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Toyota Recall and Repairs
By : Traci Benoit, Guest Contributor
Date : 11/17/2009

After announcing the largest safety recall in company history back in September, Toyota has now offered to replace the gas pedals on over 4 million Toyota vehicles.

The recall occurred after a high-speed crash in California killed five people. One of the passengers made a 911 call, stating that the accelerator pedal was stuck and the brakes were not working. The speeding vehicle was a 2009 Lexus on loan to the driver while his car was being serviced. The out-of-control Lexus sped down a highway, crashed into a vehicle, continued through traffic and ended up on fire in a river.

The initial recall was for certain models of Toyota cars and truck, including at least two Lexus models, and focused on the floor mats of those vehicles. The vehicles affected are the Toyota Avalon, Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius, Toyota Tacoma and Toyota Tundra and the Lexus IS250, IS350 and Lexus ES350. Since Toyota uses the same accelerator and floor mat combination on all of its vehicles, it is possible that more models may be included in the recall and pedal repair in the future.

The floor mats were suspected of getting in the way of the accelerator pedal, causing it to stick. Toyota told customers to remove the floor mats to resolve the problem. Toyota is now voluntarily replacing the gas pedals of these vehicles, though the company remains confident that the problem is related to the floor mats and not a flaw or problem with the braking, accelerator or fuel components.

Though the pedal replacement is estimated to cost Toyota millions of dollars, the company already has more than $5 billion set aside for recall and repairs, so this will not affect the company’s business.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been in talks with Toyota officials, but the company has denied reaching an agreement with the NHTSA on the problem. The NHTSA said they have discussed several factors that may cause pedal interference and/or the driver’s ability to control and stop the car once the accelerator becomes stuck. More discussions are to continue on the matter.

The pedals and repairs will be taken care of by Toyota and Lexus dealerships around the country. Toyota and Lexus owners with the specified models, or other models with questions, should contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331 or the Lexus Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-255-3987. Information is available at the company websites of each brand at www.toyota.com and www.lexus.com.

Top Cars and Tips for Family Road Trips
By : Sheryll Alexander
Date : 11/09/2009

The holidays are upon us and that means getting ready for family road trips. What can you do to make the trip more enjoyable? And, which cars work best for long trips with the kids and pets?

I’m a mother of two talkative daughters, a new car road test reviewer and a road trip lover. I’ve traveled thousands of miles with the kids in all kinds of vehicles. So, what cars do I like best for road trips?

See my list of super family-friendly vehicles below as well as great tips for traveling with kids from snacks to technology to cleaning up to keeping teens happy.

The best vehicles for road trips, of course, are minivans. However, if you can’t afford a gas-guzzling minivan, then look to more fuel efficient CUVs or full-sized sedans for family road trips.

My favorite CUVs for families are: Suzuki SX4, Mazda CX-7, Lexus RX 450h, Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave, Ford Flex, Hyundai Elantra, Nissan Murano, Toyota Venza, Subaru Forester, Mitsubishi Outlander and Scion xB.

Fortunately, there are lots of affordable full-sized sedans with lots of great features for families. I have road tested each of these models and find each one to be fantastic for road trips, including Acura TL, Nissan Maxima, Mazda MAZDA6, Audi A4, Ford Fusion, Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI, Lincoln MKS, Mitsubishi Lancer, Saab 9-3, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

What about safety? For safer driving in winter, all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles equipped with electronic stability control (sometimes known as dynamic stability control) are some of the safest vehicles on the road.

All Subaru vehicles come equipped with AWD, but most others car companies offer AWD as an option or standard on more expensive trim levels. Electronic stability control now comes standard or as an option on many new cars, but by 2011, the government is making ESC standard.

Real Tips for Family Road Trips

Portable Tech: The best way to keep kids happy and quiet on long road trips is giving each child their own personal DVD player with headphones. To keep the players working, keep extra batteries on hand or a car adapter for recharging. And, buy each child a new DVD they’ve been wanting for some time.
Satellite Radio: Don’t think it’s worth subscribing to Sirius or XM satellite radio? Think again. The no commercials approach to satellite radio makes it the most peaceful and rewarding in-car experiences of all time. Plus, you can get regional weather and traffic reports. My husband prefers Sirius because it carries 24/7 NFL coverage.
Get Cozy: Do you think bringing pillow, blankets and stuffed animals on road trips is a big hassle? For kids, nothing is better than putting their head down on their own pillow and wrapping their blanket around them for a nice nap in the car. Don’t leave the comforts of home behind!
Play Games: Some families love car bingo. Others like to count out-of-state license plates, play cards or sing songs. For my hyperactive family, I play Drivetime Yoga. This CD uses yoga increases energy and decreases stress with yoga movements for drivers and passengers such as neck releases, shoulder stretches, spinal twists, pelvic tilts and ankle rolls. To purchase, visit, www.DrivetimeYoga.com.
Snacks: Always fill a cooler with healthy drinks and snacks such as spring water, apples, grapes, bananas and low-fat cheese. Healthy bars are a good idea too, but some get squashed rather easily. Try Clif Bar’s Kid Organic Z Bar. These bars are virtually indestructible and can stay in your glove compartment for months. Another good way to get kids interested in healthy foods is to stop at a produce stand and let them pick their own fruit. If you are staying at a hotel, call ahead and request the mini-bar be completely emptied so you can pack the mini-refrigerator full of your healthy food and drinks.
Got Teens? My teenager just loves her iPhone. So, make sure your teen has fully charged her phone before your road trip. Also, buy a car adapter for easy recharging. And don’t let them forget headphones!!
Keep Clean: During winter flu season, it’s best to carry lots of sanitary hand wipe packets in the glove compartment and in your purse. That way, you can wipe the kids clean quickly and easily as well as kill germs.
Stop A Lot: Are your kids restless on road trips? Before you go, research your trip’s half way point and find a great public park on Mapquest or Yahoo maps. If you bring a football, soccer ball or baseball equipment, you’ll be ready for a pick-up game, which will give everyone some exercise and then tire them out for a long nap.
On-the-Go Wireless: Work, play and watch Hulu on the go when you have a wireless card. But does your wireless card really when you are driving? Yes! Although the signal does wane at times, I have found working on my laptop while being a passenger is very rewarding and more than possible.
Hide the Candy: Don’t believe in giving kids candy? When you are really desperate for some quiet time or for the fighting to stop, bring out a few special treats. It will keep them happy and you will have a bargaining tool for the rest of the trip.