Vroom: Ford Fights Cancer With Speed

WESTLAND, Mich. –What’s the best way to fight cancer? With speed, and Ford Motor Co. is doing just that by auctioning a 2016 Shelby GT350R Mustang, which goes zero to 60 mph in four seconds, to raise funds for the American Cancer Society at the Cattle Baron’s Ball Auction on September 26, 2015.

The Mustang is unique among others, designed specifically for this awareness and fundraising event, and showcases unique features made possible by a large group of suppliers who provided materials and time needed to build such a magnificent Mustang. Some of the standout features include:

• Oxford white exterior
• Unique blue stripe that matches the interior stitching on the door panels, seats, center console, instrument panel, and steering wheel.
• Ford Performance Parts rear seat kit (a first for the Shelby GT350R)
• Carbon fiber exterior accents
• Cattle Baron’s Bal “one-of-one” sill plates and instrument panel badging

“We are customizing this unique Shelby GT350R Mustang to attract the highest possible bids from car collectors and, ultimately, the most money to support American Cancer Society research, programs and services for cancer survivors and their loved ones,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford Motor Company group vice president, Global Purchasing and Honorary Chair of the Cattel Baron’s Ball.

The American Cancer Society Cattle Baron’s Ball is a distinguished charitable event in Metro Detroit, and has experienced immense success since inception in 2003. As a Western-themed event, the ball includes live entertainment, Texas-style cuisine prepared by Detroit’s own high-end restaurants, dancing, a live and silent auction, and other attractions.

You can help Ford fight cancer with speed and place your bid for the Shelby Mustang GT350R in-person or through a call-in bid. To get more information on how you can participate, call Christine Kenny at 248 663 3414. If you’re interested in leasing or buying a 2015 or 2016 Mustang, stop by our Plymouth area dealership and test drive the latest editions of the world's first pony car.

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by, or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

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Your Chance of Hitting a Deer With Your Car in Michigan

WESTLAND, Mich. – In 2014, Michigan experienced 45,690 vehicle-deer crashes, of which 1,072 people were injured and six were killed. The lion’s share of those collisions – 26,312 ­–occurred during dark, unlighted hours, primarily between October and December, according to Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, a subsidiary of the Michigan Office of Highway Planning.

Michigan is ranked 10th in the nation for vehicle-deer collisions and your chance of hitting a deer with your car in Michigan is 1-in-97, almost double that of drivers in lower-ranked states, according to State Farm. But there are steps you can take to avoid the dangerous scenario that entails your car, a deer, and the road:

• Drive cautiously at night. Deer are nocturnal animals, which explains why the majority of vehicle-deer collisions in Michigan occur at night. Shine your high beams while driving on unlit roads in order to spot deer further ahead. Those few seconds of extra sight could be the difference between you slowing down in time or – gulp. 

• Drive slow if you see a deer crossing sign; it’s there for a reason. Just as humans populate cities, deer congregate in herds in certain areas more often than others. Heed the sign’s warning and drive cautiously.

• If you see one deer crossing a road, assume more are coming. Even if a deer crosses the road ahead of you and reaches the other side before you’re close, the best thing to do is slow down until you’re out of the area. Deer tend to travel in groups, so other deer not visible to you at the moment could be preparing to cross the road. 

• Don’t swerve if a deer jumps in front of your car. If you have to hit a deer, firmly apply your brakes, grasp your steering wheel with both hands, and continue forward. It’s safer for you to hit a deer than it is to swerve, which could take you into oncoming traffic, a tree, or a ditch.

• If you have to hit a deer, do it at the lowest possible speed. Contrary to the myth that you should maintain or increase your speed when hitting a deer, it’s better to reduce your speed as much as possible. People commonly fear that braking will cause your bumper to dip, thus causing more danger for you. But if you hit a deer at a high speed it causes the deer to absorb a greater force of impact, which is dealt back in full force to your vehicle.

While your chance of hitting a deer with your car in Michigan is higher than in other states, you can greatly reduce your likelihood of becoming a statistic by following the tips we’ve laid out. But if you do find yourself with a damaged front end after an encounter with a deer, bring your vehicle into our Plymouth car dealer and we’ll make sure you receive the right car repair to make your vehicle look great again.

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by, or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

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Tips to Help You Grill Safely on Labor Day

WESTLAND, Mich. –– Labor Day celebrates your work ethic, so you should spend it relaxing instead of using the tiny fire extinguisher you've stored under your sink for 10 years to douse 6-foot tongues of flame flaring up from your grill. To prevent incidents like this from occurring, when all you want to do is brown a few New York strip steaks, follow these tips to help you grill safely on Labor Day.

• Keep your grill clean. You should frequently take a grill brush to the racks and clean off the residual fat and char from previous barbecues. These substances are flammable, and when they build up overtime they become like a dry pine forest in a wildfire. Don’t forget to clean the tray below your grill, another area where flammable residue accumulates.


• Don’t leave your grill unattended. How many times have you done this? You just need to slip inside for a second to chop the green peppers or use the bathroom; nothing precarious will happen with my grill, you think to yourself. But leaving your grill unattended is a huge risk. It only takes a few seconds for flames to get out of hand, and if you’re inside it could be too late. Always have someone keep an eye on your grill.


• Don’t grill too close to home. Despite forewarnings, many people still grill too close to their homes and on decks. Your grill shouldn’t be practically up against your home, nor should you grill on a flammable surface like a deck. It’s safer to lay a few pavers in a designated area away from your home and deck and grill there. This greatly decreases the risk of grill flames causing a rather heated situation.


• Properly dispose of charcoal. Despite the dominance of propane, you might prefer to use a classic charcoal grill. But these grills also pose a danger if safety protocol is neglected. You need to properly dispose of charcoal after you’re done grilling. Wait for the coals to cool, then dump them in a metal container before disposing of them completely. The other option is to let the coals burn to an ashen or frail enough state that they can be broken up and dumped somewhere, but the former is recommended for environmental reasons.


• Don’t ignore the smell of propane or gas. Before you ignite your grill, check for leaks in the hose that attaches the propane tank. If you smell gas, shut off your grill and step away. If the odor persists, don't start your grill. Detach the propane tank and refrain from grilling until you purchase and install a new hose.


• If your grill’s flames go out, it could be an omen. If you're using a propane-powered grill, it’s no trivial matter if the flames suddenly dissipate. If you catch this right away, turn off your grill and wait 30 seconds before reigniting it. But if your grill has been closed for a few minutes and the flames are out when you open it, it could be a sign of trouble. This means the propane has been pooling in your grill the entire time, and if you ignite your grill all of that propane could cause an explosion. Don’t excuse extinguished flames as a mysterious phenomenon where the answer is to simply reignite your grill. Instead, wait 15 minutes with your grill lid open, and then make another ignition attempt. If it ignites, watch the flames for a few minutes to make sure they don't go out again.

You want to enjoy your day off and arrive to work free of injuries the following morning. Enjoy the holiday and before you bring out the tongs and assorted meats, take into account these tips to help you grill safely on Labor Day.

Like grilling, it’s important to make sure your vehicle meets safety standards. To ensure you’re vehicle is safe to drive, bring it into our Plymouth area Ford dealer for routine oil changes and auto service. North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by, or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

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The Difference Between Buying a New Car Versus a Used Car

WESTLAND, Mich.­­– Much like the debate over whether you should buy or lease a vehicle, you might also grapple with the difference between buying a new car versus a used car. Off the top of your head, you can probably think of a number of factors that go into this decision such as cost, technology, and repairs. But the questions you really want to answer ask how exactly those factors set apart the new from the used.

What does each cost?

More often than not, a new car will be pricier than a used car. This is because new vehicles tend to include newer technology, updated features, and modern design elements. However, if keeping up with automotive trends isn’t a priority for you, consider the fact that buying a used car will save you money due to its lack of contemporary features.

What are the differences in financing?

Interest rates hinge on a car’s resale value. It’s easier for a bank to predict how much a new car will depreciate compared to a used car (within 5 years new cars can depreciate by $9,000). Used cars come with higher interest rates than new cars do because they're more prone to major mechanical issues. Then there's the risk of a buyer who decides to bail on their used car purchase and leaves it for the bank to deal with a resale. A lender can make up for the uncertain resale value of a used car by hiking up the interest rate. However, despite used cars having higher interest rates, you still end up paying less in monthly payments because the cars principal is much lower than that of a new car.

How’s the gas mileage?

People really, really care about their gas mileage these days––you know how pricy the pumps can be. Of course, getting better fuel economy can be one of the perks of purchasing a new car. New cars usually get better gas mileage than used cars because, again, new cars tend to have updated technology. If you want to save money at the pump, a new car is your best bet.

Which costs more to insure?

Naturally, new cars cost more to insure than used cars do. Although new cars usually contain more updated safety features than used cars do, the higher cost of insurance for new cars is due to their overall higher value. The higher the value of the car, the more it costs to insure.

How much does maintenance and repairs cost?

A big chunk of a new car’s price tag includes a warranty that covers maintenance and repairs for a set amount of time. The great thing about a warranty is that you know most maintenance and repairs for are covered by the dealership or original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Just remember that eventually that warranty will disappear. Sometimes used cars come with warranties as well. These are called certified pre-owned vehicles, and you might consider this as an option for your next purchase. Aside from certified pre-owned vehicles, most used cars are more likely than new cars to require maintenance and repairs, which means you’ll end up paying more in that area. Then again, sometimes you get lucky and find a used car that runs forever without any major issues.

There are a number of important factors to ponder over when you look at the difference between buying a new car versus a used car. Hopefully this list breaks down some of the bigger differences for you, but feel free to come into our Plymouth area used car dealer with any other questions you might have. We'd be happy to give you the rundown on some of our used cars and trucks, and explain what makes them different from our new Ford cars and new Ford trucks. Either way, we’ll help you find the vehicle that’s right for you!

North Brothers Ford is located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185 and proudly serves as one of the premier dealerships in Metro Detroit, committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by, or give us a call at 888-806-7163, our knowledgeable and helpful sales team will be more than happy to assist you!

Visit our website: www.northbros.com

Follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and Google+