April 6th, 2010 by Hal Moses
Everyone once and awhile it’s necessary to clean up your vehicle and make it look nice again. Here are a few things that you can do to make your car look brand new.
Caring for your car means starting with a comprehensive washing. You need to get off all of the mud, grime, and road salt that have built up on your car over the past few months.
It is important to use a pH balanced wash on your vehicle. You don’t want to use a detergent that is harsh; it will strip away car wax on your car.
Following a good washing, evaluate your vehicle surface. To do this you can rub your hand on top of the surface of your car.
If your car surface is rough on your hand, you probably have water deposits, bugs or tar. You want to get these things cleaned off before waxing your vehicle.
After taking these steps, it is time to apply a car polish and wax that will protect your vehicle’s finish from harming elements, such as acid rain and UV rays. Coat your car with the wax in a uniform, smooth manner.
It is important that you be proactive in caring for your vehicle. This includes washing, waxing and maintenance. In addition, purchase an auto warranty to protect your wallet in case of unforeseen repairs.
April 6th, 2010 by Hal Moses
Sometimes you can find great prices on a new vehicle, however, make sure you understand everything about the offers. Often there are exclusions, restrictions, or limitations that you need to understand.
Many car advertisements feature the big numbers in very large print, and scrunch down the unappealing stuff to mini print. There are several things that buyers need to look for.
Some offers are only available in certain states. Incentives are often regional, so they are only available to people within a specific area. If you cross the state line you might be paying $1,500 more.
Some deals on financing rely on the buyer paying a pre-determined down payment in cash. If you don’t provide the down payment you might have to pay a finance rate that is high.
Often times new car deals are only available if you buy before a specific date. This can make consumers feel pressure to make a fast decision, or buy a car off the lot that may not have everything they want.
There are many good deals to be had out there, but make sure you understand the small print. As a consumer you need to protect yourself by doing your homework and purchasing an auto warranty. After all, you don’t want to pay unnecessary repair costs if your new car needs service.
April 3rd, 2010 by Hal Moses
It is apparent that Ford is looking to give its buyers an assist, at least the consumers purchasing a 2010 Lincoln MKS or MKT. In 2009, these vehicles were equipped with the Active Park Assist system, which literally will parallel park the car automatically. Ford’s MKT is a brand new crossover that is going to make its debut next month at the Detroit auto show.
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.
April 3rd, 2010 by Hal Moses
An extended auto warranty can bring motorists peace of mind. However, drivers need to get the most out of their auto warranty by keeping documents organized and asking the right questions. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your auto warranty.
Often times an extended auto warranty requires service records. This is why it is necessary to keep your records straight. Create a central location for your records if you don’t already have one. This will alleviate frustrations down the road when you are trying to locate documents.
Don’t just rely on your computer to keep records. Print hard copies of records if you buy an auto warranty online. You never know when your computer will be down, and it could be when you need your auto warranty.
Make sure to read everything in the auto warranty. If something isn’t written in the contract, then it isn’t covered. Never make assumptions when it comes to your auto warranty.
Finally, make sure that you have contact information accessible to you at all times. This will make things easier when you have a claim.
April 2nd, 2010 by Hal Moses
It can be difficult to decide if you should buy or lease a vehicle. There are more things to consider than just their car budget. Most often, leasing ends up costing less money, but in the long run the motorist has no equity. Consider these important factors when making your decision.
The most obvious thing to consider is the cost. There are four factors to think about. They are the length of the lease, the monthly payments, the restrictions on the mileage, and the down payment. You could end up with large fines if your mileage exceeds the restrictions. In addition, if you keep the lease for over three years, replacing tires and other maintenance costs will be up to you.
You also have to pay close attention to your budget. If you are thinking short term, leases are generally less expensive because of the lack of a down payment and the low monthly costs. However, purchasing a vehicle that you plan on keeping for ten years ends up being less expensive than leasing. This is making the assumption that you have an auto warranty that will save you from paying unnecessary expenses. Motorists who enjoy having a new vehicle every three years would benefit from leasing.
Also, consider if you have any changes coming up in your life. If you are going to be moving far away or beginning a family, leasing is the way to go. This gives you a lot of flexibility.
Consider all of these things to make an educated decision on buying or leasing. Just keep in mind that whenever you buy you want to make sure you are covered by an auto warranty to keep you from paying unnecessary repair expenses.
April 2nd, 2010 by Hal Moses
If you’re considering purchasing a new or used vehicle, you should do a few things first. You can make the process of buying a car easier, and save yourself some money by following a few simple tips.
First of all, you should consider purchasing a pre-owned car. New vehicles will immediately lose about 30% of their value when they are driven out of the dealership lot. A used car will save you from losing that immediate depreciation.
Try to purchase a vehicle that is fuel-efficient. There are an endless amount of new hybrid options and cars that will save you money at the gas pump. With the variety of choices out there, there is no need to purchase a vehicle that guzzles gas.
If at all possible, save for a decent down payment. A lot of motorists will barely put any money down on a vehicle and don’t understand why their payments the first four years are so high. Putting down 20% will make a big difference in lowering monthly payments.
Lastly, buy an auto warranty along with your car purchase. Many consumers try to get away with not doing this and they end up spending an unnecessary amount of money on repairs down the road.
Follow these simple tips to save yourself a headache. Do your homework before getting to the dealership in order to make the best decisions.
April 1st, 2010 by Hal Moses
New teen driving laws have now taken effect, which will help teens sharpen their driving skills. During the first driving year, teens won’t be able to drive late at night or carry multiple teenage passengers.
The Department of Public Safety claims that teens in Minnesota are overrepresented in car accidents every year because of distractions, driver inexperience, driving at night, and not using seat belts. From 2005-2007, drivers who were 16 and 17 yrs old had involvement in 116 crashes that were fatal, which resulted in 133 deaths.
Having these laws will allow teen drivers to be safer and result in less injuries and deaths on roads in Minnesota. Also, having used car warranties and maintaining cars will help teens stay safe on the roads.
The limitation on nighttime driving during the initial six-month licensure period will prohibit teens from driving after midnight, until 5 a.m., unless they are accompanied by a driver of at least 25 yrs of age. Drivers who are 16 and 17 yrs old are approximately three times more likely to have a car crash resulting in a fatality at night than in the daytime.
The limitation on passengers for the initial six-month licensure period will allow just one passenger under 20 yrs old, unless there is a parent or guardian in the car. Throughout the second six-month period of licensure, there can’t be more than three other people in the car under 20 yrs old, unless there is a parent or guardian in the car.
It is recommended by the DPS that parents help reinforce these laws and protect their children by making strict driving rules, purchasing an auto warranty, and keeping cars maintained.
March 31st, 2010 by Hal Moses
Mercedes-Benz is known for offering consumers comfort at any price, and its new SplitView is a perfect example. This is an 8-inch GPS display screen, which is programmed for transmitting two images that are different- one for the passenger and one for the driver, at the same time.
The system is pretty technical, but basically the screen utilizes a masking filter that allows different images to appear when viewed from different angles.
For example, the driver can view directions or climate information while the front passenger views a TV show or DVD. Mercedes claims that it’s aware there is potential for distractions, so to alleviate this passengers watching a DVD can use headphones, as well as a remote control in order to lessen the distraction for the driver.
If you’re interested in the SplitView, it is available on the S-Class. Just make sure with any new technology that you have a good auto warranty that will cover you in case repairs are needed.
March 31st, 2010 by Hal Moses
As it turns out, the stereotypes happen to be true. Expensive vehicles and fast driving cause men’s testosterone levels to spike, reveals a study from Concordia University John Molson School of Business.
The study involved 39 men who volunteered. Each of the men was told to drive down a pedestrian loaded street, as well as a calm residential road. They drove each of these streets twice, each in different cars. The cars were a brand new Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet and a 93’ Toyota Camry. A sample of saliva was taken by researchers after each drive in order to measure the testosterone levels of the men.
According to the results, it didn’t matter which street they were driving on, however after driving the Porsche the men always demonstrated an elevated and sustained level of testosterone.
The author claims that men use expensive and powerful cars as sort of “sexual signaling devicesâ€, much like male peacocks do when they show their tail feathers. One thing is for sure though, although men are busy trying to impress women with their hot cars, they still need to buy an auto warranty to protect them.
March 30th, 2010 by Hal Moses
If you are thinking of buying a new car, don’t just rely on professional expertise; make yourself a professional expert as well. This includes taking certain measures such as doing your homework and researching an auto warranty. You can be empowered by arming yourself with the following information about purchasing a used vehicle.
Examine the pedals to check for wear. Rarely do people update the pedals, so this is a good indication of the cars true history.
Next, take a look at the steering wheel. While the engine is turned off, joggle the wheel to see how much movement there is. There shouldn’t be more than one inch of play. If there is, a new steering gearbox may be needed.
Never buy a car that has frame-damage. You can tell this by looking at the core support of the radiator. This connects to the fenders in the front of the vehicle. It shouldn’t be welded on each side, but bolted.
Finally, check the paint job on the vehicle. Look for dents, scratches and rust spots. Also, examine the car for a slight waviness, which is an indication of a paint job.
Most importantly, check the history of the vehicle you are looking to buy. You can do this at autocheck.com.
No matter how much knowledge you have, you never really know what car you are buying. This is why it is important to buy used car warranties to protect your investment. You don’t want to pay unnecessary repair costs down the road.