One of our customers asked, does my car really need high grade gasoline?

With gas prices at near all time highs, people on tighter budgets want to know using lower octane fuel is OK.  If you ask the gas station you’ll get different opinions.  Some think that it does help a car’s engine to run better, but most think it just doesn’t matter. 

After polling a group of automotive gurus, it appears that most of them believe that using a lower octane fuel does little or no damage to the car. The consensus is that even if it is not recommended by the manufacturer, you can probably get away with using a less expensive fuel. 

A lower octane gasoline may cause a slight knock in the engine but it doesn’t necessarily mean the engine is struggling.  The knocking is actually a more violent detonation of more explosive gasoline. The lower the octane, the more explosive, the louder the knocking. 

Additionally, almost all cars marketed in the US over the past 10-15 years that operate with a fuel injection system have knock sensors. These sensors can sense when there’s lower octane fuel and adjust to it. 

These more complex systems can be expensive to repair so an auto warranty is more necessary than ever.  Used car warranties can be tricky so make sure you choose an aftermarket auto warranty that offers a close to bumper to bumper protection as possible.

I keep getting cards in the mail telling me the warranty on my car is coming to an end. The funny thing is it expired over a year ago.

These post cards use scare tactics to make you think the vehicle manufacturer is giving you one final chance to extend coverage.  The sad fact is that these cards have no attachment to the vehicle’s factory warranty whatsoever.  As a matter of fact, the Attorney General has actually alerted the public recently that this was a growing problem.

One way to avoid this situation is to purchase an auto warranty from a reputable aftermarket auto warranty provider.  One such company that has been around for almost 30 years is Auto Advantage Inc. in
Yorktown Heights, NY (

www.autowarranties.com).  Regardless of what company you choose, it is always a good idea to check out the company with the Better Business Bureau.

Back in the summer of 2007 one of my clients purchased a used Land Rover Discovery from a dealer. It came with a mechanical breakdown warranty issued by an aftermarket auto warranty company. On the date of purchase the car had 85,000 miles and 3,500 miles later it broke on the highway and had to get towed. The claim was called in to the company that issued the warranty in accordance with the contract terms. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the rear axle had to be broken down for inspection. The inspector advised that the damage was not a covered claim by the warranty because it was a wear & tear failure. The selling dealer insisted that the vehicle had no problems at the time of sale, so he could not be held liable for the cost of repairs. The repairs needed entailed replacing a seized rear differential following a bearing failure. The vehicle needed to get back on the road so the repairs were completed and the issue is now in small claims court.

The moral of the story is when purchasing an auto warranty for your used car be sure that the plan is of the highest caliber.  Read through the contract as some used car warranties leave much to be desired.

There is no doubt about it, vehicles are lasting longer these days. For instance industry representatives point out that in 2000 just over 28 percent of 15 year old vehicles are still on the road. In 2007, that number jumped to about 45 percent. This means there is a very good chance that most vehicles will be on the road far past their new car warranty.

The need for a good used car warranty is now far more likely. There are numerous aftermarket auto warranty companies offering solid auto warranty options.

Perhaps at some point in the future auto manufacturers will catch up with the trend.

As manufacturers try to enhance sales for in 2008 many of them are offering incentives if you purchase one of their vehicles.  In addition, new vehicles are also covered by an exclusionary bumper-to-bumper warranty.  For instance, all Chevrolet models are covered by the General Motors five-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, which includes roadside assistance and substitute transportation, as well as a three-year or 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.

You would think this would be enough coverage but many of a vehicle’s failures are not covered by their powertrain warranty.  These breakdowns often occur after the three-year or 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty has expired.

It is for this reason that many consumers choose to purchase an extended warranty.  Though manufacturers offer their own extended auto warranty plans, an auto warranty is generally available for considerably less money through an aftermarket auto warranty company.  Compare coverage at sites such as autowarranties.com to see the high level of coverage and cost savings.

Driving in the midst of one of the northeast’s worst winter storms my four year old car simply stopped moving.  I was stuck out in the cold and needed a tow.  I called my roadside assistance provider, autoroadservice.com, who got me and my car to the nearest auto repair facility. Unfortunately, I found out that I had to foot the more than $800 repair bill for the transmission cable that somehow snapped in the middle of nowhere.  Not what I needed to hear right around the holidays when cash was tight.  The car only had 35,000 miles but was just out of warranty I was told.

It got me thinking: If I am going to keep this car I really need to look into used car warranties.  After all, I had heard the horror stories from my friends about their used cars turning into sinkholes that just kept sucking money from their wallets.

Don’t fall into the same trap Tom did.  Purchase an auto warranty before it’s too late and your used car begins to tap into your hard earned savings.  Owning an used car can cost you hundreds to thousands of dollars per year.  Protect yourself from unforeseen repair bills with an aftermarket auto warranty.