Gearing Up for Cold Weather Driving

Winter is coming! AccuWeather predicts an extended winter for New Jersey and Pennsylvania, with cold and snowy conditions likely stretching into the spring. Be prepared for winter driving by following these cold weather vehicle maintenance tips.

Emergency Supplies

In the event of an emergency, such as a breakdown, you want to have an emergency kit at your disposal. Your emergency kit should be kept in your car and include an ice scraper and snow brush, warm clothing and gloves, extra boots, blankets, a radio, a flashlight and extra batteries, a car phone charger, flares, food, and water. 

Tires

Low air pressure and worn tires reduce traction and make driving particularly dangerous on wet, slick and icy roads. Inspect your tires for signs of uneven wearing, cupping, and abrasions, and check the remaining tread life. Replace any worn or damaged tires.

Refer to your owner's manual for the proper tire pressure. Check the pressure at least monthly; let your tires cool down beforehand be taking the pressure. Also rotate your tires as recommended, and make sure you have a healthy spare and jack on hand, just in case. 

Fluids

Check your vehicle's fluid levels, including the engine oil, coolant, and wiper fluid.

• Oil: Changing your oil as recommended keeps the engine clean and helps it last longer. A thinner engine oil is usually recommended when the temperature falls below freezing. Refer to the owner's manual or consult your mechanic for the right type of oil for your vehicle.
• Coolant: Maintaining the correct antifreeze-to-water ratio helps protect your engine and radiator. Have the cooling system flushed and refilled with new fluid when required, and have the coolant tested to ensure it can withstand cold temperatures. 
• Wiper fluid: Snow and rain can impair your vision, so your vehicle must be equipped with anti-freeze wiper fluid to maintain a clean and clear windshield. 

 Wiper Blades

Along with wiper fluid, the wiper blades must be in good condition. Wipers that are old, cracked or worn will leave streaks on your windshield and only obstruct your vision. Replace your wipers if they don't completely clear the glass.

Battery

A dead battery can leave you stranded, and it's harder for a battery to start the engine in cold weather. Have a service technician inspect your battery to ensure it's in good condition. A professional will inspect the cables and terminals for proper attachment and signs of damage and corrosion. 

Defroster and Heater

A well-functioning defroster and heater are essential for comfortable and safe winter driving. Have your heating system inspected and repaired before winter hits to avoid any problems.

Many car dealers in New Jersey have certified technicians on-site who offer vehicle service and repairs. Head to the dealership today to winterize your vehicle.

Factors to Consider When Talking to Car Dealers in NJ about a Car for Your Teenager

One of the most exciting things for our New Jersey Toyota dealership is when we see parents walking around our lots with their teenager looking for a starter car. It’s not only a thrill to have the opportunity to lock in a customer for life through our superior service, but it’s also awesome to see parents who are helping their children with such an important decision. We understand how concerned parents are with the safety of their loved ones. Today, we will take a look at the factors you should be considering to ensure you get a vehicle you can feel comfortable with your teenager driving.

Safety – Obviously, the most important feature in a car for a teen driver is safety. It’s the main reason people turn to New Jersey Toyota dealers. There are plenty of options from Toyota that offer superior safety in their class. Be sure to ask your dealer about the safety of both new and used cars. The nice thing is you don’t have to sacrifice style for safety. Some of our mid-sized offerings have five star safety ratings and modern designs.

Color – To keep with the safety theme, be sure to consider the color of the vehicle. Yellow cars provide more safety than any other color simply because they are the easiest to see. It’s why school buses are yellow. You certainly don’t have to choose yellow as the color of the vehicle for your teenager, but know that the brighter the shade of the color, the less likely an accident is to occur. Red offers a great alternative to yellow and just about the same safety features.

Fuel Efficiency – It’s natural for teenagers to want the largest SUV on the lot. They are awesome cars and they certainly offered the desired safety. The only problem is some SUVs won’t provide the fuel economy parents are looking for.  There are plenty of ways to compromise on an issue like this and our Toyota dealers are more than happy to discuss all options. Definitely consider the Rav-4 as it provides the look of an SUV with the fuel economy of a mid-sized vehicle.

Bluetooth Technology – One of the biggest causes for accidents amongst teen drivers is cellphone usage. Talk to your dealer about vehicles that come with Bluetooth technology. As much as parents want their children to stay off the phone entirely and focus on the road, Bluetooth technology provides a way for teenagers to focus on driving and still talk to their friends.

Once you have the vehicle or even before, set some ground rules with your teenagers. It’s important that they understand how many people are permitted by NJ law to ride along with them. It’s also important for them to understand that texting and driving is a great way to lose driving privileges.  When you take all of these factors into account, you can be sure of a happy experience with your Toyota before and after you visit our Rt. 22 Toyota dealer.

Drive Out of Route 22 Toyota with Your Car for the Next Decade

One of the main reasons drivers choose Toyota more than any other brand of vehicle is the understanding that Toyota’s are built to last. The car you buy tomorrow could very well be the car your child drives ten years down the road. When you purchase a new vehicle at your Route 22 Toyota dealership, we want you to feel like you bought a car that will be part of your family for at least a decade. That’s why we put together the following tips to follow to ensure a long lasting relationship with your new Toyota

• Never Skimp on Preventative Maintenance – It’s not only imperative that a new Toyota gets an oil change every 3,000 miles, it’s also important that the filters and motor oil purchased are of a high quality. Paying extra on synthetic motor oil and the filters that are used during your oil change could pay off big time in the end. Also, consider keeping track of your tire pressure and driving in a manner that doesn’t put your car under unnecessary strain.

•  Inspect Your Vehicle – The worst problems with vehicles are the ones that go unnoticed for too long. While things can certainly be spotted during your routine maintenance checkup, make a habit of inspecting your vehicle for a few minutes from time to time. In doing this you may find issues with the hoses under the hood, tires that are wearing unevenly or even save yourself from a ticket by noticing one of your lights is out.

• Keep That Shine – Regular car washes may seem more about style than substance, but that’s not really the case. Keeping your car washed regularly can actually help prevent damage to the outside of your vehicle. This is especially true during the winter months in New Jersey where rock salt is everywhere and can eat away at your paint year after year.

•  Follow the Laws – It sounds simple enough, but the laws of the road are put in place not only to keep the masses safe, but to keep you and your vehicle safe as well. The more law abiding you are on the open road, the more likely your vehicle will remain untouched. And nothing takes away from the longevity of a vehicle more than a preventable accident.

• Cover Up – We talked about regular washes for a clean exterior that prevents body damage during the winter, but the summer months can be brutal on the body of your car as well. Leaving your car out underneath the hot sun day after day can actually lead to solar damage. Also, utilizing a carport will protect your vehicle from bird droppings as well as sap from nearby trees.

The best part about these tips is they don’t require an excessive amount of work but can lead to huge savings on vehicle repair during your time with your Toyota vehicle. A responsible owner will always get the best value from their car. Have any questions? Don’t hesitate to contact our experts or stop by our Route 22 Toyota dealership today!

Find Your Perfect Match

Buying a used car can be an exciting new experience. Who doesn’t love hitting the road in a new vehicle purchase that you love? Despite the fun and excitement that comes along with getting a car, there are some tools of the trade that may benefit you next time you head off with your checkbook. Whether you’re heading to the dealership or buying from a private seller, arming yourself with knowledge and resources will help you make the most informed decision. Here are five things we recommend doing before buying that new used car…

1 Decide what you want and research it. Buying a used car can be a smart financial move, but making an impulse buy could mean you end up with a lemon. It’s a good idea to plan out on paper what you are exactly looking for in the car. For instance, how many seats does it have? Mid-size, SUV or two door? Which features are a must? That way, you can keep your options narrowed down and your decision less complicated.

2 Set your budget. Nobody but you should be in control of your budget and is flexibility. Don’t compromise too easily on price just to get the car you want. Decide on a price range before you enter into sale negotiations that way you can better your chances of ending up with a price you’re comfortable with. Also, don’t reveal your budget range until after the dealer or seller makes the first offer—always maintain the upper hand in the negotiations.

3 Run a Carfax report. Carfax reports give you the appropriate information you need for the car of your choice, i.e. accident history and other questionable events in the car’s life.  Some dealers may run the reports for you, others such as private sellers, may not. Run the reports yourself if the dealer or seller are otherwise unable to.

4 Do a test drive. The most imperative part of the entire used car buying process is this one—the test drive. It is essential to see for yourself how the car actually drives, and it is important to test the driving capabilities in a variety of settings. Drive on the highway, downhill, slicks roads, etc. If something does not seem right, trust your gut and go for something different!

5 Don’t be afraid to walk away. Never walk into the sale with your heart set on purchasing the car in that moment—never be too eager to buy or you can wind up in a position to purchase something you’re not truly comfortable with. Never settle—it’s never worth problems down the road, so don’t be afraid to walk away and looking for something else. Don’t stop until you find the perfect car for you! And you can find that perfect car for you at 1800 Auto Land, the best used car dealers in New Jersey.