Toyota Corolla throughout the years

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If there's one car that really defines the last 47+ years of the automotive world, it's the Toyota Corolla. Why? Simplicity and reliability. The Corolla is a family car, the kind that is passed down from grandparent, to parent, to child. It has remained popular to this day thanks to its reputation for consistently being at the top of its class in terms of safety and reliability. It also features above average gas mileage, and great resale value.

Here's some trivia you might not have known about the Toyota Corolla!

• It first hit dealerships all the way back in October of 1966, featuring a 4-speed manual transmission capable of 60 horsepower.
• The 2014 model will mark the 11th generation of the vehicle, in terms of how many times it has been redesigned.
• In 1997, the Corolla overtook the Volkswagen Beetle for the title of being the best selling car in the world.
• There was a bit of upset in April of 2013 when the Ford Focus claimed to have taken the "best selling" title, but Toyota refuted that claim and the Corolla remains on top!
• Almost 40 million Corollas have been sold since its inception.
• The Corolla is sold in over 150 countries around the world.
• Since the first generation, each new version of the Corolla has gotten a bit larger and heavier, but also more powerful in terms of output.

To celebrate the long history of this great vehicle, one of the Toyota teams overseas (in Turkey) made this great montage video, featuring different Corollas throughout the years. You can check it out below:

Do you own a Toyota Corolla? What do you like best about yours?

Teen Driving Tips

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Do you remember when you first got your license? As a teenager, it was a thrilling experience to have the freedom to go where you want and when you want (at least until curfew time came around, of course!) As we progress further into adulthood, many of us now look back at those memories a bit differently. The rush of being in the driver's seat for the first time is instead replaced by the realization that you're in a 2000+ pound machine that can exceed 100 miles per hour and easily get into an accident. This is especially true if you now have kids who are at or around driving age!

If you were one of the lucky ones, you escaped your younger years without having ever gotten into an accident or receiving a traffic ticket. If you weren't so lucky, keep in mind that drivers under the age of 20 are three times more likely to get into an accident, according to the CDC. No wonder insurance costs so much when you're a teenager! 

Before you pass the keys to the family Corolla or Venza over to the newest driver in your family, take a look at this guide from the folks over at The Simple Dollar, who have compiled a bunch of useful information for parents and teenagers on safe driving. They include:

• Mobile app suggestions to reinforce safe driving habits. Did you know Allstate has games your teen can play in their spare time? Pretty cool.
• Tips for what to do when you get pulled over by law enforcement.
• What to do in the event of a car accident.
• How to save money on insurance when you have a teenage driver.

There's a good amount of advice. For example, I never knew that some insurance providers offer a discount for installing dashboard-camera type devices in a car! Is there any advice in the article that you found useful Thanks to Ariel Robbins for emailing and sharing this information!

The Epilepsy Foundation Car Raffle

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If you follow us on Twitter, you've probably seen your fair share of tweets lately about the Epilepsy Foundation Car Raffle that Lou Fusz is taking part in. I thought I'd take this blog post to explain it a bit more in detail, and why you should get yourself a ticket!

Last year, we partnered up with the Epilepsy Foundation to sponsor their Seize the Day 5K race and raise awareness of epilepsy in children and adults alike. After meeting and hearing stories from several different families (including a very special young boy with epilepsy, Cameron, who quickly became friends with Patrick) the Fusz family was moved and wanted to get involved. We raised money to become an official sponsor of the race, and some of our staff showed their support by running in it. I had never participated in a 5K before, so it was definitely a new experience for me. I can say with confidence that crossing that finish line felt truly invigorating, something I think everyone should get to experience. It was made even better by the fact that volunteers were set up at several points throughout the race, cheering you on and encouraging you to keep running!  

Overall, the 5K was a great event that we were proud to be a part of. We plan on being there again this year, and want to make things even more exciting. That's where the idea of a car raffle came into play.

For $50, you can purchase a ticket and enter to win a brand new Toyota Corolla L, or if you've got your eyes set on a different car, you'll get a $16,000 credit towards any vehicle in the entire Lou Fusz network. Only 650 tickets in total will be sold, meaning that you have a fairly good chance of winning! Plus, the money being raised will go to support the Epilepsy Foundation. It's a win-win situation! The raffle will continue through November, and the winner will be announced at Busch Stadium on the 15th.

Visit http://www.firstgiving.com/efmk/car-raffle to order your ticket online. You'll also be able to get one during the race on June 22nd in Kirkwood park. We hope to see you there!