Used Car Warranties

After reading GM’s business plan that was submitted to Congress with intentions of securing loans in the amount of $12 billion, it seems that some major changes could have a drastic impact on car shoppers.  People may just decide to hold onto their current cars and purchase used car warranties, instead of wondering what is going to happen here.

GM claims it will now be focusing on research and development for Cadillac, Buick, Chevrolet and GMC.  Pontiac is going to become a “niche” brand, selling fewer models in joint GMC, Buick and Pontiac dealerships.  One could guess that vehicles that have been rebadged, such as the G5 compact, G6 sedan, Torrent and G3 subcompact might be forgone.  Vehicles that will be focused on will be the Solstice, Vibe, and the G8.

Hummer has already been up for sale, stating a “strategic review,” and now according to GM, Saab will be in the same situation.

Saturn, however, is a little bit trickier.  GM is planning to explore alternatives for Saturn, and is going to talk about relationships with dealers.  It almost sounds like the brand is going to be closed down all together, which is similar to what happened with Oldsmobile.  Oldsmobile ended up costing GM over $1 billion back in 2004 because of franchise laws.

After two days of long hearings, the Ford, Chrysler and GM CEOs weren’t able to convince Congress that they deserve a $25 billion federal assistance loan.  Democratic leadership said they need written proposals that are more concrete by Dec. 2.  At that point if they find the argument compelling enough, there will be more hearings and Congress will vote on Dec. 8.  For the carmakers, this will be their last chance for action before Barack Obama takes office as President on Jan.20.  GM threatens that they may run out of money before the end of the year, which would start a domino effect, taking down suppliers as well as other carmakers.

After it was all said and done, Congress questioned whether a loan would actually work, and if the car companies would come right back asking for more money and if assistance would have the result of viability in the long-term.  It didn’t help the case of the Detroit executives by using corporate jets to get to the hearings and becoming guarded when asked how they got the $25 million figure.

Unfortunately, without a bailout it doesn’t look good for the Big Three.  At the moment, people are opting to hold onto their current cars with the addition of used car warranties, instead of spending money on new vehicles.

Every year thousands of people are killed in car accidents.  Many of these crashes could have been avoided with some simple safety knowledge.  Here are some tips to keep your driving experience pleasant and help you avoid dangerous accidents.

First of all, if your are taking any medicines, double check your product label to see if it could affect your driving.  If your medication causes drowsiness, stay off of the roads.

Next, secure children properly in a restraint system that is size and age appropriate.  All children less than 12 years of age should be in the back seat.  Just by putting children in the back, and not the front reduces injuries and deaths 30%.

One of the biggest causes of car accidents is driver inattention.  This means that drivers should stay off of cell phones and pay attention to the road.

Finally, prepare a safety kit in your car.  It should include a first aid kit, flashlight, nonperishable foods, water, blankets, motor oil, jumper cables, and a spare tire. And all drivers should have used car warranties in order to keep up with important maintenance and car repairs without unnecessary costs.

Recently, J.D. Power and Associates conducted a study, finding that now that the EPA has changed how it tests cars, motorists are finding that they get better mileage out of their cars than what was advertised.  This comes as a pleasant surprise, since drivers find themselves with lots of driving costs, such as used car warranties and maintenance.

Before the EPA decided to update its methods to reflect a more accurate view of modern driving conditions, motorists were consistently reporting that their combined average for fuel economy was less than the EPA rating advertised.

For example, before the update, back in 2007, motorists claimed that they got around 97% of the fuel economy that was advertised.  This was 3% worse than what was advertised.  And after the new standards for testing were implemented in 2008, motorists claimed they got around 105% of the fuel economy posted.

For drivers who are money conscious and calculate driving costs, such as insurance, auto warranty costs, and gas costs, they will have a pleasant surprise with their gas mileage.

Used car buyers need to be aware of a common scam; odometer fraud.  This is the act of rolling back the odometer on a car.  This deceives buyers into thinking that a vehicle has fewer miles than it really does.  It is estimated that this crime leads to sales of around 450,000 vehicles every year.

Also alarming is that digital odometers are easier to meddle with than traditional odometers.  There are ways that consumers can protect themselves against odometer fraud.

First of all, request to see the car’s title and make a comparison between its mileage and the car’s odometer.  Also, compare the mileage on the car’s maintenance records with the odometer on the vehicle.  In addition, sometimes there are stickers with maintenance records on doorframes and windows.

Next, you should ask for a Carfax History Report on the vehicle to see odometer discrepancies.  If the person selling the car doesn’t have one, you can order one online with the vehicles VIN number.

Finally, check to see that the odometer gauge numbers are all aligned.  If they aren’t aligned, or if they move when you tap on the dash, you may want to think twice about buying.

These tips can save you from buying a car that has been tampered with.  However, you never know the true history of a used vehicle.  This is why used car warranties are a good idea to protect you against unforeseen repairs.

Lately, everyone has been talking about the trouble that the Detroit Three (Ford, GM and Chrysler) are in. People have even been speculating about the number of jobs that would be lost if these companies go under. Also, it isn’t ridiculous to believe that many other jobs would suffer on top of those related directly to the three companies.

So, as everyone goes around screaming at the nightly newscasts about a bailout over the next few weeks, remember this: About 1 million jobs are created directly by The Detroit Three in the U.S.

Also intertwined with the Detroit Three is a large supplier network. Unfortunately, if just one of the bigger ones, such as Delphi, closes, with about 50,000 employees in the U.S., you go above that 1-million jobs lost mark.

Unfortunately, many American consumers are opting to hang onto their current cars at the moment and purchase used car warranties, instead of buying new vehicles. If this continues, a bailout may be the only way the Detroit Three will survive.

In order for a car to maintain its peak performance drivers must get routine maintenance and service.  This will also keep your car prepared for difficult driving conditions that come up. Purchasing used car warranties is a good idea so that you don’t dread taking in your car just to find that it requires additional repairs.  To keep your car in tip-top shape, follow these tips.

First, check your tire pressure on a regular basis.  To keep track, you should do it every other time that you get gas at the pump.  In addition, check your tire treads to look for wear and tear and ensure that there isn’t any cracking.

Second, get regular car washes to keep a nice, shiny exterior.  And add a coat of wax to keep away corrosion.

Don’t forget to be aware of your check engine light.  Don’t ignore it if it lights up.  Make sure to take your car to a professional in this case so that you don’t have expensive repairs down the road.  Of course an auto warranty will help you avoid unnecessary repair expenses.

Lastly, determine a service schedule with a mechanic and keep it.  Your car has certain parts that a professional should look at periodically.  Look at your owner’s manual in order to determine what maintenance schedule is best for your car.

Just by following these tips you can head off unnecessary repairs in the future.  However, you want to make sure you have an auto warranty to protect your wallet.

As part of its “new day” celebration last February, Chrysler introduced a very unique promotion for its minivans: Purchase a minivan, and receive a free DVD player for the rear seat. Since the promotion, it’s difficult to argue that Chrysler has experienced something that resembles the optimism that a new day brings, yet that hasn’t stopped the carmaker from bringing back the same DVD offer this month.

When consumers buy a Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Jeep Grand Cherokee, or Jeep Commander they will get a free DVD entertainment package for the rear seat. In minivans, screens are included for the second row, as well as the third row. This deal applies nationwide and are in addition to other great deals, such as financing incentives, great new car warranties, and cash-back incentives.

Chrysler is hoping to spark consumer interest by putting forth red-hot deals. Unfortunately, many motorists are opting to hang onto their current cars and purchase used car warranties to protect their wallets.

We’ve all been there.  You’re driving along when all of a sudden you hear sirens blaring behind you.  You realize that you are going to get a speeding ticket and you really don’t have the extra funds to pay for it.  With all of the expenses you’re already paying for your vehicle, such as used car warranties, maintenance, and loans, the last thing you need is the added cost of a speeding ticket.  Well, never fear because the Trapster just may save you.

Pete Tenereillo of California invented trapster.  Essentially, this is a social network where motorists can use their cell phones to alert other drivers about speed traps that they have encountered.

All you have to do is sign up for a free membership at the website and then download the Trapster software on your cell phone.  Most of the latest cell phones, PDAs and Blackberries can accommodate this software.

After signing up, you’re ready to get out and start driving.  If you come across a state trooper looking for speeders you hit “pound 1” on your cell phone.  This alerts other motorists when they approach the same spot.

This system is ideal because it’s “hands free”, which means it’s safe for drivers.  Also, sophisticated cell phones can allow a map to be displayed where the speed trap is.

New legislation was announced today by Senator Barbara Mikulski, D-Md. This legislation is intended to stimulate the sales of new cars by allowing buyers of new cars to deduct auto loan interest and any excise or sales fees from the buyers’ income tax. This plan would cover the sales of all new trucks and cars from now until Dec. 31, 2009.

The senator claims that a family would be able to save $1,553 on a vehicle that is $25,000 under this plan. This deduction would just be for families that make less than $250,000 and individuals that make up to $125,000.

While most new-vehicle buyers would probably welcome the idea, it might not be a big enough incentive given the poor economy. Of course, when you look at all of the other fantastic incentives that have been offered lately, it may just be the best market for buyers in recent history.

Of course, many people will choose to stay home and hold onto their current cars and buy used car warranties instead. Unfortunately, consumers are reluctant to make any big purchases at this point.