With the price of gasoline in constant flux, consumers are much more aware of how much gas they're putting into their tanks on a weekly basis. Add to that the fears about carbon emissions and global warning, and many people find themselves driving to their local Toyota dealer to buy a Toyota Hybrid.

When you think about the Toyota Hybrid, the Prius naturally comes to mind. The Prius was the first hybrid, and it really is the iconic hybrid car. Unfortunately, it isn't for everyone. The Prius isn't very practical, for example, for a family of five. It isn't very practical if you need to haul things, either. If you're a commuter or a single adult, chances are the Prius will work fine.

For a family, the Toyota Camry is a better pick. The Camry Hybrid doesn't get as good of mileage as the Prius, but it does have more room. It has more room for your family, and more room for their things. While you can't take a family of 5 on a Saturday afternoon drive with a Prius, you can with a Camry Hybrid.

If an SUV is more your style, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a better choice. This mid-size SUV has plenty of room to get you and your stuff where you need to go.

Published 31 October 2008 - 0 comments   

Driving a Toyota Hybrid isn't the only way to live a greener life. The fact is that there are things you can do, well beyond driving a hybrid, to lessen your impact on the environment and be a better steward of the earth. Here are some ways to start that process:

Get educated about things that are harmful to the environment. Find out what kinds of products impact the environment, and what impact that is. Seek out information about alternative types of products. Learn ways to do things that are more friendly to the environment. Knowledge itself won't change anything, but knowledge is a prerequisite to change.

That's the next step: you have to get moving. You have to take action. Once you've got the information you need, you need to act on it. Make a decision and a commitment to live a greener life.

From there, it's important to share your concerns with others. talk with other people about environmental issues. Don't be angry or judgmental, but instead try to convince them. Show them the possibilities of real damage that come from their actions. In addition, you can join local chapters of environmental groups, or even community organizations that work to clean up the environment. You will not only beautify your area, you'll be helping to raise awareness, as well.

If you want to make a difference, you have to learn, act, and share.

Published 29 October 2008 - 0 comments   

Toyota Hybrid owners share a special kinship. They have a lot in common. They believe that it's important to save gas, to have a smaller impact on their environment. This kinship is, usually, unspoken. You might be driving your Prius down the road, and get a knowing nod from the Prius driver in the next lane, letting you know that she recognizes what you have in common.

Beyond the unspoken fellowship between Toyota hybrid owners, however, there are also real-world clubs of hybrid car owners showing up seemingly everywhere. There might even be one in your neighborhood.

One of the most popular clubs is the Hybrid Car Club of America, or the HCCOA. This is a national club, and they're recruiting new members and setting up new chapters all around the country. Local chapters have regular meetings, and have special events like a Hybrid Cruise night.

There's also the Club of Prii. This club is based in the Los Angeles area. It's one of the fastest growing car clubs of any sort in that area. That club, too, hopes to get some more national chapters as time goes on.

These clubs are wonderful ways to get to know other hybrid owners. If you're interested in a hybrid club, check around to see if there's one in your area. If not, talk with other hybrid enthusiasts about starting one.

Published 27 October 2008 - 0 comments   

The third generation of Toyota's flagship hybrid, the Prius, will debut in January 2009 at the Detroit motor show. The new Prius may be based on the Hybrid X concept, which was shown at the 2007 Geneva motor show.

It is expected that the new Prius will actually be cleaner than the current Prius. However, it is also expected that the new Prius will give up some of its fuel economy and environmental friendliness in favor of more sporty performance.

This change comes, in part, as other auto makers enter the hybrid field, or as they step up their efforts to put out new and improved next-generation hybrid vehicles. The Prius has faced very few rivals over the years since it was first released in 2001, but the new Chevrolet Volt from General Motors and the new, second-generation Honda Insight are going to try to give the Toyota Prius a run for its money.

Fans of the Prius are anxiously awaiting the release of the next generation of their favorite vehicle. It is believed that the new sportier Prius may help to reshape the image that other people have of the Prius into a more performance-based hybrid.

Published 24 October 2008 - 0 comments   

The days when every man was able to change his own oil and women rarely drove cars at all are, thankfully, long gone. Today, women are just as savvy as ment when it comes to cars. They're not afraid to roll up their sleeves and take a peek under the hood. In addition, as cars become more and more complex, fewer people overall are able to do maintenance on their own cars.

One of the most basic sorts of car maintenance you can do is to change your windshield wipers. Sure, you can pay a mechanic $10 each to replace your wiper blades. However, with about half that and a few minutes of your time you should be able to change your own.

Here are the basic steps to changing the windshield wipers in your Toyota hybrid:

1. Lift the windshield wiper up off of the windshield.
2. Find the small clip that holds the wiper blade in place. Push it. This will release the blade from the wiper arm.
3. Remove the blade from the arm.
4. Rest your wiper arm on the windshield very carefully. Don't let go of the arm, or it can crack or scratch your windshield.
5. Take the new wiper blade out of the packaging.
6. Lift the arm and put the new wiper blade on the shaft of the wiper arm. Push until you hear a snap.
7. Place the wiper arm back down on the windshield.
8. Test your wipers, to make sure they work.

The whole process, from start to finish, shouldn't take you more than just a few minutes.

Published 22 October 2008 - 0 comments