The widespread recognition of Global Warming and the rising price of oil have prompted the U.S. government to introduce a tax credit for the purchase of  hybrid electric cars.  There are a growing number of countries that are doing the same in order to reduce emissions and energy problems.  For every gallon of gasoline that is burned in a combustible engine vehicle, 19 lbs of Co2 are released into the environment which is contributing to global warming at a rapid rate.

Hybrid tax credits were initially introduced through the Energy Act of 2005, in effect starting January 2006. The current tax credits will most likely expire at the end 2010 now that American automakers are getting so involved in the hybrid market.

The full credit of $3,150 applied only to the first 60,000 vehicles sold by a given automaker. After that, the tax credit declined over time, 100 percent of the full credit was available for the first calendar quarter after the 60,001 was sold; 50 percent in the 2nd and 3rd full quarter after that; and 25 percent in the 4th and 5th quarter after that. Thus, less than 15 months after the 60,001st hybrid of a given model, the entire tax credit is eliminated.

This complicated system was designed to protect American automakers from competition by the Japanese hybrid manufacturers.  It also guaranteed that the first carmakers into the hybrid market would also be the first to exhaust their tax credits. There were no Toyota hybrid owners who enjoyed the credit after late 2007. Honda hybrids exhausted their credit in early 2009.

If you are planning to purchase a hybrid in 2010, see your local St. Louis Toyota Dealer today and test drive our new or used Toyota cars including the Prius Camry, and Highlander hybrids.

The Hybrid Synergy Drive integrates the advantages of an electric motor and a gas/petrol engine. It is not merely a package that has an electric motor and a gas/petrol engine on board. Toyota applied cutting edge technologies based on latest research to integrate dual power sources. In simple terms, the Toyota Synergy Drive is a smooth flowing transition from your electric powered drive to gasoline power, and moving parts are kept to a minimum.  Synergy Drive is overall a much simpler operating system that other hybrids use, (such as the Honda Insight).

The Camry and the Highlander are available in either gasoline only, or  hybrid vehicles. The hybrid vehicles obviously get better gas mileage, create less pollution from emissions,  and are moderately priced, compared to the gasoline only version. If you want a hybrid vehicle, Toyota is your very best source for a Sedan, SUV or for the best selling hybrid vehicle ever made-the Prius.

To test drive one of these great hybrids, contact your local Toyota dealer, Spirit Toyota in St. Louis today, we have some of the best used and certified used toyota hybrids, some starting as low as $17,000, as well as the new 2010 models in our line-up.

Certain areas may be at a higher risk of this type of corrosion. Some of these areas may include: the District of Columbia, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Maine. These are only a few. Any area that may colder in climate for a portion of, or all of the year, and have a high usage of road salt may pose a threat to certain models of the 2000-2003 model of Toyota Tundra.

If you are an owner of a 2000-2003 Toyota Tundra and fall into the parameters of the vehicle recall you should receive a Safety Recall notification via mail. They are sending out recall letters during the later part of 2009 and early part of 2010. If you have not received a notification letter, but feel you may be at risk of corrosion to the frame rear cross-member on your Tundra, you can take your vehicle into the nearest Saint Louis Toyota dealer to have your truck fully inspected by a trained technician. They will be able to inspect the rear cross member as well as the brake lines and other surrounding components.

There is a corrosion resistant compound that will be available to Tundra owners. Toyota will notify when this compound will be available.

As of November of 2009 it was reported through Experian that the average American credit score was 692. Credit scores appear on a scale between 300 and 850. Only 13 percent of the nation’s population scores over 800 on their credit report. At the same time, only 15 percent score less than 550. As a general rule of thumb, if your score sits at 700 or above, consider yourself in good credit standing. If you are scoring less than 700 it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in credit trouble. A score of 680, for instance, is still considered a good credit score.

If you fall into a category of having a poor credit score, don’t throw in the towel just yet. There are many ways you can raise your credit score and set you in good credit standing. It won’t happen overnight and you will definitely have to put the work in to achieve an optimum score, but it will be worth your while.

Once you have your desired credit score, you will begin reaping the benefits almost instantly. With a good credit score, it will be easier to obtain credit, easier to obtain an auto or home loan, and it will get you a great interest rate as well. Take the time to find out what you can do today to improve your credit score. Those actions will add up over time and have you in good credit standing before you know it.

1.    Mistaking wants for needs. There are some things that you cannot live without in terms of necessary auto features. There are things that you may feel like you need or can’t live without. Compromising a need for a want will only end up costing you more headaches in the long run.

2.    Test driving the wrong trim vehicle. You may be correct when choosing which model you would like to test drive, but you may want to explore the trim options within that line of model. They will vary slightly and, most likely, have one that fits your style better than the others.

3.    Compromising reliability for appeal.  At first it may seem like you can live without a feature you previously categorized as a must have, but it is never smart to do so. Certain things, such as, safety, should never be sacrificed or skimped on.

4.    Know what has been a common price paid for your vehicle. This will give you a better idea on where to start the negotiating process.

5.    Understand the value of your trade-in. This will also be an excellent negotiating tool. Check the Kelly Blue Book value of your vehicle before bringing it to the Toyota dealer.

6.    Don’t over buy vehicle options. There is no reason to buy options that you don’t need. Sounds simple, but it is easy to get caught up in the cool features and options they give you. You will just end up spending more than you had planned.

7.    Compare shop. Do your homework and know what type of a deal you may get at an alternate dealership. If you are shopping at Jim Lynch’s Toyota dealership, you can be certain you’re getting the best deal in town.

8.    Look at the big picture. When it comes to the financing, look at the complete loan package. Take into consideration the monthly payments, as well as the length and interest rate of the loan. Each of these will factor into how this investment will affect your personal finances.

An easy place to start is with the fluid levels. Check the wiper fluid and antifreeze. If either of these seems low, top them off. In fact, these two may require more frequent checking during the winter months. It is important for the antifreeze to maintain a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and water at all times. The same rule applies for the starter fluid, if it seems low at all, top it off.

Check the wipers and tires. Both of these are made of rubber. During the winter months, in particular freezing temperatures, the rubber may freeze and crack, thus making them of no use to you and putting you in potential danger. For added protection on your windshield you can apply a good rain repellant of your choosing. This will aid in keeping your windshield clear while driving.

Make sure your car battery is fully charged and is having no issues, if the battery is corroded, or more than three years old, it may be best to replace it. The winter temperatures and weather conditions puts added stress on your battery. In fact, it may be wise to have a certified mechanic take a look at it just to be sure. Change the necessary spark plugs and air filters to ensure optimal vehicle performance. It is also necessary to inspect the tires for sufficient pressure and tread.

Aside from mechanical checks, make sure you’re equipped with the necessary gear to combat adverse weather conditions. Make sure you have a small shovel, a snow brush and scraper, jumper cables, and an emergency roadside kit.

It may be somewhat time-consuming to winterize your vehicle, but it will be beneficial to sufficiently prepare for winter and set up yourself and your car, for driving success.

• The most obvious is to try keeping your mileage as low as possible, some car owners have a second car that is older and use it for local driving to keep the mileage on their new Toyota as low as possible. This may be the most significant single factor in maintaining the value of your new Toyota.

• Perform the manufacturers recommended maintenance done on time and keep accurate  records that can be shown to a new prospective buyer or car dealership when you get ready to trade in your car. The best maintenance records to display are those records kept by the Toyota service center as they prove that a trained technician has performed the maintenance correctly.

• Keep the exterior looking new by having touch ups done when necessary Small paint “touch up kits” are perfect for minor scratches and are relatively inexpensive

• Keeping the interior looking like new can be a daunting task especially when you have kids, but it is  important when you  re-sell as the cleanliness of the car will be the first sign to a prospective buyer on how well the car was taken care of.  Covering the seats to protect them, keeping food and drinks from getting spilled, and not smoking in the car will go far maintaining the value of your car.

• Invest in periodic professional detailing which can prevent dirt from being ground into the carpet and fabric with frequent professional equipment, and buffing out small imperfections/scratches in your car’s finish.  You will recapture your investment in the long run if you keep your car looking great inside and out.

• Last but certainly not least is;  drive the car smoothly going slow over railroad tracks and bumps, not revving the engine or taking off fast from a full stop, over time taking it easy when you drive can make a big difference in the overall wear and tear and thus having a Toyota that continues to perform like a new car.

Here are some great tips and ideas on how to make your Toyota shine this holiday season;

• First and foremost, check with your local municipality to see if there are regulations that prohibit objects being applied to your car’s exterior
• Decide on a color theme, do you want a multi-colored Christmas car, (which the kids love ), you can match the colors to the exterior color of your car, for example, black looks great with a bright pink ribbon theme, or you may select traditional colors of red and green.
• You will need: scissors, tape that is safe to apply to the car, a variety of colored bows, a wreath, holiday stickers, a towel, ribbon and string.
• Put the wreath on the grille of your car, make sure to check to make sure your wreath doesn’t block any air coming into your engine.  Wrap a small string around your wreath and tie the string around the slats in your grill and then wrap a bright colored festive ribbon around the wreath and tie it at the top. For safety purposes, be sure to tie your strings tightly so that the wreath does not come loose while driving.
• Use small pieces of garland with ribbon tied around it to tape on door handles and tie a few small bows to your antenna
• Hang some miniature Christmas tree bulbs or other ornaments to the inside of the car on the rear view mirror
• Select matching holiday stickers and put them on the windows, the plastic type that are non adhesive and removable work the best, you can select anything from snowflakes to reindeer in keeping with your theme, or let the kids pick them out and apply them, it’s fun to establish a new holiday tradition and offer eggnog and holiday music!

The first thing your Toyota dealer wants you to know is that convenience is everything. Eating a large sub sandwich or a slippery chicken leg would be complicated, but small chicken nuggets or fries are easy to grab and to pop in your mouth. Fruit can also be eaten easily if the larger pieces are cut into bite sized morsels, ready made for the road.

It’s also important that what you are eating be relatively clean. Not only will your outfit suffer if you get grease on it, but it will also be on our hands, making it harder to steer. If your food is dripping, you will be more likely to pay attention to it in order to contain the mess than you will be to pay attention to the road, which can put you and your passengers in danger.

Take it from your St Louis Toyota dealer—when you can, be sure to pull over and have your meal. If you must eat on the road, however, take the time to acquire bite sized food that isn’t too messy and isn’t too hot. With these foods you can pop pieces into your mouth and still pay attention to the road.

If you need to add coolant or windshield washer fluid to your vehicle, you may need to dilute it. In order to dilute it, however, you need to have some water on hand to add to the tank. If you keep a couple of bottles in the trunk of your certified Toyota as you drive through Missouri, you’ll have one less thing to worry about if things go wrong. It’s easy to find gallon jugs of distilled water at the store, or you could just refill some bottles you’ve emptied and cleaned, and store them securely in the trunk.

While it’s unfortunate, sometimes accidents happen and cars break down. While you may be in the St Louis MO city limits when this happens, you could find yourself on a rural Missouri road instead. Chances are you can use your mobile phone to call for help, but in the meantime you may find that you are very thirsty. Imagine the relief of finding a fresh bottle of water in the trunk of your certified Toyota, ready to be opened and drank.

It’s always better to be prepared, so consider keeping some extra water in the trunk of your certified Toyota. You won’t have to think about it once it’s there, but you’ll be better prepared for what the road throws at you.