Auto Warranty News

All over the world, car manufacturers are realizing that drivers are interested in vehicles that are ecologically friendly.  There are many recent vehicles that are fuel-efficient and look terrific.  These are some of the newest.

The VW Golf TDI Hybrid offers lower emissions and longer legs.  Popular in Europe, this hatchback has a terrific look.  It has a diesel high-tech engine and a start-stop that is automatic.  Also, it has a 7-speed DSG gearbox, an electric motor and gets 69mpg.

The Audi TT TDI proves that a fantastic looking sports car doesn’t have to guzzle gas.  This vehicle can go from 0 to 62mph in 7.5 seconds.  It has 170 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.  This vehicle offers the power that goes along with a sports car and great fuel-efficiency.

With gas prices around $4 per gallon, consumers are realizing the importance of fuel-efficient vehicles.  To protect their wallets, motorists are taking extra steps, such as purchasing eco friendly vehicles and new car warranties.

There is nothing worse than getting your car repaired and hearing, “It isn’t covered under your auto warranty.”  Often, motorists are confused because they assume that certain repairs are covered.  Drivers need a little education to understand more about their new car warranties.

People need to understand that an auto warranty isn’t an entitlement, but an agreement you make with the car manufacturer.  Your responsibility is to fulfill specific maintenance requirements that the manufacturer sets.  After doing your part, the manufacturer must perform repairs resulting from a defect or a failed part.

So, what parts are covered?  The auto manufacturer must cover the parts that it makes.  For example, transmissions, engines, steering, suspension, computers, instruments, chassis wiring, and other parts that they manufacture are covered.  Maintenance items and wearable items aren’t covered under new car warranties.  For example, filters, hoses, belts, brakes and tires aren’t covered.

What about the parts not made by the manufacturer of the car?  Items such as stereo systems and conversion components have a warranty through their manufacturers.  These can be found in paper work you received with the purchase of the car.

The best thing that you can do to avoid misunderstandings about new car warranties is to educate yourself.  Make sure that you do your homework and read all of the fine print in your auto warranty.

Probably 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?

Your shocks and struts serve two functions in your car. Some vehicles 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 them 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.

Make sure you don’t 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.

Consumers who want to buy a new car have several concerns: reliability, safety and new car warranties. Recently, The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety listed the thirty-six 2008 vehicles that they rate highest for safety. Which cars are there favorites?

The Toyota Tundra was the only pickup truck that made the list. Its main safety features include side airbags, as well as stability control.

Although no domestic vehicles made the list last year, there are seven domestics on the 2008 list. These are the Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable, Ford Edge, Ford Taurus X, Lincoln MKX, Cadillac CTS and the Saturn Vue.

Ford Motor Company had the most vehicles on the list. In fact, they had eight models. Honda and Acura sported seven winners.

Only one small car made the IIIHS list: the Subaru Impreza.

According to studies, drivers are more and more concerned with vehicle safety. Also, drivers want cars that are reliable. They are purchasing new car warranties, so that they can easily repair their cars without the worry of unnecessary expenses.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners recently performed a study to determine what the best and worst states are in the country for auto insurance.  According to the study, you are paying the highest insurance premiums if you live in the Northeast.

New Jersey proved to be the most expensive state.  On average, premiums in New Jersey are over $1,300 yearly.  The capital of our nation, Washington D.C. was the second highest, with average yearly premiums of $1,185.  New York was third highest with $1,110 being the average premium.

Revealed in the study was that urban driving, high salaries, and a lot of traffic are responsible for elevated costs in those states.  In addition, liability insurance premium costs are higher in the Northeast.

Midwestern and Northern states proved to have the lowest insurance premium costs.  The overall lowest was Idaho with costs at $530 per year.  The next lowest was Maine at $560 a year, and North Dakota was $570 per year.

According to this study, your location is a key factor in determining your car insurance costs.  Today, consumers are paying more than they ever have for their vehicles.  These costs include insurance, new car warranties, and maintenance costs.

These days many vehicles are being offered with 4WD systems. It can be difficult for consumers wanting to purchase a car with 4WD to distinguish between the different systems. There is Part Time 4WD, Full Time 4WD and permanent 4WD. So, what’s the difference?

The most basic of the 4WD systems is Part Time. This allows the driver to choose if they want to drive in two-wheel drive or 4WD. This sounds appealing, but has a downside. The 4WD shouldn’t be engaged unless it is very slippery. The reason for this is that 4WD will lock the front and back wheels. Although this is good for slippery conditions, it makes for awkward handling on dry surfaces. This system is, however, less expensive and very durable.

The most commonly used system is Full Time 4WD. This system offers a two-wheel drive mode and 4WD. Also, there is a high and low mode for various conditions. An advantage to this system is that a center differential allows the front and back wheels to rotate at two different speeds. Also beneficial is that this system offers more control and better handling on different road conditions.

Permanent 4WD is comparable to Full Time, yet it doesn’t have a two-wheel drive mode. The car will always be in 4WD with this system. Torque is being applied constantly to all of the wheels, which allows for traction in various weather conditions. This system has high and low modes that are applied automatically.

Four- wheel drive is a great feature to have on any vehicle that may encounter challenging road conditions. However, with any technology make sure that you purchase an auto warranty to cover you from paying unnecessary repair costs down the road. This will allow you to have peace of mind.

There are millions of traffic tickets issued out every year in the U.S., which often cost over $100. This is a billion dollar business in our country. Paying the ticket through the mail is essentially admitting that you’re guilty. Also, you will have the ticket on your record at the DMV for up to three years. So, is it possible to wiggle out of a speeding ticket? Here are a couple of things to try.

First of all, if you get pulled over for speeding, stay in your vehicle. You should never get out. When the policeman approaches your window, try to look remorseful. Make apologies to the officer and be polite. Be nice, and ask for a warning. Don’t try to answer questions, such as: “Do you know why I pulled you over?” Tell the officer you aren’t sure.

Don’t pay the speeding ticket by mail because it means you are admitting you’re guilty. In the U.S. you are considered innocent until proven guilty, so show up at court. Often, the police officer will make mistakes leading to the dismissal of your ticket. For instance, the officer might not go to court. Many times you will get your ticket changed to a lesser charge by showing up at court. For example, they might change it to a parking ticket from a speeding ticket. This is beneficial because it won’t increase your insurance and will give you fewer points on your license.

Many motorists assume that if they are given a speeding ticket that they should just pay it through the mail. However, it is a much better idea to make an effort to get out of it so you don’t have to pay an increased insurance premium. After all, we factor in costs such as an auto warranty and maintenance costs, but don’t consider speeding tickets and raised insurance.

If you love old cars, you aren’t the only one.  There are antique shows all over the country that have vintage cars on display.  Crowds flock to admire these cars, and owners take great pride in displaying them.

Many vintage owners have restored their cars piece-by-piece.  Owners haven’t just rebuilt these cars; they have restored them to their original state.

The difference between rebuilding and restoring is simple.  Rebuilt cars have new parts in them, where, restored cars have authentic parts.

The restoration process includes the car body, as well as mechanical components.  For a true restoration to take place the parts must be from the original make and year of the car.

The vehicle’s interior is also included in the restoration.  If possible, upholstery should be repaired.  It can be virtually impossible to find the authentic upholstery for a vehicle, but it is necessary to get as close as possible.

It’s a labor of love to restore a car, but worth it.  There is nothing more satisfying than turning a clunker into a classic car.  As with any car, make sure you have an auto warranty to protect yourself.

If you’re purchasing a pre-owned car you need to find out as much history as possible about it.  The car may have problems that are not apparent from a visual inspection or a test drive.

A car history report is a good way to find out what you’re getting.  This is a report prepared by a third party that is a compilation of information from DMVs, RMVs, and other sources.  A car history report will give you an overview of what the car has been through.

When getting a car history report look out for the following things.  This is not to say that you shouldn’t buy the car based on these issues, but certainly ask questions.

If a car has had a lot of owners, chances are it hasn’t been cared for lovingly.  These cars have probably endured more abuse.

Some areas of our country are easier on cars than others.  For example, extreme winter conditions are tough on vehicles, as are flood areas and extreme heat.

Make sure the name and description of the car match up with the actual car.  Read the description carefully to avoid vehicle fraud.

Car history reports, such as those from CARFAX are comprehensive and can save you from purchasing a lemon.  Also, to protect yourself, purchase an auto warranty to avoid unnecessary expenses down the road.

There are several small cars over the years that have had a cult status, such as the Volkswagen Beetle, the French Deux Chevaux and the original Mini.

Each one of these vehicles was popular in their time.  However, they also possessed something extra; a quality that is indefinable, but gave them a cult following.

Today, there are some new cars in the American market that possess a retro style.  For example, the Chrysler PT Cruiser in 2000, the Volkswagen New Beetle in 1998, and the Mini are all in this group.

These vehicles all contain similar qualities.  First of all, they have great style and perform well.  But in addition, they contain a classlessness that lets drivers make a statement without letting people know that they have tons of money.  Drivers like them for two reasons; they are a lot of fun to drive and they have tons of personality.

Small cars are making a big comeback in the United States, and just a few of these possess a cult status.  Motorists enjoy driving a “cool” vehicle that has personality, and they will maintain it until it dies.  People often purchase an extended auto warranty so that they can enjoy their cars without the headache of unnecessary repair expenses.