Auto Warranty

The most notable upgrade seen in the 2009 RAV4 is its new four-cylinder 2.5-liter engine, which boosts the power to 179 hp, compared to 166 hp in 2008.  The mileage stays the same at 22 mpg/city and 28 mpg/highway for the two-wheel-drive version and 21/27 mpg for the four wheel-drive version.  Also unchanged is the 3.5-liter V-6.

Toyota also made some changes to the RAV4s exterior.  There is a more angular appearance to the front of the vehicle that resembles the Tundra and Matrix, which were recently redesigned.  Also, there is a small bumper change, and the addition of new taillights.

Other upgrades include new colors, new fabrics in the interior, and standard active front head restraints.

The changes to the RAV4 aren’t drastic for 2009, but they will be able to maintain the vehicle’s successful reputation.  You can purchase the 2009 version now, which has the same base price and auto warranty from 2008.

J.D. Power recently came out with the results from its 2008 Escaped Shopper Study, which gauges why consumers made the decision to walk away from certain new vehicles in their car shopping experience. It’s quite surprising that approximately 80% of car shoppers decided against purchasing a model after they went to a car dealer.

The top three reasons for not buying a car, that are dealer related, included inferior dealer service, a limited availability of various trim levels and colors, and unprofessional employees.

This is a very common anecdotal reason for consumers. If a dealer or salesman doesn’t treat a prospective customer well, that’s it. And, typically the customer not only stays away from that dealership, they also get a tainted view of the vehicle brand.

The study examined 30,000 new car shoppers and discovered that 40% of shoppers decided not to buy a vehicle because of the price, and 40% of those buyers said it isn’t that the car costs too much money, it’s that the car doesn’t seem like it is worth the high price.

Motorists would rather hang onto their current vehicles and buy used car warranties, than purchase a car that they feel isn’t worth the money. And with an auto warranty, drivers can rest assured that they won’t have to pay unnecessary repair expenses down the road.

Because of a full-size pickup truck market that is lagging and the challenge that diesel engines face in the U.S., Toyota has decided to put their plans for a diesel Tundra on hold.

There are several things that forced Toyota’s hand. First, there are technical challenges when it comes to making diesel engines that will meet the standards of federal emissions. Also, costs for diesel fuel are higher than many people are willing to pay right now. However, Toyota does believe it will come back to the idea if gas prices go down and people become more interested in pickup trucks. For now, however, people are trying to protect their wallets by purchasing fuel-efficient vehicles with a good auto warranty.

Instead of the Tundra, Toyota has decided to start production of a vehicle that is based on its concept of the A-BAT (Advanced Breakthrough Aero Truck), which was seen at the 2008 auto show in Detroit. This was one of the favorite vehicles at the show and it has two fuel-efficient drivetrains.

Pre-owned cars are a great option for car shoppers because cars today have such great quality that they last longer.  This lets drivers enjoy a car that someone else has already owned.  Some advocates of used cars like to say that a used car is just a model that’s already been broken in.

In many cases, a used car will serve your needs just fine.  Maybe you need to buy a car for your teenager who will no doubt bend a few fenders along the way.  Or perhaps you need a truck that will take you on weekend getaways.  In these cases, you can enjoy the low price of a used vehicle that you are only going to drive occasionally.

A large amount of the value of a used vehicle comes from the fact that previous owners have already paid for the depreciation costs.  Depreciation is the largest ownership cost.  However, it is important to remember that certain vehicles depreciate at a slower rate.  For example, Acura and Lexus cars depreciate at a slower rate than average.  In addition, BMWs depreciate slowly because the demand on the market exceeds their supply.  Cars, such as the Ford Taurus depreciate at a quick rate since they are often used in the fleets of rental cars.

Purchasing a used car is a great option if you do your homework.  Make sure to research the most reliable used vehicles that will retain their value.  In addition, purchase an auto warranty for peace of mind.

Smart, which is a Daimler-Benz subsidiary, has been able to sell around 17,000 ForTwos since they launched the small two-seater in America in January.  However, there are approximately 30,000 potential buyers who have been put on waiting lists.

Even so, the carmaker doesn’t intend on increasing their output in order to put supply in line with the demand, according to Dave Schembri, who is the Smart USA president.  Schembri claims that car graveyards are littered with car companies that reacted with too much too soon.

Just a year ago Smart didn’t even have a car or dealership in the U.S.  Smart is willing to grow in volume, but only after it makes sure everything is in place.  The profit margins are pretty thin on small cars, so they want to always be one car short.

Smart’s success has been a surprise for everyone.  But in a time when the economy is poor and gas prices are high, people are happy to buy a two-seater with a good auto warranty.

Although certified pre-owned warranties are very similar, they do vary some depending on the car manufacturer.  They combine the manufacturers original auto warranty with a certified pre-owned auto warranty, and then offer roadside assistance along with other benefits.  The advantages are apparent: instead of taking a risk with a used car that you know nothing about, you get a car with a complete history and an auto warranty.

Chrysler decided to go one step further and offer extended service contracts for Jeep, Chrysler, and Dodge certified pre-owned vehicles.  The contracts will be divided depending on what they cover.  For instance, the Lifetime Powertrain Care will cover transmissions, engines, and drivelines; the Lifetime Added Care Plus will cover those mechanisms and also electrical functions in the interior, suspensions, and fuel systems; and the Lifetime Maximum Care plan will cover all of the above with just a few exclusions.

Chrysler has not yet announced pricing plans for these contracts, so it isn’t clear how much more consumers will have to pay to get a lifetime component auto warranty, or whether consumers will want the used car warranties at all.

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

It isn’t the high fuel prices that are discouraging people from buying vehicles, 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 on Monday, troubles with credit puffed up.

Gas costing $4 per gallon did change the types of cars that consumers buy.  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.

General Motors is going to halt production of the Chevy Corvette during the week beginning October 6th. When the Bowling Green, Kentucky assembly plant goes back to work after the hiatus, it will employ 75 fewer workers and manufacture 3.5 fewer vehicles an hour.

Last month GM had some excellent deals on new Corvettes, as it was trying to boost its sales by making the car part of its employee pricing deal. This deal will continue through September 30th, and offers big savings. For example, you can get around $10,000 off of the original price of a Corvette Z06, however, in this poor market this kind of reduction isn’t going to turn things around.

Though the discount caused sales to jump, they are way off of the mark last year. In fact sales were down 8.5% through the month of August. Cars that haven’t sold are crowding dealer’s lots, which are causing production cuts. But, the good news is, if you’re in the market for a Corvette, this is the time to get a good deal with a hefty auto warranty.

Volkswagen has announced a plan to manufacture 20 new models within the next three years.  This plan is part of an international effort to enlarge deliveries yearly by eight million vehicles by 2011.

Volkswagen is going to put out vehicles in all of the different categories, but they will emphasize an increase in market share in the SUV, pickup and van divisions.  The portfolio expansion will go with a yearly production increase of 10%.

Volkswagen’s plan focus is not only on the amount of vehicles produced, but also on improving the vehicles’ environmental criteria to reduce the dependency on gas and oil.  To achieve this, Volkswagen is going to optimize its TDI and TSI engine, using a shift gearbox.  Also, it is researching hybrids, fuel cells and plug-in electric vehicles.

Motorists are demanding more environmentally friendly vehicles because of high taxes and increasing oil prices.  Also, drivers are searching for peace of mind, which they get by purchasing a dependable car and an auto warranty.  Volkswagen is taking action after listening to consumers’ needs.

Nowadays, most people require a vehicle to get around, however, not everyone can afford to purchase a new car. A great option for people in this instance is to buy a used car, but it can be difficult for people to arrange for funds. Used car auto loans can help people with this problem.

The great thing about these loans is that they are available to everyone, regardless of your credit score. However, if you need a loan for a larger amount you will have to get a secured loan where you offer collateral. If you only require a small amount of funding, it is sufficient to get an unsecured auto loan.

To find loans for used cars it is beneficial to look online, where you can compare rates from thousands of lenders. Also, by purchasing a loan online, the approval is accelerated and only a few days are required to drag the necessary funds into your own bank account.

Used car auto loans offer many benefits. People with poor credit aren’t discriminated against, it is an easy and fast procedure, and you are able to choose any model or make. In addition, after researching an auto loan online, you can compare auto warranty rates.