Back-to-School Videos You Won't Want to Miss

It’s back-to-school time!

Some parents love it, and some parents hate it.

Some parents make hilarious videos about it.

From the Holderness family, the people that brought you the Christmas jammies video this past year, comes “Back to Class,” a parody of Sir Mix A Lot’s “Baby Got Back.”

This one is dedicated to the teachers, bus drivers, administrators, and support staff who teach and love the children.

Click here to watch the video.

On a more serious note, with children returning to school drivers, need to be more cautious.

Child pedestrians are most often hurt in the months of September and October and children aged 10-14 years have the highest incidence of pedestrian-related injuries.

The roads are busier and drivers need to adjust their driving routine to help predict and prevent these injuries.

New drivers – and experienced drivers as well – need to be aware of school zone signage and reduce speed in school zones. Even a small reduction in speed can be significant. Drivers should be careful not only during the day, but also in the evening when other school activities may be taking place.

Drivers need to scan both sides of the crosswalk and wait for children to complete their crossing before proceeding. The most common child pedestrian action that results in injury or death is at an intersection, followed by running onto the road.

You should also change lanes early for bicycles. They should be treated as another vehicle so give them ample space. Be vigilant as many kids bike, ride skateboards, scooters, or roller blade on the road.

When it comes to buses, be prepared to stop. Motorists traveling in both directions must stop for the school bus when the red lights are flashing. Be sure to stop far enough away from the bus to allow the children to load or unload. If the lights are yellow, it means that the bus is preparing to stop. Remember, buses also stop at all railroad crossings.

Buses are a very safe mode of transportation for children, but are often overlooked by distracted drivers who don’t notice the lights. Be aware of children crossing the road or getting on or off the bus. Never pass a bus.

If you are driving children to school drop them off in a safe area away from traffic – most schools have designated drop off zones.

When leaving a location, try your best to drive forward – instead of backing out. The blind area to the rear of vehicle is much larger than the one to the front making it more difficult to see if there is a child behind your vehicle. 

As you approach any vehicle you cannot see through, look for the feet of a pedestrian about to walk in front of you or for the wheels of a bicycle.

And remember, always leave in plenty of time to get to your destination – running late can cause aggressive driving behaviors. Parents should talk to their new (or not new) drivers about speed and children crossing the road. More experienced drivers should also be patient with less experienced drivers who may be going the speed limit or less to make sure they are safe.

Drivers need to keep in mind that younger children often lack the cognitive and physical skills to make safe judgments about traffic. Children are also physically smaller which makes it harder for drivers to see them and for them to see us.   

We at Monaco Ford wish all the teachers, students, and parents a safe and happy school year!

Need Some New Tires?

Need some new tires?

Monaco Ford can help you out.

We have a new tire stock room where we have over 200 tires in stock. There are many rebates on these tires, and then there are even more rebates on them when you buy them with a Ford credit card.

In addition, we will match, or beat, our competitors’ installation and tire price. However, this special is for deal installation only, so you have to buy the tires here and get them installed here.

If you bring in an invoice from wherever you were purchasing them before, we will either match it or beat it.

What could be better?

Want to see what else Monaco Ford has to offer? Check out Monaco Ford in Glastonbury's new Ford vehicles - as well as our pre-owned Fords and certified pre-owned Fords.

Re-Energizing Your Life with Monaco Ford and Iron Will Fitness

Even you’re built tough, you can still enjoy the finer things in life.

That’s what it’s like at Monaco Ford in Glastonbury and Iron Will Fitness in Manchester.

It’s about re-energizing your life, like you would re-energize the battery of the 2014 Fusion Hybrid that I recently drove over to the gym.

Trainer Dee explained that a variety of different people come into the gym for different things. He said a lot of them come to Iron Will Fitness because they want to get away from traditional gyms – they want to get into more functional training and just a little more privacy. Although it’s a huge place, it’s still a studio. 

Generally, people come here to work out and get their muscles flexed and working really hard, but a nice complement to that is a massage. After a workout, you want to decompress and bring your body back to center.

And while I didn’t get in a workout, I got to take advantage of a great massage.

It was definitely a great way to re-energize my life!

Want to see what else we've been up to? Check out our Facebook page for more.

Meet Daisy, Our Sponsored Dog of the Month

As you know, a few months ago, we at Monaco Ford became a monthly sponsor for the CT Humane Society. 

With this sponsorship, each month, we’re going to sponsor a dog that is seven years or older, who for whatever reason, is looking for a home.

This month, the dog that we are sponsoring is Daisy.

Daisy is a 9-year-old, spayed, Boston Terrier mix. She can live in any size home, including apartments. 

She hasn’t had much experience with kids, but would be willing to consider sharing her home with kids who are gentle and respectful of pets. 

Daisy also hasn’t had much experience with other animals, but would consider living in a home with cats and dogs who appreciate her endearing personality. 

She has a moderate energy level and would like a home where she can get daily exercise. 

She is a great dog and would do well with the first time dog owner too! 

If you are interested in Daisy, you can visit her at the Waterford shelter.

Monaco Ford Honoring Those Who Have Served

We at Monaco Ford are grateful to all who have served our country. We appreciate the sacrifices these people and their families have made.

The Ford Motor Company echoes those sentiments and is equally as proud to support members of the military, and their families, who sacrifice, and have sacrificed so much for our country. 

To emphasize Ford’s support and show our appreciation of those men and women, we are proud to offer military members and their families a $500 bonus cash offer good toward the purchase or lease of an eligible new 2013, 2014, or 2015 model year Ford vehicle.

Our family has a lot of military history. My grandfather and all his brothers served, including his brother Peter who was killed in Korea. He was in the United States Marine Corps., as was one of the other brothers. 

My grandfather and the two oldest brothers were in the Army. One of the brothers was Dwight Eisenhower’s driver in WWII, and the other was a Prisoner of War during WWII.

More recently, my brother, Mike, was in the United States Marine Corps.

Every year, we bring the crew from Monaco – along with the vehicles – to the Memorial Day Parade in Glastonbury. In the vehicles are the men and women who served our country. They may not be able to walk the entire route, but with the help of Monaco Ford, they can still be a part of the parade.

As a military family, we obviously have a soft spot for our former and current military members, and on Aug. 28, we are going to be one of the stops of the High Five Tour 2014, a road trip across America that is raising funds for our warriors.

The tour is being put on by Wounded Warriors Family Support, whose mission is to provide support to the families of those who have been wounded, injured, or killed during combat operations. The families of our casualties suffer in many ways: some financially, some psychologically.

Your help will help rally support in the community for our country’s military families and to raise funds for the construction of “smart homes” for deserving wounded warriors. Absolutely 100 percent of all donations to the High Five Tour 2014 go directly to the construction of these homes.

The 3rd annual car show will be held from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and we’re asking that you use our side entrance at 30 Oak St. in Glastonbury.

All vehicles are welcome and we are asking for a $10 donation per vehicle (including passengers) and for a $5 donation per spectator. Your donation includes food and drinks.

At the event, you’ll also get a sneak peek at the 2015 Ford Mustang. There will be a 50/50 raffle and tickets will be sold by the ladies of the Tilted Kilt. Plus, there will be a special surprise for the ladies.

For more information about the High Five Tour 2014, visit www.highfivetour.com.

Monaco Ford is family owned and operated since 1922, currently employing its 4th generation of ownership. The dealership currently has over 80 employees. It has received Ford’s prestigious President’s Award an outstanding 8 times in the past two decades by surpassing all requirements, proving itself as one of Connecticut’s elite dealers. Visit www.monacoford.com for more about the dealership and the inventory. Our cars and our company are reliable and trustworthy. What more could you ask for?

High Five Tour Right Around the Corner

This summer, the Wounded Warriors Family Support Mustang hit the road for the High Five Tour 2014. And on Aug. 28, the tour will come to Monaco Ford in Glastonbury.

During the four month tour, the 2014 Mustang GT500 will travel more than 26,000 miles as it crisscrosses the United States, traveling to more than 60 cities and making stops in 48 states.

Americans of all walks of life are invited and encouraged to show their support for our military families by visiting a stop on the tour and signing the car with a message of support to our country’s veterans and their families.

Through the High Five Tour 2014, Wounded Warriors Family Support has pledged $1,000,000 toward building two “smart homes” for two deserving wounded warriors, Staff Sergeant Jason Ross, USMC and Captain Anthony Simone, USAF and their families in San Diego, California and Joliet, Illinois.

Both of Ross’ legs were taken above his knees and that means he will never walk again. Simone suffered a severe brain injury he sustained after his helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan. Both of these young men need specially designed “smart homes” so they can have a quality of life that we take for granted.

We need your help to meet our goal. The road to recovery can be a long and difficult struggle for our nation’s wounded warriors and their families.

Every donation, large or small, is deeply appreciated and helps meet the goal of making these “smart homes” more than just a set of blueprints.

The 3^rd annual car show will be held from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and the staff at Monaco Ford is asking that you use the side entrance at 30 Oak St. in Glastonbury.

All vehicles are welcome and Monaco Ford is asking for a $10 donation per vehicle (including passengers) and for a $5 donation per spectator. Your donation includes food and drinks.

At the event, you’ll also get a sneak peek at the 2015 Ford Mustang. There will be a 50/50 raffle and tickets will be sold by the ladies of the Tilted Kilt. Plus, there will be a special surprise for the ladies.

For more information, visit www.monacoford.com.

How To Avoid Being Taken Advantage of When Servicing Your Vehicle

Auto repairs are oftentimes something that people get anxious about. They oftentimes fear getting ripped off or taken advantage of by the mechanic.

People who have little mechanical knowledge are often most concerned because they don’t really know what is going on with their vehicle, what it’s going to take to fix it, and how much it should actually cost.

When you come to Monaco Ford, you’ll never have to worry about getting ripped off or taken advantage of.

Our professionally trained service professionals will explain what’s wrong with your vehicle, how they’re going to fix it, and what it’s going to cost you – all in a professional manner that will leave you comfortable with the whole process.

Here is some advice on how to feel comfortable when getting your vehicle serviced.

First of all, before any work is done, make sure you understand what is being done, what is included, and how much it will cost. There may be some wiggle room in an estimate in case something unexpected happens, but for many repairs, we know what it will cost and can put it in writing. You will also want to make sure that you ask if that price is for the complete job, including any extras.

While you may have brought your vehicle in for only one thing, there may be other things that our mechanics find. We’ll tell you about these issues and give you all the options, but without any pressure. If a mechanic ever pressures you or you feel that they’re trying to sell you something you don’t need, get another opinion.

Following the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule is also a good way to avoid being oversold on service. Routine maintenance will help you avoid things breaking, and is usually cheaper and less traumatizing.

You should also follow the recommendations of the manufacturer when it comes to any number of fluids in the vehicle. If the mechanic is recommending something different, show them what the manufacturer recommends and ask why he or she is recommending something different. There are times when there could be a valid explanation, but other times, it could be the mechanic trying to upsell you.

When talking to the mechanic, be sure that you are both communicating clearly. Sometimes, the mechanic will fix the wrong problem, and not what the customer came in for. Make sure that the mechanic understands what you need done and that he or she explains what will be done to your vehicle.

One of the best ways to avoid being scammed is to find a shop that you trust and go there every time you need something done to your vehicle. A lot of people will take their vehicle to a different shop each time. If you go to the same one, you get to know the mechanics and how the shop works. Establishing a relationship will make you much more comfortable.

At Monaco Ford, we like to say that our customers become our friends. We love the relationships that we build with our customers.

When you service your vehicle with us, you’ll get professional repairs in a friendly and comfortable environment where you never have to worry about being taken advantage of.

Ready to have your vehicle serviced?

Stop in or give us a call at 860-652-3000.

Monaco Ford Holding Clothing Drive to Support Style Saves

We all have clothes in our closets that we don’t need, and kids are no exception.

It may be summer, but now is the perfect time to do a little spring cleaning and clean out all those extra clothes from your kids’ closets.

And we have something you can do with them.

We at Monaco Ford in Glastonbuy are hosting a clothing drive to help Style Saves, who will be styling local kids for back-to-school.

The event will take place on Aug. 24 at Casona, 681 Wethersfield Ave., Hartford. Style Saves will be styling 60 students from the Boys & Girls Clubs and The Village for back-to-school.

We need new and gently used clothes, shoes, and accessories for students ages 6-18.

If you have any of these items available, you can bring them by the dealership – 767 New London Turnpike, Glastonbury. Feel free to drop them off any time before Aug. 24.

Style Saves, based in Florida, raises funds to allocate to underprivileged students in the South Florida area. In collaboration with The Miami Foundation, Style Saves works with local retail stores, designers, and boutiques to provide these students with brand-new outfits for back-to-school.

By using the collective industry backgrounds to generate this project, Style Saves seeks donations from fashion aficionados, patrons and philanthropists within the South Florida community. Fundraising activities include various social and fashion events, which help garner funds and raise awareness for our cause and most importantly – the children.

Founded by FORD fashion stylist Rachael Russell, Style Saves started with a small idea: build confidence through clothes. The hope is that the confidence imbued in these students through their new outfits reflects on their academic work and personal lives.

For more information, visit www.stylesaves.org, e-mail info@stylesaves.org, or call Monaco Ford at 860-652-3000.