Auto Warranty News

People are always asking dealership service departments, “Isn’t that covered under my auto warranty?” A lot of drivers assume that an auto warranty allows for repairs regardless of such things as maintenance requirements, environmental conditions, and vehicle mileage.

An auto warranty is an agreement that you make with the manufacturer of the car.  As the warranty purchaser, you are responsible for following specific maintenance requirements.  Only if you perform the maintenance, is the manufacturer obligated to have repairs done.

Because of questionable practices that dealers have performed in the past, car manufacturers scrutinize every auto warranty claim.  Consumers often interpret this as an effort to get out of paying for repair costs.  However, the reality is that the repair might not qualify under the terms of the auto warranty.  This could be due to things such as, vehicle abuse, expiration, or parts that aren’t covered under the agreement.

Drivers need to be extra careful and read their auto warranty thoroughly.  Make sure to fulfill your side of the deal in order to have the manufacturer so the same.

If you’re looking to buy a cheap used vehicle, you might want to look on the Interntet.  One website that is a great place to start is Car-Auction.com.  This is an auction website featuring seized vehicles by the government.  Consumers can select what type and model of vehicle you are looking for, as well as the price.  Results will appear within a few seconds.  This is a lot more convenient than attending an automobile auction and waiting to see if the car you want is up for auction.

When you are looking to buy a cheap used vehicle follow these simple tips.

The most difficult part of the process is finding a quality car that you would like to purchase.  People make the mistake of buying a car because they like the way it looks.  You need to get the full history of the vehicle before making an agreement.  Also, get the VIN of the vehicle and do a search of the number through a local agency.  You want to get the vehicle inspected by a professional.

An online auction is a great place to buy a used car. However, beware.  To protect yourself, do your homework to get a good buy and make sure to purchase used car warranties.

Volkswagen and Audi have had a great deal of success with their personal version of the BorgWarner’s transmission that is dual-clutch.  Now, BMW has added a seven-speed transmission that is double clutch, coming out later this year, so Audi had decided to up the game by raising its gear count.

According to Autocar magazine, Audi will debut an S-tronic gearbox that is seven-speed.  This is supposed to be used with the quattro that is four-wheel-drive.  The gearbox is so high-performance that it can handle torque output up to 406 lb-ft.  It is along the same line as the current box that Audi has, and BMW’s newest one.  There are two clutches that are continuously acting.  Alternating gears are pre-selected allowing the transmission to shift within hundredths of a second.

Audi is introducing this gearbox at the Beijing auto show.  It is installed in the Q5 crossover.

New technology is great for consumers, yet motorists should protect themselves with new car warranties in the event that technology would fail.  Drivers should never chance being unprotected in the case of a breakdown.

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.

Everyone is aware that distracted teenagers turn into bad drivers.  Tomorrow is the beginning of National Teen Driver Safety Week.  This is a time dedicated to bringing teenagers, educators, community leaders, and parents together to help teens avoid car accidents.

This event was established by the government in 2007 as a way to address teen car accidents, which is the #1 cause of death among teens 16-20 years old.  It’s necessary to focus on the driving habits of teens because it has been proven that teenagers underestimate emergencies in which they need to have a fast reaction time.

Also, there are many distractions inside of a vehicle, specifically when there are teen passengers involved.  In fact, it has been shown that two-thirds of passenger deaths involving 13-19 year olds happen when another teenager is driving.

Parents can help their teens stay safer in the car by doing just a few simple things.  First, they shouldn’t let their teen ride with another driver who has been driving less than one year.  Don’t let your teen use cell phones while driving.  Purchase an auto warranty so that you keep up with important car maintenance. Finally, make sure you know where your teenager is going and how they are getting there.

Over the last week there has been a story circulating on the Internet about the owner of a 2009 Nissan GT-R who couldn’t get his auto warranty to cover his blown transmission.  What was the problem?  He claims he turned off the stability control in order to use the vehicle’s launch control feature.  Making that mistake cost him about $20,000 in auto repairs.

Nissan is well aware of the story on the Internet, and it says that utilizing the launch control feature or turning the VDC off by themselves wouldn’t void auto warranty.  However, Nissan claims that when the two features are abused and lead to damage, the auto warranty becomes void.  The auto warranty includes normal stipulations about racing, modifications, as well as other changes that void auto warranties.

Nissan couldn’t calculate how car owners could use the vehicle, meaning how often it could be driven on a track or other difficult uses.  Other GT-R drivers have complained about the car’s transmission, but most of them attacked the author of the original story for not being a good driver.

The result of this story is clear for owners of GT-R owners: You shouldn’t drive your GT-R too hard if you don’t want to be the one to pay for it.

If you’re considering buying a new vehicle this year you need to consider the worth of the car in a few years, when you’re ready to trade it in for another car.  Consider these four factors that determine the resale value of a vehicle.

Supply and demand is a big factor.  Vehicles that have a high volume of production, such as Chevrolet and Ford pickup trucks don’t hold a high resale value because they are so numerous.

Next, brand image is key.  For instance, Toyota, Porsche, and Honda have great images, which is the reason they end up on the high end of the table every year.  Regardless of whether the vehicle deserves it or not, brand name is a huge factor in the resale price of a car.

If there is a high incentive for spending on a new car, the residual value will be lower on a recent model.  Just remember, there is a reason for high incentives.

Also investigate the number of units of a certain model that were sold to rental and commercial fleets.  If there was a great number sold, the resale value will be less.

Look at these factors when buying a new car.  A vehicle is only a good deal if it is worth something when it comes time to trade it in.  In addition, purchase an auto warranty to protect your wallet against unnecessary expenses.

Chances are at one time or another you have been told that you need new shocks and (or) struts.  After being quoted a large price, you might find yourself thinking, “Can I get away without replacing them and are they covered under used car warranties?

Your shocks and struts serve two functions in your car.  Some cars only have struts, and some only have shocks.  Their purpose is to dampen the oscillation of springs and assist in ride control.

If your shocks and/or struts are worn, your suspension parts and tires will wear out sooner.  This is why it is important to take your vehicle in for preventative checkups.  It is a good idea to have your mechanic look at your shocks and struts every time you get an oil change.

There are several warning signs that might tell you it is time to replace your shocks/struts.  First, you might notice leaks on the housing or dents on the strut body.  Also, you might see high and low worn spots on your tires and pitted piston rods.  Finally, you may have rubber bumpers that are crushed from bottoming out.

It is important not to cut corners when dealing with your shocks/struts.  It is essential that these parts function correctly for handling and cornering.  Purchasing an auto warranty is a good idea for motorists in order to avoid unnecessary repair costs down the road.  After all, you never know when your car will need maintenance.

Recently some Prius pictures appeared on the Internet and there was some confusion as to whether or not the Photos were in fact of the 2010 Prius. However, the public relations people at Toyota confirmed with an auto blog that the photos were in fact of the Prius of the next generation.

For the most part, the new Prius looks like the current car and it still contains a nickel metal hydride battery instead of the lithium ion battery, which appears to be the wave of the future. The 2010 Prius, however, should prove to have an electric motor that is more powerful and better fuel efficiency.

The new Prius’ release is set for the Detroit 2009 auto show this January, which is when more information and better pictures will be available from Toyota.

Since the Prius has been so popular up to date, chances are that the 2010 model won’t be any different. You may want to line up as soon as this car goes on sale to avoid waiting lists. Prices have been released yet, but it should be similar to the current model and have a good auto warranty.

You may think it is difficult to find a reliable car for a good price; however, a used car may be your best option.  There are hundreds of pre-owned vehicle models that offer good reliability.  Many of these also prove to be affordable, fuel-efficient and safe.

Cars with improved reliability have made pre-owned an appealing option.  Another good thing about purchasing a used car is that the depreciation impact is reduced.  Also, insurance rates are usually less expensive, and it is easy to find used car warranties.

According to the Consumer Reports “Best of the Best” car list, certain cars have showed good performance in road tests and have been above average in reliability for several years.  This list includes models from BMW, Honda, Buick, Infiniti, Mazda, Lexus, Nissan, Porsche, Toyota, Volvo, Acura, Pontiac and Subaru.

Their “Worst of the Worst” list includes vehicles that have had several years of below average reliability.  These models include Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Volkswagen, Dodge, Kia, GMC, Jeep, Land Rover, Chrysler, Chevrolet, and Mercedes-Benz.

Consider buying a pre-owned car that has proven reliable for several years.  Also, buy an auto warranty to protect your investment so you can have peace of mind.