September 5th, 2009 by Hal Moses
The recommended intervals for oil changes have increased a significant amount over the last ten years. It used to be that oil changes were recommended every 3,000 miles, but now recommendations are for every 8,000 miles. This is great news for drivers because it means less time at the mechanic and less money spent. However, there are a few cautionary notes to consider.
First of all, consult your owner’s manual for the “maximum recommended intervalâ€. Make sure you don’t extend beyond that number because saving $40 on an oil change is not worth having an $800 repair due to sludge buildup.
Second, if your driving type falls under “heavy duty†you will need to change your oil more regularly. Often, drivers don’t realize that daily stop-and-go commuting falls under this category. Also, if you use your vehicle for short trips with little highway driving you many need shorter oil changeouts.
Finally, you should use the specific oil type/grade recommended by the carmaker. Failing to use the right oil type can result in poor car performance, engine damage, and even void the terms of your auto warranty.
Although less frequent oil changes are convenient for consumers, people need to follow these cautionary notes. After all, you don’t want to ruin an engine because you didn’t add a couple of quarts of Pennzoil. This is why an auto warranty is always a good idea, too.
September 5th, 2009 by Hal Moses
Do you find that you are apprehensive about negotiating with an auto dealer? Shopping for a vehicle doesn’t have to be nerve-racking, however, you need to be aware of a few things that you shouldn’t say to a dealer.
First, you shouldn’t start talking about monthly payments, instead focus on negotiating the purchase price. It can become confusing when you’re discussing monthly payments because it might be unclear whether the payment is for 24 or 36 months.
Don’t tell the dealer right away if you’re willing to trade-in your car. If the dealer is aware of this he will know that you want to get as much money for your car as possible. The dealer might agree to give you a lot for your trade-in, but usually it’s a smokescreen because then they will fix the price of the new car.
Don’t tell the dealer if you’re planning on paying for the car in cash. They count on making a lot of money in financing, and if they know that they won’t be able to count on that money, chances are they won’t negotiate on the sticker price.
Do your homework before showing up at a dealership. Be prepared with information about new car warranties, financing, and vehicle prices. This will help you negotiate a successful deal on a car.
September 5th, 2009 by Hal Moses
Although certified pre-owned warranties are very similar, they do vary some depending on the car manufacturer. They combine the manufacturers original auto warranty with a certified pre-owned auto warranty, and then offer roadside assistance along with other benefits. The advantages are apparent: instead of taking a risk with a used car that you know nothing about, you get a car with a complete history and auto warranty.
Chrysler decided to go one step further and offer extended service contracts for Jeep, Chrysler, and Dodge certified pre-owned vehicles. The contracts will be divided depending on what they cover. For instance, the Lifetime Powertrain Care will cover transmissions, engines, and drivelines; the Lifetime Added Care Plus will cover those mechanisms and also electrical functions in the interior, suspensions, and fuel systems; and the Lifetime Maximum Care plan will cover all of the above with just a few exclusions.
Chrysler has not yet announced pricing plans for these contracts, so it isn’t clear how much more consumers will have to pay to get a lifetime component auto warranty, or whether consumers will want the new car warranties at all.
September 5th, 2009 by Hal Moses
When some people think of pre-owned vehicles, they visualize dirty, old, junky cars. But there is another market, certified pre-owned cars, which are making savvy buyers take notice.
Certified pre-owned vehicles have had thorough inspections and refurbishing. This eliminates the concern about reliability that often goes along with purchasing a used car. Also, certified pre-owned cars are backed by an extended auto warranty. These benefits are hard to pass up. Automakers understand that they shouldn’t ignore the popularity of the certified car market.
A recent study revealed that since 2000, certified pre-owned sales have risen 46%. In fact, approximately 1.5 million of these cars are sold every year. That is the equivalent to around 10% of new car sales.
How do you know the best and worst certified pre-owned vehicles to buy? Forbes.com has a list that will assist motorists in making a good purchase.
The Honda Accord and Toyota 4Runner come in at the top of the list. Next, is the Acura TL, followed by the Subaru Impreza. The Lexus GS also comes in high on the list.
The worst cars on the list are the Saturn Relay, and Jeep Grand Cherokee. Also making the worst list are the Pontiac G6, Volkswagen New Beetle, and Mercedes Benz E Class.
Certified pre-owned vehicles offer an updated car without the updated price. Also key is that they come with an auto warranty.
September 4th, 2009 by Hal Moses
Luckily, as of now, not all of the economic news is tragic.
According to economists from Comerica Bank, vehicles have currently become more affordable than has been seen in 28 years. So, the last time vehicle shoppers’ purchases made up this small of a piece of his or her income, fuel prices were higher than ever and comedians were telling jokes about how old presidential candidates were.
Comerica says that the average cost of a light vehicle currently is $27,704, including new car warranties, and the average amount of money that people spent on a vehicle fell $700 this quarter, to approximately $23,900. Motorists have been keeping their payments down by stretching out how much time they will take to pay it off, which is currently more than 62 months.
Incentives have started the trend, which continue to get better as dealers try to get rid of inventory (they especially look appealing if you want to purchase an SUV or truck), but for the most part, motorists have just begun to want less-expensive models.
September 4th, 2009 by Hal Moses
Almost every vehicle that has front wheel-drive uses car struts on the front. They aren’t just shock absorbers. They integrate many different suspension parts into one assembly. Included are the spring seats, coil spring, shock absorbers, steering knuckle, and strut bearing.
The shock absorber is the part of the strut that is commonly serviced the most.
The strut has many different purposes that it serves. Because of the spring, the strut can support the vehicle’s weight while it’s traveling and allows for adaptations of road irregularities. The shock absorber that is internal will dampen the spring’s movement while it is compressing and rebounding.
The function of the strut housing is structural. It connects the bearing in the upper strut to the ball joint down below. This allows the whole assembly to pivot as someone turns the steeling wheel.
It is a good idea to have your vehicle’s suspension system checked by a service technician that is qualified. The struts in a car should be checked once a year, along with the alignment of wheels. You never know when car parts will wear out, so an auto warranty, as well as regular maintenance is a necessary part of your routine.
September 4th, 2009 by Hal Moses
Families consider the safety of their children a top priority. Unfortunately, car accidents are responsible for more deaths among 3-14 year olds than any other cause. Parents need to take essential steps to make sure that their children remain safe on the road. That means buying an auto warranty to ensure that repairs are up-to-date, and making sure that car seats are installed and used correctly.
More than 1,500 children under the age of 14 were killed in 2003, and around 220,000 were injured as the result of a car accident. Just using a child safety seat correctly can reduce these incidents drastically. In fact, casualties are reduced by around 70%. Alarmingly, approximately 75% of child seats are installed incorrectly. Unfortunately, about half of children killed in car crashes aren’t even restrained at all.
GM has a program designed to combat this problem called Safe Kids Buckle Up. This program informs parents about the importance of proper car seat use. This program has been running for over 10 years, has had 40,000 child seat checks around the country, and has inspected over 900,000 car seats.
September 3rd, 2009 by Hal Moses
Satellite navigation devices, or the popular GPS interfaces that many motorists have in their vehicles, are, partly responsible for a large share of accidents and driving practices that are risky.
With about half of the motorists on the roads having access to devices such as these in their vehicles, it appears that this technology has penetrated the market. Drivers who have satellite navigation devices are much more likely to be involved in a minor accident or risky behaviors. In fact, 1.5 million say that they have engaged in sudden maneuvers, and approximately 5 million admit to going against the flow of traffic.
GPS systems fall into the same category as other car distractions, such as cell phones, kids, the radio, or passengers. This might be one of the reasons that road safety campaigns say that ‘Good Drivers Just Drive’.
Drivers should pre-plan their trips in order to avoid distractions by GPSs. In addition, drivers should protect themselves by purchasing used car warranties, and avoiding other in car distractions.
September 3rd, 2009 by Hal Moses
Credit is a key factor when an auto shopper is trying to figure out how much they will pay for a car. However, according to experts, people should look at various dealers to compare special financing deals. This is as important as shopping around for a car type.
It is important to request a copy of your credit report and score through a credit agency. This will give you a better idea of what you will be dealing with when you talk about financing.
There are web-based tools that you can look to for help. For example, AutoTrader.com is a website for classifieds that actually has a credit center for people looking to buy a car with bad credit. And while other websites of a similar nature require the consumer to disclose personal and confidential information, the credit center only asks general questions to give the shopper privacy.
After you fill out the questionnaire, you will get a credit level that is estimated excellent, good or fair. Next, you can do a search among car dealers in your area that can help you with your specific financing needs.
The key is to be prepared when you walk into the dealership. Websites are a great way to arm you with knowledge. You can learn all about car prices, credit scores, and prices on an auto warranty. You want to do your homework so that you can get the best deal you can on the car itself, financing and new car warranties.
September 3rd, 2009 by Hal Moses
It is essential for consumers to do their homework before trying to purchase a new vehicle. To avoid unnecessary costs, follow these three important tips.
First of all, you need to shop around to find the best dealership. To do this, use the Internet and read blogs that people have written about specific dealerships. You will find a wealth of information just by doing web searches. Many times, you will come across complaints or favorable revues about how a dealership operates. Also, it is a good idea to contact three dealerships in your area to determine which one responds quickly. This will give you an indication of good service.
Next, dealers will try to talk you into financing through them, but don’t do it. Financing at dealerships typically isn’t the best deal you can find. Save your money by finding financing elsewhere and use your extra money for a much needed auto warranty.
Also, don’t fall for buying an alarm system through the dealer. Carmakers already install wiring in vehicles, yet they then sell alarm systems for approximately $1,200 separately. They will tack this cost onto the price of the new car purchase.
Lastly, sell your current car yourself to save money. Chances are you aren’t going to get as much money for it through the dealership.
Follow these tips to save big when it comes time to purchase a car. Also, purchase new car warranties to protect your wallet down the road.
The recommended intervals for oil changes have increased a significant amount over the last ten years. It used to be that oil changes were recommended every 3,000 miles, but now recommendations are for every 8,000 miles. This is great news for drivers because it means less time at the mechanic and less money spent. However, there are a few cautionary notes to consider.
