Auto Warranty

You may think that a basic bumper to bumper auto warranty covers everything between the front and the back end of your car. But does it? If not, will an extended auto warranty give you the coverage that you need?

You may think that you have extensive coverage, but review the fine print to see what isn’t covered. Unfortunately, certain incidentals aren’t covered by any auto warranty. But, a lot of warranties don’t have these items listed clearly, which can mean you may be paying for services that you are actually covered for. It is hard when these items aren’t stated clearly on your contract, which means it is essential for you to review your document thoroughly.

In Auto Advantage’s booklet which explains the service agreement for bumper to bumper new car warranties, there is a section titled “What is Not Covered”, which makes things easy for the consumer. Also included on the same page is what is included in your coverage:

This program covers all the major components on your vehicle… Bumper to Bumper Coverage provides Mechanical Break-down coverage for repairs/replacements of ALL original equipment, manufacturers factory installed mechanical and electrical operating parts and assemblies on the covered vehicle…

Knowing what you are covered for is half the battle, but you also want to make sure you are covered for a certain amount of time. With Auto Advantage you can be covered anywhere from three months to fourteen years, it’s up to you. Mileage is also flexible.

An extended auto warranty will offer you many options as well as peace of mind about the automobile that you are purchasing.

Some recent bulletins stating nagging problems with various car models make an auto warranty a necessity. The following information is provided by the manufacturers to the service departments of dealers, as well as to mechanics.

Some General Motors vehicles have had problems with oil leaks. Vehicles that were produced between 1986 and 2008 with various 60-degree v-6 engines may experience oil leaks from the rear seal of the crankshaft.

Some of Ford’s large trucks have fuel injectors that are stuck. This is specifically on the 2005 Ford F-150, Lincoln Navigators and Expeditions. Apparently, the injectors could become stuck open or closed, which could result in powertrain damage.

Owners of 2007 Jeep Wranglers may have difficulty getting started in the morning. A faulty engine camshaft sensor is responsible for a long cranking time. To avoid this problem the sensor must be replaced.

Auto manufacturers are always discovering new problems that can be a headache for motorists. Don’t be caught off guard, purchase an auto warranty to avoid expensive repairs.

The Honda Fit is finally available in the United States. The fit made its first appearance in Japan in 2001 and it is now being sold around the world.  It has earned many awards, such as “Car of the Year” in Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.  So why is the Fit so special?

Honda says that the Fit is targeted to people who are buying their first car, those who want a small affordable vehicle, and empty nesters.  Honda hit the target with this because the Fit is “The” best car as far as the small vehicle market is concerned.  It is sporty, with adaptability in the interior, and has the dependability and refinement that is found in all of Honda’s vehicles.  Of course, the Fit offers all of this at a bargain price.  This is a bonus because saving money on a purchase price allows you to buy an auto warranty that will protect your investment.

One of the major benefits of the Fit is the unexpected large area for passengers and cargo thanks to the design of the interior.  It is called: Fit’s Magic Seat.  This magic seat has different modes, including cargo, people or both.  The seatbacks allow for folding down or the bottoms of the seats can flip up.  This provides for four cargo and four seating configurations.

The bottom line is that the Fit is a great car.  The adaptability and configurations of the seating are very clever.  It’s sporty, as well as quiet and practical.  It maneuvers well and has good fuel economy.  In addition, the safety features are superb.  To protect this superb investment, it makes sense to purchase an auto warranty that will give you peace of mind.

Winter calls for the need to keep your vehicle’s battery in tip-top shape.  No one wants to risk being in a stalled car in freezing temperatures.  The cold can cause an engine to require double the current as would normally be needed in usual conditions.  In addition, cold weather can decrease a battery’s output.

There are several things that you can do to care for your battery and promote safer travel in the winter.  Occasionally, you should check terminal connections for corrosion and tightness.  If you determine that terminals look corroded, they need to be cleaned with a small brush, and apply a solution of baking soda with water.  Finally, visually examine the battery for damage, such as cracks and leaks.  If these are found, replace the battery immediately.

It is best to save the battery in your car before all of the signs of wear are apparent.  Unfortunately, there is no way to know with certainty when a battery will become problematic.  However, there are some things to look for.  These include a slow clock, a starter that turns slowly, and headlights that become brighter when you rev the engine. Unfortunately you never know when you might experience car problems.  It is always a good idea to be covered by an  to help protect you in the event of a costly breakdown.

Car sales in Hawaii are expected to drop this year.  Vehicle registrations will decline significantly to just over 4 percent since the economy is slowing down. The Hawaii automobile industry is braced for lower car sales for the year, with vehicle registrations and sales of new car warranties expected to drop 4.1 percent as the economy slows, according to some Auto Dealers in Hawaii.

Registrations for cars are expected to only reach 57,000 because of credit markets being tight, unemployment rising, house values declining, gas prices soaring, and consumers in debt. In this type of economy, it is a good idea to purchase an  to protect your investment. It was forecasted late last year that there will be a decrease of approximately 3.5 percent in auto registrations this year.

In the meantime, registrations for vehicles last year were down to just over 59,000, which was a more significant drop than expected. Kauai had a smaller decline at just over 7 percent, and the big island reported a greater drop at approximately 12 percent.

An auto group in Seattle recently announced the arrival of the first factory-authorized Smart Cars in the state. The announcement paves the way for car buyers to own a certified United States version of the Smart Car which comes with an auto warranty and manufacturer’s authorized service.

 

It is a significant announcement for anyone looking to purchase a Smart Car, manufactured by Mercedes Benz, but was scared away by the inconvenience of having to purchase a gray market version of the car.

 

Over 30,000 deposits have already been taken in anticipation of the US version of the Smart Car’s arrival.  Mercedes Benz has carefully selected dealers across the country who they feel can best represent the Smart brand.

 

During the past year, a number of European-model, gray market Smart Cars have been sold as unauthorized, which means the do not come with any type of auto warranty.  These gray market versions also must be converted to US specs to be operated legally on US highways.  The conversions are very expensive and are done by non-factory trained mechanics. One converted, they actually sell for almost twice as much as the authorized versions.

 

The Smart Cars are expected to be an excellent fit for a many types of drivers.  The cars appeal to consumers will include first time buyers with limited budgets and consumers who have to deal with tight parking dilemmas.  I am excited to watch this mini car market segment as it grows in the US.  Hopefully the extended warranty industry will come up with an auto warranty to fill these new buyers’ needs.

Auto makers realize that many drivers put safety as one of their highest priorities. The more traffic on highways and interstates, the larger our cities grow, and the more traffic becomes more of a problem.  Accidents and vehicle damage are inevitable when on the road with your car or truck.  With auto maker’s striving for safety and innovation, auto extended warranty purchases make more sense that ever.

 

With consumer’s first priority being safety, they know that it would be in their best interest to be prepared for an incident. A vehicle collision or mechanical failure can increase the chance for serious injury. With cars being built with better safety features, an auto warranty can also be a protective measure that protects your pocketbook.  Auto manufacturers are working to be innovative.  One example of this might be Ford’s new seat belt concept.  Ford feels that redeveloping their seat belt system should be one of all auto makers’ highest priorities.  The responsibility should not only be held by the manufacturer, drivers should also look for ways to drive less aggressively to keep our nations roads safer.  Just as it is the choice of a car buyer to try to keep themselves out of trouble on the road, it is also their choice to auto warranty to help maintain the vehicle’s continue safe performance.

Many consumers that believe they have to spend big money for a luxury car may not want to consider the autos on this list.  That is clearly their loss.

 

If you want to pay over $37,000 for a BMW Z4 Roadster and you can cruise around town in a two seat roadster that will allow you to control the drop top automatically while listening to your favorite music with a superb ten speaker audio system.

 

The $35,000+ Lincoln MKX crossover utility vehicle (CUV) has many standard features like heated memory mirrors, leather-wrapped wheel with wood accents, and 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS. Options include a voice-activated DVD-based navigation system.

 

The Volvo XC70, at just over $36,500 is a mid-sized wagon and is loaded with many advanced safety and security features like hill descent control and side curtain airbags.

 

This list was derived from Strategic Vision’s Total Value Awards list. This list measures classes of cars including their reliability, manufacturer’s auto warranty, and future cost of extended auto warranty, solid resale values, and ownership experience.  Only cars with the highest scores were counted.

Vincentric, a research firm helped by providing maintenance costs calculated over a 5 year period. The vehicles with the lowest costs, including oil changes, wheel alignments, wiper blades, etc. made the list.  Finally, the list was capped at vehicles that were under $50,000 which allowed a wide range of vehicles, from coupes to large cars.

Mitsubishi Motors is trying to build on the excitement that has been generated the launch of the new Lancer Evolution and brand new 2009 Galant.  The new Galant made its debut today at Chicago’s Auto Show and comes with hopes that they can raise themselves up from the lack of attention their predecessors had gotten.

 

Mitsubishi is trying to cover all the bases in what is a very complex and competitive mid-size market segment by offering the 2009 Galant in several different trim levels.  It will also have a choice of 4 or 6 cylinder motors.  The top of the range for the 3.8L V6 is available in the Ralliart-Tuned Galant and offers a hefty 258 horsepower output. Also available are a 230 horsepower V6, and a 2.4L 160 horsepower 4 cylinder engine. All engines come with Mitsubishi’s Sportronic transmission.

Mitsubishi vehicles are backed by short term new vehicle limited auto warranties. The Eclipse, Lancer, Galant, Endeavor and Outlander also come with a 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty along with a 5-year/60,000 mile bumper-to-bumper auto warranty. This still leaves a void in the later years when many typical failures occur.  This is continued proof that an auto warranty is a necessity on these high powered mid-sized cars.

With vehicle manufacturer’s current drive for safety innovation, extended auto warranty coverage requirements are changing rapidly.  Honda, one of most safety conscious vehicle manufacturers is proving that they have what consumers are looking for in vehicle safety standards.  Honda’s distribution of many of their 2007 and 2008 models include safety feature packages that sty within this frame of mind.  As drivers look at the many protective qualities of the newest cars and trucks, the other concern for consumers is vehicle care and extended warranty coverage.

Safety for inhabitants of a vehicle during a collision runs parallel to auto warranty coverage.  A driver can access more available safety features and auto warranty coverage flexibility than ever before. Consumers should be researching car warranties to protect the safest cars and trucks being built so far so that they can guarantee the upkeep and safety implementation for their vehicles whenever the need should come.