April 23rd, 2009 by Hal Moses
When teenagers turn 16 years old, they are excited to get their drivers license. Unfortunately, teens have more driving accidents than any other age group. For the majority of teen drivers, the question isn’t whether they are going to have an accident, but when they are going to have an accident.
Inexperience is the main reason that teenagers are vulnerable to traffic accidents. Although 16 to 19 year olds only make up 5.3 percent of the driving population in our nation, they’re involved in 13.3 percent of all of the traffic accidents and 11 percent of crashes that are fatal.
A new program aimed to protect teenagers is “graduated licensingâ€. Although the age of licensing is the same, full privileges come gradually.
The program begins with a learner’s permit. Next, is the intermediate stage, in which teens can drive during the daytime alone, and in the evening they can drive between 9 p.m-6 a.m. with a licensed driver. Then, the advanced stage comes. This is when teens can drive with no restrictions.
The graduated licensing program is a good step to make sure that our teens remain safe. However, teens need to protect themselves with a good auto warranty to avoid unnecessary repair costs.
April 23rd, 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.
April 23rd, 2009 by Hal Moses
People love to get a new car, but they don’t love the new car payments. But, although you can’t avoid those monthly payments, you can keep them reasonable. And make sure to factor in other costs, such as new car warranties, maintenance, and auto loans. Here are some tips to keep those car payments down.
Make sure you purchase a car that you need, not necessarily one that is on the lot. Often, cars on the lot have more features than you need. Dealers’ benefit from selling you one of these cars. Not only do they move a vehicle off their lot, they sell you a more expensive car.
Only buy features that you must have. For example, air conditioning is something most of us can’t live without, yet we don’t need climate control air conditioning. You can save a lot of money by living without luxury features. Watch out when the dealer tries to sell you power seats, audio systems, and tire packages. All of these things are nice, but not essential.
You can save a lot by avoiding a bigger engine. Test-drive a car model that has a standard engine. You might find that the car has more than enough power. By skipping the engine upgrade, you can save money upfront, as well as on fuel down the road.
Follow these simple tips to save yourself from paying high monthly payments. However, realize that the one thing that you shouldn’t skimp on is purchasing an auto warranty. You don’t want to be stuck with unnecessary repair costs down the road.
April 22nd, 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.
April 22nd, 2009 by Hal Moses
Unless you are actually a mechanic yourself, it may require a leap of faith to deal with a repair shop. However, paying attention to your mechanic’s actions can give you clues to their honesty. Here are some things to look out for.
If your mechanic says you need to flush your engine right away, or it will go bad, he might be padding your bill. Some shops will recommend procedures that aren’t necessary. Also, they may want you to schedule tasks that are premature. Pay attention to your owner’s manual for maintenance schedules.
Also, you don’t want to go to a shop that makes every repair recommendation sound like an emergency. This is a scare tactic for consumers who aren’t mechanically inclined.
If your mechanic tells you the new fuel injectors didn’t fix it, so you will need a new fuel pump, you are dealing with a parts replacer. This is a mechanic who is rebuilding your vehicle because he is unable to diagnose the problem. This is one reason an auto warranty is essential.
It can be hard for motorists to know which mechanics are trying to “take them for a rideâ€, however, there are a few things that you can do to protect yourself. First of all, make sure you have an auto warranty so you aren’t paying unnecessary repair costs. Secondly, follow these tips to see if your mechanic is acting honestly.
April 22nd, 2009 by Hal Moses
If you ask a woman if she would like to buy a Dodge Viper, chances are she will say “noâ€. This car is a V-10 two seater that starts at approximately $80,000. Although this may not be a woman’s cup of tea, studies show that many men would like to have this car. Like many other aspects of life, men and women seem to have very different tastes, and cars are no exception.
Men and women buy the Viper, but 91% of customers are men. The Porsche 911 and BMW M5 are also cars being bought primarily by males. These models cost above $60,000. Studies show that men often equate their car with their image. In other words, they choose cars that will portray a certain status.
What cars do women like? The #1 choice is the Toyota RAV4. Women like to purchase small, affordable cars that are easy to buy. For example, the Saturn SC, SL, and ION are popular choices for women. These cars start at around $10,000 including new car warranties, and have a reputation of being “no hassle†when it comes to buying.
It is obvious that women and men think very differently in lots of areas, cars included. Men like to buy the fast, impressive cars, whereas women purchase the inexpensive, small cars. The only common ground that these cars have is that they are backed by an auto warranty.
April 21st, 2009 by Hal Moses
According to a recent report, new car shoppers could do a lot more to ensure that they get the best deals on insurance, financing and new car warranties.
Only 64% of motorists said that they would ever attempt to negotiate the price of a new car. Also, when planning on trading in their current vehicle, over 2 million drivers said they wouldn’t even take the time to research the current value of their vehicle. In addition, more than 30% of motorists admitted that they probably wouldn’t even take one hour to research how to pay for their new car.
Unfortunately, 91% of car shoppers couldn’t explain what the term ‘lease purchase’ meant. This is a term used in many auto-financing deals. In addition, 50% of shoppers said that they would make a new car purchase without any insurance quotes.
America is known for being a nation of bargain hunters, yet motorists seem to be falling short when it comes to buying a new car. It’s essential for car shoppers to do their homework when looking to purchase a new vehicle. Insurance, financing, and an auto warranty are a crucial part of the car purchasing experience. So, it is important to shop around in order to get the best deal, otherwise you will find yourself paying for it.
April 21st, 2009 by Hal Moses
We’ve all been there. You’re driving along when all of a sudden you hear sirens blaring behind you. You realize that you are going to get a speeding ticket and you really don’t have the extra funds to pay for it. With all of the expenses you’re already paying for your vehicle, such as used car warranties, maintenance, and loans, the last thing you need is the added cost of a speeding ticket. Well, never fear because the Trapster just may save you.
Pete Tenereillo of California invented trapster. Essentially, this is a social network where motorists can use their cell phones to alert other drivers about speed traps that they have encountered.
All you have to do is sign up for a free membership at the website and then download the Trapster software on your cell phone. Most of the latest cell phones, PDAs and Blackberries can accommodate this software.
After signing up, you’re ready to get out and start driving. If you come across a state trooper looking for speeders you hit “pound 1†on your cell phone. This alerts other motorists when they approach the same spot.
This system is ideal because it’s “hands freeâ€, which means it’s safe for drivers. Also, sophisticated cell phones can allow a map to be displayed where the speed trap is.
April 18th, 2009 by Hal Moses
The 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP with 402 hp will give performance sedans that are already established a run for their money. The GXP is listed at $37,610, which is at least $1,000 cheaper than the Dodge Charger SRT8 and you still get an impressive auto warranty.
The GXP has a 402 hp, 6.2-liter V-8 engine with 402 pounds of torque, which is the most powerful Pontiac of all time. This vehicle has a six-speed automatic transmission that comes standard, however you can also get a six-speed manual for an extra $695.
For those of you who might think the 361-hp G8 GT already had enough power under the hood, don’t forget added horsepower isn’t the only impressive change to the GXP. This car has a track-tuned suspension and steering, a unique interior, Brembro brakes and new car warranties.
Some people have suggested that the GXP is a BMW M5 killer, however, this car is such a great bargain that you could purchase one for you and your friend and still end up shelling out less than you would for a M5.
April 18th, 2009 by Hal Moses
More and more cars are being loaded with high-tech advances. In fact, some luxury car models have up to 80 switches and knobs to allow for advanced safety and comfort of motorists. Yet, there are more high-tech gadgets coming onto the market.
Soon there will be sign recognition systems that will be able to read wrong-way signs and speed limits. This will come on the market in 2009-2010.
Cameras could replace sideview mirrors in the future. Images would be displayed on the rearview mirrors on the edges, or on the instrument panel.
We may see chatty cars in the future. Developers are trying to create a network that would monitor signals from car systems and warn other cars. For example, skidding due to slick roads could be transmitted to warn other drivers.
Bumper bags could help SUVs be less deadly when hitting a low-riding car. This has been shown to reduce intrusions and cause less injuries.
High-tech gadgets are great for motorists, but only if they learn how to use them before getting on the road. In addition, with any new technology, drivers should have an auto warranty to protect themselves from technology failure.