1.    Look into the crash test ratings. These ratings, in particular, are what many insurance companies look into when deciding coverage costs. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, or IIHS, actually conducts its own series of crash tests on vehicles.

2.    Look at the crash test ratings given by the National Highway Safety Administration. These test results are rated on a five star scale. The more stars a vehicle is given for a particular test, the better it held up during the collision. You may even want to compare the crash test ratings between NHTSA and IIHS.

3.    If you are considering an SUV pay attention to the Electronic Stability Control system. This system is designed to keep the vehicle on path when turning a corner at an accelerated speed. This will essentially prevent the vehicle from tipping.

4.    Rollover resistance is something to consider when looking at purchasing a taller vehicle, such as, a pick-up truck or SUVs. There will be a rating for sedans, as well, but it is more important for larger, taller vehicles.

5.    Make sure the vehicle has an antilock brake system, or ABS. This comes standard on most new vehicles but may not on an older, used model. This provides assistance during a quick stop.

6.    Determine if it has any accident avoidance assistance. This will help you in the instance of a potential collision.

7.    Obviously, make sure the vehicle is equipped with air bags. These will be imperative in keeping possible physical damage during a collision to a minimum.

8.    Make sure the vehicle has working safety belts for all passengers.

9.    Check the head restraints. Make sure they are in proper working order and don’t have any obvious damage. They should have a snug fit and show no signs of malfunction or previous damage.

10.    Finally, inspect the child restraint system. Most new vehicles have a latch system that provides for easy installation of child seats. If the vehicle does not have a latch system, make sure the seat belts have the locking mode that would be necessary for safe child seat installation.

The problem with hybrid batteries is that they have only been around for 10 years-11 if you consider Japan’s first Prius.  No one really knows for sure how long hybrid batteries will last, but we do know that so far they are holding up very well.  The first Prius was developed in 2000-2001 model year and so far the hybrid systems are NOT failing.

Here in the U.S. the warranty on the hybrid battery covers 8 years or 100,000 miles. In a California-emission state, the hybrid battery pack in a 2004-current Prius is further covered under the CA emissions warranty for 10 years/150,000 miles. If for some reason you do need to replace the hybrid battery out of warranty, your Toyota dealer should offer you a $200 rebate on it, to ensure that it gets properly recycled.

Used Prius hybrid battery packs (from wrecked vehicles) have been selling for less than $1000 on eBay.

The price for new Prius hybrid batteries has recently come down. They used to be priced at $2985, but now for the 2001-2003 model year it is $2299 and the 2004-current model year is $2588.

The Prius battery has been designed to maximize battery life by keeping the battery at an optimum charge level – never fully draining it and never fully recharging it. There is lab data showing longevity of the battery with the equivalent of 180,000 miles having no deterioration. Since the car went on sale in 2000, Toyota has not replaced a single battery for wear and tear.

When you are ready to purchase your Toyota hybrid, visit your local Toyota Dealer, Spirit Toyota in St. Louis.

Washing your new Toyota regularly is important, even in the winter, to keep the finish looking its best.  Salt and sludge can eat away at your car’s finish and dirt that is left for long periods of time can prevent moisture from evaporating and leave stains that will not easily be removed.

In the winter, try to have your vehicle washed on days when the temperature is above freezing and use pressurized water to help clean dirt in areas that are difficult to reach, if you use a coin car wash with a pressure sprayer, avoid putting the hose too close to the car’s surface to prevent damaging the paint.  Thoroughly remove all of the salt and sand left behind after snowy winter days that can cause corrosion to your car.

Be sure to wax your car regularly with a quality car wax, such as Carnuba wax to protect the finish.

Stone chips can cause corrosion if not taken care of in time,  you should repair the chip as soon as it is visible.  Ask your local Toyota dealership to order the right spray paint to match your vehicle and use a sharp toothpick to do an accurate job of getting just the right amount of paint down into the crack of the car’s exterior finish.   Simply fill up the cap with a small amount of spray paint and then dip the toothpick into the paint and allow it to barely fill the space where the chip occurred without overfilling it.  You can repair small scratches using the same method.

If you are looking for a new Toyota, visit your local St. Louis Toyota dealer, Spirit Toyota and test drive one of our new or used Toyota Cars today.

The revamped 4Runner is still geared towards the rough and tough outdoorsman, but has features appealing to the city driver as well. Toyota is expecting a small volume manufacturing of this model but believes the newer model will be set to impress.

The 2010 Toyota 4Runner shares attributes similar to the Toyota Tacoma and the FJ Cruiser. Its frame, though, more closely resembles that of the Land Cruiser Prado. They left the wheel base of the 4Runner alone even though the truck has increased its length and width. In fact, the newer 4Runner version is only about 130 pounds heavier than its predecessor. Gone is the V-8, in its place is one of two options; the 2.7 liter 4 cylinder or the 4.0 liter V-6.

Toyota has opted to replace the almost-on-the-floor seating with higher seating offering increased head and knee clearance. Despite of its bulk and weight it has a surprisingly quite and smooth ride. The frame reinforcement does its job to provide minimal shaking while traveling uneven, city road terrain. To encourage the more efficient driver, a strategically placed “eco” light will come on when the driver is being thrifty at the throttle. During a test drive the vehicle averaged 18 miles per gallon, between a mix of highway and city driving: Not too shabby for the 4Runner.

Off the beaten path is where this vehicle really shines.  Even an 8,000 foot peak proved to be no match for the 4Runner. It is an old fashioned, confident truck with a mind of its own when it comes to off road navigation.

It is easy to get caught up in a car for aesthetic reasons; the way the car looks, the way the seats feel, how everything seems to perfectly fit to you. The price may even be right on the money as well. But not having a clear idea of exactly what you need out of a car may catch up to you further down the line, leaving you wishing you had made a different decision.

If you are buying a new car or trading in your old one, every new car you meet will feel light-years beyond what you’re driving. There’s something about a brand new car that can easily make you believe it is perfect for you. By purchasing a vehicle without the seating you need or the towing capacity that is imperative to your lifestyle or job can really end up leaving high and dry.

It is easiest to, before ever stepping foot onto the lot, do your homework via the internet and narrow down a list of cars that may work for you. Determine what qualities you absolutely must have, next make a list of features you would like. You could even take your list with you when you visit the Missouri Toyota dealer and ask a salesperson their opinion. They may be able to quickly give you a handful of options to consider that meet your requirements.

Obviously, know what you can afford. This will also narrow down the pool even more precisely for your decision. If you have any doubts on what a best fit for you would be, I would recommend doing a test drive, making notes of the pros and cons of the cars in the running, then waiting to make a final decision. Give it a few days, and then revisit the dealer to make your purchase.

In selecting which type of device is right for you, you must first have a cell phone that has Bluetooth capacity, this seems like common sense, but it may be overlooked if you are one of those people (like me) who are not very technologically savvy.  Bluetooth is featured on most phones today, but some of the low cost or free phones that come with your calling plan will not have the Bluetooth feature.  Check with your cell phone company to see what options you have for purchasing a phone that is compatible with a Bluetooth device.

You can buy aftermarket Bluetooth car kits to wire into your stereo, there are several companies like Motorola and Parrot that have several models to choose from.The Parrot 3200LS-COLOR, for instance, not only adds Bluetooth calling from your cell phone over the car’s audio system, but will also mute your music when you have an incoming call, just like the integrated factory Bluetooth systems. This type of integrated system will cost few hundred bucks, plus installation charges.

Motorola and Parrot also make Bluetooth speakerphone devices that you can plug into the cigarette lighter or that are powered with rechargeable batteries, these devices do not require wiring, nor do they automatically mute the music when a call comes in.

In the end, your options are to get an integrated factory installed Bluetooth system from your new Toyota  St. Louis dealer, or to install a device with great factory-like features that is permanently wired to your car for about $400.

Equipment Needed
·    New Oil
·    New Oil Filter
·    Ratchet or Open End Wrench
·    Funnel
·    Clean Rags
·    Oil Filter Wrench
·    Oil Catch/Recycle Container

Step one is to drain the old oil out. It drains from the oil pan underneath the engine. Oil is held in the pan by a drain plug that looks like a big bolt at the bottom. Before removing the plug make sure that you have a container ready to capture the old oil.  Replace the drain plug and tighten to vehicle specifications. Next remove the old oil filter with the filter wrench. Be careful it’s still full of old oil which can spill out and make a mess. Lubricate the rubber gasket on the end of the new filter with some of the new oil. Next, fill it about 2/3 full of new oil. Screw on the filter hand tight only. Check the owner’s manual to see how much oil your vehicle holds. Screw off the oil cap, stick in a funnel, and add ¾ of that amount to the engine. Next check the level and add more until the proper level is achieved. Finally, put your oil cap back on and it’s cleanup time. Make sure to dispose of old engine oil in an environmentally friendly manner.

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When bugs die the hard way on the windshield of your certified Toyota, they can leave quite a bit of a mess. Sometimes there are smears, sometimes there are lumps, and they can be hard to remove. While you can immediately use your windshield wipers and some fluid on them to remove the carcasses, sometimes that just makes the problem worse. For whatever reason, bugs stick to windshields, they smear, and they are far too hard to remove.

If you are having a problem with bugs on your pre-owned certified Toyota, you may need to soak them off. On a warm day outside, or in the comfort of your garage, try wetting your windshield and letting the liquid soak into the dried bugs. Yes, this is a little gross, but soaking them off may be the best way to remove them. If you have a particularly difficult bug to remove, you can lay a wet cloth over it and give it extra time to soak. When this is done, simply clean your windshield as you normally do, and the bugs should clean up pretty easily.

While cleaning bugs off of the windshield of your certified Toyota may not be very glamorous, sometimes you just need to take care of business. So, take the time to soak them off and give your windshield a good cleaning. You’ll be able to see better on the St Louis roads, which will make driving all the more fun.

Just because UV light is out there doesn’t mean you have to let much of it into your hybrid Toyota. One great option is to invest in window tinting. Not only will it cut the glare as you travel from Kirkwood to O’Fallon, but it will help keep UV radiation out of your car. This means your skin will stay safer, and your interior will receive less sun damage over time. Leather can crack and plastics can fade, after all, so why not keep them looking fresh and new?

If your hybrid Toyota will be receiving a lot of Ballwin or St Louis, MO sun, you may want to find a product to help. There are many interior cleaning products with UV protectors in them. You can think of them as a type of sunscreen for your car. If the UV rays can’t hit your dashboard, it can’t show the effects of sun damage over the years. There are also waxes you can use on the exterior of your hybrid Toyota that will help keep the paint job looking fresh with no sun fading.

No matter what you do, take it from your St Louis Toyota dealer. Wearing sunscreen is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. Sure, your car is worth the effort, but your health is the most important thing of all.

Windshield wiper fluid is, of course, the fluid you put in your car that squirts out on your windshield when you need to wash it. It’s usually blue, and it does a great job of taking care of mud, grime, and all of the dirt of the St Louis roads. It needs a bit of soap, the ability to dry quickly, and to not freeze in the winter. While this sounds pretty simple, your Toyota dealer knows there is some debate about just what chemicals should be used in it. Most fluids contain an alcohol to help keep them from freezing. The problem is that all of this is let out into the air and it splashes on the ground. Since millions of liters are used each year, this can really add up.

Your Toyota dealer has learned that not only can these chemicals harm the environment, but some of them can damage your car. The solvents may eat away at the rubber and plastic parts of your vehicle, for example. They can also cause concrete to degrade, making Missouri roads less safe, and possibly costing more to keep them in good shape. It’s hard to believe something as simple as windshield wiper fluid could be doing this, isn’t it?

The next time you need to fill your windshield wiper fluid, take it from your Toyota dealer—it’s worth doing some research. There are homemade fluid options that are cheaper and easier on the environment, and they may be better for your car, too. There’s a long road ahead of you, and we want you to make sure that you’re using safe chemicals as you keep that windshield clear.