According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a recall has been issued by Nissan for 242,720 Pathfinders, Xterras and Frontiers for model years 2005-2009.  The recall is due to a crash sensor that causes the airbag to deploy in an accident.  This recall is mainly aimed at cars that are sold in climates with cold weather, in which road salt causes the crash sensor to corrode.  The warning light for the airbag may become illuminated.

Nissan says they will replace sensors that are faulty and put new ones in, and all vehicle owners will receive a 10-year extended warranty for the crash sensors.  Nissan urges people to look for the warning light regardless.  This recall is the second one Nissan has had in the last three months that involves an airbag sensor.  Nissan owners can call Nissan at 800-647-7261.

It is important for car owners to protect themselves by purchasing new car warranties, since you never know when your car will fail.

Regardless of the year or make, one of the biggest investments people will make is a vehicle.  Buying a used car is a great way for consumers to save some money.  However, risks can be higher, which is why an auto warranty should be purchased for the car.  Fortunately, there are ways that buyers can recognize the difference between dependable used cars and lemons.

The safest thing to do is to have the car that you are looking to buy checked out by a licensed mechanic.  However, there are some things that you can do on your own.

For instance, bring a soft magnet from your refrigerator to determine if there is damage underneath a new coat of paint.  You can run the magnet all along the fenders and doors, which are steel.  If it seems that the magnet won’t stick, there is probably a type of body filler under the paint.

Also, examine the inside of the vehicle for stains from water.  If the car was damaged in a flood, it could mean trouble in years to come.  You also want to look at the wear on the pedals of the vehicle.  It should be consistent with what the mileage claims to be.  If there is low mileage, there should be little wear on the pedals.

Don’t forget to examine the tires of the vehicle, too.  If you see wear on the outside edges of the tires, the car is probably out of alignment or might have components that are worn-out.

Knowing what to look for in a used vehicle will bring you peace of mind about your purchase.  Also, know that used car warranties will allow you to save on costly repairs that are unforeseen.

The stock market has deflated rapidly.  Layoffs, foreclosures and bankruptcies are higher than ever.  So this is the perfect time to begin selling sports cars that are $350,000 in Tampa, Bay, right?

Well, we will soon find out.

Officials of Ferrari are planning to open an extravagant new dealership in Palm Harbor and are also planning to sell Lamborghini and Bentley.  And this week the Elder Automotive Group opened up sales of the “Spyker” sports cars in the Southeast.

Together these extravagant dealerships will do a test on the theory that car enthusiasts who are filthy-rich will resist economic gravity and spend on a car what it would cost for a large home.

While most motorists are currently worried about paying for gas, car loans and new car warranties, there are still people out there who can afford luxury sports cars.  Will these dealerships survive?  That remains to be seen.

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.

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.

Typically, you will get the best value purchasing a used vehicle.  This is especially true for late models.  Not only will you find the price to be lower than a new vehicle that is comparable, but also expenses for ownership, such as taxes and collision insurance will be less.  In addition, a used vehicle has already taken its largest depreciation hit.  You also can get a vehicle that is better equipped by buying used.

Used cars have become more appealing because their reliability has improved.  Exhaust problems and rust used to be a major concern, but aren’t a problem anymore.  Studies have shown that reported problems declined significantly since 1980.

Although reliability has improved considerably, repair costs and maintenance are important things to consider.  Many used cars don’t have an auto warranty left or are close to the end of its life.  This means that motorists will be paying out of pocket for expenses.  However, buying used car warranties will take care of this problem.

Overall, buying used is a great option to save money.  Also, consumers can get a car with more features than they would be able to afford new.  However, an auto warranty is a necessity so that you don’t pay for unnecessary repair costs.

Satellite navigation devices, or the popular GPS interfaces that many motorists have in their vehicles, are, seemingly, responsible for a large share of accidents and driving practices that are risky.

With almost half of the motorists on the roads having access to devices such as these in their vehicles, it appears that this technology has penetrated the market.  Drivers who have satellite navigation devices are much more likely to be involved in a minor accident or risky behaviors.  In fact, 1.5 million say that they have engaged in sudden maneuvers, and approximately 5 million admit to going against the flow of traffic.

GPS systems fall into the same category as other car distractions, such as cell phones, kids, the radio, or passengers.  This might be one of the reasons that road safety campaigns say that ‘Good Drivers Just Drive’.

Drivers should pre-plan their trips in order to avoid GPS distractions.  In addition, drivers should protect themselves by purchasing used car warranties, and avoiding other in car distractions.

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 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.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners recently performed a study to determine what the best and worst states are in the country for auto insurance.  According to the study, you are paying the highest insurance premiums if you live in the Northeast.

New Jersey proved to be the most expensive state.  On average, premiums in New Jersey are over $1,300 yearly.  The capital of our nation, Washington D.C. was the second highest, with average yearly premiums of $1,185.  New York was third highest with $1,110 being the average premium.

Revealed in the study was that urban driving, high salaries, and a lot of traffic are responsible for elevated costs in those states.  In addition, liability insurance premium costs are higher in the Northeast.

Midwestern and Northern states proved to have the lowest insurance premium costs.  The overall lowest was Idaho with costs at $530 per year.  The next lowest was Maine at $560 a year, and North Dakota was $570 per year.

According to this study, your location is a key factor in determining your car insurance costs.  Today, consumers are paying more than they ever have for their vehicles.  These costs include insurance, new car warranties, and maintenance costs.

With the poor economy, motorists are looking a little more closely at used cars.  The National Automobile Dealers Association reports that last year the average cost of a used vehicle was around $15,000, while it was $29,000 for new vehicles.

While you want to purchase a pre-owned car that has a solid reputation for dependability, it’s even more beneficial to purchase a used vehicle that consumers find less popular, because it has already depreciated rapidly.

Many people believe that the best new vehicles make the best used vehicles, which is true in general.  However, often these cars depreciate at a slower rate, which makes them popular as new vehicles, but means they cost more as used vehicles.

According to Kelly Blue Book, the vehicle brands that depreciate the slowest are Mini, Scion, Volkswagen, BMW, and Honda.

Instead of purchasing those models, consider other brands that have high reliability scores, but depreciate more quickly and can save you thousands of dollars.  Domestic brands are good to consider, such as Dodge, Ford, and Chevrolet.  These will get you a bargain.

If you want to save money by buying a used car, consider depreciation. You can get a good bargain by buying reliable, more rapidly depreciating models, and buy used car warranties to give you peace of mind.