The Top 5 NASCAR Racetracks in the Country

The Daytona 500 is February 26! Forty-three drivers will compete in the “Great American Race.”

We’re excited because Toyota Racing will be well represented by Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and other drivers.

In the spirit of the Daytona 500, we thought we’d count down our top five favorite NASCAR racetracks. Here are the top five.

5. Indianapolis Motor Speedway – They’ve been racing here for more than 100 years. This is a great historic track with lots of racing tradition. The Brickyard 400 is fan favorite as well as a favorite among the drivers.

4. Talladega Super Speedway – Did you know Talladega sits on an old Air Force base? It’s a very fast racetrack and a great place for tailgating. There are prime spots for camping, cooking out and lots of other activities.

3. Richmond International Raceway – It’s known as “America’s Premiere Short Track.” At Richmond, you get the best of both worlds. You get short track and a speedway all in one place. It’s a great venue to watch races under the lights.

2. Daytona International Speedway – Thought it would be No. 1? Daytona is a great racetrack. There have been so many thrilling races here. The festivities leading up to the Daytona 500 are among the best for any sporting event.

1. Bristol Motor Speedway – “Thunder Valley” is the best spot to watch a race. It doesn’t get any better than watching a race at night! There isn’t a bad spot at Bristol to watch a race. It’s truly an experience.

These are some of our favorite racetracks. What are yours? Leave your comments below. At Toyota Parts Center, we provide Toyota OEM parts at the best prices whether it’s Tundra parts or even Toyota Sienna parts.

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Toyota Scores High in J.D. Power Dependability Study

Great news Toyota owners! Toyota vehicles received high dependability ratings across the board, according to a new J.D. Power and Associates report.

In overall brand dependability, three Toyota nameplates were in the top five with Lexus taking the top spot.

1. Lexus
2. Porsche
3. Cadillac
4. Toyota
5. Scion

Toyota Motor Corporation, which also includes the Lexus and Scion brands, got eight segment awards in long-term dependability. That’s more than any other automaker in 2012.

Toyota received high dependability markings in the following categories.

• Entry Premium Car – Lexus ES 350
• Midsize Premium SUV – Lexus RX 350
• Compact Sporty Car – Scion tC
• Compact Multi-Purpose – Scion xB
• Compact Car – Toyota Prius
• Minivan - Toyota Sienna
• Large Pickup – Toyota Tundra
• Sub-Compact Car – Toyota Yaris

For this report J.D. Power is based on responses of more than 31,000 car owners of 2009 model year vehicles.

Tell us why you like the dependability of your Toyota! Share your comments below.

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The Top Toyota Tundra Accessories

The Toyota Tundra is one of the most popular full-sized pickup trucks on the market today!

Whether you’re thinking about getting one or you just purchased one, you’re going to need accessories. Here are some of the top Toyota Tundra accessories that you’ll want to consider buying.

1. Tonneau Covers – Getting a tonneau cover is a great way to enhance the look of your Toyota Tundra. Tonneau covers provide added security to your truck bed, so you can safely store items.
2. Satellite Radio – Satellite radio is a great option if you do a lot of driving. You get hundreds of premium radio stations via Sirius XM Radio. A subscription is required. Subscriptions start at around $18 a month.
3. All Weather Floor Mats – If you want to protect your Tundra’s carpeting, consider getting all weather floor mats. If you buy the all weather floor mats from a genuine Toyota parts store, they come with sturdy retention hooks to keep them in place.
4. Spare Tire Lock – This is an often-overlooked accessory. Truck spare tires are sometimes stolen. A simple spare tire lock can help prevent this. They’re easy to install and will save you a lot of money and headaches in the long run.
5. Underseat Storage – A good underseat storage unit will help keep your truck organized. To find a good storage unit, look on websites that sell Toyota Tundra parts and accessories.

We want to hear from you! What is your favorite Toyota Tundra accessory? Leave your comments below.

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The Truth about Nitrogen Tires

Filling your car’s tires with nitrogen is all the rage right now.

Many high-end vehicles have nitrogen in them.  But is it better than air?  Will all cars eventually make the switch to nitrogen?

We’ll try to answer these questions in this post.

Popular Mechanics had a great article comparing air versus nitrogen in tires.  Here are a few conclusions that they found.

• Nitrogen Benefit: Nitrogen is less likely to leak through the tire than air.

• Nitrogen Benefit: Air contains water vapor, which could affect tire pressure during temperature changes.  Nitrogen does not contain any water vapor.

• Nitrogen Con: Putting nitrogen in your tires is time consuming.  You have to go to a mechanic or dealership.

• Nitrogen Con: Nitrogen costs a lot more than air.  It can cost as much as $30 per tire, according to Popular Mechanics.

When it comes down to it.  You won’t notice much performance differences when filling your tires with nitrogen.  However, you’ll consistently maintain pressure better with nitrogen tires.

So it’s up to you to decide if it’s worth the investment.

This is a good topic to bring up with your mechanic during your next oil change or when they’re installing Toyota OEM parts in your vehicle.

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Easy Ways to Protect Your Toyota from Thieves

Did you know that many cars are stolen for their parts?

Often times, the most popular stolen cars are older vehicles. That’s because it’s hard to find parts for older vehicles. In 2010, the 1991 Toyota Camry was one of the top three most stolen vehicles, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

Most likely, the thieves were after the Toyota Camry parts. They’re especially valuable if they’re Toyota OEM parts.

If you want to protect your Toyota, follow these tips.

• Lock Your Doors – Criminals are looking for an easy target. Be sure to lock your car doors and arm your car alarm if your vehicle has one.

• Park Inside Your Garage – Leaving your car on the street or in the driveway is a bad idea. Keep it parked and locked inside the garage. Also, don’t leave your keys inside your vehicle.

• Park in Safe Parking Lots – You want to park your car in well-lighted parking lots that are regularly monitored by security or cameras.

• Get Extra Security Features – Get a car alarm or a wheel lock for your vehicle. An extra safety measure can go a long way in stopping someone from stealing your vehicle.

Remember, just because you have an old car doesn’t exempt you from being a target of car thieves. Many older cars are popular targets because of their parts and their security vulnerabilities.

If you have an older car, remember to lock your door. Get more tips at the Toyota Parts Center Blog.

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When to Avoid Buying a Used Car

Because of the slow economy, more and more people are buying used cars instead of new cars.

In many cases, buying used is a great way to save money while still finding a reliable vehicle.  However, there are times when you should avoid buying a used car.

You’ll want to avoid buying a used car in the situations outlined below.

• Avoid Buying Fleet Vehicles – Buying old rental cars and other fleet vehicles is usually not a good idea.  These vehicles have high mileage and have been driven hard.  In many cases, these vehicles are just about ready for the junk yard.

• Vehicles Out of Production – Try to stay away from these vehicles unless the carmaker has a good history of still manufacturing parts for it.

• Cars with Modifications – If someone has transformed a family sedan into a street racer, stay away from it.  Who knows what modifications have been made to the engine.  Stick with the used cars that still have all their stock parts.

• Cars That have been in Accidents – It’s better to stay away from cars that have been in accidents.  You never know if they have a bent frame or if something else is messed up on them.  It’s not worth the risk.

• “Low Mileage” Vehicles – Be weary of “low mileage” vehicles.  It’s possible the odometer may have been set backwards. 

Following these tips will help you find a great used car.  No mater what car you buy, be sure to use genuine parts whether they’re Toyota Tacoma parts or Toyota Sienna parts.

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Are Aftermarket Parts Safe For Your Toyota?

This is a loaded, but important question.

There are plenty of aftermarket parts and accessories for your Toyota.  But are they better than Toyota OEM parts and accessories?  More importantly, are they safe?

The answer is complicated.

There are plenty of aftermarket parts that are perfectly fine for your Toyota.  Many of the parts do an adequate job.  However, do the parts allow your Toyota to run at its best?  In many cases the answer is no.

This is because the engineers who designed the Toyota vehicles did not make the aftermarket parts.  There have been instances where aftermarket parts do not properly fit a vehicle.  With OEM parts, you don’t have to worry about this because the manufacturer made them.

This is not to say that all aftermarket parts are bad.

But why should you take the risk, when there are so many OEM parts available on the internet at comparable prices?

When it comes to your Toyota, it’s better to play it safe and go with the OEM parts.  They may sometimes cost a little more, but it’s worth the investment.  Your vehicle will run better and be on the road longer.

It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for Toyota Camry parts or Toyota Tundra parts, go with the OEM parts.

What type of parts do you buy for your Toyota?  Leave your comments below.  We would love to hear your opinions on this issue.

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Our Favorite Toyota Super Bowl Commercials

With the Super Bowl this weekend, we thought we’d share some of our favorite Toyota Super Bowl commercials.

You’ll see the new “reinvented” Camry, Eli Manning and angry badgers in these commercials. Sit back and enjoy the commercials.

2012 Super Bowl Commercial

This one involves a funny take on the all-new “reinvented” Toyota Camry.

Eli Manning Toyota Commercial

If you’re rooting for Eli Manning and the Giants, you’ll want to check out this commercial. Eli recreates “The Catch” with a Toyota dealer.

2009 Super Bowl Commercial

This Toyota Super Bowl commercial features a Corolla, badgers and a cannon. What else do you need for a great commercial? How about some genuine Toyota Parts? Okay, that was a shameless plug.

These are a few of our favorite Super Bowl commercials! What are your favorite commercials? Leave your comments below.

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How to Decide Which Prius is Right for You

The Toyota Prius sure has changed since it first went on sale in 1997.

Toyota has sold millions of these hybrid vehicles and has introduced several model variations.  These models include:

• The Prius 3^rd Generation – This is your standard Prius that we all know and love.  It gets 51/48 mpg.

• The Prius Plug-In – This Prius is a cross between a hybrid and a plug-in car.  It gets 87 mpg in electric mode and 49 mpg in hybrid mode.

• The Prius v – This hybrid offers a little more space than the standard size Prius.  It’s a little longer and wider than a standard Prius.  It gets 44/40 mpg.  You can call it the family sized Prius car.

• The Prius c – This is a compact hybrid.  It’s not on sale in the United States yet.  It’s expected to hit U.S. dealerships within the next year.

So how do you decide which Prius is right for you?  Answering these questions will help you decide.

• What is my budget? – This is a very important question to ask yourself.  Base prices for the 3^rd Generation Prius start at $23,000.  Whereas base prices for the Prius Plug-In start at $32,000.

• How Much Space Do I Need? – The Prius v provides the most space, while the Prius c has the least amount of space.  The standard Prius 3^rd Generation has an adequate amount of space for small families.

• How Much Do I Drive? – Answering this question will help you determine which trim and accessory options you’ll want for your Prius.  Also be sure to consider your budget.

Following these steps will help you find the right Prius.  Once you get your Prius, be sure to use genuine Toyota parts.  You can find genuine Toyota Prius parts online at great prices.

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The Best Car Accessories To Keep You Warm This Winter

If there’s one thing that people hate about winter it’s being cold.

Whether it’s scraping ice of your windshield or waiting for the heater in your car to warm up, no one likes freezing in their car.

To make your winter driving experience more bearable, here are a few accessories that will help keep you warm this winter.

• Remote Starter – A remote starter can come in handy on those cold winter days.  With a remote starter, you can start up your vehicle from the comforts of your home.  This is a great way to warm up your car on those cold days.

• Seat Warmers – These are a must for any vehicle.  In the old days, you could only get seat warmers in luxury vehicles.  Now, you can get them in just about any car.  If you’re looking to upgrade the seats in your Toyota, you’ll want to talk to someone that specializes in Toyota OEM parts.  They’ll be able to tell you if it’s possible to install in your Toyota.

• Heavy Duty Floor Mats – Heavy duty floor mats keep your car nice and dry, and in the process, keep your feet warm.  If you get a lot of snow in your area, you may want to consider a set of heavy duty floor mats for your Toyota.

• Heated Wiper Blades – These are great time saver, so you don’t have to freeze while scraping ice off your windshield.  You’ll keep your hands dry and warm with heated wiper blades for your car or truck.

All of these accessories will help keep you warm this winter.  What winter accessories do you have in your vehicle? Leave your comments below.

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