Auto Warranty News

Cell phones are capable of doing just about anything these days, so they might as well be used to unlock your car doors and start your engine.

That was Sharp’s logic when it teamed up with Japanese mobile company NTT DOCOMO and Nissan to manufacture a cell phone that you can program to electronically control engines and door locks.  Essentially, Sharp installed an existing piece of technology, or Nissan’s Intelligent Key, into a phone.

These technologies seem so well suited that it’s surprising that the latest iPhone didn’t include a feature such as this.  Gizmodo claims that this integration was a long time coming.  Apparently, the filthy rich, hackers, and the Chinese have pretty much all had this idea.  U.S. drivers should have access to this technology early in 2009.  However, if you’re willing to pay for technology such as this, make sure you don’t neglect to invest in a good auto warranty. After all, you don’t want to end up paying unnecessary repair expenses down the road.

Results from a recent study show that motorists who repeat buy the same car brand the most are owners of hybrids.  By segment, the buyers who were the most loyal were those of full-size pickup trucks, which is a long held title.

The news about hybrids is quite significant because not all car manufacturers offer hybrid cars.  Because of this, someone who purchases a Honda or Toyota hybrid will then choose that same brand for his or her next car purchase.

Owners of Toyota Prius’ purchased another Toyota vehicle 51% of the time, and approximately 25% of those people purchased another Prius.  In comparison, those Toyota owners who had a non-hybrid bought another Toyota just 44% of the time.

Truck owners purchasing a new vehicle decided on another truck about 33% of the time, whereas hybrid owners only purchased another hybrid 25% of the time.  The average rate of loyalty was 21%.

It is important to keep in mind that with any vehicle purchase, no matter what kind, it is necessary to purchase an auto warranty to protect your wallet.  After all, you don’t want to find yourself paying unnecessary repair expenses down the road.

Many people believe it is easiest to trade in your current car when buying a new one.  However, is trading the right choice for you?  There are some advantages and disadvantages to trading.

The big advantage to trading over selling is that you have very little hassle.  You don’t have to haggle with buyers and you get rid of your car quickly.  However, the fact is that you aren’t going to get as much for your car if you trade it in.

Any used vehicle has a specific retail value.  If a dealership is going to sell that vehicle, they will have certain expenses, such as fixing dents and scrapes, cleaning it, and just overhead costs of running their business.  Therefore, the dealership has to sell it for a little more than a private owner would.

Since dealers need to make a good profit on used vehicles, they purchase them for less than the retail value.  When the dealership takes a trade in vehicle, they are essentially purchasing it from the new car customer, and at a price below the retail value.  Essentially, this is called the trade in value.

Although trading in your car is easier than going through the hassle of trying to sell your car privately, you are going to get less money for your vehicle.  If you sell your vehicle on your own, you can put the extra money you get towards important things such as an auto warranty and maintenance costs.  And with used vehicles, used car warranties are a smart choice.

Because of a full-size pickup truck market that is lagging and the challenge that diesel engines face in the U.S., Toyota has decided to put their plans for a diesel Tundra on hold.

There are several things that forced Toyota’s hand.  First, there are technical challenges when it comes to making diesel engines that will meet the standards of federal emissions.  Also, costs for diesel fuel are higher than many people are willing to pay right now.    However, Toyota does believe it will come back to the idea when the economy improves and people become more interested in pickup trucks.  For now, however, people are trying to protect their wallets by purchasing fuel-efficient vehicles with a good auto warranty.

Instead of the Tundra, Toyota has decided to start production of a vehicle that is based on its concept of the A-BAT (Advanced Breakthrough Aero Truck), which was seen at the 2008 auto show in Detroit.  This was one of the favorite vehicles at the show and it has two fuel-efficient drivetrains.

The perks of purchasing a used car are the low initial price, property taxes, and insurance costs.  The “downs” are that it isn’t new, which means there’s no auto warranty and you are more vulnerable to car problems.  However, you can reduce your exposure to risk by taking these precautionary measures.

First, shop for used vehicles that are newer, which might still have a portion of their new car warranties left.  Most late model cars have three-year/ 36,000-mile basic auto warranty coverage, so you could get a year of coverage if you look for cars less than three years old.  Otherwise, you should purchase an auto warranty to cover your used vehicle.

Next, check the background of the make and model car that you are looking at.  Go to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations website to check out recall and safety information.  Also, it never hurts to take a look at Consumer Reports to see if the particular car you like is problematic.

Also, you should always have a mechanic look at the car you are thinking of buying.  This will let you know if the vehicle has been well maintained or has any major problems.

Used cars are a great option for people who don’t want to pay for the instant depreciation associated with new cars.  Just make sure to protect yourself by doing your research and purchasing an auto warranty.

The Ford F-Series was able to stay on top of the top 10 best-selling vehicles in the country for November.  However, sales proved to be significantly down in practically every vehicle brand in the market.

Chrysler turned out to be the biggest loser this month, with a 47% drop in sales in comparison to November 2007.  Next came Nissan, with a 42% drop in sales, and then GM with a 41% drop.  Toyota had a decline of 33.9%, and Honda was down 31.6%.  Ford rounded out the picture with a drop in sales of 30%.

Practically every make experienced significant drops.  Kia and Hyundai were down 37% and 40% respectively, while luxury carmakers Mercedes-Benz and BMW were down 38% and 36% respectively.

The numbers demonstrate that regardless of common beliefs, the poor car market is not just a domestic issue.  Germany is experiencing so many problems that their government is considering bailing out the carmakers.

Hopefully, the market will experience an upswing where consumers will go out and purchase new cars.  However, for now people are holding on to their current cars and buying used car warranties.

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.

After reading GM’s business plan that was submitted to Congress with intentions of securing loans in the amount of $12 billion, it seems that some major changes could have a drastic impact on car shoppers.  People may just decide to hold onto their current cars and purchase used car warranties, instead of wondering what is going to happen here.

GM claims it will now be focusing on research and development for Cadillac, Buick, Chevrolet and GMC.  Pontiac is going to become a “niche” brand, selling fewer models in joint GMC, Buick and Pontiac dealerships.  One could guess that vehicles that have been rebadged, such as the G5 compact, G6 sedan, Torrent and G3 subcompact might be forgone.  Vehicles that will be focused on will be the Solstice, Vibe, and the G8.

Hummer has already been up for sale, stating a “strategic review,” and now according to GM, Saab will be in the same situation.

Saturn, however, is a little bit trickier.  GM is planning to explore alternatives for Saturn, and is going to talk about relationships with dealers.  It almost sounds like the brand is going to be closed down all together, which is similar to what happened with Oldsmobile.  Oldsmobile ended up costing GM over $1 billion back in 2004 because of franchise laws.

The riskiest time for car crashes are between midnight and six o’clock in the morning.  This is because there are the fewest drivers at this time of day, yet more accidents.  If you need to drive during these hours it is important to consider some important factors.  Safe driving at night calls for preparation, alertness, as well as common sense.  Here are some tips.

First of all, ensure that your headlights are aimed properly.  You should consult your service manual to determine the proper procedure.

Next, don’t focus on the headlights of oncoming cars.  This can blind you for five seconds until your eyes are able to adjust.

Don’t drive if you are feeling sleepy, instead pull off of the road and get some sleep.  Don’t substitute caffeine, loud music, or putting down the windows for sleep.  These tactics are unreliable and may result in an accident.

Finally, don’t allow yourself to stare at the centerline because it can cause “highway hypnosis,” in which your reaction time is impaired, instead, keep looking around and moving your eyes.

Follow these simple tips to keep yourself safe when driving at night.  Just like you protect yourself with an auto warranty and roadside assistance, you should protect yourself with safe driving habits.

The Environmental Transport Association of the UK recently named the Toyota Yaris as “Green Car of the Year”.  The ETA reviewed 1300 cars that are sold in the UK to compile a green car guide for buyers.  The research that went into the guide focused on vehicle fuel-efficiency, power, emissions, and noise levels.

Other Toyota models also made the ETA’s top ten list.  Among these are, in third place the Prius, in sixth place the Avgo, and in ninth place the Auris.  These were identified as some of the top green cars.

In the category of the greenest off road vehicle, The Toyota RAV4 came in first, and the Toyota Avgo topped the greenest in the city category.

Consumers are becoming more concerned with purchasing environmentally friendly vehicles.  Luckily, there are now many cars in this category that offer style, fuel-efficiency and reliability, and even come with an auto warranty that gives drivers peace of mind.