January 22nd, 2011 by Hal Moses
Often motorist get sticker shock or experience buyer’s remorse after buying a new car. However, you can avoid this by considering the expenses that you will encounter in the future.
According to experts, most consumers anticipate the price of the purchase, registration and taxes. However, many people forget to factor in the price of insurance and new car warranties. Fortunately, by doing your homework you can get good deals on insurance and an auto warranty.
To control car costs drivers should consider these tips. First of all, decide before you get to the dealership the amount of money that you can spend. Also, decide on what type of car will suit your needs. It is also beneficial to get quotes from several dealers, because then you are in the position to negotiate. Finally, check insurance and auto warranty prices on the vehicle that you want to purchase.
You don’t have to go broke purchasing a new car. But, be smart and consider all of the costs involved. It isn’t just the purchase price that you will be paying.
January 21st, 2011 by Hal Moses
The best way to annoy a BMW executive is to ask about the new Mini station wagon. In other words, the Mini Cooper Clubman.
Today, in the car business, the station wagon conjures up negative imagery. It is the opposite idea that BMW wants associated with the Mini.
But if you really look at the Mini Clubman, it looks like a winner. It can be considered a station wagon, but it is a fantastic one.
The Clubman has a smooth, clean design, is fuel-efficient, has innovative doors, and has plenty of room for luggage and rear passengers.
The mini is a big success story for BMW. When it was launched in 2001, BMW was hoping to sell 150,000 a year. This year it is projected that 240,000 Minis will sell, with the help of the Clubman.
Consumers want to purchase realistic cars that are fuel-efficient. BMW has delivered. Motorists can buy this car with the addition of an auto warranty and rest assured that they made a wise purchase.
January 20th, 2011 by Hal Moses
The majority of Ford’s models are not only equipped with new car warranties, and numerous safety features, they come with a gas-cap-less fuel tank. Ford is referring to this as “EasyFuel,†which shouldn’t be confused with “FlexFuelâ€, which is when a car can use E85. However, if you get the two mixed up, cars with the EasyFuel system have a warning that E85 won’t flow easily into the gas tank.
When hearing this you may wonder, “Are people too lazy to even screw a gas cap off and on?†but chances are you have actually forgotten a gas cap at a gas station once or twice. And sometimes it can be annoying to remember if your gas cap clicked properly when you turned it.
If you purchase one of the new Fords, you may feel a bit strange just taking the pump in and out without doing anything else. But chances are that you will get used to the convenience after a short time. Oh, and did I mention that the new Fords come with a hefty auto warranty?
January 19th, 2011 by Hal Moses
It’s the moment that every motorist dreads, a flat tire. You don’t know if you ran over glass or hit a nail, but you need to take action. You may need to call for road service, and then you have to have the tire fixed or do it yourself. Surprisingly, it isn’t that hard to repair a tire yourself, and you can save the extra expense of having a repair shop do it. Here’s how.
First, it is necessary to determine the location of the puncture. You can do this by submerging the tire in water and watching where the bubbles come from. Before you can patch the tire you must remove any foreign objects stuck in the tire. You can pull out the object with pliers. Be sure to pull out the object in the direction of the tread so you don’t do additional damage to the tire.
Now, use a tire reamer and clean out the hole from the inside of the tire. Center the patch over the puncture to ensure proper sizing. Take off the patch and coat an awl using cement. You should run the awl in the hole a few times to make sure the damaged area is coated adequately. Then, put a coat of vulcanizing cement directly on the patch and tire and let it dry.
Next, apply a layer of cement on the stem of the patch and then pull the stem through. When the patch stem is all the way through the hole, cut it off.
Now, you are ready to get back out on the road. With a little diligence you can do a quick tire fix and save yourself a trip to the repair shop. Just always protect yourself with an auto warranty.
January 18th, 2011 by Hal Moses
Over the past few decades, perhaps one of the biggest technical developments has been to tires. And now, new rules concerning tires will yield even more mileage and safety improvements.
After the estimated 280 deaths that were linked to Firestone tire failures on the Ford Explorer SUVs, lawmakers ordered tire pressure monitoring systems are used. These systems alert drivers if they have a tire with low air.
Thankfully, some of the recent monitoring systems don’t have problems that were experienced with the earlier technology. Problems included false alerts, and failure to advise drivers which of their tires was low.
Now, there is a national registry that has been approved, allowing drivers to register their tires that they purchase. In the case of a recall, such as Firestone, drivers would be notified quickly.
Drivers will be much safer with the new tire rules. However, drivers should always protect themselves by doing regular tire pressure checks and having an auto warranty in case of necessary repairs.
January 15th, 2011 by Hal Moses
In future car accidents a circuit could be as crucial to survival as a seat belt. Congress made seat belts mandatory in the 1960’s, which was revolutionary in car safety. Since then, seat belts have greatly reduced deaths. Now, there is an additional safety revolution in the midst. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has employed a new standard. This makes electronic stability control equipment a mandatory component in all cars. The adoption of ESC will save approximately 10,000 lives every year.
Most luxury vehicles already come with ESC. Other models offer it as an option. This is just one of the new safety advancements designed with the purpose of preventing auto accidents, not just protecting passengers. The majority of these new features have a microchip base. Many are still being perfected. So beware, you never know when new technology will fail. However, new car warranties will save you from unnecessary expenses.
Many motorists are finding it easiest to buy a package of safety options, rather than individual gadgets. Lexus, for example, places an emphasis on how its safety features work as a system. It has a package with lane-departure warning, smart cruise control, and ESC.
Integrating such systems, and the yielding of throttle, brake, and steering raise the question: Do drivers need or want this much help? Who is actually in charge of the wheel? No matter the answer, an auto warranty is essential in protecting your vehicle with all of those fancy gadgets.
January 14th, 2011 by Hal Moses
With the poor economy, drivers are trading in their big gas-guzzlers for fuel-efficient cars. Yet, while that makes sense, if you switch too soon you might be looking at more overall car costs than you’ll save on gas. According to Consumer Reports, downsizing is beneficial in the long run if you time it right.
A study by Consumer Reports reveals that if you still owe on your car loan, it might not be beneficial to downsize after just three years. With a loan, initially your payments are made up of a large percentage of interest. Trading in too early will leave you with less equity, which will limit a down payment for a new car.
Another hurdle that affects the equity of your car is depreciation. In the first five years of ownership, depreciation makes up about 48% of total vehicle costs for the owner. On average, costs for fuel only equal about 21%. Within the first three years, depreciation is the greatest, and then it begins to level off.
So, trading in a 3-year old car will result in a whole new depreciation ride. However, if you have owned your vehicle for more than four years trading in makes more sense. Just make sure you have an auto warranty for peace of mind when keeping your vehicle for several years.
January 13th, 2011 by Hal Moses
Buying a new vehicle is an exciting event in most people’s lives. People often want to flaunt their priceless possessions for everyone to see. Drivers purchase an auto warranty to protect their jewels, and treat their cars with loving care. In addition, they try not to let their vehicle get any scratches. A car that is scratch free and has a shiny finish is a good reflection of its owner and brings a lot of driving pleasure.
However, with heavy traffic that is bumper to bumper, it is difficult to keep your beautiful gem scratch free. In fact, it is inevitable that your vehicle will receive a scratch or two no matter what measures you take.
Never fear, you don’t have to spend thousands at a shop getting your entire car panel painted. You can use Com-Paint, which is a touch up spray that allows you to say goodbye to scratches. Follow these simple tips.
On small scratches you can use Aeroshot Top Cut to remove and cleanse the surface that is scratched. This will most likely take care of the scratches so that they won’t need painting.
For medium scratches level with 1000 No. Emery paper. Shake the can well and hold it 12†from the surface and use a stroking motion to spray. Make sure the coats are light, not heavy. Let the painted area dry at least 72 hours.
Car owners like to feel like their vehicles are brand new. Simple things can allow you to do this such as touch-up painting, routine maintenance, and purchasing new car warranties to protect your vehicle. These simple things can keep your car seeming brand-new.
January 12th, 2011 by Hal Moses
It can be tempting to text-message in your car, especially if you’re stuck in traffic. You assume that there is little risk involved, however, if the person in front of you stops a little faster than you intended, all of a sudden you may find yourself calling your road service program.
Recent studies show that avoiding texting in the car will drastically reduce your chances of getting into a car accident. In fact, four states are making an attempt to ban driving while texting (DWT). Washington put a ban earlier in the year on texting while on the road.
Statistics suggest that DWT is a danger that is growing. In drivers ages 16 and 17, 46% admitted that they have texted while driving. A study by Nationwide Insurance indicates that DWT is a generational activity. Out of people ages 18-27, 37% admit to texting while driving, meanwhile, only 14% of 28-44 year olds admit to this. Also, only 2% of 45-60 year olds said they texted on the road.
Cities around the nation are passing text-message ordinances because of the danger that it poses. It is best to just refrain from this activity, otherwise you might find yourself calling for emergency roadside assistance. Drivers should protect themselves by practicing safe driving habits and making sure they have good used car warranties.
January 11th, 2011 by Hal Moses
There is nothing worse that purchasing a car and finding out that it has an ocean of problems, literally.
Why? The number of cars on the market in the last five years that have been damaged by flooding, hurricanes or rains has doubled. Certain states have actually reported an increase of six times more than the number recorded five years ago.
A lot of times, vehicles with this problem are moved from regions that experience a lot of flooding to less suspicious areas. These cars will find themselves back on the pre-owned market, disguised and rebuilt to look clean.
It can be hard to realize if a flood has damaged a car, yet if a car has been underwater it will rot inside and out. Also, water damage can threaten the mechanical systems and ruin electronics in a vehicle, without even leaving a sign on the outside of the vehicle.
Since sales of used cars are expected to reach 45 million this year, consumers need to be on high alert for any signs of flood damage. Also, purchase an auto warranty to protect yourself in case you have unforeseen repair costs.