After reading GM’s business plan that was submitted to Congress with intentions of securing loans in the amount of $12 billion, it seems that some major changes could have a drastic impact on car shoppers.  People may just decide to hold onto their current cars and purchase used car warranties, instead of wondering what is going to happen here.

GM claims it will now be focusing on research and development for Cadillac, Buick, Chevrolet and GMC.  Pontiac is going to become a “niche” brand, selling fewer models in joint GMC, Buick and Pontiac dealerships.  One could guess that vehicles that have been rebadged, such as the G5 compact, G6 sedan, Torrent and G3 subcompact might be forgone.  Vehicles that will be focused on will be the Solstice, Vibe, and the G8.

Hummer has already been up for sale, stating a “strategic review,” and now according to GM, Saab will be in the same situation.

Saturn, however, is a little bit trickier.  GM is planning to explore alternatives for Saturn, and is going to talk about relationships with dealers.  It almost sounds like the brand is going to be closed down all together, which is similar to what happened with Oldsmobile.  Oldsmobile ended up costing GM over $1 billion back in 2004 because of franchise laws.

For 2009 the Lexus LS 460 and 460L will be offered with AWD for the first time.  Buyers can either buy the rear-wheel drive setup, which is standard, or AWD beginning in October.

The 2009 models haven’t announced a pricing plan yet, but the 2008 rear-wheel-drive versions of the LS 460 and LS 460 L went for $62,900 and $72,900.  The base prices for the 2009 models will easily be $2,000 more including an auto warranty, if they follow the pricing plan for other Lexus models that are AWD.

However, the AWD models could cost quite a bit more than that because they come with more features that are standard, like 18-inch wheels, all-season tires, an adaptive air suspension, and a heated steering wheel.

Consumers should have new car warranties to protect themselves from unnecessary repairs down the road.  Unfortunately, you never know when new technology will fail.

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.

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.  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.

J.D. Power recently came out with the results from its 2008 Escaped Shopper Study, which gauges why consumers made the decision to walk away from certain new vehicles in their car shopping experience.  It’s quite surprising that approximately 80% of car shoppers decided against purchasing a model after they went to a car dealer.

The top three reasons for not buying a car, that are dealer related, included inferior dealer service, a limited availability of various trim levels and colors, and unprofessional employees.

This is a very common anecdotal reason for consumers.  If a dealer or salesman doesn’t treat a prospective customer well, that’s it.  And, typically the customer not only stays away from that dealership, they also get a tainted view of the vehicle brand.

The study examined 30,000 new car shoppers and discovered that 40% of shoppers decided not to buy a vehicle because of the price, and 40% of those buyers said it isn’t that the car costs too much money, it’s that the car doesn’t seem like it is worth the high price.

Motorists would rather hang onto their current vehicles and buy used car warranties, than purchase a car that they feel isn’t worth the money.  And with an auto warranty, drivers can rest assured that they won’t have to pay unnecessary repair expenses down the road.

The 2008 BMW M3 coupe is an amazing new vehicle that is powerful and slick.  It features a double-disc clutch, as well as a 6-speed transmission that is nothing but race-quality.  It has an onboard electronic system that evaluates road conditions at 200 million times a second, which allows the vehicle to know exactly what to do.  In addition, consumers will be impressed with the new car warranties.

The 2008 version of the BMW M3 is the first M3 to incorporate a v-8 engine.  It has a 4.0-liter 32-valve that is 414-hp. Its maximum torque is 295 foot-pound.  This car has 22% more power than the last BMW M3 engine.

The 2008 BMW M3 is made up of aluminum, steel, and a carbon fiber roof panel. It has front fenders that are flared and widened and a rear end with four tailpipes.  It also features a front air dam underneath the bumper, as well as a smooth bottom that is flat.  These features allow for excellent aerodynamics.

The 2008 BMW M3 delivers power and style that is hard to beat.  Consumers won’t be disappointed by this new BMW.  With a high-end car, such as this, it is essential to purchase an auto warranty.  You don’t want to be stuck down the road with unnecessary repair costs.

Ford, who apparently loves mini-sites, has started a webpage for the new 2011 Ford Fiesta.  It may be premature, but since Ford is trying desperately to prove its relevance to Congress, displaying some of its cars of the future makes perfect sense at the moment.

Ford displays a few pictures of the vehicle, however, Ford says that they are pictures of the 2009 European model, and also reveals some information about available content of the car.

Since the features appear to be luxury-like, it seems Ford is going to market this car as a premium subcompact that will compete with the Honda Fit.  However, car shoppers seem to care more about standard features, which Ford hasn’t released yet.  But make a note that the 2011 Fiesta will have standard stability control when it is available for sale in 2010.  That’s two years before it is going to be mandated by federal law.

Car shoppers will have to wait for additional information about the 2011 Ford Fiesta, such as prices, standard features, and information about new car warranties.

After two days of long hearings, the Ford, Chrysler and GM CEOs weren’t able to convince Congress that they deserve a $25 billion federal assistance loan.  Democratic leadership said they need written proposals that are more concrete by Dec. 2.  At that point if they find the argument compelling enough, there will be more hearings and Congress will vote on Dec. 8.  For the carmakers, this will be their last chance for action before Barack Obama takes office as President on Jan.20.  GM threatens that they may run out of money before the end of the year, which would start a domino effect, taking down suppliers as well as other carmakers.

After it was all said and done, Congress questioned whether a loan would actually work, and if the car companies would come right back asking for more money and if assistance would have the result of viability in the long-term.  It didn’t help the case of the Detroit executives by using corporate jets to get to the hearings and becoming guarded when asked how they got the $25 million figure.

Unfortunately, without a bailout it doesn’t look good for the Big Three.  At the moment, people are opting to hold onto their current cars with the addition of used car warranties, instead of spending money on new vehicles.

Every year thousands of people are killed in car accidents.  Many of these crashes could have been avoided with some simple safety knowledge.  Here are some tips to keep your driving experience pleasant and help you avoid dangerous accidents.

First of all, if your are taking any medicines, double check your product label to see if it could affect your driving.  If your medication causes drowsiness, stay off of the roads.

Next, secure children properly in a restraint system that is size and age appropriate.  All children less than 12 years of age should be in the back seat.  Just by putting children in the back, and not the front reduces injuries and deaths 30%.

One of the biggest causes of car accidents is driver inattention.  This means that drivers should stay off of cell phones and pay attention to the road.

Finally, prepare a safety kit in your car.  It should include a first aid kit, flashlight, nonperishable foods, water, blankets, motor oil, jumper cables, and a spare tire. And all drivers should have used car warranties in order to keep up with important maintenance and car repairs without unnecessary costs.

If you’re planning to purchase a used vehicle you need to find out as much as you can about it and purchase used car warranties.  The car could have problems that you can’t detect by looking at it.  In order to understand the car that you are getting, get a vehicle history report.  This will give you combined information from DMVs, RMVs, and police reports about the car that you are looking at.  Here are some things to consider when looking at the vehicle report.

Determine if the car has had many owners.  You are better off with a car that has had fewer owners because there is more of a likelihood that the car has been taken good care of.  Although inexpensive, rental cars will have undergone a great deal of abuse.

Also, consider the location that the car has been in.  This is important because some climates are harsher on cars.  For example, winter conditions are hard on cars because of salty roads.  Obviously, excessive heat and flood areas are also of concern.

Finally, make sure that the name and description on the history report actually match the vehicle you’re looking at.  This will help avoid types of fraud, such as vehicle identification number cloning.

A used car is a great way for people to save money and get a great car.  Just do your homework to make sure you are getting a good buy.  You need to consider the costs of used car warranties, auto insurance, and maintenance costs.  An auto warranty is a good way to get peace of mind when purchasing a used vehicle.