 Driving a rental or loaner vehicle can be a fun break from your usual vehicle, even if you have been forced to do it by factors outside your control. If you are driving a car of this sort, however, you should not assume that it is simply a case of taking the keys and cruising away. It’s very important to understand what your obligations and responsibilities are. Here are some tips to remember when driving a rental or loaner vehicle.
Fuel
It is vital that you check your liabilities for gas. In some cases you will be supplied a vehicle with a full tank of gas, and you must return it on that basis. In other cases, the tank will be close to empty, and you will simply have to put in the gas that you need to use. In the case of the former, make sure that you fill the tank up completely or you may be charged a nasty re-fueling fee. In the case of the latter, ensure that you do not put more fuel in the tank than you need or you may be funding the next user’s driving.
Damage report
Make sure that you have checked the car over for damage BEFORE you drive it away. In most cases, you will be issued with a damage report. Check this carefully, and do not be frightened to be too picky. In many cases, you can be held liable for all damage to the vehicle and if it is not on the report when you take the car away, you will be unable to prove that you did not cause the damage.
Emergency cover
Your rental or loaner vehicle will normally be supplied with inclusive emergency breakdown coverage. Ensure that you have all the details to hand that you may need in the event that you need to call for assistance. Check this before you drive off, but if you forget, give the rental company a call from home to clarify the contact details and level of cover that you have. Make sure that you are aware of any additional responsibilities that you may have. You may be asked to give the rental company a call as well as the assistance number, for example.
Mileage limits
You cannot assume that you are able to drive the car for unlimited mileage while it is on loan to you. In some cases, you may be limited to a reasonable mileage limit, after which you will be charged a hefty fee on a mile-by-mile basis. If you are on a mileage-restricted contract, ensure that you confirm the car’s mileage before you leave and that you reset the counter to zero so that you can easily keep tabs on your usage.
Documentation
Keep all the documentation related to your rental or loan vehicle. Do not leave it in the glove box or on the seat in the car. If the car is stolen, you will not have any paperwork related to the car. Make sure that you do not blindly sign every piece of paper put in front of you either. Like any other type of contract, make sure you know what you are signing before you sign it.
 Christmas may be called the “season of giving,” but that doesn’t mean it has to break the bank. There are many ways to save money during the holiday season, such as giving homemade presents or opting for a gift exchange instead of buying individual gifts. When it’s time for Christmas shopping, there are several steps you can take to help you stick to your budget.
Creating Your Christmas Budget
To create a Christmas budget, write down everyone on your shopping list. Include “extras” like school teachers, employees or coworkers. Now decide how much you can afford to spend on Christmas and divide the money among everyone on your list.
Make a Shopping List
Before buying a single Christmas gift, make a master shopping list that includes everyone, as well as the amount of money you have budgeted for each person. As you start buying gifts, write down the actual amounts that you spend. If you come in a little under budget for one person, you can use the savings for someone else.
Shop Around for the Best Deals
Once you decide what you want to buy for someone on your list, take a little time to see where you can buy it for less. Shopping online is a great way to compare prices. If you have a smartphone, you can even use apps that let you scan an item’s bar code to find out where it might be sold for less.
Add Up the Little Items
Often the hardest part of sticking to a Christmas shopping budget is remembering to add in all the little odds and ends. That includes stocking stuffers and little items you buy on impulse. Buying a cute two dollar bookmark to tuck into the book you bought Aunt Sarah might not seem like a big deal, but adding two or three dollars to every gift will add up quickly!
Take Advantage of Free Shipping
When sending gifts to out-of-town friends and family members, you can sometimes save money by using a free shipping deal to send the gifts directly from the store. Many online stores offer gift options that let you hide the price on the receipt and also have the item gift wrapped. Often, the cost of gift wrapping (with free direct shipping) will be cheaper than wrapping and shipping the gift yourself.
Once You’re Done, Pass Up Future Deals
If you’ve already spent the allotted money on your sister, you don’t get to buy her another gift just because you find a silk scarf she would love for 70 percent off. Unless, of course, you are prepared to take the money it costs out of someone else’s gift. There will be times when sticking to a Christmas budget means passing up some savings. Just remember that it isn’t a great deal for you if you don’t have the money to buy it.
 If you are carrying children in the car, then their safety should be your top priority. Modern car manufacturers now invest heavily in appropriate safety technology in all production cars, but when it comes to children, additional safety precautions can truly save lives. If you live and/or drive in the state of California, remember: when it comes to child seat safety, it’s the law!
What the law says
A new, stricter, child seat safety law came into effect in 2012. The law states that children under the age of 8 must be properly restrained in an appropriate car seat or booster seat in the rear of the vehicle. Children aged 8 or older, or who are 4-feet 9-inches or taller, may use the vehicle seat belt only if it fits properly. This means that the lap belt must be low on the hips and touching the upper thighs, and the shoulder belt must also cross the center of the child’s chest. If the child is not tall enough to use the proper seat belt, then he or she must continue to use a booster or child seat.
All occupants of the car must be buckled up. For each child that is not adequately restrained, the parents can be fined $475. If the parents are not in the car, then the penalty must be paid by the driver. In both cases, the person paying the penalty can also get a point on his or her driving license.
Vehicles covered
In addition to the regularly-covered vehicles, these restrictions also apply to rental cars. Car rental companies must inform drivers of the regulations before allowing them to rent a vehicle.
Defenses and exceptions
The law permits a court to exempt from these requirements any class of child by age, weight or size if it is determined that the restraint system would be impractical due to physical unfitness, medical condition or size.
A child may also ride up front if there are no rear seats, or if the rear seats are side-facing jump seats. The child may also ride up front if a child restraint system cannot be appropriately installed in the rear, or if every available rear seat is already occupied by a child under the age of 7.
 While the West Coast tends to bring beaches and palm trees to mind more readily than fall foliage, this region of the U.S. offers several fantastic fall driving experiences.
California, Oregon, and Washington present visitors with a wondrous mix of scenic gold, red, and yellow panoramas, as well as excellent opportunities for wildlife sightings. Here are some of the best fall foliage drives on the West Coast:
Big Sur Highway
Snaking along the California coast, Highway 1 is a superb drive any time of the year, but the addition of vibrant red, gold, yellow, and purple color during the fall makes it even more dramatic and impressive. With its rocky cliffs, bridges, stunning ocean views, and lush foliage, the Big Sur Highway is one of America’s most scenic drives. Make sure you have lots of space on your camera’s memory card, because there’s a magnificent photo opportunity just about everywhere you look.
Avenue of the Giants
For nature lovers, the sight of towering redwoods is one of America’s most alluring natural wonders. Stretching more 30 miles through the 53,000-acre Humboldt Redwoods State Park in California, the Avenue of the Giants offers views of ancient redwood groves, riding trails, camp sites, and biking areas.
Historic Columbia River Highway
Located near Portland in the northwest part of Oregon, this 70-mile drive offers views of the Columbia River, dozens of waterfalls, and winding roads. The journey starts in the town of Troutdale, about 17 miles east of downtown Portland. Key spots along the way include Crown Point State Park, Multnomah Falls, which has a 620-foot drop, Tom McCall Preserve, and the historic town of The Dalles.
Hells Canyon Scenic Byway
With its brilliant red sumac accented by rock formations and aspen, ash, and greasewood offering red, yellow, and purple hues, the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway in Oregon is a spectacular drive. Stretching nearly 220 miles through the Payette National Forest, Umatilla National Forest, and Wallowa-Whitman in the northeast corner of the state, this drive also offers tours of galleries, museums, and foundries. Among the towns along the way are La Grande, Wallowa, Oxbow, and Richland.
Cascade Loop
This 440-mile scenic byway in Washington State starts 28 miles north of Seattle weaving through the North Cascades mountain range, along the Columbia River Valley, past Lake Chelan, through the North Cascades National Park, and into the Puget Sound. One of the highlights is Washington Pass on the North Cascade Highway, which offers phenomenal views from 5,477 feet. The best way to immerse in the experience is to take a short hike on one of the paths near the highway.
 This holiday season is the perfect time to try a new recipe that will have your friends and family begging for more. This creamy pumpkin cheesecake, which is sandwiched between a crispy maple-pecan topping and a buttery pecan shortbread crust, is just the thing. As long as you get an early start, it’s fairly simple, and it’s sure to become a new family favorite. At DCH Gardena Honda, we hope you enjoy this recipe, and we wish you a happy holiday season from our family to yours!
Pumpkin Maple Cheesecake with Pecan Shortbread
Total Prep time: 5 hours, 30 minutes
Active time: 20 minutes
Inactive time: 4 hours, 10 minutes
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients for Crust
15 to 18 pecan shortbread cookies, finely crushed
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Ingredients for cheesecake
3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
3 large eggs, room temperature
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
2/3 cup (one 5-ounce container) evaporated milk
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
2 tablespoons maple syrup
Pinch of salt
Directions for Crust
Butter a 9-inch springform pan and wrap the outside of the pan with aluminum foil to prevent leaking.
Place the crushed cookies and brown sugar in a small mixing bowl. Form a well in the center of the mixture and pour in the melted butter, stirring to evenly mix. Transfer the mixture to the springform pan and press evenly along the bottom of the pan to create a crust. Place the pan on a rimmed cookie sheet and set aside.
Directions for Cheesecake
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the oven rack in the center of the oven and place a pan of water in a rack beneath.
In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese with the brown sugar until smooth and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well and scraping down the sides after each addition. Add the pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, and stir just until fully incorporated.
Pour the batter into the springform pan. In a small bowl, stir together the pecans, maple syrup, and salt. Sprinkle the maple-pecan mixture on top of the cheesecake and place the cake in the center rack of the oven to bake for 1 hour, or until the cheesecake is just set and lightly browned. Remove from the oven and let sit for 30 minutes. Cover with foil and refrigerate for 4 hours before serving.
Note: If pecan shortbread cookies are unavailable, select the regular variety and add 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans to the crushed cookies.
With our country’s love of motoring, the recent proliferation of car-centric shows on TV isn’t surprising. Here are six of our favorites at Toyota of Oxnard:
1. Top Gear
In 2012, Top Gear won the Guinness record for being ‘the most widely watched TV factual program in the world’. Originally a factual magazine style program providing reviews of latest car models and accessories, the format was changed in 2002 to a studio-based production with three presenters. While retaining its serious review of production models, the show also took on a humorous twist, with the presenters being sent on crazy and often impossible tasks, such as driving through a desert in old stripped down motors, or converting a three-wheel car into an aircraft. These antics created its cult following. A US version of the show had its debut on the History Channel in 2010.
2. Ultimate Build Off
Ultimate Build Off is a TV challenge show aired on the Discovery Channel. Every week, two auto shops from across America compete for a chance at glory and an ultimate $100,000 grand prize. Their task is to take ordinary trucks, cars, and other vehicles and convert them into a special design. This could include taking a hearse and converting it into a high-speed, turbo-charged carrier, or making a simple truck into a monster. The competing teams are judged, and the two best innovating teams will take on the ultimate challenge.
3. Overhaulin’
Hosted by Chip Fosse and available on Velocity TV, Overhaulin’ is a show that takes old wrecks of cars well past their sell-by date and gives them a new lease on life. Although basically an auto restoration program, Overhaulin’ does not simply return the car to its original condition. Instead it provides it with a ‘new spin’, much to the pleasure of its owner.
4. My Classic Car
Speed TV’s My Classic Car with Dennis Gage is a must-see for any classic car enthusiast. Each week, Gage takes the viewer on a journey through a classic car show or behind the scenes of a private collection and provides exciting insights into an endless list of classics. He also provides information about where to source parts and other necessary classic car maintenance items.
5. Pimp My Ride
MTV’s Pimp My Ride specializes in taking old cars owned cars by young Californians and making them customized rides their owners could only have previously dreamed about. The show’s host, rapper Xzibit, will pay a surprise visit to one lucky young viewer and then transform their car at famed body shop West Coast Customs.
6. Counting Cars
Now showing on the History Channel, Counting Cars is a unique type of auto restoration program. In this series, not only is the presenter tasked with restoring and customizing old cars, he also has to then sell them. It provides an exciting view into the world of restoration and custom car buying and selling.
 The advertised fuel efficiency of your Toyota will normally be an estimate of the maximum efficiency that the vehicle can achieve under certain conditions. In reality, your car’s fuel efficiency will vary considerably based on how you drive it. If you’re looking to get the most from your Toyota, read about these five common ways that drivers lose fuel efficiency—and how to avoid them.
- Constant heavy acceleration. Accelerating puts more demand on the engine, forcing it to burn more fuel. Your fuel consumption is related directly to how hard the engine is working. Constant heavy acceleration simply burns fuel with no real benefit. This includes racing away from traffic lights or zooming up to traffic on the highway and then having to hit the brakes hard. Drive moderately, accelerating steadily and smoothly to avoid guzzling gas.
- Losing traction on the road surface. When you are driving in wet or unusually slippery conditions, you need to drive more carefully. Driving and accelerating in the way that you would on clean, dry surfaces is likely to cause the car to lose traction and the tires to slip. This is also guaranteed to eat into your fuel unnecessarily.
- Inefficient gear changes. A manual gearbox is intended to maximize the performance and fuel efficiency of the engine. You therefore need to shift into the upper gears quickly. Revving hard in the lower gears burns up your fuel and drastically reduces your gas mileage. The ideal shift points will vary from one transmission to another, but you should generally aim to shift to second gear before you reach 15 miles per hour and reach the top gear by the time you hit 35 miles per hour.
- Resting your foot on the brake pedal. You should never drive with your foot resting on the brake pedal. Even the lightest touch affects the fuel economy and places unwanted demand on the engine. You will also wear the brakes unnecessarily, which may encourage you to ‘grab’ the brakes or press much harder, again eating into your fuel economy.
- Idling at traffic lights. If your engine is running idle at the traffic lights, then it is consuming fuel without any need. If the car isn’t moving, shift your transmission into neutral to drop the revolutions per minute. The car will stop consuming gas and your fuel efficiency will increase.
While the design and specification of your car is a major influence on your fuel efficiency, the way you drive also has a significant impact. Avoid these common mistakes and get the most for your money at the pump. Please contact our service department at 888-593-1122 if you have any other questions.
Get this complimentary maintenance plan when you buy or lease a new Toyota at Toyota of Oxnard
We know you love your Toyota. And we want to help keep that happy relationship going for a long, long time. That’s why when you buy or lease a new Toyota at Toyota of Oxnard, we’ll give you Toyota Care, a complimentary, worry-free maintenance plan[1] with 24-hour roadside assistance.
With Toyota Care, you’ll be covered for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first. That coverage includes scheduled factory maintenance like an oil and filter change[2], tire rotation, and multi-point inspections.
You don’t have to worry about keeping track of visits – we’ll send you timely reminders before each visit. Simply bring in your vehicle, and our Toyota-trained technicians will handle the rest, including keeping a detailed history of each maintenance visit.
And with 24-hour roadside assistance[3], help is never far away, whether you need an emergency tire change, a jump start, a tow truck, or even a door unlocked.
When you get the Toyota Care plan, you can stop worrying and start driving. Toyota is the only full-line brand to offer anything like this. So come out to Toyota of Oxnard today to see how you can get a new Toyota – and peace of mind.
[1] Covers normal factory scheduled service. Plan is 2 years or 25K miles, whichever comes first. The new Toyota vehicle cannot be part of a rental or commercial fleet, or a livery or taxi vehicle. See plan for complete coverage details. See participating Toyota dealer for details. 3 Does not include parts and fluids. Valid only in continental United States and Alaska.
[2] Engine oil may include OW20 Synthetic Oil, depending on vehicle model and model year.
[3] Does not include parts and fluids. Valid only in continental United States and Alaska.
Reimagined fuel saver to launch in Fall 2012
 The reimagined 2013 Toyota Avalon is slated to launch this fall, which means the exciting first hybrid in this series is almost within reach.
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q0_mPxRCdY
The new Avalon, which Toyota estimates will get an incredible 40 city/39 highway/40 combined mpg rating, will have smaller dimensions coupled with an increase in interior room and a larger trunk. That means it’ll be even easier for you and your friends to head wherever the road takes you.
Designed and assembled in America, the Avalon will also feature technological advancements like IntelliTouch motion-sensitive controls and the available Entune® multimedia system, which lets you access an entire collection of popular mobile applications and data services like Bing, iHeartRadio, and MovieTickets.com.
You can take a custom or guided tour of the new model online at http://www.toyota.com/upcoming-vehicles/avalon/, and you can also sign up for e-mail updates for this model directly from Toyota. Give us a call at 877-625-1221 with any other questions!
 We believe the success of Toyota of Oxnard can be measured by customer loyalty, and we strive to earn that loyalty by delivering the highest quality products and services, the maximum level of professionalism, and top-of-the-line customer care.
This new blog is an extension of our commitment to your satisfaction. Check here to find automotive care tips, news about the Toyota vehicles we carry, and exclusive service and financing discounts that won’t be available to the general public.
We are dedicated to providing you with the best sales and service experience in the Oxnard area. We look forward to continuing this dedication as we stay connected with you and our whole community, so please contact us to let us know what information you would find useful in this space. We look forward to seeing you at the dealership soon!
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