- Toyota Touch Tips
- Fuel Saving Tips
- Important Questions to Ask When Buying an Automobile
- Why is the Way the Sales Consultant Gets Paid Important?
- The "Sweetness" of a Low Price
- Just What is a "Good Deal" Anyway?
- What are some other internet resources I can use to research my vehicle decision?
- How Do I Get My Trade-In Appraised?
- Toyota Touch Tips - back to list
Wash your carWash your car regularly - We recommend doing this at least once a month. Things like bugs, bird's dropping, or limestone dripping damage the paint leaving permanent stains if not washed off in time. When the car is clean, all the moisture dries up quickly, but when it's dirty, the moisture accumulates in dirty areas causing corrosion. At least once in a while use pressure wash - it removes the dirt from difficult to reach areas. Wash off all the places where the dirt and salt could be accumulated; for example, behind moldings, inside wheel arches, under the bumpers etc. It's particularly helpful after winter - to wash out all the salt accumulations that speed up the corrosion process.Wax your carWax your car regularly. Wax helps to protect the paint, minimizing harm of chemicals and protecting the paint from fading; plus the car looks shiny. It takes only about 30 minutes to wax a whole car and high quality car wax stays on the car for extended periods of time. In order to maintain protective coat any product needs to be reapplied periodically.Undercoating and rust proofing your vehicleLiving in the Maritimes, our vehicles are exposed to de-icing salts during the winter months and humid salty air along the coast line during the summer. Over time, this exposure can be damaging to your vehicle. Undercoating and rust proofing protects your car from premature corrosion and wear. Preserving the integrity of your vehicle protects your investment and keeps you safe on the road.Repair scratches and rock chipsDo not neglect scratched and rock chips on the finish of your car. The paint on your car is not only for good looks but it serves the purpose of covering and protecting parts susceptible to corrosion. Have your scratches and rock chips repaired by our car care specialists.- Fuel Saving Tips - back to list
Practicing the following fuel efficient driving techniques can improve fuel economy more than 10%:Observing the Speed LimitIn highway driving, over 50% of the energy required to move your car down the road goes to overcoming aerodynamic drag (pushing air out of the way). As you drive faster, aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance increase. As a result, at speeds above 90 km/hr, fuel economy decreases rapidly. By driving 100 km/hr instead of 110 km/hr, you'll save gas. Of course it will take you longer to get to your destination, but for each extra hour you spend driving you'll save $5.00. Owners of larger trucks and sport utility vehicles may save as much as $10.00 for each extra hour spent driving.Staying within the speed limit is not only a matter of safety and obeying the law, it can also save you money!Over-drive GearsOver-drive gears improve the fuel economy of your car during highway driving. When you use over-drive gearing your car's engine speed decreases. This reduces both fuel consumption and engine wear.Using Cruise ControlUsing cruise control on highway trips can help you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will reduce your fuel consumption.Anticipating Traffic SituationsIn city driving, nearly 50% of the energy needed to power your car goes to acceleration. Unnecessary braking wastes that energy. Avoid extreme acceleration except in emergency situations. Hard acceleration causes your engine to enter a less efficient "fuel enrichment mode" of operation. If you anticipate traffic conditions ahead of you and don't tailgate, you can avoid unnecessary braking and acceleration, and improve your fuel economy by 5-10 %. This defensive driving strategy is not only safer, it will also reduce wear on your tires and brakes and save you money.Avoiding Unnecessary IdlingWarming up your car isn't necessary for most cars today. No matter how efficient your vehicle, unnecessary idling wastes fuel, costs you money, and pollutes the air.Keep Your Tires Properly InflatedYour tires are designed to operate at peak efficiency only when they are inflated to the proper air pressure. You can read the maximum inflated tire pressure on the sidewall of the tire or consult our service department. By adhering to these recommendations you will have less rolling resistance your car will experience less tire wear and decreased fuel consumption.- Important Questions to Ask When Buying an Automobile - back to list
- During our long history, we've found a tried and true set of questions that have worked best for thousands of our satisfied customers:
- What are your needs?
- What is the primary use of your automobile?
- What do you like least about your current automobile?
- What do you like most about your current automobile?
- What is your budget?
Before making a decision, always ask:
- What is it?
- How does it work?
- What will it do for me?
- How much does it cost?
- Why is the Way the Sales Consultant Gets Paid Important? - back to list
The way any employee performs is directly related to the way he or she receives compensation for their service. This is true for janitors, CEOs, and even our valued sales staff at our dealership. We feel that the way our sales staff is paid directly affects his or her attitude and desire to take care of our customers.
One of the biggest problems with the automotive industry is the traditional way in which sales consultants are paid. A typical pay plan for a dealership rewards sales consultants for high volume and high margin. It is little wonder, then, that sales consultants have been stereotyped as being aggressive and pushy. Fortunately, we don't like feeling cheated and exploited any more than you do, so several years ago we tackled this problem.
At our dealership, we reward sales consultants on their ability to assist and satisfy our customers. We found when rewarding our staff for gross profit, we encouraged them to overwhelm customers. That is why we chose to pay our sales staff according to the individual's ability to truly consult and assist consumers with what they need and, in turn, produce consistently satisfying vehicle buying experiences. It is with this philosophy that we are able to enjoy our loyal customer base of thousands of satisfied vehicle owners. It is a paradigm shift in the way vehicles are bought and sold, changing the world one customer at a time.
- The "Sweetness" of a Low Price - back to list
An automobile dealer's integrity is the most important thing he or she has. Why?
Because the sweetness of a low price disappears quickly but the bitterness of a broken promise lingers for a long time.
No vehicle is created perfectly. Problems do occur with even the most expensive automobiles from the most reliable brands. What makes or breaks the sweetness of any automobile purchase is the reputation of the dealer to deal with these inevitable problems. The most important aspect of buying your new vehicle is your dealer's sincere desire to handle every problem quickly and honestly with an eye toward maintaining your satisfaction.
- Just What is a "Good Deal" Anyway? - back to list
A "Good Deal" is the Holy Grail of purchasing a new or pre-owned automobile. A perception common among many of our customers is that the "Good Deal" is elusive, requiring shrewd negotiation skills and laser-precise focus on price. Though fair and competitive pricing is obviously important to a good vehicle buying experience, our dealership has learned other important factors over the years that have satisfied thousands of valued customers.
- Sales Consultant Experience
- We've found that sales consultants with more experience and training produce more satisfaction in the customers they serve. A wealth of product knowledge, sound intuition of your needs and, above all, a desire to keep you satisfied throughout your ownership period are all areas on which our sales staff is focused, making price negotiation a secondary concern. After all, the sweetness of a low price fades quickly, but the bitterness of broken promises lingers for a long time.
- Dealer Reputation
- Repeatable customer satisfaction comes from the top down, which is why dealer reputation should also be considered when looking for that "Good Deal." The most experienced sales consultant cannot compensate for a dealer that only sees dollar signs when he or she looks at his customers. Many dealers take a "short-term" approach to earning your business. However, at our dealership we never work for the bottom line, but rather, focus on the top line. It is our belief that if we sell a lot of vehicles that satisfy a lot of customers, the bottom line will take care of itself.
- Vehicle Selection
- Settling for a car that doesn't satisfy your needs also defeats even the best price. Our dealership thinks you shouldn't have to compromise your original intentions in your vehicle purchase. For that reason, we maintain a wide selection of vehicles to give you the greatest amount of choice during your vehicle buying experience.
- High Quality Service
- The greatest measure of any dealership is how they handle their customers when something goes wrong. A favorable price can be offset in the space of only a few unforeseen repairs. Good, reputable service during your ownership cycle is the highest consideration of every knowledgeable vehicle buyer. That's why the technicians in our service department are kept on the cutting edge of technology through various certified training programs with salary and bonus incentives directly related to the number of customers they satisfy. At our dealership, our profit is providing you the best possible service.
As you can see, a truly good deal is found in getting the right information from the right consultant at the right dealership so you can confidently make the right overall vehicle choice. It is true that we offer competitive prices, but we feel the best deal is the one that makes the value of a competitive price last for as long as you own or lease your vehicle.
- What are some other internet resources I can use to research my vehicle decision? - back to list
We understand the importance of getting as many perspectives as possible when making your vehicle purchase. With the Internet, you have access to a tremendous wealth of resources to gain objective information to help you make an informed vehicle buying decision. Here are a few additional resources our customers have repeatedly mentioned as primary research sources:
- Kelley Blue Book
- The Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com) is the industry benchmark for trade-in values. With an easy-to-use searchable interface, you can access the same information source we use in our professional appraisal process.
- Edmunds.com
- Edmunds.com provides a number of resources, one of the most valuable being a suite of tools that can establish the True Market Value (TMV) of a particular make or model in any market in the United States. Reviews and road tests also complement the large selection of resources available here.
- Manufacturer websites
- Get specifications straight from the horse's mouth by visiting the manufacturer websites of the makes that you are researching. Often they provide comprehensive specification sheets and interactive resources to help you get a well-informed understanding of the technical components of the vehicle you are researching.
- How Do I Get My Trade-In Appraised? - back to list
- Getting an objective appraisal ensures you get the greatest dollar amount for your trade-in. That's why our dealership has a professional trade-in appraisal process on site to save you the time and money of finding an appraisal service. You can have your trade-in appraised as soon as it arrives at the dealership. Additionally, you can use this time to speak with your sales consultant about what you do and do not like about your present vehicle, so he or she can help you find the new vehicle that is right for you. With this information in hand, your sales consultant can avoid looking at vehicles that do not fit your needs and make maximum use of your precious time with us.
® BZ RESULTS © 2007