Sunset Ford Dealer Blog

My last two blog posts discussed my pet peeves with other drivers as a result of my frustrations from driving this rental vehicle across the country instead of one of the Ford cars the company had on the lot. But luckily, I’m not one of those types of people who have ever been the victim or the aggressor in a road rage situation. Although you can’t make others control their anger, there are some things you can do to make yourself less angry on the roads.

1. Get enough sleep. Being drowsy and driving does not mix. In addition to being dangerous, it also makes you more irritable and less patient with other drivers.

2. Know where you’re going. Few things make you as impatient and irritable as trying to find something you can’t find. Plan your route before you leave to save yourself from getting angry at other driers.

3. Respect other drivers. Many road rage cases occur because a driver thinks the road was built only for them. But if you think of the road more as something we share, you’ll be more courteous and patient with others.

4. Stay calm. Everybody makes mistakes, but road rage typically occurs when one driver gets mad and takes it to the next level. If someone makes a mistake, let it go. In a few seconds, you won’t even remember it.

5. Be observant. When you know what’s around you, you can adapt to the situation and avoid getting mad or making others mad. Just know how many cars are around you at all times and look ahead for potential hazards.

Follow these suggestions and we can all enjoy safer roads so we can make it home to our families every night.

When I left on my road trip this past weekend, I was hoping the rental car company would’ve given me one of the Ford cars on the lot to drive. But alas, that didn’t happen. That’s probably what set me off in a bad mood and made me notice people’s annoying driving habits on the way to Georgia. I posted four of my pet peeves on Monday, but here’s four more.

1. Speeding in general – I already mentioned that people who speed through residential neighborhoods tick me off, but what about the ones who speed on the highways? We’re all trying to get somewhere as fast as we can, but we obey the laws. Everybody else should, too. Regardless of how slow you go, your destination will still be there. But if you go to fast, you may never make it there.

2. Oblivious drivers – These are the people that simply don’t know what’s going on around them. You run into these people everywhere, but it’s most dangerous on the roads. They’re the ones sitting there until you honk when the light turns green or the ones who turn in front of you without even seeing you.

3. No turn signals – Is it really that hard to turn your turn signal on? You don’t even have to take your hand off the steering wheel to do it. It’s such an easy maneuver that saves everybody around you the guesswork of what you’re going to do.

4. Giving the unconventional right-of-way – This might seem nitpicky, but I hate pulling up to a four-way stop seconds after the car perpendicular to me stops. He then gives me the wave to go before him. Just go already!

Now that I’ve vented, I feel much better. What do other drivers to you that annoy you the most?

While driving across the country from California to Georgia this weekend, I’ve noticed some people doing some really stupid things behind the wheel. Some of these things are downright dangerous but others are simply pet peeves of mine. I’m sure some of you have the same pet peeves as I do.

1. Children without seatbelts or car seats - I’m not a kid person, but that doesn’t mean you should leave them to fly through the air when you hit your brakes. Don’t leave your driveway or the parking lot without securing your children in the car. It’s just not right.

2. Cell phones – I think I’m the only person left on the planet that doesn’t have a cell phone. Maybe that’s why it annoys me when I see people talking on their cell phone while going 80 mph. As if that’s not bad enough, many of them are even texting as they speed down the expressway! Are these people really that important?

3. Tailgaters – I’m not talking about the people who sit in stadium parking lots and grill hot dogs and burgers. These are the drivers that are so close to your back bumper that their paint’s rubbing off on your car. Unfortunately, I think I’ve been guilty of this at times, but I try to keep it to a minimum.

4. Speeding through neighborhoods – There’s simply no reason to go 50 mph through a residential neighborhood. That’s where kids are playing and jumping out into the street without any notice. Slow it down! Wherever you’re going, it will still be there if you go 30 mph or less.

This is just the beginning of my pet peeves. I’ll have four more tomorrow. Feel free to let us know what some of your driving pet peeves are, too. It’s always fun to discuss them and blow off some steam. Of course, if you’re driving one of the comfortable and fuel-efficient Ford cars on the market today, other drivers won’t seem to annoy you as much. Test drive one today and see what I mean.

Just like summer is coming to an end, so must our tribute to the greatest road trip songs ever. According to me, here are the top five songs that should be on your mix CD or MP3 player playlist to make you enjoy getting to your destination and back.

5. Hold My Hand – Hootie and the Blowfish: I’ll admit it. I’m a little partial to this song. After all, Hootie and the Blowfish is my favorite band in the whole world. I could just listen to them while driving across the country, but this song is a must even if you’re not a big fan.

4. On the Road Again – Willie Nelson: Does any song capture the road trip feeling any better than this song? Regardless of his past tax problems, Willie Nelson can make you feel the pioneering spirit.

3. Margaritaville – Jimmy Buffet: I’m not a huge Jimmy Buffet fan, but any song about a “lost shaker of salt” is brilliant.

2. I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That) – Meatloaf: I know this choice probably made a few people chuckle, but you can try to figure out what he won’t do for love while you’re driving.

1.American Pie – Don McLean: I don’t even think I need to say anything else about this song. It’s an anthem and it’s like 14 minutes long. By the time you’re done singing this song, your trip might be over.

Is there anything better than driving one of your favorite Ford cars and listening to some of the best songs ever made? I think not. Give these songs a listen and enjoy the rest of your summer!

On Monday, I posted numbers 15-11 of the greatest road trip songs according to my opinion. Today I’m posting numbers 10-6. Don’t be afraid to disagree or add your own additions in the “Comments” section below.

10. Hotel California – The Eagles: Anybody who can’t sing along to this song on the radio should have their tongue ripped out. Well, that might be drastic, but it’s a classic tune that’s part of Americana itself.

9. Hurts So Good – John Mellencamp: Anything by John Mellencamp or John Cougar Mellencamp is great for a road trip. The Midwestern feel of his music is what the pioneering spirit is all about.

8. Sharp Dressed Man – ZZ Top: The bearded ones have several songs that would fit in great on a road trip mix CD, but this song is my favorite.

7. Roam – B52s: What better song is there to listen to during a road trip than a song about roaming? While you’re at it, put “Love Shack” on the same CD right after this song.

6. The Gambler – Kenny Rogers: Despite his new “look,” Kenny Rogers can still get people to sing along with his catchy tunes and storytelling lyrics. This song is just one of many of his that will get your mouth singing along.

Great songs and Ford cars are the ideal way to enjoy your last road trip of the summer. With the new SYNC system, you can even attach your MP3 player to the stereo and play an entire playlist of road trip songs. Say goodbye to summer with some fun while riding in comfort and style. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Whether you’re going on a road trip or simply want a jolt of energy on your morning commute, the music you choose can make all the difference. This week, I’m doing a tribute to great road trip songs in honor of the fading days of summer. The next three posts will be a type of countdown for the best road trip songs, but I’m sure many will disagree with some of these choices or they may have some additions of their own. So here are numbers 15-11.

15. Slow Ride – Foghat: Who can’t jam out to Foghat’s biggest (and only) hit? This song is an anthem to road trips and driving down the highway.

14. One Headlight – The Wallflowers: Jakob Dylan’s easy-going beats and brilliant lyrics make this song a must-have for any road trip’s mix CD.

13. Born to be Wild – Steppenwolf: Is there anybody that doesn’t sing along to this highway anthem when it comes on the radio? It’s also the theme of the 1960s movie Easy Rider.

12. Ol’ 55 – Tom Waits: This is a slow song, but you can’t discount the soulfulness of it. And with the raspy, glass-gargling voice of Tom Waits behind the lyrics, it’ll definitely make you take notice and sing along.

11. Paradise City – Guns ‘N’ Roses: Anytime you’re feeling tired or groggy from the road, this song is guaranteed to wake you up before the rumble strips do. Just resist the urge to play the air guitar along with Slash during the solo.

Along with the right songs, buying one of the many fuel-efficient Ford cars from your local dealer is the icing on the cake for any road trip. Check one out today and end the summer with a great adventure.

With school starting in only a few weeks, summer is quickly winding down to a close. There’s not much time to get that last road trip in before the weather starts cooling down. But any great road trip needs a good mix of road trip songs. Next week, I’d like to post a series of blogs about some of the best road trip songs ever. First, however, I’d like to define what makes a song ideal for driving down the highway.

1. Can you sing along with it? A good road trip songs NEEDS to have parts where everybody can sing along. Once you start singing some of your favorite songs with your friends or family, time flies by so fast. “I’m Gonna Be” by The Proclaimers, “Night Moves” by Bob Seeger and “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” by Great White are perfect examples.

2. Does it talk about driving? Songs that mention cities or driving are great for road trips. Some examples are “Amarillo by Morning” by George Strait, “I’ve Been Everywhere,” by Johnny Cash and “Paradise City” by Guns ‘N’ Roses will do just fine.

3. Does the song talk about escaping real life? Those are some of the best road trip songs. The reason you’re going on a vacation is to “get away from it all” and these types of songs remind you of that. “Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson, “Time for Me to Fly” by REO Speedwagon and “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” by Meatloaf would be great additions to your mix CD.

If you want to create the perfect road trip, make some great mix CDs and use one of the great Ford cars on the market. There’s no better way to get from here to there and back again.

Have you ever had the wind sweeping through your hair when driving down the highway with the top down? If not, you don’t know what you’re missing. But if you want the safest and most recognizable convertible this year, the Ford Mustang is your choice.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2008 Ford Mustang convertible a five-star safety rating. That’s a high honor in and of itself, but the Mustang is the only convertible to receive five stars in frontal crash safety, rollover tests and side impacts.

Last month, the Ford Chief Engineer for Safety Systems Steve Kozak gave a new Mustang convertible to his daughter upon her graduation from high school. “Having a Mustang convertible as her first car is something my daughter will remember for the rest of her life,” he said about the thrill of seeing his daughter enjoy the car so much. About the safety of it, he said that he and his will “are happy knowing that, while she’s having the time of her life, she’ll be driving the top safety-rated convertible on the market.” If the head of Ford engineering thinks it’s good enough for his daughter, don’t you think it’s good enough for you, too?

In addition to having a five-star safety rating, these iconic Ford cars are also good for your health. Doctors and health experts often talk about how the sun is good for our health and our mood. What better way to get a huge dose of sun then driving a beautiful Mustang GT convertible down the road?

In the last few months, Ford has made some modifications to keep up with a changing demand. The automaker delayed the release of its popular F150 for a few months in hopes that gas prices may go down. But the latest announcement is that Ford is bringing the European Ford Focus to the United States in 2010.

In addition to simply coming to North America from “across the pond,” the new Focus is going to be produced on this continent as well. This is just one of many plans the company has to meet the growing demand of compact and subcompact vehicles.

The announcement has excited many enthusiasts and fans of Ford cars. Some have pleaded for the Dearborn-based automaker to bring the European Focus to North America for many years. But right now, it just makes financial sense for the Ford Motor Company. In addition to keeping up with the demand, the company can also cut costs by working on only one model and design instead of investing in two different ones for different markets. Ford also wins out by protecting against our weakening dollar by building the cars domestically.

With the even smaller Ford Fiesta and other compact cars on lots across the country, the automaker is in a great position to compete against the Japanese manufacturers that are making more efficient vehicles now, too.

One of the best things about having a glass roof on your car is that you can get totally drenched from the sun’s rays. But with old sunroofs, you also get the damaging effects of those rays. Fortunately, Ford has fixed that problem. Here are some advantages of the new optional glass roof on the new Mustang models.

Filters the Sun’s Rays
The glass roof on the Ford Mustang filters the sun’s most harmful rays while giving you the feeling of driving in a convertible. In fact, it has the same effect as a sunscreen product with an SPF of about 50, exceeding the standard that most dermatologists recommend. That way, you can enjoy the full sun without worrying about the effects it has on your skin or on your interior.

Reduced Noise
The optional glass roof on the Ford Mustang is an industry first for sports cars. The quality of the glass reduces road noise and also offers a reduced cooling time after the car has been sitting in the sun for awhile.

More Models
Other Ford cars will have this optional feature on 2009 models. Buyers who choose a 2009 Ford Flex or a 2009 MKS can also choose to have a glass roof installed instead of the traditional type of roof.

Why not get one of the vehicles with this option and see how to enjoy the positive effects of the sun when you’re on the open road this summer.