Blog

If you've ever experienced a morning like the woman in the video, you’ve probably also thought about having a key finder. Well look no more because Toyota has granted your wish with the Toyota Key Finder and free Key Finder app for iOS devices. The key finder uses Bluetooth to connect with the app on your Apple iPad, iPod, or iPhone and emits a beep if you push the “Activate Key Finder” button. You can even change the settings so that the finder goes off if it’s a certain range away from your device (up to 60 feet). You can also connect up to eight key finders to be used on your backpack, purse, or anything that the finders can be clipped to. The Toyota Key Finder is really easy to set up, and you can learn how in this video. Once you’ve set up the key finder, you can name it whatever you want from the app. So, if you have more than one, you can name them Keys, Backpack, Purse, etc. Who knew something so small could offer so much peace of mind?

If you want an SUV that turns heads, the 2015 Toyota 4Runner is it. With striking bold features like the grille, hood, and projector-beam headlamps, off-roading never looked so good. The 4Runner isn’t just beauty, either. With a standard 4L V6 engine you can get up to 270 horsepower. Standard Hill Start Assist Control and available Downhill Assist Control make commanding your drive easier on steep inclines. Skid plates also come standard to provide protection while on tough terrain, and if you happen to get a flat, 4Runner comes with a full-size spare. As far as utility and cargo, 4Runner can accommodate up to 7 passengers if you choose the available third-row seating. If you’ve got more cargo than people, the second row seats split 40/20/40 and fold flat for up to 88 cubic feet of space. Also included in the cargo area is a 120V AC power outlet. This allows you to easily charge your phone or tools. Accessing the cargo area of the 4Runner is super convenient with the power rear glass that lowers with a button, and the available sliding rear cargo deck. Need entertainment while you’re on the road? You’ll enjoy the 6.1-inch touch screen display that gives you access to the Entune App Suite, navigation, and backup camera. Thanks to Entune Audio Plus, the 2015 Toyota 4Runner also comes standard with MP3/WMA playback capability, auxiliary audio jack, and USB port. If you’re looking for an SUV that’s ready to take on any adventure, stop by Markquart Toyota to see the 2015 Toyota 4Runner for yourself!

This summer your adventures could win you $500! From May 26, 2015 to September 7, 2015, Markquart Toyota will be holding the Summer Expressions Photo Contest. Take a photo of your Toyota from Markquart Toyota and email it to photocontest@markquart.com then post it to our Facebook page. Include information like your full name, email address, phone number, year & model, and where the photo was taken in the email. Each person can submit one photo per week for a maximum of 15 submissions. So, while you’re taking your Markquart Toyota or Scion camping, fishing, to festivals, hiking, or whatever you love to do in the summer, we want to see it! The contest deadline is 11:59 PM CST on September 7, 2015. Photo entries will be judged by John Markquart along with other Markquart Toyota managers. These judges will select three finalists and from there, a grand prize winner will be selected based on public voting, which will take place from September 14, 2015 to September 25, 2015. On September 28, 2015 the grand prize winner will be announced on Markquart Toyota’s Facebook page. We can’t wait to see what kind of awesome experiences you have with your Markquart Toyota! Be sure to make your photos creative, of high quality, and completely original. If you have any questions please email them to the above-mentioned email address, or message us on Facebook. official contest rules

The Avalon is Toyota’s luxury full-size sedan and is packed with comfort, tech, and styling features such as standard leather seats and a driver’s door Smart Key system all wrapped into a sleek design. If you want to feel pampered while driving and look good doing it, the 2015 Toyota Avalon is the sedan for you. Right now, at Markquart Toyota you can lease a 2015 Toyota Avalon XLE for $299/mo for 36 months.* This particular vehicle offers a heated driver’s seat, back up camera, and satellite radio. With all of these amenities it’s hard to believe that this luxury sedan gets an EPA-estimated 31 MPG on the highway. You’ll want to hurry into Markquart Toyota ( just off HWY 53 at exit 92) to take advantage of this offer as it expires 6/01/15. If you’re looking to indulge into a car with high-end features and style, now is your chance! Click below to see the 2015 Toyota Avalon XLE. *New 2015 Toyota Avalon XLE Lease, for $299 per month for 36 months, $1,000 due at signing on approved credit from Toyota Financial Services. 36 MONTH LEASE-FOR-12,000 MILES A YEAR. Security deposit waived on this lease offer. Includes taxes, license, title fees, insurance, and $162.50 dealer fee. Offer expires 06/01/2015. Stock #T5600.

Hurry in to Markquart Toyota before June 1, 2015 for the ToyotaTime Sales Event. During the month of May, get 0% APR for 60 months* on models including new 2015 Camry, Prius, RAV4, Corolla, Sienna, & Avalon. If you’ve been thinking about a new vehicle here is your chance – and we’re right here in the Eau Claire area for your convenience. Stop by to test drive any one of these models and see for yourself which one could be best for you! Need something fuel efficient, yet stylish? Try the 2015 Toyota Corolla. How about a vehicle that can accommodate your entire family and all their cargo? Maybe you’d like the 2015 Toyota Sienna. Whether you’re in need of a car to get you to and from work, or a vehicle that can accommodate your entire family, you’re sure to find something at Markquart Toyota. And thanks to the ToyotaTime Sales Event, now is as good a time as ever to get behind the wheel of a brand new Toyota. Visit us off exit 92 on HWY 53 between Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls! *0% APR FINANCING FOR UP TO 60 MONTHS available on a new 2015 Toyota Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Prius, Prius v, Prius c, Venza, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, RAV4, and Sienna on approved credit from Toyota Financial Services. 60 monthly payments of $16.67 for each $1000 borrowed. Offer expires 06/01/2015. Does not include taxes, license, title fees, insurance, and $162.50 dealer fee.

At Markquart Toyota we are dedicated to getting you the full value of your current vehicle.  Whether you drive an older car, a new car, or one of our competitors’ cars, we do our best to get you the full market value of your trade in. First, we’ll gather essential information like year, make, and model and evaluate the condition the vehicle is in. We welcome you to join us while we assess your vehicle so that you fully understand the end result of the appraisal. We use the information we gathered to research its market value. We use multiple resources to value your trade to get you the very best result. We use resources that you’re probably familiar with, like Kelly Blue Book, Edmunds, and NADA as well as several auction reports. Since we’re thoroughly researching the value of your current vehicle we tend to be closer to your expectations than if we were to estimate ourselves. This creates a more pleasant buying experience. You can get an idea about your vehicle’s value using our Value Your Trade tool by Kelly Blue Book, or click here to watch a video on our trade-in process at Markquart Toyota. As always, we would be glad to hear any questions you have about the appraisal process and your vehicle.

Josh has been in the auto industry for the past 10 years. He is from Medford, WI and attended Winona State University. Right after graduation he began his career in the auto industry, which brought him to Eau Claire. He says he wanted to work for Markquart because of the positive reputation and a good work/life balance. He said his favorite part of his job is meeting and talking to new people. Outside of work, Josh enjoys bow hunting, golfing, and spending time with his wife, Ali, and two boys, Jackson and Jameson. An interesting fact is that Josh has had 3 holes-in-one while golfing, but he says “it’s better to be lucky than good.” Come meet Josh at Markquart Toyota! He would love to talk to you about bow hunting, golf, and of course finding you a new vehicle!

Zach came to Eau Claire from Waupaca, WI because he heard it was a great area from one of his friends. During his job hunt in the Chippewa Valley, Zach kept his interest for cars in mind, and when he saw the opportunity of being a Service Advisor, he took it! He says he loves talking to and helping people, which is exactly what he does every day at work! When Zach isn’t helping customers get their vehicles serviced, he is probably watching a Packers game or playing football for the Menomonie Thunderhawks. An interesting fact about Zach is he shares the same birthday as Rosa Parks, and his dream car is a Toyota Tacoma. The next time you need your vehicle serviced, Zach is ready to help at Markquart Toyota!

Not only was the Toyota RAV4 the first compact SUV back in 1994, but it is now the first hybrid in this segment as well. It will be available this fall near Eau Claire at Markquart Toyota. The RAV4 Hybrid has been given a refreshed front end, a new bumper, and new tail lights. Perhaps the most interesting new feature is the bird’s-eye view camera, which allows you to see a 360 degree view of what's around the car. The perimeter scan technology gives you a rotating view of the RAV4’s surroundings displayed on the touch screen. There will also be a new trim level option called SE. This includes paddle shifters and sport-tuned suspension for a more thrilling driving experience. You can see all of these option by watching the video of the 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Reveal at the 2015 New York Auto Show. We’re looking forward to the RAV4 hybrid with Toyota’s proven hybrid powertrain, which contributes to great fuel economy and less maintenance. You can keep up-to-date on the features of the RAV4 hybrid by signing up on Toyota’s site.

Oil changes. They’re that annoying stop we have to make every six months to keep our vehicles running smoothly. They also cost somewhere between $30.00 and $80.00, so why not do it yourself? You can do it on your own time and save money, right? The truth is, there are hidden costs to changing your own oil that can hurt you in the long run. Service Centers Provide Additional Inspection When you take your vehicle to a service center like the one at Markquart Toyota, additional steps are performed like a Quality Vehicle Inspection, complementary alignment, battery checks. These are both preventative measures that can help prevent future issues. When you change your oil yourself, unless you know cars really well, you’re not able to perform some of these extra tasks. Doing it Yourself is More Complicated Now Due to the placement of oil drain plugs and oil filters on a lot of the new-design engines, they are not very easy to get at. Some oil filters are not spin-on-and-off anymore, so they are more difficult to change, and if you don’t have the proper tools to lift your vehicle, changing your oil can be dangerous.  You also aren’t allowed to put oil and oil filters in normal garbage, so it can be extremely inconvenient to dispose of them. The Markquart Way At Markquart, we also provide a free wash* with every service completed, and we top off additional fluids like washer fluid. All of these things combined would easily add up to $30.00 or more if you wanted to do them yourself – and we haven’t even talked about the time it takes to change your own oil. Between going to the store to pick up the oil and the filter, and actually performing the oil change you could have been in and out of the service department. You can watch this video on the service experience at Markquart, or view our service homepage to see why getting your vehicle serviced as opposed to doing it yourself is truly worth it! *Weather permitting.

This is slightly over due, but better late than never!  Originally from Chippewa Falls, Doug is a native to West-Central Wisconsin. Right out of high school he knew he had an interest in numbers as he studied Accounting at CVTC. He started his finance career as a loan officer at a credit union before becoming a Business Manager at Markquart Toyota - but Doug was not entirely new to Markquart because he worked at one of the Lube-N-Wash locations while he was in high school. In his free time, Doug likes to stay active by jet skiing on the Chippewa River and golfing. Stop by Markquart Toyota, just north of Eau Claire off HWY 53, and talk to Doug about financing a new vehicle!

Located above the rearview mirror on 2015 Toyota Highlander and Toyota Sienna models is a secondary conversation mirror. This allows the driver to see the passengers in the rear seats of the vehicle. Since the Sienna and Highlander are good fits for families, the conversation mirror lets you quickly glance back to monitor your precious cargo. Both the Highlander and Sienna offer seating for up to eight people and a regular rearview mirror just isn’t enough without having to crank your neck or adjust your seating. Since all that moving can be distracting, which is dangerous, a conversation mirror is a good way to combat that. The conversation mirror can double as storage space for your sunglasses when not in use, and can be conveniently opened and stowed away with a slight push. If nothing else this secondary mirror is just another cool, convenient, and nice-to-have feature of the Sienna and Highlander models. You can come test out the mirrors by stopping by Markquart Toyota between Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls.