Toyota Offers Alternatives to SUVs
You aren’t stuck with the choice of either a sedan or an SUV. Sometimes you need the comfort of one and the space of the other, but many drivers don’t want to choose an SUV. Whatever the restrictions, fuel prices, budgets or style, drivers want more choices beyond SUVs, and Toyota has them covered. Take a look at the top alternatives to SUVs.
2015 Toyota Venza LE
The starting MSRP for the 2015 Toyota Venza LE is $32,085. The five-passenger vehicle has an all-wheel-drive drivetrain, a powerful inline-4, and it provides 36.2 cubic feet of cargo space. The Toyota Venza’s 4-cylinder engine produces 181 hp with 182 lb.-ft. of torque, and it can tow up to 1,000 lbs. The Venza’s estimated fuel economy rating is 20/26 mpg. Installed features in the Venza include a 6-speaker audio system, satellite radio, color screen display, dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth®, and Toyota’s Star Safety System™.
2015 Toyota Prius v Four
You will be impressed by the efficiency of the Prius and the space in the cargo area. The starting MSRP for the hybrid wagon is $30,745. Under the hood is a 1.8-liter hybrid engine that nets 134 hp and averages an estimated 44/40 mpg. Kelley Blue Book ranks the Prius v #1 for fuel economy in its segment. Family-friendly features include 34.3 cubic feet of cargo space, a 6-speaker Entune™ Audio system, Bluetooth®, navigation, split-screen display, cargo storage, HomeLink®, and push-button start. The 2015 Toyota Prius v is an IIHS 2015 Top Safety Pick+ Award winner.
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Where to Find the Best Martini in Chicago
Claiming to have the best martini is a rather bold claim. What goes into the best martini and how can you claim to have the best? We took it upon ourselves to do a little research. Where is the best Martini in the Chicago area? We found a few favorites. Let the debate begin.
What Makes a GREAT Martini?
Esquire Magazine said the best Martini has one part dry vermouth and 4 parts gin. The best martini is stirred briskly for only 10 seconds, strained, served in a cooled Martini glass and decorated with an olive.
Top Places in Chicago for a Martini
In 2013, CBS Chicago posted an article about the best Martini bars in the Chicago area. The top five picks included:
- Blue Line Lounge and Grill on N. Damen Ave.
- Fireplace Inn on N. Wells St.
- M Lounge on S. Wabash Ave.
- Intimo Lounge on 183rd St.
- Martini Club on N. Central Ave.
We also looked at the top-rated bars on Yelp.com, and you will notice a familiar name. The top three rated bars on Yelp are:
- The Bar at The Peninsula Chicago, with a 4.0-star out of 5 rating
- The Matchbox, with a 4.5-star rating out of 5
- M Lounge, with a 4.0-star rating out of 5
The Winner: M Lounge
M Lounge scored a 4.7-star rating out of 5 on Google, and its average Facebook rating is 4.2-stars out of 5. The ratings and reviews are impressive. M Lounge is now open on Sundays; it hosts The Saturday Night Social Set; and it hosts Thirsty Thursdays with $6 Martinis. The Martini list is impressive with over 20 flavors.
If we were to go out for Martinis together, where would you recommend?
What are the Costliest Types of Vandalism?
Sometimes people are just nasty. Whether it is a troublemaker, an angry ex, or a friend who thinks he is funny, your wallet takes the ultimate hit in the end. Pranks and vandalism are one in the same as far as insurance and the law are concerned, and some damage costs more than car accident claims. If someone goes Carrie Underwood on your ride, it will cost you? Continental Toyota and Scion looks at the costliest types of vandalism.
- Keying
There is scratching the paint, and then there is keying. Keying is usually done so deep that it claws through the finish and strikes against the car’s metal. When you run your thumbnail over the damage and it becomes hung up in the groove, you are in for an expensive job that can reach thousands of dollars.
- Egging
Egging is a nasty crime. Egging is typically done at night, which means the damage goes unnoticed and sits on the car’s finish until you wake up and notice it the next day. By then, the yolk has soaked in and eaten through the paint job. Just a couple eggs can cost a couple grand in repairs if they eat into the paint.
- Spray paint
Fewer things will infuriate you more than seeing spray paint all over your car’s finish. When someone wants to deliver a message, he/she may resort to spraying it out for you, and that act can result in a nasty bill from the body shop. The most common things spray painted on cars are racist, sexist, or angry rants.
- Flipped car
Unrest and partying can result in a slew of damaged cars. Alcohol and emotions can get people wound up, and many take their aggression out on nearby cars. In many cases, cars are flipped or beaten beyond repair. Many times, the cars are completely totaled by the end of the night.
Visit a Few of the Best Pizza Places in Chicago
You can’t visit Chicago without tasting our famous pizza. While known for the rich, deep-dish style, we also specialize in crispy thin crust. If you’re really hungry, try a slice of the stuffed pizza pie! Whatever your preference, we have a crust for everyone. Here a just a few of Chicago’s best pizza paces to get you started on your delicious journey.
Nancy’s Pizza
Nancy’s advertises as the “Original Inventors of the Stuffed Pizza”. Order the 2 ½ inch thick stuffed pizza and you’ll have enough to eat for days. Nancy’s stuffed pizza has two layers of crust, with sauce on top, then cheese and toppings stuffed between. Make sure to wear a bib!
My Pie
Enjoy a deep dish delight at My Pie in Bucktown. The crust is thick and crispy, with a special sauce and a recipe so secret that only the founder knows what is in it. My Pie has been open since 1971 and offers pizza by the whole pie or slice, so you can choose based on your appetite that day. We have a feeling one slice will not be enough once you get a taste!
Luigi’s Pizza and Pasta
On the other end of the pizza spectrum, we have Luigi’s, who is known for their thin crust. Don’t worry though, you can get a scrumptious slice of deep dish here as well. The owner will not give away his secret sauce recipe, and has been in the pizza business his whole life, so he knows his stuff.
Santullo’s Eatery
If you’re looking to cheat a little, you can get Chicago’s version of a New York style pizza at Santullo’s. Not only are their pies delicious, they are affordable. Santullo’s offers daily $2 special on slices of pepperoni, sausage or cheese. If you’re feeling adventurous, try one of the popular pepper jack macaroni and cheese pizzas!
Is your mouth watering yet? This is just a taste of the pizza Chicago has to offer.
Now, more than ever, Americans are looking for labels that say “Made in the USA”. The American auto industry is a shell of what it once was, with more and more operations going overseas. This is a sore spot with many, especially those who live in a once-thriving city like Detroit. One doesn’t associate the name Toyota with America, per say, but in fact they have been investing and growing more and more in the United states. This is why Cars.com has named the Camry number one on their American-Made Index.
About the Cars.com American-Made Index
The way the Index from Cars.com works is that vehicles are rated on being bought and built in the United States. Items taken into consideration are what percentage of parts are considered to be domestic under federal regulations, sales in the US and whether the vehicle has been assembled in the US. If a model has a domestic-part contents rating of under 75 percent, they are disqualified. Models built only outside the US or those about to be discontinued without a successor built in the US are also disqualified.
Why the Camry Ranked #1 American-Made
The Toyota Camry is produced out of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK). TMMK is the biggest manufacturing facility for Toyota in North America. Engines are also built at TMMK and the facility employs more than 7,500 people. Over 10 billion vehicles were manufactured at TMMK as of 2014. The Lexus is about to join the lineup in Kentucky, being the first Lexus manufactured in the US.
Most of the engineering and design of the Camry took place at Calty Design Research Inc. and Toyota Technical Center. Both are located in the United States and have chief engineers that are American. Toyota has a total of 10 manufacturing facilities located in the United States.
If you’re looking to support the United States and its hard workers, don’t hesitate to buy a Camry.
Overloading Your Vehicle Can Be Dangerous
Whether you’re making a delivery in your work truck, or taking a family trip in your minivan, most of us have had times when we’ve put took much stuff in our vehicle. Maybe you think it won’t matter just one time. Perhaps you don’t know how much your vehicle is supposed to transport. Whatever the reason, everyone needs to be conscious of how much gear they are transporting, or else the situation can become dangerous. Continental Toyota Scion cares about its customers and wants to further explain why overloading your vehicle is a hazard.
Less Stability
Vehicles are designed to hold a certain amount of weight, and that’s it. When you exceed this amount, the vehicle becomes less stable, because it was not meant to handle the extra bulk.
The amount of time it takes to react in an emergency is compromised, as well as the quality of the reaction. This can result in a fatal crash.
More Strain
When you overload a vehicle it puts tons of strain on it. The tires can wear out quickly as well as overheat. This leads to expensive tire failure and the possibility of a dangerous blowout. Extra strain means the engine is also working harder to make the vehicle move. Engine damage is extremely costly and can leave you with a broke down vehicle on the side of the road. Excess weight also increases fuel consumption, which costs you more money unnecessarily.
Overloading Voids Your Insurance
Overloading a vehicle is actually against the law. This means that if your vehicle is involved in an accident while it is carrying too much weight, your insurance coverage can be voided. We don’t have to tell you how much this can cost, especially if you car is totaled.
Overloading Your Vehicle Affects Others
Overloading your car, van or truck is actually quite a selfish act. Too much weight can damage the roads, pavement and bridges, and taxpayers foot the bill. When you’re driving commercially, it is unfair to the competition when you carry more than you are supposed to.
Take it from your friends at Continental Toyota Scion, don’t overload your vehicle! Make several trips or rent a trailer instead!
Famous People from Chicago
The Windy City is known for its food, art, music and culture, but you may not know that it is the birthplace of many famous people! True, many well-known people have lived in Chicago and call it their home, but they weren’t all born here. Check out this impressive list of famous politicians, celebrities, entrepreneurs and more who were born in Chicago.
Ray Kroc
If it wasn’t for this man, we wouldn’t have The Golden Arches all over the world. Kroc is the man who joined McDonalds and turned it into the fast food empire that it is today. He learned his business savvy from having roots in Chicago.
Bill Murray
Still one of the funniest celebrities out there, Bill Murray was born in Chicago’s North Side. After conquering Saturday Night Live, he went on to make the now legendary films Caddyshack, Stripes, Meatballs and Ghostbusters. He loves golfing so you may see him on some of Chicago’s links.
Hillary Clinton
No matter what your political stance is, you have to applaud how far this 2016 presidential hopeful has come. Mrs. Clinton was born in 1947 in Chicago, and has gone on to make the city quite proud.
Pat Sajak
It’s hard to remember a time when Wheel-of-Fortune wasn’t on TV. This witty game show host was born in 1946 in Chicago. However, his birth name was actually Patrick Leonard Sajdak. I guess he forgot to take a “d” for $1,000!
Ted Kaczynski
Chicago is known for its history organized crime and gangsters like the infamous Al Capone. Unfortunately, it is the birthplace of another famed criminal, Ted Kaczynski, aka the “Unabomber”. He still remains one of the most famous villains of our time.
Walt Disney
Where would we be without Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, not to mention Space Mountain? Walt Disney started with his cartoons and they grew to become the colossal Disney empire that it is today. Born in Chicago in 1901, Walt Disney’s contributions to the world of animation and imagination go unmatched to this day.
Continental Toyota Scion cares about your loved-ones’ comfort and well-being. This is why we are recommending the 2015 Toyota Sienna to be your family minivan. It has plenty of interior space, and it can be purchased to seat seven or eight passengers, depending on your needs. Not only is the Sienna comfortable, but it is full of the latest safety features to make your ride more secure, making it even more ideal for transporting your whole brood.
Versatility and Interior Space in the 2015 Sienna
The Sienna can be purchased in five main levels of trim: L, LE, SE, XLE and Limited. The L and Limited trims only come in the seven-passenger style. The SE is an eight-passenger only van, while the LE and XLE come in either seven- or eight-passenger configurations. Why would you want only seven? The reason is simple: captain’s chairs! If you do not have a need for the second-row bench seat, consider a Sienna with second-row captain’s chairs. These luxurious seats recline, slide back and forth enough for passengers to get into the third row with ease, and even feature footrests!
If you do need space for more passengers, the second-row bench seat is perfect, especially when you have children in car seats. The middle section of the 40/20/20-split second row slides forward. This allows for easier access to your little one who needs to be tended to. Behind the third row you will find ample storage space at 39 cubic feet. When the second and third-rows are folded, or captain’s chairs removed, cargo space opens to a huge 150 cubic feet.
Safety Features
The 2015 Sienna scored high on government and IIHS crash safety tests. Standard equipment for safety in every Sienna includes: traction control, side curtain airbags the full-length of the cabin, traction control, front active head restraints, side airbags for the front seat, stability control, rearview camera and front passenger seat cushion airbag.
Stop in to Continental Toyota Scion and experience the 2015 Sienna in person. Bring the kids and they’ll love it too!
Check Out a Few Of Chicago’s August Festivals!
The beautiful thing about a city as populous and diverse as Chicago is that it is a cultural hub for the midwest. Enjoy food, theater, art, music and more from a number of diverse backgrounds. The Windy City has something for everyone, guaranteed to revitalize the end of the season. Don’t let the rest of the summer slip by without checking out one of Chicago’s many August festivals.
Hot Dog Festival
August 7-9
Clark & LaSalle Streets
The Chicago Hot Dog Festival has become so popular that it has expanded to three days this year. Celebrate America’s most classic food that benefits the Chicago History Museum. There will be plenty of live music and activities for kids to keep you busy for the whole 3-day weekend!
Chicago Bears Family Fest
August 8
Soldier Field
Football fans can come and watch the beloved Chicago Bears practice on their home field. There will be entertainment throughout the day, including a youth football demonstration, giveaways, games for the whole family, live music, and autographs. Tickets for this event are a modest $8 – $12.
Summer Art Fair
August 16
Arlington Heights Rd & Eastman St
This summer art fair is an Arlington Heights Art Guild presentation and it features fine art to be juried from the local suburban art scene. Take in works of art from many mediums including: sculpture, jewelry, painting, ceramics and photography. There will be classical guitar and delicious catered food. This event is free and open to the public.
These are just a small sampling of the festivals going on in Chicago in August. Check out the Events12 web site for information on even more fun Chicago events!
School is over and now your children will be spending more time in the family vehicle than they were in a school bus. Whether you’re taking a day trip or just dropping a child off at the sitter, you have to be aware of how a hot car can affect our precious little ones. La Grange area Toyota has advice for keeping kids safe in cars during the summer heat.
Facts About Kids and Hot Cars
The summer heat can quickly elevate the temperature in a car to potentially deadly levels. This means that kids should never be left inside a vehicle in the summer heat, even if it is only for a few minutes. The temperatures rise so fast, that even cracking a window does nothing to protect children from very high body temperatures or hyperthermia. For example, when the temperature outside is around 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and the car window is down one and a half inches, the car’s interior temperature can get up to 125 in only 20 minutes and a staggering 140 degrees in only 40 minutes.
Safety Precautions to Protect Kids From Hot Cars
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Check the temperature of the car seat surface and safety belts before buckling a child in, so that serious burns can be prevented.
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Call 911 immediately if a child gets locked inside a car.
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When the vehicle is parked, use a light covering to shield the seats from heat. Even cover the back windows with windshield shades.
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Always lock you car when it is not in use so kids can not get inside and accidentally get trapped.
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Teach kids to never play around or in a vehicle.
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