Auto Warranty News

A recent survey shows that only 29% of teenagers receive their licenses when they become eligible.  This is considerably down from 1998 in which 43% of teens received their licenses when they were eligible.  This is almost a 50% decrease in ten years.

Some reasons that the numbers have changed are parents who are willing to drive teens, an increase in insurance and gas prices, tighter laws, and changes in driver education.

Teenagers don’t have as many options for taking driver education as in the past.  Currently, only 20 % of schools offer driver’s education, which means students have to seek a private school or a program on the Internet.

Increasing insurance costs make it more difficult for teens to drive.  A typical insurance policy cost 80 to 100 percent more if a 16-year-old driver is on the policy.

Graduated driver laws for licenses are also causing teens to take their time getting behind the wheel.  These laws are intended to reduce car crashes in teens.

Teens are waiting to get their drivers licenses.  However, no matter what age they become licensed, they need to take precautions to protect themselves.  This includes acting responsibly, eliminating distractions, and purchasing an auto warranty.

How many people would shell out $45,000 for a little electric car made by the Chinese that has a driving range of 100 miles?  Even though it comes with new car warranties and may be eligible to get a tax credit of $7,500, there may not be a lot of people willing to pay the money for this vehicle.  However, Coda Automotive will discover the answer to that question next year with the launch of its five-passenger sedan in California.

For those who don’t know, Coda Automotive is actually a spin-off of Miles Electric Vehicles.  This car is based on Haifei Auto’s sedan platform, and will drive around 100 miles.  There isn’t a generator on-board, so after driving 100 miles the vehicle needs to be plugged into a power source.  However, with the optional fast charger, the batteries can be recharged within 10 to 15 minutes.

Many small vehicles that are eco-friendly, such as the Toyota Prius or Honda Insight, have an aerodynamic styling that will communicate their frugal powertrains, however the Coda doesn’t do this.  It has the appearance of a people’s car, not a trendy, zero-emissions vehicle.

BMW is following in the footsteps of other carmakers with diesel cars, like Volkswagen and Mercedes, by qualifying its two diesel models for income tax credits by the federal government.

You will receive a $900 credit on your next tax return for the 2009 BMW 335d sedan, and $1,800 on the 2009 X5 xDrive35d SUV.  Both of these cars use BMW’s 3.0-liter, twin turbo inline six cylinder diesel engines and both are eligible for these credits under the Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle tax credit program.  The X5 is rated 19/25 mpg and the diesel sedan gets 23/33 mpg.

This sounds wonderful, however you have to remember that the 335d costs $43,900 including new car warranties and the X5 xDrive35d has a base price of $51,200 with an auto warranty.  It’s doubtful that a savings of $900 will really do much to help stimulate the economy.

Recently, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tested additional small cars from the 2009 model year and discovered that 11 out of the 21 cars that were tested claimed a Good rating in side crash tests, which is the top rating.  That’s a significant increase from the three out of 19 small cars back in 2006 that got that rating.

However, it is notable that out of the seven cars tested in this round, none of them received the Top Safety Pick by the IIHS, like the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic did.  Among the cars with the highest rating were the Ford Focus, Suzuki SX4, the Toyota Matrix, and the Pontiac Vibe.  The poorest scoring car was by far the Chrysler PT Cruiser, which scored Poor in rear and side tests.

IIHS made it a point to say that although small cars have made large improvements, large cars are still a safer choice.

IIHS senior vice president Joe Nolan said, “There’s no escaping the laws of physics.  People in larger, heavier cars fare better in crashes with other vehicles and in single-vehicle crashes than people in smaller ones.”

Consumers are becoming more and more concerned with vehicle safety, and tests show that small cars are improving greatly in crash tests.  Motorists can also protect themselves by purchasing an auto warranty and keeping up with car maintenance.

Every year thousands of people are killed in car accidents.  Many of these crashes could have been avoided with some simple safety knowledge.  Here are some tips to keep your driving experience pleasant and help you avoid dangerous accidents.

First of all, if your are taking any medicines, double check your product label to see if it could affect your driving.  If your medication causes drowsiness, stay off of the roads.

Next, secure children properly in a restraint system that is size and age appropriate.  All children less than 12 years of age should be in the back seat.  Just by putting children in the back, and not the front reduces injuries and deaths 30%.

One of the biggest causes of car accidents is driver inattention.  This means that drivers should stay off of cell phones and pay attention to the road.

Finally, prepare a safety kit in your car.  It should include a first aid kit, flashlight, nonperishable foods, water, blankets, motor oil, jumper cables, and a spare tire. And all drivers should have used car warranties in order to keep up with important maintenance and car repairs without unnecessary costs.

So, you’ve done your research.  You’ve been to numerous car dealers with quotes from the Internet, so you know what is out there.  You know all about rebates, and have learned how to negotiate.  However, you still can’t find the right car for the right price.  Never fear, there is a car out there for you.  Consider these options.

It is a good idea to get a vehicle model late in the year, when a new model is about to come out.  For example, a very satisfied consumer bought a Honda Civic coupe in 2000, late in the year, right before the seventh-generation Civic was released.  He saved thousands.  Cars that you could purchase this year in this category are the GMC Sierra and VW Beetle.

Another good tactic for saving on a used car is to look at rental car sales.  Most companies such as Hertz and Alamo sell their cars.  Although they often have high mileage, they endure a rigorous maintenance plan.  You can save up to one-third of the price of the car new.

Finally, you can get a great deal on dealership demo models.  These vehicles usually have low-mileage.  Often times they are used for test drives.

Any educated consumer can get a good deal on a used car.  By doing research, and trying various options, you can rest assured that you are getting the most for your dollar.  Just make sure to maintain your vehicle and purchase an auto warranty in case of unforeseen repairs.  After all, used car warranties bring you peace of mind.

Most people looking to buy a new vehicle are concerned only with the sticker price.  While this is an important number to consider, another number is just as important: the resale value.  During the initial five years of ownership, depreciation is the biggest expense that drivers will incur.

Most cars will only retain just over 30 percent of the original sticker price after five years.  For instance, if a vehicle sold for $20, 000 it would only be worth $7,000 five years later.

However, certain vehicles will hold onto their value much better than others.  A lot of a car’s resale value is determined by supply and demand, and also how the market is projected to be.  Also important is the quality of a vehicle.  Cars sell better if they were built well.

There are a few factors that new car shoppers should take into account in order to ensure that the value of their car holds as much as possible.  First of all, it is important to purchase a car with a popular exterior color.  These include white, black, gray and silver.  Secondly, a vehicle that has a classic, traditional style will have a higher resale value than something trendy.

When purchasing a new vehicle, stick with a well-built, classic car.  This will keep you from losing money in the long run.  Also, to hold onto your money, purchase new car warranties that will keep you from shelling out money for costly repairs.

GM just announced this morning that it is planning to sell the Hummer brand, which will allow 3,000 jobs in the U.S. to stay in place, including jobs at the dealership level.  It wasn’t disclosed what the sale price was, or who was set to buy Hummer, however, GM did state that it plans to be a contract partner through the transition period.

GM also claimed that the Hummer H3, as well as the H3 SUT would continue production, even through this transitional time.

Although Hummer has lost some of its luster here in the U.S., GM claims that selling Hummer will expand the global reach for the brand.  And with new car warranties, consumers can rest assured that they won’t end up paying a fortune in unnecessary repair costs.

Mercedes-Benz is known for offering consumers comfort at any price, and its new SplitView is a perfect example.  This is an 8-inch GPS display screen, which is programmed for transmitting two images that are different- one for the passenger and one for the driver, at the same time.

The system is pretty technical, but basically the screen utilizes a masking filter that allows different images to appear when viewed from different angles.

For example, the driver can view directions or climate information while the front passenger views a TV show or DVD.  Mercedes claims that it’s aware there is potential for distractions, so to alleviate this passengers watching a DVD can use headphones, as well as a remote control in order to lessen the distraction for the driver.

If you’re interested in the SplitView, it will be available in the summer of 2009, on the S-Class.  Just make sure with any new technology that you have a good auto warranty that will cover you in case repairs are needed.

According to Audi, there will be minor adjustments to the Q7 SUV, which include a front and rear end that is slightly revised.  However, the change that is the most noticeable on this vehicle is the LED running lights that encircle the entire design of the headlight.  In addition, the rear also gets LED brake lights.

The interior of the car pretty much stays the same, except for front seats with new leather and the third-generation of the infotainment system that sports a multi-media interface.  And this car has an intriguing navigation system operated by voice-activation.  Motorists can just say a command, such as “I’m hungry” or “I need gas”, and the computer will locate the appropriate points of interest in the local vicinity.  This will eliminate car accidents and roadside assistance calls that were caused by distractions having to do with the navigation system.

Choices for the engine include the current 3.6-liter V-6 and 4.2-liter V-8, as well as a new option of TDI for those people who want a diesel alternative.  Audi claims that the 2010 Q7 TDI is going to get approximately 25 mpg with a range of 600 miles.  This car will go on sale in the fall complete with new car warranties.