What to expect when servicing at Sunshine Toyota

Booking your service at Sunshine Toyota

Sunshine Toyota has made your next service as simple and convenient as possible. To book, you can call us between our office hours or you can use our online booking system whenever you have a spare moment, it should only take three minutes if you have your vehicle information handy, including:

• Service location (Currimundi or Sippy Downs)
• Your name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Post code
• Vehicle make
• Vehicle model
• Registration number
• Approximate Kms
• Your preferred service date
• Your preferred drop off time
• Your preferred pick up time

You can then select how you would like us to confirm your booking, you have the option of us giving you a call back, or if you’d prefer not to talk to someone we can simply give you an email or text to confirm.

Arriving for your service at Sunshine Toyota

When you arrive at the dealership you and your car will be looked after with the highest level of professionalism and care. If you have chosen the early bird option of dropping your vehicle in before 7:30, we have a secure key drop-off box for you to leave your keys in and one of our service advisors will then call you to confirm details of your service booking. If you have chosen an in hours drop-off time, one of our service advisors will greet you in our driveway, so there is no need for you to leave your vehicle, they come to you!

During your service at Sunshine Toyota

While you wait for your service to be complete by our Toyota trained technicians you have the option of getting a courtesy bus home between Aurora or Maroochydore or if you feel like shopping we can drop you to Kawana Shopping World or to the Sunshine Plaza. If you would like to wait while your vehicle is serviced, we have comfortable air-conditioned guest lounge that offers free WIFI, tea, coffee, water and snacks. There is also a live TV that you can watch your car getting serviced from.  We are also located in a walkable distance to local cafes if you wanted to stretch your legs, and if you are at our Currimundi location, there is also the Currimundi Lake that is beautiful to walk along.

When your service is complete at Sunshine Toyota

When your car service has finished, our service advisors will give you a call to let you know. You can also arrange to conveniently be picked up and brought back by our courtesy bus before 4pm. You can pick up your car before 5:30pm or you have the option to have it safely locked up and you can collect it the following morning.

Booking your vehicle in for a service on the Sunshine Coast

To book your next service, have a go at doing it online by clicking here and filling out our service booking form. To find out more about our two Sunshine Toyota service centres at Currimundi and Sippy Downs, click here. 

What parents need to consider when choosing your teens first used car on the Sunshine Coast

What parents need to consider when choosing your teens first used car on the Sunshine Coast

When you are making the exciting decision of what first car to buy your kids, the choice can be very overwhelming and sometimes their decisions are based purely on looks, not practicality. Making the wrong decision can not only cause future annoyance of having to sell and buy another car, but it could have large financial, time and safety implications for them as well. You need to make sure you have put enough thought into the decision so you get good value for money and make sure the vehicle suitable for what they will needed for.

So what should you consider when choosing your first car?

1.Clearly define the needs of their vehicle on the Sunshine Coast

Firstly, you need to define what they will mostly need the vehicle for. Then determine what the vehicle needs to offer, in order to meet those needs so it is safely fit for purpose.

Some considerations include:

• Do they require towing capacity for work?
• Do they need a Tray and what size will you need?
• How many passengers the vehicle needs to carry?
• Will their sporting or hobby equipment (such as a surfboard or stand up paddle board) fit in or on top of the car?

If they have specific equipment or requirements for their vehicle, get assistance from sales staff or an expert fitter at the start of the vehicle selection process to ensure you choose the vehicle that meets their needs.

2.    Consider their plans for the future

When choosing the right vehicle for now, you should also think about if the vehicle they want now will still be fit for purpose in 3 to 5 years time. Will they move to the city where smaller cars are easier to drive and park? Do they plan to start a building apprenticeship where they would then need a Ute?

3.    Define vehicle usage for fuel based decisions

Understanding the main vehicle usage will determine which fuel type is most relevant for your vehicle. Therefore you should consider:

• What type of roads (urban or highway) will be driving on
• The length of journeys they will be driving
• How often the journeys will be made

Diesel vehicles are most economic when used predominantly for long journeys on motorways and highways. This is why diesel is the preferred choice of fuel for commercial working vehicles. Petrol vehicles can have an economic benefit when using them for regular short journeys. Hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles are ideal for stop/start urban journeys but can be inefficient for longer or motorway drives.

4.    Look for a good ANCAP safety rating

Firstly, the most important feature of a vehicle (especially for new drivers) is the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP) safety rating. This organisation performs a robust series of universally recognised crash tests on new to market vehicles, which are carried out by independent and specialised laboratories to determine each vehicles safety rating. Choosing a vehicle with a 5 star ANCAP rating is the best way to know that they are as protected as they can be.

Sunshine Toyota’s used cars

At Sunshine Toyota we are committed to helping our guests find the best car for them. We stock a huge of makes and models- not just Toyotas, so click here to contact us at Sunshine Toyota to discuss your used car options or click here to check out our ever changing used car stock.

Top 10 features to look for when buying a new family car on the Sunshine Coast

Top 10 features to look for when buying a new family car on the Sunshine Coast

The excitement of buying a new car can sometimes distract you of the important things to look for when deciding what vehicle will best suite you and your families needs. The top 10 features to keep in mind are:

1. Safety Rating

Firstly, the most important feature of a family vehicle is the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP) safety rating. This organisation performs a robust series of universally recognised crash tests on new to market vehicles, which are carried out by independent and specialised laboratories to determine each vehicles safety rating. Choosing a vehicle with a 5 star ANCAP rating is the best way to know that you and your loved ones are as protected as you can be.

2. Enough room and sufficient anchor points for baby/car seats

A commonly overlooked aspect of choosing the right family car is whether or not your baby seat can be easily and safely installed. And the amount of room in the back seat as well as the height of the vehicle has a lot to do with it. If you already own a car seat, a good tip is to bring it along when car shopping so you can see if it is the right car for your needs. As for access, you want to be able to install and remove the car seat without straining your back or (and perhaps more importantly) waking the little passenger. 

3. Storage and space

Whether it’s room for prams and baby bags or bikes and sports equipment, the constant logistical struggle of moving a family from A to B has to be considered when choosing the right family car. Flexible flat-fold down seating as well as roof racks can be the key to keeping your sanity when trying to fit little humans and all of the “extra baggage” that comes with them into one vehicle quickly. Flexible seating is also great to keep the kids out of each other’s hair on long road trips.

4. Smart entry and start system

Juggling the kids, shopping trolley and heavy bags of groceries becomes a lot easier with the smart entry and start system, which allows you to unlock and start the car while the key remains in your pocket or bag. That’s one less thing you have to try locate when your hands are full!

5. Built-in Entertainment

To keep the tribe quiet on long trips, rear seat entertainment systems are a blessing from above. Blu-Ray and DVD players with wireless headsets really will be your best friend.  

6. Multi zone climate control air-conditioning

Keeping you and the little ones all at the right temperature can be a tricky job. But with multi zone climate control they can adjust their own air-conditioning and heating temperature so everybody is happy.

7. Lane Departure Alert/ Pre-Collision Safety system/ Active Cruise Control

Keep your family safe on the road with an extra set of eyes. These safety features will:

• Stop you from accidentally entering into another lane
• Monitor your blind spot
• Alert you of upcoming threats
• Keep a constant distance between vehicles while using cruise control

8. Front and rear parking sensors

When trying to manoeuvre and park your car in tight spaces with the distraction of children wanting to get out of the car, some assistance from reversing camera, front and rear sensors can save you from unwanted contact with walls or rails (especially if you are driving a larger SUV).

9. Window Tint

We are blessed on the Sunshine Coast to have such long hot summers. However, protecting your family from too much UV is extremely important. A good quality window tint is good for:

• Maximising visibility
• Reducing glare
• Protecting your eyes and skin from UV damage, and
• Keeping the cabin (and your little ones) cooler.

10. Satellite navigation

This one is a no brainer. Just enter in the kids friends address and you will be on your way without having to reply on their memory and sense of direction.

Family cars on the Sunshine Coast

If you would like to chat to one of our team about finding the best family car for you, simply click here. If you would like to check out Sunshine Toyota’s current stock click here. To find out more about window tinting your vehicle click here. 

How Sunshine Toyota helped to save up to 24 lives on the Sunshine Coast

Sunshine Toyota giving blood to save lives.

Blood is obviously an essential part of our being, but it is so much more vital in a time of emergency or for those who are fighting sickness with ongoing medical treatment and procedures. Mind blowing stats about blood donation is that 1 in 3 Australians will need blood in their lifetime but only 1 in 30 will actually give blood. Due to these alarming figures, Sunshine Toyota has joined Team Adem in the fight to raise awareness as well as give blood to help save precious lives in our community.

A single blood donation can help save at least three different patients as the blood is separated into three different key components for lifesaving treatments. We are proud to announce that eight incredible members of the Sunshine Toyota Team made the selfless act of donating blood on the 24th January. In total, our team’s kindness can help save up to 24 lives!

So, how did the team go?

Amazingly! Out of the eight Sunshine Toyota team members who donated on the day, four had previously donated blood (many years ago), and it was the first time for the other four! There were many nervous faces walking into the van, however everyone came out smiling and surprised about how painless and quick the procedure was! After the team filled out their forms, one-by-one they hopped on the chair and had approximately 500mls of blood taken.

How long does it take to give blood?

The quickest time in the team was only 4 minutes and 19 seconds from Alex Doon who is in our Used Vehicle Sales team. That’s three lives he could have saved by giving up four minutes of his time!  It’s really astonishing when you think about it. And to top it off, the team were given chocolate milks, iced coffee, cookies, chocolate, nuts and bread scrolls after! So it is safe to say that they will all be returning again in three months time.

So, what is Team Adem?

Team Adem is a registered not-for-profit Sunshine Coast charity that was started by Adem Crosby from Buderium in 2011 when he was diagnosed with aggressive leukaemia at the age of 17. Adem wanted to raise awareness and inspire others to donate blood to help save lives. Adem himself needed over 350 blood product transfusions before he sadly passed away in 2013. And every single week, Australia needs over 25,000 blood donations! You can see why it is so important to have charities like Team Adem continue to raise awareness such an essential cause. To learn more about Team Adem click here.  To learn more about where and how to give blood click here.

We would like to again congratulate Alex, Ros, Candice, Jess, Kylie, Tricia, Sandra and Darren from the Sunshine Toyota team on their wonderful decision to donate blood. Click here to contact Sunshine Toyota.

What career matches your Corolla on the Sunshine Coast?

What career matches your Corolla on the Sunshine Coast?

As your Corolla colour can say a lot about your personality, it can also say a lot about what kind of career you may have (or desire to have). So what does your Corolla colour say about your career?

Citrus Corolla owners are bright, energetic and like to think out of the box. Being in the spotlight or juggling numerous things at once doesn’t scare you. A career in the creative industry is right up your alley. Possibly a role in graphic design, advertising, media, music or the arts is where your eccentric flair will come alive the most. A busy role for a busy person.

Silver Corolla owners are smart, organised and like to keep things modern. This girl is always up to date with the latest tech. You know all your features in your Corolla and have your playlist or podcast planned out for each drive. A career in the business industry is where your exceptional planning and technology skills could do best. Like an accountant, administration, reception, HR, sales, or for those who have a bit of creative flair, possibly a marketing role.

Blue Corolla owners are happy, vibrant and most of all social. Being around people is your favourite way to spend the day and if you can help people while being paid then that’s a win! Busy roles that are people focused are where blue Corolla owners would get the most satisfaction. So a social type of role such as hospitality professional, schoolteacher, childcare teacher, psychologist or a career in retail sales may be the career for you.

Black Corolla drivers like to maintain a mysterious appearance that will catch admiring looks from others. A perfect combination of sophistication and style is the aim of the game for everything in life. No letting the ball drop, even if it is the colour choice of your new wheels. Black Corolla drivers may go well in the health or beauty industry. Jobs such as a hairdresser, beautician, personal trainer or even a tattooist may be the career calling for you.

White Corolla drivers are kind, reliable and smart. You work hard and definitely have a tendency to be a perfectionist, which is great. That got you where you are now! You are very technology savvy and have your phone and smart watch connected to your Corolla so you can control everything at the push of a button. A potential career for a white Corolla driver could be in the technology industry.

Perhaps IT, website development, gamer, electronic technician or some kind of a gadget expert role.

Corolla on the Sunshine Coast

We love bringing enjoyment into our Corolla owner’s lives so if you are looking to become a Corolla owner come check out our full range of colours at Sunshine Toyota.  Find out which colour suits your personality here. If you would like to chat to one of our team about becoming a Corolla owner simply follow this link to test-drive today. If you would like to check out Sunshine Toyota’s current Corolla deals click here.

Why Mums want to downsize their vehicles on the Sunshine Coast

Why Mums want to downsize their vehicles on the Sunshine Coast 

So finally, all of the kids have left home or have cars of their own and you’re left with your SUV, which is way too big for one person. There is no longer the sound of your kids fighting in the back and you don’t need to be a sole transport system for of them and their friends. You finally have the option to do something for you. Go where you want to go, listen to the radio station you want to listen to and simplify your life. Downsizing can really be an upgrade in life! So here is the reality of downsizing from say a Prado to a Corolla on the Sunshine Coast.

Parking a Corolla on the Sunshine Coast

This aspect alone is enough to make my point. Parking a Corolla compared to parking a Prado is an absolute dream. In a Corolla you can practically zip into any tight park with no worries! In a Prado, if you want to actually get the door open and exit the vehicle (assuming you can even get into the park) you will need to suck it in and not breath while you slip slowly to the ground and slide from behind the door. You’d most likely find yourself driving around until you find a park with plenty of space. And we all know how tight those spots in the plaza car park are! Well that’s a problem of the past with a Corolla!

Washing your Corolla on the Sunshine Coast

We live on the Sunshine Coast and that means a lot of salt in the air. So you should be washing your car regularly. But have you tried to do a good wash on a SUV, it’s a two-hour ordeal! Doing the roof is a whole mission of its own, it’s seriously difficult. Especially when you have to do it on your own because the kids are now smart enough to know that “lets see who can do their side the cleanest” is just tricking them do housework. With a Corolla you can pretty much cut the time and effort in half! Not to mention half the amount of water so the environment is winning too.

Lower running costs for a Corolla on the Sunshine Coast

Not only is having a Corolla saving you frustration and time for parking and cleaning it, it actually costs a whole lot less to run it! Which saves your hard earned cash for something you really love. It is practically a free massage or manicure a week! The fuel economy of a Corolla compared to large SUVs is amazing. And the cost of servicing and maintenance is also dramatically reduced. So less time and money spent on your vehicles and more time and money spent on yourself because you deserve it!

Corolla on the Sunshine Coast

We love helping our guests find the right car for them, so if you are looking to become a Corolla owner come check out our full range of colours at Sunshine Toyota. Find out which colour suits your personality here. If you would like to chat to one of our team about becoming a Corolla owner simply follow this link to test-drive today. If you would like to check out Sunshine Toyota’s current Corolla deals click here.

Finance… Don’t know what it means? Neither did I!

Finance… Don’t know what it means? Neither did I!

Buying a car on finance can seem like a great idea because frankly, most first time car buyers don’t really understand what it means. All you have to do is sign the dotted line and BOOM you have a new car! How awesome is that??? Or is it? Trust me, I had no idea what finance really means either.  What is finance? Why can it be better than dealing with banks and why do some dealerships offer rate programs like the current 0% program I see all over the TV? Well here is a simple explanation that may give you a better understanding of it all.

What is Toyota Finance?

To purchase a Toyota on finance means you are borrowing money directly from Toyota and not a bank. Toyota Financial Services is the largest automotive finance company in Australia and the second largest in the world! So you know you are safe by not borrowing from small fly-by-night finance companies that can charge astronomical fees and cost you an arm and a leg. So there is a big tick!

What is the difference between Toyota Finance and a loan from the bank?

PLENTY! Firstly, finance with a dealership could possibly save you thousands compared to a bank loan. Secondly, Toyota Finance is extremely convenient. When you are at the dealership you do all the paperwork there with their specialist finance team. It’s a one stop shop!

Applying for Toyota Finance can also be easier and faster. With a bank you may have to:

1. Wait for the application to be sent to their loans processing centre,
2. Be held in line for consideration,
3. Wait for approval (or denial) sent back,
4. Go back into the bank and sign the forms,
5. Wait for the loan settlement,
6. Wait for the back to send the money to Toyota, then
7. FINALLY you can pick up your new vehicle.

It can take weeks for this whole process depending on your situation!  With Toyota Finance you may even find out on the day if you are approved. This ‘hassle free’, ‘guest-centric’ mantra is what makes Toyota Finance truly and industry leader in the lending market.

Also as an added bonus, Toyota Finance is part of the National Credit Reference Scheme. This means if you are good at paying back your Toyota Finance loan, this will be noted to lending companies the next time you need to loan money. E.g., for a mortgage in the future! When you are good at paying back bank loans, the banks keep that information private by citing ‘confidentiality’, however if you are bad at paying back loans you may get black listed so every lender can see. Where’s the justice in that??

What is 0% finance and why does Toyota offer it on certain vehicles?

It is pretty simple, 0% finance means just that, you borrow the cost of the vehicle without interest! It is not a common occurrence so when the offer is there it can definitely be described as a steal. Some reasons for a rate campaign may be a discontinuation of a model line or an overabundance of stock.

0% Finance at Sunshine Toyota

Currently Sunshine Toyota is offering 0% finance on the new 2017 petrol Camry and Aurion models, even including the exciting Camry RZ! It has been speculated that this may possibly be the last 0% finance offer and it will only last until current stock runs out! So to talk to our finance team at Sunshine Toyota click here. To check out our Camry RZ stock click here.