Auto Warranty

Most people don’t realize that there is certain etiquette involved when ordering parts at the parts counter.  Following this etiquette will allow you to get the parts that you want without unnecessary hassle and keep you from driving the staff crazy.

When you go to a parts counter at a dealership you need to have your VIN handy, which is basically the magic key to all of the car codes.  At places such as Advance Auto or NAPA, you just need to know the make, model, year, and engine of your car.

Make sure to know what the part’s name is that you need.  If this is something you don’t know, be able to describe what it looks like or what it is going to attach to.  Don’t make up a name for the part you want; this is where 90% of wrong parts come from.  If worse comes to worse, take the staff out to your car and point to the part you’re looking for.

When ordering an expensive part you want to ask about return policies and auto warranty terms.  And get the answer in writing.  This can be as simple as having him write the information on the receipt.  This will save a lot of hassle if something breaks down the line.

Finally, don’t go to the parts counter to diagnose your vehicle.  Counter-staff gets very annoyed when you try to return a part because it wasn’t even the problem in the first place.

Following these simple etiquette tips will allow you to get the parts that you need with little hassle.  And make sure you have an auto warranty, because you never know when your vehicle will need to be repaired.

It isn’t easy finding a vehicle that suits a family’s needs.  In fact, it is a challenging pursuit that can leave motorists feeling overwhelmed.  So, what are the important things to consider when buying a family vehicle?

First of all, a car must be affordable.  In other words, the base price shouldn’t be more than $30,000.  Ideally, you should be able to find a good vehicle for under $30,000.  If you’re looking at a car company who can’t produce a quality car for around $30,000, you’re looking at the wrong company.

Of course, the seating in a car should be comfortable for five people. Nobody is going to be happy if they don’t have room to move around.   In addition, the cargo space should be large enough to carry groceries to accommodate five people.

Safety is a necessity.  New vehicles contain innovative safety features that can save lives.  For example, Chevy Malibu cars have the OnStar communication system featuring Advanced Automatic Crash Notification.  The system allows a signal to automatically be sent to an OnStar adviser notifying them that a crash occurred.  Then, the adviser attempts to contact the motorist of the car to find out if any injuries are apparent.  This information then gets transmitted to emergency vehicles.

When buying a new family car don’t get too overwhelmed.  Remember the important things to consider when making your purchase, and make sure to buy an auto warranty that will protect your new investment.

There has been a drastically changing landscape for the SUV market over the past year.  Driven by the poor economy, truck-based and full-size SUVs have declined in favor of car-based SUVs that are smaller.  MSN Autos has also experienced this trend among car searches.

The Honda CRV is the most popular, and best selling SUV in America.  Following close behind is the Toyota RAV4.

Three vehicles by Ford are also among the most popular SUVs.  The Ford Escape, as well as the Escape Hybrid follow behind the RAV4, and the Ford Edge comes in 10th place.  One prime example of how America’s taste for SUVs now differs is the difference in the lineup by Ford.  The Ford Explorer was the top selling SUV two years ago, however now the Explorer isn’t a best seller.

New Nissan SUVs, the Rogue and Murano have experienced great popularity, coming in fifth and seventh.

With fuel prices and the poor economy, consumers are staying away from big SUVs that guzzle gas, and instead are purchasing smaller SUVs.  In addition, motorists are trying to protect their wallets by purchasing an auto warranty.

Some people think of used cars as being dirty, junky and old.  But a different market is making savvy buyers who are looking for updated vehicles pay attention.  The bonus is that these cars don’t have the sticker price of new cars.

Certified pre-owned cars have undergone rigid inspections and been refurbished by their manufacturer.  Also enticing is that they are backed with an extended auto warranty.  Automakers are realizing that they can’t ignore the certified vehicle market.

A recent study shows that certified pre-owned car sales have gone up 46% since the year 2000.  It is estimated that 1.5 million certified used vehicles are sold yearly, which is equivalent to approximately 10 % of the sales of new cars.

So what are the best and worst certified pre-owned cars to purchase?  Forbes.com has put out a list to help consumers make a good purchase.

At the top of the list of the best CPO cars are Honda Accord and Toyota 4Runner.  Following is the Acura TL, and Subaru Impreza.  Also, the Lexus GS tops the list.

Cars on the worst list are the Saturn Relay, and Jeep Grand Cherokee.  Also, the Volkswagen New Beetle, Pontiac G6, and Mercedes Benz E Class make the list.

Certified pre-owned can be a great way to purchase an updated vehicle without the updated cost.  Another perk is that they come with an extended auto warranty.  Just remember to keep in mind the best and worst CPO car lists when considering a purchase and sign up for roadside assistance.

Purchasing a used vehicle can be a wise financial decision that will allow you to save thousands of dollars, if you take the time to do your homework ahead of time.  This is especially true in these hard times when you are pinching pennies and trying to save on fuel.

New vehicles lose approximately 40 percent of their value within the first few years of leaving the dealership.  At that point, the process of depreciation slows down a great deal until the point it reaches the salvage value of the car.

Buying a good used vehicle allows you to pocket approximately 50% of its original sticker price while benefiting from a fairly new car.  A pre-owned vehicle also has many other advantages.  For example, it has reduced depreciation, and lower costs for an auto warranty, registration, and an insurance premium.

In addition, the cutthroat competition of today has resulted in manufacturers building cars that are more reliable and also carry longer auto warranty periods.  Therefore, it isn’t uncommon to find a car that is three-years old that still has the original auto warranty by the manufacturer.

Sports car enthusiasts consider the supercar to be the ultimate vehicle.  What is a supercar you may ask?  A supercar is a very high-end sports car that has power and handling that is exceptional.

It can be challenging to find one of these cars, and even more of a challenge to find the funds for one.

Cutting edge supercars have to be ordered directly from the factory.  As a result these cars have a big “ooh” factor.

But how can you distinguish a supercar from a regular sports car?  Three features will set the two apart.  First, supercars have an exotic appearance.  Secondly, they are extremely fast.  In addition, they have world class cornering and handling.  Most supercars are imported and the most prominent ones are Italian made.

Supercar models include Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Masserati.  They are considered supercars because they are rare, have impeccable engineering, and have top performance.  They can cost over a million dollars.

Owners of supercars are very prideful of their vehicles.  An auto warranty is a necessity to protect these gems.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety designated the Audi Q7 as a Top Safety Pick.  This is the highest rating possible by the group, which means the Audi Q7 had top scores in front, rear and side crash tests.

The Q7 is considered a large SUV by the IIHS, and typically vehicles in this class don’t get rated.  However, Audi made a request for the IIHS to conduct these tests.  This is probably because Audi wanted to compare how the Q7 measured up to other midsize SUVs, such as the BMW X5, Volvo XC90, Acura MDX, Mercedes Benz M-Class, Lincoln MKX, which are all Top Safety Picks.

It was a smart move for Audi to request that the Q7 be tested, especially since it received a Top Safety Pick.  Consumers are becoming more and more concerned with vehicle safety and make that a top consideration when deciding what vehicle to purchase.  In addition, more people are buying an auto warranty to avoid paying unnecessary repair costs, and to be able to keep up with car maintenance.

When it comes time for you to test-drive a car, you need to be aware of a few things.  After all, this will be one of your most important drives ever, so make sure to get the most out of it.

First, make sure you test-drive the exact model that you’re thinking of buying.  There may be big differences in various models, such as transmissions and engines, tires and suspension, and features in the cabin that will largely affect the way a vehicle handles and feels.

If the salesperson is talking a lot, ask him to please be quiet.  You need quiet to properly evaluate a vehicle.  This will allow you to hear how the vehicle operates.  It might make things easier to tell the salesperson in the showroom that you might need some quiet driving time.

Request a specific test route of your liking if you are familiar with the roads.  You are the only one who knows what kind of driving you will be doing and on what roads.

It is easy to get excited when test-driving a car, but don’t forget these important tips.  They could save your from purchasing a car that might not end up liking.  Also, do your homework to get a good deal.  You’ll need to factor in the price of maintenance costs, an auto warranty, and auto insurance.

The economy isn’t just hurting Mom and Dad, teenagers, who are being told they have to pick up more of the tab on a new car purchase, are having to settle for less than in the last few years.

Gas prices have also caused a shift in the kinds of cars teens are purchasing, as they are now responsible for more of the gas tab than in the past.  In addition, more people are protecting themselves with an auto warranty.

Approximately 400,000 new cars are bought for teenagers every year.  Small and compact cars like the Ford Focus and Chevrolet Cobalt account for 24% of teen sales this year, which is up drastically from just 15% one year ago.

However, compact SUVs, such as the Jeep Wrangler, account for around 24% of all cars purchased for teenagers this year, but that’s drastically down from 33% of sales a year ago.

According to a study by CNW Marketing Research, it was discovered that teens are purchasing more low-end models thanks to the economy.  Also, more people are concerned with new car warranties to protect themselves from unnecessary repair expenses down the road.

Many motorists neglect to put enough effort into shopping for car insurance.  Often, people just grab the first price they encounter or accept rate increases that are routine without shopping around the market for the best deal.  Consumers need to compare the coverage in addition to the price of the policy.  It’s disappointing when you file a claim and then realize that your policy doesn’t have a specific type of coverage that you need.

According to studies by Progressive Insurance, six-month rates for auto insurance vary a great deal depending on the company, with the average low being $481 and the average high being $586 across the nation.  What this means is that a driver could be quoted $1,256 for an insurance policy from one company, and $775 from another, both with identical policies.  Another study by Progressive showed that just 20% of respondents had shopped for better insurance prices in the last six months.

Motorists often make the mistake of not spending enough time on their car issues.  This includes shopping around for auto insurance, roadside assistance, an auto warranty, and maintenance.  Just making a few extra phone calls can save consumers a lot of money in the end.