Peruzzi Toyota Product Blog

You’ve heard of firsthand and secondhand smoke, but did you know you could be creating an entirely new health hazard when you smoke in your certified used cars?

Researchers have recently discovered a hazard known as third-hand smoke. Unfortunately, this is one of the most difficult types of cigarette smoke to get rid of. It’s the “invisible yet toxic brew of gases and particles clinging to smokers’ hair and clothing…that lingers long after smoke has cleared from a room.” What’s even worse than the odor is that this residue typically includes a variety of carcinogens, radioactive materials and heavy metals that can harm children. If you simply cannot quit smoking in your certified used cars, here are some tips for getting rid of third-hand smoke to create a safer environment for you and your children:

1. Stop smoking! Okay, this one is obvious. But it’s the most effective method for getting rid of the odor.
2. Leave a window down. Creating a way for the smoke to escape the car can help reduce the amount of residue.
3. Get an air purifier. They make air purifiers that plug into your cigarette lighter that will help reduce the amount of smoke that stays in the car when you’re smoking.

If you simply can’t get the smell out of your certified used car, visit your local Toyota certified dealer and get another certified vehicle. Just start over and try to kick the habit!

If you ever have the choice between traveling by certified cars or plane, I would always choose the certified used cars. I’ve just heard too many horror stories about flights getting canceled and people staying overnight at the airport. As a public service, though, here are some of your rights if this happens to you.

• Most tickets have a list of your rights in case of disrupted flights. For the most part, in the case of weather delays, you can either wait for the next available seat on your airline, get a refund for the unused portion of the ticket or re-ticket your entire trip.
• Most airline contracts offer you nothing in the case of a weather disruption and the federal government does not require them to offer you much, either. If they offer a meal voucher, a transfer to another airline or something else, that is usually done as a means of goodwill on their part.

These are just two of your rights as an airline traveler. However, when you drive your certified used cars to your destination, you can enjoy the sightseeing and have more control over your own trip. Visit a Toyota certified dealer today and get a quality vehicle before your next road trip.

If you’re not paying attention to the new laws in your state for 2009, you might get a ticket while driving your certified pre-owned cars. No, it’s not against the law to drive certified pre-owned cars in 2009, but some of the things you do while driving could be. Here are some new laws that some states are imposing drivers to help keep everybody safe.

Texting – California is going to be the sixth state in the nation to ban texting while driving beginning January 1, 2009. The state has already banned talking on your cell phone while driving, but the new law just clarifies and makes the law more inclusive.

Anti-Drunk Driving – Alaska, Washington and Illinois will start requiring drivers convicted of DUIs to install breathalyzer devices in their cars. If the device reads a high blood-alcohol content, the car will not start. Sixteen other states already have a similar law.

GPS Devices – Some states are going to require your GPS device to be mounted in a certain area of the windshield rather than the middle of it where most drivers tend to mount them.

To avoid getting any tickets while driving your certified pre-owned cars in your state, know the current and new laws. Your Toyota certified dealer can help you identify the new laws so everybody can stay safe on the roadways.

If you’re driving your new or certified cars and using a cell phone at the same time, enjoy the luxury while you can. California has already made it a stoppable offense to talk on your cell phone while driving and New Hampshire is considering a similar piece of legislation.

The bill is currently at the state Legislature and includes a provision that makes it illegal to text on a cell phone, type on a laptop or use any other electronic device when driving. The legislation passed through the House earlier this year but stopped dead in the state Senate. However, Democrat David Campbell from Nashua is reintroducing the bill because people are more aware of the dangers.

The exceptions to the new law include emergency vehicles drivers, people requesting medical help or those reporting a crime. Drivers who drive for a living, such as delivery personnel, would also be exempt so they can talk to their dispatcher while en route.

Critics say the law is unnecessary because there is already a law on the books that allows distracted drivers to get ticketed.

Keep this in mind when driving your new and certified used cars. Driving while distracted is nearly as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. Your Toyota certified dealers want you to stay safe on the road and we’ll pass along tips to accomplish this as often as we can.

Now that Christmas is over, you might have a feeling of “What now?” All the preparation and planning is over in one day. Buying yourself one of the pre-certified cars at your Toyota certified dealer is one way to get over the blues. Following are a few more ways to beat the after-Christmas depression.

• Start working on the next holiday. New Year’s Eve and Day are right around the corner. After that, look ahead to Valentine’s Day. Some stores are already selling Valentine stuff!
• Fill in the extra time with something productive. Start exercising more, getting some extra work or find a new hobby to get your mind off of the extra time you have.
• Start planning for next Christmas. While you’re still in a Christmas mood, start looking ahead to next year. Make lists, recipes and other stuff that you’ll need for a successful Christmas party in 2009. I guarantee you’ll be over the Christmas blues before January 15 hits.

Of course, driving around in your new pre-certified cars will undoubtedly take your mind off your troubles. Check one out today and do something nice for yourself for a change.

Although it’s Christmas Eve, you still have enough time to visit your local Toyota certified dealer to search the inventory of certified pre-owned cars you can purchase for a loved one. Here are some advantages of certified pre-owned cars that you should know about.

1. Lower price for better quality. Since certified pre-owned cars are essentially used cars, they are a higher quality than your typical used cars. In addition to that, the previous owner has already suffered the depreciation costs. That means a better value for you!
2. The latest features. Certified pre-owned cars are usually only a couple years old. And since automakers typically add new features every few years, that means you have the latest features available in the industry.
3. The warranty is still good. Many new warranties last for years. This means that many certified pre-owned cars are still covered under their manufacturer’s warranty. That means peace of mind for you and for the person you give the car to.

With all of these advantages, certified pre-owned cars make the perfect Christmas gift. There is less than one shopping day left until Christmas, so check out the inventory at your local Toyota dealer today!

If you’re looking to save on your auto insurance for your certified used cars, there are several things you can do. The first and most important thing you can do is shop around. That’s exactly what I did last week and the good news is that I ended up saving a bunch of money on my car insurance with…well, I’m sure you get the point. I mean, all I did was make a phone call. It was so easy, even a caveman could do it. But there are some other things you can do to pay less on your premiums while still having affordable coverage for your certified used cars.

1. Select a higher deductible. Your premiums are affected by your deductible. If you have a lower deductible, you’ll have a higher premium.

2. Pay upfront. Most insurance companies charge a service fee if you pay in monthly installments. This adds up over the period of a year or even six months. Pay six months in advance and you’ll save dozens of dollars a year in unnecessary fees.

3. Look for discounts. You can get insurance discounts for being a good driver, a good student, or even for having more than one policy through the same company. Ask your agent if you qualify for any discounts.

Now that you know how to save money on your insurance, put that extra savings toward a great deal at your Toyota certified dealer. You’ll be glad you did!

Did you ever think that your pre-certified cars could be excellent for re-gifting this holiday season? Actually, this type of re-gifting has been going on for years at dealerships across the country.

Think about it: A consumer buys a new car. After a year or two, they decide to take that car back to the dealer for another new car. The car that they turned in is given a thorough inspection and then sold to another consumer for a discounted price typical of pre-certified cars. This consumer then gets a like-new car at a great price. It’s not exactly what a re-gift is, but it’s pretty darn close.

Are there any gifts you’d like to re-gift this season? If so, remember these simple tips for etiquette and for avoiding embarrassment.

1. Make sure the gift is unopened. Regardless of how expensive it is, re-gifting an open item is a no-no.
2. Know who gave you the gift. Imagine how embarrassing it would be if you gave your uncle the same girly calendar that he bought for you last year.
3. Have good intentions. Don’t just re-gift to get rid of something. Give the re-gifted item to the recipient because you think they will enjoy it.

With the tightening economy, you’re likely to see more re-gifts this season than ever before. Of course, your Toyota certified dealer has the most amazing re-gifted items ever! Visit one this season and get yourself something that you’ll never want to re-gift.

There are many advantages to investing in certified used cars. One major advantage is that you don’t have to worry about odometer fraud. That’s good news because odometer fraud may be more common than you think. Here are some facts about this type of scam.

• Each year, more than 450,000 cases of odometer fraud are reported each year.
• The average cost that gets passed on to the consumers for each case of odometer fraud is more than $2,330.
• Within the first 11 years of a vehicle’s life, it has a 3.4 percent chance of being tampered with.
• In Florida, it is a third-degree felony to sell or try to sell a vehicle that does not have an accurate odometer reading.
• If you suspect you have been the victim of odometer fraud, the first step to take is to notify your state’s Department of Highway Safety or the Department of Motor Vehicles.
• Any dealership convicted of odometer fraud will likely lose their license.

When you decide to invest in certified used cars at your Toyota certified dealer, you don’t have to worry about odometer fraud. Our vehicles are checked and rechecked and you can even request a CarFax Report to ensure the reliability and accuracy of your certified used cars.

With such an uncertain economy and automakers having so many problems, more drivers are turning to certified pre-owned cars when it comes time to get another vehicle. This particular story comes out of Tulsa, but it’s indicative of what’s happening at new and used car dealerships across the country.

“With the new car industry not getting this bailout, it’s really putting a strain on the economy and you can always go and buy a used car,” said Kyle Turner, a consumer looking for a used SUV on one of the dealer lots.

Jack Flinn, the assistant manager at CarMart, a local dealer of new and used cars, had this to say about the upsurge in used car sales: “We’re having a really good year and a real good quarter right now.” But, he says, most of the business is coming from consumers looking for used cars.

Now is the perfect time to visit your Toyota certified dealer and search for a great rebate or bargain. Dealers of all brands are saying now is the best time to buy because of the uncertainty in the auto market. Besides, with the holidays fast approaching, you can make somebody’s Christmas the best it’s ever been!