October 17th, 2009 by Hal Moses
An extended auto warranty can bring motorists peace of mind. However, drivers need to get the most out of their auto warranty by keeping documents organized and asking the right questions. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your auto warranty.
Often times an extended auto warranty requires service records. This is why it is necessary to keep your records straight. Create a central location for your records if you don’t already have one. This will alleviate frustrations down the road when you are trying to locate documents.
Don’t just rely on your computer to keep records. Print hard copies of records if you buy an auto warranty online. You never know when your computer will be down, and it could be when you need your auto warranty.
Make sure to read everything in the auto warranty. If something isn’t written in the contract, then it isn’t covered. Never make assumptions when it comes to your auto warranty.
Finally, make sure that you have contact information accessible to you at all times. This will make things easier when you have a claim.
October 17th, 2009 by Hal Moses
Thanks to the poor economy, people are skipping the big purchases and becoming disciplined shoppers. Instead of splurging on cars equipped with all of the gizmos, people are holding onto their current rides and purchasing used car warranties. However, with some savvy buying tips, you can get a new car with great features. Here’s how.
First of all, in order to splurge in the cabin, downgrade under the hood. You can purchase a car with a smaller engine and still enjoy the interior upgrades. For example, a Honda Accord that is top-of-the-line comes with heated seats, leather upholstery, dual climate control, and plenty of other comforts, all for $29,000. However, instead of getting the V-6, you can get a four-cylinder for $3,000 less that will also allow you to save on gas.
Also, you can save by ordering options a la carte. Many times, popular options, such as a sunroof or heated seats get bundled together into megapackages that has a lot of features you may not need or want to pay for. So, shop around for cars with smaller packages, or just order the features you really want.
Finally, skip the options that are the most expensive. Features such as entertainment and navigation systems can cost you an extra $2,000. By purchasing a portable DVD player and navigation system you can spend less than $500 combined.
When purchasing a new car it is important to put your money towards necessary things, such as new car warranties, safety features, and maintenance costs. Pick your upgrades wisely to avoid going over your budget.
October 17th, 2009 by Hal Moses
It’s the moment that every motorists dreads, a flat tire. You don’t know if you ran over glass or hit a nail, but you need to take action. You may need to call for road service, and then you have to have the tire fixed or do it yourself. Surprisingly, it isn’t that hard to repair a tire yourself, and you can save the extra expense of having a repair shop do it. Here’s how.
First, it is necessary to determine the location of the puncture. You can do this by submerging the tire in water and watching where the bubbles come from. Before you can patch the tire you must remove any foreign objects stuck in the tire. You can pull out the object out with pliers. Be sure to pull out the object in the direction of the tread so you don’t do additional damage to the tire.
Now, use a tire reamer and clean out the hole from the inside of the tire. Center the patch over the puncture to ensure proper sizing. Take off the patch and coat an awl using cement. You should run the awl in the hole a few times to make sure the damaged area is coated adequately. Then, put a coat of vulcanizing cement directly on the patch and tire and let it dry.
Next, apply a layer of cement on the stem of the patch and then pull the stem through. When the patch stem is all the way through the hole, cut it off.
Now, you are ready to get back out on the road. With a little diligence you can do a quick tire fix and save yourself a trip to the repair shop. Just make sure to protect yourself with a good roadside assistance program and an auto warranty.
October 17th, 2009 by Hal Moses
If you are thinking of selling your car you need to make a proper assessment of your vehicle. Sometimes it can be hard to see your vehicle the ways others see it, because you have a special connection to it. Here are some tips to help you.
Some car owners trick themselves into believing that their car is worth more than it really is. People are convinced that their car is in excellent condition when it actually has a lot of wear and tear. Even if you have an auto warranty and have tried to keep your vehicle maintained, know that it is a used car and it isn’t as fresh as when you bought it. When you are trying to sell a used vehicle its condition is the most important thing, so assess it honestly.
It is best to give an honest disclosure as to your cars true condition. In most cases you don’t need to go to a body shop to get your car looking perfect. People know they are buying a used car and don’t usually want to spend the extra money on a perfect body. The best thing that you can do is to take your car to get a wash and wax. This is equivalent to a house’s curb appeal. This will make your car look its best without spending a fortune.
If you are trying to sell your car make sure you make an honest assessment of your vehicle. You don’t want to hold onto a vehicle waiting for money if your never going to get it.
October 17th, 2009 by Hal Moses
When looking to buy a new vehicle it is important to consider crash test ratings, electronic stability control, and rollover resistance. When evaluating a car for safety, remember to look closely at the following.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducts crash tests on vehicles. They rate vehicles based on results in frontal crashes and side impacts. Paying attention to these scores will help make a good choice when it comes to vehicle safety.
Electronic stability control is a highly recommended safety feature. This will help your vehicle stay under control when cornering. It will help you avoid sliding and skidding by selectively applying brakes to one or more of the wheels.
Vehicles that are tall, such as SUVs and pickup trucks have a higher likelihood of rolling over. To determine a vehicle’s inclination for rollover NHTSA has a five-star rollover rating. You can access these ratings at www.safercars.gov.
Consumers are becoming more and more concerned with protecting themselves. They are purchasing new car warranties and buying vehicles with added safety features. Taking these simple steps allow drivers to have peace of mind.
October 17th, 2009 by Hal Moses
Anti-lock braking systems, or ABS, were made available for cars in America in 1978. Mercedes-Benz was the first carmaker to install them on their vehicles. Then, Cadillac began installing ABS on their luxury vehicles in 1986.
ABS utilizes onboard computers, which have links to the wheel sensors, that make the brakes automatically pump at a rapid rate. Anti-locking brakes apply pressure selectively by being able to determine which of the wheels might lock, and then lowering the pressure of the brakes on those wheels so they can rotate properly. ABS will only work in a panic situation, not in normal braking circumstances.
It is important to keep in mind that ABS won’t create a shorter stopping distance. Yet, its advantage is that drivers can maintain control and avoid skidding.
Drivers need to know how to use ABS correctly. The proper way to brake with this system is to stomp and steer. While many drivers are accustomed to pumping, this isn’t correct for this system. Instead, drivers should apply a strong pressure down on the brake without letting up.
Auto safety is becoming a big priority for motorists. New car technologies are allowing for advanced safety features that protect passengers and drivers. Drivers should also protect themselves by buying an auto warranty for their car. This allows motorists to have peace of mind.
October 17th, 2009 by Hal Moses
Many people struggle to decide what kind of car to buy. It can be difficult to sort through all of the vehicle options to arrive at the car that best suits you. Here are some important factors to consider that will help you make the right decision when purchasing a car.
First of all, decide what you intend to use the vehicle for. Don’t buy a 4WD SUV because you take two camping trips a year. If you’re using the car everyday for commuting, you are going to want to purchase a car that is easy to maneuver with good fuel-efficiency.
Next, consider the looks of the vehicle. You need to find a vehicle that you can stand to look at every day without getting sick of it. If you end up with a car that makes you shudder when you look at it, you will never enjoy it.
Finally, fuel-efficiency, although not as big of a deal three years ago, is now a major factor in car buying. Now there are options of what kind of fuel you want to burn. For example, some options are E10, E20, compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, petrol, diesel, and B5. All of these fuels have their benefits, so decide which will suit you the best.
The best way to get the car that is going to fit you is to do your research on various vehicle models. Also, when doing this consider the added costs of an auto warranty, vehicle maintenance, and auto loans.
October 15th, 2009 by Hal Moses
With the poor economy, motorists are looking a little more closely at used cars. The National Automobile Dealers Association reports that last year the average cost of a used vehicle was around $15,000, while it was $29,000 for new vehicles.
While you want to purchase a pre-owned car that has a solid reputation for dependability, it’s even more beneficial to purchase a used vehicle that consumers find less popular, because it has already depreciated rapidly.
Many people believe that the best new vehicles make the best used vehicles, which is true in general. However, often these cars depreciate at a slower rate, which makes them popular as new vehicles, but means they cost more as used vehicles.
According to Kelly Blue Book, the vehicle brands that depreciate the slowest are Mini, Scion, Volkswagen, BMW, and Honda.
Instead of purchasing those models, consider other brands that have high reliability scores, but depreciate more quickly and can save you thousands of dollars. Domestic brands are good to consider, such as Dodge, Ford, and Chevrolet. These will get you a bargain.
If you want to save money by buying a used car, consider depreciation. You can get a good bargain by buying reliable, more rapidly depreciating models, and buy used car warranties to give you peace of mind.
October 15th, 2009 by Hal Moses
In order for a vehicle to maintain its peak performance motorists must get routine maintenance and service. This will also keep your car prepared for difficult driving conditions that come up. Purchasing used car warranties is a good idea so that you don’t dread taking in your car just to find that it requires additional repairs. To keep your car in tip-top shape, follow these tips.
First, check your tire pressure on a regular basis. To keep track, you should do it every other time that you get gas at the pump. In addition, check your tire treads to look for wear and tear and ensure that there isn’t any cracking.
Second, get regular car washes to keep a nice, shiny exterior. And add a coat of wax to keep away corrosion.
Don’t forget to be aware of your check engine light. Don’t ignore it if it lights up. Make sure to take your car to a professional in this case so that you don’t have expensive repairs down the road. Of course an auto warranty will help you avoid unnecessary repair expenses.
Lastly, determine a service schedule with a mechanic and keep it. Your car has certain parts that a professional should look at periodically. Look at your owner’s manual in order to determine what maintenance schedule is best for your car.
Just by following these tips you can head off unnecessary repairs in the future. However, you want to make sure you have an auto warranty to protect your wallet.
October 15th, 2009 by Hal Moses
As it turns out, the stereotypes happen to be true. Expensive vehicles and fast driving cause men’s testosterone levels to spike, reveals a study from Concordia University John Molson School of Business.
The study involved 39 men who volunteered. Each of the men was told to drive down a pedestrian loaded street, as well as a calm residential road. They drove each of these streets twice, each in different cars. The cars were a brand new Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet and a 93’ Toyota Camry. A sample of saliva was taken by researchers after each drive in order to measure the testosterone levels of the men.
According to the results, it didn’t matter which street they were driving on, however after driving the Porsche the men always demonstrated an elevated and sustained level of testosterone.
The author claims that men use expensive and powerful cars as sort of “sexual signaling devicesâ€, much like male peacocks do when they show their tail feathers. One thing is for sure though, although men are busy trying to impress women with their hot cars, they still need to buy an auto warranty to protect them.