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Buying a New Car? Here Are Some Tips | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans

September 25, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

Buying a new car can make for a nerve racking and mentally draining experience, especially if you don’t know what you are looking for. Often people start with only a price range, but that is really only the tip of the iceberg. When it comes to spending big money on a new car, follow these steps to make the best out of your investment.

Get Organized

When looking for a new car, writing down your thoughts can help organize your ideas. Educated purchase decisions become vital, so make sure to do your research. The first step to your purchase is to start with personal allowances. Allow yourself ample time and make sure you are thinking clearly with your head instead of making emotional verdicts. Split decisions when purchasing a car can lead to heartache and costly repairs. Approach every dealership with hope, but allow yourself the ability to walk away. It is good to compare and stack up the competition but it also lets the dealer know you are not desperate.

Do The Research

After you have taken the vow of patience, it is time for the nitty gritty, yet, essential chunk of the operation. Luckily, most of the research can be performed from the comfort of your own home. One of the most important factors in the equation is really knowing the value of your trade in. Do not let the dealership determine this for you. There are many resources online or off, Carmax or Kelly Blue Book are just a couple of examples. Begin your search by emailing various dealerships with a list of what you are looking for. This will help you conserve energy when it comes to the actual footwork,a s it will help you grasp a better idea of what you’re looking for. And before you even go in, make sure you are financed. Often times your bank will offer you a better interest loan than the dealership’s bank and knowing ahead how much money is available to you makes for a much smoother process.

Test Drive

Once you are ready to start meeting your potential next new car, take full advantage of the test drive. Test drives are a privilege that can really help you get a feel from a particular vehicle. Enjoy it. Use that filled gas tank and explore the city. A prolonged test drive is recommended so you can really get a feel for that acceleration, braking, throttle, engine noises, smells, gas mileage, working accessories, etc. Take your time.

Safety First

When choosing a vehicle and its equipment, much of it boils down to personal needs and opinions. Safety, however, should still be one of your top concerns. Look for built in front and side air bags, an alarm system, anti lock brakes, an anti-skid system and power locks. Navigation system is also a nice addition, making it easier to follow directions and look up information without having to access a separate unit.

Read The Fine Print

Once your selection has been made, research it. Do your homework and know how much you should pay and where you might find a better local deal. Make sure to get an itemized list from each prospective dealer that includes the vehicle sale price, tax, title and tags, as well as the vehicle’s specific vin number. By doing this you can really compare finalized notes and numbers. When you do finally sign that paperwork, make sure to read all the fine print.

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Lamarque Ford is proud to be one of the premier dealerships in New Orleans, LA. Located in Kenner, LA, Lamarque Ford is committed to providing you the best customer service and vehicle service for the life of your vehicle. Whether you’re on the market to purchase, finance, or service a new or used Ford vehicle, you’ve come to the right place.

2015 Ford Taurus | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner

August 11, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

The new 2015 Taurus remains the best option for drivers looking for a full-size sedan with excellent gas mileage, an attractive design and the latest technology.

Design Features

The 2015 Taurus’ dynamic and elegant design makes it stand out from the competition. Its angular lines help the vehicle attain better fuel economy, as it improves its aerodynamics to cut through the air with ease. Also, the Taurus’ stance has been widened to allow for better handling and, coupled with the new steering system, hugs the curves of the most challenging roads.

The new Taurus features available HID headlamps, which provide excellent brightness and a more focused beam, extending the light’s reach. HID lamps are also more durable and and consume less energy than regular headlights. The rear of the Taurus is equipped with full LED tail lamps, which not only are brighter but add to the refined looks of the car.

Ford Taurus Performance

Ford is making three engines available for the 2015 Taurus, giving consumers plenty of choice. The base engine is a 3.5 V6 peaking at 288 hp, which provides enough power for a comfortable and exciting ride. Although the base model is a front-wheel drive, Ford offers an upgraded all-wheel drive (AWD), which significantly enhances driving dynamics and all-weather traction.

Next come the EcoBoost models, which have proven to be a success in the Ford lineup. The 2.0 EcoBoost is a four-cylinder turbo-charged engine, which delivers similar performance to the V6 while consuming less fuel. Unfortunately, the small EcoBoost cannot be upgraded to the AWD drive train. Still, the 2.0 packs 240 horsepower and includes a six-speed electronically-controlled SelectShift transmission.

The top-of-the-line engine is a V6 EcoBoost, which consists of a 3.5 liter cam and twin-turbocharged induction system. The result is a significant performance gain in raw power and torque, peaking at 365 hp and 254 lb./ft. respectively. Thanks to its powerful nature, the V6 EcoBoost comes standard with all-wheel drive and paddle activated transmission, which is guaranteed to deliver the best driving experience.

The Latest Technology

The 2015 Taurus wouldn’t be complete without an industry leading in-car infotainment system. The available SYNC in the new Taurus combines voice-activated commands with MyFord Touch, Ford’s intuitive LCD system. With SYNC drivers can perform different tasks without taking their eyes off the road, including playing music stations, calling contacts paired with their phones, even read text messages! Also, Taurus customers can choose to add a navigation option to complement their tech experience, which incorporates SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link for on the go alerts and weather forecasts.

In addition to the best center console companion, Taurus offers other exciting technologies built around the driver. The intelligent access with push-to-start button makes keys a thing of the past, as owners can simply unlock their car without even taking them out of their pockets. The 2015 Taurus incorporates safe driving tech like adaptive cruise control and collision warning, which help drivers be more alert when on the highway, and lane-keeping system, which applies steering torque to correct unintended lane departures.

In all, the 2015 Ford Taurus is a well-rounded full-size sedan that inspires trust and carries on Ford’s legacy of family safety and dependability. Take a look at our current Taurus selection and stay tuned for future updates.

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2015 F-150 Engine Recap | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans

July 25, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

Whether you need to transport your tools or tow your trailer, the 2015 Ford F-150 has a range of engine choices to meet your needs; now adding two new engines to their existing line-up.

One of the new configurations is the standard 3.5-liter V6 engine. It has twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) that has incredible power to tow as much as 7,600 pounds, 1,910 pounds of payload, 283 horsepower, and 255 lb./ft. of torque. However, the model that has everyone talking is the high-output 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6, which is as powerful as a V8 engine. This new engine has standard Auto Start-Stop and delivers 325 horsepower and 327 lbs. of torque. The EcoBoost model has an incredible towing power of up to 8,500 pounds and delivers great efficiency thanks to its turbo-charged technology. Additionally, the 2015 F-150 uses high-strength steel and aluminum alloys that helps the truck shed over 700 pounds. Thanks to its light weight, the power-to-weight ratio of the 2015 F-150 has been improved by 15 percent over the 2014 V8 model.

As we mentioned before, the 2015 F-150 EcoBoost comes equipped with Auto Start-Stop technology. This innovative idea is designed specifically for Ford trucks, and it helps boost fuel efficiency by turning off the engine when it is stopped. When the brake is released, the engine automatically restarts. This is also the first time Ford used a concentrated graphite iron cylinder block in their gasoline engine. This is the same material used in Ford’s 6.7-liter PowerStroke turbo diesel V8 in super duty trucks and saves weight while providing reliable durability.

Compared to other trucks, testing shows that the Ford F-150 2.7-liter EcoBoost outperforms other vehicles’ engines such as the Ram 1500 3.0-liter V6 EcoDiesel and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3-liter V8 when towing a 7,000 pound enclosed trailer up Davis Dam in Arizona.

So if you need more proof that F-150 is THE truck to own, stop by Lamarque Ford and test drive one today.

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How to Maintain Tire Pressure | New Orleans, LA

February 17, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

There are a lot of things you need to know about your car in order to keep it running properly. There are certainly pros and cons for new and used cars. Older, used cars need attention in order to prevent costly repairs, while new cars and trucks benefit from proper maintenance in order to preserve the value of the car. And while some routine procedures can be costly, time consuming, and require a visit to a mechanic’s garage or car dealership, others can be quick, easy, and painless. Perhaps the easiest thing you can do on a regular basis for your car is to make a habit of checking your car’s tire pressure. It’s easy, costs very little, and can save you from having to deal with expensive repairs down the road.

Tire Pressure

Having low tire pressure can lead to decreased performance when cornering and braking, and can even lead to tire failure in some cases. Since tire failure usually results in a serious accident, it’s not something to mess around with. While many people check the tires themselves to see what pressure level to maintain, this is actually the wrong place to look. The numbers listed on tires are usually the maximum capacity of pressure, not the recommended amount. As it varies from car to car, check your car’s owner’s manual to see where the information is printed- usually on the driver’s door pillar, the glove compartment door, or the gas filler door.

When it comes to checking the tire pressure, try to avoid the popular pencil-shaped gauges, which can be frequently inaccurate. Digital gauges or even analog-dial gauges are typically a safer bet. Also remember to only check tire pressure when the tires are cold- in other words, before the tires have been recently driven. This ensures that the air is at the proper temperature for an accurate reading. And finally, be sure to check all four tires. It sounds obvious, but steer away from taking shortcuts here. Just because the first three tires are good doesn’t mean the fourth one is.

Check your tires seasonally, as well as before any long road trip in order to stay precise on your tire pressure levels. You can also ask your car service professional to check for you during your next service, typically at little or no extra cost. This can also provide you a way to double check the accuracy of your own gauge. However you decide to do it, just make sure that checking the air pressure levels on your tires becomes a regular part of your car’s check-up.

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Lamarque Ford is proud to be one of the premier dealerships in New Orleans, LA. Located in Kenner, LA, Lamarque Ford is committed to providing you the best customer service and vehicle service for the life of your vehicle. Whether you’re on the market to purchase, finance, or service a new or used Ford vehicle, you’ve come to the right place.

Ford Ecoboost Performance | New Orleans, LA

February 13, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

You may, like millions of Americans right now, be concerned about the fuel efficiency of your car or truck. Like many Americans, you may also be worried about the environmental impact your new car or truck could potentially be causing. With so many buzz words floating around, it can be very hard to discern between what will actually be beneficial and what won’t.

Ford Ecoboost

It’s likely that you’ve at least heard about Ford Ecoboost, whether from a Ford commercial, from a salesman at a car dealership, or even from a friend. While it may sound ambiguous or abstract at first, Ecoboost is simply a family of direct injection, turbocharged petrol engines co-developed by Ford and FEV engineering to be used in Ford cars. These engines use a hybrid technology to emphasize fuel economy as well as increased power and performance. Ecoboost engines can achieve up to 20% better MPG and can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 15% as compared to traditional engines. Comparable to hybrid engines in terms of environmental friendliness, Ford cars equipped with Ecoboost engines can still protect the environment without sacrificing engine performance and torque. Ford Ecoboost engines are both versatile and affordable alternatives, and have been met with universal acclaim since their introduction in 2009.

The number of Ford cars and trucks which utilize the Ecoboost performance system is steadily growing, with the 2014 Ford Fiesta St, 2013 Ford F-150, 2015 Ford Mustang, and 2015 Lincoln MKC being among the newer cars with this option available. But with continued rise in popularity of affordable, economically friendly engines, expect to see similar technology implemented in even more Ford cars and trucks in the future.

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Valentine’s Day in New Orleans, LA

February 12, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it’s time to start doing some planning for how you and your special someone, are going to spend the day (if you haven’t already!). While extravagant gifts like a brand new car or expensive jewelry may send an over-the-top romantic message, other times it’s how you spend your time together that creates the most precious memories. Here are a few suggestions that may help you and your significant other make some memories to cherish for years to come.

Valentine's Day at Lamarque Ford

Although there’s nothing at all new or novel about going to a nice restaurant on Valentine’s Day, it’s something that is almost expected- and thus can’t be overlooked. Luckily, New Orleans has no shortage of restaurants that are both delicious and romantic. New Orleans classic locations such as Vincent’s never fail to disappoint, just make sure you call far enough in advance to get a reservation. If you favor something a little less orthodox, try venturing out to Metairie or Kenner for an unknown hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Trying a new restaurant together can be a fun and exciting way to mix things up. Of course, you can always forego eating out altogether and cook a meal instead – you don’t have to go out to have a romantic meal together. Sometimes cooking in can be just as much fun, and at only a fraction of the price.

After dinner, there are a variety of ways to enjoy the wonderful city of New Orleans with your special someone. If you’ve never gone for a carriage ride through the French Quarter, Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to enjoy one; or, even if you have, it’s always a great way to enjoy one of the most beautiful cities in America. Also, touring all the music venues on Frenchman street can always provide a night full of dancing and fun. If you want something a little more upscale or elegant, however, the Mahalia Jackson Theater will be showing Massenet’s Cinderella performed by the New Orleans Opera.

There’s always the safe fall back plan of going to see a movie. With no shortage of theaters in New Orleans showing everything from sci-fi to romantic comedies, there’s sure to be something both of you can agree on. Those who want to be a little more adventurous, however, could try venturing over to the Prytania Theater to see Rocky Horror Picture Show on Valentine’s Day at midnight. Sure it’s a bit non-traditional, but it’s sure to be a way to mix things up if you’re tired of the same old-same old.

While this list merely scratches the surface of what you could do in New Orleans on Valentine’s Day, hopefully it will get you thinking about fun, romantic ways to spend the evening with your date!

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