Auto Warranty News

Since there has been an increase in the demand for small cars, Ford has reconsidered its previous decision not to introduce the Ka to the U.S.  The Ka has a similar size to the Smart ForTwo, and originally was only intended for release in Europe because it was thought that it wouldn’t sell in America.

Alan Mulally, who is a Ford CEO, told a radio station in Detroit recently that the crash of the SUV and truck market has caused Ford to reconsider.  In reality, all he has to do is examine his own sales figures.  Although the U.S. car market has dropped 13% this year, the Ford Focus, which is the only compact car sold in America, has seen an increase in sales of 24%.  Meanwhile, sales of small cars have gone up 6% overall, and 18,000 ForTwos were sold through September with new car warranties.

As early as May the writing was on the wall, when fuel prices began their huge climb. Ford has planned to add additional products to its small car lineup.  It is planning to bring the Ford Fiesta from Europe by the year 2010, as well as the European-designed Focus of the next generation.

The latest version of the Ka debuted last week at the Paris auto show and will be on sale in Europe late in 2008 or early 2009 complete with a good auto warranty.

As the stock market plummeted and the number of jobs lost are at an all time high, many people have missed the big drop in fuel prices. Today, the average gas price across the nation is $3.50, according to AAA. That price has gone down since the record high of $4.11 in July.

According to experts, gas prices would be even lower right now if it weren’t for the fuel shortages in the South resulting from Hurricane Ike. If $3 gas is to become the norm again, you have to wonder if the large shift from buying large SUVs to small cars is going to reverse.

Almost every carmaker has made a shift in its production plans toward making cars with better fuel economy, and it is unlikely that gas prices of $3 per gallon will cause plans to change. Even if lower fuel prices are going to stay for a significant amount of time, the poor economy might still prevent car shoppers from purchasing large SUVs, despite the large discounts. Chances are consumers will still be purchasing small fuel-efficient vehicles, or hold onto their current vehicles and buy used car warranties.

Car accidents are scary and usually happen unexpectedly.  An accident leaves motorists feeling shocked and stunned, and often, they don’t know what to do next.  Here are some important steps to take in this situation.

Of course the first thing to do is call 911 in the event of an injury.  Also, always contact the police and then place a call to your road service program.

Next, call your insurance agent.  They can inform you about what information to exchange with the other motorist, and help you survey the scene.  Be aware that you shouldn’t admit fault at the scene of the accident, the insurance companies will determine this.

Also, you will need to read the information in your insurance policy, so you file your claim within the specified time limit.  Often, if the vehicle damage is more than $750 you need to file a SR1 form, which can be found on the DMV website of the state that you live in.

It is always scary to be involved in a car accident, but unfortunately it happens to all of us at one point or another.  It is essential to know what to do in this case.  To alleviate stress, have all of your important documents ready, such as your insurance policy and auto warranty.

Word just came that Toyota is planning to spare the Camry Solara, at least through one more model year.  There was much speculation that after the Camry was redesigned for model year 2007, that the Toyota Solara would be canceled.

However, the Solara is Toyota’s one and only convertible, so the carmaker has made the decision to remain in the segment.  The last redesign for the Solara was in 2004, and the car is based on a platform that in almost 7 years old.  If a big redesign isn’t scheduled soon, Toyota will face a great risk that its convertible will no longer be competitive, even against cars that are poorly crafted, such as the Pontiac G6 and Chrysler Sebring.

So far, there isn’t any information about the date that the 2009 Solara will go on sale, or pricing and specifications, but chances are it will remain similar in price and come complete with a good auto warranty.  Hopefully, Toyota will plan to redesign this car so that it won’t be discontinued.

Terms like geometric morphometrics and pareidolia aren’t generally important to people designing or buying cars, however they were significant in a recent study that found that people see faces when looking at vehicles, and typically they prefer ones that look powerful.

Pareidolia is an occurrence in which people actually see faces in various things from clouds to inkblots to cars. A recent study was based on this concept and used geometric morphometrics to let participants rank vehicles on how they looked, using traits that are human like disgusted, sad or extroverted.

The results of the study confirmed that pretty much all people like cars that are powerful looking, like the BMW 5 Series. Also, people tend to shy away from designs that are feeble-looking, like the Toyota Prius because they worry that they won’t be as sturdy and will require a good auto warranty.

Who knows if this research will determine the future designs of cars, but it might mean that we will see more big-mouthed grilles on the roads.

Reliability and safety should be top considerations when buying a car for a teenager.  After all, teens are new drivers and don’t have experience.  To determine which cars are safe, you should look at results from crash tests and advanced safety features.  Also, make sure the car comes with a sufficient auto warranty, because teens tend to put more wear and tear on a vehicle.

Typically, vehicles that are big and heavy rate the best in crash tests.  However, large vehicles are more difficult to maneuver and tend to be gas-guzzlers.  Also keep in mind that SUVs and large pickups aren’t wise choices for teens because they have a higher roll over rate in accidents.

A mid-size sedan with good safety features and crash ratings is an overall wise choice for teens.  Vehicles that have these features include the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Ford Focus, Hyundai Sonata, Acura RSX, Mazda 3 and Subaru Impreza.

When buying a car for a teenager, try to get the newest possible model that provides reliability.  To see crash test results; consult the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.  Also, make sure you have new car warranties so you don’t have to pay unnecessary repair expenses down the road.

Volvo Cars of North America has come out with the C30 R-design, limited edition, which is priced at $25,700.

The C30 R-Design is a similar, yet more outstanding version of the latest C30 hatchback.  This car has the power, to accompany its new updated look.  The engine is 227-horsepower, and it puts out 236 ft per pound of torque.

This car comes in four colors- Titanium Grey, Black Sapphire, Passion red, and Orinoco Blue.  The interior of the vehicle is very sporty.  The seats are black flex-tech with a cream trim in leather.  Also trimmed in this leather are the shifter and steering wheel.  The stock pedals have also been replaced with sport ones.

Consumers are excited about this car model that provides the options for a Dynaudio sound system, and a navigation system based on DVD.  In addition, to spending money on new car warranties and maintenance, consumers are willing to shell out money for these latest technologies.

For carmakers, the incredible sales loss last month wasn’t just isolated to the U.S. The U.K. witnessed sales of new cars go down 21% in September, which is the fifth month in a row where new-car sales have fallen. Consumers have become nervous to purchase new vehicles because of the poor economy, therefore, many people are holding onto their old cars and purchasing used car warranties.

Just like in America, the sales drop occurred regardless of many new vehicle models coming out on the market. Other countries that experienced a fall in sales were Italy and Spain.

Even in China, which was car-crazed recently, sales dropped 26%, which is the biggest drop over the last 50 years.

One of the only countries that have seen an uptick in the sales of new cars was France, which saw an increase in sales of 8% in September. In part, this was due to the governmental aid of the purchase of cars that are less polluting. Usually, those vehicles are French brands.

General Motors Corp., still struggling to meet the current demand for small fuel-efficient cars, is going to keep its only U.S. factory for compact cars working overtime for the rest of 2008, according to the carmaker.

GM doesn’t have a big enough supply of Chevrolet Cobalt cars, even though they added a third shift over the summer in the assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio.

Sales for the Chevy Cobalt dropped 17% in September from last year at the same time, which GM claims was due to short supply. Sales for the Cobalt this year have increased 6%, while overall sales for GM have dropped 18% in a U.S. car market that is depressed.

The carmaker has been racing to makeover the manufacturing operations in the U.S. geared toward making large SUVs and trucks, which Americans have ultimately lost interest in. Consumers are feeling the pinch because of the poor economy and high fuel prices and are demanding small fuel-efficient cars with good new car warranties.

If you’re a lover of old cars you aren’t alone. Antique car shows all over the U.S. display vintage cars. Crowds gather to admire these charming vehicles. Owners who display their vehicles have a great deal of pride.

Many people who own vintage cars have restored them piece-by-piece, literally. It’s not just that they have rebuilt the vehicle; they have restored it back to its original state.

It is simple to differentiate between rebuilding and restoring a car. A car that has been rebuilt has new parts. A restored car has parts that are authentic to its year and model.

The restoration process encompasses the body of the car and the mechanical components. It is amazing to some people that the actual parts must be original to the year and make of the vehicle, but this is necessary for a true restoration.

The restoration also includes the vehicle’s interior. The upholstery should be repaired whenever possible. It can be nearly impossible to find the exact upholstery for a car’s year and make. If this is the case, you need to get as close as possible to the original.

The restoration of a car is a labor of love, but well worth it. There is no greater satisfaction than turning a piece of junk into a beautiful classic. And don’t forget an auto warranty will bring any motorist peace of mind, especially with a vintage car.