More Problems for Toyota

Fresh on the heels of Toyota’s first losses…ever.  It now seems that the auto giant is now faced with more problems.  It seems that Toyota has called for the recall of over a million cars for some apparently minor problems.  According to news.cnet.com the recall is taking place in various places mostly for a problem with seat belts:
“About 830,000 cars in Europe, North America, and other regions are being recalled, and another 536,000 in Japan. The defective models include the Yaris (called the Vitz in Japan), Belta, and Ractis models built between January 2005 and April 2008.
The recall concerns the Read the Rest…

Obama Lays Down the Law on Cars/EPA

So Barack Obama has decided to tell US car makers that they had better start producing smaller, more eco friendly cars.  According to the globeandmail.com, Obama has allowed states the right to cut the emission standards on vehicles on their soil:
“Mr. Obama’s decision will let California and other states set their own auto emission standards in their drive to slash greenhouse gases, an official familiar with the decision said Sunday.
The move is significant on two fronts: It could empower states to set tougher standards in targeting emissions, which are blamed for contributing to global climate change; and it would be Read the Rest…

So You Were Involved in a Car Accident…Now What?

So, you managed to get into a fender bender. Now what do you do? The following is a checklist of things to keep in mind in the all-too unfortunate event that you become involved in a car accident:

If possible, pull your vehicle over to the side of the road so that you do not block traffic.
Check to see if you or any passengers with you were injured.
If the accident involves injury or damage, contact the local police immediately.
If the accident involved another driver, obtain information from the other driver to include: name, address, telephone number, insurance company, policy number and Read the Rest…

Desire for Big Cars Up Again

No big surprise here, but USA today is reporting that lower gas prices are sending what car buyers that are left back to the types of large vehicles that got America into lots of trouble in the first place.  It seems that the folks at GM, Ford, and Chrysler (among others) are having a hard time pinning down exactly what Americans want, and when they want…whatever it is that they want:

“The change shows how fuel prices rule the car business. In May, 56% of the vehicles sold were cars, not trucks. By last month, the share of cars had fallen Read the Rest…

Car Maintenance Tips: Keep Your Car Clean During the Winter

Keeping your car clean is more than just about keeping up appearances. During the winter months, salt accumulation tends to build on the undercarriage of your vehicle as well as various other parts of your vehicle’s exterior paint and interior. As a result, this can actually damage your vehicle if it isn’t addressed. The solution: a simple car wash. Take a look:

Toyota Looks to Bring New Car to US Market

It seems that after suffering it’s first loss in something like 70 years, Toyota is now toying (excuse the word play) with the idea of introducing the super small, fuel efficient IQ micro car.  The car looks something like the Smart car.  It is only around 3 meters long but it can carry up to four passengers.  The IQ is already being sold in Europe and Japan, but Toyota is hoping to take a part of the US market for these dwarfish vehicles according to Reuters:
“The IQ can figure into Toyota’s response to another world mega-trend – urbanization,” he said, Read the Rest…