Vehicles make people irrational.  They become our babies and we wash and wax them every weekend.  People even talk to their cars and give them an affectionate pat every now and then.  But as much as we love our cars, we don’t need to spend unnecessary money on them.  Here are some things that you might be wasting your money on.

First of all, you don’t need to purchase premium gas over regular.  Buy the gas that is the cheapest that doesn’t allow your engine to knock.  The purpose of octane is to prevent knock, so if your car isn’t knocking with regular gas, you’re fine.

Typically, car manufacturers suggest that you get an oil change every 5,000-7,500 miles.  Many people feel that they need oil changes every 3,000 miles.  This is only necessary if you’re hard on your vehicle.

Also, people waste money by having repairs done at a dealer.  Independent shops will do a good job for much less money.  And make sure you have an auto warranty so you aren’t paying unnecessary repair costs.  Also, roadside assistance will save you money in the long run.

Just being aware of where you are wasting money can allow you a big savings.  Don’t let people talk you into unnecessary car expenses.

Smart cars are becoming more and more popular because of the downsizing trend.  But many consumers have reservations about the safety of this car because of its 8 feet long, 5 feet tall dimensions.  So how does the Smart car measure up in safety?

According to crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Smart car received the highest rating possible in side and front crashes and the second highest in rear crashes.  The Smart car comes standard with front-end airbags on the passenger and driver side.

Also, motorists can feel good knowing that the Smart Car is made by Mercedes.  The Mercedes name has earned consumers trust, and they have always had excellent safety.

In the Smart Car the passengers are essentially sitting on top of a roll cage.  This is an iron frame that surrounds the car and provides a buffer zone in crashes.

Although the Smart Car has excellent safety features, the IIHS reminds consumers that cars are ranked in their class, determined by the size and weight of the vehicle.  This means that the Smart Car is in the top of its class, but this doesn’t mean that the car is as safe as vehicles in other classes.

Consumers are taking safety into their own hands by purchasing safe cars with an auto warranty.  The Smart Car is a great choice for its class based on its safety features.

Because many people lead busy lives, they try to pick a repair shop that is close to their home.  They also try to find a shop that they believe to be trustworthy.  Motorists take for granted the freedom of being able to pick where their cars get repaired.  This may all be coming to an end.

Cars operate through their computers, and it is necessary to have the computer codes to determine if something is faulty on the vehicle.  However, car manufacturers often don’t like to release the codes.  This means that independently owned repair shops might not be able to properly make repairs.  In addition, drivers will be forced to take their vehicles to dealerships.  This makes an auto warranty even more necessary for motorists because dealerships tend to charge more for repairs.

There are approximately 220 million cars in the country and only 21,000 vehicle dealerships.  Also, there are around 130,000 businesses that make a business of repairing cars.  If these businesses don’t have access to computer codes they may eventually go out of business because they won’t be able to perform many repairs on cars.

Unfortunately, you never know when your car is going to require repairs, so regardless of where you take your car for service, make sure you have an auto warranty to protect your wallet.

There is no vehicle quite as exhilarating as a convertible.  Motorists love to feel the wind in their hair and the sun on their faces.  Convertibles give drivers a sense of freedom that is hard to find in any other vehicle.  However, are convertibles a good purchase?  Read on and decide for yourself.

Automakers have spent a lot of time improving convertibles.  Motorists used to have to worry about retractable tops leaking, but that is a thing of the past.  Today, convertible tops are superb at sealing out weather and sound.  And whether fabric or metal, the tops can go up and down with the touch of a button in less than 30 seconds.

Convertible safety has also greatly improved.  Cars are now equipped with side airbags.  These airbags deploy from the line of the window in order to create protection.  This is important in the case of a crash or rollover.

Although the convertible market hasn’t been growing, there are many interesting choices for consumers to consider.  Models that are newer, such as the Volkswagen Eos and Saturn Sky have been doing well in sales.  You might also want to consider a high-performance convertible, such as the Dodge Viper SRT10, Audi RS 4 Cabriolet, or the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet.  The benefit of buying a new convertible is that it comes with an auto warranty.

Unfortunately, many convertible owners admit that the novelty of driving a convertible wears off within the first year.  Luckily, convertibles hold their value very well, which means that if you become fickle, you probably won’t have a hard time getting your money back.

Consumers have been more concerned than ever about saving money on their vehicles.  They are doing everything from purchasing small, fuel-efficient cars, to purchasing an auto warranty to ensure they don’t pay unnecessary repair expenses.  But are they willing to skip the amenities that come in new cars, such as air conditioning, an automatic transmission, and power locks and windows, to save money?  And are stripped cars even available?

The truth is that it can be hard to find a car stripped with crank windows and a manual transmission.

According to JATO Dynamics, 89% of vehicles sold in America last year came standard with automatic transmissions, which is up from 85% in 2003.  Also, power locks came standard on 87% of cars sold, compared to 80% in 2003.

The vehicles that offer these features as optional tend to be on small cars, yet economy-car buyers usually pick convenience and comfort over cost if given a choice.

For example, the cheapest model by Toyota is the Yaris, which begins at $11,550 for a 2008 base model hatchback with air-conditioning.  However, approximately 80% of Yaris buyers choose to pay an extra $900 for an automatic, and about 60% opt for a power windows and locks package, which costs an extra $1,680.

It appears that features, such as air conditioning, and automatic transmissions are necessities that most people aren’t willing to live without, just like new car warranties.

If you’re planning to purchase a used vehicle you need to find out as much as you can about it.  The car could have problems that you can’t detect by looking at it.  In order to understand the car that you are getting, get a vehicle history report.  This will give you combined information from DMVs, RMVs, and police reports about the car that you are looking at.  Here are some things to consider when looking at the vehicle report.

Determine if the car has had many owners.  You are better off with a car that has had fewer owners because there is more of a likelihood that the car has been taken good care of.  Although inexpensive, rental cars will have undergone a great deal of abuse.

Also, consider the location that the car has been in.  This is important because some climates are harsher on cars.  For example, winter conditions are hard on cars because of salty roads.  Obviously, excessive heat and flood areas are also of concern.

Finally, make sure that the name and description on the history report actually match the vehicle you’re looking at.  This will help avoid types of fraud, such as vehicle identification number cloning.

A used car is a great way for people to save money and get a great car.  Just do your homework to make sure you are getting a good buy.  You need to consider the costs of used car warranties, auto insurance, and maintenance costs.  An auto warranty is a good way to get peace of mind when purchasing a used vehicle.

The Prius has become one of the hottest vehicles in the country.  This is actually quite amazing because this is a hybrid electric vehicle, which requires people to embrace change. With any change, people like to protect themselves.  Many people feel better purchasing a hybrid if they have an auto warranty to go along with it. The billion-dollar question that innovators face is whether people will resist or embrace innovation.  Apparently, Toyota got it right, because thousands of people are buying the Prius.

People accustomed to a regular vehicle would struggle to get the Prius to move forward.  In addition, people probably couldn’t figure out how to put the car in reverse.  However, these are not hard lessons to learn, they just require people to change their way of thinking.  To start the Prius you press a button located on the dashboard twice.  To make your car go forward or backward you manipulate a small stick that comes out of the dashboard.

People might fear technology because it is seductive, yet they might also have a fear of not being able to change. Either way, it is good to protect yourself.  This includes purchasing new car warranties that will cover you in the case of faulty technology.  Innovators never really know which way the cash register will ring.  However, Toyota got it right with the Prius.

There are some vehicles that have become part of the American psyche, which makes them frankly indispensable, just like an auto warranty.  But, what if some of these cars disappear?

The question recently was, should the Detroit Three be knocked down or helped up?  With Chrysler and GM eating up federal money like a bowl of soup, the question was being debated.  But even people who were against a bailout for the auto industry acknowledge the large loss that will come if these carmakers go away.  For starters, good jobs would be lost, but also, we would lose cars.  Of course, new car models come and go, however the automotive world wouldn’t be the same without certain vehicles that have created memories that are unforgettable and inspired owners to be fiercely loyal.

Recently, 1,000 people were surveyed to find out which American vehicles they couldn’t live without.  The model that ranked first was the Chevrolet Corvette.  Other winners include the Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, and Saturn Sky roadster.  Pickup tricks on the list include the Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram.

Whether you agree with bailing out the Detroit Three or not, you probably agree that Americans would be sad to see some of these vehicles go.  They are as valuable to people as new car warranties.

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.

On Valentine’s Day it is common to show affection to the people you love, but we don’t want to forget to give some thought to our vehicles.  A lot of us find our vehicles to be more than just another asset.  They are such a big part of our lives because we depend on them to get us where we need to go safely.  They deserve a bit of attention and affection too.

A recent survey reinforces the powerful relationship that drivers have with their cars.  Apparently, 44 percent of men and 48 percent of women claim they have thanked their car in different situations.  In addition, 30 percent of women and 37 percent of men claim they have given their cars compliments on dependability.

So what can you give your car to show your appreciation?  There are several things you can do.  First of all, make sure you have a preventative maintenance plan.  Also, purchase your car an auto warranty to ensure that it is covered in the event of a breakdown.  Your car will thank you by getting you to your destinations safely.