Top Picks for 2012--Lakeland For the Win!

So I was surfing the web, minding my own business when I stumbled upon this article from MSN Autos.

Consumer Reports' 2012 Top Picks

The best models of the year in 10 categories.

(Note: Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on MSN.)

A redesigned, significantly improved Camry Hybrid has helpedToyota capture five of the 10 spots on this year's Top Picks list.

The other Toyotas that made the cut are the Prius hybrid, theHighlander and RAV4 SUVs, and the Sienna minivan. This is the first time since 2003 that one brand has so dominated the list.

In addition to the Camry and Highlander, two other new picks are the Hyundai Sonata and the redesigned Subaru Impreza. The other selections are returning models: the Chevrolet Avalanche, Ford Mustang, and Infiniti G.

Toyota's ability to maintain its competitive lead among hybrids and SUVs is a big factor in its strong presence on this year's list. But another factor is today's weaker minivan field. The current Sienna scored lower in our tests than its predecessor, but the front-wheel-drive version is the only minivan that didn't have below-average reliability in our latest survey. So it's the only minivan we recommend.

Our Top Picks are the best all-around models in their categories, chosen from the more than 260 vehicles we've recently tested. For car shoppers, they are a great place to start. To see the best & worst 2012 cars and best new-car car values, go to Consumer Reports' annual auto issue hub.

Click here to read more.

According to Consumer Reports, I carry 6 of the 10 Top Picks!

• Toyota Camry Hybrid
• Toyota Rav4
• Toyota Sienna
• Toyota Prius
• Toyota Highlander and 
• Subaru Impreza 

Also in the list were the Ford Mustang, Hyundai Sonata, Infiniti G, and the Chevrolet Avalanche.

My job at the dealership is to provide information for my customers. That means I have to be a student of the industry. When someone asks me why I should buy my car instead of the competitor, I need to have the facts. I love finding impartial third party sources that validate what I already know...my products are the best!

Safety First--Counterfeit Airbags

Safety Advisory: NHTSA Alerting Consumers to Dangers of Counterfeit Air Bags 

As if we didn't have enough to worry about, now we have counterfeit airbags?!? This article from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warns of fly-by-night airbags that could put you in harms way.
Click here for the full article.

The moral of the story: always bring your car to a reputable dealership for airbag repairs.

Recipe Just for Kicks--Butter Beer

   

For those of you who are not familiar with Harry Potter, Butter Beer is a favorite beverage of this young wizard and his two best friends when go into Hogsmeade for an afternoon of fun. Perfect (family-friendly) drink for a Halloween party! 

  

Magically Easy Butterbeer Recipe:

  

Butterbeer:

2 liter cream soda

2 tablespoons Butter extract

2 teaspoons rum extract

*drop the extracts into the 2 liter bottle, put on cap and slowly rotate until combined. 

 

Cream topping:

1 7oz container of marshmallow creme

1 cup whipping cream

1 teaspoon rum extract

*add all items together in an electric mixer and combine until smooth.

  

Pour the butterbeer into a glass,  drizzle with the cream topping, and enjoy!

  

  

 Credit for this recipe goes to http://designdazzle.blogspot.com/2011/07/summer-camp-harry-potter-activities.html  I found it on Pinterest.

Safety First--10 Safety Features That Could Save Your Life

Thank you to USAA for this article!

 Incidentally...Every one of the features listed below is available on our Toyotas, Hondas, and  Subarus!

10 Car Safety Features That Could Save Your Life

Find out which high-tech features you should look for when shopping for a new vehicle.

It's a scary scenario that occurs daily on American highways: You take your eyes off the road to adjust the air conditioner or change the radio station, unaware of the traffic jam up ahead. By the time you look up, it's too late to stop. Or is it?
Imagine an autonomous system that sees obstacles in the road, predicts the impending crash and starts braking before you even realize you're in danger.
Thankfully, this high-tech safety feature — known as forward collision avoidance — is now a reality. It's one of many newer technologies available today as automakers computerize cars, apply radar innovation and expand the list of safety features that come standard on their vehicles.

Click here to read more

Girls and Cars--102-year-old Driver...82-year-old Car!

Genealogist Megan Smolenyak tweeted this story on Twitter. It was originally published in the Akron Beacon Journal. I thought it was absolutely marvelous, so I had to share it with all my ladies!

Her car is 82. She’s 102. Both still going strong.

By Bob Dyer
Beacon Journal columnist
Published: September 15, 2012 - 10:38 PM | Updated: September 17, 2012 - 10:07 AM

 Margaret Dunning, 102, of Plymouth, Mi., stands on the running board of her 1930 Packard 740 Roadster at the 2012 Glenmoor Gathering of Significant Automobiles on Saturday in Jackson Township. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal)

Not many folks change their own oil anymore.
Fewer still are women.
And I’ll bet you a week’s pay there’s not another woman on the planet who continues to change her own oil at the age of 102.
Meet Margaret Dunning of Plymouth, Mich.
I’m serious. Born in 1910. Still sharp. Still spunky. Still crawling around under the hood with a funnel and an oil pan.

Click here for the whole story

How Stuff Works--Manual Transmission

Special thanks to Bob who found this cool video.
If you've ever wondered how a transmission works this 1936 instructional video from Chevrolet will explain it! It's 9 minutes, 41 seconds well spent! Seriously--I get it now!

Talk about Gee-Whiz technology!!!

The 2013's are coming!!!

One of the most frequently asked questions this time of year is "When are the new 2013's coming?" Some of them are here already, some are coming soon, some won't arrive till closer to the new year.
Let's take a look at what's coming when...

Toyota	When	Subaru	When	Scion	When	Honda	When
Avalon	Dec	BRZ	Here!	xD	Dec	CR-Z	Dec
Camry	Dec	Forester	Sept	xB	Dec	Fit	Here!
Corolla	Sept	Impreza	Sept	tC	Here!	Insight	Dec
Matrix	Oct	Legacy	Here!	iQ	Here!	Civic	Dec
Prius	Dec	Outback	Here!	FRS	Here!	Accord	Dec
Prius c	Dec	Tribeca	Dec			Crosstour	Dec
Prius v	Dec	WRX/STI	Sept			CR-V	Dec
Sienna	Here!	Crosstrek	TBA			Odyssey	Nov
Yaris	Dec					Pilot	Dec
4Runner	Dec					Ridgeline	Dec
FJCruiser	Dec
Highlander	Dec
Land Cruiser	Here!
Rav4	Dec
Sequoia	Dec
Tacoma	Here!
Tundra	Dec
Venza	Here!

I'll keep you posted as new information becomes available.