Thursday, October 23, 2014

Ready to Meet the 2015 Dodge Challenger?

When Dodge began the process of designing the latest version of their classic muscle car, they wanted to maintain its vintage feel while making it a more comfortable and efficient cruiser than ever. And so the latest incarnation of the Dodge Challenger was born. The 2015 model still has that perfectly proportioned appearance that is so well loved in the earliest models of the Challenger from the 1970’s, while the interior and technology is ahead of the curve. Let’s take a look under the hood.

Before you pop the hood, you’ll notice the iconic split grille and the projector LED headlamps built to light up the night. Under the perfectly painted exterior the Challenger features a 6.2L SRT Hellcat V8 engine. The engine is undeniably powerful with 707 horsepower, and equally efficient, featuring fuel saver technology that deactivates four cylinders when you just don’t need eight. This advanced feature allows the Challenger to get up to 30 miles per gallon.

The interior is just as attractive. There are 17 all new interiors to choose from, and despite being a true sports car, the Challenger is roomier than most, with comfortable seating for five adults. The seating isn’t the only thing that’s comfortable here- with dual-zone automatic temperature control and the best-in-class cargo volume, you’ll have no trouble settling in for a long road trip.

And when you decide to take that trip you’ll never lose your way with a seven inch customizable digital display on the dash that features Chevy UConnect- which allows you to sync your phone, access navigation and detailed maps, a rear park assist camera, Pandora, Yelp, and even a wireless hotspot.

On those winding roads Dodge keeps you safe with a steel body frame, traction control, and driver and front passenger airbags, and supplemental front, rear, and side-curtain airbags standard. At Melloy Dodge we’re giddy to get the newest Challenger on the lot and take it for test drive- want to come with? We’re ready to go Monday through Saturday 8am-8pm and Sunday 11am-5pm!

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Teaching Your Teenager to be a Safe Driver

Great news! Melloy Dodge is offering a $500 discount to individuals who have recently completed their Driver’s Education course. All your teen has to do is bring in their certificate of completion to receive this amazing deal. But before we get to the purchase of your new car, let’s talk about how to make sure your teenager becomes a safe and responsible driver.

Teen drivers also tend to be high risk drivers. This is because, like anything else, driving is a skill that must be learned and practiced. At Melloy Dodge we understand how difficult the process of teaching your kid to drive can be, after all, for many parents, it is often the first time they’ve ever put their safety and the welfare of an expensive vehicle into the hands of their child. This can, understandably, be a very nerve wracking time, but as a parent, you play a key role in building your teenager’s confidence and ability behind the wheel. So, take a deep breath, be patient, and buckle your seatbelt.

You know the hazards of the road, and you can guide your teen through a great deal of practice. Practice in varied conditions is the most important step to prepare your child to hit the roads solo. If you frequently ride passenger, calmly and patiently providing support and advice, your teenager will be able to develop confidence while driving. Focus your driving lessons on specific skill sets and conditions, ideally ones that coincide with what your child is learning in their formal Driver’s Ed class.

Speaking of Driver’s Education, it can be quite difficult to find a good school for your teenager to attend. As school corporations cut back budgets they offer fewer training programs, so families must turn to private Driver’s Education schools. To find a reputable school, begin by asking around, get insight from friends, family, and coworkers about what programs worked or did not work for their young driver. You may also want to contact AAA or your car insurance carrier to see if they can refer you to a reputable institution. Once you have a few ideas, do your leg work. Talk to the instructors, find out how many hours of driving practice versus in-class instruction your teen will receive, and become familiar with who will be delivering the instruction.

Don’t forget that you’re also your teen’s driving instructor and always model good behaviors on the road. Set clear expectations about what is appropriate when driving- no cell phone use or friends in the car, for example. Also make sure to maintain an open dialogue about driving safety and talk to your kids about high risk driving conditions like driving at night, driving at high speeds, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Once your child is a competent, safe driver, you’ll be ready to purchase their first vehicle. We value safety at Melloy Dodge and have many models ranked very highly in this regard. Our Dart, Journey, and Grand Caravan models have consistently scored very high for safety standards, and are constantly being improved on to keep you and your family safe. If you want more information on the safety features of our vehicles, come in to Melloy Dodge and talk to one of our experts. We promise, when you put your teen behind the wheel of a Dodge, you’ll feel good about it. Stop in today! We’re open Monday through Saturday 8am-8pm and Sunday 11am-5pm.

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

How to Protect Your Vehicle from Theft

No one wants to walk out of their front door, their office, or their favorite Albuquerque meeting place and find that their car is no longer where they left it. While the models at Melloy Dodge have all the latest anti-theft technology, theft is a mainstay of metropolitan area crime, and isn’t likely to disappear despite advances in security. Believe us, we know how attached you can become to your car and we want you to hang on to it for years to come. So, you have a new Dodge model, maybe a Challenger or an Avenger, how can you prevent it from becoming the target of crime?

Surprisingly, the best ways to protect your Dodge from theft are easy and only require you to have a little common sense. Perhaps the most important step you can take to protect yourself and your car is this: lock your doors! An estimated 13% of vehicles stolen in 2013 had their doors unlocked. If you’ve locked your doors, your car is already infinitely safer, but what else can you do? Roll up your windows completely too to make sure the car is fully secure. If you have a spare set of keys, you may think it is a good idea to hide them somewhere inside your car. Don’t! Thieves know all the hiding places.


Pay attention to where you are parking. For your safety and that of your car, always park in a well-lit area if possible, and if you have a garage- use it! Thieves are deterred from stealing a car if it also means trespassing and breaking into a home. If you have to park on the street, engage the emergency brake. Occasionally vehicles- even those as big as a Dodge RAM- are stolen with a tow truck; when the emergency brake is engaged, your car is difficult to tow, and a pretty undesirable target.

When you’ve purchased a new car- maybe even one of our 2015 models, if you’re lucky- you’re handed a crisp title, and eventually, you also get a registration. These are important documents to have handy, but shouldn’t be left in the car. If your car is stolen, this can expedite the process of selling it off. Keep them in your wallet, your purse, or bag. If you own a Dodge model, protect it! These easy steps make sure you are protecting one of the most valuable things you can own- your car. Most Dodge models feature cutting edge alarms and anti-theft security systems, like the Sentry system. Other perks to keep you and your vehicle safe include keyless entry and automatic emergency assistance. Want to check out some of these features? Stop over and take a look! We’re on Coors NW, in Albuquerque.