According to autonews.com, analysts surveyed by Bloomberg believe Toyota’s net income may triple to ten billion dollars by the end of fiscal year March 2013.  Considering the auto maker saw a projected 33% decline in sales for the latest fiscal year; this is big news for Toyota.  Asia’s editor for Automotive News, Hans Greimel says that Toyota is not only improving profits, but product as well.  They are focusing much of their efforts around the Toyota Camry, the Prius Hybrid, and a new line up of Lexus.

For car buyers this is even better news.  When the company is doing well financially, it means they are more readily able to offer the best deals and incentives in the business.  Toyota’s bounce back is a true representation of their ability to beat all odds and to strive to remain the best in the business for their customers.  When other manufacturers may have closed the doors, Toyota wouldn’t settle for anything less than the best.  Visit your local Weiss dealership to see their complete line-up of new Toyota cars St. Louis, including the Camry and Prius Hybrid which are a huge contributing factor to this outstanding achievement.

There are many reasons that may account for this decline.  The first could be contributed to the public service announcements flooding local network television regarding the use of cell phones and electronics while driving.  As people become more aware of how their actions could affect their lives and the lives of others on the road, their driving habits tend to become safer all around.  Also, the current generation of adults has become highly more likely to utilize safety belts; unlike their parents may have been when they were little.  Most likely, a large contributing factor revolves around the automotive industries continued efforts towards providing the safest cars on the road.  Toyota leads the charge in this category by constantly working to develop and implement the latest safety technology in all of their vehicles they manufacture.  It is not good enough for Toyota to meet minimum standards.  Toyota engineers reach to be the best in the business, especially when it is precious life they are working to protect.  Visit your local Weiss Toyota dealer St. Louis to see the latest in new safety features to keep you protected while on the road.

The Toyota Camry and the Toyota RAV4 were the top two most frequently searched vehicles on their site for the month of April.  It is a great accomplishment to know that all the efforts Toyota has put into marketing the Camry has paid off.  This particular model has been a huge contributing factor to Toyota’s recent profit increases and they are proud of a job well done.  It is considered one of the best in its class and is loved by drivers.  The RAV4 is quickly becoming one of the best loved crossovers on the road as drivers appreciate how spacious it is and how easy it is to handle on the road.

Toyota made it on the list a total of eight times with different vehicles being among the most searched on the site.  In addition to the two mentioned above, also on the list were the Tacoma, the Sienna, the Prius, the Prius c, the Corolla, and the Highlander.  Toyota engineers take great pride in producing vehicles that people are hungry to learn more about.

Your local Weiss dealer has a full inventory of new and used Toyota St. Louis cars, trucks, minivans, SUVs, and crossovers.  Come in and take a look for yourself at what others are finding so desirable online.

EV’s and PHEV’s are electric vehicles and they depend on rechargeable batteries.  The distance they can travel on a fully charged battery differs by manufacturer.  The new 2013 RAV4 EV that was released this week travels 80-110 miles on one full charge.  On the PHEV side of Toyota, the Prius Plug-In will travel a much shorter distance on electric charge but switches to hybrid fuel consumption once the battery is depleted.  While it uses both technologies, it still saves the consumer a lot of money in fuel costs and may be a good option for you if you travel more miles in a day than an EV will hold its charge for.

Whether you are looking for an EV or a PHEV, Toyota has an option for you.  As always, Toyota stays ahead of the competition by being among the first to give you exactly what you want in Toyota cars St. Louis.

According to edmunds.com there are considerations to take into account if you are an average car buying considering an electric car purchase.

1. Consider your commute every day.  Would your travel distance be a problem with how far an electric call will go on a full charge?
2. Do you have access to a 110-volt electrical outlet close enough to where you park your car at home or at work?…Or are you close to a dedicated 240-volt EV charging station? (as EV cars become more popular we will probably see more of these available)
3. Can you afford an fuel injection car as a second vehicle for your family as a back-up in case of an emergency or trip that will be long-distance?
4. Consider the climate you live in and make sure an EV will perform well there.
5. Is towing important to you?  EVs are not equipped to handle this well yet.

The reality is that these cars may not be well-suited for families who commute to work and travel on a regular basis, but with the growing cost of gasoline and pressure from the government and society to become more “green” in our environmental efforts, it is likely that over the years we will see more EV models pop-up and they will increasingly become more equipped to handle the needs of the average buying in America.  Contact your local Toyota dealer St. Louis to discuss if an electric car is a good choice for you.

• How long do you plan on keeping the car?  If you find yourself trading in your car for a new one often, then an extended warranty is not for you.
• Who stands behind the warranty?  The best extended warranties are backed by the manufacturer, not just the dealership or a third-party company.
• Have you shopped for the best price?  Every part of the car buying experience should include shopping for the best price before-hand.  This is no different in the warranty department.
• Do you know what’s covered?  Know what you will have covered in the long-run and be aware of costs you will still owe, such as deductibles.
• Will you have peace of mind if you don’t buy it?  Ultimately, you want to feel good about your car purchase.  If this will help you feel better about it, then go for it.
• Have you looked at your repair history?  Everyone drives a car differently and everyone maintains a car differently.  Look at your past repair costs with your car.  While they will never be the same, you will likely have similar results with a different one…especially if it’s made by the same manufacturer.  Weigh the cost of your past repairs with the cost of a warranty.

A Weiss finance expert is prepared to help you answer these questions on your used Toyota St. Louis purchase today.

The 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In is available in Base body styles starting at $32,000 and advanced body styles starting at $39,525.  It is a small car that packs a big punch with a 49 mpg rating…and that’s when it is running primarily by its gas engine.  It has all the options you would expect to see in a Toyota including; A back-up camera, Bluetooth, a navigation system, voice recognition and a six-speaker sound system featuring touchscreen display to name a few.

According to edmunds.com, for its electric charge, the Prius Plug-In is powered with a pair of electric motor generators and for its fuel charge it runs on a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine.  The battery pack has advanced lithium-ion technology with a capacity of 4.4 kWh.  It utilizes a special transmission called a continuously variable transmission (CVT).  “In Edmunds testing, a prototype Prius Plug-In accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 10.1 seconds, the same time as the regular Prius.”  It is equipped with stability and traction control, antilock disc brakes, front side airbags, a driver knee airbag, full-length side curtain airbags and hill start assist.

Contact your local Weiss Toyota dealer to find out when you can expect to see the new Toyota Prius Plug-In on the lot.

Of the fifteen cars chosen by edmunds.com Toyota took home the prize of best used vehicle choice from two of the categories.  The factors used to determine these ratings include: consumer ratings on reliability and longevity, crash test ratings conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, value, and availability.

The two categories of vehicles that Toyota won out in were best compact truck, and best hybrid.  The Toyota Tacoma is seen as having “impressive overall quality and a rock-solid reliability record.”  It is a truck that owners will love and it will hold its value over years of drive time.  The Toyota Prius won the best-bet for used cars in the hybrid division.  Aside from its fuel efficiency, the Prius is known for having a roomy passenger and cargo space, which has made it a top contender for travel enthusiasts.

It is a great honor for Toyota to take home a win in these categories.  Toyota builds cars that will last and they have become known for this quality in the industry.  Your local Weiss dealer serving Ballwin has a huge line-up of Missouri used Toyota cars that are waiting for you.  Call today to schedule a test-drive on a used Tacoma or Prius and check them out for yourself!

First, parents should consider the priorities…which should be safety first and foremost.  According to AAA, “each year, more teens die in car crashes than from any other cause – including disease, drugs, suicide or homicide.”  According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, “teens are two to three times more likely to be involved in a crash than adult drivers.”  So, not only should you choose a car that has safety features, you should set rules that are consistently followed up on with your teen driver.  Some rules to consider include limiting the number of passengers they can have in the car with them, and of course, they should never be allowed to use their cell phone while driving.  Reinforce this by showing them real stories of people who have been in tragic accidents due to cell phone use.  Many states have laws regarding passenger restrictions and driving curfews.  You should always make sure your child respects these laws.

If you are shopping for your teen’s first car, stop by your local Weiss dealer serving O’Fallon and St. Peters Missouri today and ask about Toyota Certified cars, trucks, and SUV’s.  When buying a used vehicle for their first car you can have added peace of mind that they will have a car that won’t break down and will last through college with a certified Toyota St. Louis.

Toyota technicians believe you can maximize your fuel efficiency by restoring mileage, boosting performance and reducing emissions and this can be done through their premium fuel system service.  According to Toyota experts, “it is a system that restores flow in fuel injectors and cleans the entire fuel system.”  Do you ever notice your car idling rough, hesitating, misfiring, or knocking?  If so, you may need to check out this fuel system service.  It could be a result of deposits accumulating on the intake valves, injectors, ports, fuel injectors and combustion chambers.  This service will clean the fuel injectors, the throttle body, the plenum and air-intake and the intake valves and ports.  It also removes combustion chamber deposits and corrects the balance of fuel and air in the system.  The result means reduced emissions, restored horsepower, starts and idles smooth and runs quieter, and of course…better gas mileage!

To inquire about how this premium fuel system service can help you and your vehicle, contact your local St. Louis Toyota service department today and an expert technician will be happy to walk you through the details, answer questions, and schedule a service appointment.