2014 Toyota Corolla First Look

 Most new car buyers don't care about exciting style or an engaging drive. They just want an efficient vehicle that is reliable. With the 2014 Toyota Corolla, they can have the best of both worlds.

Car Care Tip of the Week: Listen for strange noises and slippage!

Pay attention to any change in the behavior or feel of your car’s transmission – especially a delay or slippage when it changes gear. If you hear strange noises while the transmission is in operation, be sure to have it inspected right away.

Toyota RAV4 "Baby Translator"

Wish you knew what your baby was babbling about? Well, the RAV4 Genie is here to make all your wishes come true. #WishGranted 

 

Here’s your Car Care Tip of the Week: Empty Your Pockets!

The average guy spends 67 minutes each day behind the wheel. A thick wallet in your back pocket raises one hip above the other, twisting your spine and straining your lower back. Plus it can put pressure on your sciatic nerve, a common source of lower-back pain.

Toyota Financial Services is proud to team with Glinda Bridgforth a leading financial expert as she provides helpful money tips to meet your financial goals and improve your financial health.

2015 Toyota Prius wins our vote for the best camouflaged car

As you see in the spy shots here (credit to AutoBlog), the car has been heavily camouflaged (even the side view mirrors and alloy design has been camouflaged). This is why we voted the 2015 Prius in the images here as the best camouflaged car.

Prius has already completed its powertrain development and is currently in the process of undergoing road tests. The 2015 model is expected to be highly fuel efficient with best in class fuel economy and will sit on a modular platform. Interiors were also evident from the vehicle on test where it could be seen sporting a three spoke steering wheel and brand new instrument panel design. A new touch panel interface depicting the latest of technology with minimum amount of dials and buttons are seen in its interiors.

The new Prius is expected to sport the same 1.8 liter 2ZR-FXE though it will be mated to a new hybrid system. Batteries are likely to be lithium but other options is still being considered. Toyota is planning on commencing production of the 2015 Prius in the US from early 2015.

2014 Scion tC Preview

Considering the tC's sales success for the brand, you can understand why the 2014 Scion tC doesn't mess with the system much. The front fascia is new, FR-S-inspired and features a gaping maw and Prius C-inspired headlamps. Get the first look at this beauty here!

It's Wallpaper Wednesday!

For Wallpaper Wednesday, check out this photo of the 2011 Highlander! A great Toyota SUV to own. Click download and save this weeks wallpaper to your desktop!

2014 Toyota Corolla shows just enough to keep us interested

To date, the best idea we have of what the 2014 Toyota Corolla will look like is the shape and styling of the Furia Concept from this year's Detroit Auto Show. Obviously the compact car will turn down the wick a fair bit from that orange machine, and now we have one more scintilla of an idea of what the final product will look like.

Published today on Toyota's official Facebook page, the image above clearly shows the rear quarter of the 2014 Corolla S. Though the low angle is pretty wonky, we can make out that the shape of the taillight cluster is very similar to that of the Furia, albeit without the same LED treatment, A hint of a trunk-lid spoiler is also in evidence, and also follows the Furia's lead.

Toyota points out that the new Corolla will be shown in earnest on June 6. Expect to see the full version of the car by that date at the latest – online leaks have a tendancy to speed these things up.


Courtesy of Auto Blog 

Follow us on Twitter!

Our Twitter page is a whale of a tale with all of our followers joining in our weekly conversations. Don't miss out! Come follow us at @ToyotaofSanford!

https://twitter.com/ToyotaofSanford

Toyota Collaborator with Google+

Toyota and Google+ have teamed up to make car shopping a little more social with Collaborator. We are proud to share the Toyota Collaborator prototype at Google I/O, and look forward to releasing it to consumers in the future.

Thank you Nicole for this great review of Dennis and our dealership!

"I went to Toyota of Sanford after totaling my 2009 Camry. Dennis was my representative, and he made us feel like old friends. It was a pleasurable experience to purchase my latest Toyota from them. I was so relieved to get a car that I was able to drive home immediately. The entire staff was great, including the sales manager Jay. Thanks guys--It was awesome." -Nicole L. 

For more excellent reviews, click here: http://bit.ly/10QhMbv

Summer Road Trip Tip - Take the scenic route!

Life really is about the journey, so for Pete's sake, have some fun on your trip. If you're particularly confident in your navigator (or navigation system), consider taking the more picturesque side roads instead of broad, mind-numbing interstates that may be packed with big rigs and holiday travelers.

Anthony Davidson reviews the Toyota Auris Hybrid

Anthony Davidson, driver of the Toyota TS030 hybrid endurance racer, takes the new Auris Hybrid out for a spin.

New Auris is the latest model to reflect Toyota's determination to engineer cars that are more appealing and dynamically engaging to drive, while building on its long-established reputation for quality, durability and reliability.

As well as presenting a more confident exterior design and a higher quality interior, new Auris also benefits from improvements to driving dynamics and efficiency enhancements to its powertrain line-up, including the full hybrid system that powers the flagship Auris Hybrid model.

The car's exterior and interior are all new, and it has the distinction of sitting lower than any other mainstream C-segment model. The overall height is 55mm less than the current model and a lower front end design helps deliver excellent aerodynamic performance with a Cd0.28 drag coefficient, supporting better handling stability and lower fuel consumption.

New Auris adopts the new "face" of Toyota in the design of its grille and the sharp-edged appearance of its headlights and LED daytime running lights, giving the car a more powerful road presence.

In profile there is another dramatic styling change with the extension of the side glazing into three panels. The effect will be rendered even more eye-catching in some versions with a piano black finish for the B-pillars and a dynamic treatment of the C-pillars above a stronger and more pronounced chrome-trimmed rising belt line.

At the rear new Auris has a wider opening tailgate, with an interplay of convex and concave surfaces, a wrap-around combination lamp design and new bumper profile, strengthening the car's broad stance.

The new interior is more spacious and comfortable, and introduces Skyview, one of the largest panoramic roofs in the segment. Toyota has paid special attention to the sensory quality of the cabin and worked in detail to achieve a greater sense of visual unity through consistency of lighting, colours, finishes, and even the font used for the graphics.

The air vent and meter surrounds, centre console and transmission tunnel trim share a high quality satin silver finish, and on higher grades the dashboard itself is leather trimmed. The tactile quality of the interior surfaces has been improved, with baseball-stitched nappa leather used to trim the steering wheel, and soft touch materials featured on the instrument panel's upper surface. The assist grips and door grips have a soft texture finish, the door armrests are padded and the pillars are fabric-trimmed.

Smart packaging has improved the driving position and added 20mm to rear seat knee room and 90mm to the loadspace length. All hatchback versions provide more luggage space, at 360 litres. Repositioning of the battery pack beneath the rear seat has ensured Auris Hybrid has the same load capacity as other models in the range.

New Auris further benefits from a lower ride height, driving position and centre of gravity. The steering and suspension have been revised to help give a more comfortable, responsive and enjoyable drive.

Attention has also been paid to weight management, with greater use of high tensile steel, particularly in the upper part of the body structure. This contributes to a 10 per cent increase in body stiffness and an overall vehicle weight saving of up to 40kg (according to version), while also helping to lower the car's centre of gravity.

Toyota was the first manufacturer to offer a choice of three powertrains in the C-segment and this continues with the new model. Efficiency and dynamic improvements have been made to the Hybrid Synergy Drive system, which will be offered in Auris Hybrid. Within the UK the new model will also feature 1.4-litre diesel and 1.33 and 1.6-litre petrol engines. Europe-wide Toyota expects an even one-third share of sales for each powertrain type – full hybrid, diesel and petrol –reflecting how hybrid has matured to become a mainstream rather than a niche choice.


Courtesy of House of Japan

May is Military Appreciation Month!

Toyota-Scion of Sanford proudly salutes and thanks all branches of the US Military! In honor of your service, we have some special discounts and rebates (up to $500!) on our site. Check them out here: http://bit.ly/ZLjBVF

 

Keep Your Toyota A Toyota!

See how our team of hyper-caring experts can keep your Toyota exactly the way it was meant to be.

Car Care Tip of the Week: Don’t forget to flush!

Coolant-antifreeze eventually degrades and becomes contaminated. Flush it from your cooling system as recommended in your manual (typically every two years; every five years for newer coolants). Failing to do so can damage your radiator, clog your heater core, and cause the thermostat and water pump to fail.

Military Appreciation Month

May is Military Appreciation Month! Toyota-Scion of Sanford proudly salutes and thanks all branches of the US Military! In honor of your service, we have some special discounts and rebates (up to $500!) on our site. Check them out here: http://bit.ly/ZLjBVF

2013 Scion xB Interior Walkaround

The interior of the Scion xB includes premium features like a 6 speaker sound system, steering wheel audio controls, and Bluetooth connectivity, all standard. Check it out here!

Fred Anderson Toyota of Sanford supports the Sanford Arts & Vine Festival this weekend!

Help us spread the word! Learn more here: http://on.fb.me/103DT9g
 

Car Care Tip of the Week: Check the wipers and lighting!

This will enable you to see and be seen. Check that all interior and exterior lighting is working properly and replace worn wiper blades so you can see clearly when driving during precipitation.

2013 Scion xB Exterior Walkaround

With standard features like a chrome-tipped exhaust and projector-beam headlamps, the 2013 Scion xB is the only hatchback in its class that checks all the boxes. The high shoulder line of the xB emphasizes its unique two-box styling, while new LED accent lamps make it stand out in a crowd. 

Check out our battery specials!

We have batteries starting at only $79.95 with NO installation charge! That is a savings of $25! Click here to print your coupon and schedule your next service: http://bit.ly/10O27tw

Snow Drifting the Toyota GT 86 with Fredric Aasbo!

On this episode of The Downshift, we head to Norway to see what Formula Drift driver Fredric Aasbo does in the offseason in the cold Scandinavian winters. (Maybe some snow drifting?)

We’re thrilled to announce we’ve reached 5 million hybrid sales worldwide.

Toyota-Scion of Sanford wants to thank Toyota Hybrid owners for making this possible!

Care Care Tip of the Week: Wax it!

Nothing keeps paint looking good and protected like a coat of quality wax. Apply wax at least every six months.

2013 Toyota RAV4: A Nicer View Than Ever Of Middle Of The Road

When we had our first shot behind the wheel of the 2013 Toyota RAV4, the overall judgment from Managing Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski could be summed up in a sentence along the lines of, "Eh, not bad." The truth is that the compact crossover segment, now filled with not-so-compact offerings, is as cutthroat as any in the industry these days. When a heavyweight player like the RAV4 comes to market with a new generation, it is not at liberty to start from a clean sheet, lest it throw cold water on a vehicle that sells tens of thousands of units globally every month. Like De La Soul says, "Stakes is high."

If the choices in the marketplace were still largely limited to the Honda CR-V, as was the case when this market niche was green, the Toyota offering might actually seem like the exciting choice. But with new players offering better dynamic thrills (Mazda CX-5), cool turbo motors and fancy technology (Ford Escape), or even crunchy cred (Subaru Forester), the small crossover shopper is really spoiled for choice in 2013.

With Mr. Korzeniewski's excellent First Drive review covering the granularity of the RAV4 specification so well, we chose to focus our notes this time around on living with the Toyota in its natural suburban habitat for a longer stretch. What's more, we'll try to mark out where the CUV wins, loses or draws with the rest of the strident segment.

We were a little surprised to see not so much as an eyebrow raised at the 2013 RAV4.

In terms of exterior styling, we'll reiterate our first assessment of the RAV4 by saying that the 2013 version is better looking than ever before. Nearly everyone agrees that the black cladding around the body sides and front and rear fascias does just enough to butch up the delicate-nosed CUV without going off the deep-end into gritty SUV territory. We like the way the body sits primed on the 17-inch alloy wheels, too, with just enough space between the tire and the wheel well to offer a vague notion of ground clearance, yet with ride height low enough to make the RAV4 seem planted. (Be honest, CUV Driver – you only go off-road by accident.) Still, park the RAV4 next to any Sportage, CX-5 or even the smaller Subaru XV Crosstrek, and it starts to look a little dull.

We rarely get stopped by questioning members of the public when driving small crossovers of any kind (well, except for the Range Rover Evoque), but we were still a little surprised to see not so much as an eyebrow raised at the 2013 RAV4. Older versions of the Toyota are all over the place, and yet not a head was turned all week while we drove some 200+ miles. That's hardly scientific, but anecdotally, we must admit that this brand-new Toyota design blends right into the background.

We do have some worries about the longevity of the cabin materials.

With around 5,000 miles on the odometer when we grabbed the keys, our RAV4 XLE was still an infant in terms of the 200k+ mile Toyota life expectancy. We've got no reason to believe that this vehicle will be anything less than mechanically bulletproof as the years roll on, but we do have some worries about the longevity of the cabin materials. While your writer took slightly less offense to the milieu of textures and surfaces in the RAV4 cockpit than have other reviewers (I quite liked the cloth seat fabric, and the leather-clad swathe of dash), there's no question that there are already some wear issues.

In particular, the brittle-feeling and inappropriate-looking 'carbon fiber'-style trim was badly scratched up. In the high touch area around the gear lever, presumably swiped by keys in hand fairly often, we found a mass of fine scratches and gouges. Plastic on the steering column and on the door controls was scratched up as well. Should the damage have been confined to just one area, we would have overlooked it, but as abrasions seemed to be part and parcel to the hard plastics throughout the cabin, we're guessing that they'll just be a fact of life for normal owners.



Another set of real-world gripes cropped up while using the Display Audio system with Toyota's Entune software. For one, the lack of a dedicated button to reach the navigation or map screen is annoying. You've got to press the hard button labeled "Apps" on the console, and then use the touchscreen to get into the map/navigation menus. This strikes us as an odd interface path, and different than most systems we've used, though it is admittedly something that won't take long to learn.

Worse was our experience with the Bluetooth connection, however. After going through the simple process of linking our iPhone to the Toyota system (for phone and audio), we expected to be able to stow the phone safely in our pocket and forget it. Unfortunately, three or four times over the course of the week, Entune somehow completely lost the connection with the phone (for the record, this happened both with the iPhone in our pocket, and with it placed in the cubby in front of the gear lever). This dropping also prompted the whole system to shut down and then restart, a process that took a few minutes in total. Again, these aren't life-altering issues, but they do detract from the straightforward, easy-to-use ethos that Toyota has built its reputation on.

When driven in Sport, the four-cylinder and six-speed work really nicely together.

The less-than-premium feeling extended to the driving experience, too, at least in part. While the vehicle's 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine was well matched to the task, revving the engine over 4,000 rpm or so resulted in a kind of thrashy exhaust note. What's more, wind and tire noise on the freeway were, at best, equal to what CUVs like the CX-5 and Crosstrek deliver. We honestly expected the Toyota to be a class leader in terms of in-cabin quiet, and were surprised to find that it's more like "just as good."

It wasn't all bad news for the noisy powertrain though. As our earlier report pointed out, when driven in Sport mode, the four-cylinder and six-speed transmission work really nicely together to make use of every one of those 176 horsepower. Throttle tip-in was well managed in this mode, too, with good starts resulting from an extra couple degrees of boot. Eco mode does kill a lot of that buzz – the drivetrain feels oddly rubbery and sluggish thusly configured – but it also helped return fuel economy close to the EPA estimates. On the highway, even without Eco mode, we scooted along at or above the expected 29 miles per gallon (for the all-wheel-drive RAV4). The city rating was a bit harder to match; our heavy-footed driving style got us closer to 19 or 20 mpg most of the time. But with the magically dull Eco button pushed, 22 and 23 mpg was no problem. You won't like it, but it's good for you.



The ride and handling suite of the RAV4 is middle of the road, save for the grippier-than-expected cornering of the all-wheel-drive version. Benign steering couples with a fairly stiff body structure and softly sprung chassis to blandly and competently execute maneuvers that fall within the 95th-percentile kind of driving. Considering that even the sharpest member of the compact CUV class (again, this is probably the CX-5) is only about as precise as a normal midsize sedan, this is no great loss. We'd need a comparative drive to suss out the subtleties in handling between the vehicles that compete with the RAV4, and honestly, it's a characteristic that typical buyers will have well down on their list of must-haves.

With practical considerations leaving the RAV4 on more-or-less even footing with its competitors, the question becomes, "What do I get, and for how much?" Our RAV4 XLE AWD is the mid-level trim of the lineup and, with the $1,030 navigation/Entune/touchscreen added, has a final sticker price of $27,585. The CX-5 in Touring trim is just $25,865 before destination; but adding navi to the Mazda necessitates adding a sunroof and Bose Audio, bringing the final price to $29,275. Honda's pricing looks very similar on the surface ($26,145 for and CR-V EX AWD), but again asks that you jump into a much more expensive model to get navigation. In the CR-V's case, that means you end up with a fully loaded, leather-trimmed crossover for $31,125. Kia's attractive Sportage, meanwhile, offers attractive value, too. $26,800 gets you a Sportage LX with 17-inch wheels, UVO infotainment with navigation and a backup camera. A Ford Escape AWD with the 1.6-liter EcoBoost and comparable equipment is $28,930. A 2014 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited with leather, CVT and a power liftgate starts at $27,995, but you have to jump up a few rungs to get navigation. You could make a legitimate argument for Subaru's slightly smaller XV Crosstrek as an interesting alternative – just $24,990 will get you similar equipment levels and all-wheel drive – but you'll have to accept a substantially less powerful engine, and a smaller amount of cargo space (interior volume for humans is surprisingly close to the larger RAV4, however).

It's not the prettiest, strongest, biggest, smallest, most or least fuel efficient, cheapest or most expensive small crossover you can buy.

Long-term value may very well be a shining attribute for the RAV4, but that's a bit hard to calculate at this stage in the game. Running costs, including fuel economy, will all be very tight, too, unless you can make do with one of the smaller engine options like the Subaru or the CX-5 with its less-powerful 2.0-liter engine option. Just to throw it out there, the RAV4 is near the bottom of the group in terms of towing, with a 1,500-pound maximum rating not stacking up well against Kia's 2,000 lbs. or Ford's 3,500 lbs.

In short, the RAV4 is middle of the pack, all the way around. It's not the prettiest, strongest, biggest, smallest, most or least fuel efficient, cheapest or most expensive small crossover you can buy. It will be seen as highly acceptable to buyers who have always liked Toyotas, or those who don't shop around very much. Honestly, if you told us we had only this and the Honda CR-V to choose from, we'd flip a coin. Extend the question out to the full, excellent segment as it exists today, and our answers would likely be as individual as our editors.

Being close to the rest of the pack is no bad thing in a field this crowded and competitive. But just because this Toyota has a cute new nose, don't expect that it'll win our hearts by one. 

 

 

Courtesy of Auto Blog

The Scion tC is back for 2014, complete with a fresh new look.

Fuel System Service Savings!

Now at Toyota-Scion of Sanford, receive a Fuel System Service for $164.95! A $30 savings! Click here to print this coupon and check out our other coupons: http://bit.ly/10O27tw

Teen Vogue and Toyota Partner on Safe Driving Campaign to Help Educate and Empower Teenage Girls

In conjunction with Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April, Teen Vogue and Toyota announced today “Arrive in Style,” a safe driving campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving among teenage girls and inspire them to make a mutual commitment with their mothers to drive safely.

While cars today are safer than ever, automobile crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers. In 2010 seven teens between the ages of 16 and 19 died every day on average from motor vehicle injuries.

“We are thrilled to partner with Toyota on this important initiative. When we saw the scary statistics around distracted driving, we knew this was a cause worth taking on,” said Jason Wagenheim, Teen Vogue Vice President and Publisher. “Teen Vogue’s influential young readers are the perfect ambassadors not only to participate in this initiative, but also to help build awareness and educate their peer groups on the importance of driver safety. Toyota, with the success of their ongoing work in this arena, is the ideal partner.”

“Teen Vogue really shares our commitment to help keep teens safe, and with their reach and readership they’ve been a great partner to help amplify our longstanding efforts to empower teen girls to be safer drivers,” said Marjorie Schussel, Corporate Manager of Corporate Marketing for Toyota Motor North America (TMA).  “We also are excited to involve moms since our approach to teen safety has always included outreach to parents as well.”

The “Arrive in Style” campaign – developed in partnership by Teen Vogue, Toyota Motor North America and their ad agency of record, Dentsu America – launches this week and includes print, digital and social media elements that will run through February 2014. Kicking off with the May print edition of Teen Vogue, which hits stands this week, monthly advertorials will feature helpful tips and advice from Toyota on different safe driving topics.  The campaign will also include stories and online videos of Teen Vogue readers and their mothers about their commitment to driving safely, underscoring the special roles that mothers and daughters play in inspiring each other.

Extending into digital, the campaign will drive Teen Vogue’s audience to the “Arrive in Style” online hub, teenvogue.com/arriveinstyle. The site will feature Toyota’s Mutual Driving Agreement that mothers and daughters can e-sign and share via Facebook for a chance to win monthly prizes. In addition to signing the Agreement, teens can upload a photo on the microsite of them and their mom “air driving” for a chance to win a trip to New York City to be featured in the February 2014 issue of Teen Vogue.

Study Reveals Distracted Driving Is Pervasive Among Teen Girls

“Arrive in Style’s” unique approach of involving mothers is based, in part, on the recent study by Toyota and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), which found a significant correlation between teen and parent driving behaviors, suggesting that parents are a major influence on a teen’s driving habits.

“We know from our Study with the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute that parents who engage in distracting driving behaviors more frequently have teens who engage in distracting behaviors,” said Dr. Tina Sayer, Toyota Collaborative Safety Research Center (CSRC) Principal Engineer and teen safe driving expert.  “It is critical for parents to talk to their teens about driving safety and to always be the drivers they want their teens to be.”

In conjunction with the launch of “Arrive in Style”, Toyota released new findings from the Study regarding driving behaviors of teen girls:
 

• Sixty-two percent of teen girls report using a cell phone while driving (handheld and/or hands-free).

• Nearly one in three girl teens (30 percent) reads a text or email once or more every time they drive. 

• Almost a quarter of girl teens (23 percent) respond to a text once or more every time they drive.

• Almost one in five (19 percent) of teen girl drivers report that they have extended conversations via text message while driving.

• More than half (51 percent) of girls say they search for music on a portable music player, such as an iPod, while driving.

• Twelve percent of girls report that they update or check social media, such as Facebook or Twitter, while driving.  

• Seventy percent of teen girl drivers report they drive with two or three teen passengers and no adults in their car, whichis associated with a doubling of a driver’s risk of being killed in a crash, as compared to having no passengers.

Courtesy of Toyota Newsroom

Car Care Tip of the Week: Freshen up!

To rid of stale odors from the ventilation ducts, try spraying odor eliminator into the system's air intake, which is usually located at the base of the windshield. Then run the air conditioner full blast for at least 10 minutes.

Take a look at this clean, certified 2012 Toyota Camry!

This 2012 Camry has had only one previous owner, has a clean CarFax, and is Toyota Certified! It's practically brand new! 

 

This Camry is nicely equipped with features such as:

4-Wheel Disc Brakes, 6 Speakers, ABS brakes, Air Conditioning, AM/FM radio, Brake assist, Bumpers: body-color, CD player, Delay-off headlights, Driver door bin, Driver vanity mirror, Dual front impact airbags, Dual front side impact airbags, Electronic Stability Control, Fabric Seat Trim, Four wheel independent suspension, Front anti-roll bar, Front Bucket Seats, Front Center Armrest, Front reading lights, Fully automatic headlights, Illuminated entry, Knee airbag, Low tire pressure warning, MP3 decoder, Occupant sensing airbag, Outside temperature display, Overhead airbag, Overhead console, Panic alarm, Passenger door bin, Passenger vanity mirror, Power door mirrors, Power steering, Power windows, Rear anti-roll bar, Rear seat center armrest, Rear side impact airbag, Rear window defroster, Remote keyless entry, Speed control, Speed-sensing steering, Split folding rear seat, Steering wheel mounted audio controls, Tachometer, Telescoping steering wheel, Tilt steering wheel, Traction control, Trip computer, and Variably intermittent wipers. 

For more pictures of this beauty, click here: http://bit.ly/10xyXdF