Waldorf Dodge Blog

Because she had to leave at 5AM, the reigning Miss Washington Brittney Henry packed her car the night before. However, the next morning she found the car, along with her crown, sash and gowns gone from her driveway. The car was recovered a few miles from her home, but her possessions were gone. Henry estimates the value of her stolen belongings at $10,000. Because the car was a loan from her Miss Washington title, it is not covered by insurance. Ouch.

OK, so maybe you’re not the reigning Miss (or Mr.) Anything, and maybe you don’t leave your crown and sash in your backseat (or maybe you do), we thought we’d still give you some great tips on how to protect your vehicle and your possessions so that what happened to Miss Washington doesn’t happen to you.

Remarkably, a vehicle is stolen every 33 seconds in the U.S. Follow these five easy tips to greatly reduce your odds of having your vehicle broken into or stolen:

1. Don’t leave vehicle on and unattended. This seems like a no-brainer to most people, but it happens all the time. Even if you’re going inside the store “for a second,” do you really want to make it that easy for a thief? Some parents even leave babies and toddlers in car-seats, with the engine running. That’s an incredibly bad idea.

2. Get a car with an anti-theft device or alarm. When car shopping, look for vehicles that come with some form of anti-theft device. This is a good way to prevent theft from the very beginning of your car ownership experience.

3. Don’t leave items out in the open. Thieves are going to have much more incentive to break into your car if you leave purses, wallets, iPods, phones, etc. in an easily visible place when your car is parked. And for Pete’s sake, don’t leave the valet key to your car in the cup-holder or console. Police report this happens more often than you would think. No need to hot-wire the car if you give the thief a key.

4. Roll your windows up and always lock the doors. Regardless of how familiar you are with the neighborhood, it’s always a good idea to lock your doors, even if you’re away from your car for a short period of time. Roll up your windows, too, unless you want to totally negate the effects of locking your doors.

5. Park in a well-lit area. Cars that are easily visible by public eyes are less likely to be stolen, says law enforcement. Thieves don’t want to risk being easily caught, after all.

If you need help finding the right Security package for your vehicle, just give our Accessory Specialists at Waldorf Dodge a call. They will be more than happy to help you pick out the one that is right for you and your vehicle. Waldorf Dodge is located on Route 301 North in Waldorf, just 15 minutes south of Washington DC.

There has recently been in the news a study that showed that people are keeping their vehicles for 6 years. Compare this to the 4 years people kept their vehicles just a short 8 years ago. What factored into this change? First, the economy. Even though things are looking better today, unemployment is still high and there is still a lack of confidence in the economy. Second, long loan terms. Now that you can finance a vehicle for 72 months it takes longer to gain equity in your vehicle. So people are hanging on to their cars until their are close to being paid off. Third, vehicle quality. The quality of most vehicles is better than it was. Build them better and they last longer.

You have a role to play in the quality of your vehicle too. If you follow a maintenance schedule, you will help your vehicle retain value longer. Which will help you keep it longer and help you get more for it when its time to trade it in. Here are some of the things that you should put on that schedule:

Oil and Filter Change
Regular oil changes are important because motor oil contains additives that have the ability to neutralize acids. Over time, these additives get used up and stop being effective.
Also, oil can absorb water, dust and combustion byproducts and holds them in suspension. Eventually, the oil gets saturated and can’t absorb any more. When the contaminated oil remains in the engine it can cause corrosion.

Ignition System Maintenance
In today’s vehicles, the bulk of the ignition system maintenance involves spark plugs and wires. Worn or misfiring sparkplugs will cost you fuel economy and emissions performance. Most recommendations are to check the performance of your spark plugs at 30,000 miles and plug wires at 60,000 miles. Your local dealer can check this for you, also refer to your owners manual for manufacturer recommendations.

Cooling System Maintenance
Most modern cooling systems and coolant only require replacement every 100,000 to 200,000 miles. When refilling however, it is important to use only distilled water with a concentrated coolant, in order to prevent corrosion and mineral blockage. Always make sure to properly bleed the system after replacing coolant, as air bubbles can dramatically reduce cooling system ability.

Air Filter/Fuel Filter Replacement
A dirty air or fuel filter can cause poor performance, poor fuel mileage and reduced engine life. Changing your air/fuel filter is easy and rule of thumb is to change the air filter 12 months/12,000 miles or fuel filter 24 months/24,000 miles. For the best information, again check your owner’s manual or ask your service advisor.

Brake Rotor and Pad Replacement:
We typically recommend you check the condition of your brake components anytime you rotate your tires. Make note of any unusual wear. Replace the pads when there is still a little of the pad left, wait any longer and you could damage the rotor. Especially check into those brakes if the brake pedal feels spongy when you use them, you hear unusual grinding or squealing, braking is hard or your brake light is continuously on.

Tire Pressure Check: Maintaining the correct air pressure in your tires will not only help improve fuel economy, it will help your tires wear more evenly. The manufacturers put the recommended tire pressure on a sticker on the door jam. All you need is a simple pressure gauge and you can check it yourself.

Tire Rotation: Our rule is to rotate the tires whenever you change the oil. This will help your tires last longer, saving you money in the long run.

Transmission Fluid Change: Most newer vehicles don’t require or recommend a transmission fluid change. It is a sealed system that has the same fluid in it for the life of the transmission. If you have an older vehicle the standard is to change the transmission fluid and filter at 40,000 miles. I will go to our old fall back and recommend if you have any questions, refer to your manufacturer’s owners manual or ask your service advisor for help.

Car Wash: The exterior of your car will not only look better, it will last longer if you wash your car regularly. Road grime and winter road treatments are hard on your vehicle, corroding whatever it touches. So give your car a good scrub – you will feel better once you do!

That about covers everything. Servicing your vehicle properly will help keep it running better for you and help you get more for it when you decide to replace it down the road. If you have any questions about the maintenance of your vehicle, feel free to contact one of our service advisors at Waldorf Dodge. We are conveniently located on Route 301 North in Waldorf, just 15 minutes south of Washington DC.

Source: Carsdirect

We are pretty sure that most people have heard that Dodge is bringing back the Dart nameplate. The reintroduction and reincarnation of old nameplates seems to becoming more and more common among car manufacturers. Ford brought back the Thunderbird and Taurus, Dodge has already brought back the Challenger and the Durango.

Dart was part of the Dodge lineup originally from 1960 to 1974, starting as a full size car and ending as a compact car. Its name became synonymous with sturdy and dependable. In fact, “The Dart was one of the most successful compact cars ever introduced in the American automobile marketplace,” according to R.D. McLaughlin, then vice president of Chrysler’s Automotive sales division.

Looking back at the old Dart and then looking at the 2013 Dart that will be hitting dealer lots Second Quarter 2013, they styles are definitely different and the power trains certainly don’t have a lot in common.
This is a 1970 Dodge Dart
and this is the 2013 Dodge Dart

The 2013 Dart should be an exciting option for those looking for a compact car. There will be five different trim levels to choose from, the basic SE through the fully loaded Limited. Trims also include a sportier R/T. All trims will have the newest in safety technology. It leads it class with over 60 safety features.

We are excited to have the Dart on the lot, we hope that you will stop in and see it when it arrives. Waldorf Dodge is located on Route 301 North in Waldorf just 15 minutes south of Washington DC .

http://www.waldorfford.com In this episode of our Video Blog we talk to our Commercial Service Manager Scott Stevenson, take a look at the all new 2013 Ford Fusion and put our peepers on the hot new 2013 Dodge Dart.

Make sure to stop by and see us at 2440 Crain highway in Waldorf Maryland or give us a call
Vodpod videos no longer available.

Recently we had a meeting where Mission Impossible was the theme. As per usual we had a camera and a guy with some weak editing skills available.
Vodpod videos no longer available.

Wow, where did the time go. Thanksgiving is right around the corner and not far behind is Christmas and the end of 2011. We at Waldorf Ford and Waldorf Dodge, try very hard to give back to our communities by not only donating money, but by also donating our time and resources. We regularly go to the Humane Society of Charles County to highlight animals in need of new homes. This time we decided to head to the Southern Maryland Food Bank to talk to them about what they do and to see what we, as a community, could do to help them to help others. Check out the video of our visit.

Can you believe the amount of food that they distribute out of such a small space?! We were amazed. As you can see they need more help. So, if you would like to donate food or money, you can contact them at Southern Maryland Food Bank. We are grateful to have them serving our community.

Waldorf, MD — Mr. Floyd Alexander, General Manager of Waldorf Ford Dodge Used Car Center, stunned area residents today by announcing that, due to popular demand, Waldorf Ford Dodge Used Car Center will once again bring back the $3,500 CASH FOR Clunkers†. In 2009 many Americans took advantage of the CASH FOR Clunkers† event by trading in their old cars, trucks, and S.U.V.’s for a newer more fuel efficient means of transportation with a guaranteed $3,500 trade allowance for their vehicle. Alexander confirms “IT’S BACK” and that the event will be held for THREE days only, Thursday, November 10th through Saturday, November 12th, regardless of weather.

Alexander offers a simple explanation for this spectacular sales event, “The program that stimulated the economy in the summer of 2009, giving consumers a once in a lifetime opportunity to trade up from their old, worn down vehicles and get into a newer, more dependable means of transportation is back.” Waldorf Ford Dodge Used Car Center HAS BEEN SELECTED AS THE ONLY LOCATION IN THE EAST COAST REGION RENEWING THE GUARANTEE OF $3,500 CASH FOR Clunkers TRADE IN. While many Americans took advantage of this program in 2009, some missed out on the incredible savings due to a rapid depletion of inventories. We are proud to bring this program back to our customers in Waldorf for a limited time only. The customers that missed out on the incredible savings two years ago, have been demanding for a return of the program and now “IT’S BACK”.

There will be many vehicles to choose from including trade-ins, lease turn-ins, specially purchased vehicles, company cars and more. Alexander goes on to mention, “Most of the vehicles we’re offering will have incredibly low pricing, in some cases at or near wholesale levels. I can assure you, if you want to get a great deal on the vehicle of your dreams, you won’t want to miss this event.”

During this exclusive event, extended terms and special financing will be available to help reduce monthly payments or obtain credit for those who may have had credit challenges in the past. With recent events due to a complex economy, good people have run into difficult circumstances which have made purchasing a new vehicle challenging. Waldorf Ford Dodge Used Car Center believes in helping those individuals with credit challenges get back on their feet again. Everyone is welcome and special lenders will be on site to provide funding for those who feel there may be something negatively affecting their credit situation. Representatives will be on hand for immediate approval and release of these ‘insider’ deals.

Many of the pre-owned vehicles offered are late model vehicles with low mileage and balance of factory warranty remaining. Auto shoppers can choose from many makes and models including Honda, Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, Ford, Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac, GMC, Nissan, Hyundai, Saturn, Toyota and more. To ensure that everyone can take advantage of great deals, prices will be clearly marked on windshields. All you’ll need to do is pick a vehicle. It’s that simple.

During the 3-day event, all trades are welcome, paid for or not. Alexander states, “No matter how much you owe on your trade, we’ll pay it off, if we make a deal1! You don’t want to miss the unique opportunity to obtain a newer pre-owned car, truck, van or sport utility with an unbelievably low down payment!” Alexander also reminds customers that the event is first-come, first-served, so it’s critical to come early to have the best chance of getting the vehicle of your choice.

If you missed out on the Cash For Clunkers event in 2009, you have just one last opportunity right now to take advantage of this special offer at Waldorf Ford Dodge Used Car Center on the corner of 2440 Crain Highway in Waldorf, for 3 days: Thursday, November 10th from 9am–9pm, Friday, November 11th from 9am–9pm and Saturday, November 12th from 9am–9pm. Hurry for the best selection.
1-800-883-2818
www.Waldorfdodge.com

Red light-runner has ill-advised change of heart