When looking to buy a new vehicle it is important to consider crash test ratings, electronic stability control, and rollover resistance.  When evaluating a car for safety, remember to look closely at the following.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducts crash tests on vehicles.  They rate vehicles based on results in frontal crashes and side impacts.  Paying attention to these scores will help make a good choice when it comes to vehicle safety.

Electronic stability control is a highly recommended safety feature.  This will help your vehicle stay under control when cornering.  It will help you avoid sliding and skidding by selectively applying brakes to one or more of the wheels.

Vehicles that are tall, such as SUVs and pickup trucks have a higher likelihood of rolling over.  To determine a vehicle’s inclination for rollover NHTSA has a five-star rollover rating.  You can access these ratings at www.safercars.gov.

Consumers are becoming more and more concerned with protecting themselves.  They are purchasing new car warranties and buying vehicles with added safety features.  Taking these simple steps allow drivers to have peace of mind.

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.

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.

The thermostat in your car serves the purpose of regulating the temperature so it stays at a desired level.  To achieve this, it controls the cooling and heating mechanisms that control the heat flow throughout the system.  The thermostat manages the amount of coolant in the internal combustion engine.  A thermostat is necessary in all liquid cooled engines.

If your thermostat isn’t working correctly it may be due to several reasons.  First, the thermostat may be affected if the water pump is failing.  The thermostat may also be affected with an overheated engine or if coolant is leaking.

Make sure you have a mechanic look at your thermostat on a regular basis.  It plays a key position in keeping your engine cool, so it needs to be replaced every few years.

Also, if you don’t replace your thermostat when it’s time, you may find yourself with additional problems, such as emission problems, knocking with acceleration, and poor fuel-economy, and chances are you will find yourself calling your road service program.  Just make sure to have used car warranties to protect you in case your car breaks down.

It can be quite a challenge to find a handicap-accessible vehicle to suit your needs.  Also, it can be nearly impossible to sort through newspapers and services online.  This is why Rick Shutes started HandicapAutoTrader.com.  He wanted to help people who are disabled find suitable vehicles.

HandicapAutoTrader.com is great for buyers and sellers.  People who want to buy can search available vehicles at no cost, and contact the website’s staff conveniently through email or phone.  Sellers are able to list their cars, with an addition of three images for free.

This website allows consumers to search cars according to the features that they desire.  In addition, you can search by categories, such as model, make, year, etc.  Also convenient is the feature, “Easy Compare Vehicles”.  This lets people compare vehicles side-by-side to get the features and price that they want.

As with any vehicle purchase, it is necessary to do your homework.  Make sure to research vehicles, used car warranties, and auto loans before making any decisions.  This will allow you to get the best deals.

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.

Buying a new vehicle is an exciting event in most people’s lives.  People often want to flaunt their priceless possessions for everyone to see.  Drivers purchase an auto warranty to protect their jewels, and treat their cars with loving care. In addition, they try not to let their vehicle get any scratches. A car that is scratch free and has a shiny finish is a good reflection of its owner and brings a lot of driving pleasure.

However, with heavy traffic that is bumper to bumper, it is difficult to keep your beautiful gem scratch free.  In fact, it is inevitable that your vehicle will receive a scratch or two no matter what measures you take.

Never fear, you don’t have to spend thousands at a shop getting your entire car panel painted.  You can use Com-Paint, which is a touch up spray that allows you to say goodbye to scratches.  Follow these simple tips.

On small scratches you can use Aeroshot Top Cut to remove and cleanse the surface that is scratched.  This will most likely take care of the scratches so that they won’t need painting.

For medium scratches level with 1000 No. Emery paper.  Shake the can well and hold it 12” from the surface and use a stroking motion to spray.  Make sure the coats are light, not heavy.  Let the painted area dry at least 72 hours.

Car owners like to feel like their vehicles are brand new.  Simple things can allow you to do this such as touch-up painting, routine maintenance, and purchasing new car warranties to protect your vehicle. These simple things can keep your car seeming brand-new.

Often motorists get sticker shock or experience buyer’s remorse after buying a new car.  However, you can avoid this by considering the expenses that you will encounter in the future.

According to experts, most consumers anticipate the price of the purchase, registration and taxes.  However, many people forget to factor in the price of insurance and new car warranties.  Fortunately, by doing your homework you can get good deals on insurance and an auto warranty.

To control car costs drivers should consider these tips.  First of all, decide before you get to the dealership the amount of money that you can spend.  Also, decide on what type of car will suit your needs. It is also beneficial to get quotes from several dealers, because then you are in the position to negotiate.  Finally, check insurance and auto warranty prices on the vehicle that you want to purchase.

You don’t have to go broke purchasing a new car.  But, be smart and consider all of the costs involved.  It isn’t just the purchase price that you will be paying.

Although cars of today don’t require maintenance as regularly as the cars of the past, they still need a maintenance schedule.  This will ensure that your car has a long, healthy life span.  Consulting your owner’s manual for the service schedule that your car requires can save you from having to call your road service program.  Here are a few maintenance mistakes that you should avoid.

Many people fail to check their tire pressure.  Underinflated tires can cost you more at the gas pump and wear out sooner.  You should check your tires twice a year.

As simple as it may seem, motorists forget to replace their windshield wipers.  This should be done once a year to ensure that you have good visibility through your windshield.

Recent cars don’t need regular tune-ups.  This is because valves don’t need adjusting and there aren’t any carburetors to mess with.  Make sure to do your big car service at 60,000 and 120,000 to replace spark plugs, timing belts, and coolants.

Finally, change your oil according to your car’s owner’s manual.  They don’t have to be done every 3,000 miles like in days past.  Also, use the oil recommended for your car.

Regular maintenance is necessary for your car to keep you from calling for emergency roadside assistance.  However, don’t make maintenance mistakes that could cost you extra money.  And always invest in used car warranties to save you from paying unnecessary car expenses.

Satellite navigation devices, or the popular GPS interfaces that many motorists have in their vehicles, are, partly responsible for a large share of accidents and driving practices that are risky.

With about half of the motorists on the roads having access to devices such as these in their vehicles, it appears that this technology has penetrated the market.  Drivers who have satellite navigation devices are much more likely to be involved in a minor accident or risky behaviors.  In fact, 1.5 million say that they have engaged in sudden maneuvers, and approximately 5 million admit to going against the flow of traffic.

GPS systems fall into the same category as other car distractions, such as cell phones, kids, the radio, or passengers.  This might be one of the reasons that road safety campaigns say that ‘Good Drivers Just Drive’.

Drivers should pre-plan their trips in order to avoid distractions by GPSs.  In addition, drivers should protect themselves by purchasing used car warranties, and avoiding other in car distractions.