Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Friday, July 27, 2012
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Since we all know Toyota's run forever...
Are you a recent college grad? Check out this great incentive!
You can save $1,000 when you buy or lease a new Toyota Camry (gas only), Toyota Corolla, Toyota Matrix, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Yaris, or any Scion model. College Graduate Rebate Program
$1,000 rebate when you lease or finance a new Toyota Camry (gas only), Corolla, Matrix, RAV4, Tacoma, Yaris, or any Scion model. Open to recent college graduates and students who will graduate soon. Proof of college graduate status required. Must furnish verifiable proof of present employment or proof of future employment which will begin within 120 days of credit approval, with a salary sufficient to cover ordinary living expenses and vehicle payments. Buyers and lessees must meet program eligibility criteria. See below for details. The College Graduate Rebate may be combined with some other special offers. See dealership for details.http://bit.ly/Nv3G98
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Toyota Proposal: Man Proposes With Toyota Commercial-Inspired Music Video
From flash mobs to lip-dubbing, the bar for marriage proposals keeps being raised higher and higher. The latest evidence comes from a man named Danny, who put together a photo montage of moments with his girlfriend Robin and set them to music, telling the story of their relationship.
The video begins with a photo of Danny jumping next to his Toyota by himself, with a caption below the image reading, "It all began with a lonely, lonely boy..." The image is reminiscent 1990's Toyota commercials, in which the company's tagline was "I love what you do for me, Toyota." The story then continues with Danny meeting Robin and the two taking the big step of posing for pictures together.
Danny described the origins of his proposal idea in a post on the website Ring On The Finger:
“I am a traveling salesman, and I would always take pictures of my self jumping by my Toyota (like the old Toyota commercials). I would set up my tripod and camera and take these pictures alone. Then I started dating Robin and we started taking our own “freeze frames” (as we called them) where we would drive to random places and set the camera and timer up and do silly things," he wrote.
Toward the end of the video, the photos stop and viewers see Danny taking Robin to a scenic overlook. She thinks they're about to take another jumping picture, but instead of landing on two feet, Danny gets down on one knee.
With that, the music changes to "She Said Yes" by Mumford & Sons and the captions get funnier; in one, Danny notes that, in addition to saying yes, Robin's is crying and making "mouse-like noises.")
Courtesy of Huffington Post
Monday, July 23, 2012
Monday Maintenance Tip: Essential Items to Keep in Your Car
The hefty owner’s manual found in your glove box is probably the first item to get moved out when you need room to store that iPod connector and GPS unit, but you never know when you’ll need it while on the road. In it, you can find all kinds of information from an explanation on the warning light that just illuminated or the type of oil your car requires –bits of knowledge that you’d rather not guess on when the time comes.
Leave your lights on overnight? Yep, we’ve done it too. In fact, most drivers have experienced the sound of a sharp click instead of an engine turning over at one time or another, but those who have jumper cables don’t need to panic or have to rely on the tow truck. If you have cables within reach, flagging down a fellow driver and connecting the leads is all it takes to get your car going again.
We can’t live without the stuff, which means water tends to come in handy when stranded by the side of the road. Keeping a container of water in your car will help stave off dehydration while you wait for help to come. In warmer areas, it can also be used to top off your radiator so your car doesn’t overheat – just be sure to use distilled water instead of tap water to avoid rust formation.
We keep Band-Aids, antiseptic cream and a variety of other first-aid items tucked away in a medicine cabinet at home, so it makes sense to have a first-aid kit in your car too. You’ll delve into it to cover up that paper cut on your kid’s finger or to administer more critical first aid in serious situations.
Duct tape and rope have about a million uses, and while they can create a mean cat’s cradle and impervious wallets, they also tend to help in automotive situations. The two inexpensive items may not save your life, but duct tape can help you hold your glove box closed if the latch breaks and rope can be used to strap down a piece of furniture you’re transporting across town. They’ll just make life a little easier.
Anything large enough to cover you and provide extra warmth will do the job here. The goal with a blanket is that it should keep you nice and toasty if the heater breaks or you have to spend the night in your car, when staying warm is a priority.
They don’t call them multi-tools for nothing; these handy little gadgets hold pint-sized versions of the tools you’ll need in everyday life and they are so compact that there’s no reason not to have one in your glove box. From screwdrivers to tweezers, you’ll always have a tool suited for the job at hand.
Maintaining the recommended pressure in your tires is important for a number of reasons– fuel economy stays on target and your tires are less likely to blow out. Having a tire pressure gauge in the car means you can quickly check the pressure anywhere, and you won’t have to rely on the potentially inaccurate ones at the gas station.
If you’ve ever spent three hours stationary on the highway because a trucker decided to spill his entire load of canned goods across four lanes, you’ll know exactly how important having a little snack in the car can be. No one wants to resort to scrounging for food in the seat cushions and feeling lightheaded from hunger while driving probably isn’t the safest option. A snack bar goes a long way when waiting for a tow truck to reach you as well.
We tend to do a lot of eating and drinking in our cars – it’s only natural when we spend so much time in them. But spills also happen, and so do marker stains, runny noses and even bouts of crying – hey, everyone’s had a bad day, right? Be able to give friends a lift with dignity by keeping your car, your kids, and your face clean.
Even the best of us get pulled over for some reason or another. The laws vary state to state, but most require you show registration and proof of insurance when you get pulled over. Don’t make the nice policeman mad by not having the proper documentation on you. Your insurance card and all the information it contains will also be mighty useful if you get into a fender bender.
Courtesy of Carcare.org
Friday, July 20, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Toyota Camry beats Ford F-150 as most 'American made'
Once again, Cars.com has come to the conclusion that the Toyota Camry is the most American of all cars -- more U.S. sourced parts, U.S. production and U.S. sales.
It was the fourth-straight year that the Camry came in tops in the "American-made" survey. This year, the Ford F-150, the nation's best-selling vehicle, almost beat it. But in the end, Toyota, Honda and General Motors combined for eight of the 10 vehicles on the list.
"When people think about buying an 'American' car, they might just think automatically of the Detroit Three," said Patrick Olsen, editor in chief at Cars.com. "In reality, this classification isn't as cut and dry as it used to be."
He points out that Italy's Fiat owns a majority stake in Chrysler, despite its status as a Big 3 Detroit maker. More foreign makers are building their vehicle in the U.S. as a way to hedge against a strong dollar.
"U.S. sales are a component of our index for a number of reasons," said Olsen. "For one thing, it's safe to say that the more a vehicle sells, the more U.S. workers are involved in production and delivery of the vehicle and the more U.S. dealers are profiting. Additionally, we think it's valid to give credit for how American buyers embrace a vehicle."
Courtesy of USA Today
Monday, July 16, 2012
$1000 Cash Back on new 2012 Avalon
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Gets Royal Treatment in Europe
MONACO — The first production Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid in Europe was delivered to His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, as the Japanese automaker employs some royal cachet to market the car.
The prince will use the Prius Plug-in Hybrid for "private purposes," said Toyota in a statement. The prince has a two-month loan on the car from Toyota, which notes that he currently has a standard Prius in his automotive stable.
Prince Albert may be Toyota's best unofficial salesman in Europe. A one-off Landaulet edition of the Lexus LS 600h hybrid took center stage at his 2011 wedding to Charlene Wittstock.
Of course, with the handover of the keys to the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, Monaco also gets to strengthen its position as one of the green leaders in Europe. Even though the principality is just 48 acres with a population of 35,000, it is also home to 424 free charging stations.
The link between European royalty and cars is a strong one. Witness the media frenzy that ensued after England's Prince William and commoner Kate Middleton celebrated their nuptials last year with a joyride in an Aston Martin DB6 Volante.
Courtesy of Inside Line
Monday, July 9, 2012
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Monday, July 2, 2012
Monday Maintenance tip: Cold Facts About A/C Refrigerant
How did we ever get along without air conditioning in our cars? It’s a feature we take for granted until, suddenly, it’s blowing hot air.
In the past few years, many owners have discovered that fixing an inoperative air conditioner can cost a few hundred dollars or more, depending upon the make and model of vehicle. The reason is that the old standby R-12 refrigerant, trade named DuPont Freon, has been replaced by R-134a. Touted as being environmentally safer than its predecessor, R-134a has been standard since ’94.
If your older vehicle needs major repairs to the air conditioning system you can expect to replace refrigerant and the oil in the compressor in addition to the old components. You also may need to install a retrofit conversion. Do not allow anyone to mix refrigerants. They’re not inter-changeable. You cannot add R-134a to your older air conditioner without first flushing the system. Further, according to the Car Care Council, some substitutes are volatile mixtures of propane, butane and flammable hydrocarbons. Keep in mind the fact that if your vehicle is leaking refrigerant, you’re damaging the ozone layer.
An annual inspection of the vehicle, including the air conditioning system, may help forestall costly repairs. Many automotive service shops offer AC inspection specials when warm weather arrives. Otherwise, ask your service center to evaluate your system before those hot and humid days of summer.
