Prepare Your Car for Cold Weather

In preparation for the recent snowfall, I brought my plants inside, stocked up on canned goods and water (just in case), and cut up some firewood. The one thing I didn't give much thought to was my car. In hindsight, I should have known better, and consider myself lucky that I didn't get stuck out in the cold and unprepared. Here are a few tips to keep your car running smoothly during these cold winter months.

Brakes
The brakes must be faultless and equalized so there is no pulling to one side, which may cause skidding.

Cooling System
If it hasn't been done in a while, have your cooling system flushed out with a good chemical cleaner and put in fresh anti-freeze. Check containers, belts, hoses, the pressure caps and thermostat.

Battery and Electrical System
Cold weather is hard on batteries. If your battery is several years old, have it checked. Be sure connections are clean and tight.

Engine
A diagnostic check-up of the engine can be a good pre-winter investment. If you're due for a tune-up, have it done before winter sets in. Faulty wiring, worn spark plugs, a sticking choke or emission control devices that need attention, can all lead to hard starting.

Exhaust System
Check the muffler and tail pipe system for carbon monoxide leaks, which can be especially dangerous during cold weather driving when the windows are closed.

Fuel System
Make sure there is plenty of gas in your tank at all times. A full tank minimizes condensation, which may cause gas line freezing. Add gasoline antifreeze occasionally.

Heaters, Defrosters and Wipers
Have them checked to make sure they are operational. Install winter wiper blades and use cold weather washer fluid. Ensure your windshield can give you clear vision of the road and traffic around you.

Oil and Filter
Dirty oil can give you trouble in the winter, so change the oil and filter. Check the other filters, including the fuel, air and transmission filters.

Tires
Check your tire pressure regularly - for every 5º C of temperature drop, tire pressure goes down by one pound.¹


To schedule your winter tune up call Rice Service center 336-288-6225 or email us at service@ricetoyota.com. We service all makes and models, imports and domestics.
Rice Service Center Complimentary Winter Check Up

Matrix, Corolla and Safety

Matrix, Corolla and Safety

We’re pleased to note that in recent crash tests of small cars, our Matrix earned the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety’s highest rating in side and frontal crashes. Matrix was one of just two vehicles tested that earned the top rating in side crashes.

This side-crash testing is important, according to an IIHS spokesperson, because more than 8,000 people were killed in 2007 as a result of side-impact crashes. Such accidents happen when vehicles collide front-to-door, impacting at 90 degrees, as they might do in an intersection.More than 14,500 people died in frontal crashes, according to the IIHS.

Our Corolla and Scion xB earned the IIHS’s "Top Safety Pick" rating in this year’s small-car testing. Both were given top marks in front, side and rear impacts, and both are available with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), which the IIHS calls, "the most important safety feature a car can have." It also notes that ESC is one of today’s automotive features that is least familiar to drivers.

When our ESC systems detect the presence of a skid, they manage braking on individual wheels, and also throttle application, to help minimize the loss of traction in turns.


It’s a bit of electronic wizardry that is available on a number of our vehicles.


- Jon F. Thompson, Editor, Open Road
www.blog.toyota.com

Top 10 Car Accessories

Looking for that last minute holiday gift? Or maybe you just want to spruce up your ride for the new year. Well we've talked to the Pro's at Rice Accessories to get the inside info on whats hot now. And there's something for every budget ($-$$$$.)

1) XM Radio

With over 170 crystal clear digital channels, XM radio gives you the most entertainment choices wherever you are.($$)

2) All Weather Mats

All-Weather Floor Mats have deeply sculpted channels designed to trap water, road salt, mud and sand. They won't curl, crack or harden in sub-zero weather. All-Weather Floor Mats also have anti-skid ridges to prevent shifting in your vehicle and come with a protective, non-stick finish to make cleanup quick and easy. ($)

3) Step bars for Trucks.
Adding style and function to any Truck or SUV. These come in chrome, stainless steel and black. ($$)

4) Portable Navigation
Never, ever stop for directions again. ($$)

5) Heated Seats
Perfect for those cold winter days. ($$)

6) Remote Start
Another cold weather must have. Heat up the car before you even step out of your front door in the morning. ($$)

7) Sunroof
Open up already! Let the sunshine and fresh air in with sunroofs that tilt and slide at the touch of a button.($$$)

8) Leather
Add value and style to your car with leather seats. If you line up your appointment in advance, the work can often be done in one business day. ($$$$)

9) Blue tooth
Using a short-range wireless signal, Bluetooth phones can be used with Bluetooth-enabled cars to allow drivers to select contacts and dial using either voice recognition or controls mounted on the steering wheel and to carry out their conversations hands-free. A safety must have for any driver. ($)

10) DVD Players.
Got a long road trip planned to visit relatives over the holidays? Kids will be entertained for hours with their favorite videos and you can drive in peace and quiet. ($$)

For more information call 336-286-5232 and ask for Accessories. Or visit Rice Accessories online store.

First Look The 2009 VENZA

With the new Toyota VENZA hitting showrooms, we thought we'd give you a sneak peek into the interior, brought to you by the best man for the job: Benjamin Jimenez, Calty Design Research's very own project chief designer of the VENZA.
From concept to production, the VENZA was created primarily in North America in both the Newport Beach, California, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, studios.
As a clear representation of Toyota's future of design, the VENZA expresses a bold design move that sets itself apart not only from its competitors, but from its fellow Toyota cars as well. The VENZA's center console creates the illusion of floating free-form geometrics, while the entire dashboard exudes sweeping lines and an overall light feel. A unique blend of textures and materials were used to create a feeling of warmth and indulgence.
But we'll let the designer himself give you a detailed tour of the interior of the new Toyota VENZA. Come on in!


Protoype vehicle(s) shown with options. Production model may vary.
Article, Picture and Video from Toyota "Behind the Wheel"

Toyota and Resale Value

From Official Toyota Blog "Open Road"

"There are lots of ways to calculate a vehicle’s value. Its utility and its fuel economy probably are good indicators, and reliability and long-term customer-satisfaction numbers also probably are good indicators. Fortunately, Toyota fares well in those departments.
But a critically important way to measure overall worth is a vehicle’s resale value.
Obviously, a vehicle that loses but a small amount of its initial value with the passage of time and usage is a better investment than a vehicle that loses a larger amount of that initial value.
So we’re pleased to report that Toyota vehicles figure prominently in Kelley Blue Book’s 2009 best-resale value list, according to a story posted recently on one of the Los Angeles Times’ blogs.
The list recognizes vehicles for what Kelley Blue Book calls their "projected retained value five years from now."
The Toyota and Lexus vehicles that made their way onto this important by-category list are as follows:
Compact pickup: Toyota Tacoma; full-size pickup: Toyota Tundra; hybrid crossover: Toyota Highlander Hybrid; and mid-size car: Lexus IS.
The list also named Toyota and Lexus to their list of the top 10 brands in terms of resale value.
But what of Scion? Did Scion get left out? Well, yes, and no.
Kelley Blue Book’s criteria for a brand’s making the list requires that a brand have a minimum of four nameplates in its portfolio. This eliminated Scion, which is among those ranked highest in resale of the small-car brands, but which has just three nameplates flying the Scion flag.
The Times story lists the top-10 2009 models in terms of resale value, though, without regard to category and we find Scion represented. Six of those spots, in fact, are held by Toyota products. They are the Scion xB, Scion xD, Scion tC, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Prius and Toyota Yaris.
We recognize that this is not on the same scale as someone giving you a hot tip for the stock market - as if any of us would be crazy to act on such a tip these days. But still, we think it’s pretty interesting information.
- Jon F. Thompson, Editor, Open Road