Used Car Warranties

With fuel prices at an all time high, motorists are trading in their giant gas-guzzlers for smaller, more efficient cars.  And although this makes sense, if you switch out cars too soon you could end up paying more costs overall than you’ll save on fuel.  Consumer Reports claims that it is beneficial to downsize if you time it correctly.

A Consumer Reports study shows that if you haven’t paid off your car loan yet, it may not be to your benefit to downsize after only three years.  A car loan is made up of a large percentage of interest initially, so, if you trade in your vehicle too early you will end up with less equity, which will give you less for a down payment on a new vehicle.

Another thing that has a big affect on your car equity is depreciation.  For the first five year of owning a car, depreciation is approximately 48% of overall vehicle costs for the owner.  And on average, fuel costs are only equal to around 21%.  Depreciation is the greatest in the first three years, and after that it starts to level off.

So if you trade in a car three years old, you will start over with a whole other depreciation ride.  However, it makes sense to trade in your vehicle if you have owned it for more than four years.  But, whenever you keep a vehicle for a long amount of time you should purchase used car warranties for peace of mind.

Ah, we all love the smell of a new car.  It’s a wonderful intoxicant for many, luring them back to that same car dealership as soon as it fades.

However, if you can survive without the strong fragrance during your commute in the morning you’re in luck.  Choosing a good used car can be fun, reliable, and save you tons of money.  Take a look at the reasons you should buy used.

Cars are now being made so that they are more reliable than ever.  You can consult Consumer Reports’ list of the best used car to find a great choice.

When you buy a used car you are avoiding the depreciation hit.  In the first two to three years of a car’s life its value declines drastically.  Buy a car that’s two years old and you will save money while still having that new car smell.

Also, you can get more car for your money.  For instance, if you have been wanting that BMW for the price of a Honda, this is your chance.

Now there are dealer “certification” programs.  In this case the dealer inspects, repairs, and certifies used vehicles and they come with an auto warranty.  This brings peace of mind to a car shopper.

Just remember, if you’re thinking of buying a used car that’s not certified make sure to do a CARFAX check on its VIN and purchase used car warranties to go along with it.

One of Hummer’s largest dealers in the country is closing down. The Wall Street Journal reported that Towbin Hummer is about the eighth Hummer dealership to shut their doors this year because of a consumer shift. Consumers are struggling with the economy and high fuel prices, and therefore are purchasing small, fuel-efficient vehicles. Some motorists are even opting to keep their old vehicles and purchase used car warranties.

Towbin was the only Hummer dealer in Las Vegas. However, Dan Towbin is a Hummer enthusiast and is the owner of other car dealerships in the Sin City. He will be opening a Smart store late in the year.

The Wall Street Journal points out that Las Vegas’ culture is excessive, which makes the closing of a Hummer dealership surprising. Maybe, the plummeting housing market is responsible for consumers’ ability to shop for luxury SUVs. However, if Hummer isn’t able to survive in Las Vegas, you have to wonder if it will be able to survive at all.

A lot of people are set on buying a new car.  Yet, if you can purchase a high quality used car for a portion of the price of a new vehicle, why wouldn’t you?

For instance, you will pay about $15,000 for a 2009 four-cylinder Toyota Corolla.  However, because of depreciation, that car would be worth approximately $10,000 in three years.  It would be a great choice to purchase a good used car for that low price.  You don’t just benefit in the purchase price of the vehicle, you also save money on loans and used car warranties.

Make sure to do your homework before buying a car.  You can get plenty of information about cars from the Internet and periodicals on everything from reliability ratings to the cost of an auto warranty.

Many people don’t think they have enough time to research vehicles.  Yet, it is necessary to realize that you can keep $6,000-$8,000 in your pocket just by researching for four hours.

It is safe to say that most people don’t find tire shopping among their favorite things to shop for.  We all just want a set of tires that fit correctly and will keep us safe on the road.  Nevertheless, there are a few things to keep in mind before shopping for tires.

First, don’t buy used tires.  It isn’t worth saving a few dollars to sacrifice performance and traction, because unfortunately you’re also sacrificing safety.

Next, make sure to know what the factory size of your tires is.  To find this out, look on the inside of the door hinge on the driver’s side of the car.

Take the time to shop around for good deals on tires.  Making price comparisons on the Internet is easy, but don’t forget to factor in installation and shipping costs.

Finally, before buying tires, research different tires.  All tires aren’t made the same, and the expensive ones aren’t necessarily the best quality.

Although tires may not be your favorite things to shop for, they are as important as used car warranties.  Just follow these tips to get a good price on quality tires.

Imagine one day waking up to find that the only vehicles on the roads, in driveways, and in parking lots were electrics or hybrids.

CNW Marketing Research made some calculations to determine when America would become completely hybridized, and could stop depending on Middle Eastern powers for barrels of oil.

Based on the amount of people who live in America today (300 million), the number of cars driving on U.S. roads (11 million), the number of new cars that are sold in a year (15 million), and the number of those purchased cars that are hybrids, CNW calculated that in 2034 there is going to be:

• 357 million Americans
• 381 million cars, all hybrid or electric
• 15.7 million cars written off
• 18.1 new cars sold that are all hybrid or electric

It may seem like a long timetable, but it’s not unreasonable when you consider that every car being built and sold would have to be a hybrid, and every car on the road would have to be replaced with a hybrid vehicle. Also, many people are holding onto their old vehicles and buying used car warranties because of the poor economy, so that is slowing things down.

General Motors recently announced that it is extending an auto warranty offer on its certified used trucks and cars, citing quality gains and less auto warranty-funded repairs.

GM claims it will begin to offer a 12-month, 12,000-mile auto warranty that is “bumper to bumper” on all certified used trucks and cars that are eligible for the coverage by GM dealers.

This change will start September 13, and will extend the terms of the GM auto warranty on late model used vehicles in good condition an extra 9 months and 9,000 miles.

This step comes one day after an announcement by GM that it is putting out a new discount program on new trucks and cars that will provide employee-level pricing to new buyers.

GM, as well as other U.S. carmakers, has been arguing that their quality improvements in their vehicles have long been ignored by American consumers.

In response to this, the Big Three have offered more generous used car warranties over the last few years in order to gain consumer confidence.

Due to gas prices at $4 per gallon, everyone is looking for tips on how to save gas. One easy thing that motorists can do is to avoid using reverse, if it isn’t necessary. One example of this is when you are in a parking lot at the grocery store or mall. Just by pulling through the parking space so that your car is facing out, you can save a small amount of gas. This allows you to pull forward when it’s time to leave. This tip isn’t going to save you hundreds of dollars, however, little fuel-conscious actions add up.

Why is it so bad to back up? Think about it in these terms. Is it any fun creeping through parking lots in first gear? Absolutely not, and using low gears are terrible for fuel-efficiency. Reverse also gets poor fuel-economy, and most of the time you’re pointlessly covering the same territory that you already covered.

For instance, if you back up and pull forward, you’re driving twice the amount of just pulling out of your parking space and driving off. This might appear to be insignificant, but if you use better driving habits over the course of a year, they will give you great savings.

Motorists often only look at the obvious ways that they can save money on driving expenses, such as buying used car warranties, carpooling, and driving less. But, following easy gas saving tips will save you big in the end.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in the United States traffic deaths hit an all time low back in 2007, when there were 1.37 deaths per 100 million miles driven.  There were a total of 41,059 deaths, which is 1,600 less than in 2006.

Mary Peters, who is the Transportation Secretary, claims that the decline is due to efforts of law-enforcement, as well as vehicles that have added safety features.  Now, with electronic stability control, and side airbags, people have an increased chance of surviving crashes that would have once been fatal.

The state experiencing the biggest decline was California, with 266 fewer fatalities, while North Carolina experienced the biggest increase, with 121 more fatalities.

Just as experts predicted, 2008 is already experiencing even fewer accident related deaths, not just because of the increasing safety standards, but also mainly because of gas prices.  Americans are trying to keep money in their wallets by keeping their current cars, purchasing used car warranties, and cutting back on driving.  Fewer motorists on the roads have meant less fatal accidents.

Most of us would like to be able to purchase a brand new shiny car, but not all of us have the option.  However, there are a lot of good used cars out there that you can get for a terrific deal.  Kelley Blue Book recently put a list together of vehicles in average condition that go for between $15,000-$21,000.  The following cars make the top of the list.

Number 1 on the list is the 2003 BMW 3 Series sedan.  The average value of this vehicle is $20,290 according to the Kelley Blue Book.  This car is performance-oriented, handles well, and provides a terrific style.

Next, is the 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV, which is valued at $20,335, making it a great bargain.  The Chevrolet Tahoe is a joy to drive and handles easily.  In addition, the interior in this SUV is roomy and comfortable.

Finally, the 2006 Chrysler 300 sedan has an average value of $17,865.  This is a great used vehicle with a 3.5-liter V-6, and it provides adequate power in all kinds of challenging situations.

Of course a new car would be the goal for a lot of people, but many used vehicles offer motorists a terrific bargain.  To ensure that you get a good vehicle do your homework, and buy used car warranties to go with it.  After all, this will give you peace of mind to enjoy your used car.