April 8th, 2010 by Hal Moses
Why would someone want to buy a pickup? They offer the most flexibility in carrying cargo. In addition, pickups have large payload facilities and the ability to tow. Trucks with four door cabs allow seating for five, which makes them a good family vehicle. In addition to an auto warranty, what other considerations do you need? Here’s a list.
Consider whether you need compact or full-sized. They offer different towing capacities and engines in addition to being different sizes. Compact pickups are more fuel-efficient, easier to park, and cost less. Full-sized pickups offer more room inside and out, have stronger engines, and have greater towing capabilities.
Bed lengths vary. Beds range from 8 feet to 4 feet. The longer the bed, the more difficult it is to maneuver. Some compact trucks have a bed extender that flips out, which allows for carrying cargo that is longer.
Engines and transmissions can accommodate different needs. For compact trucks, the base engine is a four-cylinder, which offers fuel-efficiency. Five or six cylinder engines are optional, giving more power. A V6 is the base engine for a full-sized truck. For heavy towing and hauling consider a V8, V10, and diesel.
Pickups come in many sizes, with many options. Determine your use for a truck and pick the best option for you. Doing your homework on such things as truck options, new car warranties and insurance will save you money and time down the road.
April 2nd, 2010 by Hal Moses
In this struggling economy, automakers can’t count on slick styling and big engines alone to lure buyers. Consumers have changed their tastes: appearance and performance are still a priority, but value, gas mileage and practicality are becoming more important than every, according to experts. In fact, more motorists are signing up for new car warranties and roadside assistance.
Fuel-efficiency stays on the top of people’s minds. A study was conducted in January by the Consumer Federation of America, finding that even though gas is at $2 per gallon, drivers are still looking for 20% better mileage in their next car.
However, don’t count out the importance of performance. Derrick Kuzak, who is the head of product development at Ford said, “I think people are looking for both [performance and efficiency]. He also said the carmaker’s EcoBoost initiative, which is basically downsizing engines for better fuel-efficiency but adding on turbochargers to make up for performance that is lost, is a way to satisfy both demands.
People assume that more power means poor gas mileage, but this isn’t the case. Now there are advanced drivetrains, better aerodynamics and lighter materials. There are popular vehicles in every car segment, from the Toyota Prius to the Escape that are more fuel-efficient and quicker with every redesign.
April 1st, 2010 by Hal Moses
According to a recent study by J.D. Power and Associates, there is a great amount of interest in hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles. In fact, less than 25% of people asked revealed that they would only consider purchasing a car powered by gasoline.
However, there are some misconceptions. Motorists who purchased a hybrid car expected that they would get a fuel-economy improvement of approximately 28 mpg if compared to a gas-powered vehicle that was similar. However, in reality, people who bought hybrids only gained an improvement of 9 mpg. People who bought diesels were similarly disappointed with a 12-mpg improvement, when they actually expected to improve 21 mpg.
A big challenge for vehicles with alternative powertrains is the unrealistic fuel-saving expectations that consumers place on them. Especially with hybrids, the actual fuel performance of the car doesn’t usually live up to the EPA estimate. Consumers need to educate themselves about such things as the benefits of technology, maintenance and new car warranties. Being able to manage consumers’ expectations and lowering the cost of alternative power vehicles will help these cars gain acceptance.
April 1st, 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.
March 31st, 2010 by Hal Moses
Anyone who has seen the the 2010 Mazda3’s redesign is impressed. Mazda is setting the bar high with the incredible designs of both the Mazda3 and Mazda6. It is blazing a trail for its lineup to look sophisticated and uniform, without appearing to be identical and boring. Mazda has succeeded in making their vehicles radical with taillights, front grilles, headlights, and rear ends that sport a new look, and take the midsize sedan in a new direction.
Mazda uses similar lines on the hood, similar contours of the fender, and similar headlight assemblies to give the Mazda3 an upscale look, while keeping an appearance that is individual when looking at the entirety of the car.
The MSRP on this vehicle starts at $15,295 including new car warranties. There has been great consumer buzz about this car and owners haven’t been disappointed. Mazda got it right with the recent Mazda3.
March 30th, 2010 by Hal Moses
For car accidents in the future, a circuit may be as crucial to safety as seat belts. In the 1960’s, Congress made safety belts mandatory, which has reduced deaths drastically. Now, a new safety revolution is going on. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has made electronic stability control equipment mandatory in all cars. This decision will prevent approximately 10,000 deaths a year.
ESC is a current feature available on most luxury cars, and it is an option on most other cars. This feature serves the purpose of not just protecting passengers, but also preventing accidents all together. Most of these features have a microchip as a base, and are still being perfected. This is why it is important to purchase new car warranties in case of costly technical repairs.
Many drivers opt to purchase a package of various safety options, not just individual gadgets. For example, Lexus markets their safety features as a system that works together. One package they offer has smart cruise control, lane-departure warning, and ESC.
March 25th, 2010 by Hal Moses
When looking to buy a new vehicle it is important to consider crash test ratings, electronic stability control, and rollover resistance. When evaluating a car for safety, remember to look closely at the following.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducts crash tests on vehicles. They rate vehicles based on results in frontal crashes and side impacts. Paying attention to these scores will help make a good choice when it comes to vehicle safety.
Electronic stability control is a highly recommended safety feature. This will help your vehicle stay under control when cornering. It will help you avoid sliding and skidding by selectively applying brakes to one or more of the wheels.
Vehicles that are tall, such as SUVs and pickup trucks have a higher likelihood of rolling over. To determine a vehicle’s inclination for rollover NHTSA has a five-star rollover rating. You can access these ratings at www.safercars.gov.
Consumers are becoming more and more concerned with protecting themselves. They are purchasing new car warranties and buying vehicles with added safety features. Taking these simple steps allow drivers to have peace of mind.
March 18th, 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.
March 12th, 2010 by Hal Moses
The government has announced to carmakers that they must get a fleet average fuel-efficiency of 35 mpg by the year 2020, however Hyundai now claims that they will hit this goal by the year 2015, which is five years earlier.
How will the Korean company hit this goal? Hyundai doesn’t just plan to move forward on developing new hybrid cars, but also to take an approach to its gas engines that are holistic, by discovering ways to take off a mpg here and there.
Some of the new technologies that Hyundai plans to use in its new cars include transmissions that increase efficiency, turbocharging, eight speed automatic transmissions, direct injection, integrated Stop and Go technology, and dual continuously variable valve timing. Other carmakers plan to make changes that are similar, but Hyundai has a lineup that is relatively small, with no large trucks and SUVs, so it makes it easier to make a quicker mileage jump.
Hyundai’s increased fuel-economy will make consumers happy, since gas prices have been such a concern to all. Currently, people have been pushing the limit and running out of gas often, which have put roadside assistance calls at an all time high. Consumers can also get peace of mind from new car warranties.
March 11th, 2010 by Hal Moses
It is helpful to use a car loan calculator to determine what the cost for a new or used car purchase will be monthly.
These can be found online with options for buying or leasing. This is a helpful tool in determining what your budget actually is and how much car you can afford. Just remember to factor in other car costs, such as maintenance and new car warranties.
Just remember that the numbers on a vehicle loan calculator are not actual quotes. The calculator allows you to compare the costs of different cars and see what your payments per month will be.
On the calculator there is a line to enter the dollar amount you would like to finance. Then, by clicking your mouse you can compare what payments will be, with different arrangements for paying. You can also find out what interest payments will be for the life of the vehicle loan.
It is a bonus to use a car loan calculator before going to a dealership to buy a vehicle. You will already know what your budget is, which will allow you to make a smart purchase. You will also know how much money you have left over to spend on maintenance costs and an auto warranty.