Auto Warranty News

A test drive is a necessary step when buying a new car.  But once you sit in the driver’s seat you have a limited time to make some crucial decisions.  What do you need to look out for?

First of all it is important to take your time.  Make sure you walk around the vehicle and look at the trunk.  Make sure it is big enough for your needs.  Look for issues that might affect visibility.  Also, notice if fenders flare out.

Now, you’re ready to sit in the driver’s seat.  While the car is parked adjust the steering wheel and seat.  This is also a good time to test the radio and play with knobs and buttons on the dashboard.

When you pull out of the dealership pick a test-drive route that offers variety.  You should drive in traffic that requires right and left turns, on the highway, and in a parking lot.  This will allow you to see how the car handles at low and high speeds, and determine visibility.  Be in tune with all of your senses to see if the car is right for you.

Finally, if the car passes all of your tests, go test -drive a couple more.  You don’t want to purchase the first car you see.  Of course, when you find the car of your dreams, make sure you purchase an auto warranty to protect your investment.

Ford, who apparently loves mini-sites, has started a webpage for the new 2011 Ford Fiesta.  It may be premature, but since Ford is trying desperately to prove its relevance to Congress, displaying some of its cars of the future makes perfect sense at the moment.

Ford displays a few pictures of the vehicle, however, Ford says that they are pictures of the 2009 European model, and also reveals some information about available content of the car.

Since the features appear to be luxury-like, it seems Ford is going to market this car as a premium subcompact that will compete with the Honda Fit.  However, car shoppers seem to care more about standard features, which Ford hasn’t released yet.  But make a note that the 2011 Fiesta will have standard stability control when it is available for sale in 2010.  That’s two years before it is going to be mandated by federal law.

Car shoppers will have to wait for additional information about the 2011 Ford Fiesta, such as prices, standard features, and information about new car warranties.

Ford revealed last week a new instrument cluster that is energy-conscious and has many interactive leaves-for its Milan and Fusion Hybrids.  Well, apparently Ford and Honda hired the same analysts, because Honda just debuted a system that is very similar.

Honda’s new Ecological Drive Assist System, or Eco Assist, will be available this spring on the Honda Insight.  The system utilizes a two-tier instrument cluster (much like the Civics) to communicate driving habits that are effective.  Depending on the way you are driving, the background color of the speedometer will change-blue for braking and rapid acceleration, and green for cruising and light acceleration.

The information screen that is inside the tachometer is an LED screen that scores your driving habits.  Your mastery over hypermiling is signified by the number of leaves that show on the display.

Also featured in the system is an “ECON” button.  When this button is switched on, the transmission, regenerative braking, and powertrain are optimized to make the most of fuel consumption.

Honda’s system is downscaled in comparison to Ford’s, but that is probably because the Honda Insight is going to be the cheapest hybrid out there.  Regardless, make sure you have a good auto warranty, because you never know when new technology will fail and you don’t want to be left with unnecessary repair expenses.

A recent survey shows that only 29% of teenagers receive their licenses when they become eligible.  This is considerably down from 1998 in which 43% of teens received their licenses when they were eligible.  This is almost a 50% decrease in ten years.

Some reasons that the numbers have changed are parents who are willing to drive teens, an increase in insurance and gas prices, tighter laws, and changes in driver education.

Teenagers don’t have as many options for taking driver education as in the past.  Currently, only 20 % of schools offer driver’s education, which means students have to seek a private school or a program on the Internet.

Increasing insurance costs make it more difficult for teens to drive.  A typical insurance policy cost 80 to 100 percent more if a 16-year-old driver is on the policy.

Graduated driver laws for licenses are also causing teens to take their time getting behind the wheel.  These laws are intended to reduce car crashes in teens.

Teens are waiting to get their drivers licenses.  However, no matter what age they become licensed, they need to take precautions to protect themselves.  This includes acting responsibly, eliminating distractions, and purchasing an auto warranty.

After two days of long hearings, the Ford, Chrysler and GM CEOs weren’t able to convince Congress that they deserve a $25 billion federal assistance loan.  Democratic leadership said they need written proposals that are more concrete by Dec. 2.  At that point if they find the argument compelling enough, there will be more hearings and Congress will vote on Dec. 8.  For the carmakers, this will be their last chance for action before Barack Obama takes office as President on Jan.20.  GM threatens that they may run out of money before the end of the year, which would start a domino effect, taking down suppliers as well as other carmakers.

After it was all said and done, Congress questioned whether a loan would actually work, and if the car companies would come right back asking for more money and if assistance would have the result of viability in the long-term.  It didn’t help the case of the Detroit executives by using corporate jets to get to the hearings and becoming guarded when asked how they got the $25 million figure.

Unfortunately, without a bailout it doesn’t look good for the Big Three.  At the moment, people are opting to hold onto their current cars with the addition of used car warranties, instead of spending money on new vehicles.

Every year thousands of people are killed in car accidents.  Many of these crashes could have been avoided with some simple safety knowledge.  Here are some tips to keep your driving experience pleasant and help you avoid dangerous accidents.

First of all, if your are taking any medicines, double check your product label to see if it could affect your driving.  If your medication causes drowsiness, stay off of the roads.

Next, secure children properly in a restraint system that is size and age appropriate.  All children less than 12 years of age should be in the back seat.  Just by putting children in the back, and not the front reduces injuries and deaths 30%.

One of the biggest causes of car accidents is driver inattention.  This means that drivers should stay off of cell phones and pay attention to the road.

Finally, prepare a safety kit in your car.  It should include a first aid kit, flashlight, nonperishable foods, water, blankets, motor oil, jumper cables, and a spare tire. And all drivers should have used car warranties in order to keep up with important maintenance and car repairs without unnecessary costs.

According to The American Consumer Satisfaction Index, the results from its Q2 aren’t good for domestic auto manufacturers.  The people at ASCI claim that customer satisfaction is higher than ever for the whole industry, however there aren’t any American automakers that made the top four.  And the bottom three on the list are made in America.

Domestic car companies are having problems because they are lagging further behind their counterparts overseas.  This will be of no help when the Big Three lose more power with pricing.  They will have to continue their dependency on discounting and rebates, in a car market where consumers are deciding to turn to foreign cars.  People feel foreign cars are more reliable, and with the addition of an auto warranty, they enjoy the peace of mind that they get with them.

The ACSI is a representation of a customer’s overall satisfaction, which includes customer service and doesn’t necessarily determine the quality of cars.  In addition, carmakers don’t have any control over a dealership’s customer service.

A recall has been issued by Kia of 6,680 of the Rondo EX and LX minivans from the model years 2008 and 2009.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there may be a defective fuel pump for the four-cylinder 2.4-liter engine, which may not be able to get enough fuel effectively to the engine.

This could result in engine hesitation or failure of the engine starting correctly, which might endanger motorists if the problem gets progressively worse.  If the problem occurs, the check engine light coming on may alert drivers.

If you have a 2008 or 2009 Kia Rondo, Kia will replace your fuel pump free of charge.  Vehicle owners can also call Kia at 1-800-333-4542.  Taking care of the problem right away may save you trouble in the future.

Unfortunately, you never know when your car will fail, which is why an auto warranty is a must. However, listening for recall alerts can also save you from unnecessary car problems.

If you’re planning to purchase a used vehicle you need to find out as much as you can about it and purchase used car warranties.  The car could have problems that you can’t detect by looking at it.  In order to understand the car that you are getting, get a vehicle history report.  This will give you combined information from DMVs, RMVs, and police reports about the car that you are looking at.  Here are some things to consider when looking at the vehicle report.

Determine if the car has had many owners.  You are better off with a car that has had fewer owners because there is more of a likelihood that the car has been taken good care of.  Although inexpensive, rental cars will have undergone a great deal of abuse.

Also, consider the location that the car has been in.  This is important because some climates are harsher on cars.  For example, winter conditions are hard on cars because of salty roads.  Obviously, excessive heat and flood areas are also of concern.

Finally, make sure that the name and description on the history report actually match the vehicle you’re looking at.  This will help avoid types of fraud, such as vehicle identification number cloning.

A used car is a great way for people to save money and get a great car.  Just do your homework to make sure you are getting a good buy.  You need to consider the costs of used car warranties, auto insurance, and maintenance costs.  An auto warranty is a good way to get peace of mind when purchasing a used vehicle.

The Prius has become one of the hottest vehicles in the country.  This is actually quite amazing because this is a hybrid electric vehicle, which requires people to embrace change. With any change, people like to protect themselves.  Many people feel better purchasing a hybrid if they have an auto warranty to go along with it. The billion-dollar question that innovators face is whether people will resist or embrace innovation.  Apparently, Toyota got it right, because thousands of people are buying the Prius.

People accustomed to a regular vehicle would struggle to get the Prius to move forward.  In addition, people probably couldn’t figure out how to put the car in reverse.  However, these are not hard lessons to learn, they just require people to change their way of thinking.  To start the Prius you press a button located on the dashboard twice.  To make your car go forward or backward you manipulate a small stick that comes out of the dashboard.

People might fear technology because it is seductive, yet they might also have a fear of not being able to change. Either way, it is good to protect yourself.  This includes purchasing new car warranties that will cover you in the case of faulty technology.  Innovators never really know which way the cash register will ring.  However, Toyota got it right with the Prius.