Auto Warranty

At a price of $60,000, including an auto warranty, this luxury SUV is made to impress.  And although this vehicle is much too dressy to be a rugged weekend vehicle, it is capable of delivering the goods.

One good feature on this SUV is there is no clamshell hatch.  This is terrific because generally clamshell openings are difficult.  They make you lean over the clamshell to get you things, and this is hard no matter what size you are.  However, although the hatch is nicely designed, it isn’t ideal for short people because it opens high and is heavy.

This vehicle has plenty of cargo room for gear, but at this price and size, space should be a given.  And you will be fine camping with four people.

Finally, the interior is beautiful and luxurious, but it’s not a place where you feel like you can take off your muddy boots or sit after a long hard day biking.

All around, this is a terrific vehicle with plenty of room and amenities.  However, make sure you purchase new car warranties with this vehicle in case of unforeseen expensive repairs.

What features can help older drivers stay safe and comfortable on the road?  The American Automobile Association has the following recommendations to help older drivers.

First, it is helpful to have a steering wheel that tilts and telescopes.  This puts the driver 10 inches from the airbag, and also alleviates shoulder and neck pain.

Also helpful are mirrors that allow for wide visibility.  This allows older drivers to compensate for a limited range of motion.

Seats that are heated with lumbar support allow relief from an aching back.

Six-way adjustable seats allow drivers who are short to see over the steering wheel, and allow for an easier entrance and exit out of the car.

A car with adjustable foot pedals will allow small drivers to be able to reach pedals while remaining far enough away from the airbag.

Four doors are better than two for older drivers because they are lighter and easier to open and close.

Purchasing the right car for an older driver is important for safety reasons.  Also important is a good auto warranty that will leave them with peace of mind on the road.

According to dealers, you may have a hard time getting a car loan these days, unless of course you are Bill Gates.

Carmakers say it’s consumers’ inability to get car loans that is causing them to leave showrooms without making a purchase.

Credit is tight, and many banks have to tread water because they already carry too many mortgages that are high-risk.  This is causing them to shy away from additional auto loans.  And when Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy, troubles with credit puffed up.

Gas costing $4 per gallon this summer did change the types of cars that consumers wanted to buy, and that trend remains.  People are looking for small, fuel-efficient cars with a good auto warranty.  However, the credit crunch has changed people’s ability to make a car purchase.  When motorists do get approved for a loan, it’s often for less money than they hoped for.

We’ve all been there.  You’re driving your vehicle when suddenly your check engine light comes on.  If you’re like the majority of motorists, you aren’t really sure what the light is telling you.  This could be the most misunderstood light on your dashboard because it can mean many different things.  If your check engine light comes on you don’t have to immediately pull over, but there are several tips that you should follow.

First, you should check for serious problems that would require immediate attention.  Look at your gauges to see if there is overheating or low oil pressure.  If they are apparent you should pull over and shut off your engine.

Next, tighten your gas cap.  Many times this will solve your problem.  Know that it might take a few trips before your check engine light resets.

It might help to reduce your speed.  If your light is blinking or your car is performing poorly reducing your speed will help.  Have your car checked as soon as possible.

If your check engine light comes on, remember not to panic.  Just follow these simple tips to deal with the problem.  Also, make sure that you have an auto warranty in order to protect your wallet in case of unforeseen repair expenses.

Unless you are actually a mechanic yourself, it may require a leap of faith to deal with a repair shop.  However, paying attention to your mechanic’s actions can give you clues to their honesty.  Here are some things to look out for.

If your mechanic says you need to flush your engine right away, or it will go bad, he might be padding your bill.  Some shops will recommend procedures that aren’t necessary.  Also, they may want you to schedule tasks that are premature.  Pay attention to your owner’s manual for maintenance schedules.

Also, you don’t want to go to a shop that makes every repair recommendation sound like an emergency.  This is a scare tactic for consumers who aren’t mechanically inclined.

If your mechanic tells you the new fuel injectors didn’t fix it, so you will need a new fuel pump, you are dealing with a parts replacer.  This is a mechanic who is rebuilding your vehicle because he is unable to diagnose the problem.  This is one reason an auto warranty is essential.

It can be hard for motorists to know which mechanics are trying to “take them for a ride”, however, there are a few things that you can do to protect yourself.  First of all, make sure you have an auto warranty so you aren’t paying unnecessary repair costs.  Secondly, follow these tips to see if your mechanic is acting honestly.

Many people struggle to decide what kind of car to buy.  It can be difficult to sort through all of the vehicle options to arrive at the car that best suits you.  Here are some important factors to consider that will help you make the right decision when purchasing a car.

First of all, decide what you intend to use the vehicle for.  Don’t buy a 4WD SUV because you take two camping trips a year.  If you’re using the car everyday for commuting, you are going to want to purchase a car that is easy to maneuver with good fuel-efficiency.

Next, consider the looks of the vehicle.  You need to find a vehicle that you can stand to look at every day without getting sick of it.  If you end up with a car that makes you shudder when you look at it, you will never enjoy it.

Finally, fuel-efficiency, although not as big of a deal three years ago, is now a major factor in car buying.  Now there are options of what kind of fuel you want to burn.  For example, some options are E10, E20, compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, petrol, diesel, and B5.  All of these fuels have their benefits, so decide which will suit you the best.

The best way to get the car that is going to fit you is to do your research on various vehicle models.  Also, when doing this consider the added costs of an auto warranty, vehicle maintenance, and auto loans.

Smart cars are becoming more and more popular because of the downsizing trend.  But many consumers have reservations about the safety of this car because of its 8 feet long, 5 feet tall dimensions.  So how does the Smart car measure up in safety?

According to crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Smart car received the highest rating possible in side and front crashes and the second highest in rear crashes.  The Smart car comes standard with front-end airbags on the passenger and driver side.

Also, motorists can feel good knowing that the Smart Car is made by Mercedes.  The Mercedes name has earned consumers trust, and they have always had excellent safety.

In the Smart Car the passengers are essentially sitting on top of a roll cage.  This is an iron frame that surrounds the car and provides a buffer zone in crashes.

Although the Smart Car has excellent safety features, the IIHS reminds consumers that cars are ranked in their class, determined by the size and weight of the vehicle.  This means that the Smart Car is in the top of its class, but this doesn’t mean that the car is as safe as vehicles in other classes.

Consumers are taking safety into their own hands by purchasing safe cars with an auto warranty.  The Smart Car is a great choice for its class based on its safety features.

According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of gas around the nation is $2.24.  In just one month, gas has dropped more than a dollar, which is 86 cents less than the same time last year.  It is common to see a drop after the summer driving season, however, we haven’t seen a summer that has been so expensive since 2008.  So, could we witness $2 gas for the Thanksgiving holiday?

Gas prices have been lowering at a rate of around 3 cents a day over the last month, and we have 17 days until Thanksgiving will be here.  Calculations would mean that gas would be $1.73 by the holiday, right?  Not exactly.  This is the time when gas prices will level off, traditionally. Yet, it wouldn’t be difficult to speculate that gas prices could be around $2 by the time we sit down to eat our turkey dinner.

It’s hard to believe how gas prices have fluctuated since they were over $4 per gallon.  Consumers have become cautious and are buying fuel-efficient cars with a good auto warranty instead of gas-guzzlers.  So, will people begin purchasing large vehicles again?  We’ll have to wait and see.

You know that the trend for green cars has come of age when Hummer and Lamborghini get in on the picture.

The manufacturers of supercars for $400,000 and high-end SUV’s have realized that they need to keep us with small, efficient car models.  People desire lightweight, economical vehicles as opposed to heavy gas-guzzlers.

Lamborghini has an updated version of its Gallardo at $222,000.  Its new design is more “green” because it emits less CO2.  This is the greenhouse gas that is responsible for the change in the climate.

However, cutting 20 kg off of a 202 mph vehicle is not exactly radical.  This is why leading manufacturers, such as Toyota are making a big impact in the car industry.  It is hard to truly make a supercar or SUV green, although it is impressive that Hummer and Lamborghini are making a large attempt.

Green or not, whatever car you buy; make sure that you have an auto warranty to protect your investment.  You don’t want to find yourself paying unnecessary expenses for auto repairs.

Mercedes-Benz now has a new line of clean-diesel vehicles called Bluetec, much like the Volkswagen Jetta TDI.  All of these qualify for the alternative-powertrain tax credit by the IRS.  Previously, only hybrid cars qualified to receive the credit, but the advancements in clean-diesel technology have allowed these German carmakers to get this tax break for their new diesel lines.

The tax credits only apply to the first 60,000 units that are sold.  Also, they will vary depending on the fuel-efficiency of the car.  For example, the Mercedes Benz ML320 Bluetec will qualify for a rebate of $900, but if you make a step up to the GL320 and you will get a credit of $1,800.  You can buy the Jetta TDI now, and it will be in showrooms this October.

Will these tax credits make more people consider purchasing a diesel car the next time they go car shopping?

In the past, motorists protected their wallets by purchasing an auto warranty, buying inexpensive vehicles, and keeping up with maintenance.  Now, receiving tax credits for clean-diesel vehicles give consumers another way of conserving on car related expenses.