TEAM TOYOTA BLOG

THE BIGGER AND BETTER TEAM TOYOTA HAS STARTED!!

2012-03-01T13:44:00.000-08:00

The new store has officially begun construction and we couldn't be more excited!! We've decided that we want to share the experience with everyone and hopefully get you just as excited as we are. Here are a few videos of the first few days as they started to break ground. The grand opening is scheduled to be in Spring of 2013 with one of the largest Grand Opening Event ever!! We'll keep you posted with the construction updates and more details for the grand opening event as we get closer to the all new Team Toyota on 41!!

DAY ONE

DAY TWO

We also have our You Tube Channel showing you what's going on at the store and to show you the goofy sides of the Team Toyota staff. We love getting to know our customers and we want you to get to know us a little more as well! We've taken a liking to the saying "Come get one!" What ever it is that you want, we got it, you just have to "Come get one!" What do you think about the catch phrase we've started??

WE ARE ONLY 39 MORE FANS AWAY TO

REACHING OUR FACEBOOK FANS GOAL!!

Please share with us what you think about our You Tube Channel and Fan Page. We don't want to be the dealership that just shows you videos of cars for sale, all the other dealerships do that. We try to set ourselves apart from other dealerships and make us the one everyone talks about in a good way!

Our goal is to be a fun and entertaining group to keep you interested in checking out the good and silly things we get in to at the store. We value our customer's opinions and use them to gear our content to what you like. What do you like to see and entertains you on social media sites?

SCION IQ has arrived! - The smallest sedan- GET ONE!

2012-02-23T12:39:00.002-08:00

We just recieved the all new 2012 Scion IQ to our store and let me tell you, it is pretty cool looking! Usually I didn't really care for all these little cars different dealers are coming out with, and I pretty much felt the same about the IQ. That is until I actually got to sit in it and take it for a drive!!! I think it looks cute, I am a woman, so I will say it is cute :) The inside looks very fresh, new and stylish with two tone interior colors.

We are all having fun driving the new Scion IQ around and getting a feel of the way it handles. We tried it today as soon as it came off the truck and it was excellent in the rain. Normally I get nervous driving in rain and especially snow, but we made some pretty sharp turns and donuts while taking it for a joy ride. I had a blast jamming to the stereo that actually sounded awesome in the cabin of the car. During the ride, people were watching and looking how it was maneuvering on the roads and turns and I wasn't scared of how it was performing on the wet roads at all! Although it was a smaller frame, I totally felt safe in its performance. We were making complete dounts on normal streets and no need to back up and cut the wheel, just a full U-turn in the middle of the road!

CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE YOUR TEST DRIVE FOR THE IQ

CLICK HERE TO REQUEST A PRICE QUOTE FOR THE IQ

After glancing in the back seat, my inital thought was, "No way are people going to fit back there!" Boy, was I wrong! We piled in a few sales guys and a manager to test out the leg room and we taped it so you can see for yourself!

This is the picture of the desert that Krystle our BDC Rep made for all of us here at the store and they were so great I thought I'd share the recipe for you. Enjoy!
S'mores Cookies
11 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar, packed
½ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 ½ cups flour
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup mini marshmallows
3 regular sized Hershey’s bars, broken into pieces
1-2 packages graham crackers, broken into squares

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line baking pans with parchment paper. I used one 11x17 pan and one 9x13 pan but you can really use any sized pans you want.
Lay out graham crackers side by side on the pans as close as possible (they should be touching). I used 16 graham cracker squares on one pan and 10 squares on another. You may have to add or remove graham crackers according to how much dough you have. If you want your cookies thicker you will use more dough and less graham crackers.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, sea salt and cinnamon to combine. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter with white and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until combined. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixer and combine on low speed. Fold in the chocolate chips and marshmallows. Chill dough in refrigerator for 1 hour to overnight (I did one batch right away and another after chilling overnight and found there was no difference.)

Place tablespoons of dough on graham crackers about 1 – 1 ½ inches apart. I averaged about 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough per graham cracker square as seen in the picture above. Press down slightly with fingertips.

Bake for 5 minutes then remove from oven to press Hershey’s bar pieces on to the top. You can place as many pieces or as little as you want depending how much chocolate flavor you want. Bake for 5 – 7 more minutes or until dough is beginning to turn golden brown at the edges. Remove to a wire rack to cool. For clean cutting make sure cookies are completely cool and cut with a sharp knife.

ARE YOU IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA GAME?

How many of you readers actually have all of the above social media profiles? With so many social media sites available now and new ones popping up every day, how is someone supposed to keep up with it all? I personally only have or I should say USE a personal Facebook profile for myself and our Team Toyota Fan page, a you tube channel and this blog of course. I used to have Myspace, but who uses that any more?! lol I tried twitter but I just can't figure that out and don't want to put in the time to do so. I have a google account because I need it to have my you tube channel, but I don't actually use the google+ they started.

I'm just curious to know what everyone else uses or chooses not to use. I've viewed Pinterest a few times, that seem pretty cool and easy to use, I might try that. I just don't seem to have much more time on my hands to be able to stay active in all these sites that are available these days. Well I guess if I don't pay any attention to my husband and children I would have time, but that's not going to happen unless I want to end up divorced!

What are your favorite social media sites that you use reguarly and what are the ones you tried and just didn't like at all and why?

THE BEST OF LAKE AND PORTER COUNTY

2012-02-16T10:20:00.000-08:00

So I am now 33 years old and I've pretty much lived and worked my whole life in Lake and Porter Counties. I have my favorite places and not so favorite places to go to, but I'd prefer to tell you about some of the better businesses I'd recommend.

PIZZA PLACE - J J Pizza Shack in Portage gets my vote for Porter County, the wings are awesome and the pizza is great! Sometimes a long wait for delivery, but totally worth it. For Lake County, my pick is Dinos in Whiting. I graduated form Whiting and have had my fair share of their food through the years. Lunch buffet and the sandwiches are great too, and the wait was never that long either.

MEXICAN RESTAURANT - La Carreta is the absolute best place to have Mexican food. Now I am Mexican and Puerto Rican, so its pretty hard to find a place that can cook like my Grandma, but this is the place! The Carne Asada is the best! Portion sizes are huge and taste delicious, the drinks are pretty good as well, the biggest margaritas in all different flavors too. La Chiquita in Portage has pretty good food too, my kids liked it and I thought it was the best until I found La Carreta, now I don't go there at all really.

CASUAL DINING - Bistro 157 in Valpo is a tiny place with fantastic food! I went there on a recommendation and its the first place I pick when my husband lets me choose. It can be a little expensive with the meals, appetizers, and drinks, but totally worth it! I can't wait to go back there again. Lake County has Lucrezia's in Crown Point, its a little place again, but big flavor in their food. We went there for Mother's day and we loved our meals, I had a spinach salad with chicken and he had lasagna that he loved as well.

CHILD CARE- Lake County has Happy Days Child Care and Learning Center and it the best out there and they have 3 centers, their newest one is in Schererville, and 2 in Merrillville. My children went there when we lived in Merrillville and they loved it, learned so much, and the teachers there truly care about the kids. Summer camps were so full of fun things for my sons to do. Porter County has Portage Day Care Center, it is a really nice facility and the teachers there are pretty great as well. My daughter went there when we moved back to Portage, and she loved all of the teachers, and disappointed when she couldn't go there anymore, but she is now in school so no need for child care.

DANCE STUDIOS - Lake County has Patti's All American Dance in Dyer. Now I have not actually been there but have heard many people rave about this place for their children. So this recommendation is by passing on what I heard. I've been going to United Dance Arts in Valpo for about 5 months and I love it. They offer all different kinds of classes for all ages from ballroom, hip hop, Zumba, pole, jazz, tap and even offer private lessons and parties.

PUB AND GRUB - Moods in Portage is probably my pick for Porter county and mostly because of the staff and location. The staff is nice, friendly, and quick with everything and I like trivia night. Its just a little place and may not be everyone's pick but my friends and family got me going there and its close to my house so I don't have to drive far. I don't go to Lake County pubs too often since I live in Porter County now, but the most recent one was Three Monkeys in Crown Point. It just opened probably like 5-6 months ago and it looks really nice in there, the food was pretty amazing and not just the usual grub you'd find at pubs. I was pretty happy with the whole visit, check it out if you are in the area.

DEALERSHIPS - My Lake County vote is Team Toyota in Highland of course! Who else did you think I would pick?! I don't only say that because I work here now, but I say that by comparing the other dealerships I've worked at and comments from our customers. The staff here focus on keeping the integrity of the store and customer' satisfaction their top priority at all times. The word of mouth and online reviews is the most influential advertising in car sales. My vote for Porter County would be for Team Chevy in Valpo. I don't work there, but I did visit there before I even started working at Toyota and the people there were pretty nice and no pressure either. I didn't buy a car, but it was a good experience in comparison to some of the other dealerships down the street from them.

I like to go to places that other people like to recommend, and word of mouth is the best form of advertising. Please let me know some of your favorite places you like to go to and I just might try them out one day. If you do happen to visit one of my recommendations, please give me your feedback on what you thought as well.

FREE CHICAGO AUTO SHOW TICKETS AND 2012 CAMRY PACE CAR GIVEAWAY!!

2012-02-09T12:56:00.000-08:00

TOYOTA IS GIVING AWAY A

2012 DAYTONA 500 PACE CAR!!

AND

TEAM TOYOTA WILL GIVE AWAY

FREE TICKETS TO THE AUTO SHOW!!

WIN A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY SUPERBOWL SUNDAY

2012-02-02T13:58:00.000-08:00

DO YOU THINK 2012 IS A GOOD

TIME TO BUY A NEW CAR?

If you're not in the market for a new car, then by all means, I am not trying to convince you to buy one at all. I wish I could personally afford to buy one, but I am not in a position to do that, and odds are you may not be either. If you are contemplating it and are on the fence if you should or not, I did a little investigating for you. I asked the Google Gods what they thought and this is what I found to be interesting and might help you to make the best decision for you.

1. INTEREST RATES AT ITS LOWEST- Forbes predicts that thorugh 2012 there will be a record low rate for new car purchases increasing sales by 6 to 7 percent. These low rates should stay until the middle of 2013 according to the Federal Open Market Committee. As of January 2nd, the average new car loan for a 60 month term averaged 4.9% with a low of 3.25%. Don't have perfect credit? No worries either, there has been a boost in more subprime lenders offering financing as well. This leaves the prime lenders to be more flexible too and offer the most competitive interest rates on new vehicles to stay competitive on new car loans. You can apply online with our Credit Coach if you are interested in this.

2. HIGHEST USED CAR VALUES- Although used car inventories may be slim now, it makes it up in having a higher resale value when you trade it in for a new one. A three year old vehicle that would normally be worth $15,000 in 2009 was able to reach $23,000 in 2011. Kelly Blue Book averaged that at 16% increase per year and predicts a 4-6% increase during 2012. Now is the time to trade in your used car to get the highest trade in value. You can also use our online trade appraisal to get an estimate of the value of your trade in before coming in.

3. UNBEATABLE LEASING OFFERS-With the used car market at its highest, it increases the residual (projected resale value at the end of the lease) and combined with the lowest interest rates, its a deal you won't want to pass up. According to the Automotive Leasing Guide, the average new vehicle residual value after three years jumped from 42.7% in 2009 to 49.3% for 2012. These leased vehicles will offer lower interest rates and increase the used car availability at the end of the lease terms. If you have negative equity(owe more than its worth)in your trade in, it can also be a benefit to discuss your leasing options to help you.

4. COMPETITIVE PRICING DURING THE BUYERS MARKET-With the disaster in Japan in 2011, obviously the Japan based products took a hit in sales but are anticipating on making up for it during 2012. Offering the most competitive pricing on new models and the highest incentives will boost the sales to make up for the loss during the 2011 disasters. This will also leave the domestic brands to counter with equally competitive pricing and incentives. No matter what brand you decide to get, the offers will be best this year.

5. SUPERIOR PRODUCTS - This year is by far the best year ever for the most improved and redesigned models to today's customer's needs, safety and budget in mind. Gas efficency increasing to 40 mpg or more for sedans, safer high-tech gear with warning systems, anti-collision systems to avoid accidents by applying the brake if the driver doesn't react fast enough, and comforat and conveneince of heated leather seats and hands-free internet products built into the audio system such as the Entune in the 2012 Toyota Camry.

NEW FACES AND NEW PROGRAMS AT TEAM TOYOTA

2012-01-26T10:01:00.000-08:00

Are you looking for some help
in getting approved for a new car?

We noticed there has been an significant change in the personal circumstsances and needs of our customers these past few years.   The number of people that have found themselves in the need of the help of secondary lenders to get the car they need has jumped up. We have decided to provide you the best person to help you accomplish this, Amelia knows how to make it all happen.  Helping you to realize if a new or used car would be the best choice, she is here to get you behind the wheel and back on track to improve your score at the same time. I interviewed Amelia so you can learn a little more about her, here's what she has to say:

How many years have you been in car sales?
I've been with Team Toyota for 11 years already and I love being able to meet new people every day.

How many years have you been in the finance department?
It's been 6 years dealing specifically with second chance loans and I have built great relationships with our subprime banks to help as many customers as we can.

What do you like best about your job?
Besides meeting new people every day, I'm grateful that I am the one able to help make it happen.  You may be doubtful that you can get approved for a loan, but my reward is making you happy and seeing your smile when I can say "You're Approved!"

What makes you different than other finance departments at other dealerships?
I've been there and in the same boat when it comes to credit concerns.  Using my own experience with credit challenges and my experience and relationships with the subprime lenders through the years, I've focused my speciality in helping people meet their needs and prepare them for the future.

What is one piece of advice for your customers?
Educate yourself by knowing and following your own credit history. Your past and current actions greatly affect your credit abilities and future buying decisions. Not knowing anything about your score could be one of the worst mistakes you can make in your life.

NEW TEAM PLAYERS

ADAM GARCIA- BDC Representative

Providing the best customer service on the phone is his goal each day. Adam works in our Business Development Center during the evening hours and occasionally on Saturdays. He is able to answer your questions regarding inventory availability, pricing, and he can even set your appointment for service.

TIM THORN-Finance Manager

Tim has joined our team as the newest manager of our Finance Department. His knowledge, fun spirit, and sincere desire to help his customers is what makes him so successful. Building relationships and earning the trust of strangers so they remember you and how you helped them is what brings referrals from their friends and family. Trusting in the positive relationships one builds is the foundation to being a good salesperson!

PAULA FRANKLIN - Service Advisor

Paula has been a service advisor for 22 years and is what she knows best. She is successful and has shown our customers that she truly cares about helping them. Recognizing that she may be the bearer of bad news at times, her no pressure advising is what makes her so likeable and a pleasure to work with. Educating her customers on what is most important with the highest priority, she focuses on working with their needs and budget to make things as smooth as possible.

DO YOU WANT TO JOIN THE TEAM TOO?

CASH IN YOUR HAND.....PUTS A SMILE ON YOUR FACE :)

2012-01-19T10:50:00.000-08:00

When customers are looking to purchase a new or used vehicle, I get asked the same questions.

Do I need money down?
AND
What would my payments be?

The honest truth is, without directly applying with the banks, we don't really know. There are just too many deciding factors to be able to tell you over the phone. If you talk to a dealership that does give you numbers over the phone without going through the loan process, take their answers with caution. They'll tell what you have is good enough and odds are the numbers will be totally different when you actually come into the store or you may not even be able to get financing at all.

Who wants to waste their time in a business that blatantly lies just to have you come into the store and tell you what they could have told you over the phone. Doing an online credit application lets us simply look at your credit history to determine the chances of your ability to get financed. Reputable dealerships will educate you on how to improve the chances and won't waste your time misleading you. We want to earn your trust as the dealership that was honest with you.

Worried about issues with your credit? Unless you have an open bankruptcy that hasn't been discharged or a recent reposession, there are still options for you. You'll likely have the higher interest rate, but the banks will still work with you and offer financing. Be realistic though, down payments make it more likely and don't expect monthly payments under $200. Sometimes it is easier to get you financed on a new vehicle versus a used vehicle due to the value and amount banks are willing to offer. Leasing can also be the best option if you still have an outstanding balance on your current vehicle and eliminate the negative equity.

You know your own personal credit history better than anyone, what you can afford each month, and how much you have as a down payment. If we have an idea of what your goal is in getting financed, then we'll be honest if that is even possible for you. If you want me to help you, please give me a call at 219-924-8100 or feel free to use our online calculator.

ARE YOU A TEAM TOYOTA CUSTOMER?

HERE IS HOW REFERRALS WORK

* Complete the contact form online with YOUR contact information
* Make a reference to you submitting a referral in the comment box of the contact form
* Our representative will contact you to discuss your referral in detail in order to redeem your fee
* Please have the name of your sales representative you are referring or we can view your records
* If your referral purchases a vehicle from the sales rep you referred them to you get $50!
* We will be happy to clarify all questions you may have at 219-924-8100

HOW TO VIDEO TO HELP YOU WITH THE IPOD CONNECTIVITY

HOW TO VIDEO TO HELP WITH BACK UP CAMERA

MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITH EVERYONE YOU MEET

2012-01-11T08:35:00.000-08:00

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS THAT

MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN LIFE

Have you ever wondered what helps people become successful in their lives and careers? Worried about why you just seem to not be able to quite get to that point? There may be some other reason like the economy and not being able to find a job, but I believe have a positivie personal attitude and relationships with others can be a start in the right direction. If you've stayed employed and just not reaping the benefits of moving up the corporate ladder and making a difference, it may be time to look in the mirror. I've had my issues in my own personal life, but one thing that I'm confident about is the importance of building the best relationship with everyone you meet. Keeping the professionalism while building rapport whether you are at work or not will give you the skills to do it every time. Here are a few things that I like to keep in mind when talking with different people:

WITH CO-WORKERS- They are part of your team and together you are the foundation to the company, so make a difference to each other as well. Politeness, courtesy, and respect are a big must in every conversation. Don't speak to someone in a manner that you wouldn't want to be spoken to. If there is an issue, think about how you would like the matter brought to your attention. Think before you speak pretty much. Appropriately discuss issues that arise with your manager, don't be the office gossip.

WITH YOUR MANAGER - Managers have many things on their plate and need to be able to rely on your ability to be held accountable to your expectations. They won't ask something of you that would be unrealistic or unattainable, and you should think of it that way as well. Having a "can do" attitude will make the difference and give you the encouragement and drive to accomplish the task at hand. Keeping the positive attitude and meeting expectations will be apparent in your performance and personal accomplishments. Hard work, dedication, performance, and attitude never goes unnoticed by management.

AT SCHOOL - Education is not free, so why waste your money? Give 100% in everything you do for your education. Teachers are there as the expert on the subject, they are there to help us when we put the effort, so ask for the help. Complaining about the syllabus, assignments, due dates, will not make them disappear, rather probably just label you as the complainer of the class. Having the same "can do" attitude as like towards your manager would be the best route. Get to know your classmates, odds are they may be feeling the same way, but they may also have some tips on what works for them as well.

AT HOME - This one can be a little tricky depending on the circumstances. Whether its your children, your spouse, or anyone in your family, you know how they are and how to expect them to react to anything that you say. Although sometimes staying in calm tone voice when I'm upset is hard, I've realized it will get the best results. Apologizing when needed and expressing your feelings in a way they will understand and not blow up back at you is what keeps the peace. Think before you speak comes into play here as well.

WITH CUSTOMERS - Listening is the key to building the best relationship with our customers. Having conversations unrelated to the business while doing business will set you apart from others and they will remember you after they leave. Remembering what is discussed and being understanding to their personal circumstance with no pressure will keep you at the top of the list when they decide choose a company to do business with. Honesty, building rapport, forming a personal relationship, diligent follow up and setting yourself apart from every other associate at every other store they visit will make the difference with your customers.

Maintaining the integrity of my personal and professsional relationships, the customer service I provide and of Team Toyota is #1 on my to do list. I sincerely listen to each customer's feedback to improve in all areas needed to be able to provide every customer the best experience when they visit our store. Whether you purchase a new vehicle, used vehicle, service repairs or just take a test drive and end up buying nothing, we want to be the dealership that you remember in a positive way and hopefully tell your friends about us. Word of mouth is the most influential advertising and we strive to provide the most pleasant, friendly, professional and memorable experience at Team Toyota.

SEE HOW WE MADE A DIFFERENCE THIS PAST MONTH

Resolutions.....How long will you last?

2012-01-04T11:01:00.000-08:00

TIPS FOR STICKING TO YOUR
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

63% of people that make resolutions are still sticking to them in 2 months, will you?

BE REALISTIC - Instead of cutting something out, trying cutting down to get you to that point. Trying to stop something cold turkey can stress you out, and the more likely to just give up.

MAKE THEM YOURS - Resolve what is good for you, not something that is for your friends. Just because your friends want to exercise more doesn't mean its best for you. Focus on your needs.

OUTLINE - Decide how you intend to react during temptation time, ask a friend to help. If you think about how you will react during that time, you'll be less likely to give in to temptation when it comes.

PRO/CON LIST - A visual goal to keep you on track is great motivation to keep it going. This will remind you why you decided to pick this resolution and the advantages to making this decision.

TALK ABOUT IT - Don't keep it a secret, tell your friends what your plans are, they'll support you. The more people know what your intentions are, the more likely they will encourage you to stick to it.

REWARD YOURSELF - When you reach a certain time, reward yourself for doing so well. If you stop something like smoking, don't smoke though. Treat yourself to a day at the spa or a movie night.

TRACK YOUR PROGRESS - Another visual motivator to see how far you have come since day one. An occasional slip is okay, don't fret about it. It happens to everyone, stay focused on the goal.

TOP FOUR RESOLUTIONS

Being more active and exercising reguarly

Being more diligent at work or school

Having healthier eating habits

Stop smoking, drinking, or drugs

GOOD LUCK ON STICKING TO YOUR YOUR RESOLUTIONS

Think of it as starting a new habit, not breaking an old one :)

A HAMMOND FAMILY GETS SURPRISED WITH A NEW TOYOTA VENZA ON ELLEN!

And they got it at Team Toyota!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HAPPY FAMILY
AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU IN 2012!!