Auto Warranty News

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a recall has been issued by Nissan for 242,720 Pathfinders, Xterras and Frontiers for model years 2005-2009.  The recall is due to a crash sensor that causes the airbag to deploy in an accident.  This recall is mainly aimed at cars that are sold in climates with cold weather, in which road salt causes the crash sensor to corrode.  The warning light for the airbag may become illuminated.

Nissan says they will replace sensors that are faulty and put new ones in, and all vehicle owners will receive a 10-year extended warranty for the crash sensors.  Nissan urges people to look for the warning light regardless.  This recall is the second one Nissan has had in the last three months that involves an airbag sensor.  Nissan owners can call Nissan at 800-647-7261.

It is important for car owners to protect themselves by purchasing new car warranties, since you never know when your car will fail.

Teens are known for making driving mistakes, which unfortunately can result in car accidents. This leaves parents feeling anxious, not knowing if their teen driver is safe. There are numerous devices out there that allow parents to track their teenage drivers.  However, now parents can track their teen right from their own keychain.

Many technologies out there monitor the speed and location of your teenage driver, and some even videotape who’s riding in the car.  However, now there is a Canadian company that is offering a new device called the Lemur Autovision keychain.  For the low price of $99.95, parents are able to track the maximum speed that their teen is driving, as well as excessive braking and distance traveled.  Essentially all that it requires is the installation of a non-GPS based sensor box and the monitor keychain.  This system doesn’t invade a teen’s privacy, but allow parents to discipline children for speeding.  And the best part is that it is tamper proof and protected by a PIN, which lets parents know if there have been attempts to fool the system.

Parents need to take extra precautions to keep their teen drivers safe, which includes purchasing an auto warranty, monitoring teen driving, and setting strict guidelines.  You can never be too careful when it comes to your children.

Regardless of the year or make, one of the biggest investments people will make is a vehicle.  Buying a used car is a great way for consumers to save some money.  However, risks can be higher, which is why an auto warranty should be purchased for the car.  Fortunately, there are ways that buyers can recognize the difference between dependable used cars and lemons.

The safest thing to do is to have the car that you are looking to buy checked out by a licensed mechanic.  However, there are some things that you can do on your own.

For instance, bring a soft magnet from your refrigerator to determine if there is damage underneath a new coat of paint.  You can run the magnet all along the fenders and doors, which are steel.  If it seems that the magnet won’t stick, there is probably a type of body filler under the paint.

Also, examine the inside of the vehicle for stains from water.  If the car was damaged in a flood, it could mean trouble in years to come.  You also want to look at the wear on the pedals of the vehicle.  It should be consistent with what the mileage claims to be.  If there is low mileage, there should be little wear on the pedals.

Don’t forget to examine the tires of the vehicle, too.  If you see wear on the outside edges of the tires, the car is probably out of alignment or might have components that are worn-out.

Knowing what to look for in a used vehicle will bring you peace of mind about your purchase.  Also, know that used car warranties will allow you to save on costly repairs that are unforeseen.

Most consumers rely on major car hire companies, such as Avis for rentals on vacations or business trips.  However, people don’t realize that firms such as these are excellent sources of reasonably priced used cars.  Avis’ business is to rent cars but they also sell their cars.  Buyers can save big if they purchase a car from Avis instead of traditional dealers. This allows you to put your money towards an auto warranty that will protect your vehicle.

Avis sells cars that are more than one year old, which allows them to make way for more recent models.  This ensures that Avis’ fleet is current and well maintained.  If certain vehicle models turn out to be very popular, Avis may sell them early, after the vehicle as passed a particular level of mileage.

Another advantage of buying a used vehicle from Avis is that their cars are treated with paint that is metallic.  This is usually not the case when dealers sell used cars.  Some motorists are hesitant to buy a second-hand car from rental firms because they feel that these vehicles have endured a lot of wear and tear.  After all, the cars have been driven frequently and for long distances.  However, Avis points out that cars up for sale are younger than six months old and haven’t been driven for more than 13,000 miles.  Another bonus is that in some cases, the vehicle’s warranty is still valid.  However, it only lasts for about a year, so it is important to shop around for an auto warranty that will protect your investment for longer.

It is apparent that Ford is looking to give its buyers an assist, at least the consumers purchasing a 2010 Lincoln MKS or MKT.  These vehicles are equipped with the Active Park Assist system, which literally will parallel park the car automatically.  Ford’s MKT is a brand new car.

Ford’s system is very similar to the one that is found on the Lexus LS 460.  However, instead of using cameras, this system uses a sensing system that is ultrasonic-based.

Ford says there are a few advantages over the technology that Lexus is using.  First of all, drivers can use Ford’s system if they are parking in a downhill situation, and Ford says its system has improved reliability and speed while parking.

This technology could prove to be very beneficial to drivers; however, drivers should protect themselves with a good auto warranty.  After all, you never know when you will find yourself needing repairs on new technology.

When it comes to car features, experts claim that women take more of an interest in safety than men, while men are more concerned with the performance of a car, and the technical gadgets.

The interest that women have in safety is basically limited to safety features that are passive, such as rollover protection, airbags, and advanced seat belts, not active safety features, such as electronic stability control, and lane departure warnings, which help motorists avoid accidents.  The reason for this is that men take more of an interest in playing around with the latest technology than women do.

Generally, women request the safety features that are going to help their children remain safe.  In other words, women’s motherly instincts play a role in the safety features they choose.

In addition, women tend to have a more practical approach to vehicle shopping than do men.  That is why women’s purchases have more to do with safety, as opposed to how long it takes for the car to go from 0-60 mph.

Although men typically know more about cars than women, women seek out information about cars before purchasing.  This means that they end up purchasing cars that are safer.  Also, they make sure to purchase an auto warranty to maintain their cars.

An accelerating driver trend from SUVs and pickup trucks to small fuel-efficient cars will help reduce rollovers, but experts on safety are worried that a smaller fleet presents serious health risks, despite anti-collision systems, air bags, and other safety advances.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which measures the performance of cars in crash tests, shifting to small cars is going to make problems worse.  They claim that people are better off in a vehicle that is bigger, not smaller.

U.S. carmakers have been distressed and are therefore retooling plants in Latin America, Europe, and around the world to get more compact cars to Americans in upcoming years and try to meet federal standards on fuel economy that are tougher.

At least 40,000 motorists are killed on roads in America annually in traffic accidents.  Approximately three-quarters of these people are from passenger vehicles and two-thirds of them from cars.

Consumers are concerned with saving auto costs, such as car prices, auto warranty prices, and gas costs, yet safety needs to be their #1 concern.

The stock market has deflated rapidly.  Layoffs, foreclosures and bankruptcies are higher than ever.  So this is the perfect time to begin selling sports cars that are $350,000 in Tampa, Bay, right?

Well, we will soon find out.

Officials of Ferrari are planning to open an extravagant new dealership in Palm Harbor and are also planning to sell Lamborghini and Bentley.  And this week the Elder Automotive Group opened up sales of the “Spyker” sports cars in the Southeast.

Together these extravagant dealerships will do a test on the theory that car enthusiasts who are filthy-rich will resist economic gravity and spend on a car what it would cost for a large home.

While most motorists are currently worried about paying for gas, car loans and new car warranties, there are still people out there who can afford luxury sports cars.  Will these dealerships survive?  That remains to be seen.

Well, it is obvious that hybrids are the wave of the future. Motorists are spending a lot of money on maintenance, new car warranties and financing, and need to save on fuel costs.  So, is it worth it to buy a hybrid to save money at the gas pump?  Let’s take a look.

To see how long it will take you to recoup your premium up-front, we can compare the Toyota Camry Hybrid to a typical Camry.  Because of the equipment level of the hybrid, however, it is necessary to compare it to the V-6 Camry LE.  The base prices of the cars are only $2,000 apart.  The Hybrid is $25,000 and the Camry V6 LE is $23,640.

According to Toyota, the Camry Hybrid gets 33mpg in the city and 34mpg on the highway.  The Camry V6, however, gets 21mpg in the city and 31mpg on the highway.

If you were to drive 15,000 miles in a year you will use about 454 gallons.  With the V6 LE you will burn approximately 635 gallons in a year.  If gas costs $3.20 per gallon, you will have a fuel cost savings of approximately $547 per year.  This means that you would recoup the premium up-front that you spent to purchase the hybrid.

In this comparison you can see that in the long run you will end up saving with a hybrid. In addition, you get the satisfaction of doing a service to your planet.

Many people enjoy owning minivans because they offer various options for carrying cargo and passengers.  Depending on your needs, you can configure minivans in a variety of different ways.  Also, minivans now come with climate control in dual zones, as well as DVD systems.  These features offer great appeal to buyers, especially families.

There is tons of interior room in minivans, which allows for plenty of leg and headroom.  Also convenient are the models that have sliding doors on both sides of the vehicle, making it quick and easy to get in and out.

Minivans allow enough seating for up to eight passengers.  The ones that is equipped for seven passengers typically have captain’s chairs, not a bench.  The Honda Odyssey offers even more flexibility in seating by having a center seat that can be removed.

If you need a vehicle that has flexibility in seating and cargo space, minivans are a great option.  They have numerous features that make for a comfortable, convenient ride.  However, no matter what vehicle you decide to purchase, make sure you get new car warranties to protect yourself from unforeseen repairs.