Auto Warranty News

Many motorists don’t realize that a little bit of routine maintenance can keep you free of expensive car repairs.  And most maintenance takes no more time than refilling the fluid for your windshield wipers.  Here are a few tips to help keep drivers safe and free of trouble.

Make sure to change your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.  However, you should check your oil at least once a month.  You want the oil line on your dipstick to be between the marker lines.  If the oil looks dirty or black, it is time to have it changed.

If you’re having trouble shifting gears you are probably having transmission problems.  Check the level of the transmission fluid to determine if it is low.  Low transmission fluid could indicate a leak.  You should refill it with the lubricant your car recommends.  If you see leaking on your driveway take your car to a mechanic.

Also, check your coolant levels.  You should have your radiator flushed every two years and change your coolant.  In addition, make sure your radiator is corrosion free.

Finally, check your tire pressure every two weeks.  Consult your owner’s manual for the correct pressure, and fill your tires accordingly.  Remember, both overinflation and underinflation affect safety and fuel efficiency, so it is important to maintain tire pressure.

These simple maintenance tips can keep you from having major, costly repairs.  However, it is important to purchase an auto warranty because you don’t want to be faced with unnecessary expenses down the road.

It can be difficult to find a car that is suitable for the needs of a family.  In fact, consumers can often feel overwhelmed with all of the choices.  So, what are some necessary considerations when purchasing a family car?

First, most families are in search of an affordable vehicle.  This typically means that the sticker price is under $30,000 and comes with a good auto warranty.  There are many good quality vehicles out there that go for less than $30,000, so if you are looking at a company that can’t produce a good vehicle for this price, you’re searching with the wrong company.

One very important feature for a family car is comfort.  Five people should be able to fit into a vehicle comfortably, otherwise no one will be happy.  Also, make sure that you have sufficient cargo space for groceries, hobbies, etc.

Safety is essential in a family vehicle.  Many of the new car models have innovative safety features capable of saving people’s lives.  For instance, the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu incorporates the OnStar system of communication, which has the Advanced Automatic Crash Notification.

Try not to get overwhelmed with the shopping process when looking for a family vehicle.  Just take these tips into consideration and make sure purchase an auto warranty in case of unforeseen repairs.

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.

Some consumers are apprehensive about purchasing a used car for fear that they will end up with a lemon.  However, purchasing a pre-owned vehicle in Philadelphia is about to become safer thanks to a new lemon law.

When this bill becomes a law, cars purchased in Philadelphia must be road-worthy.  If they aren’t, they can be returned for a full refund within three days.  This law, along with used car warranties, will give drivers peace of mind when purchasing a used car.

So, what does this mean for the used car buyer?  If you take your car in for an inspection by a licensed mechanic you can take the car back within 72 hours after the purchase if the car fails to pass the emission or safety inspection.  The vehicle can also be returned if information by the seller wasn’t disclosed, such as a defect with the structure.

Consumers are thrilled with the new lemon law because this means they won’t get stuck with a piece of junk.  With the addition of an auto warranty, motorists can finally have peace of mind when purchasing a used car.

Many people claim to love the smell of a new car.  However, the chemicals that gives cars that new smell may be harmful and have been known to cause long-term health issues.  However, consumers now have a guide that will aid them in figuring out the cars that are the safest.

An advocacy group in Michigan, called The Ecology Center, recently published a guide about toxic chemicals in vehicles and child seats on Tuesday.

The report deals with harmful substances, such as chlorine, bromine, heavy metals and lead.  The Ecology Center got samples of parts that people touch the most, such as center consoles, steering wheels, and seat fronts.

The investigation determined that there are top healthier cars from Smart, Acura, BMW, Chevrolet, Toyota and Honda.  Some cars that created high concern were by Suzuki, Mitsubishi, VW, BMW, Mazda, Lincoln, Audi, Mercedes, BMW and Kia.

Consumers are becoming more and more concerned with car safety issues.  They are taking precautions, such as doing research on new cars, and purchasing cars with added safety features, and new car warranties.

A lot of people use major vehicle hire companies like Avis, for rental cars on vacation.  Yet, consumers don’t often realize that these firms are a great source to purchase used vehicles.  Avis is in the business of car rentals, but they often sell their vehicles.  Buying a used vehicle from a company such as Avis allows for big savings.  This gives you more money in your pocket to put towards an auto warranty.

The cars that Avis sells are over a year old.  This allows Avis to make room for new vehicles.  This means that Avis has a current, well maintained fleet.  Popular car models often end up being sold early, after a certain mileage number has been met.

Another bonus of purchasing a used car from Avis is the metallic paint on the exterior.  You usually don’t find this on cars sold by a dealership.  Often, drivers are hesitant to purchase a used car from a rental firm because they are afraid the car has endured a lot of wear and tear.  After all, many people have used the vehicles.  Yet, Avis says that their vehicles for sale are less than six months old and have less than 13,000 miles.  Also key is that many times the vehicles still have a valid auto warranty.

Small SUVs serve the purpose of ferrying people around on weekdays, and then bouncing through the countryside on the weekends. The 2009 Subaru Forester rises to this challenge with its new DC3 chassis, double wishbone rear suspension and AWD system.

Although the Forester was originally a station wagon, the third-generation model is all SUV.  This five-door hatchback has been restyled to have somewhat of a truck appearance.  This vehicle comes in five different trims; 2.5X, 2.5X Premium, 2.5X L.L. Bean, 2.5XT, and the 2.5XT Limited.

The Forester’s interior won’t disappoint.  It has clean lines, comfortable seats, and a stylish appeal.  Also, the visibility in this vehicle is superb which translates into a safe, secure drive.  In addition, cargo space is ample because Subaru has tucked the inner-fender wells, which enhances capacity.

The 2009 Forester is a well-rounded vehicle great for everyday use and weekend play.  Its base price starts at $19,995 and the top of the line XT Limited is $28,195.  The wide range of prices allows a model for all different consumers, complete with an auto warranty.

What do you get if the “hybrid” is taken out of a hybrid pickup truck?  In the case of GM, you get the XFE, or Xtra Fuel Economy pickup trucks that are full size.  These trucks share a lot of running gear and hardware with their hybrid counterparts; however, the exception is the two mode gas-electric powertrain.

The Chevrolet Silverado XFE and GMC Sierra XFE provide fuel-efficiency ratings of 15/21 mpg for city/highway, in comparison to 21/22 mpg for city/highway for GMs two-mode hybrids and 14/20 mpg for non-XFE pickups that are comparable.  That is an approximate 5%-7% improvement over the trucks that are non-XFE.

Models that are XFE only come in two-wheel drive with the E85-capable LC9 5.3-liter V-8 and a six-speed transmission that is automatic.  An Aluminum engine block, as well as aluminum cylinder heads is used by the LC9 to save weight.  In addition, it has active fuel management in order to change the V-8 between eight-cylinder and four-cylinder modes in order to save fuel.

Consumers are looking to save money on fuel, and GM has delivered.  Also, consumers are concerned with purchasing cars with good new car warranties in order to avoid unnecessary repair expenses down the road.

When it comes to car features, experts claim that women take more of an interest in safety than men, while men are more concerned with the performance of a car, and the technical gadgets.

The interest that women have in safety is basically limited to safety features that are passive, such as rollover protection, airbags, and advanced seat belts, not active safety features, such as electronic stability control, and lane departure warnings, which help motorists avoid accidents.  The reason for this is that men take more of an interest in playing around with the latest technology than women do.

Generally, women request the safety features that are going to help their children remain safe.  In other words, women’s motherly instincts play a role in the safety features they choose.

In addition, women tend to have a more practical approach to vehicle shopping than do men.  That is why women’s purchases have more to do with safety, as opposed to how long it takes for the car to go from 0-60 mph.

Although men typically know more about cars than women, women seek out information about cars before purchasing.  This means that they end up purchasing cars that are safer.  Also, they make sure to purchase an auto warranty to maintain their cars.

While most Ford dealerships reacted with joy after Ford Motor Co.’s announcement that they will be making six additional fuel-efficient cars in America, others greeted the announcement with caution.

It’s going to be great to have small, fuel-efficient cars in the lineup because who knows what gas prices are going to do..

However, it is impossible to predict how long this shift toward fuel-efficient passenger cars will last.  Gas prices have already fallen drastically, but who knows how far down they will fall.

This same thing occurred in the ‘70s, and the reality is that America isn’t going to want to eliminate SUVs and pickup trucks forever.

Trucks are needed for construction companies, and therefore will keep being built.  Will they become more fuel-efficient for the future?  Of course, they are going to have to be.

As gas prices fall even more, customers could very well switch their tastes back to SUVs and trucks.

So, for now consumers are just trying to keep money in their pockets by purchasing small fuel-efficient cars with new car warranties, but as the economy improves and gas prices fall, that may all turn around.