Warm weather has arrived once again.  The birds are singing, and the sun is shining brightly (at least most of the time).  We know that you’re probably deep into spring cleaning your house right now, but don’t forget about your car.  Right now is the perfect time to wash your beloved Toyota, removing road grime and salt from the winter and putting on a fresh coat of wax.   Waxing your car a few times a year keeps the exterior nice and shiny and will help maintain its resale value.  The best way to tell that it’s time to wax is when the finish looks dull and water no longer beads on the surface. 

Before you start, wash and dry your car well.  It’s better to do this by hand, rather than going through an automatic car wash.  Then divide the car into five sections – hood, roof, trunk, right side, and left side.  You want to apply and remove a coat of wax one section at a time to avoid over-drying.  Work on the hood, roof, and trunk first (to minimize the chance of scratching the surface with grit from the side panels).  Use a clean, dry, terry cloth folded over.    Make sure to apply the wax by pressing gently and moving your hand in small, overlapping, circular motions.  

Allow the wax to dry for 5-10 minutes.  When the wax is dry (it will have turned a slightly different color when dry), take another clean, dry terry cloth and use the same circular motions to remove the coat of wax.   Follow this procedure for each section of the car in succession. 

If you have lots of energy left over after spring cleaning, you can apply a second coat of wax to your car, using the same steps.  One coat, however, will probably suffice for most cars.  If you STILL have energy to burn, you may want to buff the finish with yet another terry cloth, using those same circular motions you no doubt know so well by now.  Buffing ensures that all the wax residue has been removed, and that the surface is as shiny as possible, smooth and slick to the touch. 

By now, your car’s finish will be ready for both the spring showers and the summer sun!

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Most adults are old enough to remember a time when a vehicle with 60,000 miles on the odometer was pretty well worn out.  Seeing 100,000 miles was almost unheard of.  Things have certainly changed since those days.

Today, vehicles with 100,000 miles are very common, 200,000 is not that unusual, and we even see Toyotas with 300,000 or more.

Customers with high-mileage vehicles know that good maintenance is the key to low cost and long vehicle life.  Let Lowell’s show you how to achieve the longest possible life for your Toyota, as well as the lowest cost of ownership. Just click here or call us at 233-1173 to schedule maintenance service for your car or truck.

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Cindy and Jane
A modern fable about dollars and sense

Cindy and Jane were best friends.  They had gone to grade school and high school together, and then graduated from college.  Neither had a lot of money at this time in their lives, and both needed transportation.

Cindy figured that since money was tight she would look for a three-year-old vehicle in good condition.  She found a car she liked and had it checked thoroughly by a qualified repair shop.  She carefully studied the maintenance requirements, realizing that she could not afford a breakdown.

Jane decided to buy a new vehicle.  Since she would not have to worry about repair costs, she reasoned she would save money.  She would keep it three years, until the warranty ended, and then trade it for another new vehicle.  This way she would avoid paying for repairs out of pocket.

Jane paid $22,000 for her new car, including tax, title, and license.  She drove it for three years and traded it on another new car.  This new vehicle cost $22,000 also, and she received $8,000 trade-in for her old one.  She also drove this vehicle for three years and then traded it.  Her cost for driving six years was the $44,000 purchase price on both cars, less $16,000 trade-in on two cars, or a total of $28,000.

Cindy paid $10,000 for her three-year-old vehicle, including tax, title, and license. She drove it six years and spent about $4,000 on repairs and maintenance over the six-year period.  She then traded the vehicle for another three-year-old vehicle. She received $2500 in trade-in value, making her cost the $10,000 purchase price, plus $4000 in repair and maintenance, minus the $2500 trade in.  Her six years of driving cost $11,500, or $16,500 less than Jane’s cost.

Cindy invested the extra money at 6% interest and then had over $23,000, which she used as a down payment on a home.  Jane is still renting and just can’t understand how Cindy can afford her lifestyle . . .
   

CONGRATULATIONS.  It is well deserved.
K.K., Lexington, KY

Congratulations, Lowell……….not surprised…………. well-deserved!!!
J.W., Louisville, KY

Congratulations!  I am not the least surprised.  Looking forward to putting at least 200,000 miles on our Camry and still having it three years from now when my 13 yr old will be learning to drive.
K.E., Lexington, KY

OUTSTANDING !   CONGRATULATIONS !!
B.W., Bardstown, KY

Assorted jams or preserves (seedless blackberry and seedless red raspberry are particularly tasty!)