Winter Emergency Supplies Blog
There’s an extra list of things to worry about when it comes to driving in the winter time. Most of us have seen (or been in) cars that get stuck in a snow bank or can’t get traction on an icy patch. And one of the worst feelings is leaving work at the end of the day, it’s already dark outside, and realizing that there are a couple of inches of snow and a layer of frost covering your windshield. So, with the winter weather moving in, now is the time to triple check that you have everything you need in case of an emergency! Here are a few things we find extra helpful!
- Windshield Scraper- This one seems pretty obvious, but it’s one of the worst things to be caught without!
- Small Shovel- If you have the space in your car, keeping a small shovel can be an absolute life-saver for digging out the space you need to get moving.
- Sand or Cat Litter- Sometimes, a little extra traction is all your tires need to get you moving again. Putting a little bit of sand or litter in front of your tires can often give you the boost you need!
- Jumper Cables- The last thing you want to be doing is sitting in a car with a dead battery, shivering while you wait for someone who has cables to get to you.
- Cell Phone Charger- In tandem with the jumper cables, it can be pretty hard to get help when your phone is out of battery!
- Boots- If you are someone who wears less protective foot wear, it might be helpful to keep a pair of boots in your vehicle. A pair of stilettos are fine in the office, but not very conducive to scraping your windshield or digging out your tires!
- Emergency Kit- If you are stuck beyond getting yourself out, it’s always smart to keep some emergency supplies to hold you over until help can make it out to you.
- Drinking Water and Snacks- We always hope that we won’t be stuck for long, but it’s even worse to be stuck for a while and to be hungry or thirsty.
- Blankets- In a situation where you can’t run the vehicle, it’s good to have at least a blanket or two to bundle up in!
- Extra Layers- Like with the blankets, it’s good to have extra socks, gloves, hats, scarves, jackets, or any other layers to keep warm, or layer up if you have to get out of your vehicle!
- First Aid Kit- This is a good one to keep in your vehicle at all times, just in case!
- Flashlight and Batteries- With the sun setting early in the evening, having a flashlight, and making sure it has the batteries to work can be super important.
The best way to avoid an actual emergency is to be prepared, so take a few minutes to go over what you may need to keep safe and warm on the road this winter!
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.
EV Charging Times
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
2025 Smokin’ Rock-N-Blues Festival
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
2024 President’s Award and Top Volume
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!
Bring the Service Lane to You
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
Golf Outing at Oak Pointe
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
Vehicle Spotlight: 2025 Ford Explorer
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
Pinckney Cheer Car Show
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
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