In future car accidents a circuit could be as crucial to survival as a seat belt.  Congress made seat belts mandatory in the 1960’s, which was revolutionary in car safety.  Since then, seat belts have greatly reduced deaths.  Now, there is an additional safety revolution in the midst.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has employed a new standard.  This makes electronic stability control equipment a mandatory component in all cars.  The adoption of ESC will save approximately 10,000 lives every year.

Most luxury vehicles already come with ESC.  Other models offer it as an option.  This is just one of the new safety advancements designed with the purpose of preventing auto accidents, not just protecting passengers.  The majority of these new features have a microchip base.  Many are still being perfected. So beware, you never know when new technology will fail.  However, new car warranties will save you from unnecessary expenses.

Many motorists are finding it easiest to buy a package of safety options, rather than individual gadgets.  Lexus, for example, places an emphasis on how its safety features work as a system.  It has a package with lane-departure warning, smart cruise control, and ESC.

Integrating such systems, and the yielding of throttle, brake, and steering raise the question: Do drivers need or want this much help?  Who is actually in charge of the wheel?  No matter the answer, an auto warranty is essential in protecting your vehicle with all of those fancy gadgets.

As part of its “new day” celebration last February, Chrysler introduced a very unique promotion for its minivans: Purchase a minivan, and receive a free DVD player for the rear seat.  Since the promotion, it’s difficult to argue that Chrysler has experienced something that resembles the optimism that a new day brings; yet that hasn’t stopped the carmaker from bringing back the same DVD offer.

When consumers buy a Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Jeep Grand Cherokee, or Jeep Commander they will get a free DVD entertainment package for the rear seat.  In minivans, screens are included for the second row, as well as the third row.  This deal applies nationwide and are in addition to other great deals, such as financing incentives, great new car warranties, and cash-back incentives.

Chrysler is hoping to spark consumer interest by putting forth red-hot deals.  Unfortunately, many motorists are currently opting to hang onto their current cars and purchase used car warranties to protect their wallets.

More motorists are deciding to switch to hybrid cars for better fuel-efficiency, however, just like any car; hybrids need common maintenance and occasional repairs.  A regular mechanic can do work that is routine, yet you will need hybrid-certified mechanics for jobs that are more extensive.

According to a Toyota service director in Tampa, hybrid work at the dealership has been small.  There are some vehicles with issues, but for the most part repairs are the result of accidents.  The most costly repair on hybrids is for battery replacement.  In a vehicle that isn’t covered by an auto warranty, you will pay approximately $3,000 just on the part.

The best thing to do is to find a technician to repair your car before you really need it.  This way you won’t have to make last minute decisions.  Also, make sure that the technician is certified in hybrid repair.

Finally, most new car warranties for hybrids cover 100,000 miles or 8-10 years.  Make sure you know if your auto warranty requires that you get service from a specific repair shop.

Purchasing a BMW isn’t only expensive because of the purchase price; many people who shop for luxury cars are concerned about added costs such as maintenance, insurance and new car warranties.  For many years BMW has offered to pick up the tab on maintenance costs for new car purchases for up to 50,000 miles or the first four years, whichever comes first.

Now, BMW has offered an extended plan of 100,000 miles or six years for an added charge of around $1,395-$2,995.  This plan includes all of the M performance models and diesels, but not the Alpina B7.  In addition, all current BMW owners that are under the 60,000/four-year plan are able to add on this new service.  BMW recommends that service be performed every 15,000 miles on new car models.

And if that offer isn’t enticing enough for potential car shoppers, the carmakers latest incentives might be exciting: BMW is now offering low financing of 0.9%, and will pay car payments for the first two months on select cars.  Depending on the price of the car, those payments should be over $1,000.

It’s pretty obvious that carmakers are having a difficult time.  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.

Getting the word out about a new product that meets the driving needs of young people, or a cynical attempt at branding oneself as “hip” by latching onto Millenials?

This question must be asked after the announcement by Ford about its scheme for advertising for the Fiesta, which is the European compact car that Ford is bringing to the U.S. in 2011.  This “Fiesta Movement” entails giving the keys of 100 Ford Fiestas to “100 socially vibrant Fiesta Movement ‘Agents’”, which will expand on their driving experiences on websites like YouTube and Facebook.

If you look at it from a business standpoint, the campaign is smart.  After all, Barack Obama proved that tapping into America’s youth could win you a Presidency.  In fact, Millenials are going to account for around 70 million motorists by the year 2010, or 28% of drivers who haven’t yet gotten the chance to develop loyalty for a particular brand.

Only time will tell if the Fiesta will catch on as a “movement”.  However, regardless, people are anticipating its arrival.  Information about pricing and new car warranties is yet to come.

Mitsubishi just confirmed that in the near future it would sell an electric car in the U.S. that is fairly inexpensive.

This small electric vehicle is called the i MiEV, which is short for Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle, and will be one of the very first EVs that will be mass-produced on the global scene, according to the carmaker.  Over the next several years, this car will begin to show up in Japan and Europe.

This car is based on the i, which is a small city car sold in Japan.  The transmission, gas engine, and fuel tank are replaced by an electric motor and battery pack.

The car will be able to travel 80 miles on a single charge, thanks to the lithium-ion battery pack.  When using a normal outlet it will take approximately 12-14 hours to charge.  According to Mitsubishi, though, there is a fast charger that will only take 30 minutes to give the car an 80% charge.

Consumers are excited about this vehicle coming to the U.S.  However, with any car make sure to get good new car warranties in case of unexpected repairs.

Consumers can experience sensory overload when walking down the car care isle at their local store.  It can be confusing to know what products to purchase, or even if you need to purchase them.  Some people assume that if you have a factory auto warranty that includes the finish, you don’t need to bother washing and waxing, but this isn’t true.

A factory auto warranty will protect you by ensuring that the paint job was sound, that they used quality paint, and that it was cured correctly.  However, new car warranties won’t protect you from oxidation that occurs over time.  This happens naturally if you don’t care for your finish.  Car wax serves the purpose of being a sacrificial layer between Mother Nature and your paint.

If new car owners want to keep their finishes looking great, they don’t have to spend a lot of time or money.  Preventative maintenance is the key for your finish, just like it’s under the hood.  All you have to do is wash your vehicle frequently with car care products.  Even just a basic car wash will do a lot to help protect your investment.  After washing, you can spray-on a wax that will boost the shine and extend the intervals between regular wax jobs.

If you’re purchasing a pre-owned car you need to find out as much history as possible about it.  The car may have problems that are not apparent from a visual inspection or a test drive.

A car history report is a good way to find out what you’re getting.  This is a report prepared by a third party that is a compilation of information from DMVs, RMVs, and other sources.  A car history report will give you an overview of what the car has been through.

When getting a car history report look out for the following things.  This is not to say that you shouldn’t buy the car based on these issues, but certainly ask questions.

If a car has had a lot of owners, chances are it hasn’t been cared for lovingly.  These cars have probably endured more abuse.

Some areas of our country are easier on cars than others.  For example, extreme winter conditions are tough on vehicles, as are flood areas and extreme heat.

Make sure the name and description of the car match up with the actual car.  Read the description carefully to avoid vehicle fraud.

Car history reports, such as those from CARFAX are comprehensive and can save you from purchasing a lemon.  Also, to protect yourself, purchase new car warranties to avoid unnecessary expenses down the road.

If you’re thinking of purchasing a small SUV you’re in luck because there are many good choices.  Compact SUVs offer practicality, fuel-efficiency, and nice style.  In fact you can find many models for under $25,000 complete with an auto warranty.  So what are the best and worst models to consider?  Read on.

The Honda CR-V is the #1 compact SUV.  It scored the highest for performance, safety, and interior.  According to reviewers, it drives really well, has a sleek design and offers ample storage room.  Following close behind, the Toyota RAV4 comes in second place in its class.  This vehicle has a surprising amount of power for its size. It now offers a V-6 engine, as well as a third row seat. The RAV4 was the first compact SUV in its class over a decade ago.  Coming in #3 is the 2008 Subaru Forester.  This SUV is known for being a fun, family-friendly vehicle.  Reviewers complained about the exterior being bland and the balky transmission, but were willing to overlook these things because it had some great positive features.

Unfortunately, there are some compact SUVs that didn’t rank as well.  In last place was the Saturn Vue Hybrid.  According to reviewers, it isn’t very refined and isn’t as fuel thrifty as many other hybrids.  Also at the bottom of the list is the Mazda Tribute because its power and handling doesn’t match its competitors.  Finally, the Jeep Compass drives more like a car, but doesn’t have the sportiness or off-road capabilities that other Jeeps have.

If you’re looking to buy a compact SUV, there are many great choices out there.  The most important thing is to do your homework and make sure you are choosing wisely.  Also keep in mind the cost of new car warranties, maintenance costs and auto loans when determining your budget.