All over the world, car manufacturers are realizing that drivers are interested in vehicles that are ecologically friendly.  There are many recent vehicles that are fuel-efficient and look terrific.  These are some of the newest.

The VW Golf TDI Hybrid offers lower emissions and longer legs.  Popular in Europe, this hatchback has a terrific look.  It has a diesel high-tech engine and a start-stop that is automatic.  Also, it has a 7-speed DSG gearbox, an electric motor and gets 69mpg.

The Audi TT TDI proves that a fantastic looking sports car doesn’t have to guzzle gas.  This vehicle can go from 0 to 62mph in 7.5 seconds.  It has 170 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.  This vehicle offers the power that goes along with a sports car and great fuel-efficiency.

With gas prices around $4 per gallon, consumers are realizing the importance of fuel-efficient vehicles.  To protect their wallets, motorists are taking extra steps, such as purchasing eco friendly vehicles and new car warranties.

There is nothing worse than getting your car repaired and hearing, “It isn’t covered under your auto warranty.”  Often, motorists are confused because they assume that certain repairs are covered.  Drivers need a little education to understand more about their new car warranties.

People need to understand that an auto warranty isn’t an entitlement, but an agreement you make with the car manufacturer.  Your responsibility is to fulfill specific maintenance requirements that the manufacturer sets.  After doing your part, the manufacturer must perform repairs resulting from a defect or a failed part.

So, what parts are covered?  The auto manufacturer must cover the parts that it makes.  For example, transmissions, engines, steering, suspension, computers, instruments, chassis wiring, and other parts that they manufacture are covered.  Maintenance items and wearable items aren’t covered under new car warranties.  For example, filters, hoses, belts, brakes and tires aren’t covered.

What about the parts not made by the manufacturer of the car?  Items such as stereo systems and conversion components have a warranty through their manufacturers.  These can be found in paper work you received with the purchase of the car.

The best thing that you can do to avoid misunderstandings about new car warranties is to educate yourself.  Make sure that you do your homework and read all of the fine print in your auto warranty.

Consumers who want to buy a new car have several concerns: reliability, safety and new car warranties. Recently, The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety listed the thirty-six 2008 vehicles that they rate highest for safety. Which cars are there favorites?

The Toyota Tundra was the only pickup truck that made the list. Its main safety features include side airbags, as well as stability control.

Although no domestic vehicles made the list last year, there are seven domestics on the 2008 list. These are the Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable, Ford Edge, Ford Taurus X, Lincoln MKX, Cadillac CTS and the Saturn Vue.

Ford Motor Company had the most vehicles on the list. In fact, they had eight models. Honda and Acura sported seven winners.

Only one small car made the IIIHS list: the Subaru Impreza.

According to studies, drivers are more and more concerned with vehicle safety. Also, drivers want cars that are reliable. They are purchasing new car warranties, so that they can easily repair their cars without the worry of unnecessary expenses.

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.

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.

There are hundreds of new vehicles on the market, which can make it difficult for car buyers to choose what is best for them.  Many people tend to base their decision on looks alone, but this is a dangerous way to decide on a car.  So, what other considerations should motorists make?

The first factor to consider is how much money you intend to spend.  Figure out what your maximum amount is before going to the dealership and stick with it.  Also, make sure to include everything in the bottom line, such as interest, taxes, finance charges, insurance and new car warranties.  You need to factor in all of these expenses.

Also determine if you need a fuel-efficient car.  Some models rate much higher on fuel efficiency and if you have a long commute to work this might be an important factor.

Consider safety features.  Does the car you are looking at have side-curtain air bags, brake assist, stability control?  Also, how were the scores on crash tests?

Finally, do you need a lot of space?  If you have a large family you might want to think about a minivan or SUV that has ample passenger room and cargo space.

Do your homework before getting to the dealership so you know what you are looking for.  In addition, make sure to get an auto warranty so you can protect your wallet in case of unforeseen repair costs down the road.

If you are shopping for vehicles, you may realize that some cars cost more because of the paint job.  Paint can add an extra expense of up to $1,000.  This can feel like a big expense after factoring in other vehicle expenses, such as maintenance and new car warranties.  It’s difficult for people to believe that a fancy yellow paint job can cost an extra $1,000.  The big question is will you get back that extra money when it is time to put your car up for sale?

Most people don’t realize that a paint job involves more than just a spray can, like in years past.  Clearcoat and metallic finishes require multistage operations.  This means that operations have a greater expense on the assembly line.

However, car manufacturers have figured out a new way to make profit.  They hike up the cost of some of their more distinct colors.

When it is all said and done, fancy paint colors will only tack on a minimal value when it comes time to sell your vehicle.  Also, beware, because some of the more obscure colors can actually lessen the value of your car.  Keep in mind that the most popular colors on a vehicle are shades of gray.

When purchasing new cars consumers should do their homework to ensure that they are getting the best deal possible.  Here are three important tips that will allow you to avoid unnecessary costs.

First of all, look around to find a dealership that is good.  You can do this by looking on the Internet and reading blogs about dealerships.  Web searches will provide you with a lot of information.  A lot of times positive revues or complaints will give you an indication of how a dealership operates.  In addition, make contact with three dealerships in your vicinity to see how quickly they respond.

Second, don’t let dealers talk you in to dealer financing or alarm systems.  These two things will cost you in the end.  For example, auto manufacturers have already installed wiring.  However, automakers will then sell alarms for around $1,200 separately.  This will be added on to the new vehicle purchase price.  Also, finance offices at dealerships typically don’t provide the best deals.  It would be a better idea to seek financing elsewhere and put your extra money towards an auto warranty.

Finally, you can save money by selling your car yourself.  Don’t trade it in at the dealership because you probably won’t get as much money for it.

These simple tips will help you save money if you are planning to purchase a new vehicle.  Also, realize that new car warranties should be an essential part of your purchase so you are protected from unnecessary repair costs.

Well, it is obvious that hybrids are the wave of the future.  Gas prices are staying over $3 per gallon and the price of oil is approximately $100 per barrel.  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.

Do you find yourself apprehensive to shop for a new vehicle? Are you afraid of saying something that will allow the dealer to have the upper hand in negotiating? Car shopping doesn’t have to rattle your nerves. Here are some things that you don’t want to say to your car dealer.

Don’t begin to talk about monthly payments. You need to put your focus into negotiating the purchase price. Things get very confusing when you discuss monthly payments because you may not be sure if that is the payment for 24 or 36 months.

Don’t say that you have a trade in right away. If a dealer knows this he knows you are going to want to get as much as you can for the trade-in. The dealer may give you more for your trade-in, but it’s a smokescreen because then they won’t budge on the new car price.

If you plan on paying in cash, don’t tell the dealer. They make a lot of money in financing, and if they know that they won’t make that money, they might not negotiate on the purchase price.

When buying a car it is important to do your homework. Go to the dealership prepared with information on financing, new car warranties, and car prices. This way you can stand your own with the dealer.