Greetings,
Welcome to the Summer edition of our newsletter.
We wanted to make sure you received this edition before we close for our
upcoming vacation. We will be closed Saturday,
July 19 until we return on Monday, July 28. If you need that last minute oil change or
trip inspection before YOUR vacation, call us for an appointment. The week leading up to our vacation
has historically been one of our busiest, so call soon, before you
forget! If you'd like to make an
appointment online, click here.
We would love to get your
comments, so feel free to send us feedback.
Lowell Nigoff
In this issue:
Are Thieves Targeting Your Car?
Lowell Doesn't Want You to Read This Article!!
More on Gas...from Clark Howard
A Quick Word on Used Toyotas
Do You Have a Question?
Advertisements & Self-Promotion
Car theft has risen significantly over the past
few years and is now the third most frequent crime in the country. Even
Lexington’s very own former mayor, Pam Miller, had her car stolen from her driveway when she accidentally left the
keys in it.
What factors
control whether your car is stolen? The
likelihood
is largely based on what kind of car you have and where you live. What criminals
like stealing in one part of the country is completely different than their
tastes in another part of the country. The National Insurance Crime Bureau, an information clearinghouse, will soon have information
at its website, showing what cars around the country are most likely to be
stolen. According to the Wall
Street Journal, if you live in California, eight of the most stolen vehicles are
imports. In Ohio, nine of the 10
most stolen vehicles are made by General Motors.
The Top 10 most stolen vehicles (from most stolen to least stolen) are: 1)
Toyota Camry, 2) Honda Accord, 3) Honda Civic, 4) Oldsmobile
Cutlass Sierra, 5) Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Grand Cherokee, 6) Chevy C/K pick-up, 7)
Toyota Corolla, 8) Ford Taurus, 9) Chevy Caprice, 10)
Ford F150 pickup
You should keep in mind that the Camry and Accord are the most popular cars in
the country, so the law of averages says they are likely to be stolen more
often. The good news is if you own a Plymouth Sundance, no one wants your car.
It is the least likely to be stolen. So, what can you do to avoid being a target
in general? Park in well-lighted
areas; take the keys out of the ignition , and LOCK YOUR CAR!
Lowell
Doesn't Want You to Read This Article!! 
(But we
were able to sneak it in...shhhhhhh)
Warning:
This article will teach you how to keep breakdowns to a minimum!
Smart
Money magazine has an obsession with Top 10 lists. One of the most
current lists gives consumers tips to keep their car out of the
shop. Some of these tips are obvious, while others may surprise you.
Start
your car properly. This includes not revving the
engine and making sure the accessories (air conditioning, radio, headlights,
etc.) are off when you turn the key. Your car will start with the
accessories turned on, but unnecessary load is placed on the battery.
Come to a complete stop before putting your car into Drive or Reverse from another gear. Enough said.
Keep your gas tank above one fourth full. Allowing your tank to get near empty is not only unsafe personally if you happen to be stranded, but there is also a danger to your vehicle. The sediment that collects in the bottom of the tank can be stirred up as it gets near empty, causing problems in your car's fuel system.
Check
your tire pressure regularly. Full tires are much safer and
give you
better gas mileage.
Riding
the clutch is strongly discouraged. Replacing a clutch can
be pretty expensive!
Heed
the warning lights in your car. This includes the check engine light (see
our previous newsletter for more on this one).
Drive
more. You’ve heard the old adage, "Use it or lose it."
It applies to your car, too. Not driving your car can be as damaging as driving
it too hard.
One
final recommendation - get
regular oil changes at Lowell's (OK, so we added this one).
More
on Gas
From
Clark Howard, the frugal consumer adviser
Don't
play the name game with gas. Clark talks about some topics until he's blue
in the face, and there are always people who pay no attention until it really
hits home. Today, it's the cost of gasoline. Clark has been a
stickler about what he pays for gas since the first energy crisis in 1973.
It's just one of his things. But for many years people didn't even
notice the cost of the gas they were buying when they pulled up to the
pump. That sentiment is changing across the country now that gas prices
are skyrocketing. Most people have always been loyal to a certain brand name
because they thought they were doing their car a favor. That's changing
too. Now, people are seeking out the cheapest price on the street, and
brand names no longer matter. So, if there is any good news in the energy
crisis, this is it. There are so many low cost sellers in the market and
the gas is the same quality. Warehouse clubs and supermarkets alone will
sell one in six gallons of gas sold in the country. These providers sell it
much cheaper than what traditional gas companies charge. Remember that gas
is gas, so shop around for the best price. Also, keep your car above a half a
tank so you can find the best price without running out.
A national consumer magazine recently asked its readers if they would buy their car if they had to do it all over again. Readers were to consider such factors as price, performance, reliability, etc. We're happy to report that several Toyota and Lexus models came in at or near the top of the list in their particular class. They are listed as follows: the Lexus ES300 in the upscale car category; the Highlander, Land Cruiser, Sequoia (4wd), and Lexus RX300 for the SUV's; the Lexus LS430 in the luxury car class; the Prius in small cars; the Avalon in large cars; the Lexus SC430 in the coupe/convertible category; the trusty Camry for the group of family sedans; and the Tundra (V8) in the pickup truck class.
This same magazine also
highlighted several models that have both performed well in their testing over
the years, and had better-than-average reliability. The following Toyotas
all made the list: the 4Runner, Avalon, Camry, Solara, Celica, Corolla,
Echo, RAV4, Sienna, Tacoma, and Tundra. Several Lexus models also made the
list: ES300, GS300/400, GS430, LS400, LS430, and RS300. Makes you
feel good about buying a Toyota!
If you find a used car that you're interested in purchasing, don't forget to schedule an appointment with us for a pre-purchase inspection. We've prevented more than one customer from buying a car and then having to spend a lot of money on unexpected repairs.
Do You Have a Question About Car Maintenance That You Want
Answered?
We love to hear from all our good friends and customers
who enjoy reading "Lowell’s Toyota Times".
If you have a question about anything related to your Toyota or Lexus,
feel free to give us a call at (859) 233-1173, or drop us a line at lowells@iglou.com.
Thanks
to everyone who voted for us in "ACE" Magazine's
"The Real Best of Lexington" Poll.
Lowell's was once again voted "Best Mechanic".
Awards &
Honors
Better Business Bureau Integrity Award in 1991.
Voted "Best in the Bluegrass" in ACE magazine poll in 1997, 1999, 2001,
and 2002.
Featured on a television special for employing women in a traditionally male
environment.
Featured on Hometown Heroes for work done in the community.
Be sure to check out our "MONTHLY SPECIAL" at www.chooselowells.com.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
"Lowell's Toyota Times" is published by Lowell's Bluegrass
Automotive. Opening in 1979, Lowell's is the the only independent repair
shop in the Bluegrass specializing in the maintenance and repair of Toyota and
Lexus vehicles.
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