It’s pretty obvious that carmakers are having a difficult year.  And just to make things even harder, some cars that are perfectly good don’t even get a fair shake.  One car model can be just as good as another one, yet consumers don’t give it the attention of a competing model.

For instance, the Saab 9-5 gets 21 mpg and comes with a sunroof and leather seats, and goes for $37,685 with new car warranties.  However, 1,943 consumers only bought that car, while 81,967 people purchased the similar BMW 3-Series for $32,700, which is the segment leader.

Another story of tough luck is the Acura RL, which is a competitor in the large luxury car division and is one of the Top Safety Picks, along with the S80.  However, the RL, which is powered by a V-6, isn’t a match for competing car models that have V-8 engines.  Because of higher fuel prices, the RL appeals to some shoppers who are fuel-conscious, but it seems that buyers looking for luxury cars have a preference for power over safety.

These cars are great examples of vehicles that deserve a second look because they have features that are unique and high quality.  Unfortunately, they are small players in a huge market.  Consumers should consider the benefits of these cars because not only do they have a lot of features to offer, but also they are priced right with a good auto warranty.

The legendary and powerful V-8 engine is finding its place in history, because very few new cars are using it, according to U.S. car industry reports.  Consumers want to protect themselves with fuel-efficient vehicles that have an auto warranty, and aren’t purchasing vehicles with V-8 engines.

The majority of carmakers are deciding not to put V-8’s under the hoods of family vehicles, USA Today stated in a NY report.  The V-6’s are also losing popularity and people are instead deciding to purchase vehicles with the V-4.  In fact, observers claim that the V-8 in particular isn’t politically correct anymore.

Carmakers who are choosing to introduce new V-8s are tending to confine them to high-performance sports cars, trucks meant for towing, and several premium cars.

New vehicles that are planning to be equipped with a V-8 engine include the Cadillac CTS-V, the Hyundai Genesis, and the Dodge Challenger.  Carmakers are making it a point to stress the fact that the newer V-8s are much more fuel-efficient than in the past.

However, GM is discarding the eight-cylinder engine from next year’s 2010 Cadillac SRX crossover and Ford won’t be offering its Lincoln MKS sedan with the V-8.

Consumers are opting for cars with smaller engines that have new car warranties in order to protect their wallets.  V-8s are finding their place in history.

Recently Ford announced that it is going to double the number of cars that come equipped with a rearview camera system in 2009.  This means that approximately three-quarters of the vehicles Ford makes will have the bumper-level camera as well as the display.

Ford has a very distinct rearview camera system because instead of appearing on a screen in the middle console, the image shows up in the rearview mirror.  This new rearview camera can be bought independent of an expensive navigation system.

This system only costs $695 and has become so popular that Ford is noticing that many buyers are including it in their 2009 version of the top-selling F-150, when compared to the 2008 model.

New technology such as this is terrific, but buyers should protect themselves from failure of expensive gadgets with new car warranties.

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.

The perks of purchasing a used car are the low initial price, property taxes, and insurance costs.  The “downs” are that it isn’t new, which means there’s no auto warranty and you are more vulnerable to car problems.  However, you can reduce your exposure to risk by taking these precautionary measures.

First, shop for used vehicles that are newer, which might still have a portion of their new car warranties left.  Most late model cars have three-year/ 36,000-mile basic auto warranty coverage, so you could get a year of coverage if you look for cars less than three years old.  Otherwise, you should purchase an auto warranty to cover your used vehicle.

Next, check the background of the make and model car that you are looking at.  Go to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations website to check out recall and safety information.  Also, it never hurts to take a look at Consumer Reports to see if the particular car you like is problematic.

Also, you should always have a mechanic look at the car you are thinking of buying.  This will let you know if the vehicle has been well maintained or has any major problems.

Used cars are a great option for people who don’t want to pay for the instant depreciation associated with new cars.  Just make sure to protect yourself by doing your research and purchasing an auto warranty.

The Ford F-Series was able to stay on top of the top 10 best-selling vehicles in the country for November.  However, sales proved to be significantly down in practically every vehicle brand in the market.

Chrysler turned out to be the biggest loser this month, with a 47% drop in sales in comparison to November 2007.  Next came Nissan, with a 42% drop in sales, and then GM with a 41% drop.  Toyota had a decline of 33.9%, and Honda was down 31.6%.  Ford rounded out the picture with a drop in sales of 30%.

Practically every make experienced significant drops.  Kia and Hyundai were down 37% and 40% respectively, while luxury carmakers Mercedes-Benz and BMW were down 38% and 36% respectively.

The numbers demonstrate that regardless of common beliefs, the poor car market is not just a domestic issue.  Germany is experiencing so many problems that their government is considering bailing out the carmakers.

Hopefully, the market will experience an upswing where consumers will go out and purchase new cars.  However, for now people are holding on to their current cars and buying used car warranties.

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.

After reading GM’s business plan that was submitted to Congress with intentions of securing loans in the amount of $12 billion, it seems that some major changes could have a drastic impact on car shoppers.  People may just decide to hold onto their current cars and purchase used car warranties, instead of wondering what is going to happen here.

GM claims it will now be focusing on research and development for Cadillac, Buick, Chevrolet and GMC.  Pontiac is going to become a “niche” brand, selling fewer models in joint GMC, Buick and Pontiac dealerships.  One could guess that vehicles that have been rebadged, such as the G5 compact, G6 sedan, Torrent and G3 subcompact might be forgone.  Vehicles that will be focused on will be the Solstice, Vibe, and the G8.

Hummer has already been up for sale, stating a “strategic review,” and now according to GM, Saab will be in the same situation.

Saturn, however, is a little bit trickier.  GM is planning to explore alternatives for Saturn, and is going to talk about relationships with dealers.  It almost sounds like the brand is going to be closed down all together, which is similar to what happened with Oldsmobile.  Oldsmobile ended up costing GM over $1 billion back in 2004 because of franchise laws.

For 2009 the Lexus LS 460 and 460L will be offered with AWD for the first time.  Buyers can either buy the rear-wheel drive setup, which is standard, or AWD beginning in October.

The 2009 models haven’t announced a pricing plan yet, but the 2008 rear-wheel-drive versions of the LS 460 and LS 460 L went for $62,900 and $72,900.  The base prices for the 2009 models will easily be $2,000 more including an auto warranty, if they follow the pricing plan for other Lexus models that are AWD.

However, the AWD models could cost quite a bit more than that because they come with more features that are standard, like 18-inch wheels, all-season tires, an adaptive air suspension, and a heated steering wheel.

Consumers should have new car warranties to protect themselves from unnecessary repairs down the road.  Unfortunately, you never know when new technology will fail.

Anyone who has been to the 2009 Los Angeles auto show would be impressed by the 2010 Mazda3’s redesign.  Mazda is setting the bar high with the incredible designs of both the Mazda3 and Mazda6.  It is blazing a trail for its lineup to look sophisticated and uniform, without appearing to be identical and boring.  Mazda has succeeded in making their vehicles radical with taillights, front grilles, headlights, and rear ends that sport a new look, and take the midsize sedan in a new direction.

Mazda uses similar lines on the hood, similar contours of the fender, and similar headlight assemblies to give the Mazda3 an upscale look, while keeping an appearance that is individual when looking at the entirety of the car.

Additional information about this vehicle, such as MSRP and new car warranties, is not yet available.  However, consumers are excited about the Mazda3 and can’t wait for it to hit showrooms.