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On Sunday March 4th, 2012 Ardmore Toyota hosted students and parents from the Cantor Driving School. Everyone participated in the maintenance class and learned about different aspects of taking care of your car. A few of the many things that students learned included changing a flat tire, replacing a windshield wiper, checking your oil and tire pressure. We would like to thank the students and everyone associated with the Cantor Driving School for coming to this educational maintenance class. In addition, we would like to recognize the fabulous job our technician Sam did entertaining and educating the class.

What is important to you when it comes to finding the right Family car? Kelley Blue Book has recognized the Toyota Prius V as one of the 10 best family cars in 2012. "Love the idea of 50 mpg but need room for your family and fixings? You might be suffering from Prius envy. But now there's a bigger Prius Toyota calls Prius V. Its combined fuel economy of 42 mpg doesn't quite match its little brother's, but it's way more fuel efficient than any compact SUV and roomier than many."

Just as people have landmark birthdays, cars have milestones – fifty thousand miles, one hundred thousand miles, and even more! You may not realize it, but most cars have a 'suggested maintenance schedule' listed in the owner’s manual. (If your car doesn’t have a maintenance timeline, you can always check with your dealer.) The schedule will outline when you should have things like your transmission fluid, radiator fluid, and timing belts checked. It’s always best to take your car back to the dealer, because they will have the correct fluids for your make and model. Not only that, but they also know how to dispose of the old fluids properly. If you want your older car to continue to run like new, invest in its long-term care. Your dealer will be just as happy seeing your high-mileage vehicle come in for service as they were when you first drove it off the lot.

How important is Consumer Reports to you when deciding which car to purchase? We want to hear from you. The USA Today reported that Toyota is the first brand to earn half of the top 10 spots in nearly a decade in Consumer Reports’ 2012 Top Picks. The redesigned Camry Hybrid and Highlander edged out the competition to become Top Picks in the Family Sedan and Family SUV categories, respectively. For the 11th time and ninth consecutive year, the Toyota Prius earned the top spot in the Green Car category. Both records have not been claimed by any other model in the history of the Top Picks. RAV4 (Small SUV) and Sienna (Family Hauler) are best in their categories. “Every year, the competition grows tighter,” according to Consumer Reports Automotive Editor Rik Paul. “In recent years, as many as nine different brands have taken the top spots. Combined with the i mproved Camry, Toyota’s ability to maintain a competitive lead among hybrids and SUVs is a big factor in its strong presence on this year's list.” Click here for the full story!

The February 27th, 2012 issue of Fortune Magazine did a special on Toyota and the grandson of the founder of Toyota, Akio Toyoda. The University of Michigan's Jeffrey Liker, a leading Toyota scholar, told me, "Akio has reenergized the company. He's promised to be the closest president ever to the gemba ." Does it make sense for the head of a company as large as Toyota to spend so much time evaluating its products and micromanaging small details? Well, it worked for Steve Jobs, and Akio believes it is an essential component of his leadership. Click Here to read the full article!

Cars today are designed to be as problem-free as possible. Maintenance items, like oil changes, now have dashboard indicators that signal when it’s time to change the oil. Though it may seem like your car can basically take care of itself, it is important to be proactive with certain maintenance items like your air filter. The air filter keeps dirt and debris out of the engine. So, when the filter gets clogged, your engine has to work extra hard to pull in air and run efficiently. If you feel like your car is a little sluggish and cannot remember the last time your filter was checked, call your dealer today. This easy and inexpensive preventative measure will get you a peppier car and a few more miles to the gallon. Sometimes spending a few bucks can save you a bundle, so be an advocate for your car, and you’ll surely reap the benefits.

CarInsuranceQuotes.net recently wrote a blog about the safest Hybrid cars on the Planet. Looking for the perfect balance of intelligent design, eco-friendliness, and safety features? There are plenty of new vehicles that boast fuel economy and profitable driving experiences. The Camry Hybrid, Prius and Lexus RX450h were three of the 5 safest vehicles. Safety or gas Mileage? What is more important to you when you are looking to buy a new car? Let us know what you think by clicking here and telling us your opinion! Click here to read the full blog story!

The 2012 Toyota Prius, 2012 Toyota Prius V and 2012 Scion iQ all made the Kiplinger Most Fuel-Efficient Car Value list. Green is still a red-hot buzzword in the auto industry and not every winner is a paragon of green technology, but each vehicle we spotlight is the least thirsty in its class based on annual fuel cost.

Eight Lexus, Toyota, and Scion models captured segment awards in the 2012 J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study, a performance equal to all other vehicle brands combined and more than twice as many as the runner-up nameplate. The study also found: -Lexus is the number one nameplate, improving by 23 fewer problems/100; -Toyota is the highest ranked non-premium nameplate and tied for third place overall, improving by 18 fewer problems/100; -Scion achieves its highest ever position at fifth place, jumping up 17 positions and improving by 55 fewer problems/100. “We are extremely pleased that not only did we win awards in eight of the 14 model segments, but that in two segments we finished one-two and made the podium in 12 segments overall”, said Jim Lentz, president and COO of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

If you take time to recall the days of manually cranking your car windows up and down, power windows can truly be considered one of the greatest innovations to the modern car. But, as with all modern technology, once in a great while, it lets us down – literally. If you’ve ever had an issue with your windows getting stuck either down or up, you know how frustrating it can be, especially if the weather isn’t cooperating. But, before you play with the switch to no avail or tug on the window, take the time to call your dealer. Your dealer can swiftly diagnose the problem, and, in most cases, fix it quickly. Forcing a window or switch can damage or even destroy other components, making for a more extensive and costly repair. If you’re currently experiencing window problems with your vehicle, keep in mind that many states require working windows in order to assist law enforcement safety during traffic stops, so your car may not pass inspection without them. Instead of relying on duct tape or sheer grit, make an appointment with your dealer for a quick and easy fix, so that the windows on your car go up and down.

2012 Sienna and Yaris Earn 4-Star NCAP Ratings. The 2012 Sienna has again achieved a 4 Star rating in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), making the Sienna the highest rated van in the tougher and more rigorous crash test program introduced in 2011. The 2012 Sienna has also been awarded a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In addition to the 2012 Sienna, the 2012 Yaris 5 door has achieved a 4 Star NCAP rating. The 2012 Yaris has also been awarded a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) provides more useful information for consumers about safety feature performance and crash avoidance technologies .. To visit the NHTSA’s NCAP website, click on http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Shoppers/5-Star+Safety+Ratings/2011-Newer+Vehicles We want to hear from you. What are the top 3 most important things you look for in a car?

Best wishes for happiness on Valentine's Day and every day.