Your air conditioning unit is made up of several different components that must work together in harmony to keep you and your passengers cool on even the shortest journeys. Often times a simple recharge of refrigerant can solve any cooling problems, but there are often larger issues lurking.

• Dirty condenser — The condenser is the heat exchanger mounted in front of the radiator. It cools the high pressure refrigerant vapor after it exits the compressor so it can condense into a liquid. If the condenser is full of leaves, bugs and road debris, air flow through the unit may be blocked to the point where little cooling occurs. Cleaning the condenser should cure the problem.

• Inoperative condenser cooling fan — The condenser often has its own separate electric cooling fan. This fan should come on and remain on when the A/C system is operating. If the fan motor, motor relay or wiring is defective, the fan may not be working.

• Air or moisture contamination — For the refrigerant inside the system to do its job properly, it must not be contaminated with air or moisture. Air reduces the cooling efficiency of the system while moisture can freeze and form ice that causes blockages in orifice tubes and metering valves. Air and moisture contamination may be the result of unrepaired leaks in the system, or failing to vacuum purge the system prior to recharging it with refrigerant.

• Blockages — Debris or rust in the system may plug up the orifice tube or metering valve that admits refrigerant into the evaporator. If this vital point becomes obstructed, the flow of refrigerant may be restricted or blocked causing a loss of cooling — and possible compressor damage as well in systems that rely on oil circulating with the refrigerant for lubrication.

• Mechanical problem — These include things like metering valve failures, compressor wear, a compressor clutch that fails to engage, bad pressure switches, etc.

No matter what symptoms your A/C is experiencing, the competent A/C technicians at Toyota of Tampa Bay will pinpoint the problem and have you back on the road in no time.

Source: [Yahoo Autos]

It might even make parenting a little easier — which is the entire purpose of minivans.

Minivans in general are the single most utilitarian people hauler around. For families, it allows siblings to be separated to just out-of-arm’s reach of each other and cuts down the “he’s touching me” comments to a minimum. More importantly, every person in this vehicle will be comfortable.

The front row bucket seats are nicer than most people’s living room furniture, and the second row captain’s chairs include foot rests. The third row is big enough for adults and access is easy.

The Sienna comes with a slew of storage areas, including a 12-pack worth of cup holders on the eight-passenger model.

But more importantly, there’s lots of space inside.

Bigger and wider

A little bigger and a little wider than the previous generation, the Sienna is pure comfort throughout. It’s also stylishly designed with an asymmetrical wood trim across the center of the dash.

Typically, wood-looking trim looks cheap if it’s not at a super high gloss. But Toyota does a nice job with the trim throughout the cabin. Everything feels well made and put together smartly. The dual glove boxes mean wet naps and other need-quick items can go in the top and confiscated toys can go in the bottom.

Even the center console pulls back for passengers in the second row to reach. There’s also a light in the storage compartment to make finding things much easier — especially at night.

Plus, there’s the giant entertainment system for backseat passengers. The fold-down screen can show two different pictures at the same time, allowing the teenager to swoon over “Twilight: New Moon” and the younger brother to kill vampires in Darkwatch on Xbox 360 (easily connected to the system). Both can listen to their game or movie through wireless headsets.

And with the kids quiet, parenting becomes easier.

Car-like ride

That lets the driver take a little time to appreciate the Sienna’s performance.

One of the great features of minivans is the quiet, car-like ride. These were the first crossovers — back in the ’80s people thought crossovers were athletes who played baseball and football.

My test vehicle came with Toyota’s venerable 3.5-liter V-6 that pushes out 265 horsepower and 245 pound-feet of torque. This is more than enough power to get this minivan up and running. It cruises around nicely on the highway, its independent front and torsion beam rear gliding over bumps.

Even with 120 inches of wheelbase, the Sienna is easy to maneuver around parking lots or tight city streets.

There is also a 2.7-liter four-cylinder model that produces 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque.

Bold, aggressive exterior

That’s not to take away from the exterior of the new Sienna, which is both bold and aggressive — with the caveat that it’s still a minivan. The big grille outlined by silver trim touches the headlamps that stretch around the rounded corners of the front end.

The wheels are pushed out to the edges of the Sienna to give it a stable and well-planted look. It also provides all of that great room inside — once again allowing form and function to meld into a better vehicle.

The double-sliding second row doors, the norm on minivans, are just awesome. They can be operated with the key fob as you walk up to vehicle, as well as the liftgate, a feature people love once they use it. The doors do take a little getting used to when opening and closing because they operate on a motor, but after a few days of working them, I was accustomed to that minivan door tug.

Inside and out, the new Sienna is better than ever. For minivan customers, there’s never been a better one of these boxy utilitarian vehicles that can handle soccer games, ballet lessons, trips around town and to Lowes. It’s a vehicle that gets all of the chores done in as much fashion as a minivan can afford.

Source: [The Detroit News]

Randy Stephens, a senior Toyota engineer based in Ann Arbor, Mich., said company executives recognize that there were quality issues with the last generation of vehicles, which were developed while the company was in a global-growth mode. Executives began talking about making changes nearly a year ago, he said, but the recent recall problems have spurred the company to act.

“As we looked at this past generation of vehicles it did seem to be all about the growth of the company, and there were lapses,” said Mr. Stephens, who works at the Toyota Technical Center near Ann Arbor and is currently in charge of the Toyota Avalon, a large sedan. “We are definitely reforming the processes to be ultra careful.”

The changes in development follow Toyota’s announcement that it will recall up to 270,000 Lexus models globally because of an engine problem that could cause stalling. The auto maker has been ravaged by quality and safety concerns in the past six months. It has recalled more than 8.5 million vehicles globally for problems related to unintended acceleration and tens of thousands more for steering, braking and gas-tank flaws in vehicles across its lineup.

Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada, Toyota’s chief engineer globally, is spearheading the effort, which is similar to an effort in 2006 after Toyota had a spike in quality problems. Product-development times may be extended by two to six months, said a senior Beijing-based Toyota sales and marketing executive.

In addition to extending product-development lead times, Mr. Uchiyamada and his engineering team have decided to cut the number of engine and other key-feature variants and options to simplify and narrow the scope of engineering work, allowing engineers to focus more on quality.

Toyota may also further reduce the use of virtual engineering and begin using more vehicle prototypes. Doing so extends development time and increases costs.

In the case of the Avalon, which is developed and engineered in the U.S., Mr. Stephens said he is adding four weeks of additional testing to his development schedule. The testing will include using consumers and independent engineers to put “fresh eyeballs” on the models before they go into production. He said the company will use prototypes when necessary.

Toyota is trying not to lengthen the overall development time for a vehicle, which is 21 or 48 months depending on when you start counting, Mr. Stephens said. The idea is that other parts of the process could be shortened to allow more testing time.

“I think taking a step back and making sure that they have all of their processes in mind is probably a prudent move,” said Michael Robinet, an automotive analyst with IHS Automotive. “I don’t think they are going to go backwards from an efficiency standpoint, but what they may do is put more checks and balances in.”

The company is also working to bring development work that had been sourced to outside engineers back inside. Some outside engineers actually work side by side with Toyota’s engineers inside Toyota research and development centers. But using contractors has led to a breakdown in communication and potential misunderstandings, Mr. Stephens said.

A senior Toyota engineer said the company uses outside engineers to do about 30% of its development work globally and seeks to reduce the ratio to 10%. Toyota spokeswoman Cynthia Mahalak, of the Toyota Technical Center, said she couldn’t confirm the ratios.

“We’re definitely trying to do that,” Mr. Stephens said. “We are trying to do as much in-house as we can. It makes more sense for us. It is easier to control and understand the process.”

Toyota had long held the U.S. crown for top quality and reliability among car makers. But last month, researcher J.D. Power & Associates said the Toyota brand fell to 21st from 7th overall in its annual Initial Quality Survey of new vehicles.

Meanwhile, Toyota’s U.S. market share has declined to 14.3% in June from 15.3% a year earlier, according to Autodata Corp. Even more telling, Toyota’s market share through the first six months of 2010 is 15.1%, down from 17% at the end of 2009.

In a study released last week, researcher Edmunds.com found that used car prices have risen by an unprecedented amount in the past year for nearly all brands except Toyota.

“Our daily job is as intense and thorough as it has ever been,” Mr. Stephens said. “These issues that have come up were really a surprise for us—but a wakeup call because things can slip by.”

Source: [The Wall Street Journal]

The companies evaluated several other production models for possible electrification. “We looked at many different combinations, but the RAV4 made the most sense from the beginning,” Mr. Hanson said. “It’s a small S.U.V., and it gives us a lot of flexibility with packaging.”

Asked if the electric RAV4 will be produced at Nummi, the former General Motors and Toyota joint-venture plant that will build Tesla’s coming Model S, Mr. Hanson said “I would assume so. It makes sense that it would be there.” The RAV4 is produced for the North American market in Woodstock, Ontario, and “glider” versions without powertrains could presumably be delivered from there to the Nummi plant.

The companies said that Tesla would build a fleet of prototypes for evaluation and deliver them to Toyota “within this year.” Ricardo Reyes, a spokesman for Tesla, said, “We have a working prototype, and we’re really pleased with its performance.”

The RAV4 has E.V. experience. According to Toyota, some 1,484 RAV4s with nickel-metal-hydride battery packs were leased, sold or delivered in the United States from 1997 to 2003 and 800 are still in service. They have very enthusiastic fans, including the actor Tom Hanks. He said in a letter to the New Yorker last year that his car has more than 50,000 miles on it “with its original battery but without so much as a splash of gasoline.”

Actor Ed Begley Jr. also has a RAV4 electric, which charges with electricity from his California home’s solar panels. “It’s nice to have a vehicle that you can say is truly zero tailpipe emissions,” he said.

Source: [The New York Times]

TPMS sensors constantly measure the pressure in all four tires, and when one or more tires is more than 25 percent below the recommended amount, a light illuminates on the gauge cluster. Most of us know the light (on right) and if you do, you’re among the 54 percent of drivers who know what it means. But more importantly, less than half of the population doesn’t.

TPMS maker Schrader recently surveyed drivers to see if there were knowledgeable about all things TPMS, and the results had to be a bit disappointing. First, the good news: 96 percent of all drivers surveyed felt that under-inflated tires were a serious safety problem. Now the bad news: Only 44 percent of drivers polled regularly check their tire pressure. Furthermore, one third of drivers surveyed didn’t know what TPMS was or what it was used for. Another 44 percent were unaware what the symbol was supposed to represent, while still another 14 percent thought the symbol identified a problem of the non-tire variety.

In order to combat some of the ignorance among motorists about one of its main products, Schrader has introduced its TPMS Made Simple website. While it’s not exactly riveting stuff, the site is chock full of information about TPMS, including what to do when that (apparently) inscrutable warning light in your gauge cluster illuminates (Hint: check your tires) and the economic benefit of properly inflated rubber, including improved fuel economy and longer lasting tires. Head over to the site to become a TPMS expert.

Source: [Auto Blog]

The mega-expensive car is going on display at the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, Calif., about an hour’s drive north of Los Angeles.

The museum, specializing in Art Deco and streamline eras cars, says the Bugatti will be on display for a limited time. Just how limited, they didn’t say.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to display the Bugatti Atlantic at our Art Deco museum,” said Peter Mullin, founder of the Mullin Automotive Museum. “The Art Deco Movement was driven by people who were fascinated by invention and innovation – by the exotic nature of new technology and materials, by art and design, by speed and by the machine – no automobile captures this spirit more than the Bugatti Atlantic.”

The museum says of the car:

The Atlantic was an automobile derived from Bugatti’s prototype “Aerolithe Electron Coupe”, a vehicle that caused a sensation when unveiled at the 1935 Paris Auto Salon. From its inception, the Atlantic defined exotic. It was radical both in its design and engineering. Jean Bugatti produced the Atlantics spectacular sculpted appearance using riveted aluminum panels that he mounted on Bugatti’s most sophisticated, powerful and revolutionary Type 57S chassis. While only three Atlantics were built, this car (chassis #57374) is the first in the series, widely believed to be the most original and correct in form. It was built in 1936 and many suggest that parts from the Aerolithe prototype were used in its production. This car’s first owner Lord Victor Rothschild of London, ordered the car in light blue, with dark blue interior.

In 1939, the car was sent back to the Bugatti factory to be fit with a supercharger. Bob Oliver of Los Angeles was the second owner. Dr. Peter Williamson then purchased the car in 1971, for $59,000, a world record price at the time. Over many years, he respectfully restored the car to its 1939 specification. In 2003, the car made its debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance where it was awarded the prestigious honor of “Best in Show”.

The vehicle was recently purchased again in 2010 through a sale brokered by Gooding & Company.

Source: [USA Today]

As with any special event, many special people contributed a tremendous amount of time and energy to ensure this event was a success. A special Thank You goes out to the following individuals and their families who dedicated time, money and hard work for this event: Shannon Bento, Shelly Burnett, Rosemary Shell, Misty Fairchild, Teressa Duke, Jason Hillman, Geraldine Towson, Jessi Beckwith, Wanda Chandler, Alicia Bailey, Dianne Finnegan, Dee Brack, Nate Cook, Tim Connelly, Harvey Mondragon, Wolf Muisener, Brian Clark, Nick Gallagher, Mitchell Messer, Ariel Negron, Mark Limerick, Ed Wine, Richard Desousa and Alex Laverde.

Over 150 employees attended the event which raised over $10,000 for the fund. The Helping Hand Fund was created by Larry Morgan, Brett Morgan and Lauren Ellerman to offer support to employees and their families in times of hardship. Funds are donated by employees through events like Casino Night and voluntary payroll deductions which are matched by the Morgan Auto Group. Employee’s requests for assistance from the Helping Hand Fund are kept strictly confidential.

Tires – Be sure to check both the tire pressure and tread on all 5 of your tires (don’t forget about the spare). If you are unsure what your tire pressure should be, look for the manufacturer sticker when you open the passenger side door. To check your tread life, take a penny and place it in between the tread with Lincoln’s head pointed down. If you can see the top of the former President’s head, it is recommended that you replace your tires before embarking on your trip. Many regions have patterns of afternoon rain storms that could be dangerous on tires without adequate tread. Also, be sure to check the valve stem for cracks.

Fluids – Heat will wreak havoc on an engine. Make sure your vehicle has plenty of vital fluids to keep your engine cool and vacation on track.

Be sure to change your oil before hitting the road and consider using thicker weight oil than you might normally use as the summer heat will thin the oil. Check and replace or refill each of the fluids under your vehicles hood, including: transmission fluid, differential fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid, windshield wiper fluid and coolant.

Motor Engine Components

Battery and cables – Inspect the terminals on your battery. If they are corroded, clean the terminals with a mixture of baking soda and water. Also be on the lookout for any cracks or dirt. Hot weather drains the life from your battery quickly. Be sure to have it tested before setting out on your road trip to ensure your battery will make the trip with you and your family.

Radiator and hoses – Overheating is the leading cause of mechanical breakdowns on our nation’s highways. Check fluid levels in your radiator and for any cracks in the hoses connecting your radiator.

Other Components

Air Conditioning – The summer months bring the hottest temperatures in even the mildest climates. Checking to make sure your air conditioning is functioning properly before leaving will keep everyone smiling on your vacation. Turn the air conditioning on and cover a vent with your hand to check the fan speed and temperature of the air that is being produced. Be sure to listen for any unusual noises while it is running and then shut it off and listen for any noises.

Lights – Checking all interior and exterior lights on your vehicle will help keep you and your family safe on your journey. Have someone help you to check your headlights, high beams, turn signals, hazard lights, license plate light, brake lights, and interior lights.

Indicator lights – It’s never a good idea to drive with a check engine or other malfunctioning indicator light illuminated on your dash, especially on a long trip. Engine problems should be diagnosed and fixed prior to departure to keep your vehicle running smoothly throughout your trip.

Safety Kit – You never know what the road might bring, so be sure to prepare for common breakdowns with a small safety kit. Here is a list of items to include: basic tools (screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers), a flashlight with fresh batteries, first aid kit, jumper cables, tire iron, jack, cell phone charger and drinking water in case you have to wait in hot temperatures for an extended period of time.

At Toyota of Tampa Bay we want to make sure you are safe on the road this summer. Feel free to bring your vehicle to Toyota of Tampa Bay for a road trip inspection before you embark on your journey if you are uncomfortable or unfamiliar with any of the safety checks described here.

Source: [The Wall Street Journal]

Toyota will hire 2,000 workers for the Blue Springs, Mississippi, facility, the company said on Thursday. Work on the plant had been suspended since December 2008 as the U.S. economy was plunging into recession.

The announcement reverses earlier plans to make Highlander sport-utility vehicles and Prius hybrid vehicles at the plant, and comes as U.S. auto sales are recovering from their worst downturn since the early 1980s.

“We first needed to fully utilize our existing facilities as the economy slowed. Now it’s time to fulfill Toyota’s promise in Mississippi,” said Yoshimi Inaba, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor North America.

Toyota, which undertook a massive recall of vehicles globally earlier this year, has forecast U.S. industry auto sales would rise to about 11.5 million vehicles in 2010 from 10.4 million last year.

Toyota’s U.S. sales rose 10.5 percent in the first five months of the year from last year, supported by hefty discounts to win back consumers in the wake of damaging safety recalls. Overall U.S. industry sales were up 17 percent.

The Japanese automaker said nearly all Corolla production for North America will be built at the Mississippi plant.

In April, Toyota closed a plant in Fremont, California, where it previously built the Corolla, after former partner General Motors Co pulled out of the joint venture as part of its post-bankruptcy restructuring. Since then, some Corollas for North America have been built in Japan, with the rest coming from a plant in Canada.

“Toyota remains committed to making vehicles where we sell them and to maintaining a substantial manufacturing presence in North America,” Inaba said.

The automaker will continue to import the popular Prius hybrids, which are built at plants in Japan and China. However, officials said Toyota still plans to build the car in North America, although a decision on timing has not been made.

Toyota officials said it was not economically feasible to operate the Fremont plant without a partner and it had made a commitment to get the Mississippi plant operating, and the fastest way to do that was by adding Corolla there.

Toyota said work on the Mississippi plant is essentially complete, with most of the remaining work involving equipment installation. Sixty people are already working in the administrative offices, and hiring for the rest of the jobs will begin in August or September.

Source: [Reuters]

Q: I’m very protective of my small dog. I want her to have fun at the park, but I don’t want her to get hurt. Can I keep her on the leash so that I’m always close and can pull her out of rough situations?

A: Sorry, but no. A dog park is specifically for off-leash play. “A leash can create different reactions in the leashed dog, who feels constrained and unable to react as he or she may wish,” says Smith. “Leashes can create barrier frustration,” she says. This is a common dog behavior issue, where dogs may lash out because they don’t feel in control. If you’re still concerned about your pet, you might consider trying to establish an event for small dogs only at your local dog park.

Q: My dog gets really thirsty after running around in the park. Should I bring his water bowl for drink breaks?

A: Only if you bring him outside the park for the break. It’s too hard to keep the other dogs away from your bowl, and both Reed and Smith point out that a communal water bowl is also a communal germ pool. Nasty bugs like giardia can spread through water.

Q: What about treats? Since I dole those out by hand, they’re something I can control.

A: It’s not a good idea to give your dog food in front of other dogs. Not only might you get mobbed and knocked over by jealous, hungry dogs, but other owners could also become agitated. This tip additionally applies to food you might bring for yourself. “The smell and sight of it will rile up the dogs,” says Reed.

Q: Aside from being a great place to exercise my dog, isn’t the dog park also a perfect place to find love?

A: Perhaps, but keep the former purpose at the forefront. Reed once witnessed a flirty woman become so enamored with a male dog owner that she didn’t notice her terrier escape the dog park and run away. The dog was smart enough to run home, but as Reed points out, “You should love the ones you’re with and not lose them by looking for love at the dog park.”

Q: My dog is always well behaved and can fend for herself. Is it OK for me to leave her in the park for 20 minutes while I run to the store?

A: Absolutely not. You are responsible for your dog’s actions, so you need to be there. “Believe it or not, people do this,” says Smith. “But the park is not to baby-sit your unattended dog while you go off and run some errands.”

Q: I appreciate that my dog gets to play, but I also like to use the dog park as a way to relax. It’s not as if my dog is a 2-year-old child, so is it OK to bring a book to read?

A: No! Your dog is like a 2-year-old child, and you need to pay attention. Do this for the sake of his or her safety, and for the sake of the other dogs. And speaking of 2-year-olds, you might notice that dogs poop whenever and wherever they want, and it’s your responsibility to pick it up. “Piles of poop are the prime reason dog parks are shut down or never open in the first place,” says Smith. Most people are happy to clean up after their dogs, so a poop-filled dog park is likely the result of people who don’t pay attention.

Source: [My Fox Tampa Bay]

How to Double-Check For an Alignment

To see if you need a wheel alignment, first check each tire and look for uneven wear patterns. You can do this by taking a coin to each tire and inserting it in the tread at the outside, center, and inside of the tire.

If the tread is deeper on the edges than in the center, the tire is over inflated.

If the tread is deeper in the center than the edges, the tire is under inflated.

If the tread is deeper on one side than the other, have your wheel alignment checked soon.

If you run your hand back and forth across the tread (be careful not to cut yourself on any debris) and the tread is smooth in one direction, but jagged in the other you have what is called a “saw-tooth” wear pattern caused by a toe-in problem. If your tires have a “saw-tooth” wear pattern, have the alignment checked as soon as possible as this can cause unsafe tire wear.

Aligning Your Tires

There are two types of wheel alignments, a two-wheel alignment and a four-wheel alignment. The four-wheel alignment is the best type of alignment to get for a vehicle. Having all four wheels aligned increases safety when driving down the road.

Having proper wheel alignment insures that your vehicle handles properly and returns the wheels on your vehicle to their correct angle. When your wheels are properly aligned you will not have to fight with your steering wheel when driving to make the car drive straight, or make the steering wheel stop vibrating. Maintaining proper wheel alignment can also increase gas mileage and decrease tire wear.

By making small adjustments and keeping up with regular maintenance items, like keeping your wheels aligned, can help you avoid a major breakdown in the future, and prolong the life of your vehicle.

If it has been longer than a year since your last alignment, and you are experiencing symptoms described here, or are unsure if you need an alignment, bring your vehicle into the Toyota of Tampa Bay Service Department. One of our highly trained Service Technicians can take a look at your vehicle, realign your vehicle’s wheels, and get you back on the road safely.

Dear Valued Toyota Customer,

We wanted to take a moment and update you on the progress we’ve made completing open recalls for the gas pedal and floor mat entrapment that was so widely publicized in early February. Since early February we have literally performed thousands of recalls on affected vehicles. While Toyota originally anticipated late summer of 2010 before all of the models would have parts available, we are happy to announce that Toyota advised us that by June of 2010,  Toyota expects all models involved in the 90L recall, will have parts available for completion. As confusing as some of the parts releases have been, below is a chart that will help you quickly and easily determine whether or not your model was involved.

The following is the most current information available, please note that the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) determines whether or not the vehicle is involved in the recall:

AOA recall – Accelerator pedal steel reinforcement shim, all models below have parts available

2009-2010 RAV 4 models

2009-2010 Corolla models

2009-2010 Matrix models

2005-2010 Avalon models

2007-2010 Camry models

2010 Highlander – (Hybrid models not included)

2007-2010 Tundra models

2007-2010 Sequoia models

90L recall – Possible Floor Mat entrapment recall

2009-2010 Corolla – Parts release in June

2009-2010 Matrix – Parts release in June

2009-2010 Venza – Parts available

2008-2010 Highlander – Parts available

2005-2010 Avalon – Parts available

2007-2010 Camry (Gas and Hybrid) Parts available

2005-2010 Tacoma – Parts release in June

2007-2010 Tundra – Parts available

2004-2009 Prius – Parts available

For any other recall information on any other model or condition, please call any of our service staff with your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and we will gladly look up your vehicle and give you the latest information available. For more information on any Toyota recall please go to Toyota.com/recall for the latest information.

If you have been waiting to bring your vehicle in because of the volume of cars being recalled and our shop being too busy, you should know we are finished with over 50 % of our recall volume in just 3 months. Our service hours have been extended to 9:00 pm Monday through Friday and as always, we’re open 7 days a week. 

It has always been our policy to provide the very best in service. We believe you are driving one of the highest quality vehicles on the road today. We will work on any Toyota regardless of where your vehicle was purchased. We also work on other makes and models as well. Our customers have ranked among the very best in the country, the state and the Tampa market. Thank you for your continued support and business.

Our direct service line is 813-375-3050. Our direct e mail is service@toyotaoftampabay.com.

Toyota of Tampa Bay presented Cassandre P., an Active Duty U.S. Air Force Reservist, with the keys to her new car on Memorial Day. She was recommended to receive the car by Operation Homefront Florida a new expansion to the Vehicles for Veterans program for 2010.

“On the weekend of our nation’s remembrance of veterans who have fallen, it will be rewarding to award a vehicle through our Vehicle for Veterans program to an active duty member of our military in collaboration with our two agencies and two auto partners who have made this possible,” said Susan Jacobs, who runs the Wheels of Success organization.

This is the second vehicle that Toyota of Tampa Bay has restored and donated to a needy veteran. In November of 2009 Toyota of Tampa Bay kicked off the Vehicles for Veterans Program with Wheels of Success and State Farm Auto Insurance. Kayana S., a U.S. Army Veteran who served in Iraq, was presented with a 2002 Chevrolet Malibu.

Wheels of Success is located in Tampa Florida and was founded in 2003 to help families obtain or continue work by delivering reliable transportation solutions. They help to provide a variety of transportation solutions including vehicle replacement, car repair, licensing, car payment and down payment assistance to low and moderate income working families.

To learn more about Wheels of Success or to make a donation visit http://www.wheelsofsuccess.org/.

Why? Well first of all, the Toyota Prius is a great kind of hybrid car. The model I speak of is Toyota’s petrol and electric hybrid model. It’s sharp, stunning, and is a best seller among hybrid cars. In the United States, the Toyota Prius got an award that was very comparable to the car of the year award given in Europe.

But the Toyota Prius hybrid car isn’t selling off the lots because it is the fastest car around. Some Toyota Prius’s have some pretty high profile owners. Among them are Leonardo Dicaprio, Harrison Ford, and Susan Sarandon. With these people driving this particular hybrid car, off course it’s selling like a hotcake. And the stars are doing a world of good for the sales of hybrid cars in general.

But while the success of the Toyota Prius is good for Toyota, it isn’t so good for its competitors who have yet to manufacture a hybrid car. Now Nissan, GM and other popular car manufacturers are trying to quickly get their act together and come up with their version of the hybrid car.

Some of these other manufacturers just did not believe that people would put their faith in the hybrid car as a solution to the constant fluctuation of oil prices. But the number of sales for the Toyota Prius hybrid car has certainly caused a change of tune for competing car manufacturers.

But as far as Toyota goes, claims have been made that in the near future, all Toyota engines will come with hybrid options. And Toyota also believes that it’s only a matter of time before all cars are hybrid cars or at least have hybrid engine options.

Soon it may expand its manufacturing plants to locations in places like California. Surely, there are plenty of movie stars there who can be persuaded to buy this hybrid car.

The Toyota Prius is certainly making a name for hybrid cars, and hopefully the buck won’t stop with the Prius. Toyota probably has some other models of hybrids cars that are fast making there way to having top sales as well.

Source: [Green Living Home Guide]