1.    Look into the crash test ratings. These ratings, in particular, are what many insurance companies look into when deciding coverage costs. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, or IIHS, actually conducts its own series of crash tests on vehicles.

2.    Look at the crash test ratings given by the National Highway Safety Administration. These test results are rated on a five star scale. The more stars a vehicle is given for a particular test, the better it held up during the collision. You may even want to compare the crash test ratings between NHTSA and IIHS.

3.    If you are considering an SUV pay attention to the Electronic Stability Control system. This system is designed to keep the vehicle on path when turning a corner at an accelerated speed. This will essentially prevent the vehicle from tipping.

4.    Rollover resistance is something to consider when looking at purchasing a taller vehicle, such as, a pick-up truck or SUVs. There will be a rating for sedans, as well, but it is more important for larger, taller vehicles.

5.    Make sure the vehicle has an antilock brake system, or ABS. This comes standard on most new vehicles but may not on an older, used model. This provides assistance during a quick stop.

6.    Determine if it has any accident avoidance assistance. This will help you in the instance of a potential collision.

7.    Obviously, make sure the vehicle is equipped with air bags. These will be imperative in keeping possible physical damage during a collision to a minimum.

8.    Make sure the vehicle has working safety belts for all passengers.

9.    Check the head restraints. Make sure they are in proper working order and don’t have any obvious damage. They should have a snug fit and show no signs of malfunction or previous damage.

10.    Finally, inspect the child restraint system. Most new vehicles have a latch system that provides for easy installation of child seats. If the vehicle does not have a latch system, make sure the seat belts have the locking mode that would be necessary for safe child seat installation.

Washing your new Toyota regularly is important, even in the winter, to keep the finish looking its best.  Salt and sludge can eat away at your car’s finish and dirt that is left for long periods of time can prevent moisture from evaporating and leave stains that will not easily be removed.

In the winter, try to have your vehicle washed on days when the temperature is above freezing and use pressurized water to help clean dirt in areas that are difficult to reach, if you use a coin car wash with a pressure sprayer, avoid putting the hose too close to the car’s surface to prevent damaging the paint.  Thoroughly remove all of the salt and sand left behind after snowy winter days that can cause corrosion to your car.

Be sure to wax your car regularly with a quality car wax, such as Carnuba wax to protect the finish.

Stone chips can cause corrosion if not taken care of in time,  you should repair the chip as soon as it is visible.  Ask your local Toyota dealership to order the right spray paint to match your vehicle and use a sharp toothpick to do an accurate job of getting just the right amount of paint down into the crack of the car’s exterior finish.   Simply fill up the cap with a small amount of spray paint and then dip the toothpick into the paint and allow it to barely fill the space where the chip occurred without overfilling it.  You can repair small scratches using the same method.

If you are looking for a new Toyota, visit your local St. Louis Toyota dealer, Spirit Toyota and test drive one of our new or used Toyota Cars today.

The revamped 4Runner is still geared towards the rough and tough outdoorsman, but has features appealing to the city driver as well. Toyota is expecting a small volume manufacturing of this model but believes the newer model will be set to impress.

The 2010 Toyota 4Runner shares attributes similar to the Toyota Tacoma and the FJ Cruiser. Its frame, though, more closely resembles that of the Land Cruiser Prado. They left the wheel base of the 4Runner alone even though the truck has increased its length and width. In fact, the newer 4Runner version is only about 130 pounds heavier than its predecessor. Gone is the V-8, in its place is one of two options; the 2.7 liter 4 cylinder or the 4.0 liter V-6.

Toyota has opted to replace the almost-on-the-floor seating with higher seating offering increased head and knee clearance. Despite of its bulk and weight it has a surprisingly quite and smooth ride. The frame reinforcement does its job to provide minimal shaking while traveling uneven, city road terrain. To encourage the more efficient driver, a strategically placed “eco” light will come on when the driver is being thrifty at the throttle. During a test drive the vehicle averaged 18 miles per gallon, between a mix of highway and city driving: Not too shabby for the 4Runner.

Off the beaten path is where this vehicle really shines.  Even an 8,000 foot peak proved to be no match for the 4Runner. It is an old fashioned, confident truck with a mind of its own when it comes to off road navigation.