Auto Warranty News

Between the soaring gas prices, and the increasing awareness about environmental dangers, gas-guzzlers and giant SUVs aren’t quite as chic.  Now, people are looking to small, economic cars instead. Luckily, there are more budget-priced car models to choose from than ever.  Some are terrific, while some are not.  Here are a few great choices.

The Honda Fit is a hatchback launched back in 2006.  It has superb handling, surprising power, and the quality associated with the Honda brand.  It comes in two trim levels, including the Fit Sport and comes with an excellent auto warranty.  This car has a 1.5-liter engine with 100-hp, and is fuel-efficient.  However, the best part about the car is its price, starting at $13,950.

The Chevrolet Cobalt has a model for every budget: the LS, LT and Sport.  Also, shoppers can pick between the sedan and coupe.  The Cobalt engine is a 2.2-liter with 148-hp.  Also, the 2008 Cobalt has OnStar, XM satellite radio, and head curtain side impact air bags.  The price on this car ranges from $13,675-$18,875.

At $11,300-$13,675, the Toyota Yaris is available in a three-door hatchback or sedan.  This car is very hot in Europe and gaining popularity around the world.  It has a 1.5-liter 106-hp engine and offers excellent fuel-efficiency.

One thing is for sure; gas-guzzlers are a thing of the past.  Small, efficient cars are what people want today.  These cars offer great reliability, however, as with any car purchases it is important to have new car warranties to protect you.

Many motorists wonder if it is worth purchasing an extended auto warranty.  The answer is definitely yes, provided that you follow these simple tips.  Education is the key to get the most out of your auto warranty.

First of all, who is offering the auto warranty?  Is it the carmaker or an after-market company?  You don’t want to wait until your first breakdown to find this out.

Know what parts are covered and for what duration.  Many people misinterpret this part of their auto warranty.  In addition, know that time conditions and mileage on your auto warranty may be different for various systems in your car.

What are your responsibilities in the agreement?  Make sure to follow maintenance requirements at the recommended mileage intervals.  Also, keep your service records for when it’s time to file a claim.

Finally, you need to find out what your deductible amount is.  Also, who pays the repair facility?  Some auto warranty companies will require the insured to pay the facility and get reimbursed, while other companies directly pay the repair facility.

An extended auto warranty is great insurance for any motorist.  However, you need to follow these tips to get the most out of your warranty.

The recommended intervals for oil changes have increased a significant amount over the last ten years. It used to be that oil changes were recommended every 3,000 miles, but now recommendations are for every 8,000 miles. This is great news for drivers because it means less time at the mechanic and less money spent. However, there are a few cautionary notes to consider.

First of all, consult your owner’s manual for the “maximum recommended interval”. Make sure you don’t extend beyond that number because saving $40 on an oil change is not worth having an $800 repair due to sludge buildup.

Second, if your driving type falls under “heavy duty” you will need to change your oil more regularly. Often, drivers don’t realize that daily stop-and-go commuting falls under this category. Also, if you use your vehicle for short trips with little highway driving you many need shorter oil changeouts.

Finally, you should use the specific oil type/grade recommended by the carmaker. Failing to use the right oil type can result in poor car performance, engine damage, and even void the terms of your auto warranty.

Although less frequent oil changes are convenient for consumers, people need to follow these cautionary notes. After all, you don’t want to ruin an engine because you didn’t add a couple of quarts of Pennzoil. This is why an auto warranty is always a good idea, too.

The economy is making consumers feel the pinch in many aspects of their lives.  People are paying higher prices for everything from gas to food.  For a lot of people, now is not a good time to pay new car prices.

Recently, Chrysler LLC announced a decline in sales of 19.4% from last year at this time.  Other automakers are noticing the same trend.  GM sales dropped about 18.7% and Ford reported a decline of 14.1%.  Even the all-popular Toyota declined 10.3% in sales.

Instead of buying new vehicles, some consumers are looking to late model pre-owned cars.  Although new vehicle sales were down 2.5% last year, certified pre-owned vehicles increased 2%.  These are cars sold through a dealership that come with a factory auto warranty.  This year certified pre-owned car sales are up 4%.

Other drivers aren’t even taking the gamble.  Instead, they are keeping their old car.  Most of the vehicles made after 1996 are capable of lasting up to 200,000 miles.  Purchasing an auto warranty is a smart way to avoid unnecessary repair costs, and get the most out of your vehicle.

Ideally, people like to take their time to purchase a new vehicle, but some drivers just can’t wait a month or two.  A theft, accident, or breakdown may leave you scrambling for something to drive.  Here’s a strategy to help you buy quickly, but wisely.

First, think about the car that you just had.  If you loved everything about it, you can purchase the same car.  However, most likely there were a few things about your car that weren’t ideal.  Maybe you needed more cargo space, more legroom, etc.  Let your old car problems be a guide for your new purchase.

Next, calculate what you can spend monthly on a new car.  You can go to CNNMoney.com to find calculators that help you determine what you can afford.

Now, its time to do some research.  Look at vehicles online in your price range that meets your specific criteria.  You can begin to eliminate cars that don’t have exactly what you need.  Make sure to read reviews on the cars that you like.

Finally, contact a dealership and go in and test drive the 3-4 vehicles you favored.  Even though you are looking to purchase fast, make sure to tell the dealer that you’re not going to buy that day.

Doing research will allow you to get the car that you want for the best price possible.  In addition, make sure you purchase an auto warranty to avoid unnecessary repair costs down the road.  After all, you never know when you will need repairs.

The buyer who is well informed is the wisest, while uninformed customers often get confused by all of the complex information that goes along with purchasing a vehicle.  Car dealers use it to their advantage when a consumer hasn’t done their research.

One way that auto dealers make extra profit is to bounce profit potential between two different transactions.  For example, if a consumer really wants to do well on their trade in, a dealer may inflate the down payment or the monthly payments.

Be aware that auto dealers legally don’t have to give you the lowest interest rate that you qualify for.  After doing the credit check, the dealer will know details, such as your housing status and income and they will add it all up to determine what they feel you are willing to pay.

Buyers who are inattentive or confused may also be “slammed”.  This is when dealers take over and hurry customers through the entire process of test-driving, negotiating, signing papers, and driving the car home.  Unfortunately, this often results in buyer’s remorse.

Buyers must do their research before even showing up at the dealership.  Dealers can sense an uninformed buyer and will often take advantage of them.  In addition, buyers should research new car warranties and auto loans in order to get the best deals.

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.

If you want to annoy an executive from BMW, ask him about the new Mini station wagon.  Actually, it’s the Mini Cooper Clubman.

In the auto business, today, people have negative images of the station wagon.  It is the complete opposite of what BMW wants people to associate with the Mini.

And yet, if you take a look at the Mini Clubman, it is essentially a station wagon, yet a fantastic one.

The Mini Clubman is fuel-efficient, smooth, clean in design, innovative, and offers plenty of room for passengers and cargo.

BMW has had a great success story with the Mini.  It was launched back in 2001, and at that time BMW hoped to sell 150,000 per year.  However, it is projected that this year alone, 240,000 Minis will be sold, with the aid of the Clubman.

Consumers now more than ever want realistic vehicles that offer fuel-efficiency.  BMW has delivered on this.  Drivers can purchase this car with the addition of an auto warranty and rest assured that their purchase was wise.

Anti-lock braking systems, or ABS, were made available for cars in America in 1978.  Mercedes-Benz was the first carmaker to install them on their vehicles.  Then, Cadillac began installing ABS on their luxury vehicles in 1986.

ABS utilizes onboard computers, which have links to the wheel sensors, that make the brakes automatically pump at a rapid rate.  Anti-locking brakes apply pressure selectively by being able to determine which of the wheels might lock, and then lowering the pressure of the brakes on those wheels so they can rotate properly. ABS will only work in a panic situation, not in normal braking circumstances.

It is important to keep in mind that ABS won’t create a shorter stopping distance.  Yet, its advantage is that drivers can maintain control and avoid skidding.

Drivers need to know how to use ABS correctly.  The proper way to brake with this system is to stomp and steer.  While many drivers are accustomed to pumping, this isn’t correct for this system.  Instead, drivers should apply a strong pressure down on the brake without letting up.

Auto safety is becoming a big priority for motorists.  New car technologies are allowing for advanced safety features that protect passengers and drivers.  Drivers should also protect themselves by buying an auto warranty for their car.  This allows motorists to have peace of mind.

According to recent data from J.D. Power and Assoc. Toyota does the best job out of any car company in America of keeping its consumers coming back for more.  This data also shows that General Motors comes in second place for retaining customers.

Among recent new vehicle shoppers who previously owned a Toyota, Scion, or Lexus, 69% bought another product from Toyota Motor Co.

In the meantime, people who owned GMC, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Saab or other vehicles by GM bought another GM product 65% of the time.

That means that GM had approximately a three percent point improvement from last year.

Scoring the lowest for customer retention in the study was Isuzu.  Only 1.6% of Isuzu owners bought another one.  The next lowest on the list was Mitsubishi, keeping approximately 31.7% of their owners.

Typically, there are a few things that hurt customer retention.  These are poor car quality and poor dealership service.  However, no matter what type of vehicle you purchase, you never know when you are going to need to make repairs.  This is why it is important to buy an auto warranty to protect you.