For carmakers, the incredible sales loss last month wasn’t just isolated to the U.S. The U.K. witnessed sales of new cars go down 21% in September, which is the fifth month in a row where new-car sales have fallen. Consumers have become nervous to purchase new vehicles because of the poor economy, therefore, many people are holding onto their old cars and purchasing used car warranties.

Just like in America, the sales drop occurred regardless of many new vehicle models coming out on the market. Other countries that experienced a fall in sales were Italy and Spain.

Even in China, which was car-crazed recently, sales dropped 26%, which is the biggest drop over the last 50 years.

One of the only countries that have seen an uptick in the sales of new cars was France, which saw an increase in sales of 8% in September. In part, this was due to the governmental aid of the purchase of cars that are less polluting. Usually, those vehicles are French brands.

General Motors Corp., still struggling to meet the current demand for small fuel-efficient cars, is going to keep its only U.S. factory for compact cars working overtime for the rest of 2008, according to the carmaker.

GM doesn’t have a big enough supply of Chevrolet Cobalt cars, even though they added a third shift over the summer in the assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio.

Sales for the Chevy Cobalt dropped 17% in September from last year at the same time, which GM claims was due to short supply. Sales for the Cobalt this year have increased 6%, while overall sales for GM have dropped 18% in a U.S. car market that is depressed.

The carmaker has been racing to makeover the manufacturing operations in the U.S. geared toward making large SUVs and trucks, which Americans have ultimately lost interest in. Consumers are feeling the pinch because of the poor economy and high fuel prices and are demanding small fuel-efficient cars with good new car warranties.

There are many great deals out there on new cars, especially since car sales have been down, yet you need to understand the offers.  For example, are there any “restrictions”, “qualifiers”, “exclusions”, or “limitations”?  Make sure you know what the fine print means.

Often, dealerships offer regional incentives.  In other words, you must live in the area to get the deal.  For example, you might be able to get a new car for $1,500 less if you live in the right area.

Some deals on financing may be contingent on a down payment amount that is predetermined.  For example, you might need to have $4,000 cash to put down at the time of the sale.  If you don’t have this amount of money, you might get stuck with finance rate that is higher.

Sometimes an offer may be contingent on if the dealer participates with the program.  This could include a special financing rate, rebate, etc.  Remember that dealers are operated independently and you are not dealing directly with the automaker.

These are just a few things to look out for when it comes to offers by dealers.  Make sure you read the small print to understand the terms of the offer.  And make sure that the car you are looking at comes with good new car warranties.

People are often irrational about their vehicles.  They treat them as if they are their babies and shower them with affection.  Some drivers even talk to their vehicles and give them a pat here and there.  But as much as our cars mean to us, we don’t need to waste money on them.  Here are some common ways that you can avoid unnecessary car expenses.

First of all, buying premium fuel over regular isn’t necessary.  Purchase the cheapest gas possible that keeps your engine from knocking.  Octane serves the purpose of preventing knock, so if your car doesn’t knock with regular gasoline you’re fine.

Usually, carmakers recommend that you change your oil every 5,000-7,000 miles.  Many motorists assume that they should get their oil changed every 3,000 miles, however, this should be done only if you put a lot of wear and tear on your car.

Also, having auto repairs done at a dealership will cost you.  Instead, find a reliable independent shop to do the job for less money.  In addition, make sure to have an auto warranty to avoid unnecessary costs down the road.

Following these simple tips can save you lots of money.  Don’t allow other people to talk you into paying unnecessary expenses for your vehicle and purchase used car warranties to protect your wallet.

According to the National Automobile Dealers Association, out of the 20,700 U.S. new car dealerships, around 600 will have been forced to shut down this year, compared to 430 last year.

At least 80% of the dealerships closing will be domestics because of the large amount of sales that they have lost. And once a dealership has to close, it’s hard to reopen.

According to Grant Thornton LLP, it is estimated that at least 3,800 other dealers need to close also.

The fact is that there has been a surplus of dealers for many years. But the large cost of financing and the present credit crunch has created quite a storm. Dealers are having trouble getting the funds to finance the vehicles and don’t make the money, so they have to close their shop.

Many consumers have decided to hang onto their current cars and buy an auto warranty instead of purchasing new vehicles. Motorists are hesitant to buy because of the poor economy and instead opt to just purchase used car warranties to help them maintain their vehicles.

The Subaru Impreza is a sensible, simple, enjoyable vehicle equipped with all-wheel drive, good fuel-efficiency, a comfortable interior, and an ample amount of people space, all with the addition of an auto warranty.

This is what you will find in the Subaru Impreza. Generally, this car hasn’t been a frontrunner when shoppers are considering purchasing a small vehicle, however, now the Impreza is a smarter choice than many of its competitors.  In fact, it makes more sense than ever.

It is not because it has unbelievable fuel economy, however it does pretty well, but because this car will give you a lot of vehicle for an excellent price.  All of those cars that are popular as fuel-efficient cars, such as the Civic and Corolla seem pricey now that gasoline costing $4 per gallon has lighted such a high demand for them.  And with the Impreza you get AWD, which you don’t with the others.

It is hard to beat the amount of car you get for your money with the Impreza, complete with new car warranties.  You’ll find this car to be a simple car without all of the fuss and complications, which is a pleasant surprise.

Motorists who want to buy a new vehicle have several concerns: reliability, safety and an auto warranty.  Recently, The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety listed the thirty-six 2008 cars that they rate highest for safety. Which vehicles are there favorites?

The Toyota Tundra was the only truck that made the list.  Its main safety features include side airbags, and also stability control.

Although no domestic cars made the list last year, there are seven domestics on the 2008 list.  These are the Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable, Ford Edge, Ford Taurus X, Lincoln MKX, Cadillac CTS and the Saturn Vue.

Ford Motor Company had the most vehicles on the list.  In fact, they had eight models.  Honda and Acura sported seven winners.

Only one small car made the IIIHS list: the Subaru Impreza.

According to recent studies, drivers are more and more concerned with vehicle safety.  Also, drivers want cars that are reliable.  They are purchasing new car warranties, so that they can easily repair their cars without the worry of unnecessary expenses.

The Saturn Vue SUV green line will have better fuel economy than the Vues that are gas only.  They feature a simple hybrid system that Ford and Toyota use.  The green line is only around $1,500 more than the price of a comparable Vue that only operates on gas.  This allows consumers to be able to afford an auto warranty and maintenance costs. The retail price, $23,000 is approximately $4,000 under the Ford Escape Hybrid, which is the least expensive hybrid to date.

The Saturn Vue hybrid offers a 20% fuel savings over the gas operated Vue.  The Vue Green line supplements an engine that is four cylinders with electric power.  It gets 27 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway.  In comparison, the gas only Vue gets 22 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

The Vue Green Line is the first SUV hybrid available with only front wheel drive.  They aren’t offered with all- or four-wheel drive, as with other hybrid SUVs on the market.

The “green” Vue doesn’t give extraordinary fuel savings, but it is a good opportunity for consumers to purchase an SUV hybrid for under $25,000.  It is important for motorists to do their homework and calculate the cost of owning the vehicle. For example, consider new car warranties, car maintenance costs, and insurance on the SUV.

With gas prices over $4 per gallon, 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.

An innovative original system will boost fuel efficiency approximately 1 m.p.g. in the all-wheel drive Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300, 2009 models.  Drivers will be thrilled to have extra savings, due to this technology.  Also, new car warranties will ensure that drivers don’t pay extra expenses.

Chrysler has already made significant changes to its vehicle models.  In fact they have made 500 improvements since last year.  For example, they reduced excess engine noise in their Dodge Caliber and Jeep Patriot.  Also, thanks to new mounts for the engine, noise and vibrations are lessened in the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring.

The updated all-wheel drive system makes the vehicle more fuel-efficient by disconnecting the drivetrain from the front axle, until it is necessary to activate all-wheel drive for safety.  The economy ratings by the EPA for all-wheel drive versions of these models will be comparable to the rear-drive model ratings.

At the moment, the 300 and Charger, as well as other all-wheel drive vehicles lose at least 1 m.p.g. in ratings by the EPA because energy is being sent to the front axle, even if it isn’t needed.  This new technology will alleviate this problem.  However, motorists should always protect themselves with an auto warranty with any technology, just in case it unexpectedly fails.