Auto Warranty News

Because of the poor economy, Americans are trying to find ways to save at the gas pump.  Ford has put together some easy tips for all motorists, which suggest ways to alter their driving behavior.

First of all, drivers should slow down and keep a steady speed.  Consider driving 55 mph instead of 65 mph.  Just by following this simple tip you can improve your fuel economy 10-15%.  Also, by maintaining a constant speed and not pumping the accelerator you can avoid sending more gas to the engine.

Next, avoid aggressive driving to avoid wasting fuel.  Also, this will help you avoid wearing out brakes and tires.  Try to have a smooth acceleration and soft brake.

Don’t waste money idling.  Even in frigid temperatures, engines today don’t need to warm up.  After starting the vehicle, drive away gently.  Instead of idling in traffic and fast food drive-thrus, just turn you engine off.

Finally, purchase an auto warranty so that you aren’t afraid to have maintenance and repairs performed.  Maintaining your vehicle will ensure that it is running efficiently and has the best fuel economy possible.

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.

More and more recent cars are being sold with all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive as an option.  Is this something that your really need?  Will it actually make you safer or is it just a way for automakers to make extra money?

As of now, there haven’t been any formal studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the effectiveness or ability to prevent crashes, in regards to four-wheel drive.

To decide if two or four-wheel drive is for you, you should make a list of the ways you will be using the vehicle and the conditions you will be driving in.

And ask yourself a series of questions.  For instance, do I live in an area with a lot of rain or snow?  Or, do I go on skiing trips often?  Do I travel on dirt roads, or off-road?  Also, will I be doing a lot of hauling?

These are worthwhile situations to have two or four-wheel drive.  However, if you’re just traveling on roads where there are mild conditions, you probably don’t need it.

Having two or four-wheel drive can benefit you greatly if you’re going to use it often.  However, if you really don’t need it, it might just be a waste of money.  This is a terrific feature, but you will want to purchase an auto warranty to ensure that you aren’t going to pay repair costs that are unnecessary down the road.

Consumers can experience sensory overload when walking down the car care isle at their local store.  It can be confusing to know what products to purchase, or even if you need to purchase them.  Some people assume that if you have a factory auto warranty that includes the finish, you don’t need to bother washing and waxing, but this isn’t true.

A factory auto warranty will protect you by ensuring that the paint job was sound, that they used quality paint, and that it was cured correctly.  However, new car warranties won’t protect you from oxidation that occurs over time.  This happens naturally if you don’t care for your finish.  Car wax serves the purpose of being a sacrificial layer between Mother Nature and your paint.

If new car owners want to keep their finishes looking great, they don’t have to spend a lot of time or money.  Preventative maintenance is the key for your finish, just like it’s under the hood.  All you have to do is wash your vehicle frequently with car care products.  Even just a basic car wash will do a lot to help protect your investment.  After washing, you can spray-on a wax that will boost the shine and extend the intervals between regular wax jobs.

With the increase in gas prices around the nation, consumers are finding themselves wondering what fuel-efficient alternatives there are. In fact, more and more drivers are putting off getting to the gas pump and finding themselves stuck on the side of the road calling for emergency auto assistance. Gas-electric hybrids have received a large amount of attention recently, yet, diesel powered cars may be the answer.

Diesel cars have gained a lot of popularity around the world.  They account for approximately 50% of new cars in Europe; however, U.S. car shoppers have been slow to gain interest.

Even though fuel mileage levels can be around 40% higher with diesels than gas powered cars, diesels only account for 2% of the new cars in the U.S.

There is a whole new generation of diesels that are clean, quiet and much more powerful than in the past.  The 2007 Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec sedan will prove that this recent diesel technology can be luxurious in addition to giving you 37-mpg.

Diesels have come very far and are becoming a great option for drivers.  Also, there are becoming more and more models for consumers to choose from.  Of course, drivers should protect themselves with a good auto warranty to avoid unnecessary repair costs.

According to J.D. Power and Associates, in 2008, overall satisfaction for customers with dealer service improved drastically.  Over two-thirds of the 37 brands that were ranked showed gains.

The study, which is now in its 28th year, looks at the satisfaction among car owners who get maintenance or repairs done at the service department of the dealership within the first three years, which is a large part of the auto warranty period.

After staying generally flat since 2005, satisfaction has increased to 882 on a scale of 1,000 in 2008.  This is a significant improvement from 2007 of 6 points.

The reason for the improvement is primarily because of an increase in the amount of maintenance work done and improved satisfaction in repair work.  Motorists who go to the dealer for routine maintenance are on average more satisfied (894) than customers who have repairs done (862).

Improvements in vehicle quality have caused a decline in the need for car repairs within the initial three years of car ownership.  Dealers are more focused than ever on satisfying their repair customers because they are finding it hard to achieve profitability.

Recently, a CEO of Gulf Oil said that a barrel of oil could cost as low as $20, and gas prices could bottom out at $1 per gallon by early 2009.  Currently, gas is at $1.77 per gallon nationwide, according to AAA.

This information, coming from an insider in oil, is mind-boggling when you consider that just six months ago gas was at an all-time high of $4.11 per gallon and people were calling for roadside assistance because they avoided filling up their tanks and ran out of gas.

While many people in the media claim that low gas prices are the silver lining in what one could call an economy that is dismal, it’s in reality the canary in the coalmine, which foretells deflation and a severe recession.

However, in the real world, this may mean simply that the fuel bill won’t be a pressing matter over the next several months, while many people are concerned about housing and jobs.  For now, people are trying not to spend a lot of money.  In fact, most consumers are holding onto their current cars and protecting themselves with used car warranties.

Many motorists don’t realize that buying a less-expensive vehicle model can actually end up costing you more in the long run than a model that is more-expensive up front.

One example of this is a Mitsubishi Lancer vs. a Mini Cooper Clubman.  A new Lancer costs around $17,500, which is $5,000 less than the initial cost of the Mini Cooper.  Yet, when you consider what ownership costs will be with each vehicle, the Mitsubishi Lancer will end up costing you about $3,000 more after owning the car for five years.

Also, a Toyota Highlander will initially cost you $3,000 more than a Ford Explorer V6.  However, when you consider ownership costs you will end up paying $6,500 more over a five-year period.

Motorists are very concerned with the sticker price of a vehicle when choosing a car, but many people fail to factor in the ownership costs.  For example, auto loans, maintenance costs, an auto warranty, fuel costs, repair costs, and sales tax need to all be factored into the equation.

Unfortunately, mistakes are a common occurrence when you’re in a place that is unfamiliar.  According to a recent survey, people who drive RV’s admit to making expensive slip-ups.  Approximately 1,000 RV motorists participated in the survey, and revealed some mishaps that are interesting to say the least.

The following were the most common mistakes:  running out of gas, connecting taillights incorrectly, backing up and hitting something, not being able to accurately judge clearance, and pulling out of a parking spot with the steps still out.

According to the survey, approximately 50% of RV motorists travel for at least a month out of the year, and around 40% log 500 miles in their trip.

Although you can usually find blunders humorous, they can cost you big bucks in repairs and damages.  This is why it is necessary to have good insurance and an auto warranty for your RV.  After all, you need to be able to get back on the road as quickly as possible after a mishap.

Anyone who has held on to a Babe Ruth rookie card knows the rewards of purchasing an item that is a classic.  It retains its value and will provide a return that is significant.  Whether it is a painting, antique, or automobile, people are finding that the high quality of classics are twice as nice.

An example of this is a high-performance vehicle, such as Mercedes-Benz.  In fact, 74% of all of the Mercedes vehicles sold are still on the road today.  This is a great testament to the quality and value of these cars.

Finding a classic car isn’t necessarily about purchasing something brand new.  If you’re looking for a used vehicle, the brands that are the best known are the ones that will be reliable.

Of course, finding a pre-owned vehicle of quality can be tricky, so do your homework to ensure that you make a wise choice.  You can find important information on the Internet, such as blue book prices at kbb.com or history reports at carfax.com.  Also, you should look on the web for prices on an auto warranty and auto loans.