February 3rd, 2010 by Hal Moses
Often motorist get sticker shock or experience buyer’s remorse after buying a new car. However, you can avoid this by considering the expenses that you will encounter in the future.
According to experts, most consumers anticipate the price of the purchase, registration and taxes. However, many people forget to factor in the price of insurance and new car warranties. Fortunately, by doing your homework you can get good deals on insurance and an auto warranty.
To control car costs drivers should consider these tips. First of all, decide before you get to the dealership the amount of money that you can spend. Also, decide on what type of car will suit your needs. It is also beneficial to get quotes from several dealers, because then you are in the position to negotiate. Finally, check insurance and auto warranty prices on the vehicle that you want to purchase.
You don’t have to go broke purchasing a new car. But, be smart and consider all of the costs involved. It isn’t just the purchase price that you will be paying.
January 30th, 2010 by Hal Moses
The current reality for the car industry isn’t at all bright. The economy of the country has experienced a weak dollar, a credit crisis, and soaring gas and food prices. This could mean that we are about to experience the worst year for car sales in over a decade.
But automakers are getting smart. They are building more passenger cars. In the past pickup trucks and SUV’s generated a lot of profits, but now people want small, thrifty cars.
General Motors admits that they are counting on sedans to save them this year. The company has made a shift to cars, with less emphasis on SUV’s and pickup trucks. Even though GM wants to maintain their market in trucks, they realize that they need to get better with cars now.
Chrysler LLC is promising to take an “aggressively conservative†approach in their company. This means that they will eliminate various models such as the PT Cruiser, Durango, and Pacifica.
US automakers are focusing to make sure that domestic sales don’t fall lower than projections say. Even though it is a tough market, Americans love cars and will continue to buy. Motorists are making smarter choices by purchasing small, efficient cars. This allows them to put money towards other necessities, such as new car warranties and maintenance.
January 29th, 2010 by Hal Moses
There are hundreds of new vehicles on the market, which can make it difficult for car buyers to choose what is best for them. Many people tend to base their decision on looks alone, but this is a dangerous way to decide on a car. So, what other considerations should motorists make?
The first factor to consider is how much money you intend to spend. Figure out what your maximum amount is before going to the dealership and stick with it. Also, make sure to include everything in the bottom line, such as interest, taxes, finance charges, insurance and new car warranties. You need to factor in all of these expenses.
Also determine if you need a fuel-efficient car. Some models rate much higher on fuel efficiency and if you have a long commute to work this might be an important factor.
Consider safety features. Does the car you are looking at have side-curtain air bags, brake assist, stability control? Also, how were the scores on crash tests?
Finally, do you need a lot of space? If you have a large family you might want to think about a minivan or SUV that has ample passenger room and cargo space.
Do your homework before getting to the dealership so you know what you are looking for. In addition, make sure to get an auto warranty so you can protect your wallet in case of unforeseen repair costs down the road.
January 26th, 2010 by Hal Moses
Car dealers have haggled with car shoppers for years. This practice has allowed salesmen to con buyers into buying cars and new car warranties, using all kinds of negotiating strategies. But car dealers have paid for it by being known as untrustworthy.
Some dealers are changing their old ways by dumping haggling. The eighth largest chain of dealers in America, Lithia Automotive Group, announced that they are going to make all 108 of their stores haggle-free within three years.
Toyota’s Scion has implemented a policy for no negotiation from its onset four years ago. This has prompted dealers who sell Toyota vehicles to apply the one-price approach.
And all over the country, independent dealers who carry various brands of domestic and foreign vehicles are teaching their employees to sell cars like the rest of the retail world. In other words, cars come with a price tag and a smile from the salesperson.
This no-haggle method will make buying a car a more pleasant experience for consumers. Now that people can look up a car’s base price online, they don’t have patience for haggling. In addition, people are able to compare the prices of new car warranties online.
January 23rd, 2010 by Hal Moses
You may think you have to spend a fortune to buy a new car, but that isn’t true. There are cars out there that are affordable, reliable and come with new car warranties. What affordable cars will give you the most bang for your buck?
The Toyota Yaris is a 2-door hatchback at a great price. The sticker on this vehicle is $12,704. This is a sporty looking vehicle that gets 40mpg on the highway and 34mpg in the city. This car has a 1.5-liter engine putting out 106hp. It has a spacious interior and a moderate amount of trunk space. The only cheap thing about this vehicle is the price.
The Hyundai Accent Hatchback GS is a bargain at $13,581. This car is sporty and sexy and even offers options for customizing. It gets 35mpg on the highway and 32mpg in the city. The engine is a 1.6-liter putting out 110 hp. This car has an impressive interior with a wraparound dashboard. Also, you can fold down the back seats to create quite a bit of cargo space.
The Chevy Aveo LS is a four-door hatchback. Its price is impressive at $13,724. It has a fun, aerodynamic style with comfortable ride. It has a driver’s seat that is height adjustable, ample rear legroom, and an interior with a clean layout. The engine is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 103 hp. This car gets 37mpg on the highway and 27mpg in the city.
If you’re on a budget for car shopping, never fear. These cars will give you the must bang for your buck and all come with an ample auto warranty.
January 21st, 2010 by Hal Moses
In future car accidents a circuit could be as crucial to survival as a seat belt. Congress made seat belts mandatory in the 1960’s, which was revolutionary in car safety. Since then, seat belts have greatly reduced deaths. Now, there is an additional safety revolution in the midst. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has employed a new standard. This makes electronic stability control equipment a mandatory component in all cars. The adoption of ESC will save approximately 10,000 lives every year.
Most luxury vehicles already come with ESC. Other models offer it as an option. This is just one of the new safety advancements designed with the purpose of preventing auto accidents, not just protecting passengers. The majority of these new features have a microchip base. Many are still being perfected. So beware, you never know when new technology will fail. However, new car warranties will save you from unnecessary expenses.
Many motorists are finding it easiest to buy a package of safety options, rather than individual gadgets. Lexus, for example, places an emphasis on how its safety features work as a system. It has a package with lane-departure warning, smart cruise control, and ESC.
Integrating such systems, and the yielding of throttle, brake, and steering raise the question: Do drivers need or want this much help? Who is actually in charge of the wheel? No matter the answer, an auto warranty is essential in protecting your vehicle with all of those fancy gadgets.
January 21st, 2010 by Hal Moses
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a recall has been issued by Nissan for 242,720 Pathfinders, Xterras and Frontiers for model years 2005-2009. The recall is due to a crash sensor that causes the airbag to deploy in an accident. This recall is mainly aimed at cars that are sold in climates with cold weather, in which road salt causes the crash sensor to corrode. The warning light for the airbag may become illuminated.
Nissan says they will replace sensors that are faulty and put new ones in, and all vehicle owners will receive a 10-year extended warranty for the crash sensors. Nissan urges people to look for the warning light regardless. This recall is the second one Nissan has had in the last three months that involves an airbag sensor. Nissan owners can call Nissan at 800-647-7261.
It is important for car owners to protect themselves by purchasing new car warranties, since you never know when your car will fail.
January 16th, 2010 by Hal Moses
The stock market has deflated rapidly. Layoffs, foreclosures and bankruptcies are higher than ever. So this is the perfect time to begin selling sports cars that are $350,000 in Tampa, Bay, right?
Well, we will soon find out.
Officials of Ferrari are planning to open an extravagant new dealership in Palm Harbor and are also planning to sell Lamborghini and Bentley. And this week the Elder Automotive Group opened up sales of the “Spyker†sports cars in the Southeast.
Together these extravagant dealerships will do a test on the theory that car enthusiasts who are filthy-rich will resist economic gravity and spend on a car what it would cost for a large home.
While most motorists are currently worried about paying for gas, car loans and new car warranties, there are still people out there who can afford luxury sports cars. Will these dealerships survive? That remains to be seen.
January 16th, 2010 by Hal Moses
Well, it is obvious that hybrids are the wave of the future. Motorists are spending a lot of money on maintenance, new car warranties and financing, and need to save on fuel costs. So, is it worth it to buy a hybrid to save money at the gas pump? Let’s take a look.
To see how long it will take you to recoup your premium up-front, we can compare the Toyota Camry Hybrid to a typical Camry. Because of the equipment level of the hybrid, however, it is necessary to compare it to the V-6 Camry LE. The base prices of the cars are only $2,000 apart. The Hybrid is $25,000 and the Camry V6 LE is $23,640.
According to Toyota, the Camry Hybrid gets 33mpg in the city and 34mpg on the highway. The Camry V6, however, gets 21mpg in the city and 31mpg on the highway.
If you were to drive 15,000 miles in a year you will use about 454 gallons. With the V6 LE you will burn approximately 635 gallons in a year. If gas costs $3.20 per gallon, you will have a fuel cost savings of approximately $547 per year. This means that you would recoup the premium up-front that you spent to purchase the hybrid.
In this comparison you can see that in the long run you will end up saving with a hybrid. In addition, you get the satisfaction of doing a service to your planet.
January 16th, 2010 by Hal Moses
Many people enjoy owning minivans because they offer various options for carrying cargo and passengers. Depending on your needs, you can configure minivans in a variety of different ways. Also, minivans now come with climate control in dual zones, as well as DVD systems. These features offer great appeal to buyers, especially families.
There is tons of interior room in minivans, which allows for plenty of leg and headroom. Also convenient are the models that have sliding doors on both sides of the vehicle, making it quick and easy to get in and out.
Minivans allow enough seating for up to eight passengers. The ones that is equipped for seven passengers typically have captain’s chairs, not a bench. The Honda Odyssey offers even more flexibility in seating by having a center seat that can be removed.
If you need a vehicle that has flexibility in seating and cargo space, minivans are a great option. They have numerous features that make for a comfortable, convenient ride. However, no matter what vehicle you decide to purchase, make sure you get new car warranties to protect yourself from unforeseen repairs.