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5 Signs You Need an F-150

June 5, 2015 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

You’re in denial. Don’t deny it, knowing is half the battle. Lamarque Ford is here to help you come to grips with the fact that you have a problem, and its not just running out of paper towels at a crawfish boil. If you find yourself in the following situations on more than one occasion, the answer is clear: YOU NEED AN F-150.

1. When you try and FAIL to maneuver your truck through a space the size of a shoe box. See 360-Degree Camera w/Split View Display.

2. You call it quits on the project you’re working on as soon as you see the sun start to set because your current pickup truck has the light source of a firefly. See LED Lighting.

3. On the day you’re feeling macho, your decision to shout “YOLO” and gun it on the freeway comes back to haunt you as you fail to slow down near an upcoming curve. See Curve Control.

4. It takes you fifteen minutes to do a simple parallel park since your truck is so high off the ground that you can’t see that tiny hybrid car parked right behind you. See Active Park Assist.

5. When you’re constantly at risk of being slapped with a DUI because law enforcement doesn’t know if you’re drunk or if you just can’t stay in your own lane. See Lane-Keeping System.

Disclaimer: Please drive responsibly.

How To Drive More Efficiently | Lamarque Ford | Metairie, Kenner, New Orleans

April 30, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

While the primary focus of today’s automobile industry is their fuel consumption and efficiency, there are factors that go beyond the car itself that can reduce fuel consumption. Yes, having a new car with high mpg rating is a great way to reduce green house gases and save you money on the long run, but there are several steps drivers can take that can have a similar or greater impact when done properly. Let’s take a look at the ways in which modifying your driving habits can help both your pocket and the environment.

Reduce Your Speed
Most vehicles operate at their maximum efficiency peak at around 50 mph. This means the faster you drive over such speed, the worse your mpg average will get. Since all engines vary slightly, be sure to consult your owner’s manual for the optimal fuel saving speed.

Drive Carefully
Sudden acceleration and breaking can negatively affect your gas mileage. Remember to accelerate slowly and smoothly after a full stop. Most rapid increases on speed are unnecessary and will cost you.

Avoid Excess Weight
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, weight affects mainly small vehicles and excess of as little as 100 lb can have a 2% decrease in your mpgs. Avoid hoarding in your vehicle as it will take only a few items to bring your fuel efficiency down.

The Right Tires
Tires are a significant factor in fuel economy, as they provide support and interact with your vehicle at all times. Everything from the type of tire, alignment and inflation are directly related to your fuel tank, as it can affect up to 30% of your fuel efficiency. Consult your owner’s manual to find the adequate tire pressure and alignment intervals.

The Effect Of Maintenance
Lastly, keeping your car in good shape will not only better your fuel economy, but it will keep your car running longer. Be sure to keep a maintenance log and timely perform oil, gasoline and air filter changes, along with tune-ups and spark-plug cleaning as your vehicles requires it.

Stay tuned for other tips on how to make the most out of your new or used car.

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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.

Tips On Buying Your First Car | Lamarque Ford | New Orleans, Kenner, Metairie

April 9, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

Buying your first car shouldn’t be a time consuming and frustrating experience. Given all the resources and comparison tools available today, the process should be exciting and rewarding. However, more often than not, first time car buyers find themselves lost and without guidance. Lamarque Ford has put together a short list of tips to point you in the right direction.

Budget
Budget will dictate the basics of your car purchase. At this point, you should be looking at your overall cost of living including housing, bills, groceries, health insurance, savings, etc. Always remember to include an estimate for car insurance and emergency money to the long term cost of a car. Once you’ve set your budget, it will be easier to decide whether to get a new or used car. Whichever route you choose, you’ll also have the option to pay cash or to finance your investment.

Needs
Now that you have a price range in mind, you’ll need to asses your needs. Be sure to take your lifestyle and daily habits into account, as this will give you a better idea of what kind of car you need. The best way to do it is to ask yourself a few basic questions:

How would you be driving your car?
Will you commute long distances to work?
Will you be driving in the city?
How many people do you usually take with you?
Is fuel efficiency a priority?

Do The Research
At this point it should be really clear the type of vehicle you can afford based on your needs. Start looking online at different brands and contact the sellers directly to inquire about offers. Most car dealerships offer incentives for new car buyers, recent grads and military, so make sure this is part of your decision process. Keep in mind that there is more than one car dealership for each brand, so never settle for the first option.

Get The Feel Of The Wheel
This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. All the grunt work and countless hours of research are about to pay off. Start visiting dealerships to see the cars for yourself and talk to the salespeople personally. Once you’re ready to test drive a car, take into account the following:

Is there enough space to sit comfortably? Is it too cramped?
Are the seats and head rests comfortable?
Are the controls and switches easily accessible?
How is the visibility?
Is the engine loud or quiet?
Does the car accelerate smoothly?
Are the breaks too sensitive?

Although this is just a short list of questions to keep in mind, you should look at as many details as possible. Also remember that during the test drive the salesperson might try to single out other features that you’re not interested in, so stay focused.

In the end, your decision might come down to one thing: gut feeling. That’s right, that visceral emotion driving you crazy every time you see a red Mustang might kick in at the wrong time, so keep things in perspective. Remember to stay rational and never take on a loan that exceeds your original budget. Your intuition might determine the trim or color of your car, but it should never precede your research.

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Getting the most MPG out of your new or used car | New Orleans, LA

February 24, 2014 By Matthew Hritz

Buying gas for your car is likely one of the biggest expenses in your budget. With gas prices that seem to be constantly rising, and the fact that you simply can’t stop driving your car altogether, it can often seem like there’s no real way to save any money on gas. If you are in the market for a new car, you can look into buying a car with hybrid or Ford Ecoboost technology, but for the rest of us, there’s no miracle way to slash our monthly gas expenses. Fortunately, there are a few ways to cut corners and save a little bit of extra money when it comes to buying gas.

Adjusting how you drive can be a big factor in getting the best MPG out of your car. When running errands, try to do so during parts of the day with the smallest amount of traffic. This means try to avoid doing them around 9am or 5pm, when most people are going to and from work. Similarly, try to drive at a steady, consistent pace when you drive as opposed to varying your speed or stopping and accelerating frequently. Maintaining a consistent speed has been proven to optimize gas efficiency in cars. And although you likely have less control over this, try to base when you leave for work and the route you take to accommodate steady driving as well. Cruise control can also help get the best MPG out of your car.

When shopping for gas, there are a few things you can keep in mind in terms of cost and type of gasoline. It usually isn’t worth it to drive across town for the cheapest gas. If you pass a station with unusually cheap gas then by all means, go ahead and stop. If you’re considering a gas station across town that is slightly cheaper, you may end up losing more money for the drive to get there. Using stations that are close to your home, even if slightly more expensive, can usually save you money. Also, try to fill up during the coldest time of the day. Since gas is purchased by volume, you get more for your money when the gas is at its most dense- in other words, during the coldest part of the day. Additionally, make sure your gas cap is tight and secure. Fuel can vaporize and thus be wasted if the cap isn’t securely fastened.

Buying gas from a wholesaler such as Sam’s or Costco can save you small amounts, and although you shouldn’t make the special trip just for gas, you can try to fill up at these locations if you routinely shop there. You might also consider getting a gas credit card. As long as you make your monthly payments, having a gas credit card can potentially save you a little bit of money over the long run. Also make sure you keep your car properly maintained, in order to ensure peak performance and gas efficiency.

Follow these tips in order to save some money here and there, and who knows- maybe you can put it towards getting that brand new car you’ve been dreaming about.

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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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The Future of the Automobile

January 22, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

The automobile has come a long way since Henry Ford debuted his brand new car, the Model T, in 1908. That car, which introduced the country to a whole new world of technological innovations, was just the first step in a continuing process of refinement to create safer, more comfortable, and better performing cars. While the automotive industry has been introducing technological advances gradually over the last century, 2014 looks to be a huge leap for technology in cars in the form of digital user interfaces.

A quick glance at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show, or CES, is very telling for where consumers and industry experts alike see the future of cars heading. A new partnership between technology companies NVIDIA and Google, along with a handful of car makers, is looking to forgo proprietary software in favor of Google Android-powered open source software in order to move towards what people are calling a “connected” car. This Google powered technology looks to serve two main functions in cars. The first is vehicle-to-vehicle safety systems that can interact with other cars or even potentially traffic lights or cameras, whereby the car can either alert the driver or even assist in braking or handling. Secondly, they can work in providing the driver with information or safe-for-driving entertainment. Access to music, navigation, and email can be used and also synced with data at home or in the office.

Always a step ahead, Ford released Ford SYNC in 2007 which allows drivers to make telephone calls, control music, and even order pizza without having to take a hand off the wheel. The Ford SYNC system, which uses a Microsoft Windows-based software, can sync with other devices via Bluetooth or USB and can get 911 assistance, check traffic reports, get access to car health reports, and even remotely access an office computer. Since 2007, Ford has continued to improve and update SYNC and has included it in a significant number of new Ford cars and Ford trucks.

These technologies are helping to pave the way for a safer, more enjoyable automobile for the future and Ford is leading the way. There is no limit to what having connected cars can provide for consumers, and it will be exciting to see where the technology takes the automotive industry.

In the Market for a New Car?

January 14, 2014 By Matthew Hritz Leave a Comment

Although there are many instances in which buying a used car is the right decision, often times it’s just too hard to pass up the features and flexibility that come with buying a brand new car. But with so many features and options on the market, it can be very daunting to know which ones you should look for. Often times what new car buyers are looking for and what they should be looking for are quite different. While certainly there are no “wrong” features if that’s truly what you want, but many times the most useful or beneficial features aren’t the most obvious ones to look for.

The majority of the most popular features for new car buyers are typically cosmetic or convenience options. Here are some of the more popular features with consumers:

Need a New Car

Cruise Control- while it may not always be practical when stuck in the stop-and-go traffic of Garden District New Orleans or the French Quarter, being able to set a constant speed for your car to automatically maintain can make trips to or from Kenner or Covington much more enjoyable.

Navigation systems- although similar technology in smart phones and tablets may soon make in-car navigation systems obsolete, systems that can coordinate fast routes and help navigate unfamiliar areas nonetheless remain a very popular accessory for new cars.

Leather seats- although many budget level cars now come with leather seats, it is still seen by most as the ultimate luxury symbol. While not everybody agrees that they are more comfortable, they are still coveted for their luxurious look and feel.

Seat heaters- Although New Orleans drivers don’t need them quite as often, having a seat heater can be a lifesaver during the year’s coldest months.

While these sought-after features are certainly nice to have, there are many other features that while not necessarily as popular, are arguably even more important to have in your next new car purchase:

Side airbags- Most cars have front airbags, but not all cars have side airbags which cushion impact on the much thinner side doors in case of a crash. Having side airbags could be the difference between injury or no injury in a crash- especially important in New Orleans, which saw an increase in fatal car accidents this year.

Anti-lock brakes- Skidding tires do not have the same control or traction as turning wheels. Anti-lock brakes, or ABS, pump the brakes on and off at a rapid pace during braking to reduce the likelihood of losing control of the car while braking.

Electronic stability/ skid control system- These systems use a series of braking, accelerating, and steering sensors to detect and aid in what it senses the driver is trying to do. By braking or shifting power to specific wheels the system is able to direct the car more accurately to where the driver is trying to point it.

All of these features are important and will vary depending on the individual preferences and needs of each car buyer, it is always important to remember that accessories and features should go deeper than just the cosmetic or luxury options; make sure that the new car you purchase meets all of your needs to ensure that your car provides the safest and most enjoyable ride possible. Hopefully now the next time you step onto the car dealership, you’ll be equipped with all the information to make the most informed decision.