Top Features to Look for in Your Next Ford

Crisp mornings, cozy sweaters, and pumpkin spice lattes on the way to work: fall is officially here. But as temperatures drop and the weather shifts, your Ford feels the change too, and regular maintenance is the best way to protect it. October is also National Car Care Month, named by the Car Care Council to highlight the importance of preventative maintenance. It's the perfect reminder to give your Ford some TLC before colder temperatures and winter driving conditions set in. A seasonal service visit can catch routine maintenance needs early and make sure your vehicle is ready for the upcoming season. Ready to get started? Here are five essential fall car care tips to help your Ford handle the season with confidence. 1. Get Your Battery Tested Cooler mornings are settling in across South Carolina, and it impacts your Ford's battery. Colder temperatures mean it has to work harder, which drains its power faster. Now is the time to have a technician test the charge and clean the terminal connections so you’re not caught with a dead battery later on. If your battery is a few years old or you've noticed slow starts, October is a great time to have it inspected and tested before the first real cold snap. 2. Tire and Brake Inspection Your tires and brakes do the heavy lifting in everyday driving, and that matters even more on wet or icy roads. Cooler air can lower tire pressure, so we recommend having a Ford-certified technician check your PSI, tread depth, and overall tire condition to keep you driving safely. A brake inspection helps identify worn pads and other maintenance needs early, helping your Ford maintain safe, reliable stopping power when you need it most. 3. Fluid Top-Offs & Oil Changes October is a great time to check your engine oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and coolant levels so your Ford keeps running smoothly as temperatures change. Regular oil changes are key to keeping your engine running like it was designed, so follow the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual to stay on track with oil changes and other routine services. When it's time for your next oil change, schedule your visit to our Ford Service Department in Manning. We’ll get you in, out, and back on the road quickly. 4. HVAC & Defrost Check Before temperatures drop, test your heater and defroster blower to make sure you'll have a comfortable cabin and clear windows on chilly mornings. In addition to keeping you comfortable, your HVAC system also dehumidifies, ventilates, and defrosts your Ford's interior. A weak defroster can make it hard to keep your windows clear during foggy, rainy, or snowy fall weather, which affects your visibility on the road. 5. Check your Lights Fall and winter mean shorter days and more commuting in the dark. Check your headlights (high/low beams), brake lights, and turn signals to make sure they're working properly. Schedule Your Seasonal Auto Service and Repairs at Santee Ford! At Santee Ford, we believe vehicle maintenance should be simple. Our Ford-certified technicians provide honest, efficient service to drivers throughout Sumter and the Midlands region of South Carolina. Whether your Ford needs an inspection, new tires, brake work, or more extensive repairs, our local service team is ready to help. When you bring your Ford to us, you can count on transparent pricing and genuine OEM Ford parts that help ensure quality, fit, and lasting performance, all backed by a team that treats your vehicle with the care it deserves. Don’t forget to check our Ford service specials in Manning before scheduling your next appointment to save more!

You’ve just found the perfect new Ford and can’t wait to drive it home. You’ve chosen to go the financing route, but now you’re faced with the question: How much should I put down on my new Ford? We’re here to help you answer that question — and make the financing process seamless and stress-free! How Much Should I Put Down? When you finance a vehicle, the down payment is an amount of money you pay upfront that partially covers the vehicle’s cost. Making a down payment on a car lowers the amount of the loan, so the bigger the down payment, the smaller the loan. Kelley Blue Book recommends putting 20% down or more, if you can. As an example, if you choose a vehicle that costs $35,000, the recommended down payment would be $7,000. NerdWallet also recommends making at least a 20% down payment on a new car, and at least a 10% down payment on a used car. Why Make a Larger Down Payment? There are several benefits of making a down payment, and a large down payment can help you even more. Besides having a smaller auto loan to pay off, here are some of the additional benefits that a down payment can offer you: Boosts Your Chance of Financing Approval A bigger down payment gives shoppers with zero or poor credit a better shot at financing the vehicle they want. A significant down payment indicates that you’re less of a risk to the lender. While approval is not guaranteed, you have a greater chance with a larger down payment. Lowers Your Monthly Car Payment A bigger down payment results in a smaller monthly car payment. In fact, according to NerdWallet, every $1,000 in the down payment can lower the monthly car payment by $15-$18. Reduces Your Loan-to-Value Ratio A down payment can also reduce your loan-to-value ratio (LTV). LTV compares the amount you're borrowing with the value of the vehicle, and the amount you can borrow is limited. LTV limits vary per lender, so you may have to make a higher down payment in order to be approved. Keeps You From Becoming Upside Down Being upside down on a car loan means that you owe more than the vehicle is worth. According to NerdWallet, a new vehicle can lose about 20% of its value in the first year. Making a down payment that’s less than 20% could result in being upside down — a situation you don’t want to find yourself in. What Can You Use for a Down Payment on a New Car? You can choose to make a down payment simply with cash, but be careful that you don’t jeopardize your savings. While making a large down payment can be helpful, Kelley Blue Book warns against using emergency savings to make the down payment bigger. It’s important to have money on hand for the unexpected, so you don’t want to wipe your savings out. The good news is that paying cash isn’t the only way to make a down payment — you can also use the value of your trade-in, if you have one. Curious how much your vehicle is worth? Value your trade on our website today! No matter what you drive, you can count on Santee Ford for a fair trade-in offer that you can apply to your next car, truck, or SUV purchase! Buy or Lease Your New Car With Santee Ford Ready to upgrade to a new Ford near Sumter? Whether you want to finance or lease your next vehicle, let’s start the process today! Check out our payment calculator to estimate your monthly payment, and don’t forget to ask us about the latest new Ford specials to see if you can save even more on your Ford of choice. Our Ford finance team will go over your options with you and help you find a payment plan that makes sense for you. Whether you still can’t decide how much to put down or have questions about your car’s trade-in value, feel free to contact us — we’re happy to help. Whenever you’re ready, stop by our Ford dealership in Manning for a test drive or to trade in your car!

Choosing a new SUV includes choosing a paint color you love. And whether you’re drawn to bold, statement-making colors or tend to gravitate toward softer, more subdued shades, the 2027 Ford Expedition lineup offers a stunning array of colors that appeal to different tastes, allowing you to express yourself however you see fit. For 2027, the Ford Expedition lineup introduces three exquisite new paint color options: Bronze Fire Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, Nocturnal Blue Metallic, and Blue Ember Metallic. These new shades join Agate Black Metallic, Dark Matter Gray Metallic, Glacier Gray Metallic Tri-coat, Star White Metallic Tri-coat, and Marsh Gray, giving you eight colors to choose from. Bronze Fire Metallic Tinted Clearcoat: A warm, dark — yet vibrant — orange that will turn heads everywhere. It’s the ideal shade for fall, the perfect complement to changing leaves. Nocturnal Blue Metallic: A cool color with a slightly mysterious edge. This special blue shade ensures a sophisticated entrance wherever you go, whether that’s a formal event or a spontaneous get-together. Blue Ember Metallic: A striking, color-shifting shade that’s only available with the Platinum 30th Anniversary Appearance Package. This one is for drivers who don’t mind getting extra attention, because this enchanting blue color will stand out on every street and highway. Agate Black Metallic: An inky, elegant choice. Black never goes out of style, and this chic, shimmering shade elevates every drive. Dark Matter Gray Metallic: A serious, storm-cloud gray for drivers who gravitate toward more classic colors. Glacier Gray Metallic Tri-coat: A beautiful, eye-catching light gray-blue color for cool and serene drives. Star White Metallic Tri-coat: White remains a popular choice for drivers everywhere, and this sleek shade gives the Expedition a fresh, clean, modern look. Marsh Gray: Only available for the rugged Tremor trim level, this gray-green is a suitable shade for outdoor adventures. Ford Expedition 30th Anniversary Appearance Package If you want the unique Blue Ember Metallic color, you can have it when you opt for the Ford Expedition 30th Anniversary Appearance Package, which includes the following features: 22-inch Ebony-painted bright-machined aluminum wheels Black beltline molding Badges: “30 YEARS” on tailgate and “EXPEDITION” lettering on liftgate in black Floor liners, front and second rows (tray style) Carbon Black front bumper/fascia Ebony-painted grille Black bezel with Ebony trim appliqué headlamps Laminated glass rear side windows Black roof rails Front scuff plates feature Black Onyx with satin-aluminum “30 YEARS” lettering Unique center console with embossment What Are the Interior Color Options for the 2027 Ford Expedition? The cabin of the 2027 Ford Expedition offers stylish colors and materials that complement its stylish exterior. Options vary by trim level, but across the lineup, you’ll get to choose from: Cloth in Ultra Dark Space Gray ActiveX® Trimmed in Ultra Dark Space Gray ActiveX® Trimmed in Space Gray Leather-Trimmed with Perforated Seat Inserts in Black Onyx Leather-Trimmed with Perforated Seat Inserts in Salt Crystal Gray Leather-Trimmed with Perforated Seat Inserts and Accent Stitching in Salt Crystal Gray Leather Seating Surface with Perforated Seat Inserts and Accent Stitching in Mojave Dusk Leather-Trimmed with Perforated Seat Inserts with Accent Stitching and Tremor® Logo in Black Onyx/Electric Spice King Ranch® Premium Del Rio Leather Seats in Mesa No matter which trim level and seat materials you choose, the 2027 Ford Expedition ensures you and your passengers ride in comfort and style. This full-size SUV seats up to eight and offers a generous amount of cargo space, making it ideal for large families. To enhance your experience on the road even more, the Expedition offers noteworthy tech features such as a standard 24-inch panoramic display and 13.2-inch center display, providing next-level convenience and connectivity. An available B&O® Sound System by Bang & Olufsen® with 10 speakers, including a subwoofer, or an available B&O® Unleashed Sound System by Bang & Olufsen® with 22 speakers, including a subwoofer, will delight listeners with exceptional sound quality. Test-Drive a New Ford Expedition in Manning Today Stunning new 2027 Ford Expedition SUVs are in stock now at Santee Ford in Manning, SC! Whether you live in the area or out of town, we welcome you to explore our new Expedition inventory to see which trim levels and colors we currently have available. Whether you want a Ford Expedition that sports the exclusive Blue Ember Metallic color or prefer a more classic shade like Star White Metallic Tri-coat, there’s a Ford Expedition color for every type of driver. If we don’t have the shade you want in stock currently, ask our team for more information about how you can upgrade to your preferred color. Or, if you’re interested in exploring used SUVs, check out our used car inventory to see if we have any Ford Expedition SUVs from previous model years available. If one of our new or used Ford SUVs for sale catches your eye, stop by for a test drive! Have questions? Let our team know! We’re committed to helping drivers from Florence, Columbia, Conway, and beyond find their ideal Ford SUV!