You’re in the market for a new car and trying to decide whether to lease or buy, but unsure which will better fit your needs. Leasing and buying have advantages and disadvantages, so it depends on what’s most important to you. To make an educated choice that you’ll be happy with, Panama City Toyota is here to help.

Leasing A Car

Image via Flickr under CC BY 2.0 by automobileitalia

When it comes down to it, leasing is like an extended rental of a car. This type of auto financing allows you to rent a car from a dealership for a fixed length of time, with limited mileage included. You’ll make monthly payments for the duration of your lease. At the end of your lease period, you’ll return your vehicle to the dealership. You won’t own your vehicle unless you buy out your lease if you decide to keep your vehicle. However, that choice is only available if you’ve chosen to include that option in your lease.

To lease a car, you’ll need a good credit score. The typical Experian score needed to lease a vehicle averages 733. On the other hand, Fico scores that average 670 or above are considered good. It’s important to remember that although you don’t own your vehicle, your lease payment will be tracked and be part of your ongoing credit score. Late payments and the uneven history of payments will lower your credit score. Most leases require a down payment, the amount of which will vary according to your existing credit score.

The Pros and Cons of Leasing a Car

An advantage to leasing a car is you’ll be getting a new vehicle each time you lease. Your monthly payments are also lower than the fees associated with payments for financing a car through a traditional loan. The dealership covers your maintenance costs, and they’re responsible for repairs. Moreover, if you need a fancy car, perhaps for your work image, leasing can provide you with a more expensive car than you could otherwise afford.

Another plus to leasing a car is that you won’t have to have as large of a down payment as is usually required when purchasing a vehicle. Another pro is you get to drive a brand new car every few years. Also, if you like the notion of not having to pay for the upkeep of a vehicle as it gets older, there’s something nice about being able to drive a car in its prime before it shows significant signs of wear and tear, or starts being prone to needing repairs.

The cons are that you won’t own your car, you have limited miles, and you’ll be charged if you go over the mileage limit. You’re paying for a car that’ll never be an asset. There are also fees associated with the early termination of your lease agreement. For example, if you decide you don’t like your vehicle or find it doesn’t suit your needs anymore, you will end up paying additional fees to get out of your lease prematurely. The dealership also has costs they’ll charge you, even if you make it to the end of your lease period.

Buying A Car

When you buy a car, you own it permanently, or for as long as it lasts, or until you decide to trade it in to a dealership or sell it privately to an individual. You can either buy a car with all cash or take out a loan to finance the vehicle, which most people usually do. Even with a loan, most car dealerships require a down payment. The lower your credit score, the higher your down payment amount will usually be.

Buying a Car With Cash vs. Financing a Car With a Loan

Unless you have a substantial amount of cash on hand, you’ll need a car loan.  You can find applications for loans online. Ideally, you want to get a preapproved loan. It factors your budget and gives you an interest rate to compare to the dealer’s financing rate. You may also find that the dealer can offer you the lowest annual percentage rate. At the same time, you’ll want to check your bank or credit union’s webpage or prominent lenders, including Nationwide or Capital One. Your research should give you a good idea of which lender offers the best financing for your needs.

You’ll need to gather documentation to apply for a car loan. Compile your salary and employer information and the balances of any debt you may hold. Make sure that you’ll be ready within about two weeks after seeking loan pre-approval to go car shopping. This strategy is designed to reduce the number of hard inquiries to your credit. Hard inquiries negatively affect your credit score, and therefore should be kept to a minimum. On the other hand, you get to circumvent all those steps if you pay with cash, and you’ll own your car outright from the start, so it’s also instant equity.

Pros and Cons of Car Ownership

One of the pros of owning your car is building equity and working toward full ownership. At the end of your loan period, you fully own an asset. Your vehicle will also have a trade-in value when it’s time to buy another car. In addition, you won’t have a limit on how many miles you can drive. On the other hand, some of the cons of owning a vehicle are that you’re solely responsible for your car’s maintenance, your monthly payment on your loan is higher than the monthly lease cost, and your vehicle depreciates in value as time goes on.

The End of the Road: Making your Choice

If you keep these differences in mind, you should determine whether leasing or buying a car is more suitable for your purposes. Panama City Toyota can also be a good resource for explaining what deals we currently offer. Our knowledgeable team would be happy to assist you in comparing leasing vs. buying on any of our available vehicles. Contact us today to set up an appointment or just drop in and we’ll show you around. We work hard to make sure you get your dream car with the lease or ownership you desire.  

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There are many excellent restaurants and exciting attractions to visit in Panama City, Florida. But expenses can add up quickly, and sometimes you want to do things that aren’t too costly. Panama City Toyota wants to share this list of free things to do in Panama City to help you come up with some ideas for no-cost fun and entertainment.

Do Some Window Shopping

Image via Flickr under CC BY 2.0 by LucasArtoni

Window shopping is a great free activity and there is plenty of opportunity for window shopping in Panama City. Pier Park is one of the area’s largest shopping centers. It sits on 2 million square feet and has over 250 retail stores, restaurants, and attractions to explore. There is an outdoor play area that contains a bungee jump ride, bumper boats, and a passenger train. Pier Park often features music or other live entertainment.

You can spend time browsing many other specialty shops in Panama City. Shell Port Inc. has the largest selection of nautical-related gifts and seashells in the area and claims to have over 4 million shells in stock. 

Decor By the Shore is a trail of 15 charming shops to explore. You can even get a “passport” from participating shops, collect 12 stamps by visiting featured shops, and submit it to receive a free souvenir from the Panama City Beach Visitor Information Center.

Visit The Local Beaches

There are 27 miles of beaches along the coastline of Panama City. You can pack a picnic, some sunscreen, a beach umbrella, and towels and easily spend a whole day enjoying time together on the beach. End your day of beach fun by watching the glorious sunset over the water.

Panama City Beach is a free 8-mile-long beach and probably the most popular beach in Panama City with its lovely white sand and sparkling blue water. Panama City Beach is conveniently close to downtown attractions such as Pier Park, where you can browse over 100 shops and restaurants. There is free parking near the beach at the M. B. Miller County Pier or by the Russell Fields City Pier. 

Rick Seltzer Park is a 4.7-acre beach park that has public beach access and beautiful sand dunes to explore. Generally less crowded than Panama City Beach, this more remote beach has the same beautiful white sand and blue water. The park offers environmental educational resources on sand dunes and the local ecology. There is a pavilion and several picnic areas to use, along with a nature trail. There are also showers so you can remove excess sand before leaving for home. 

Go Hiking Or Biking

Panama City has many free choices of recreational activities that aren’t beaches. The 2,900-acre PCB Conservation Park has no admission fee and contains 24 miles of trails to explore, including a boardwalk that takes you over a swamp while you walk under a canopy of cypress trees. You are likely to see free-roaming wildlife while hiking or biking at the Conservation Park. 

Gayle’s Trails is a network of walking and cycling trails that connects PCB Conservation Park to Frank Brown Park. There are both paved and dirt routes in the system of trails so you can pick your favorite type for walking, running, hiking, inline skating, or cycling. Mapped routes of 12 different paths are available so you can choose the ideal distance for your excursion. This is also an excellent area for dog-walking.

The Pitt Spring Recreation Area is a slight drive from Panama City, but it’s a beautiful place for families to visit. You can spend the day swimming, tubing, and talking nature walks around the 40-foot round pool that gathers water from many small springs along Econfina Creek. You can also visit the nearby Ecofina River which the spring feeds into. Covered pavilions and picnic tables are available for use.

Another great recreational area is Under the Oaks Park, which has a large variety of outdoor entertainment for the whole family. There’s a playground and climbing area for kids, a nature trail, and an observation platform. There are also fishing areas and a place to launch canoes or kayaks, along with a course for a fun family game of disc golf.

Explore The Panama City Area

You may want to take a trip to the Panama City Beach Visitors Information Center. Even residents can learn something new about the community, and they provide brochures and coupons that can give you many ideas for things to do. They can also share even more ideas of free and reasonably priced activities in Panama City.

Visit Panama City Beach Library for browsing books, access to computers, or children’s programs. The library also offers many things you might not be aware of, such as 3D printing abilities, musical instruments to check out, or tutoring and classes you can take.

There is a weekly summer live music concert series at Aaron Bessant Park. The concerts are on Tuesday nights from June through August and feature a different artist each week. Whether your musical preference is rock-and-roll, country, blues, or jazz, you’ll be able to find genres you’ll enjoy. You can bring coolers, picnics, lawn chairs or blankets to sit on, and even your pets. Or visit the local marinas, where you can watch large ships and boats pull in and out of the harbor.

You may want to take a drive along Scenic Highway 30A. This is a 24-mile stretch of road in the Florida Panhandle that runs along the Gulf of Mexico and has beautiful scenery and a variety of small beach towns to visit. Beach communities such as Santa Rosa Beach or Blue Mountain Beach have public white-sand beaches, bike paths, and many beach shops to visit. You can pack a picnic lunch and spend a few hours savoring the peaceful coastal drive.

There are a wide variety of things to do for free in Panama City and Panama City Toyota wants to help you find them. How many of these suggestions have you already experienced? Were there any new ideas for free excursions that you would like to try? If you have additional ideas for more free things to do in Panama City, contact us so we can add them to future lists.

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Panama City lies in Northwest Florida along the shores of St. Andrew Bay off the Gulf Coast. A frequent target of hurricanes and tropical storms, it was badly damaged in 2018 by Hurricane Michael. However, that doesn’t stop the enterprising folks in Panama City from rebuilding and offering delicious burgers for locals and visitors alike to enjoy. Burgers are classic American sandwiches that can be customized to fit adventurous tastes and ethical choices. Panama City is home to a variety of fantastic burger joints. Here are five delicious options for you to try.

Jerry’s Burger Company

Image via Flickr under CC BY 2.0 by William Rasmussen

Jerry’s Burger Company proudly proclaims it does not serve fast food. This up-and-coming restaurant wants to serve the best premium smash burgers in town. One of its specialties is a unique three-cheese sauce for the cheese portion of the burgers, which packs a punch of gooey goodness. The premium burgers themselves are made fresh for each customer. You can choose from the preset burger menu or order a custom burger just the way you want it.

Jerry’s menu includes five types of all-you-can-eat fries — crinkle, steak, dipping, waffle, and sweet potato — and you can top them with any of the available seasonings. Not a fry lover? Try a side of jalapeño bombs or Wisconsin cheese curds. The boneless wings come in three sizes and multiple flavors, including buffalo, sweet teriyaki, and garlic parmesan. But the real reason you’re here is for the burgers, which are designed to be big, messy, and totally delicious. The Beer Bender is infused with a local brew and served with sauteed onions, pickles, and a honey-glazed bun.

Jerry’s is located at 1302 Harrison Avenue and open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed Sundays.

House Of Henry Irish Pub

House of Henry is an Irish pub serving good food and hosting live music. Here you can grab lunch inside the brick-walled building or stop by after work to enjoy the popular happy hour. The restaurant’s brew list has more than 30 selections, including ciders, craft ales, American favorites, European classics, and, of course, draft Guinness.

At House of Henry, you can choose from a menu of Irish-inspired items. Try the Irish Nachos, which are potato wedges loaded with toppings, the Lucky O’ onion rings, or a traditional Irish potato dish of Boxties, which are mashed potatoes with bacon and cheddar that are deep-fried and served with sour cream or chippy sauce. The many burger options include Henry’s Black and Blue Burger, a blackened patty with bacon, caramelized onions, and blue cheese crumbles melted on top, served on a brioche bun.

Find House of Henry at 461 Harrison Avenue, just minutes from the bay. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. the rest of the week.

Tally-Ho Drive In

The Tally-Ho Drive In is an old-fashioned burger and shake joint that has been offering classic American fare since 1949. Call ahead for a quick pickup through the drive-thru, or stop by the lot at 1449 Harrison Avenue for curb service. Tally-Ho also has plenty of seating on the outdoor patio if you want to stay awhile. All the meals use only fresh ingredients, and the food is made to order for each customer.

Tally-Ho’s menu has a variety of sides, shakes, sandwiches, and dinner combos. For a side order, try the fried okra or sour-cream-coated potato logs. The baskets of fried chicken, chicken tenders, shrimp, or pork come with a side of fries, or you can get them as dinners with fries, coleslaw, baked beans, fried okra rolls, or hush puppies. The Jumbo Burger gives you 7 ounces of fresh ground beef with all the condiments and additional cheese, or you can opt for the 4-ounce Regular Burger.

Tally-Ho Drive In is open from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and closed Sundays.

Bayou Joe’s Marina And Grill

This unique dining establishment is one you don’t want to miss. Here you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner with beautiful 180-degree views of the water. Get here at sunset for an experience like no other. 

Bayou Joe’s offers “Old Florida” style food. You can get Bayou Tacos with grilled, fried, or blackened fish or shrimp or a fried shrimp po’boy. The delicious Trash Burger is the chef’s choice of ingredients that changes daily. Bayou Joe’s also serves a Kick’en Black Bean Burger for vegetarians and a Cajun Shrimp Burger that packs grilled shrimp and cheese on top of a 1/2-pound beef burger.

Bayou Joe’s is situated at 112A East 3rd Court on Massalina Bayou. It’s open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and closed Tuesday.

The Place Downtown

The Place Downtown is a fun spot to stop and watch sports on the flat-screen, participate in a game of trivia, play the jukebox, or just have a drink and enjoy a good meal. On the menu, you’ll find a wide variety of cuisine, with tasty appetizers ranging from Tater Tots and onion rings to seared tuna and antipasto egg rolls. 

You can also order a 1/2-pound steak burger or a Beyond burger for a meatless option. Then build your own burger with your choice of bread, cook, cheese, and toppings, plus a side of fries, tots, or the side of the day. 

The Place Downtown is located in downtown Panama City at 429 Harrison Avenue, and it’s open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can dine inside or out front on the cozy patio.

Have you had any burgers from the places on this list? Do you have a favorite spot we’ve missed? At Panama City Toyota, we’d love to know what you think is the best burger in town. Contact us, and tell us which one you like most.

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Although modern cars are safer and more reliable than ever, there are still a million things that could go wrong while driving, especially on long-distance trips. From a simple flat tire to being stranded in a snowstorm, you need to be prepared for anything that nature or fate throws at you and the best way to do that is by putting together a roadside emergency kit.

Emergency Items For Your Car

Image via Unsplash by jumpstartexpert

The most likely issues that can occur during a road trip are typically related to your car not functioning the way it should. Although the side of the road is no place for complicated repair jobs and road assistance services are usually just a phone call away, you need to be prepared for situations when you can’t call for help and have to make it on your own. Also, you need to remember that any roadside intervention should be well-signaled with the help of triangle reflectors or flares, which should never be missing from your car, along with a fire extinguisher. 

The first items on the emergency car repair list should be a well-inflated spare tire, a tripod jack, and a wheel wrench. Although just like the triangle reflectors or flares, most car manufacturers provide you with them when you buy the car, you should still make sure that you know exactly where they are and how to use them. To save space, some carmakers choose to replace the classic spare tire with a tire patch kit or a narrower emergency substitute often referred to as a “donut,” so make sure you know which one you have.

Next on your list should be a pair of jumper cables. A car needs its battery to start the engine and even a small fault in the electrical system can leave you with no power. Luckily, you can borrow some from another car’s battery by connecting your positive and negative connectors to their correspondents on the other vehicle and keeping them connected while you start yours. Although you should take your car to the shop and identify the issue with your car’s electrical system, jump-starting it is a quick and easy way to safely continue your journey. 

Other items that you may need to quickly fix your car in case of a minor issue are a toolkit containing differently sized screwdrivers and wrenches, some extra gas in case you run out and there’s no station nearby, and a gallon of engine coolant in case you suddenly have a leak in the cooling system. If you drive around in areas with cold weather you also additional items like a shovel, snow brush, and some sand that you can put under your wheels to get some traction in case you get stuck. 

Emergency Items For Driver And Passengers

Although most roadside emergencies involve various issues with your vehicle, a well-built roadside emergency kit also contains plenty of items that can help the people affected by the problem. It’s very important to know that the first thing you should do in any roadside emergency involving injured people is to call 911 and ask for help. However, to do so you need a working phone, so it’s essential that you never go on a long trip without a cellphone car charger or a portable charger.

Once you’re sure you can call for help, you need to be able to offer first aid to anyone who needs it. A first aid kit usually contains essential items like band-aids, disinfectants, gauze, and other similar items that can help fix minor first-aid issues or mitigate major ones until help arrives. You should also have plenty of clean water with you to keep everyone hydrated, as well as compact and energy-rich food, like energy bars or granola. You may be stuck in the middle of nowhere for several hours so you and your passengers need to be prepared. 

Other items that may be useful are a fully charged flashlight, in case you need to repair something or offer first aid at nighttime, some blankets in case you need to wait for help in cold weather, and rain gear for situations where you need to change a flat tire in rainy weather. Other items, that are less essential but may come in handy if you need to entertain your kids while waiting for roadside help, are books, magazines, a deck of cards, board games, and other items that you and your passengers can use to entertain yourselves.

Storing And Using Your Roadside Emergency Kit

Once you’ve gathered all the items you need for your roadside emergency kit, you need to find a way of permanently storing them in your car without them taking too much space. The best way of doing so is by placing them all in a cardboard box or backpack and then putting it in a corner of your trunk. There are also special bags especially designed for this purpose and even ready-made emergency roadside kits that you can buy from auto shops or online. 

However, whichever way you choose to assemble and store your roadside emergency kit, it is crucial that you familiarize yourself with every item in there and learn how to use it. Simply having an emergency kit is a good safety measure, but when an emergency does occur you’ll likely not have the time and mental clarity to learn how everything works. Change a tire just to get the hang of it, check to see exactly what your first aid kit contains, and generally know exactly what’s in your kit and how they work.

Emergencies are usually the kind of things that you like to think will never happen to you, until one day they do. While emergency preparation is crucial if you want a safe and reliable car that you can count on in case of an emergency make sure you visit Panama City Toyota and choose from our long list of new and pre-owned vehicles.  

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There’s nothing worse than trying to start your car and hearing a clicking noise as you try to turn it over. That sound indicates your battery has died which means you aren’t going anywhere unless you get a jump start. Jump starting your car is easy, but you need to have the right equipment and sometimes friendly help from another motorist to get it done. Once you’ve got your car started, you need to let the battery charge before you head to Panama City Toyota in Panama City, Florida, to get your battery and alternator checked out. Here’s a look at how to jump start your car:

How To Tell If Your Car Battery Has Died

Image via Flickr under CC BY 2.0 by Mic Z.

You usually won’t know if your car battery has died until you get into the car and find it doesn’t respond to an attempt to turn it over. A battery can hold enough charge to power the locks and interior lights, but not have enough amperage to turn over the engine. Everything may seem normal with the car until you try to turn the key or use the key fob. A totally flat battery won’t have enough power to open the locks whatsoever. 

Cars don’t typically warn you when your battery is going to die unless you pay attention to the voltmeter on the dashboard. The voltmeter is a standard gauge on the instrument cluster and has a graphic of a battery that denotes its purpose. It’s a good idea to learn the correct battery reading for your car to monitor how well its performing. You’ll know when the battery is in need of replacement because it won’t hold the correct charge. Another benefit of keeping track of the battery charge level is knowing if you have enough juice to turn the car over or if you need a jump. 

Tools You’ll Need To Jump Your Car

You’ll need simple, yet essential tools to jump your car when your battery dies. They include:

• Jumper cables
• Power

It’s a good idea to buy a pair of jumper cables and keep them in the back of your car for an emergency situation. Oftentimes, people are willing to help you jump your car, but don’t have jumper cables. You’re more likely to have success getting help if you have a pair of jumper cables handy. 

Jumper cables have large alligator clips at each end. They get their name from their hinged jaws and toothy clamps. Make sure that the teeth are clean and don’t have significant damage or corrosion. Also check that the cable connections are clean and the connecting wires aren’t broken. The energy transfer over the cables needs to be as unbroken as possible to make for a solid connection to your battery and the power source.

Another tool for jumping your car is a battery or power pack. This is a self-contained unit that has a pair of alligator clips, a voltmeter, and an internal battery that’s designed to store power for the long term. It’s important to keep the unit charged to avoid a situation where you have a dead car and a dead power pack. 

Preparing To Jump Your Car

Once you’ve determined your battery is dead, you need to open the hood to gain access to the battery. Before you open the hood, make sure your car is in park, and keep it in park at all times while you’re jumping the battery. 

Open the hood and locate the battery. Once you’ve found the battery, find the red and black (positive and negative) posts. There will be large clamps connected to each post that lead back into the car. Some cars don’t offer direct access to the battery, but will have posts or connectors that allow you to connect the jumper cable clamps. Check the clamps for corrosion (normal for older batteries), and use the jaws of the clip to knock off anything you find. You can put the clamp onto the post and use it to grind off corrosion. 

Place the red clamp onto the red or positive post first, then connect the black clamp onto the black or negative post. Make sure the clamps are firmly connected to the posts and won’t pop off as you go to connect the other end of the cables to the car that’s giving you the jump. Repeat this process for the other car. The car giving you the jump should be turned off. When you’re sure the cables are firmly connected, you can start the car giving you the jump. The same process applies to a portable charging pack.

Jumping Your Car

After the car giving you the jump has been started, you can return to your car and wait five to ten minutes. The battery needs time to get enough of a charge to turn your car over. After you’ve given the battery enough time to charge, you can try turning the key or using the key fob to start the engine. The engine will turn over if the battery has enough strength, and might make a grinding or clicking noise if not. Wait a little longer and try again. A car will turn over once the battery has enough charge, but holding a charge depends on the condition of the alternator. 

After your car has started, remove the jumper cables in reverse order. That is, take the negative clamp off first, then the positive. Let the car run for a few minutes before driving. Afterwards, drive your car around for at least 20 minutes to allow the battery to charge up. If the battery doesn’t keep a charge, it may be at the end of its life or the alternator has died and isn’t charging the battery. 

Come See Us At Panama City Toyota For Battery And Alternator Replacement

Call us at Panama City Toyota in Panama City, Florida, today for an appointment with our maintenance department. Our Toyota-trained technicians are here to help diagnose your car’s problem and replace what’s broken with OEM-quality parts. 

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If you’re in Panama City, Florida, and have a sweet tooth, you might want to know which are the best places to get dessert. Whether you prefer cakes, cookies, pastries, or ice cream, Panama has a great food scene and offers something for every kind of sweet tooth, so head on out and check out these spots. 

The Press

Image via Flickr under CC BY 2.0 by Vanilla and lace

Located at 310 Harrison Ave. in downtown Panama City, The Press is a coffee shop serving up delicious drinks and your favorite snacks from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day of the week. It emerged in the aftermath of the devastating Hurricane Michael in 2018 as the city rebuilt. The Press is a gathering place where you can use a booth for a workspace while enjoying some coffee and crepes or other goodies, or you can fully relax while eating. The shop offers every coffee drink you could want, as well as beverages such as teas and hot chocolate.

The food items center around delicate crepes that come in several options. The classic French crepe comes sprinkled in sugar. If you’re a Nutella fan, you’ll want to try Riding with the King, the shop’s signature crepe,with banana, Nutella, and peanut butter. If you love berries, try the Fruitie Tootie, featuring blueberries and cream, or the Strawberries and Cream, which is as the name says, fresh ripe strawberries and whipped cream wrapped inside a soft crepe. If you like a little cheese with your fruit, you’ll love the Apples and Brie Cheese, with warm cinnamon, baked apples, and soft brie.

Fat & Weird Cookies

Fat & Weird Cookies has a storefront at 2540 Jenks Ave. in Panama City. The store is open Fridays from noon to 4 p.m., but cookies are available for local pickup Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The delicious and unusual fat cookies are available to order online at any time, and you can select local pickup as the delivery option when checking out. The orders generally take two days to prepare and be ready for you, so plan ahead for the best, weirdest cookies around.

The shop is always coming out with new limited flavors and has a selection of standard flavors you can find in the shop regularly. The tall, lumpy cookies have unique flavors and combinations you’ve probably never had before, and some even have a soft cream filling. If you like cheesecake, try the Razzle Dazzle, which has a raspberry cheesecake core, white chocolate chips in the cookie base, and a graham cracker crumb topping. The Cherry Bomb is a cherry red cookie with a lime frosting core.

Keto Kreations

Keto Kreations specializes in low-carb ketogenic baked goods. This shop is located at 2117 E. Third St. and is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Keto Kreations offers fresh-baked gluten-free bread, muffins, and cakes that are also available to ship and can be refrigerated or frozen for later. Some of the goodies available from their shop are made with almond flour, cream, coconut oil, and eggs and sweetened with stevia or other alternative sweeteners.

You can treat yourself to jumbo cinnamon rolls or a 7-inch chocolate chip cookie cake, or perhaps you’d like to try the triple chocolate muffin for a triple hit of chocolate. The shop offers several flavors of cheesecake, including a chocolate marbled cheesecake with a cookie dough crust. The pound cakes come in strawberry and lemon flavors, as well as a Unicorn variety with colorful swirls, and are available by the slice.

Cook Girls’ Bakery

Cook Girls’ Bakery is so popular that it’s booked until 2022 for custom orders, including wedding cakes, but you’ll find plenty of delicious sweet goods in the bakery case every week. The bakery is located at 748 W. 15th St., and you can drop by on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. or on Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to browse the shop’s assorted desserts.

You can enjoy all the bakery dessert staples, such as brownies, cupcakes, and cookies, and more. You can find decorated seasonal sugar or chocolate cookies, buttercream sugar cookies, and signature cookies, including pecan chocolate chunk, sprinkle sugar, and snickerdoodle. The brownies and bars include double chocolate chunk brownies and white chocolate pistachio blondies. Adorable little macarons come in tantalizing flavors such as red velvet and almond.

Riviera Ice Cream

To find the best ice cream, you might want to head across the bay to Panama City Beach and check out Riviera Ice Cream at 12700 Front Beach Road. It serves up gourmet ice creams, sherbets, and sorbets, as well as fine chocolates and other sweet treats. It exclusivelys use super-premium Bassets Ice Cream from the oldest ice cream maker in the country, so come prepared for some extra-creamy goodness.

At Riviera Ice Cream, you’ll find many classic flavors of ice cream as well as a few novelty ones. You can treat yourself to a cone of the ever-popular French vanilla or mint chocolate chip flavors. It might be hard to choose between the butter pecan we all love or the pralines and cream flavor, which is vanilla ice cream swirled with caramel and candied pecans. Not a fan of pecans? Then try the butter almond or the butterscotch vanilla for that sweet buttery taste. 

Dessert makes life a bit sweeter. If you’re craving something sweet, then head out the door to any of the places on this list, and you won’t be disappointed. Whether you like cookies, cupcakes, crepes, or ice cream, or you need something delicious that’s low-carb, you can find it in and around Panama City. What’s your favorite type of dessert? Have you tried any of the treats on this list? We at Panama City Toyota would love to know what you think is the best spot for dessert in town, so drop us a line and let us know.

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Timing in life is everything. That’s especially true when buying a used car. Certain times of year make more sense than others when considering replacing your ride, based on a variety of factors. What is the best time to buy a car? 

Actually, there’s probably more than one. The best time to buy a used car typically revolves around certain holidays, but it can also involve timing your purchase to key moments in a dealer’s financial year. The more a dealer needs to move cars to make financial projections, the likelier it is that you’ll find a deal that makes sense.

Of course, sometimes in life, things happen that are beyond our control. We can’t always decide when our cars need replacing. Whether it’s peak buying season or some other time, trust Panama City Toyota to help you find a car that meets the needs of your family and your budget.

How The Used Car Market Works

The forces shaping the used car market are no mystery. The laws of supply and demand determine whether you walk away with a great deal or pay a little more than you would have liked. 

Lots of factors shape the demand for cars — most notably, perhaps, is the state of the economy and level of confidence people have in the future. When the economy is growing and the unemployment rate is low, consumers are more likely to open their wallets for a replacement car. The opposite is also true: when the economy is in recession and people are out of work, they are more likely to add extra miles on their cars before trading in for something different. 

These factors move with momentum. Statistics show that the used car market is about three times the size of the new car market, so there are many more people to react to changes in the economy. Swings in the market occur when there are imbalances between supply and demand. If supply is greater than demand, prices will go down; if demand outpaces supply, prices will rise.

Best Time Of Year To Buy

Image via Flickr under CC BY 2.0 by danielctw

Short of transforming yourself into an economist, is there a way to determine when the market favors buyers? The answer is yes, but it doesn’t always happen the same way all the time. Car experts from a variety of sources have theories for when you might want to visit your local dealer.

End Of The Month Or Year

Car dealers are businesses seeking to turn a profit. Like all businesses, they work off a financial plan that includes forecasts for sales. If a dealer reaches the end of a period — end of the month, end of the quarter, or end of the year — and finds themselves short of projections, they could be more likely to want to cut a deal to stay on plan. That’s according to both CarFax.com and Edmunds.com. 

The end of the year also tends to result in year-end clearance sales that you might take advantage of, Edmunds suggests. Statistics show that December is one of the busiest months for car shopping based on year-end sales events.

Sales personnel may have similar motivations, as their compensation often depends on hitting their own sales targets. If they are falling short, they may be more willing to try to persuade their bosses to accept a discounted proposal. Timing your visits in this way may prove fruitful for your own personal bottom line.

Holidays

National holidays also are a good time to visit your favorite car dealership. Because people have time off from work, they may be looking to take care of tasks such as shopping for a used car replacement. Holidays are also a time when manufacturers offer incentives of their own, potentially leading to more cars being turned in by those seeking an upgrade. 

According to CarFax, some of the most popular holidays for car sales include President’s Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Black Friday. Shop for your replacement used car during one of these periods and you might be able to save yourself hundreds and even thousands of dollars.

Weekdays

Both CarFax and Edmunds agree that you’d be smart to time your visit to the car dealer toward the middle of the week rather than the weekend. This largely has to do with the availability of sales personnel. On a busy Saturday or Sunday, a sales manager has many customers to support and less time to engage in a negotiation about the price of the car. 

If they perceive an engagement with you as time-consuming, they may be less open to negotiating a deal that might make sense for you and the dealer. Arrange to go car shopping when it’s less busy and you can get more personalized attention.

New Car Buying Season

Paradoxically, one of the best times to buy a used car is when people are out shopping for new cars as well. New car sales will translate into lots of trade-ins that the dealer can recondition and then offer for resale. Supply is likely to be at the highest during this period and you may be able to score a great deal. The peak new car season is between October and the end of the year.

Test Drive A Used Car At Panama City Toyota

Panama City Toyota is a full-service dealership that meets the needs of car-buying customers in Panama City, Florida, and other areas across South Florida. We feature a full selection of the newest models of Toyota cars, trucks, and SUVs, including many that come with special offers straight from Toyota.

If a new car feels out of reach, then explore our inventory of used vehicles. Our selection includes vehicles from Toyota as well as competing models from other manufacturers, such as Ford, Honda, and Chevrolet. Some of our used Toyotas may be part of the Toyota certified pre-owned program, which provides additional benefits for owners. These include warranties against problems with the powertrain and other parts of the vehicle. Come visit us — any time of year. Call or contact us online.

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Panama City is loved by many for its gorgeous coastlines, pristine waters, kind people, and area wildlife. It’s understandable why many locals love the beach and typically sport beautiful, natural tans. But you can’t always be in the sun and sand. When you’re not swimming in the ocean and soaking up the rays, consider going to one of the many museums or educational facilities around Panama City. If you have kids, they’ll love this family adventure, and you might learn something new about life, science, or art. Read on to learn about some educational excursions around Panama City. 

WonderWorks

Image via Flickr under CC BY 2.0 by Le Moyne College Alumni

Whether you live in Panama City or are visiting, this is a stop you can’t miss. WonderWorks Panama City is an amusement park for the mind with over 35,000 square feet of what they call “edu-tainment.” Attractions combine an educational experience with entertainment, including over 100 hand-one and interactive exhibits that challenge the mind and ignite creativity. This Alice in Wonderland-esque experience begins with visitors walking through an inverted tunnel, where up is down and down is up.

Some feature exhibits include the Extreme Weather Zone, where participants visit the Earthquake Cafe to experience some tremors, the Hurricane Shack with winds over 74 miles per hour, and the Tesla coil, where a steel glove helps you become a human lightning rod as the Tesla coil emits over 100,000 volts. Follow along as their mascot, Professor Wonder, guides you through the Imagination Lab. Play with a giant version of Lite-Brite, play in a sandbox, and learn how gears work. There’s also a Physical Challenge Zone, Light and Sound Zone, Space Discovery Zone, and the must-see Wonder Art Gallery.

WonderWorks has several attractions with flashing lights, loud sounds, sudden movements, and motions that may not be suitable for those with a heart condition, diabetes, vertigo, seizures, or light and sound sensitivities. To ride the Wonder Coaster, riders must be at least four feet tall, or three and a half feet to ride with an adult. Closed-toe shoes are required for the rope course. For the Astronaut Training Gyro, riders must tie back long hair. Wear either pants or shorts on this excursion, as visitors with loose-fitting clothes, such as skirts and dresses, will not be allowed on rides. 

They open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and stop accepting visitors one hour before closing. Free parking is available onsite for guests. General admission for adults ranges from $28.99 to $34.99 for the VIP Combo. This special ticket includes one Space Fury ride, a free small popcorn, and a 10% discount off retail and cafe purchases. Children’s tickets range from $23.99 to $28.99, and there is a senior citizen discount. 

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Odditorium

It is amazing all there is to see at Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditorium. You’ll see everything from shrunken heads to rare animal skeletons. With over a dozen galleries of hands-on activities, this is a great destination for tactile learners who can’t stop touching things and fidgeting. Visit the 7D moving theater for a full-body experience complete with digital effects and motion seats. It feels like you are in the movie. Then, test your problem-solving skills in the mirror maze. This fun-for-all-ages activity challenges your sense of direction as you find your way through over 1,000 mirrors. 

You can purchase tickets online through their website—adult general admission for guests 13 and older starts from $29.99 to $34.99. Children five years to 12 years have a reduced price while those under five get in free. You can also purchase individual tickets if you only want to experience the mirror maze, 7D movie experience, or the central odditorium. You’ll find Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditorium at 9907 Front Beach Road. It’ll be the giant boat. 

Science And Discovery Center

The Science and Discovery Center is a children’s museum located in Panama City. Full of activities to instill a love for learning from an early age, it focuses on science and history. Current exhibits include the Dino Dig, where little ones become paleontologists and dig for dinosaur bones. They can become pirates and board a boat in the Pirate Ship exhibit or experience a live video funhouse inspired by carnivals of old at the Digital Wall exhibit. 

The museum frequently hosts a Science Day, where guests can enjoy a summer camp and learn about the world around them. Children can enroll in some of the museum’s Homeschool Classes that are challenging, interactive, and aligned with the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards and the National Science Standards. See their website for a full class list and details. 

The Science and Discovery Center is conveniently located at 308 Airport Road. General admission is $8 for children, seniors, and military members or veterans and $9 for adults. 

Man In The Sea Museum

The Man in the Sea Museum is the place to visit to get acquainted with diving and everything under the sea. Discover the underwater world with exhibits that show you the equipment and facilities used for deep-sea diving. See the US Navy SEALAB I, the world’s first underwater living facility. Examine a display of commercial diving equipment specifically designed to keep body temperature and pressure regulated for safety. Visit some submarine pods and modules, known as swimmer delivery vehicles, used for underwater studies and exhibitions. 

Hours of operation are Thursdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and general admission for adults is $7. Children aged six to 17 years, senior citizens, and military members with valid ID get in for $5. While you’re there, get information about their Oyster Bash, it’s a can’t-miss event that locals love! 

So there you have it. Panama City Toyota has just shared with you our list of beneficial educational excursions around Panama City. Contact us for all your vehicle needs to ensure you get to each museum stylishly and securely. What did you think of our list? Did we miss your childhood favorite museum? Leave a message or stop by and let us know. We’ll be happy to add your suggestions to our list. 

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Do you remember the first time you ever had sushi? Maybe instead you’ve never had the experience, and you’re finally feeling ready to try it. At Panama City Toyota, we have a few sushi lovers on staff who helped us put together this list of the best sushi in Panama City. And just to be 100% sure, we’ve taken to scanning hundreds of reviews at sites like TripAdvisor and Google Maps to make sure we’re giving you the best tips possible when ordering at each of these places.

Don’t worry, we made sure to include restaurants that have alternative menu options, in case you’re traveling with anyone who isn’t into the whole sushi idea. Take a look at our recommendations below. After that, make sure to let us know what you think!

Shan Kishi

Image via Flickr under CC BY 2.0 by jetalone

Tourists and locals alike are giving Shan Kishi five-star reviews on Google. Shan Kishi is a regional chain with three eateries located along the Gulf Coast in Florida. They specialize in sushi, sashimi, and hibachi. The restaurant’s interior features ample seating, with tables, booths, and a sushi bar, which is perfect for solo dining! Prices range between $10 and $15 per person.

Reviewers on TripAdvisor recommend trying the Kani Kani, French Dragon, Ocean, and Fire Belle rolls. On the other hand, many reviewers on Google rave about the all-you-can-eat lunch special, which means you’ll have access to the entire Japanese fusion menu, which includes plenty of non-sushi and non-seafood items. The special runs daily from 11 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., except on Sundays, when it starts at noon. This special is available in the Panama Beach location as well as at the Miramar Beach location. Make sure to ask your server about the fine print for the special, as Shan Kishi has a mechanism in place to prevent unnecessary food waste, which we love!

If you’re interested in takeout orders or delivery, call 850-249-3663. You can take a look at the menu and full hours of operation on the Shan Kishi website. Shan Kishi is located at 13800 Panama City Beach Parkway.

Oishi Thai Restaurant And Sushi Bar

Located at 16920 Front Beach Road, Oishi Thai Restaurant and Sushi Bar is a family-owned and quaint restaurant with reasonable prices and beautiful, fresh ingredients. The sushi is always fresh and the curry will remind anyone of the real deal in Thailand. One Google Local Guide described Oishi as one of her favorite places to go in Panama City. She recommends ordering the Red Salmon Curry if you’re in the mood for Thai food and the Hot Spring Roll, which is a custom roll the owners made especially for her! How cool is that?

Oishi has vegetarian and vegan options and is open for lunch and dinner. In case you’re with someone who won’t eat fish, you could try the Chicken or Beef Pad Thai. We heard the cucumber salad is amazing, as well! Oishi Thai Restaurant and Sushi Bar opens every day at 11 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and 9 p.m. on Sundays. Call them at 850-230-9874 if you have any questions or want to make a reservation. You can also order online at Oishi’s website.

Jin Jin King

Jin Jin King serves Chinese and Japanese cuisine, with menu item prices ranging from $4 for a la carte sashimi two-piece orders to $20 teriyaki and tempura dishes. Jin Jin King is a spacious restaurant with tables, booths, and sushi bar seating. Reviewers recommend the Dragon specialty roll. If you’re looking to share, try the 16-piece Sashimi Deluxe or the Jin Jin King Love Boat. As for non-sushi items, some reviewers recommend the Pork Gyoza, the Sesame Chicken, and the Ginger Salad.

You will find Jin Jin King at 7725 Front Beach Road. Call 850-588-5172 or visit Jin Jin King’s website, where you can order online through BeyondMenu for takeout, delivery, or dine-in!

Firefly

Located at 535 North Richard Jackson Blvd., Firefly is a dinner-only option. TripAdvisor ranks Firefly at 11 out of 259 of all listed Panama City restaurants and as the No. 1 restaurant for the best sushi in Panama City, with more than 2000 “very good” and “excellent” reviews. We suspect Firefly’s specialty of locally caught seafood contributes to these rankings.

Described as casual fine dining, Firefly is on the higher end of the spectrum in terms of price point in this list of the best sushi in Panama City, Florida. Prices range from $19 to $42 per person. Firefly is a winner of several awards, including OpenTable’s 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America in 2017 and the Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence in 2008 through 2019.

Most Firefly reviews on TripAdvisor mention the wonderful atmosphere with beautiful decor and friendly staff with exceptional service. Reviewers describe Firefly as “excellent,” “the best place to dine in PCB,” and their “favorite.” The Firefly facilities are beautiful! The menu is large, with options for starters, entrees, and sushi, along with a kid menu and dessert, beverage, and sides menu. We recommend trying the Spicy Tuna, Van Halen, Little Richard, and King rolls. If you or one of the people you’re with aren’t into sushi, you will always find an item for you. Try the Pepper Crusted Stuffed Filet Mignon or the Sesame Seared Yellowfin Tuna.

Firefly has plenty of off-street parking available and is wheelchair accessible. They accept all major credit cards. You can call 850-249-3359 or visit the Firefly website for a reservation or to order takeout.

Tell Us What You Think!

Well, there you have it, Panama City! We’ve shared with you our list of best sushi eateries in Panama City. Whether you’re a local, an out-of-state visitor, or an international traveler, we feel you’ll love any of the above eateries. But we also want to hear from you to know what you think. Should we add another sushi bar or establishment to this list? Please contact us to let us know.

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Car buyers from Panama City, Lynn Haven, Callaway, and beyond often ask at Panama City Toyota in Florida if buying a vehicle with an auto loan can help their credit score. Here’s our usual response: A loan can lower your credit score a little in the short term. But providing you make your payments regularly and on time, car financing will help build your score in the long term. 

Let’s take a look at your credit score and the factors that affect it.

What Factors Affect Your Credit Score?

Image via Flickr by free pictures of money 

When you apply for a car loan, a potential lender will access your credit report and check your FICO credit score to assess how much of a credit risk you might be. The scores range from 300 to 850. A score between 670 and 739 is considered good, with anything above being very good or exceptional. A score of 580 to 669 is below average, but you may still qualify for a loan. At the same time, a credit score below 580 is poor and shows you could be high risk.

According to FICO, five major factors influence — by varying percentages — your credit score:

• Payment history (35%).
• Accounts owed (30%).
• Length of credit history (15%).
• Credit mix (10%).
• New credit (10%).

Payment history is the most important factor because any lender will want to know that you’ve made payments for previous lines of credit. Your credit report will show any late or missed payments on past credit accounts.

Accounts owed shows what you owe, although owing a lot doesn’t necessarily mean a low credit score. Account owed is the ratio of the money you owe in relation to your available credit. For example, if you only owe $5,000 but your credit cards are maxed out and you’re overextended, you’d have a lower score than if you owed $50,000 but you’re not close to your credit limit on any account.

Length of credit history is the period you’ve had credit for. Generally, the longer your credit history, the higher your credit score will be. But even if you have a short credit history, you can still have a high credit score if the rest of your credit report is good.

Credit mix is a variety of credit types, such as mortgages, credit cards, and installment loans (including car loans). Your score will be higher if you have a healthy mix of credit, as long as you also have a good payment history.

New credit refers to newly opened credit accounts. If you open many new accounts in a short time, it indicates a risk, which could lower your credit score. In other words, you should avoid applying for too many credit accounts too quickly.

Debt Types Affect Credit 

The type of debt you have can also affect your credit score. There are two main types of debt:

• Revolving credit.
• Installment loan.

Revolving credit is a credit account with ever-changing balances and payments. Credit cards are the most common type of revolving credit. Always paying off your credit cards on time and staying within your credit limit shows good financial management and will help you build a good credit score.

An installment loan is a type of debt you pay off in installments, typically by monthly payments, such as a car loan. Making full payments consistently and promptly demonstrates to lenders that you’re willing and able to manage your debts responsibly.

How A Car Loan Affects Your Credit

When you present an application for a car loan in Panama City, the dealership will usually send it to several potential lenders to try and find you the best deal available. Each lender will check your credit report, which adds a hard inquiry to your report. Generally, each new inquiry will temporarily drop your score by a few points. 

However, the scoring system recognizes that even if several inquiries for an auto loan are made, you’re only going to buy one car and the lenders’ inquiries will usually be combined to count as only one. With some of the more recent credit scoring systems, car loan inquiries don’t affect your credit score at all. 

Once you buy your new car and actually sign up for the loan, the new debt will be added to your credit report as an installment loan. Your credit score will likely drop a few more points as there’s no payment history linked to this loan and it’s uncertain whether you can manage the new debt.

The good news is, as you make your monthly payments on time, your credit score will start to increase. If your credit report doesn’t have another installment loan, your car loan adds to your strong credit mix. It will also add to your payment history, accounts owed, length of credit history, and new credit — all of which help your credit score.

Rebuilding Your Credit With A Car Loan

Even if you have a low credit score, you may still be eligible for a used car loan at Panama City Toyota. Our in-house finance center can work with Panama City drivers with poor credit ratings to find the best financing solution for their circumstances. We are dedicated to getting you behind the wheel of a quality pre-owned Toyota, even when your credit is below average.

When you’ve been approved for a loan and start making your monthly payments on time, you will likely see a significant increase in your credit score over the period of your car loan. That will get your credit report back on track and make it easier to obtain credit in the future. So, even if your credit score is not the best, don’t hesitate to speak to our friendly finance team to see what they can do for you.

So, there you have it. Buying a car from Panama City Toyota can help your credit, as long as you don’t miss any payments and you make your payments on time. You can even get preapproved for car financing by using our online finance application. Come visit us at West 15th Street, Panama City, Florida, to find your dream car today.

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