Auto Warranty News

In Minnesota, there are new teen driving laws that will help teens sharpen their driving skills.  During the first driving year, teens won’t be able to drive late at night or carry multiple teenage passengers.

The Department of Public Safety claims that teens in Minnesota are overrepresented in car accidents every year because of distractions, driver inexperience, driving at night, and not using seat belts.  From 2005-2007, drivers who were 16 and 17 yrs old had involvement in 116 crashes that were fatal, which resulted in 133 deaths.

Having these laws will allow teen drivers to be safer and result in less injuries and deaths on roads in Minnesota.  Also, having used car warranties and maintaining cars will help teens stay safe on the roads.

The limitation on nighttime driving during the initial six-month licensure period will prohibit teens from driving after midnight, until 5 a.m., unless they are accompanied by a driver of at least 25 yrs of age.  Drivers who are 16 and 17 yrs old are approximately three times more likely to have a car crash resulting in a fatality at night than in the daytime.

The limitation on passengers for the initial six-month licensure period will allow just one passenger under 20 yrs old, unless there is a parent or guardian in the car.  Throughout the second six-month period of licensure, there can’t be more than three other people in the car under 20 yrs old, unless there is a parent or guardian in the car.

It is recommended by the DPS that parents help reinforce these laws and protect their children by making strict driving rules, purchasing an auto warranty, and keeping cars maintained.

Hyundai’s latest plan to get car shoppers in their door, called Assurance Plus, is going to be offered on every new car purchase during its Spring Sales Event, which is in effect Feb.23-April 30.  Assurance Plus builds on the recent Assurance Program, which is where you can turn in your Hyundai that you recently bought, if you lose your job, without owing the negative equity.

Assurance Plus adds to that principal by making three months lease or finance payments on your vehicle while you search for work.  If you still aren’t able to get a job, you can take the car back to the dealership and, under the Assurance program, have negative equity-anything you still owe, minus the value of the trade-in-absolved.

Chris Hosford, who is a spokesperson for Hyundai, gives credit to the Assurance program, which began in January, for being an integral part of the 14% sales increase compared to January of last year.  He also said that Hyundai isn’t intending to extend Assurance Plus beyond April 30.

Now, consumers can have security beyond new car warranties to bring them peace of mind.  Hyundai’s program isn’t just benefiting car shoppers, its bringing Hyundai added business.

One of the most expensive hobbies is collecting cars.  But, here is a twist.  Purchase a new vehicle now that will become a valuable collectible in years to come.  The best part is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to purchase a value-appreciating car.  The following cars are on the road now, but will be regarded as nostalgic in 15-20 years.

First on the list is the Cadillac XLR-V Roadster.  This has a hand-built 4.4-liter V8 engine that puts out 443 hp.  This vehicle is a serious roadster and it competes with the Porsche 911 Cabriolet and Mercedes SL-Class.

The Lotus Exige S is also on the list.  For practical purposes, this car is miserable; after all you wouldn’t find it ideal for grocery shopping.  However, research shows that people admit their hearts beat faster when thinking about this ride.

Finally, the Mustang Shelby GT 500 KR is sure to be a collectible.  This car takes the GT500 in a bare bones form and makes it into a muscle car with540hp.  This car is a tribute to Carroll Shelby.

If you’re a car enthusiast, purchasing a current vehicle that is sure to be a collectible in the future is a smart financial move.  However, make sure that you purchase an auto warranty for these gems.  After all, the point is to keep these cars for many years.

There is no vehicle quite as exhilarating as a convertible.  Motorists love to feel the wind in their hair and the sun on their faces.  Convertibles give drivers a sense of freedom that is hard to find in any other vehicle.  However, are convertibles a good purchase?  Read on and decide for yourself.

Automakers have spent a lot of time improving convertibles.  Motorists used to have to worry about retractable tops leaking, but that is a thing of the past.  Today, convertible tops are superb at sealing out weather and sound.  And whether fabric or metal, the tops can go up and down with the touch of a button in less than 30 seconds.

Convertible safety has also greatly improved.  Cars are now equipped with side airbags.  These airbags deploy from the line of the window in order to create protection.  This is important in the case of a crash or rollover.

Although the convertible market hasn’t been growing, there are many interesting choices for consumers to consider.  Models that are newer, such as the Volkswagen Eos and Saturn Sky have been doing well in sales.  You might also want to consider a high-performance convertible, such as the Dodge Viper SRT10, Audi RS 4 Cabriolet, or the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet.  The benefit of buying a new convertible is that it comes with an auto warranty.

Unfortunately, many convertible owners admit that the novelty of driving a convertible wears off within the first year.  Luckily, convertibles hold their value very well, which means that if you become fickle, you probably won’t have a hard time getting your money back.

Recently, J.D. Power and Associates conducted a study, finding that now that the EPA has changed how it tests cars, motorists are finding that they get better mileage out of their cars than what was advertised.

Before the EPA decided to update its methods to reflect a more accurate view of modern driving conditions, motorists were consistently reporting that their combined average for fuel economy was less than the EPA rating advertised.

For example, before the update, back in 2007, motorists claimed that they got around 97% of the fuel economy that was advertised.  This was 3% worse than what was advertised.  And after the new standards for testing were implemented in 2008, motorists claimed they got around 105% of the fuel economy posted.

For drivers who are money conscious and calculate driving costs, such as insurance, used car warranties, and gas costs, they will have a pleasant surprise with their gas mileage.

Ask a woman if she wants to purchase a Dodge Viper and her answer is likely “no”.  This is a V-10, sports car with two seats with a starting sticker price of approximately $80,000.  However, studies show that this car attracts a large proportion of men drivers.  It seems that as far as cars go, men and women have very different taste.

At least 91% of people buying the Viper are men.  In addition, the BMW M5 and Porsche 911 are also large in buyer percentages being male.  The cost of these models is upward of $60,000.  Men tend to equate their vehicle with their image.  They pick cars that will give them a certain status.

What’s popular with women?  The Toyota RAV4 is the #1 choice.  Women dominate as being the purchasers of cars that are small, affordable and easy to buy.  For instance, the Saturn SL, Saturn SC and Saturn ION are popular with women.  These Saturns start at $10,000 and have a “no-hassle” reputation for buying.

It is clear that men and women think differently in many areas, including cars.  Men go for the impressive, fast cars, whereas women go for the small, inexpensive vehicles.  The only thing that these cars have in common is that they come with an auto warranty.

BMW already uses a start-stop engine for their non-hybrid European 1 and 3 Series, but Mazda is in the process of developing a version that is more efficient.  Mazda’s system that has been independently developed is called Smart Idle Stop System.  According to the company, this system will improve fuel-efficiency by around 10%.

The unique thing about Mazda’s system is how it restarts the powertrain.  Engine restart is initiated by employing the direct-injection system to spurt gas and ignite it under the specific conditions needed to make a downward force on the pistons that is perfect, seamlessly restarting the engine.  According to Mazda, drivers won’t feel any delay because it will only take 0.35 seconds to resume driving.

Mazda’s system appears to be a lot simpler than most other start-stop systems, which are commonly attached to hybrid systems.  Also, it will cost and weigh less than GMs mild hybrid system.  If Mazda combines this system with their new turbo, which is fuel-efficient, it could boost fuel-efficiency by about 40% in a few years, without any expensive hybrid technology.

Just remember, with any new car technology you should protect yourself by purchasing an auto warranty.  After all, you want peace of mind that you won’t have to pay unnecessary repair costs.

With the poor economy, drivers are feeling the pinch.  And while you don’t have control over costs, such as gas prices, maintenance, and an auto warranty, you do have the power to maintain your vehicle’s value by making it last longer.  Your choice is to buy a new vehicle every few years, or to maintain your current one.  Here are some tips to keep your old gem running great.

Perhaps the most important thing you can do for your car is to get regular oil changes and have your oil filter replaced regularly.  In addition, don’t forget about your air filter.  Changing this will allow your vehicle to breathe easier and help your engine last longer.

Don’t forget about your vehicle’s cooling system.  Keep coolant levels as recommended by your owner’s manual to avoid an engine melt down.  You wouldn’t think that a simple act such as this would save you from major repairs, but neglecting to do this will have you using your auto warranty more than you would like to.

The least expensive maintenance tip is to make sure your tires are inflated to the proper levels. However, the benefits of this are immense.  You will get better fuel-efficiency, have your tires last longer and have a safer vehicle.

Find a mechanic that you trust and use him for all of your car service.  This way he can get familiar with your car and know your car from the inside out.

If you want to avoid purchasing a new car right now, follow these service tips to keep your current car running like a champ.  And, make sure you purchase used car warranties so you don’t have unnecessary repair costs down the road.

It is helpful to use a car loan calculator to determine what the cost for a new or used car purchase will be monthly.

These can be found online with options for buying or leasing.  This is a helpful tool in determining what your budget actually is and how much car you can afford.  Just remember to factor in other car costs, such as maintenance and new car warranties.

Just remember that the numbers on a vehicle loan calculator are not actual quotes.  The calculator allows you to compare the costs of different cars and see what your payments per month will be.

On the calculator there is a line to enter the dollar amount you would like to finance. Then, by clicking your mouse you can compare what payments will be, with different arrangements for paying.  You can also find out what interest payments will be for the life of the vehicle loan.

It is a bonus to use a car loan calculator before going to a dealership to buy a vehicle.  You will already know what your budget is, which will allow you to make a smart purchase.  You will also know how much money you have left over to spend on maintenance costs and an auto warranty.

You may think you’re getting a bargain, but you might be mistaken.  According to Consumer Reports, a car that is inexpensive initially might cost you more in the long run.

People fail to add in additional costs such as, fuel, maintenance, an auto warranty, interest, depreciation, and interest.  After doing the math, you may find that owning the car may cost a lot more than you thought.  For example, a Mitsubishi Lancer at $17,500 is $5,000 less than the Mini Cooper.  However, if you look at owning the vehicle for five years, you will actually be paying $3,000 more for the Mitsubishi.

Consumer Reports says that the average new vehicle will depreciate in value 65 percent over the course of five years.  Just a few of these percentage points are significant for the owner of a car.  In addition, cost in fuel varies widely among vehicles.  Repairs and maintenance will add up to around 4 percent of ownership costs.

Motorists can protect themselves by considering all of the expenses that they will endure owning a vehicle and purchasing an auto warranty.  This will allow drivers to have peace of mind.