Many people enjoy owning minivans because they offer various options for carrying cargo and passengers.  Depending on your needs, you can configure minivans in a variety of different ways.  Also, minivans now come with climate control in dual zones, as well as DVD systems and an auto warranty.  These features offer great appeal to buyers, especially families.

There is tons of interior room in minivans, which allows for plenty of leg and headroom.  Also convenient are the models that have sliding doors on both sides of the vehicle, making it quick and easy to get in and out.

Minivans allow enough seating for up to eight passengers.  The ones that is equipped for seven passengers typically have captain’s chairs, not a bench.  The Honda Odyssey offers even more flexibility in seating by having a center seat that can be removed.

If you need a vehicle that has flexibility in seating and cargo space, minivans are a great option.  They have numerous features that make for a comfortable, convenient ride.  However, no matter what vehicle you decide to purchase, make sure you get new car warranties to protect yourself from unforeseen repairs.

The EPA is the arm of the government that is responsible for testing fuel economy, and its results are now posted on the stickers on new vehicles.  This is a different rating than the government’s CAFÉ numbers, which you might have heard about in Washington.

The real numbers by the EPA are predicted to go up an average of 0.2 mpg for 2009, compared to last year, the EPA claims, which will be about 20.8 mpg.

The final statistics won’t be in until the early part of 2009, but according to the EPA, these predictions demonstrate the fourth rise in a row in the average fuel efficiency of light trucks and cars.  In fact, trucks have actually had the largest impact of all.  Although their market share has gone down from 52% in 2004, to 48% in 2008, overall, their fuel-efficiency has gone up.

The figure of 20.8 mpg is the largest since the year 1993, and the EPA is predicting that the final number is going to be even higher because people have shifted to smaller cars.  Consumers are trying to protect their wallets by purchasing more fuel-efficient vehicles and new car warranties.

Anyone who has been to the 2009 Los Angeles auto show would be impressed by the 2010 Mazda3’s redesign.  Mazda is setting the bar high with the incredible designs of both the Mazda3 and Mazda6.  It is blazing a trail for its lineup to look sophisticated and uniform, without appearing to be identical and boring.  Mazda has succeeded in making their vehicles radical with taillights, front grilles, headlights, and rear ends that sport a new look, and take the midsize sedan in a new direction.

Mazda uses similar lines on the hood, similar contours of the fender, and similar headlight assemblies to give the Mazda3 an upscale look, while keeping an appearance that is individual when looking at the entirety of the car.

Additional information about this vehicle, such as MSRP and new car warranties, is not yet available.  However, consumers are excited about the Mazda3 and can’t wait for it to hit showrooms.

Forbes has assessed all of the cars out there to conclude that the Honda Accord is the best used car.  In addition, this means that the Accord is the best certified pre-owned car on the market.

According to Forbes, there are many certified pre-owned vehicles, however, the Honda Accord deserves to be acknowledged because of several outstanding qualities.  In order to come to a decision, Forbes looked at data on reliability from Consumer Reports Magazine.  In addition, they considered safety, as well as the availability of used car warranties.

Coming in second and third on the list were the Saturn Relay and Jeep Grand Cherokee.  Then, came the Pontiac G6, Mercedes Benz E-class and the VW new Beetle.

Certified pre-owned vehicles go through rigorous testing to make sure they are in sound condition.  Then, auto dealers refurbish them if needed, and give them a limited auto warranty.  This has become a booming practice, and consumers are reaping the benefits.

It isn’t surprising that Ford’s aiming the new 2010 Mercury Milan and Ford Fusion hybrids straight at the Toyota Camry Hybrid, but what is attention getting is Ford claiming that its sedan hybrids will outdo the city mileage of the Camry Hybrid by 5 mpg.  That would make the Milan and Fusion hybrids’ rating at 38 mpg.  Although there wasn’t a number provided for highway mileage, Ford claims that it beats the Camry Hybrid in this area as well.  The Camry Hybrid currently gets 34 mpg/highway.

The complete reveal of the Milan and Fusion hybrids is going to wait until the Los Angeles auto show, however Ford just disclosed a few tidbits today about the new sedans.

The Milan and Fusion hybrids will be the first hybrid technology use, besides the Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute and Mercury Mariner hybrids.  Battery technology has undergone a big improvement since the launch of Ford’s compact SUV hybrids.

Consumers are anxious for new hybrid technology and want to save money on such things as gas, new car warranties, and auto loans.  In this poor economy, people are looking for all of the financial relief they can get, including hybrid technology.

Ford Motor Co. recently made a promise that its new compact and sub-compact cars, which are due in 2010, will exceed the industry average in quality.

According to Bennie Fowler, the Ford VP of Global Quality, the carmaker will maintain its “things gone wrong” at approximately 800 for every 1,000 cars.  This would be around 500 below the average for the industry.  “Things gone wrong” is a yearly compilation of difficulties that car owners have in their first 90 days of owning a car.

To achieve the 800 goal, Ford will be using virtual reality tools that will allow 70% of problems to be reduced before vehicles are even built.  In addition, an “army” of hourly workers will be trained to detect problems before a car will ever get to the showroom.

Ford’s commitment fuels the current battles between Ford and GM to shift their product lines to small, fuel-efficient cars. Consumers have begun to abandon trucks and SUVs and instead purchase small cars with new car warranties that will save them money at the pump.

Many motorists struggle to find a repair shop that they feel is trustworthy.  While some motorists feel comfortable taking their car to the dealership, others prefer going to an independent repair shop.  So, which one is better?

You will find several advantages to going to the dealership for repairs.  First of all, dealerships pay for their technicians to have special training, and they provide them with special tools and equipment.  Dealerships also have a years worth of proprietary information on new vehicles that they have sold.  This information is important for making repairs and diagnosis, yet only the dealer has access to it.  Finally, dealership service departments only work on the specific makes and models that they sell, so they are good at diagnosis and repairs.

Independent shops also have advantages.  Because independent facilities try to serve the neighborhood that they are in, customers can benefit from a more personal customer service.  Also, independent repair shops provide more versatile services on a wide range of cars.  Also, top-notch repair shops will offer an auto warranty through the supplier of the parts.  Finally, prices are usually better at independent repair shops.

There are advantages to both dealerships and independent repair shops.  Consumers should find a repair shop that they feel comfortable with, regardless of what kind it is.  Also, it is very important for car owners to have used car warranties that will protect their wallets.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a recall has been issued by Nissan for 242,720 Pathfinders, Xterras and Frontiers for model years 2005-2009.  The recall is due to a crash sensor that causes the airbag to deploy in an accident.  This recall is mainly aimed at cars that are sold in climates with cold weather, in which road salt causes the crash sensor to corrode.  The warning light for the airbag may become illuminated.

Nissan says they will replace sensors that are faulty and put new ones in, and all vehicle owners will receive a 10-year extended warranty for the crash sensors.  Nissan urges people to look for the warning light regardless.  This recall is the second one Nissan has had in the last three months that involves an airbag sensor.  Nissan owners can call Nissan at 800-647-7261.

It is important for car owners to protect themselves by purchasing new car warranties, since you never know when your car will fail.

In NYC the top taxicab lobby didn’t take lightly Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s attempt at making the taxi fleet hybrids.  After the announcement that NYC would require taxi companies to gradually phase out the V-8 Crown Victoria, which is a gas-guzzler, for hybrid vehicles that are much more expensive, the Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade started its campaign designed to fight back.

Last week it won a victory because Paul Crotty, who is a federal judge, ruled that the federal government’s laws about fuel economy pre-empt and city or state regulations.

Obviously, Mayor Bloomberg wasn’t pleased, claiming that “Archaic Washington regulations” should not keep cities from taking matters, such as efficiency and pollution reduction into their own hands.  Certainly, consumers are taking steps to reduce their car costs by purchasing hybrids with new car warranties.

The ruling is peculiar considering the nation has moved away from gas-guzzlers, but it is likely that the decision won’t hold.

It is helpful to use a car loan calculator to determine what the cost for a new or used car purchase will be monthly.

These can be found online with options for buying or leasing.  This is a helpful tool in determining what your budget actually is and how much car you can afford.  Just remember to factor in other car costs, such as maintenance and new car warranties.

Just remember that the numbers on a vehicle loan calculator are not actual quotes.  The calculator allows you to compare the costs of different cars and see what your payments per month will be.

On the calculator there is a line to enter the dollar amount you would like to finance. Then, by clicking your mouse you can compare what payments will be, with different arrangements for paying.  You can also find out what interest payments will be for the life of the vehicle loan.

It is a bonus to use a car loan calculator before going to a dealership to buy a vehicle.  You will already know what your budget is, which will allow you to make a smart purchase.  You will also know how much money you have left over to spend on maintenance costs and an auto warranty.