford to pay for the car each month, plus your down payment, trade in and other factors. The number you get as the end result is how much you can afford to borrow based on your figures. Consider using the purchasing power calculator before getting pre-approved for a loan amount. You can request the specific amount you got from the purchasing power calculator knowing you’re able to afford financing from the Ford car dealership or your bank.

There are plenty of cars in the Dayton market, but how do you decide which is right for you—a new Ford car or a used model? If you’re looking for car on a budget, chances are you’re looking at used vehicles first. Is a used Ford right for you? Ask yourself a few questions before you decide. Do you plan on staying in your vehicle for many years, or do you want to get a different model in three to five years to take full advantage of the trade-in value? Do you need a vehicle for work-related travel outside the city or are you planning on driving more locally?

If you need a vehicle for high-mileage travel, new Ford cars may be the best place to start looking, but the selection available at used car dealers in Dayton, Ohio may offer you some of the advantages of buying new without the cost. Try looking for a recent used model with low mileage and some time left on the warranty. It won’t be “showroom new” but many models are very close; comparison shop with your favorite Interstate Ford dealer rep and see how the sticker price on the new Ford cars measure up to a low-mileage used vehicle. When you’re comparing price tags, don’t forget that price is only one factor—any warranty coverage, better gas mileage, or extra features are also worth money even if it doesn’t directly affect the amount of your car payments.

It’s easy to forget about simple vehicle safety issues when buying a new car, or a new-to-you vehicle. Even after you’ve test-driven a car from your Ford Crown Victoria dealer and feel comfortable behind the wheel, don’t forget to give yourself some extra time getting used to the handling and feel of the car. When you drive it off the Ohio Ford dealership lot, two important things to watch out for are braking distances and acceleration power.

How do the brakes in the new Ford compare to the old car? Do you feel the new car is more sensitive and requires shorter stopping distances? Or do you need extra time to slow down? If you’ve moved into a more powerful vehicle, give yourself plenty of time to brake, and pay close attention to how the car responds when accelerating from a red light or stop sign. If you’re not used to a more powerful engine, it’s easy to do what used to be called a “jackrabbit start” because you’re expecting a weaker reaction from the car when you step on the gas. Don’t risk rear-ending the car in front of you at the light—take a bit more care when accelerating in your new purchase from Interstate Ford until you can anticipate how your vehicle behaves on the Dayton roads.

Most Dayton residents are trying to do their part to reduce their impact on the environment, and Interstate Ford is no exception.  Since vehicles powered by alternative fuels have typically been slow to enter the market place, I’ve put together this short list of the various types of fuel that are available now, and what should be coming soon.

Ethanol: Ethanol is made from sugar cane or corn, and has arguably been the most popular alternative fuel in the past few years.  There are vehicles sold today that can run on a gasoline/ethanol mixture.  One drawback to ethanol is that it is not as fuel efficient as gasoline (you can drive further on one gallon of gas than on one gallon of ethanol) and it can be more expensive.

Hydrogen: Most of the research with hydrogen is on how hydrogen fuel cells could be used to power a car or truck.  A car running on hydrogen alone would produce no emissions, just water vapor.

Electricity: A vehicle that only used electricity would need to be plugged in before use, but many hybrid cars and trucks use both electricity and gasoline to reduce their environmental impact, and are popular at your Ohio Ford dealerships.

America has seen quite a shift lately towards using alternative fuels to power their Fords.  Our Dayton Ford staff looks forward to bringing you more information about the different ways to power your Ford, and always carrying the latest auto technology and alternative fuel vehicles at our Dayton Ford dealership.

In the winter in the Dayton metro area, even the safest, most conscientious drivers will occasionally have car trouble.  Here are some tips to make sure you and your family are prepared in case you encounter car trouble on your next road trip.

You should absolutely have a roadside emergency kit in your vehicle at all times.  You can buy pre-made roadside emergency kits, but it's also fairly easy to create your own.  Every kit should contain a basic medical kit, a blanket, flashlight, an extra set of warm clothes in the winter, and flares.

Always keep a charged cell phone in your car or truck.  We don’t advocate using your cell phone while driving, but having one available to use in case of an emergency allows you to call 911 if needed.  For those who don’t have, want, or need a traditional cell phone plan, pre-paid phones are a great alternative.

Keep a spare tire in your Ford in case your tire goes flat.  It’s also important to have all the tools you need to change the tire, though sometimes a can of temporary tire foam will be sufficient to allow you to drive to repair shop.

As an Ohio Ford dealer, we pride ourselves on selling the best and safest vehicles, but roadside emergencies can happen to anyone and in any car or truck.  Another way to protect yourself is to ask our Dayton Ford service department about warranties and roadside assistance packages that we carry or about any providers that we could refer to you.