Automobile Retailers

Despite not falling with the rest of the car companies for several years of declining sales, time and space finally caught up with Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. and the company has started reporting declining sales for the past five months. Armageddon is truly upon us!

In April, Toyota reported sales of 217,700, marking a 4.5 percent drop compared with last April. The April results followed U.S. sales declines of 10.3 percent for March, 2.8 percent in February, 2.3 percent in January and 1.7 percent in December, according to Automotive News Data Center. This makes for compelling news for those who have monitored Toyota for quite some time.

To many, Toyota’s forward-thinking sales processes and development of new models to meet consumer wants and needs has made them virtually bulletproof. The development of the stellar Scion brand, for instance, has added more to Toyota’s portfolio and has made them a frontrunner in the field of economy cars. Toyota competes in almost all of the automotive segments, from SUVs to small cars, and the downturn in sales is surprising given their record.

However, the downturn in sales for Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. isn’t surprising when one considers the industry on the whole. The economy is having a drastic effect on the entire industry, causing companies to lose major ground with the majority of their sales divisions. The wave of economic strife was bound to catch up to Toyota eventually, just as it has with every other car company. Despite some companies posting upturns in sales for small periods, the car sales business has overall been a tough one to navigate and an even tougher one to predict as of late.

Still, Toyota remains as one of the world’s leading competitors when it comes to selling cars that consumers want. Recent surveys of customer satisfaction had Toyota ranked at the top in the United States alongside the always popular Ford and the Scion model continues to appeal to a younger generation. Once (or if) the economy shifts back to “normal,” Toyota will likely come out on top again.

Your radiator and cooling apparatus is one of the most important parts of your car. I found this out the hard way by letting mine run dry. The sad thing is that the coolant is such an easy thing to check and maintain. Instead of waiting for your coolant to run dry and damaging your engine, here are some tips to help you avoid such a catastrophe.

• Look for the coolant reservoir underneath your hood. Most cars have a transparent container so you can see the level of coolant you have. Make sure you keep it filled to the appropriate line.

• Always check the level of the coolant after your car has been sitting for a long time. In other words, only check it when the engine is cool.

• Only add a 50/50 mixture of coolant and distilled water to the container. You can buy pre-mixed solutions at any auto parts store or get pure coolant and mix it with water. Don’t use tap water, though, as some of the chemicals could harm the radiator.

• Never open the radiator cap when the engine is hot. The pressure could create a burst of water exploding through the opening and it could cause serious burns and injuries. This is sometimes true for coolant reservoirs. Read the owner’s manual for your particular model before unscrewing either lid.

• Don’t leave any coolant where pets or kids can get to it. It’s highly-toxic and can be fatal if ingested.

• Monitor your coolant level so you know if you have any leaks. If so, get it fixed as soon as possible. A slow leak could result in thousands of dollars of damage if not repaired right away.

Don’t let that new or used car from your local Pontiac dealer go to waste. Remember to check the coolant and keep it maintained so you can get many years of enjoyment from it. It only takes a minute, but that one minute can save you thousands of dollars in the long run.