The stock market has deflated rapidly.  Layoffs, foreclosures and bankruptcies are higher than ever.  So this is the perfect time to begin selling sports cars that are $350,000 in Tampa, Bay, right?

Well, we will soon find out.

Officials of Ferrari are planning to open an extravagant new dealership in Palm Harbor and are also planning to sell Lamborghini and Bentley.  And this week the Elder Automotive Group opened up sales of the “Spyker” sports cars in the Southeast.

Together these extravagant dealerships will do a test on the theory that car enthusiasts who are filthy-rich will resist economic gravity and spend on a car what it would cost for a large home.

While most motorists are currently worried about paying for gas, car loans and new car warranties, there are still people out there who can afford luxury sports cars.  Will these dealerships survive?  That remains to be seen.

Consumers have been more concerned than ever about saving money on their vehicles.  They are doing everything from purchasing small, fuel-efficient cars, to purchasing an auto warranty to ensure they don’t pay unnecessary repair expenses.  But are they willing to skip the amenities that come in new cars, such as air conditioning, an automatic transmission, and power locks and windows, to save money?  And are stripped cars even available?

The truth is that it can be hard to find a car stripped with crank windows and a manual transmission.

According to JATO Dynamics, 89% of vehicles sold in America last year came standard with automatic transmissions, which is up from 85% in 2003.  Also, power locks came standard on 87% of cars sold, compared to 80% in 2003.

The vehicles that offer these features as optional tend to be on small cars, yet economy-car buyers usually pick convenience and comfort over cost if given a choice.

For example, the cheapest model by Toyota is the Yaris, which begins at $11,550 for a 2008 base model hatchback with air-conditioning.  However, approximately 80% of Yaris buyers choose to pay an extra $900 for an automatic, and about 60% opt for a power windows and locks package, which costs an extra $1,680.

It appears that features, such as air conditioning, and automatic transmissions are necessities that most people aren’t willing to live without, just like new car warranties.

BMW is following in the footsteps of other carmakers with diesel cars, like Volkswagen and Mercedes, by qualifying its two diesel models for income tax credits by the federal government.

You will receive a $900 credit on your next tax return for the 2009 BMW 335d sedan, and $1,800 on the 2009 X5 xDrive35d SUV.  Both of these cars use BMW’s 3.0-liter, twin turbo inline six cylinder diesel engines and both are eligible for these credits under the Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle tax credit program.  The X5 is rated 19/25 mpg and the diesel sedan gets 23/33 mpg.

This sounds wonderful, however you have to remember that the 335d costs $43,900 including new car warranties and the X5 xDrive35d has a base price of $51,200 with an auto warranty.  It’s doubtful that a savings of $900 will really do much to help stimulate the economy.

Many people claim to love the smell of a new car.  However, the chemicals that gives cars that new smell may be harmful and have been known to cause long-term health issues.  However, consumers now have a guide that will aid them in figuring out the cars that are the safest.

An advocacy group in Michigan, called The Ecology Center, recently published a guide about toxic chemicals in vehicles and child seats on Tuesday.

The report deals with harmful substances, such as chlorine, bromine, heavy metals and lead.  The Ecology Center got samples of parts that people touch the most, such as center consoles, steering wheels, and seat fronts.

The investigation determined that there are top healthier cars from Smart, Acura, BMW, Chevrolet, Toyota and Honda.  Some cars that created high concern were by Suzuki, Mitsubishi, VW, BMW, Mazda, Lincoln, Audi, Mercedes, BMW and Kia.

Consumers are becoming more and more concerned with car safety issues.  They are taking precautions, such as doing research on new cars, and purchasing cars with added safety features, and new car warranties.

It can be overwhelming to purchase a new vehicle, but keeping a vehicle can be worse.  Television ads are enticing and make it difficult for car shoppers to resist a new vehicle.  However, with the economy being difficult, it pays to not give into temptation.

In the U.S. motorists find it hard to drive the same vehicle for more than five years.  However, an auto warranty on your current vehicle, and some common sense tips can help you avoid an unnecessary purchase.

If your current vehicle is Japanese you are in business.  For example, the Honda Civic will run forever.  You may get a little rust on it, but it will never die.  And although cruising in a ’92 Toyota Tercel might not get you a hot date, it offers you great reliability.

Next, it is important to do your research.  This can actually prevent you from purchasing a vehicle.  It is easy to become overwhelmed with all of the options available in your price range.  And if you don’t have an auto warranty on your current car, research used car warranties.

Lastly, focusing on a specific make and model is good, especially if it hasn’t been made for over a decade.  There are slim odds that you will find the vehicle on the market with under 300,000 miles.

So, what happens if you still want that new vehicle after researching for weeks?  What if your old Tercel is steering toward the dealership?  Just keep in mind that a new car’s value will drop as soon as it pulls out of the dealership.  Holding onto your clunker will save you a lot of money in the end.

For all of you people out there who are fans of the Patriots- the vehicle, not team-here are some additional reasons that you should love your crossover.  In an omission that is rare, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety decided to revise the frontal crash-test rating of the 2008 Jeep Patriot to Good, which is the highest rating that is acceptable.  Russ Rader, who is a IIHS spokesman, claimed that there was a missing wire in a crash-test dummy’s leg that caused the Patriot to get an Acceptable rating, but when the wire was in the correct place, the Patriot received an improved rating of Good.

The side crash-test rating for the 2008 Patriot was also Good with the optional side curtain airbags.  These airbags are now standard for the 2009 model.  Ratings for rear crash-tests were only Acceptable, which is why the Patriot didn’t become the Top Safety Pick.

Consumers are becoming more and more concerned with automobile safety.  They are protecting themselves by purchasing new car warranties, and researching car safety features and crash test results.

What benefits come with purchasing a sedan?  Sedans will give you a balance of performance, handling, fuel-efficiency, safety and easy access.  Also, they handle well in the majority of driving situations.  Unless you are someone who needs to store a lot of cargo, they are a great option.

There are many different choices when looking at sedans.  You could purchase a large, small, family, or luxury sedan.  All of these categories are made up of many models that have different characteristics.  They have various balances of sporty, comfort, and practicality.

Fuel-efficiency varies greatly in different sedans.  Do your homework in this category to make a comparison of different models.

Sedans are equipped with various safety features.  All models that are new have dual front air bags for added safety.  Also standard is three-point seat belts and LATCH systems.  However, certain models also have side air bags and head protection bags.

Do your research to get the sedan that will fit you best.  Also, make sure to buy new car warranties for peace of mind.  Following these simple tips will give you the knowledge to make a good decision when it comes time to purchase a sedan.

Brake pad vibrations that result in a high-pitched noise are the cause of brake squeal.  When pads don’t have proper insulation from the caliper, vibration occurs.  The factory will equip brake pads with insulator shims, clips, and even a silicone backing that allows the pad to stay glued to the caliper.  This helps to prevent vibrations.

Often times when brake pads become too hard brake squeal occurs.  The hard and smooth surfaces then rub together to produce a noise equivalent to nails on the blackboard.  When this occurs, it is necessary to resurface the rotors and replace brake pads.  This will eliminate the squealing.

You should also have your rotors resurfaced when you have your brakes done.  Not doing this will result in squealing.  When replacing brake pads, the rotor refinishing should be done with a non-directional finish.  This will make sure that brake pads are broken in properly.

Act immediately if brake squeal occurs.  Take your car to a highly trained technician to make sure that your brakes are treated appropriately.  And, make sure you have used car warranties to cover repairs performed.  After all, you don’t want to end up paying unnecessary costs.

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.

With the poor economy, motorists are looking a little more closely at used cars.  The National Automobile Dealers Association reports that last year the average cost of a used vehicle was around $15,000, while it was $29,000 for new vehicles.

While you want to purchase a pre-owned car that has a solid reputation for dependability, it’s even more beneficial to purchase a used vehicle that consumers find less popular, because it has already depreciated rapidly.

Many people believe that the best new vehicles make the best used vehicles, which is true in general.  However, often these cars depreciate at a slower rate, which makes them popular as new vehicles, but means they cost more as used vehicles.

According to Kelly Blue Book, the vehicle brands that depreciate the slowest are Mini, Scion, Volkswagen, BMW, and Honda.

Instead of purchasing those models, consider other brands that have high reliability scores, but depreciate more quickly and can save you thousands of dollars.  Domestic brands are good to consider, such as Dodge, Ford, and Chevrolet.  These will get you a bargain.

If you want to save money by buying a used car, consider depreciation. You can get a good bargain by buying reliable, more rapidly depreciating models, and buy used car warranties to give you peace of mind.