Toyota Offers 0% Financing on Select Models

February is a month for sweethearts, and Toyota is offering up their own sweet deal. For the whole month of February Toyota is offering 0% interest rate loans for up to 60 months on select vehicles as well as no money down lease incentives.

The 2011 Toyota Camry and 2011 Tundra can both be purchased with no interest financing for 60-months. A purchase of the Toyota Camry also includes $500 cash back. A 39-month lease can be signed with no down payment and $249 monthly payments. The lease incentive also comes with $500 cash back.

The 2011 Toyota Prius, 2011 Toyota Corolla and 2011 Highlander are all available for lease incentives with a 39-month lease. The Prius offers $189 monthly payments with $2,188 due at signing. The 2011 Corolla is a $149 monthly payment with $2,148 due at signing and the Toyota Highlander requires a $2,278 down payment for $279 monthly payments. These three models are also available for purchase with 0% financing for 39 months.

Find your new Toyota at CarLocate.com and you could be driving off the lot with a pretty sweet deal.

Top Super Bowl Car Ads of 2011

The Super Bowl is watched as much for its commercials as it is the football game, making it one of the largest and most expensive advertising platforms. Through the years, automakers have launched some of the biggest and most anticipated campaigns during the big game, and 2011 did not disappoint. In fact, the number one commercial on our list topped almost every other list of top ads from Sunday, whether they were voted on by companies, consumers, or other advertisers. And, unlike ours, their lists weren’t even car-specific.

1. Volkswagen “Darth Vader”
Everyone seemed to immediately fall in love with this commercial for the VW Passat, thanks to its perfect mix of a cute kid, good looking car, and a cool feature of the vehicle that not only ties the ad together, but makes the viewer want to know even more about the Passat.

2. Chevy Camaro “Miss Evelyn”
This Chevy Camaro ad gave a comical look at what most guys would consider the perfect car commercial. In fact, there is a good chance that before it even premiered; somewhere out there a group of guys watching the game described this ad exactly.

3. Volkswagen “Black Beetle”
This commercial caught people’s attention, because although it gave no indication of exactly what was being advertised until the end, it had viewers questioning if this could be the first peek at the much-anticipated, all new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle.

4. Audi “Release the Hounds”
Audi was very creative in their attempt to show how their vehicles defy the confines of traditional luxury and are more progressive than their competition, and it paid off.

5. Chrysler “Imported from Detroit”
This ad for the Chrysler 200 effectively uses Eminem, a popular rapper and proud Detroit native, to show off the city where most “American Made” vehicles are built and to kick off Chrysler’s creative new tagline, “Imported from Detroit.”

Myth or Fact: Your Car Needs to be Warmed Up on Cold Days?

It is a common belief that you need to warm up your car when it is really cold outside to avoid some sort of damage. No one is sure what sort of damage can be expected, but everyone seems to think that if you don’t warm up your car for a few minutes before you drive it, you will have problems. Besides, warming up your car before you have to drive means it will be warm on the inside too, so you won’t have to sit in the cold. However, this myth is exactly that: a myth. Failing to warm up your car before you get in it and drive away will not cause any harm to your car.

According to mechanics you do not need to idle your car “because of the efficiency of modern fuel injection.” The only reason to let a car idle is to get the oil circulating; but after 30 seconds that is done. Staring your car to warm it up before you get in does not work either; it will actually warm up more quickly if you are driving it. Below are three reasons you should not idle your car.

1. It costs money. Over a year of five minutes of daily idling estimates show that the operator of a V8 will waste 20 gallons of gas which will cost at least $60. Also, idling for more than 10 seconds wastes more money than restarting the car would.
2. It hurts your car. Idling your car for too long will actually hurt your car. An idling engine is forced to operate inefficiently degrading both its performance and mileage.
3. It is harmful to you and the environment. Five minutes of idling everyday for a year produces more than 440 pounds of carbon dioxide into the environment. Idling in your garage even with the door open can still be harmful to the driver and those in the house. An idling engine emits carbon monoxide and other noxious gases which can increase rates of cancer, heart and lung disease, asthma and allergies.

Monitoring System Hopes to Make DUIs a Thing of the Past

2011 may seem to be all about electric cars, but another trend is slowly taking over. Vehicle safety has emerged as a hot topic recently, and whether we are discussing safety features that are currently available on new models or ones in the very beginning stages, it is clear where automakers are heading. The latest safety technology to be introduced is a system that will prevent people who are intoxicated from operating a vehicle.

This new technology would differ from the current alcohol ignition interlock systems, in that it works through in-car sensors, located in places such as the steering wheel and door locks. The sensors will analyze a driver’s breath and skin to determine their level of intoxication, and if a level above the legal limit is determined, the car will not start. Alcohol ignition interlock systems, which are most often used as part of a DUI conviction, require a driver to blow into a Breathalyzer before the car will start.

Despite the government’s tentative thumbs up of the monitoring system, it could take up to 10 years for the technology to be commercially available. Some people fear that if the device were to malfunction, it may prevent sober drivers from starting their vehicle and getting where they need to go. Therefore, according to David Strickland, head of the National Highway Traffic Administration, the system will not be used until it is determined to be “seamless, unobtrusive, and unfailingly accurate.” Even when the technology is cleared for commercial sale, it will most likely be an optional feature, and automakers will choose whether or not to include it on their vehicles.

Handling a Flat Tire

If you have ever had the unpleasant and inconvenient experience of a flat tire you know how much panic can set in in just a short period of time. Driving with a flat tire can be a very terrifying experience, but when it happens you have to stay calm and remain in control. Your safety is the most important factor when driving with a flat tire, not your schedule or any other concerns you may have. Here are some tips to keep in mind when you get a flat tire while driving.

1. At the first thump feeling, take control, keep a firm and steady grip on the steering wheel, and maintain a straight course. Concentrate on keeping or regaining control of your vehicle.
2. Don’t slam on the brakes. At the first sign of trouble, calmly ease off the accelerator to slow the vehicle and get over to the right side of the road.
3. Do not stop in the road. Put your hazards on and, if possible, pull into a parking lot. Otherwise, continue to slow down and carefully pull as far over as possible on the shoulder.
4. Once you have pulled over, put the car into park, set the parking brake, and then call for roadside assistance. While waiting do not stand beside or next to your vehicle.
5. If you are attempting to change the tire yourself, angle the car away from the road and traffic to ensure your safety.
6. To flag down a police officer or tow truck operator, raise your car’s hood and tie something white to your antenna or hang it out a window so they will know you need help.

If You Thought Your Last Traffic Ticket Was Bad…

Imagine one that cost $200,000. That is exactly what a man in Finland received after being caught going 50 mph in a 25 mph zone. While this world record speeding fine is certainly not the norm in Europe, it is possible in places such as Finland and Denmark, where the amount of the ticket is based on annual income. Here are a few other places where speeding tickets might sting a little (or a lot).

• Canada – Although most tickets will not levy a fine of over $1,000, the maximum penalty is $25,000. Last year, a man paid $12,000 for driving his motorcycle 164 mph.
• United Kingdom – Depending on how fast you are driving, you can be fined up to $8,000.
• Norway & Iceland – Like Denmark and Finland, Norway’s fines are based on annual income. The cost of a speeding ticket is 10% of the driver’s annual income, plus jail time if your offense is deemed excessive. Iceland imposes a maximum fine of $2,700 to encourage safe driving on their dangerous roads.
• France, Switzerland, & Italy – Excessive speeding may result in jail time and fines up to $2,100
• Portugal – Reckless drivers can face fines up to $1,800 – and must pay them on the spot. Whether you are caught speeding, talking on the phone while driving, or not buckling your seatbelt, you may not drive until the fine is paid. Many police cars are even equipped with ATMs to make this enforceable.
• United States – Each state imposes its own speeding fines. The most expensive states to be caught speeding include Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Nevada, and New Hampshire, with a maximum penalty of $1,000. However, until last year when the law was repealed, Virginia took the cake by allowing fines up to $2,500 for drivers caught going just 10 mph over the limit.

Why There Won’t Be As Many 5-Star Vehicles This Year

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been performing their New Car Assessment Program, perhaps better known as the Five-Star Safety Rating System, since 1978. This year, however, they have decided to shake things up and have drastically revised the system. Due to the major changes, the 2011 models cannot be compared to previous years, and the ratings are not likely to be shown on new vehicles for at least a few more weeks, if not longer.

One major change to the test is the addition of a small female dummy. In years past, a medium-sized male dummy was used in all tests to represent all drivers. However, the NHTSA realized that this did not properly represent the American population. The new dummy is being used to represent smaller women and children, and injuries sustained to the smaller dummy will be compared to those of the larger. Other new features of the test include a side pole test, used to represent a vehicle’s collision with narrow stationary objects, such as trees or telephone poles, and the disclosure of whether or not vehicles come with crash-avoidance technology.

The NHTSA made the decision to update the test because they feel that after several years of being tested in the same way, automakers have figured out the protocol, and know exactly what they need to do to earn a top rating. Last year, almost every vehicle tested earned 4- or 5-star ratings, so the NHTSA decided it was time to raise the standards. This year, new models will also be awarded an overall score for the first time, based on their scores on each category. Each category will weigh in differently, and the new overall scores will make it easier for consumers to compare vehicles.