Fall Car Maintenance Checklist

Summer is coming to an end, and the leaves are beginning to fall. This change in weather means that maintenance is due on your vehicle to prepare for the coming months. Learn what fall car maintenance needs to be done in order for your vehicle to function safely and optimally.

1. Install New Wiper Blades

Fall is the best time to replace your wiper blades, as it is arguably the season that experiences the most variable storm-like weather. This step of replacing your wiper blades is very easy, and vital in terms of visibility on the roads. This low maintenance project costs anywhere from $10-$20.

2. Ensure a Working Spare Tire

Checking that your spare tire is ready in case of an emergency is just as important as making sure your four other tires are accurately inflated and in good condition. Tire pressure in particular affects many driving mechanisms, and healthy tires mean safer driving. Missing a spare tire altogether, or need a new set? Get the right tires for your Toyota.

3. Check and Replace Fluids

Standard vehicle fluids such as wiper fluid, antifreeze, and brake fluid will need to be checked for quality and proper levels before the temperatures begin to drop. The biggest change from summer to winter is the type and quantity of fluid needed for daily function. Schedule a maintenance package that includes a fluids check to get everything done at once. 

4. Switch Out the Air Filter

Car owners are encouraged to replace engine filters twice a year on average. If a filter becomes full and clogged, it can impact fuel economy and overall performance, and emissions levels can sky rocket. A clean filter means a clean engine.

5. Assess Battery Terminals and Lights

Car engines may begin to exhibit signs of issues, which may be as minor as a corroded battery or loose cord. These problems may seem large, but they are actually easily repairable, and more importantly, preventable. In addition to a strong battery, clean and bright headlights are required to see during darker seasonal months. Safety is the most important reason to maintain your vehicle’s lights and battery operation. 

By taking these simple steps, your car will be ready for fall, and most importantly, you’ll prevent larger issues that might arise down the road.

Schedule your Toyota of Puyallup service appointment online and get service coupons to make driving in the Pacific Northwest a safe and easy experience.

About Toyota of Puyallup

Toyota of Puyallup is an authorized Toyota dealership specializing in new car sales, used carsales, and Toyota service. Visit us online to view new inventory and pre-owned inventory as well as information about current sales events and incentives.

Tips for Car Shopping in the 21st Century

Buying cars today is very different from the way it was 50 years ago. In fact, the car-buying landscape has changed so much that even a decade ago we went about buying cars differently. Gone are the days of going to a dealership cold, not knowing yet which model you’re going to purchase.

The main reason for this difference: the internet. Now we’ve got Kelley Blue Book, Carfax, online car inventories, thousands of user reviews, and nearly anything else you need to ensure you’re making a smart, informed purchase.

Look, we’re not going to pull the wool over your eyes; for many people, car shopping is pretty taxing. Cars cost a decent chunk of change and they come in endless varieties. With all the modern resources at our disposal, however, it doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, the search for the perfect car can end up being pretty fun, and if done right, a huge relief.

Here are our tips for car shopping in the 21^st century.

Create your Dream Car List

Once you’ve calculated your budget, you can begin compiling a list of dream cars. The beauty of the World Wide Web is that you don’t have to go anywhere but your computer to start dreaming. Visit Edmunds or Kelley Blue Book and peruse some “best of” lists and user reviews, and start writing down the makes and models that catch your eye and fit snugly into your budget. At this point, don’t worry too much about the nitpicky details. If a car gets good reviews and few complaints, add it to the list.

Next, start weeding out the cars that don’t suit your needs. Of course aesthetics are important, but the tell-tale sign of a good car they are not. After you’ve picked out a few models you like, start looking at their specs. Manufacturers and dealers often provide vehicle brochures that call attention to important selling points. That Camry might be an amazing car in its own right, but does your family need the space that the Sienna provides? Does it have the same high-tech hardware as the Avalon to accommodate the gear you carry around all day?

Once your list is finalized, full of quality makes and models that suit your needs, you can move on to finding a good dealer.

A Trustworthy Dealership

Not all car dealerships are created equal. All it takes to find that out is to peruse all the online user reviews that live in the internet.

Review aggregators come in all shapes and sizes. A few of the most popular places for people to post online reviews are Yelp, Google, and Cars.com. Many dealers also keep a page of reviews on their own site. Don’t just stop at one site and call it good; travel all over the web to see what people are saying.

Reviews are definitely not the final word on the worth of a car dealer. Often times, people provide conflicting reviews. Some reviews are exaggerated, others are understated. Rather, visit the dealership’s website and compare their car prices with what you find in Kelley Blue Book. Review the Carfax of the cars they provide to see if they’re picking well-maintained cars with a clean history (not sure how to use Carfax? Check out this handy article).

Many dealerships also offer online quotes and finance applications to assist in the process. These kinds of online resources are there for the convenience of the customer, not the business. Fill them out and see what the dealership is willing to offer you. If you like what you see, it’s time to visit.

The rest of the process is old-fashioned. You’ve done your research and found the car you want. Now, drive the car, push its buttons, open all its compartments, and make sure everything works. If you like it, buy it.

About Toyota of Puyallup

Toyota of Puyallup is an authorized Toyota dealership specializing in new car sales, used car sales, and Toyota service. Visit us online to view new inventory and pre-owned inventory as well as information about current sales events and incentives.

How to Make Your Car Last Longer

Just because we don’t all know what we’re doing doesn’t mean we can’t learn a few tricks that help stack on the miles. But this isn’t just about mileage—it’s also about saving some serious change.

The secrets to a long-lasting car are actually pretty simple. Like any relationship, it’s all about showing some tender love and care.

Service schedule

Your car’s owner manual is its bible. Consult it often. Have at least a vague idea of what it contains. One important piece of information it holds is your vehicle’s maintenance schedule, which lays out when to get the oil changed, among other things. Trust that maintenance schedule over anyone else’s, since its coming straight from the people who made the car and know it best.

Taking your car in according to the maintenance schedule keeps it in tip-top shape. Even if you know how to change your own oil, there are things mechanics can do that the average person can’t: check suspension, rotate tires, flush radiator, change brake pads—the list goes on. Missing even one oil change can hurt your engine, giving it premature wear.

Fluids and tire pressure

Everyone should have a basic understanding of their car. Know how to check the oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, coolant, hoses, belts, and tire pressure. It’s not necessarily crucial to know how to replace the fluids, but knowing what to look for is. Thankfully, we live in a digital age with access to tons of online videos and articles to guide you through what to look for.

Checking the tire pressure is not only simple, but crucial. Properly inflated tires ensure that you’re getting the best mileage possible from your car, while also making your tires last longer. And if you keep up with your maintenance schedule, your mechanics will keep them aligned and rotate them when necessary so that they wear evenly.

Odd noises

If you listen to music while you drive, every so often it’s wise to turn it off and just listen to your engine. Familiarize yourself with its normal sounds, so that if you start to hear odd noises of clicking, grinding, or squealing, you know that something’s wrong. And of course, when you suspect something is wrong, never hesitate to stop by your mechanic and get it checked. Waiting to find out what that bad noise your car is making could result in an accident that could have been prevented.

Drive gently

Driving to and from work, we shouldn’t be driving like rally racers. Fast acceleration and abrupt stops are hard on an engine, so treat your car gently. When you start up the engine, let it sit for a moment before speeding off down the road so the engine fluids can warm up and start circulating before being thrust into use. Accelerate slow and steady—this avoids excessive wear on your transmission and tires, while also improving fuel economy by as much as 35%.

Of course, occasional the pedal-to-the-metal style driving won’t destroy your engine. Everything in moderation. Sometimes, fast acceleration and quick breaking is necessary in order to avoid accidents

Clean and Cover

If you’ve got a garage, you probably already use it. For everyone else, buying a breathable cover for your car when it’s not in use is a great way to keep it protected from the elements. Intense heat, cold, snow, and rain all take a toll on your car over time. Keeping the paint protected from the elements prevents fading, peeling, and rust.

In addition to protecting your car with cover, a regular wash and wax does wonders for longevity. Washing and waxing also helps to prevent fading, peeling, and rusting. Just remember to wash the undercarriage of your car! Those tires kick up a lot of dirt and salt, so get a good under-flush to prevent rust in the nether regions as well.

About Toyota of Puyallup

Toyota of Puyallup is an authorized Toyota dealership specializing in new car sales, used car sales, and Toyota service. Visit us online to view new inventory and pre-owned inventory as well as information about current sales events and incentives.

Why Buying a Used Toyota is Better

The used car world can be a dangerous one. For some of us, our worst fear is buying a used car, only to have it conk out a week later. If that fear describes your experience, you may want to consider buying a Toyota when you’re on the hunt for your next used car. Known for being the longest lasting brand in the industry, a Toyota is the best used car you can get.

Less Money

If your goal is to spend less money, buying a slightly used Toyota can save you thousands of dollars versus buying a different car. But what’s the point if the car doesn’t age well?

Automotive News released a report done by Consumer Reports that named the best used vehicles from 2004 to 2013 model years. In the study, they gauged at fuel economy, reliability, and comfort to determine which cars would be at the top of the list. Of the 28 vehicles that made the list, 11 of them were Toyotas.

So not only will your used Toyota be comfortable, it will save you money with its fuel efficiency and its lifelong reliability. Say goodbye to frequent visits to the auto shop, and hello to safe journeys in a dependable vehicle.

Long-lasting Value

More so than nearly any other good, cars lose big chunks of value in short amounts of time. Therefore, the goal is to buy a car for the long haul—one that gets the most miles possible and is still fit to sell, should the need to sell arise.

According to Forbes, Toyota vehicles average 210,705 miles until they become “worthless,” higher than any other brand. That’s not to say they aren’t still drivable past that mile marker—“worthless” is the theoretical point where the car loses all its value.

Here’s the full list:

1. Toyota – 210,705
2. Honda – 209,001 miles
3. Ford – 198,409 miles
4. Dodge – 198,266 miles
5. Chevrolet – 195,754 miles
6. Nissan – 195,593 miles
7. Subaru – 189,370 miles
8. GMC – 188,584 miles
9. Acura – 178,947 miles
10. Mazda – 177,729 miles

Toyota places a tremendous amount of value on quality, and this data proves it. With timeless comfort, style, and quality engineering that keep Toyotas on the road longer than any other brand, Toyota is the best used car you can buy.

About Toyota of Puyallup

Toyota of Puyallup is an authorized Toyota dealership specializing in new car sales, used car sales, and Toyota service. Visit us online to view new inventory and pre-owned inventory as well as information about current sales events and incentives.

Advantages of Buying New and Used Cars

Whether you’ve run your old car into the ground or need a change, replacing your car can be an overwhelming process full of questions. One of the biggest questions to ask yourself is whether to buy new or used. The debate has raged on for years, but there are plenty of advantages to buying both new and used cars.

3 Advantages of New Cars

Specification – One of the biggest advantages of a new car is making that car your own. Toyota’s come with a plethora of options, so you can customize the car with the exterior, interior, colors and gadgets that you’ve always wanted.

Warranty and Maintenance – Another perk of a new car is the warranty and lower maintenance costs. At Toyota of Puyallup, we include a no cost maintenance plan and roadside assistance with the purchase of every new Toyota. For 2 years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first, your normal factory scheduled service is on us.

Fuel Efficiency and Safety – At Toyota, we’re always striving to improve upon what’s been done and that’s evident in the 2015 lineup. The new Toyota’s are the best yet in fuel efficiency and safety.

3 Advantages of Used Cars

Price – One of the biggest advantages of a used car is the difference in price as compared to a new car.

Toyota Certified Used Vehicle (TCUV) program – We’ve talked before about the benefits of the Toyota Certified Used Vehicle program and the rigorous standards that we hold our vehicles to. Not every used car is qualified to be a TCUV and we insure that any car with the TCUV sticker is up to par.

Insurance Rates – The age of your car does play a part in determining your insurance rates, so a used car will tend to be cheaper to insure than a brand new car.

No matter whether you decide to buy new or used, Toyota of Puyallup has the right Toyota for you. Come schedule a test drive today!

About Toyota of Puyallup

Toyota of Puyallup is an authorized Toyota dealership specializing in new car sales, used car sales, and Toyota service. Visit us online to view new inventory and pre-owned inventory as well as information about current sales events and incentives.

(Image Couresy of Graur Razvan Ionut and FreeDigitialPhotos.net)