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?highway To The Future: Mobile Hybrid Experience? Offered By Toyota

The Nashville International Auto Show is about to open its doors to the public on the sixth of April. In connection with this, the Toyota Motor Corporation announced that they will be bringing their ?Highway to the Future: Mobile Hybrid Experience? to the said event.

The Japanese car manufacturer announced the schedule of their tour on the 26th of March. The company says that the experience is aimed to let consumers experience driving their hybrid vehicles like the very popular Toyota Prius aside from the Camry and Highlander hybrid vehicles. These entire three models will come to feature and sport around the company?s Hybrid Synergy Drive System which allows them to make the most of the capability of the electric motor integrated into their vehicles.

Aside from the hands-on experience, Toyota will also be offering other interactive learning activities for the attendees. These four learning areas will be part of Toyota’s exhibit at the Nashville Auto Show. One of these four interactive educational exhibits is the ?Alternative Fuel: Fueling the Future? exhibit. This interactive part of Toyota’s show tackles the different alternative fuels which may, one day, totally replace gasoline as the fuel of the world. Some of these alternative fuels are biodiesel, hydrogen, and bio-ethanol.

Aside from identifying these alternative fuels, Toyota will also be educating the attendees on how each and every one of these alternative fuels are produced.

Another interactive learning experience is the ?Environment and Resources: Small Steps, Big Difference?. This, meanwhile, tackles the different ways how the attendees can help in the protection of the environment in their own little way. This shows Toyota’s concern for the environment and it seems to be already manifested in their lineup of fuel efficient vehicles. These vehicles are more fuel thrifty than a vehicle equipped with a Mercury cold air intake system.

The third interactive educational display at Toyota’s exhibit is the ?Prius Driving Experience? and aside from the actual test drive, Toyota allows attendees of the event to take advantage of a Prius driving simulation. Another part of Toyota’s exhibit is the ?Hybrid Technology: Not All Hybrids are Created Equal? and this one educates the attendees just about what hybrid technology is and where it is found and in what vehicle.

Aside from identifying the hybrid technologies employed by different vehicles, Toyota also highlights each technology?s benefit to the environment and the consumer.

The 2007 Nashville International Auto Show will start on the sixth of April and will run until the eighth of the month. Toyota’s hands-on exhibit will start from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. on the dates April 6 and 7. On April 8, the driving experience for Toyota’s hybrid will run from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

The ?Highway to the Future: Mobile Hybrid Experience will be held at the LP Field. To promote the driving experience to attendees of the motor show, a free shuttle service will be provided to take attendees to the LP Field.…

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Tips For Selling Your Car On The Internet

With a little attention to detail and some elbow grease, you can save thousands of dollars by selling your vehicle online rather than swapping it with a dealer. The following tips will show you how:

* Avoid overpricing. Research the private-party value on sites like to find out exactly what your car is worth and price yours competitively to sell quickly.

* Thoroughly clean your car inside and out; wax the exterior. The car should be spotless, with no clutter. Have existing problems repaired, or be prepared to lower your price accordingly.

* A vehicle history report provides credibility and builds trust. Carfax reports are available free at with the purchase of their Premium Ad package. If you have maintenance records, show them to potential buyers.

* A professional inspection will prevent last-minute surprises and adds to the buyer’s peace of mind. recommends SGS Inspections, with its nationwide staff of inspectors who will come to your home, office or any convenient location and perform a 150-point inspection and post results within 24 hours. Their fee includes interior and exterior photos.

* When writing your ad, provide specific details and features. Include plenty of well-lighted photographs of your clean and shiny vehicle, inside and out.

* Respond to inquiries promptly to keep the buyer enthused. Get the buyer’s full name, address and contact information. Verify the information before meeting face-to-face. Initially, you may wish to meet the buyer away from your house and also have a friend come along.

* Accompany the buyer on the test drive to continue discussing the vehicle’s selling points.

* Once you’ve agreed on a price, discuss method of payment. It’s best to request a cashier’s check drawn on a local bank and to go with the buyer to the bank to verify it. For cash transactions, both buyer and seller should sign a cash receipt or a bill of sale.

* After the transfer of title, notify your insurance company and local DMV. Remember that in most states, the license plates stay with the buyer.…

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Auto Repair: 4 Signs It Needs to Happen

Sometimes it is necessary to bring your vehicle in to the mechanic between regularly scheduled appointments. Having your oil and other fluids changed regularly is great but there are a few tell tale signs of an issue that should not be put off until the next time you are planning to go in. These are indications that there could be a serious problem. If any of these happen while driving pull over or get to an auto repair shop quickly so that you are safe and you do not further damage anything.
Squealing brakes are a bad sign. If when the pedal is depressed there is a high pitched screech or a whistle it could mean that the pads are incredibly low and need to be replaced as quickly as possible. Additionally, if the pedal feels squishy it is likely that the same sort of problem is happening. In either case pull over or get straight to the mechanic because this is not something to be taken lightly.
Similarly, any time there is a rattling, a clunking, or a grinding coming from under the hood or under the car it may be indicative that there is a need for auto repair. Any number of things could be wrong or in some cases something could have come unattached. One possibility is that the head gasket is blown and that is a serious problem. If you are unsure what is going on or if the sound is accompanied by a decrease in performance have the car towed to the nearest service station.
It should go without saying but if the oil or check engine light come on it is imperative that those things happen. Many think they can ignore these warnings but in reality they are a good indicator, obviously, that something is not right. Quickly and carefully bring the vehicle straight to the auto repair station and have them determine what has caused the warning to illuminate. Often it is not something terribly wrong but rather something that if left unchecked could lead to a more serious issue.
Finally if it takes a long time to start or won’t start at all it is necessary to have auto repair done. It may be something as simple as a low battery or an old sparkplug but on the other hand there could be a need for alternator maintenance or replacement. In some cases the belt may have broken and the battery was drained trying to compensate.
Regardless of which of these happen, they are all four a sign that now is the time to go in and have service done, even if it is not scheduled yet. Fixing the problem now can avoid cost and inconvenience down the line and that is not something anyone wants to have to deal with.…

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Tips For Reducing the Cost of Your Car Insurance

If you’re looking for ways to lower your annual car insurance then try following these steps:
1. Increase your deductible – By giving yourself the lowest deductible possible you’re also increasing the risk that your insurance company takes when they insure you. The deductible is basically the amount you need to pay before your policy becomes active, so if you have a high deductible, and suffer a minor crash, you might not be able to claim for it, but doing so will save you money on your policy. Remember that their increased risk means your increased cost.
2. Park your car off the road, ideally in a garage – This is the simplest way of reducing your insurance premium, and is also the best way to stop your car getting stolen. Why would a thief chose to break into your garage when there are 10 other cars on the same street? The answer – they wouldn’t. Doing this can take up to 20% of the cost off of your premium and is something everyone should do.
3. Don’t settle for the first offer – Make sure you look around as many insurance companies as you can when looking for a quote. Being ruthless save a lot of money, so don’t feel like you have to be loyal to any one company – insurance is a dog eat dog world. Shopping around for a bargain and getting multiple quotes can be very rewarding in the long run.
4. Take an extra driving course – Taking a defensive driving course is one of the big secrets to getting a low car insurance price. You can volunteer for defensive driving courses which can lower your insurance premium by over 10%.…

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Tips For Buying Used Cars

The global car market can broadly be categorized into two sub markets. One is market for new cars and the other is market for used cars. The car sales in the used car market are much higher than in the market for newer cars, solely because of one reason- economical prices. The used cars are economical in price and have many other benefits, like nil taxes, lower insurance premiums & costs and lower financing costs, associated with them. Therefore, buying a used car is many times consider a better option than a new car.
However, there are many risks that are involved in buying a used car. Hence, it is very important to put your thinking caps on while buying a used car. Else, you might loose on some of our precious time and money. Following are the tips you might keep in mind while buying a used car:
Research
IF you are buying a used car, it is important to do research. Make sure that you explore various options available. Participate in online auctions, join communities and search for reliable dealers on internet to get the best deal for your car. Doing this might take sometime but it will definitely reap good results for you.
Choose a reliable dealer only
Make sure you approach only a reliable dealer for buying a used car. The dealer might charge you with some overhead cost or commission but he will definitely save you from the risk of forgery or any kind of fraud.
Check the condition of the car closely
IT is very important to check the car’s condition before you buy it. For this, you can take the car out for a test drive. Make sure that the test drive is not too small to show you anything. Take the car to the highways and drive it a good speed. Doing this will allow you to check the condition of the engine as well as the tyres.
In addition, take a close look at the car’s exteriors as well as interiors. Check whether the accessories in the car are working properly.
Negotiate with the dealer
Negotiate as much as possible with the dealer. Try and get some cash or any other kind of incentive out of him. After all, you are a client so make best use of it.
The above mentioned tips can help you to buy the right used car at a right price.…

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Auto Repair – When You Should Pay More and When You Shouldn’t

Auto repair, why does it cost so much? If you take your car to a reputable auto repair shop their services might not be the cheapest in town, but there are some valid reasons for this. The old adage “Would you go to the low bidder for brain surgery?” really does apply to auto repair shops as well. Cheap service today may just cost you more in the long run.
6 Reasons Why You Should Pay More
Here are six attributes that you will find at a reputable, high quality auto repair shop. This may mean that you might pay more for some services at a shop like this, but there is a good reason for it and it will be worth it.
1) They will employ only top notch, talented, certified technicians. These guys are highly sought after and command a decent wage. They spend a lot on their tools and training. They also spend time on continuing education to maintain their certifications and to stay abreast of the latest industry technology. If you haven’t noticed, cars are getting more complicated just like everything else. This industry is filled with lousy mechanics that will work for cheap, but the good shops don’t hire them.
2) They subscribe to the best technical information systems. This provides them access to all of the latest service bulletins and manufacturer’s specifications. This is the only way to stay current on all makes and models.
3) They only use top quality parts. The auto parts market has been flooded with cheap off-shore manufactured imitations. A good shop is very careful about what parts they install. Quality (when it is still available) costs more.
3) They will be fully insured, so you are protected.
4) They dispose of hazardous wastes in an environmentally sound manner.
5) You will notice that they keep a clean shop equipped with the latest tools and diagnostic equipment. If they don’t respect their shop, they won’t respect your vehicle.
6) They pay their taxes and they make a profit. That’s right, they have to make money to keep the doors open. That way they will be there the next time you need service, and the next, and the next.
The message in this is that good quality probably costs a little more, but if you want your vehicle maintained properly so that it lasts, it’s worth it.
Why You Shouldn’t Pay More
A lot of money is wasted on automobile service. Customer’s are “sold” service their car may not really need. Many facilities employ “salesmen” as their service writers. They are trained in salesmanship and are paid according to how much they can sell. This is unfortunate because it gives the entire industry a bad name. Ask the shop if the service writers are paid commissions.
Here’s a typical example. A customer takes his vehicle to the Cheapie, Super Fast Lube Shop for an oil change. The Super Fast Super Salesman informs the customer that he needs a transmission service, cooling system flush, fuel injection service etc. etc. and the customer doesn’t remember when these things were done last so he says go ahead. Turns out he wasn’t due for those services for another 20,000 miles! Wasted money!
Another example: a customer takes his vehicle to the tire shop for new tires. The service writer knows he is not going to see this car again for a long time. He figures he better sell the customer a brake job (or something else) now, and he does. The vehicle didn’t really need a brake job for another 10,000 miles! Wasted money!
How to Avoid Over Paying
The way to avoid all of this is to find an honest, reputable auto repair service facility that can provide all or nearly all of your needs, and STAY WITH THEM! This does three things:
First, all of your service records will be kept in one place so you won’t be “doubling up” on services at multiple shops. Remember the examples above.
Secondly, when you are going to the same place for service regularly, they know your car and your driving habits. A good shop that services your vehicle regularly knows how much life is left in your brakes. They would know that the way you drive, you can travel at least another 10,000 miles before the brakes will need to be replaced.
And third, by giving all your business to one shop, you become their “Bread and Butter”. Funny thing about honest mechanics, they protect their bread and butter customers. They will bend over backwards to keep them happy. They need them. They are always providing little extras for them at no cost. You know, like replacing light bulbs and fixing little things that most people would overlook.
Your vehicle is one of your …