Archive for the ‘Car Dealer Portland’ Category

Winter driving requires special attention to your vehicle. Rain, snow, and cold weather can place any vehicle – or any driver – in an unsafe condition. Here are a few tips to see you safely through the winter driving season:

Always keep plenty of gas in the tank. You never know when you will be stuck somewhere in traffic, or stuck on the mountain in the snow. Your gas mileage may drop during winter, because there is more stop-and-go driving, because the roads are slicker, and because your vehicle may operate at a lower temperature. Unless your engine is running rough or the check engine light is on, a small decline in miles per gallon is normal. To keep your miles per gallon at their best, and to drive safely, watch your tire pressure. Most manufacturers do not recommend that you change the inflation during the winter. When in doubt, consult your owners’ manual.

Have your windshield washer fluid freeze protection checked regularly. Keep your reservoir full and be sure that your supply includes a chemical to prevent freezing. Driving in intermittent rain and snow can empty your sprayer tank quickly.

Use the “fresh air” mode on your heater control when defogging the window. This draws in outside air and will still be warm with your heater on, but does a better job defogging your windows. Later models automatically do this when in “defrost” mode. If your window is slow to de-fog, keep the heat on, but hit the air conditioning button for a minute or two. It won’t make your car cold – but it will help to more quickly reduce the humidity, and de-fog your window.

Make sure you turn your wipers off before you shut the car off for the night. This will return them to their horizontal position. If you don’t the next morning they may delay your departure, or may require that you drive away with them stuck in a vertical position, obstructing your vision. Never try to force a frozen windshield wiper to move. It may cause damage to the blades, to the linkage or to the wiper motor.

Don’t pour hot water on a frozen car. It can cause your windshield to crack. Plan a few extra minutes to allow the interior of your car to warm up and defrost the windshield – or place an old rubber mat over your windshield before you go to bed at night.

Get your snow tires on your vehicle as soon as permissible. In Oregon, that’s usually around November 1^st. Don’t wait for the crunch of a sudden snowstorm that they didn’t predict on the news.

Learn how to use your 4-wheel drive or anti-lock brakes ahead of time. Consider practicing in an empty parking lot. This is particularly important when you buy an unfamiliar vehicle. Anti-lock brakes cause a unique shudder and noise from the brake pedal. This is normal. They usually don’t even activate unless you stomp down on the brake pedal hard and fast. Try it. That way it won’t be so scary when you experience this in a panic situation. 4-wheel drive now has several configurations depending on the make and model of the vehicle. If yours is one that you have to activate, learn how yours works before you need it. For most vehicles, it should not be used on dry pavement, which can bind up the drive train.

Have a multi-point inspection done on your vehicle every fall. Check tires, engine coolant for freeze protection, belts, hoses, fluids, filters and especially check your battery. The colder it is the less cranking amps it has and the more your engine needs.

Looking for your own safe, fun, dependable, and reliable Toyota car, truck or SUV? Check out our selection of new and used vehicles on our website 24/7 @greshamtoyota.com!

When you want to go somewhere new but don’t have more than a day, or don’t have a lot of money to spend on a vacation, you’re in luck. Portland is within two hours of more gorgeous scenery than we can name. Here are five of our favorite escapes, in no particular order…

Seaside/Astoria. Like many coast towns, Seaside and Astoria are close enough together that you can visit both in the same day without any trouble. It’s a bit cold this time of year to take a walk on the beach, but you can still take the Goonies tour (the movie was filmed in Astoria), warm yourself with clam chowder, and get a giant bag of taffy. Intrepid surfers don full-body suits and surf there year-round; take lessons, if you’re braver than we are.

Mount Bachelor. Downhill or cross-country ski, toboggan, snowshoe, snowboard, or read a book while drinking warm cider and cocoa by the fire in the lodge while the rest of the family does all that active stuff.

Hood River. A beautiful little town with charming restaurants and shops, Hood River is a great place to visit, especially if you want to stay overnight in one of the gorgeous bed-and-breakfast locations on the outskirts of town.

Eugene. Often referred to as Portland’s younger sister, Eugene may not seem to be much of a “getaway”. However, with its vibrant music and theater scene, hiking within spitting distance of downtown, and a Voodoo Doughnuts location that doesn’t have an hour-long line at all times of day, it’s worth checking out.

Multnomah Falls. Hiking during the cold winter months may not be your idea of a fun time, but Multnomah Falls is spectacular this time of year. Many of the falls freeze over, giving the illusion of time standing still. Bring your warmest gloves and your camera to marvel at the beauty of nature so close to home.

Where would you like to go if you only had a day or two to stay? Have you taken a day trip to any of these locations, and if so, what did you do?

Looking for your own innovative Toyota car, truck or SUV to take on a long or short road trip? Check out our selection of new and used vehicles on our website 24/7 @greshamtoyota.com!

Winter is just around the corner, and for Oregonians, that means the weather is about to take a serious turn. It also means that we must prepare our vehicles both to stay in shape for the long haul and also to ensure our safety throughout the cold weather months. While we’re still in November, we thought we would offer 5 tips to keep your car in shape for winter:

1. Consider Purchasing Snow Tires While “all-weather” tires can suffice, purchasing high-quality winter tires might be the best thing you can do for your vehicle if you plan on being in the snow often (and you do, don’t you?). New tread patterns that are efficient on both dry pavement and snow have replaced loud, deep-treaded snow tires of the past and are definitely worth considering.

2. Stuck in the Snow? Don’t Rev the Engine! If you get stuck in the snow, immediately stop revving the engine as soon as you realize that it won’t help you get out. Doing so can cause a world of trouble for your transmission and clutch, and it is a much safer investment to simply call a towing company.

3. Replace Your Windshield Wipers You’re not alone if you let your windshield wipers go for longer periods of time than you should. However, if they are worn down or not performing optimally, you will want to get them replaced before you head into the snow with your family this winter.

4. Check Your Tire Pressure Monthly This is crucial throughout the winter months. Cold weather can mean significant drops in your tire pressure and a threat to not only your fuel economy, but also your safety. Establish one day each month to ensure you are keeping up with the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle – doing so can prevent major problems down the road.

5. Don’t Stop Washing Your Car! Washing your car regularly during the cold winter months can be a drag, but it can also keep your vehicle in shape for the long run. In the winter, there is an increased amount of slush, ice, dirt, and other particles that cause your car to rust fastest in the colder months. Be sure to wash your vehicle regularly all winter long and dry thoroughly!

Looking for your own innovative Toyota car, truck or SUV? Check out our selection of new and used vehicles on our website 24/7 @greshamtoyota.com!

We at Gresham Toyota would like to pause for a moment to congratulate and thank our newest customers! We greatly appreciate your business and hope to serve you again soon!

Vladimir and his son with their 2012 Toyota Highlander! We hope you love it!

This is Marietta and Uwe with their brand new RAV4! Thank you for your business!

This is Angie, standing next to her 2012 Camry! Congratulations!

Sue with her 2008 Prius! Thanks so much, Sue!

Patrick & Melissa next to their 2002 Subaru Impreza! Thank you both for your business!

John and Kramer with their 2008 Dodge Ram! Take care, guys!

Brian, about to take off in his 2009 Suzuki Reno! Thanks for coming in, Brian!

Beau with his 2005 Tahoe! Take care, Beau!

Looking for your own innovative Toyota car, truck or SUV? Check out our selection of new and used vehicles on our website 24/7 @greshamtoyota.com!

From all of us here at Gresham Toyota, we want to say thank you and congratulations to our newest customers! We appreciate your business and hope to serve you again soon!

Randy & Lin and thier 2003 Silverado! Have fun in your new truck!

Monthong and Family with their 2010 Tundra! Take care, guys!

Mary next to her 2011 Corolla! Take care, Mary!

Lynn and Betty McCalister next to thier 2011 Tundra! Take care!

Kevin, about to take off in his 2011 Rav4! Have a great time, Kevin!

Kenneth and Theresa next to their 2011 Tacoma! Thank you both so much!

Jessica next to her 1996 Honda Accord! Thank you, Jessica!

Looking for your own innovative Toyota car, truck or SUV? Check out our selection of new and used vehicles on our website 24/7 @ greshamtoyota.com!