Preparing Your Vehicle for Winter

We all know that the winter season in the Midwest can be a harsh one. Just like going to the Doctor for a flu shot, you need to take care of your vehicle before winter and the harsh weather comes. 

By taking these steps below, you will be prepared for the harsh conditions. 

Coolant 

Engine coolant is just that; it cools down your vehicle, and it keeps it from overheating. It also protects your engine against corrosion. For coolant in the winter, a winter ratio is 60% coolant to 40% water (so it doesn't freeze the water.) The Service Department at Victory Ford performs FREE coolant tests! Feel free to give them a call at 563.875.2409 if you would like to schedule yours before the snow hits! 

Engine Oil 

Just like your body getting accustomed to cold weather, your vehicle goes through this same homeostasis. The oil in your engine is influenced by the weather outside, which in the Midwest we experience a lot of days with temperatures below freezing. We need a thinner oil in these conditions. If you aren't sure which oil to use, please refer to your owner's manual. 

Windshield Wipers and Fluid 

Replacing your windshield wipers and topping off your wiper fluid will help you with your visibility during the winter. Make sure to keep extra fluid and wipers in your emergency kit if you run out during your drive! 

Battery Capacity

Just like your body, your vehicle needs energy to keep going. In the winter conditions, you need to create more energy to produce the same amount of energy as you would in the summer. Your battery does just that: use more energy to keep going in the winter. 

To insure your battery is at its full potential, please inspect your battery, cables, terminals and fluid. If you need assistance performing these checks, Victory Ford can check your battery for FREE! Give us a call at 563.875.2409 to schedule this service. 

Emergency Kit

An emergency kit is crucial for your well-being if you get into an accident while driving in winter conditions. 

Store these items in a bag in your truck: 

Other items that will help you if you become stranded are a spare tire (almost every vehicle comes equipped with one, but make sure yours is still ready!) a First Aid Kit, a small bag of sand or salt to aids you if you get stuck in snow. 

Lastly, make sure you keep your gas tank as full as possible during the winter. Gas lines can freeze during the winter, and the more the better! 

Tire Pressure 

Just like we learned in science class years ago, cold air is less dense. Your tires experience the same thing in the winter. You lose the air density (pressure) in the colder conditions. Reference your Owner's Manual to see what pressure your tires should be before taking long drives in the winter! 

We hope this list aids you during this winter season! Make sure you prepare by doing routine maintenance checks, protect you and your passengers, and prevent any accidents by slowing down and keeping your eyes on the road!

Below is a winter kit Victory Ford created! 

Leasing Your Next Vehicle

A term that is thought to be the villain of the car shopping process is leasing. Leasing a vehicle is a very misunderstood term, and the majority of people steer clear of the option due to the lack of information provided.

Throughout this post, I want to share information about leasing that might help you with your future purchase, and maybe think of leasing like the hero instead of a villainous character.

Leasing is an option companies provide to offer alternatives for someone looking for a new vehicle. Not everyone will benefit from leasing, but it could be a viable option for you!

You might want to look into leasing if you can answer 'Yes' to these questions:
- You drive between 10,500-19,500 miles a year (Take a look below to see if you can fit within these mileages)
- You like to trade out of vehicles every 2-3 years

Ford Leasing Options with rounded mileage for monthly/daily values
*Daily mileage is averaged at 30 Day Months

If you cannot answer both of these with a 'Yes,' then leasing might not be for you. You are still more than welcome to continue reading for future decisions, or to even just tell your friends and family :).

Benefits to Leasing: 

• Always have a vehicle with the latest technology
• Avoid negative equity (If Ford says that the vehicle is going to be worth $11,000 at the end of the lease, and it is only worth $9,000 at the end of the lease, Ford takes the hit.)
• Always have a vehicle with full warranty
• Always a lower payment vs. buying a vehicle

Yes, the common argument to leasing is that you won't have anything to show for it once you turn your lease in back to the dealership. The one factor that is typically forgotten is you also don't have to worry about depreciation or trade-in values once you turn in the keys! Ford made a great video showing what happens at the end of your lease.

Choices at the End of Your Lease:

• Walk away completely
• Trade into another lease
• Buy your current lease outright
• Purchase a vehicle 

Buying Vs. Leasing 

When you purchase a vehicle with a 5 year loan term and you trade it in after 3 years, the vehicle will more than likely be worth less than what you owe. When you lease you are paying the difference on what the vehicle will be worth at the end of the lease and what the MSRP is now (i.e. Residual Value.)

Let's face it, the majority of the U.S. population lives on a budget, and the majority purchase a vehicle with cash down and/or financing. The leasing population strongly considers payment as a big driving factor for them. If you are trying to stick to a strict budget, leasing might be the way to go due to the reassurance you will never be upside-down. Let's take a look at an example:

Please keep in mind that this is an example, and might not pertain to everyone
Based on deal at time of print - November 2013 *On Approved Credit* 

You are considering a 2014 Ford Focus, but you cannot decide between a lease or to purchase the car. You can buy the car at a 60 month term with an interest rate at 2.99% for $323/ month (Please keep in mind that Tax, Title, and Licensing Fees are not included.) If you keep this vehicle for two years, and decide to trade it in, the total amount you've paid is $7,752. 

*Also, please keep in mind that in this example we are keeping mileage the same between buying and selling. 

On the other hand, if you lease the same vehicle, drive under 10,500 miles per year for two years, your payments will be $219 month (with your first payment down plus Tax, Title, and Licensing Fees.) When you turn the keys in to your lease, you will have spent $5,256. 

The savings between buying and leasing the same vehicle with the same mileage for the same amount of time is $2,496! 

On top of that, if you buy a vehicle, you will have to pay sales tax on the full amount. If you are leasing  the same vehicle, you will only have to pay sales tax for the amount of time you are leasing it, which is one great reason to lease! Another way to save on a lease is the insurance options that are available to you. 

Insuring Your Lease: 

GAPCoverage 

Another great thing about leasing is that GAPCoverage is included in your lease agreement. GAPCoverage from Ford Credit, for example, can help you when you need it most. It can wave the difference between your current outstanding balance and the insurance carrier settlement. For more information see the program terms and conditions, give Victory Ford a call at 563.875.2409 or visit Vehicle Protection through Ford Credit. 

Along with insuring your vehicle from accidents or theft, there is also normal wear and tear you need to consider. Say you are driving one day behind a semi, and a rock gets catapulted towards your window. If you get a chip in the window, Ford has a program that can take care of it! It's called WearCare®. It protects you against additional charges when you bring your trade in at lease-end. 

Lower payments and higher interest rates aren't the only reasons to lease, because leasing also offers purchasing flexibility. Lessees don't have to worry about owning a depreciating asset or dealing with hefty repair bills once warranties have expired. At the end of the lease term, assuming you've kept the car in good condition and stayed within the prescribed mileage limits, you can simply turn in the car and walk away. 

To pursue the best option for you, please contact Victory Ford at 563.875.2409 or go to our website by clicking here!