Why is it finally acceptable for kids age 13 to finally ride in the front seat of the car?  Are they finally big enough to withstand the impact of an airbag?  Are they at the age where they can behave in the front seat?

A big part of the problem is behavior.  When kids mess with the radio, and play around, they usually aren’t in a proper position when an airbag deploys.  In injuries and deaths, the proximity to the airbag in the front is a huge issue; in addition, proper positioning in the seat is a factor.  By 13, kids are more able to sit still and behave.

Around ages 11 and 12, children are also bigger physically.  This is an issue because it is hard for children to have their backs against the seatback if their feet don’t touch the floor.  This means that they scrunch down putting them in a bad position for airbag deployment.

Kids under 13 need to ride in the back seat for their safety.  It isn’t worth it to put your child in the front and have them injured by an airbag.  Parents are concerned with many things such as new car warranties, auto loans, and maintenance, but most important is the safety of their children.

Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts is contemplating putting a tax on big SUVs that are gas-guzzlers.  This tax would have to be paid when vehicle owners go to register their cars after their purchase.  This “Hummer Tax,” as it is widely known, would be used to pay for infrastructure, which Deval claims is suffering from a full decade of neglect.

This tax, which is designed to make car shoppers consider buying vehicles that are more fuel-efficient, will probably ruffle some feathers if it goes into effect.  Vehicle purchases are already down, and any kind of tax on vehicles as the car industry is struggling will be met with some strong opposition.  This law would be the first one of this kind in the U.S.

Lawmakers in Massachusetts are already thinking of enacting an increase of 19 cents in the fuel tax, which will no doubt be controversial.  When you have to come find $19 billion in the next 20 years in order to modernize and maintain your transportation system, it is likely that you will have to put some unpopular ideas on the table.  Unfortunately, right now consumers just feel more comfortable hanging onto their current cars and purchasing used car warranties, instead of buying new vehicles.

People love to get a new car, but they don’t love the new car payments. But, although you can’t avoid those monthly payments, you can keep them reasonable. And make sure to factor in other costs, such as new car warranties, maintenance, and auto loans. Here are some tips to keep those car payments down.

Make sure you purchase a car that you need, not necessarily one that is on the lot. Often, cars on the lot have more features than you need. Dealers’ benefit from selling you one of these cars. Not only do they move a vehicle off their lot, they sell you a more expensive car.

Only buy features that you must have. For example, air conditioning is something most of us can’t live without, yet we don’t need climate control air conditioning. You can save a lot of money by living without luxury features. Watch out when the dealer tries to sell you power seats, audio systems, and tire packages. All of these things are nice, but not essential.

You can save a lot by avoiding a bigger engine. Test-drive a car model that has a standard engine. You might find that the car has more than enough power. By skipping the engine upgrade, you can save money upfront, as well as on fuel down the road.

Follow these simple tips to save yourself from paying high monthly payments. However, realize that the one thing that you shouldn’t skimp on is purchasing an auto warranty. You don’t want to be stuck with unnecessary repair costs down the road.

According to a recent survey conducted by Cars.com, car shoppers are turning to the pre-owned car market in order to save some money on vehicle purchases in these difficult economic times.  It was revealed in the survey that 32% of people shopping for cars who were originally looking for a new car have now switched to shopping for a used vehicle instead.

That number is higher than the 27% of people that switched from new to used vehicles in October, even though the credit markets aren’t even close to being as tight currently as they were in October when they seized up.

Car shoppers are trying to find ways to cut costs, and purchasing a pre-owned vehicle instead of a new one is a good way to accomplish that, especially with certified pre-owned cars that come with good new car warranties.  However, regardless of whether you purchase a new or used vehicle, make sure to buy a good auto warranty.

Many people believe it is easiest to trade in your current car when buying a new one.  However, is trading the right choice for you?  There are some advantages and disadvantages to trading.

The big advantage to trading over selling is that you have very little hassle.  You don’t have to haggle with buyers and you get rid of your car quickly.  However, the fact is that you aren’t going to get as much for your car if you trade it in.

Any used vehicle has a specific retail value.  If a dealership is going to sell that vehicle, they will have certain expenses, such as fixing dents and scrapes, cleaning it, and just overhead costs of running their business.  Therefore, the dealership has to sell it for a little more than a private owner would.

Since dealers need to make a good profit on used vehicles, they purchase them for less than the retail value.  When the dealership takes a trade in vehicle, they are essentially purchasing it from the new car customer, and at a price below the retail value.  Essentially, this is called the trade in value.

Although trading in your car is easier than going through the hassle of trying to sell your car privately, you are going to get less money for your vehicle.  If you sell your vehicle on your own, you can put the extra money you get towards important things such as an auto warranty and maintenance costs.  And with used vehicles, used car warranties are a smart choice.

Do you find that you are apprehensive about negotiating with an auto dealer?  Shopping for a vehicle doesn’t have to be nerve-racking, however, you need to be aware of a few things that you shouldn’t say to a dealer.

First, you shouldn’t start talking about monthly payments, instead focus on negotiating the purchase price.  It can become confusing when you’re discussing monthly payments because it might be unclear whether the payment is for 24 or 36 months.

Don’t tell the dealer right away if you’re willing to trade-in your car.  If the dealer is aware of this he will know that you want to get as much money for your car as possible.  The dealer might agree to give you a lot for your trade-in, but usually it’s a smokescreen because then they will fix the price of the new car.

Don’t tell the dealer if you’re planning on paying for the car in cash.  They count on making a lot of money in financing, and if they know that they won’t be able to count on that money, chances are they won’t negotiate on the sticker price.

Do your homework before showing up at a dealership.  Be prepared with information about new car warranties, financing, and vehicle prices.  This will help you negotiate a successful deal on a car.

Some consumers are apprehensive about purchasing a used car for fear that they will end up with a lemon.  However, purchasing a pre-owned vehicle in Philadelphia is about to become safer thanks to a new lemon law.

When this bill becomes a law, cars purchased in Philadelphia must be road-worthy.  If they aren’t, they can be returned for a full refund within three days.  This law, along with used car warranties, will give drivers peace of mind when purchasing a used car.

So, what does this mean for the used car buyer?  If you take your car in for an inspection by a licensed mechanic you can take the car back within 72 hours after the purchase if the car fails to pass the emission or safety inspection.  The vehicle can also be returned if information by the seller wasn’t disclosed, such as a defect with the structure.

Consumers are thrilled with the new lemon law because this means they won’t get stuck with a piece of junk.  With the addition of an auto warranty, motorists can finally have peace of mind when purchasing a used car.

Many people claim to love the smell of a new car.  However, the chemicals that gives cars that new smell may be harmful and have been known to cause long-term health issues.  However, consumers now have a guide that will aid them in figuring out the cars that are the safest.

An advocacy group in Michigan, called The Ecology Center, recently published a guide about toxic chemicals in vehicles and child seats on Tuesday.

The report deals with harmful substances, such as chlorine, bromine, heavy metals and lead.  The Ecology Center got samples of parts that people touch the most, such as center consoles, steering wheels, and seat fronts.

The investigation determined that there are top healthier cars from Smart, Acura, BMW, Chevrolet, Toyota and Honda.  Some cars that created high concern were by Suzuki, Mitsubishi, VW, BMW, Mazda, Lincoln, Audi, Mercedes, BMW and Kia.

Consumers are becoming more and more concerned with car safety issues.  They are taking precautions, such as doing research on new cars, and purchasing cars with added safety features, and new car warranties.

What do you get if the “hybrid” is taken out of a hybrid pickup truck?  In the case of GM, you get the XFE, or Xtra Fuel Economy pickup trucks that are full size.  These trucks share a lot of running gear and hardware with their hybrid counterparts; however, the exception is the two mode gas-electric powertrain.

The Chevrolet Silverado XFE and GMC Sierra XFE provide fuel-efficiency ratings of 15/21 mpg for city/highway, in comparison to 21/22 mpg for city/highway for GMs two-mode hybrids and 14/20 mpg for non-XFE pickups that are comparable.  That is an approximate 5%-7% improvement over the trucks that are non-XFE.

Models that are XFE only come in two-wheel drive with the E85-capable LC9 5.3-liter V-8 and a six-speed transmission that is automatic.  An Aluminum engine block, as well as aluminum cylinder heads is used by the LC9 to save weight.  In addition, it has active fuel management in order to change the V-8 between eight-cylinder and four-cylinder modes in order to save fuel.

Consumers are looking to save money on fuel, and GM has delivered.  Also, consumers are concerned with purchasing cars with good new car warranties in order to avoid unnecessary repair expenses down the road.

While most Ford dealerships reacted with joy after Ford Motor Co.’s announcement that they will be making six additional fuel-efficient cars in America, others greeted the announcement with caution.

It’s going to be great to have small, fuel-efficient cars in the lineup because who knows what gas prices are going to do..

However, it is impossible to predict how long this shift toward fuel-efficient passenger cars will last.  Gas prices have already fallen drastically, but who knows how far down they will fall.

This same thing occurred in the ‘70s, and the reality is that America isn’t going to want to eliminate SUVs and pickup trucks forever.

Trucks are needed for construction companies, and therefore will keep being built.  Will they become more fuel-efficient for the future?  Of course, they are going to have to be.

As gas prices fall even more, customers could very well switch their tastes back to SUVs and trucks.

So, for now consumers are just trying to keep money in their pockets by purchasing small fuel-efficient cars with new car warranties, but as the economy improves and gas prices fall, that may all turn around.