CAR CARE NEWS :: MAY 2012

Win a $7000 luxury suite at AT&T Park

Enjoy some luxury June 9 when the Giants host the red-hot Texas Rangers at AT&T Park. Just enter the Toyota Suitestakes for a chance to win a catered executive suite for you and 15 of your closest friends.

Stop by the Service Department at Piercey Toyota for a voucher to enter the contest. No purchase is necessary.

The prize is valued at $7,000 and the winner will be announced on or about May 18.

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New car

Prius c perfect subcompact for city lifestyle

The newest addition to Toyota’s iconic Prius is set to debut in March. Called the Prius c, it is a subcompact designed specifically to fit the lives of city dwellers.

Prius c is one facet of the expanding Prius line, which also includes the third generation Prius liftback, the new Prius v and the Prius Plug-in Hybrid – also coming in 2012.

Under the Hood

A 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine producing 73 horsepower and 82 pound-feet of torque mates with a 60-horsepower electric motor for a total horsepower output of 99. That adds up to an EPA-estimated 53 mpg in the city and 46 mpg on the highway.

Powering the electric motor is a 144-volt nickel hydride battery pack that Toyota engineers set low under the rear passenger seat so the vehicle’s center of gravity is kept low.

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Seasonal service

Pre-trip checklist for worry-free car travel

Family vacations make for life-long memories. How can you help prevent those journeys from becoming a bittersweet adventure?

According to experts, one of the simplest ways is to take your vehicle for a simple check-up.

"A little maintenance goes a long way in keeping your family safe and your vehicle on the road," says John Wallauch, Chief of California's Bureau of Automotive Repair. "You should be spending your time enjoying your trip, not worrying about whether your car will make it to your vacation destination and back home."

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Toyota Newsline

Toyota Videos

2012 Venza Overview

Toyota Prius C: Welcome to the game of life

The Camry Effect

Toyota Corolla Co-pilot :30

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Got a question?

Seasonal driving

Cactus Highway blooms with color this spring

Rick Bowers is the kind of driver who keeps one eye on the road and one eye on the side of the road. He’s looking for clues, anything that will betray the hiding spots of his quarry.

“Sometimes they hide underneath desert brush,” said Bowers, a field ecologist whose name is on the cover of some 150 field guides. “Often you can see them 20 or 30 feet off the roadside.”

Other times they squeeze in the crevices of massive boulders or crouch among tall grasses of the Sonora desert.

What is Bowers’ target of prickly interest?

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Before you go

Teens: What to do when handing over the keys

What happens when the kids grow out of the backseat and into the driver's seat? Some safety guidelines can help parents assure their children’s safety.

“Vehicle dependability is just as important for young drivers as it is for adults,” said Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council. “No parent wants their children to be stranded somewhere.”

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Accessories

Five tire tips to help prevent summer accidents

Sudden thunderstorms, road debris, oily asphalt, cone zones—all of these conditions can make for hazardous summer driving. The problems can become life-threatening when driving on bald or damaged tires.

So says Daniel Zielinski, vice president of communications at the Rubber Manufacturer’s Association.

“Tires are engineered to handle a lot of stress as long as they are maintained properly,” Zielinski said. “Once the integrity of components is damaged, tires ultimately will come apart.”

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Car care

Spruce up for spring at the carwash

While some drivers enjoy getting the garden hose, sponge and a bucket of water, others prefer driving through an automatic carwash to get rid of vehicle grime. But are all carwash facilities created equal?

Worries of getting a side mirror blasted or paint scratches from the carwash brushes make some drivers a bit leery. So how do you choose a good automatic car wash facility?

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