Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Toyota Sportscar

It's a well known fact that everyone wants to go fast behind the wheel. Well, maybe not everyone, but there are some of us born with speed fever that can only be quelled by the smell of burnt rubber. Vehicles were created to get us from point A to point B faster than horse drawn coach, but some of us want more than just a mode of transportation. In comes Toyota sportscars and the rest is history. However, these specialized vehicles aren't for the faint of heart or for those who plan on using them as ornaments. Toyota of Orlando is here with a quick guide on things you should consider before getting behind the wheel of a sportscar.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Toyota Sportscar

1) Classic vs Modern

Just like there are plenty of options in the SUV market, there are a number of Toyota sportscars to choose from. Especially when you consider driving a vintage ride. A classic car is a great option when it comes to sportscars, but keep in mind that these vehicles will require more work or money. Purchasing a restored ride can be costly and restoring it on your own can be both costly financially and when it comes to time. A modern sportscar is easier to come by, but they will also cost a pretty penny. Consider which option is best for you before signing on the dotted line. 

2) Which One Would You Want to Drive Everyday?

If you're like most people, you have one car that you drive everywhere from the grocery store to your job. Before deciding on your ideal Toyota sportscar, you should consider what type of utilities you'll need it to have. Will you only be driving the vehicle on the weekends and have a different car for everything else? Do you need backseats for passengers? What about trunk space? What's the weather like where you live? Consider these aspects carefully to avoid purchasing the wrong Orlando Toyota car. 

3) Front or Rear Wheel Drive? 

Most vehicles on the road are equipped with front wheel drive to increase fuel efficiency and provide power to an easy spot, the front wheels. Your car is being dragged rather than pushed and you've likely grown used to driving these types of Orlando Toyota vehicles. But, most Toyota sportscars are equipped with rear wheel drive. This drivetrain feels and operates differently than it's counterpart. Your vehicle is being pushed rather than pulled, steering is crisper, and acceleration is easier. However, it's easier to over-turn or lose control of the vehicle if you're not careful. 

4) Car Insurance

It's easy to forget that you also have to pay for your car insurance in conjunction with your monthly payments. For an SUV or sedan car insurance is modestly priced, but that goes out the window with a sportscar. Depending on the model and type you drive, your insurance costs could skyrocket. Make sure you're ready to bear that expense in advance. 

Need more tips or help shopping for the perfect Toyota sportscar for you? Visit Toyota of Orlando today at 3575 Vineland Road and we can help you out! 

Best Practices for Maintaining Your Car When You're Not Driving it Often

During this time of social distancing, the driver's seat of your ride has gotten cold and you haven't felt the roar of your engine in some time. While it's great that you're staying home to keep yourself and others safe, your car could be suffering from being too sedentary. To make sure your ride doesn't waste away in your driveway, Toyota of Orlando is here with some helpful tips for maintaining your car when you're not able to drive it often.

Maintaining Your Ride

Check Your Tires Often

Your tires are already prone to deflating depending on their age and wear pattern. But, if left sitting for too long, your Orlando Toyota tires could be deflating right from under your nose. For maintaining your car, we recommend checking your tires a few times a week to make sure they aren't losing pressure. Use a working tire pressure gauge to get an accurate reading. 

Start it Every so Often

While your engine can stay sedentary for a long period of time, your battery can't. It maintains its charge by self energizing when you drive and staying sedentary could cause it to die if left long enough. We recommend starting your Orlando Toyota car every so often to make sure the battery is still holding a charge and functions properly. 

Fill Up Your Tank

Keeping a full tank for maintaining your car is important to prevent compromising the engine. Your car's fuel tank can accumulate condensation if left sitting partially empty for too long and that could cause issues the next time you try to start your Orlando Toyota car. Make sure to fill up your engine before you leave it in the driveway for an extended period of time. 

Park in the Shade

Living in Orlando, we know how brutal the sun can get and what it can do to your car. Properly maintaining your car means you should find a covered parking spot to leave your ride to prevent paint damage and UV wear. This could make or break your vehicle's paint, dashboard, and seats if they're made of leather. If you can't find shade for your ride, use a sunshade to protect what you can. 

Still have questions or need a professional to maintain your car? Visit Toyota of Orlando today. Our auto service department is open and ready to take care of your ride. You can book an appointment online and find us at 3575 Vineland Road. 

Car maintenance for when your car is parked for a long time

Are you parking your car because of COVID-19? With the order to stay at home unless running an essential errand placed on the City Beautiful, you may find yourself not getting behind the wheel as often. However, that doesn't mean you can put your car in park, walk away, and forget about it. Even if you're not driving your ride often, you still have to perform certain car maintenance to keep it in running shape. Toyota of Orlando has tips from our auto service experts - check it out! 

4 car maintenance tips for when you're social distancing 

Tip #1: Fill your gas tank before you park your car. 
You should fill your car's gas tank before you park it, believe it or not. This prevents condensation from forming inside of the gas tank. Moisture inside the gas tank can cause major and expensive issues with your vehicle, so you want to do everything you can to avoid it. Our Orlando Toyota service techs recommend filling your gas tank to the top and if you're going to be storing your car for a long period of time, considering a fuel additive to help preserve the fuel. 

Tip #2: Choose the right parking spot. 
Part of car maintenance is protecting the vehicle from the elements. After all, harsh sunlight, dust, and rain (or even ice and snow if you live up north) can do a number on your car's paint, leaving the metal below vulnerable to rust damage. It's important to choose the right parking spot - our Orlando auto service techs say a garage is best, but if nothing else, try to park your car under a carport or some other covered parking, or at least under some shady trees to try and protect it from the elements. 

Tip #3: Move your vehicle around to avoid tire problems. 
When your car sits in one spot for a long time, you can develop soft, flat spots where the tires touch the pavement. This leaves you vulnerable to flat tires and blowouts. Our Orlando Toyota techs recommend that as part of your car maintenance, you go outside and roll your car back a few feet, and then go out a few days later and roll it forward a few feet. This ensures that your tires aren't always touching the pavement in the same spot and will help prevent flat spots. 

Tip #4: Don't let the battery go flat. 
If you don't run your car regularly, it's easy for the car battery to go flat or die. It's important to go out once a week and start your car to give the battery some juice - you don't want to have to replace it when it's time to hit the road again. Our Orlando auto service experts say that it's even better to take it for a short drive to juice up the battery, so go run an essential errand (and take a break from your quarantine mates). 

Let Toyota of Orlando help keep your car ready to roll 

Want more tips about car maintenance when it comes to keeping your car off the road? Toyota of Orlando is here to help. Call us today - we're open and ready to assist at (407) 298-4500. You can also swing by to see us at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 across from the Millenia Mall.