Blog

In this final week of the year, we are honored to close things out on a cheerful and humbling note by celebrating our long-standing partnership with our friends at LACASA Center, which serves survivors of child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual violence in Livingston County. This year, our team not only stepped up as presenting sponsor of the LACASA gala and volunteered on the gala committee and at the event, but also helped make possible the donation of a new transit van to support LACASA’s critical work in the community. Through our Home for Good campaign, we were able to support the creation of LACASA’s new “forever home” facility, which brings comprehensive shelter, advocacy, and counseling services together under one roof for survivors and their families.​ We are deeply proud of our team and leaders whose generosity, time, and commitment have helped make giving back to LACASA possible, and we remain grateful for the opportunity to stand alongside an organization that provides safety, dignity, and hope to more than 5,000 victims and their families each year.

When it comes to electric vehicles, a common question that gets asked is “How long does it take to charge?”, and the answer is it depends! Here we’ll break down the important things you’ll need to know to get charged up and ready to drive. Charger Level - A major factor in how long it’s going to take to charge your vehicle is the level of charger that you are using. Level 1 - These use a standard 3 prong socket, and standard 120V household power, and they are plugged directly into a wall socket. The power is dictated by the home’s wiring, and can add around 3 to 5 miles of range per hour of charging. Level 2 - These chargers have a 240V connection, and should be installed by a professional electrician. Adding about 25 miles of range per hour of charging, this is commonly used as a home charger because it is capable of completely charging a vehicle overnight. There are also tens of thousands of these available around the U.S. at public charging stations. Level 3 - In these chargers, the DC (direct current) conversion happens in the charging station rather than in your vehicle, which for you means quicker charging! Depending on the charger, a level 3 could add up to 100 miles of range in anywhere from an hour to just a few minutes. t’s also important to note that there are a lot of factors that can influence how quickly your vehicle charges, and how long it holds its charge. Take into consideration the size of your battery pack, the efficiency of your vehicle, and the weather (especially temperature)! Check out our Electric Vehicle page to learn more about how you can use the FordPass app to find and use for chargers all around the country! By: Skylar Deming, Marketing Associate

Last month, we had the pleasure of being a part of the 2025 Smokin' Rock-N-Blues Festival! It was filled with great food, music, and people. We had the chance to bring along a putting challenge. We had a lot of people win great prizes! The grand prize was a Brighton Ford branded hat, which we had a few very happy winners of. The Jet's Pizza mascot even decided to give it a shot! We want to give a big thank you to the Brighton Chamber for allowing us to come out and have such a great time. Same time next year? By: Dominic Cece

We are honored to announce that Brighton Ford has received the 2024 Ford President’s Award- making it our third year in a row! What truly makes this one of the most prestigious awards is the fact that it is earned based on the highest levels of customer satisfaction in both sales and service, meaning this one is owed to our incredible Brighton Ford customers. Less than 10% of the Ford dealers in the country earn this esteemed award, and we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for continuing to trust us with all your vehicle needs! That’s not all though… We were also thrilled to have earned the 2024 Ford Top Volume Dealer Challenge Award, putting us in the top 100 volume dealers out of almost 3,000 in the country! We are so thankful for our incredible team and their hard work, dedication, and passion for what we do. And we are so thankful for you, our loyal customers! Here’s to another year of excellence-together! By: Skylar Deming

Have you had your eye on the shiny new 2026 Ford F-150? Or are you maybe just looking for a new to you upgrade? Well, one of the steps on your journey to your new ride is thinking about what to do with your current vehicle. Trading your vehicle in can help get you out of your old vehicle and into the new one all in one fell swoop! Here’s a few things to think about as you prepare to trade in your vehicle. Gather all of the Vehicle Documents Having all of the paperwork that a future buyer might want (like the title, registration, or service records) ready to go can help make the trade in quick and easy! Collect all of the “Extras” Having the extra set of keys, any floor mats, cupholder inserts, or anything else that came with the vehicle can ensure you get the most value out of your trade in! We Take All Makes and Models If you aren’t currently driving a Ford, it’s no problem! We buy and sell all makes and models at our Used Dealership. Get an Estimate Use the CarFax tool on our website here to get an idea of what your vehicle might be valued at in advance, so you know what to expect! Give it a Final Clean Out While you don’t have to scrub every inch until it sparkles, it’s a good idea to give the vehicle a once over to make sure every last one of your personal items are out! You don’t want to lose the house key or favorite toy that got dropped under the seat. Our goal here at Brighton Ford is to make getting you into your next vehicle as simple as possible, so when you’re ready to trade in for an upgrade, visit us, or give us a call at 1-810-NEW-FORD to get started!

Life gets busy sometimes, and getting your vehicle to the service lane can feel like another task that never seems to fit in the schedule. That’s where Ford Mobile Service comes in! Brighton Ford is a proud participant in the Ford Mobile Service program, which means that our Ford factory-trained and certified technician comes to you at your preferred time and location, with the same level of quality Ford parts and care that you would receive at the dealership service lane*. Our technicians are able to perform most routine maintenance services that you could get at the dealership! This includes Oil and Filter Changes Brake Services Batteries Tire Rotation Wiper Replacement Lamps and Bulbs Diagnostic Scanning Software Updates and Accessories Recall Repairs Making an appointment is easy! You can schedule one right on the FordPass App, give us a call at 1-800-NEWFORD, or you can schedule your mobile service appointment online here! And the best part? You are still able to use the normal Ford service rebates and offers (unless expressly excluded)! Simplify your life, and schedule your Mobile Service appointment today! *Contact us to confirm service and location availability! By: Skylar Deming

Tent set up at Oak Pointe Country Club The Brighton Ford Golf Outing is a fun event at Oak Pointe Country Club. It's a great day to play golf with friends and enjoy the summer weather. The best part? If you get a hole-in-one, you could win a brand-new Ford F-150 with a 2 year lease! There's also food and drinks throughout the day. It's a perfect mix of fun competition and hanging out with friends. Come out and see if you can drive away in a new truck! By: Anelise Gatti, Marketing Intern

Everyone deserves to drive a vehicle that fits them and their lifestyle. That’s why Ford has built something to suit everyone’s needs. For the driver who values versatility and capability, the Ford Explorer might be the way to go! With its towing capabilities, third row seating, and driver-assist technologies, the 2025 Explorer comes in 4 different trim levels (Active, St-Line, Platinum, and ST) and will range anywhere from $39,000 to $60,000. Even with the different trims, there are a wide variety of features that come in every model of the Explorer, including The Class III Trailer Tow Package (Towing up to 5,000 pounds) Rear Wheel Drive with 6 Selectable Drive Modes (Optional 4WD with 7 Selectable Drive Modes) Tri-Zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control 12.3” Color LCD Productivity Screen USB Ports in Each Row LED Headlamps and Taillights Cargo Space Behind Rear/Middle/Front Seats: 16.3 cubic feet/ 46 cubic feet/ 85.8 cubic feet With all of the unique features, trying to decide which trim level to pick can be almost as overwhelming as deciding which vehicle to choose in the first place! To help narrow it down, here’s a quick overview of the main differences between each one. Active 2.3-liter I-4 EcoBoost Engine Heated First Row Seats Second Row Captain’s Seats (Optional Second Row 35/30/35 Split Fold Bench Seat) Optional Active Comfort Package ST-Line 2.3-liter I-4 EcoBoost engine Heated First and Second Row Seats Second Row 35/30/35 Split Fold Bench Seat (Optional Second Row Captain’s Seats) Third Row 50/50 Split Fold Manual Bench Seat Optional Premium Package and Optional ST-Line Street Pack Package Platinum 2.3-liter I-4 EcoBoost engine (standard), 3.0-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine (optional) Panoramic Vista Roof with Power Shade Heated First and Second Row Seats Second Row Captain’s Seats (Optional Second Row 35/30/35 Split Fold Bench Seat) Third Row PowerFold Seats Optional Lux Leather Package and Optional Ultimate Package ST 3.0-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine Heated First and Second Row Seats Second Row Captain’s Seats Third Row PowerFold Seats Optional Panoramic Power Roof with Vista Shade Optional Sun and Sound Package Still have questions, or want to take an Explorer for a test drive to discover all of the fun features yourself? Give us a call at 1-800-NEW-FORD to set up an appointment with one of our incredible sales team members who can help you with the whole process! By: Skylar Deming

The Brighton Ford Intern Team was proud to once again connect with our community at the 2nd annual Pinckney Cheer Car Show! Hosted at 2939 M-36 in Pinckney. This event brought together families, small businesses, car enthusiasts, and supporters from all over Michigan. With two of us working the booth, one always had a chance to explore—and we made the most of it! Wandering through the rows of vintage cars and the incredible food truck lineup—including The Taco Hub and the Detroit BBQ Co. One of the highlights of the day was when a local fire truck pulled up and sprayed water for the kids to cool off, an unexpected and fun way to beat the summer heat! At our booth, we brought one of our newest trucks to turn heads and give guests a chance to check out the latest from Ford. Under the tent, two of our interns were ready to chat, hand out freebies, and run our featured giveaway—a free full interior and exterior detail, courtesy of Brighton Ford! We also had smaller prizes like free oil changes, plus plenty of treats to grab chips, candy, keychains, pens, and information on our convenient mobile service options. Even if you don’t drive a Ford, we love hearing your stories and sharing a laugh with the folks who make these events so memorable. Thank you, Pinckney, for an unforgettable day full of horsepower, community pride, and small-town charm! By: Olivia Short

Michigan is one of the best places to be when trying to plan a road trip! It’s full of iconic destinations, from beach towns to big cities, and everything in between. Looking to hike trails in a national park? Michigan’s got you covered. If boat tours, beach towns, or amusement parks interest you, you can find it here. There’s no shortage of places you could visit, so we’ve listed a few of our favorites here to get you inspired! Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is brimming with things to explore! It boasts almost 100 miles of trails, about 15 miles of breathtaking cliffs, and a variety of campgrounds for you to choose from. Want a little more structure in your trip? Take a tour! Pictured Rocks has all sorts of tours, from guided hikes to scenic boat tours. This beautiful national park is not to be missed! Known as the “Cherry Capital” of the world, Traverse City has so much to see and do! This stunning city offers lots in the way of shopping, museums, historical sights, and tours (from boat, to bike, to beer tours, there’s sure to be one for you). If you’re getting hungry after exploring, check out The Little Fleet, a food truck lot right in the middle of all the excitement with something to satisfy everyone! If you stop by Traverse City, you’re so close that you might as well go to Sleeping Bear Dunes too! Made up of miles of beautiful sand beaches, small coastal towns, a lighthouse, and the natural landscape full of forests and flora, Sleeping Bear Dunes is a place to consider for your trip! This stop will give you a little bit of a break from your car, because it’s Mackinac Island! Mackinac Island is about 3.8 square miles of charm, history, and natural beauty. There is no bridge to the island, so you park your car in one of the ferry services’ lots before you hop on the boat. While you’re on the island, you can rent a bike to do the eight mile loop to see all the gorgeous sights, visit museums, shop, and of course, you can’t forget about the fudge! One of the most scenic places in Michigan (in our opinion) is Tahquamenon Falls State Park. This state park, located in the upper peninsula, spans nearly 50,000 acres, and has 35 miles of trails, campsites, and you can’t miss the falls! Tahquamenon is made up of the upper falls (a waterfall over 200 feet wide), and a few miles down, the lower falls (smaller falls around an island). There are walkways that take you right up to the falls for the perfect view! If you are looking for something with some unique charm, Frankenmuth might be the stop for you! ‘Michigan’s Little Bavaria’ gets its nickname from the German roots that show through the architecture, museums, and culture. This city offers a ton of entertainment options too! On top of the museums there is a water park, tours, shopping, and a large free concert in the park series. Petoskey is home to the petoskey stone, which is a prehistoric fossil (and the Michigan state stone), and hunting for them around the shore brings people back year after year! You can find a variety of other things to do too, from hiking and kayaking, to shopping in the gaslight district and seeing a show. Are you not looking to travel far, but still want to get out and explore? Brighton Recreation Area or Island Lake state park are two great options around Brighton! Both areas offer trails to hike and bike, and places to swim, kayak, and paddle boat. These are also great options if you are just looking for a fun place to picnic with friends! No matter what you are interested in, the beautiful state of Michigan has something to offer! So get out there, and explore!

Whether your destination is a local park with scenic trails, a beach campsite by Lake Michigan, or the sunny California coast, summer is an amazing time to get out there and explore! With only a short three months of the season, the last thing you want is to have any of your adventures ruined by issues with your car. Take some time to check over a few things to make sure your summer plans go off without a hitch. Check your Air Conditioning and Cabin Filter- Nothing is better than blasting the AC the moment you get in the car after being outside in the sun all day. If you notice a drop in the cooling capacity, be sure to have it checked out. It’s also a good idea to check and replace your cabin filter. Warm weather brings all sorts of pollutants like pollen and dust, so a good air filter is very important to a cool, clean, and comfortable drive. Check your Tire Pressure- The summer heat can affect the air pressure in your tires, so it’s good to check that regularly. While you’re there, you should check the tread on your tires as well to make sure they aren’t too worn down or wearing unevenly. Regularly Top Off Fluids- Like with your tires, the heat has an impact on your engine fluids. The summer temperatures can cause engine fluids to evaporate, so it’s good to top off those fluids often. Be sure to check on your engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and windshield washing fluid! Clean Out Your Car- Keeping your car clean is vital during these hotter months. The smell of the food that was dropped under the seat, or the melted plastic of the little toy in between the seats are extremely hard to get out of the floor mats, seats, and car in general. It’s also important to be careful with any products that you may leave in the car. Some items, like sunscreen, can lose their effectiveness if exposed to too much heat! Keep an Emergency Kit- In case you do run into car troubles on your adventures, it’s good to have an emergency kit in the car. Here is a checklist of some of the things that you might want to consider keeping in your vehicle. If you are heading somewhere you aren’t as familiar with, it’s also a good idea to also have a physical map with you. You never know where you are going to lose cell service! So get out there and enjoy your adventures in the sun with confidence! As always, call us at 810-227-1171 if we can help with any of your vehicle needs!

With the sunny days and warm weather quickly approaching, it’s the perfect time to start planning your upcoming adventures. Sometimes trying to pick between all of the options can leave you a little overwhelmed though. But don’t worry! We’ve got you covered with a list of some of our favorite things to do and to check out around Brighton during the summer! Brighton Farmers’ Market- Every Saturday starting in May from 8am to 1pm, the Brighton Farmers’ Market is held in the City’s Municipal parking lot. Featuring foods sold directly by farmers, plant nurseries, food vendors, and artisans, the Brighton Farmers’ Market is a great way to spend a Saturday morning. Downtown Brighton Festivals- Downtown Brighton is known for its festivals during the summer! Some of the most anticipated festivals include Brighton Country Boots & Beats (June 21) and the Brighton Smokin Rock-N-Blues Festival (September 5-6) put on by The Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce, A Taste of Brighton (July 11-12) organized by Believe in Brighton, and the Brighton Street Art Fair (August 22-24) put together by The Guild of Artists and Artisans. Each one of these events offers unique food, entertainment, shopping, and more! Metroparks and Recreation Areas- Brighton is absolutely full of beautiful and nature rich places to explore! Parks like Huron Meadows Metropark, Kensington Metropark, and Island Lake Recreation Area are packed with places to swim, picnic, hike, ride bikes, boat, play, and just enjoy nature. Live Music and Entertainment- Do you love live music or trivia nights as much as we do? Well luckily there are so many incredible places around Brighton that offer live entertainment! Enjoy trivia and game nights at The Pound, live music at Label Kitchen & Bar, performances at Brighton Coffeehouse and Theater, and so much more! Shopping- Downtown Brighton boasts a wide variety of shops selling everything under the sun! You can find places offering fine jewelry, books, running shoes, and everything in between! An extensive list of shops can be found on the Believe in Brighton website here. Whatever it is you’re looking to do this summer, Brighton is sure to have something for everyone. So take advantage of it, and enjoy all of the things our beautiful city has to offer!