Most traveling usually happens during spring break or during the last week of the year for the holidays. Whether it's your first time or you're a traveling pro, here are 6 travel tips that can help you. I head over to Don McGill Toyota Houston and check out the 2018 Toyota RAV4 Limited during the hottest sales time of the year for Toyota: Toyotathon! When shopping for a new car most people are looking for three things: Safety, Reliability, and Utility. The RAV4 is one of the top sellers and I believe it's due to it having what many are looking for or need. This also goes for most of the Toyota line-up. Alright, let's get to what you came here for!
Traveling isn't for everybody. Let's start with that. It's not as easy as getting up and go ( props to those that can) there are things you need to pack and it varies according to the destination and the size of the family, nowhere near impossible though. The tips I have for you today, however, apply to most if not all road trips. We've been on a fair share of short and long trips to share what we've learned to make the most out of your trip.
In this short video, you can see all 6 tips you need this holiday season and beyond!
The new 2018 Toyota Camry started to arrive in dealerships earlier this month and there are a lot of things that have changed. I had the opportunity to work with Don McGill Toyota Houston in doing a live first look and drive in a honest, raw, and fun way. The new Camry is completely redesigned and offers a sporty and more aggressive package in the SE and XSE trim models. Seeing a '17 SE model and a new '18 SE next to each other showed Toyota's promise in making the brand more fun to drive and offering a more enjoyable driving experience. I was eager to drive ( it was my first drive in a Camry) and after doing some research, I learned that this was the 8th Camry generation and has more than 10 million units sold! The Camry along with it's smaller sibling, the Corolla, are the highest sold vehicles in their line-up!
We took the opportunity to take an SE model for a ride and see what the change was all about. The black on black exterior and interior trim color was very elegant and paired well with the 17" machine finish alloy wheels. The engine produces 203 horsepower and 6,600RPM and 184 ft. lb of torque at 5,000 RPM. The power comes from a 2.5L Inline 4 cylinder engine paired with an 8 Speed automatic transmission. The drive was very smooth, comfortable, and quiet which are great to have whether you are commuting or going on a road trip. You can check out the full list of specs and features here!
Check out the first look and my drive with the new Camry down below and you can also see the vlog with some behind the scenes clips my wife Ashley helped me with!
You can check out the 2018 Camry SE I Drove Right Here!
A few weeks ago, I was invited to a private event where Justin Furstenfeld, the lead man of the band Blue October, was going to perform. One thing we didn't know was that Justin partenered up with Don McGill Toyota to give a local Houston family a brand new car! Apart from the compassion and heartfelt performance, my wife was also a big fan so it was a special moment for us too. Before this event I personally did not know much about Blue October besides a few of their hit songs, but Justin's hometown is Houston, Texas, just like myself and some of you! In this new partnership, Justin plans to keep giving back to the city in the new #drivehoustonhome campaign.
At this private event, Justin mentioned how he was helped when he was at his lowest point in life and now finds himself in a position were he can do the same for others. Towards the end of the event, Justin invited Mike Mynatt, General Manager of Don McGill Toyota, onto the stage to announce how he was going to give back and who was going to be the first to receive a helping hand in this effort. Mike said "We’re wanting to give back to the city of Houston...this partnership with Justin will do that in so many ways.”.
I was moved by all the feelings here and after coming back from a trip where I was giving back to the community, it was like fuel for the fire and drive in me to keep helping those in need through the resources we have. There is something special about helping those in need, it's not only self fulfilling but also gives hope to those who felt that the light at the end of the tunnel would never come soon enough. Jim Cooper was that person. Despite being recently diagnosed with stage four liver and colon cancer, he never let anyone think there was something wrong with him, never late to work or chemotheraphy appointments. With only one car, he and his wife, Lynn, had to get to separate jobs on a car that was failing on them, and in some cases, had to take the Metro system to get around. Even with all of these hardships, Jim always had a positive outlook on things. This is where Justin came in to lend a helping hand and bring change to those circumstances.
Mike called the family up to the stage to share their story and let them know they had something for them when a side door opened to reveal the brand new Corolla from Don McGill Toyota! Everyone gasped and applauded Jim, his family, Justin and the Don Mcgill Toyota Team.
Jim Cooper and his wife Lynn
Mike Mynatt - General Manager of Don McGill Toyota
This was a memorable experience for us, as well as the other 100 devoted fans that were present to see it all. From the heartfelt and high energy performance by Justin to the tears of joy and relief of a new Corolla, this was an example of compassion at its best. This is just the beginning of a year-long #drivehoustonhome campaign !
See the emotional and inspiring video below!
What are some ways that your city or community could be helped?
We live in a world that is always on the move, fast-paced, but yet rarely enjoyed. Whether you love to take a nice long drive on the weekend or enjoy your commute to work, the pleasure of driving is mutual and the Toyota 86 is one of those sports cars that shoes you the meaning of a true sports car and its driving experience.
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of driving a 2017 Toyota 86 in the Ablaze color. I was particularly excited about this car because it's the first sports car that has been loaned to me and on top of that, it had a manual transmission! That's how I enjoy driving and I knew I was going to have the best time. I did have the chance to drive another Toyota 86 just 2 weeks prior and you can see that video here.
We usually get SUV's like the RAV4 or the Highlander and the first thing we had to figure out was if Mila was going to fit just fine. The car is a 2+2 si that means there are 2 small seats behind the front ones. To our surprise, we managed to fit a car seat back there and Mila. She had to sit behind my wife Ashley though. We do a lot of things together so, unconventionally, we took our first trip down the street for a grocery run. That was fun! It felt nice to drive and manually change gears. The shifts were not smooth however and I'm thinking Toyota did that to add some mechanical feel.
The 2.0L boxer engine produces 205HP and after experiencing faster and more powerful cars, I honestly believe that this car is not underpowered for what it is. It allows you to push it to its limits, both the cars' and your own. For those that have been around long enough to see the evolution of automotive technology, a pure sports car is not about power but how far you can push the car through turns, on straights, or anywhere else you like to drive. Toyota has promised to make the brand fun to drive again and become more focused on the driving experience. With the new sports car in development and testing, believed to be badged as a Supra, Toyota is surely living up to its promise.
As a dad, it was nice to enjoy some leisure drives around town and just focus on driving and nothing else. After all, this is without a doubt one of the best sports cars under 30k. I loved running through the gears, the low seating position in the bucket seats, the looks of the car and the history of Toyota sports cars. If you're looking for that car you want to drive on the weekends or on days off without having to spend tens of thousands more, then this is a car you should look at. Keep in mind that the automatic transmission equipped 86 does lose 5 horsepower bringing it down to 200HP. The difference is insignificant, but nonetheless, if you know how to drive a manual transmission car, definitely go with the manual 86.
The 7" touchscreen display was easy to use and all the controls are in what I believe to be the right places. The dash has both digital and analog displays giving it a more retro look and feel. the front and rear lights are now LED and look great. I invite you to go to a local dealership to test drive one and fuel your own experience. And now you know that you can take small kids in the back seats!
What is the first car you envision when someone mentions sports car? What is the sportiest car you've driven or been on?
We are looking forward to many more adventures and experiences to share with you all and here is the first one of the year! We love to travel and the motto of Toyota, #letsgoplaces, fits us right! The new year was celebrated in a ranch located in south Texas so we had to take on the road with the 2017 Toyota Avalon Touring. We are no strangers to road trips but the trip down to Brownsville from Houston was going to be a first for us. The Avalon is a large family sedan and has plenty of ample space for the driver and the passengers. Once the car was delivered, the first thing we noticed was the beautiful paint color it had, Parisian Night Pearl. We got to packing our bags and were surprised with all the space we had left after all 3 suitcases, 2 duffel bags, a camera bag, tripod and a stroller were fitted in the trunk. Now we were really ready for touring!
The first thing we were going to do was a quick stop over at my parents' house to open up some gifts that Camila hadn't come around to opening yet. Soon after, we were back on the road towards San Antonio, where we were going to spend the night and also pick up Ashley's grandma. The trip, which we take countless of times a year, was one of the smoothest and most enjoyable rides up to this date. I really like that the Avalon Touring had the Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist as well as Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. I've never had a problem with staying awake or alert during a trip but with these systems, you feel an extra sense of security and safety. San Antonio is becoming like a second home and we were ready to explore and learn more from it the following day when my family dropped in for a day.
San Antonio has a lot of cool places to visit and even though we have gone countless of times, we got to see some new things like the Historic Market Square, Mission Espada and, the Cathedral of San Fernando. We started with the Alamo and worked our way around town after we walked through the old mission. After a day full of new experiences and lots of laughter we made our way back to Ashley's Grandmas house. Plans changed and we stayed another night. The trip was going to take us by Corpus Christi so since we were ahead of the rest, who hadn't left Houston until that day, we decided to make a quick stop and see the bay and the Memorial of Selena. This was my first time actually visiting Corpus Christi and I look forward to going back in the summer! We were only about 2 hours away from our destination and the trip was, again, smooth and enjoyable. 2017 was only a few hours away, so we quickly changed and got ready at the hotel and were on our way to the ranch. This was a cool experience and an awesome way to wrap up one of the most interesting years of my life.
The trip didn't end there though. The next morning we headed towards the Schlitterbahn Resort in South Padre Island! This was also a first for me and everyone had a blast! Maybe it's not such a bad thing that Texas is such a hot state. The weather was sunny and in the mid-70's! Camila is no stranger to sand and she had fun jumping over the little waves! We even go to see little crabs! This was one of many firsts for Camila and we had a lot of fun in the little kiddie slides and a cool ride in the wave pool! Ashley and I have decided that experiences bring forth more happiness and memories and we are thankful that Toyota allowed us to do just that! We even vlogged the whole adventure and you can see it all for yourself below!
Toyota Safety Sense -P (TSS-P): Pre-Collision System w/ pedestrian detection, lane departure alert w/ steering assist, automatic high beams, and dynamic radar cruise control
Star Safety System: VSC, TRAC, ABS, EBD, Ba and Smart Stop Technology
Blind Spot Monitor - Rear cross Traffic alert.
Dual Chrome-Tipped Exhaust
Power Tilt/Slide Sunroof
Dual Zone Auto Climate Control w/ Rear Seat Vents
Entune Premium Audio w/ Integrates Nav. and App suite, 7" Touch Screen, 9 speakers, HD Radio, SXM 3Mo. Trial, Traffic and Weather, Back Up Camera
Premium Leather -Trimmed Steering Wheel w/ Paddle Shifters and Audio, MID, Bluetooth, and Voice Command Controls
Leather Trimmed Multi-Staged Heated Front Seats, 6Way Power Driver Seat With Power Lumbar Support and 4 Way Powered Passenger Seat
Memory Driver Seat and Outside Mirror System
Smart Key System with Push Start Button
MPG: 21 City, 30 Highway, 24 Combined
Price As Tested: $38.739.00
What Places Are You Looking Forward To Go To This Year!?
It's that time of the year when you change your sleeping schedules, buy school supplies, and take the kids to school. I don't mind all the changes with the exception of waiting in lines when dropping off or picking up from school. And with dropping off and picking up high schoolers and one at junior high, I spend a good amount of time waiting in line/traffic. Matter of fact, I'm going to pick up my cousin -in-law at school at the moment. It's a routine you'd have to get used to, especially if you have a little one going to school for the first time. That's where the 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid XLE makes everything better and made the transition from summer to school easy, comfortable, and efficient.
School started for us last Monday the 21st of August and we were ready to get school started. We had spent a couple of days with the Highlander Hybrid already and were glad about the comfort, amenities and Toyota Safety Sense-P offered by the Highlander. My daughter isn't of school age just yet so I decided to take my sisters-in-law and cousin-in-law to and from school and start the week off in a new car! I also wanted to share and give insight to what hybrid technology is and how it is great for the world we live in. They had no idea what engines did and how they work, so this was new information and hopefully show them how green technology can help lower the vehicle emissions in our world. This is something I want my own daughter to see and understand. As someone that loves nature, animals, and ecosystems, I want to be a helping hand to the environment and contribute in any way possible.
This does not mean I'm a tree hugger, but if I was, so what. I love big and loud combustion engines but there is also a side of me that feels the responsibility to teach those around me how we can preserve our surroundings instead of wishing someone would do something. The Highlander with Toyota Hybrid Technology, can reduce emissions and improve your gas mileage while driving around in the comfort of the 3 row , 8 passenger SUV. This is great for picking up kids from school, going on road trips, and moving things with 42.3 cu. ft of space with the 3rd row folded down and 83.7 cu. ft. witht the 2nd row down. We had the chance to put some of this space to good use as we prepared for Hurricane Harvey. This is a great vehicle for families and the optional 9" rear seat Blu-Ray DVD Entertainment system allows the kids and babies to watch their favorite movies and shows. This also comes with a remote and two wireless headphones.
You may be wondering about the mileage I got since this is a Hybrid vehicle and here is what I found.
The EPA rating for the 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid XLE is 29 City, 27 Highway, and 28 Combined. Over 400 miles I found that in a real life application with 40 percent city and 60 highway I managed to get 24 miles per gallon. I think the only way to get those mileage figures is if you use the battery power most of the time, which take you up to 20 miles per hour on battery charge alone. It's cool to use in traffic or slower speed areas. The difference between the non-hybrid model and this one is minimal but you do help the environment and it really helps when the gas is a bit on the expensive side.
At the end of the day, I know the kids and my family had a great time going to and from school and learned a little bit about Hybrid technology and how the automotive industry is changing, in turn, leaving a positive imprint on this world.
You can see some of the Vlogs were we drove the Highlander and also read about all the specs and features down below!
2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid XLE AWD
Mechanical
- Toyota Hybrid System 3.5-liter V-6, 295 hp, 263 lb-ft; total hybrid system output, 306 hp
- Front Independent McPherson Strut & Rear Double Wishbone Suspension
- Power Assisted 4-Wheel Disc Brake w/ Re-Gen
- 18" Alloys w/ P245/60R18 Tires
- Electric On-Demand AWD w/ Intelligence
- Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC)
Safety & Convenience
- Toyota Safety Sense - P (TSS-P) : Includes Pre-Collision System w/ Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/ PD) , Lane Departure Alert w/ Steering Assist (LDA w/ SA) , Automatic High Beams (AHB), and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC)
- Start Safety System : Driver adn Passenger Advanced Airbag System, Driver and Front Passenger Seat Mounted Side, Driver Knee, Passenger Seat Cushion, & 3 Row Side Curtain Airbags
- Smart Key; Alarm and Engine Immobilizer
- 2 Latch - Lower and Anchor Tether For Children
Exterior
- Smoked Chrome Auto On-Off Headlights; Foglights
- LED Tail And Stoplights
- Chromtec Roof Rails
- Front Wiper w/ De-Icer
- Adjustable Power Liftgate w/ Flip Up Rear Window
- Power Tilt/Slide Moonroof With Sunshade
Interior
- Seating For 8
- Leather Heated Front Seats
- 8-Way Power Driver Seat w/ Lumbar
- 4-Way Passenger
- 3rd Row 60/40 Split Folding Seats
- Integrated 2nd Row Side Window Shades
- Backup Camera w/ 8" Display
- Entune Premium w/ 8" Touchscreen ; Navigation,AM/FM/CD/MP3/AUX/ USB/ HD & SXM 3 Mo. Trial, Bluetooth Phone/Music, App Suite
- 4.2" Multi-Info Heads Up Display With Vehicle Information
- 5 USB Ports / 3 Front - 2 Back
- 3 - 12V Outlets
- 1- 120V Outlet
- Roll Top Console Arm Rest
- In-Dash Shelf
- Rear Seat Blu-Ray DVD Entertainment System w/ 9" Display, RCA Jacks, Remote, and 2 Wireless Headphones
MSRP: $41,330.00
Price As Tested: $44,080.00
What's Your Favorite And Least Favorite About Back To School??
The City of Houston has come together in a way that showed the rest of the world the great that the city is. You saw communties come together in rebuilding, helping, and you can still see some of the damages caused by record flooding in the area. Now we can celebrate a victory as whole with the Houston Astros winning the world championship! Many claim the devastation after Harvey was one one of the motives that powered the Astros, but there are many other things that have happened that you may have missed, like Justin Furstenfeld from platinum-selling rock band, Blue October, giving away a car to a needed family. Justin's partnership with Don McGill Toyota Houston has allowed him to help those in need, and being a Houston native, he wanted to give back to the community.
On October 23, Rod McClain along with his family and Blue October fans were invited to the Toyota Center where the Rockets would play against the Memphis Grizzlies. After hearing the family's story, having watched in disbelief as everything they owned, along with hope, floated away, Justin and Don McGill Toyota came up with an idea to assist the McClain family.
The first giveaway Justin and Don McGill Toyota did was back in late August and you can read it here.
During the halftime, the McClain family, who sat courtside with Justin, were presented with a new car to replace the one they lost. The McClain family also had the opportunity to have Justin perform to them in serenade style, a very special performance. This is all part of Justin's idea of giving back after he was helped during some of the darkest moments in his life. This campaign with Don McGill Toyota is called #DrivingHoustonHome ! The city of Houston is a hub for compassion, giving,and celebration so be sure to share the love and all the good stories happening around Houston!
By now, most parents and their kids have gotten used to the back to school schedule, but one thing is certain; we could all save some time, as well as fuel, from the long drop off and pick up lines. You could easily wait more than 30 minutes in line and if you leave your car on, that engine idling is wasting lots of fuel. However, that wasn't an issue with the 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid SE, plus it had great looks and a sporty drive. It was exciting for it being a hybrid.
For the third year in a row, we have partnered up with Toyota USA for their annual Back To School Campaign and the new Camry Hybrid SE is a fun and stylish hybrid sedan perfect for small families. We've previously driven the RAV4 Limited as well as the roomy Highlander XLE. This year was different and a lot more special than others. It was our daughters first year of school (headstart actually) and we were excited about this new stage in life for our little girl. In the previous years, we've driven our cousins and sisters-in-law to school.
So what makes the Camry such a great car to drive?
I believe there are a couple of things that make a vehicle great, and even better for parents; Reliability, Fuel Mileage, and Safety. Looks and driving feel are a plus in this Camry SE model, similar to the Camry XSE. You get renowned Toyota reliability, fuel consumption equal or close to the 44 MPG (combined) on the EPA rating, and standard on the Camry, Toyota's Safety Sense Package (TSSP). Safety is a great deal no matter the distance you are driving and with 10 airbags, this mid-size sedan made us feel safe on every drive. Our daughter loved the car because of the Supersonic Red color and how easy it was for her to get in the rear seats. The small details mean a lot to us. Safe to say we are all fans of this car.
The driving experience was a pleasant one with a little excitement here and there. That's thanks to the mode selections available. The Camry has 4 different personalities. An Eco mode (not electric), normal, sport, and EV mode. Each of these modes varied and that makes for a great drive in different situations. I constantly switched between the sport mode and the EV mode. Lately, my daughter has been fascinated with driving "fast". By that, passing a car equals going fast, even if that is in the middle of a traffic jam on the highway. It's cute, but when traffic clears up, I switch to sport mode and speed away, up to the speed limit of course. The 4 cylinder engine paired with the electric motor are a great combination and the suspension is a bit stiffer for the sporty drive and feedback.
I'll go ahead and say it. The 2018 Camry Hybrid SE may be the perfect mid-size sedan for small families or younger individuals looking for great value in a sporty yet environmentally conscious vehicle. This car deserves a test drive!
