Around the world, automakers are realizing that motorists are concerned with cars that are ecologically responsible, and therefore are putting out more and more of these vehicles.  With all of the new models on the market, consumers have options.  There are many vehicles that offer fuel-efficiency and style.  Here are some to look for.

The Audi TT TDI proves that you can have hot sports car that doesn’t guzzle gas.  This vehicle goes from 0-62 mph in just 7.5 seconds.  Its engine has 170 hp with 258 lb-ft of torque.  This Audi combines a sports car’s power with a compact car’s fuel-efficiency.

The VW Golf TDI Hybrid offers low emissions, and with longer legs.  This vehicle is a hatchback that is compact and has seen great popularity in Europe.  Its engine is high-tech; diesel with a start-stop that is automatic.  Also, it features a DSG 7 speed gearbox and an electric motor, and gets 69 mpg.

Motorists are realizing that fuel-efficient vehicles are the way to go, with gas prices over $4 a gallon.  People are making an effort to protect their wallets with vehicles that are ecologically responsible and new car warranties.

If you are planning on doing some car shopping next month you will probably see a new sticker on some of the car windows.

This week the California Secretary of State signed a regulation requiring that by January of 2009, all vehicles being sold in the state must display a sticker, which will allow shoppers to know the environmental impact of different vehicles.  Each car will have a score for global warming and smog, based on an assessment by the state.  According to the California Air Resources Board, dealers will probably start putting them on soon.

The information on the label will allow motorists to choose a car that will fight smog, save gas, and reduce greenhouse emissions.  Consumers will be better able to make an educated choice about the impact of the car that they are buying.

The stickers will score each category on a scale of 1-10.  Average new cars will earn a score of five in each category.  The higher a vehicle scores, the less of a negative impact it has on the environment.

Now, not only can motorists buy a car based on its sticker price and new car warranties, they can also factor in environmental impacts.  Education is the key to consumers getting the car that suits them best.

If a glossy flyer arrives in your mailbox from a car dealership in your area promoting a huge event for pre-owned car sales, beware. Many of these events have contests, or “bonus” vouchers, which consumers are advised to take advantage of to get thousands of dollars off of the price of a pre-owned car. One of these flyers came with a key that people were told to take to the sales event to discover if they had won a new vehicle.

“Blow-out” sales, such as these, will use the name of a local dealer, but other companies run them. Typically, these companies will charge more for the cars than the actual dealership. And according to investigations by state attorneys, often-deceptive tactics and high-pressure are used to achieve sales.

The state attorney general’s office of Washington announced early this year that they settled with a company such as this. This company was accused of not disclosing how many cars were available at the price advertised, making financing sound easier than it really is, and misrepresenting the value of the cars being sold by calling them “drastically discounted”.

Consumers should remember that if a car deal sounds to good to be true, it probably is. It is best to research such things as used cars and used car warranties before you actually go shopping. This way you will know what prices are reasonable to expect.

The pre-owned vehicle retailer CarMax Inc. had a plunge of 55% in fiscal-first quarter net income.  This announcement weighed heavily on carmakers because it created additional concerns about the rapidly shifting trends of consumers.

The pre-owned retailer, of Richmond, VA claims that there was a 25% decline for SUVs and trucks for the quarter ending late in May, which was way above what the depreciation was expected to be for the whole year.  This is due to motorists’ reactions to the weak economy and high gas prices.

CarMax shares saw a decline of 11% at the 4 p.m. N.Y. Stock Exchange composite trading.  In addition, GM shares dropped 5.9%, and Ford shares declined 5.8%

According to the Chief Executive of CarMax, this depreciation has lasted longer than any other segment that they have seen, and prices are sure to continue falling.

Large vehicles have been U.S. carmakers’ main sales source in the past, yet now they have to scale back on production in these segments and introduce more fuel-efficient cars.

Consumers are being hit hard by the economy and high gas prices; therefore, they are looking for small, fuel-efficient cars.  Some motorists, however, are deciding to hold on to their current vehicles and purchasing used car warranties so that they don’t have to buy a car for a while.

With fuel 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 car 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 car 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’re looking to save money by buying a used car, consider depreciation. You can get a good bargain by purchasing reliable, more rapidly depreciating models, and buy used car warranties to give you peace of mind.

Sales of crossovers are one of the strongest segments in the auto industry. What exactly is a crossover? A crossover combines attributes from both SUVs and minivans with the positive characteristics we enjoy on passenger cars.

Crossovers typically have the cargo room and passenger space that you find in minivans, yet add the utility, usefulness, and even all-wheel-drive systems that you find on SUVs. All of these attributes come with the smooth ride, easy operation and secure handling of passenger cars. Basically, crossovers are built to be a combination of the best of all worlds. In addition, most crossovers come with a good auto warranty that gives drivers peace of mind.

Consumers who purchase crossovers have a variety of different interests and activities that call for a flexible, practical car with varied features. Crossover owners like to be ready for anything and everything, and they expect the same from their vehicle.

Other crossover owners are motorists who need to be able to carry more than four passengers, but they don’t want the image that goes along with the minivan, and they don’t want SUVs because of gas consumption and clumsy handling.

The crossover segment of the auto industry is becoming more and more crowded, with new vehicles coming out rapidly. These vehicles offer consumers versatility, reliability, and new car warranties. What’s not to like?

Gas prices of more than $4 per gallon have motorists all over the nation looking for fuel-efficient vehicles.  They’re swarming pre-owned car lots, posting online ads, and keeping a close eye on classified ads.  People would rather purchase small used cars with used car warranties, than buy new gas-guzzlers.  The vehicles of choice are the Honda Civic and Accord, Toyota Corolla and Camry, and Ford Focus and Fusion.

These cars are loved for their fuel-efficiency and reliability, and are now drawing higher offers than their value in the Blue Book.

Some sellers of these cars have reported bidding wars that would have new car dealers feeling green with envy.

The movement from big SUVs that guzzle gas to fuel-efficient cars is rippling throughout the nation in the auto industry.  This week, the Toyota Corolla and Camry unseated the Ford F-150 pickup truck as U.S.’s best selling vehicle for the first time ever.  And GM reported on Tuesday that it is going to close four of its plants that make SUVs and trucks.

According to a recent report, new car shoppers could do a lot more to ensure that they get the best deals on insurance, financing and new car warranties.

Only 64% of motorists said that they would ever attempt to negotiate the price of a new car.  Also, when planning on trading in their current vehicle, over 2 million drivers said they wouldn’t even take the time to research the current value of their vehicle.  In addition, more than 30% of motorists admitted that they probably wouldn’t even take one hour to research how to pay for their new car.

Unfortunately, 91% of car shoppers couldn’t explain what the term ‘lease purchase’ meant.  This is a term used in many auto-financing deals.  In addition, 50% of shoppers said that they would make a new car purchase without any insurance quotes.

America is known for being a nation of bargain hunters, yet motorists seem to be falling short when it comes to buying a new car.  It’s essential for car shoppers to do their homework when looking to purchase a new vehicle.  Insurance, financing, and an auto warranty are a crucial part of the car purchasing experience.  So, it is important to shop around in order to get the best deal, otherwise you will find yourself paying for it.

It is more important than ever to stretch your dollar with gas getting close to $5 per gallon.  However, you don’t need to sacrifice comfort, safety, or reliability due to fuel-efficiency- especially with the Kia Spectra.

The Spectra comes with a 10 year, 100 mile auto warranty, and has safety features that outshine other cars in its class.  People know that with the Spectra they are getting superb gas mileage, reliability, and one of the best new car warranties in the business.

Despite the small appearance of the Kia Spectra, it actually has a large amount of room in the interior, and more horsepower than other models, such as the Corolla.

For those concerned about the safety of the Spectra, they won’t be disappointed.  It earned five stars for the front crash safety rating by the National Highway Traffic Safety Institute.  It has full-length airbags, and side curtain airbags for protection.

You shouldn’t have to make the choice between eating and filling your fuel tank, and with the Spectra you don’t have to do that.  Not only do you get great gas-mileage, you know that you have an auto warranty for peace of mind.

Many people agree that they would buy domestic cars over foreign cars if they were made better. Well, the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu could be the car that has more people buying domestic.

The Malibu can be compared to the Toyota Camry, which dominates the midsize sedan category of cars. GM has designed the Camry to be very close to the Camry in its measurements. This includes the length, trunk size, interior space, and engine displacement. However, these cars differ in style, in which the Malibu excels. In fact, the Malibu mimics cars that are more expensive, such as the Corvette.

It’s clear that GM put their money into the interior of the Malibu. It has comfortable seats covered in leather or an expensive fabric. Also, rear passengers will appreciate the large amount of legroom that the scalloped backs of the front seats provide.

The new Chevrolet Malibu also handles well. It takes curves flat and accelerates quickly, making it competitive in its class. The V6 252 hp allows for fun when needed, yet performed its job well on standard driving.

You can purchase the basic Malibu for $19,995, or get the LTZ for a little over $26,000. Also, this car comes with new car warranties that will protect drivers from unnecessary repair expenses down the road.