The downturn of the U.S. economy, and soaring gas prices, has drivers steering toward purchasing used cars instead of new ones.

A recent survey examining 40 car retailers indicated used car sales have increased. In fact, of the dealerships, 28 percent said that they had sold more used vehicles than expected.

Also, 82 percent of the dealerships indicated that their used car inventory is just enough. This is up 64 percent from last year at the same time.

In addition, 15 percent of the dealerships claimed that they didn’t have enough inventories, which was higher than the 6 percent in the previous survey.

Used vehicle interest could represent a bright spot for an expected gloomy year in the automotive industry. Consumers want to save money on cars, used car warranties, and auto loans.

Isuzu has been battling to stay in the U.S. market, but that battle is now over.  The Japanese automaker has announced that it will stop selling new cars in America starting January 31, 2009.

Isuzu has been expected to withdraw from the U.S. market for years. Isuzu was in the top of the market for trucks with its Trooper SUV in the 1990’s.  However, the company has experienced trouble in its home market, and they haven’t had the funds to develop additional SUVs and crossovers.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Isuzu only sold 7,906 cars last year.  That is equivalent to about four days of production for the pickups of the Ford F-Series.

Probably the final blow to Isuzu came from GM declining them a vehicle to replace the i370 and i290 trucks.  These are based on the Colorado by Chevrolet.

Isuzu has enough inventories to sell this coming year, and they are promising to honor all new car warranties and emergency roadside assistance programs.

Forbes has assessed all of the vehicles out there and has concluded that as far as used cars go, the Honda Accord is at the top of their list.

There are a lot of vehicles available that are certified pre-owned, claims Forbes, however, the Accord deserves acknowledgement. Forbes has based its decision on data concerned with reliability taken from Consumer Reports Magazine. Also, they looked at safety and availability of used car warranties.

Following the Accord on the list was the Saturn Relay and Jeep Grand Cherokee. Next, were the Pontiac G6, Mercedes Benz E-class and VW New Beetle.

Certified pre-owned cars are often taken back and resold if they are in sound condition. Auto dealers often refurbish them if necessary and offer a limited auto warranty. This is a booming practice, and consumers are benefiting.

Volkswagen and Audi have experienced a great deal of success with their personal version of the BorgWarner’s transmission that is dual-clutch.  Now, BMW has added a seven-speed transmission that is double clutch, coming out later this year, so Audi had decided to up the game by raising its gear count.

According to Autocar magazine, Audi will degut an S-tronic gearbox that is seven-speed.  This is intended to be used with the quattro that is four-wheel-drive.  The gearbox is so high-performance that it can handle torque output up to 406 lb-ft.  It is along the same line as the current box that Audi has, and BMW’s newest one.  There are two clutches that are continuously acting.  Alternating gears are pre-selected allowing the transmission to shift within hundredths of a second.

Audi will be introducing this gearbox at the Beijing auto show.  It is installed in the Q5 crossover.

New technology is great for the consumer, yet motorists should protect themselves with new car warranties in the event that technology would fail.  Drivers should never chance being unprotected in the case of a breakdown.

Automakers from Asia got a big sales boost from the cars that they introduced in New York at the annual auto show. Consumers are looking for small, fuel-efficient cars and Asia provided. Motorists today, gain peace of mind from a realistic car with an auto warranty.

Some cars from Asia that were introduced were the latest Maxima by Nissan, and Honda presented the Fit small car, as well as the Acura TSX. Hyundai showed their Genesis premium car in a two-door version. Toyota had a coupe that is soon to be added to its Scion brand. Kia, Mazda, and Subaru also presented models that were a draw.

Asian automaker companies were responsible for 10 out of the 20 cars making a debut in North America. In comparison, only 2 debuts came from automakers in the U.S. The other 8 models were of European descent.

Honda expects that they will sell around 70,000 Fits in 2008, whereas they sold 56,432 last year. Consumers have shaky confidence because of oil prices. However, realistic, fuel-efficient cars, such as the ones presented from Asia, are what motorists are looking for. Drivers will slowly gain back confidence by selecting the right car and purchasing new car warranties. This will bring drivers the peace of mind that they need.

Volvo is already known for its affective safety features. So when Volvo debuts there latest safety technologies people take notice. Volvo has built on the safety methods that they already have, instead of using radical new approaches.

Volvo’s new safety package will be available on the new Volvo XC60 coming out in the fall. This package is aimed at assisting drivers that are distracted.

One of the safety features is a low-speed braking system that is automatic. It uses a laser to detect reflections from license plates and bumpers. If the driver gets to close, and they are less than 20 mph, the car automatically stops.

Also noted is the approach they added to the current LDW system. This system alerts drivers audibly if they cross over the line without using their turn signal. Volvo has added another program that looks for micro corrections. These corrections are a sign that the driver is falling asleep.

Volvo’s advances in safety features will help drivers have a safe drive. Motorists are becoming more concerned with safety; therefore they are buying cars with advanced safety systems, and purchasing new car warranties. Drivers want to protect themselves as much as possible.

The current reality for the car industry isn’t at all bright. The economy of the country has experienced a weak dollar, a credit crisis, and soaring gas and food prices. People are reluctant to spend money on a new car and an auto warranty.  This could mean that we are about to experience the worst year for car sales in over a decade.

But automakers are getting smart. They are building more passenger cars. In the past pickup trucks and SUV’s generated a lot of profits, but now people want small, thrifty cars.

General Motors admits that they are counting on sedans to save them this year. The company has made a shift to cars, with less emphasis on SUV’s and pickup trucks. Even though GM wants to maintain their market in trucks, they realize that they need to get better with cars now.

Chrysler LLC is promising to take an “aggressively conservative” approach in their company. This means that they will eliminate various models such as the PT Cruiser, Durango, and Pacifica.

US automakers are focusing to make sure that domestic sales don’t fall lower than projections say. Even though it is a tough market, Americans love cars and will continue to buy. Motorists are making smarter choices by purchasing small, efficient cars. This allows them to put money towards other necessities, such as new car warranties and maintenance.

Motorists are concerned with safety more than ever.  Drivers are taking extra precautions, such as buying cars equipped with safety features, and purchasing new car warranties.  In addition, new safety laws for children are being considered.

As children get older, they want to get out of their car seats and ride with a seat belt like a “big kid”.  However, a legislative committee proposed a law that could keep children in their car seats until they are seven years old.

The bill is HB619.  Yesterday, the House Committee on Infrastructure approved it unanimously.  The bill only has to make one more stop before it reaches the floor.

The current law is that a child seat is required for children under three years old.  However, the bill that has been proposed would require children between four and seven to have to ride in a booster seat.

Many parents would be forced to buy new booster seats for their children over three years old.  This is because car seats intended for children three and under wouldn’t be able to accommodate an older child who is active.

According to a recent study, booster seats reduce serious injuries in children by approximately 60 %, if you compare to children who are sitting in regular seat belts.

If you are thinking of buying a new car, don’t just rely on professional expertise; make yourself a professional expert as well.  This includes taking certain measures such as doing your homework and researching an auto warranty.  You can be empowered by arming yourself with the following information about purchasing a used vehicle.

Examine the pedals to check for wear.  Rarely do people update the pedals, so this is a good indication of the cars true history.

Next, take a look at the steering wheel.  While the engine is turned off, joggle the wheel to see how much movement there is.  There shouldn’t be more than one inch of play.  If there is, a new steering gearbox may be needed.

Never buy a car that has frame-damage.  You can tell this by looking at the core support of the radiator.  This connects to the fenders in the front of the vehicle.  It shouldn’t be welded on each side, but bolted.

Finally, check the paint job on the vehicle.  Look for dents, scratches and rust spots.  Also, examine the car for a slight waviness, which is an indication of a paint job.

Most importantly, check the history of the vehicle you are looking to buy.  You can do this at autocheck.com.

No matter how much knowledge you have, you never really know what car you are buying.  This is why it is important to buy used car warranties to protect your investment.  You don’t want to pay unnecessary repair costs down the road.

The Nissan Navara’s safety rating has been raised in adult protection from one to three stars by Euro NCAP.

Nissan has changed the deployment of the airbag and the pre-tension systems of the seatbelt.  They have been retested since the original results were released last month.

The recent software controlling the seatbelt pre-tension systems and airbags is available on the new Nissan Navaras.  People who currently own a Navara are invited to take in their vehicles for a safety check at any Nissan dealership.  Changes to software will be made if necessary.  However, consumers should always have an auto warranty in case problems arise in their car.

The rating for child protection has also been raised from three stars to four because Nissan has made additional information available on the vehicle’s safety system.

Nissan is also planning to make more safety strides to the Navara since original safety tests detected a weakness on the chassis.

Since the original poor score for safety on the Navara, Nissan has acted responsibly and made much needed changes.  Of course, you never really know when parts on a vehicle will fail, so it is wise to purchase new car warranties to protect your wallet.