General Motors recently announced that it is extending an auto warranty offer on its certified used trucks and cars, citing quality gains and less auto warranty-funded repairs.

GM claims it will begin to offer a 12-month, 12,000-mile auto warranty that is “bumper to bumper” on all certified used trucks and cars that are eligible for the coverage by GM dealers.

This change will start September 13, and will extend the terms of the GM auto warranty on late model used vehicles in good condition an extra 9 months and 9,000 miles.

This step comes one day after an announcement by GM that it is putting out a new discount program on new trucks and cars that will provide employee-level pricing to new buyers.

GM, as well as other U.S. carmakers, has been arguing that their quality improvements in their vehicles have long been ignored by American consumers.

In response to this, the Big Three have offered more generous used car warranties over the last few years in order to gain consumer confidence.

A recent study by Ford shows that its Sync entertainment system causes drivers to be less distracted than with other entertainment systems, according to the carmaker.

Ford claims that this assessment is due to the fact that voice commands are used with Sync, which causes drivers to look away from the road about two seconds during a commute, as opposed to around 25 seconds for a driver using a phone or standard MP3 player.

Ford studied 25 drivers by asking them to do simple tasks, such as dialing a number consisting of ten digits, finding a person in a digital phone book, text messaging and finding a certain song.  The researchers examined time with eyes off of the road; speed changes, swerving out of a lane, and differences in the amount of attentiveness while doing a task.

While, Ford’s report may be true, there is room to be skeptical.  After all, it has been reported that it is just as dangerous to talk on the phone hands-free, as it is to hold a cell phone while driving. Drivers should be responsible and purchase a good auto warranty to protect them from new technology failure.  And of course, motorists need to be more cautious than ever because of all of the distractions on the road.

If you are concerned with driving a “green” vehicle, you need to think about a small car, or a hybrid.  The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy says that out of the 12 cars that are ranked the highest for being green in 2008, one third of them have hybrid powertrains.  These cars have a combination of an internal-combustion engine along with a motor that is electric.  This improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions.

The last few years one of the mainstays of the list was the natural gas powered Honda Civic GX.  It is back at the top for 2008, it scored 57 points.  This car operates with compressed natural gas.  The Civic GX was the highest-ranking car environmentally because of its high efficiency rating and emissions that are near zero.

There are some new additions to the Greenest list for 2008.  One is the smart fortwo, which came in at number four.  Another model from Europe that made the list is the Mini Cooper.  This vehicle comes in number eight, scoring 44.  The only domestic car to make the list was the Ford Focus.  It comes in ninth place.

Consumers are becoming more concerned with “green” cars.  These cars are environmentally friendly, as well as fuel-efficient.  This will save you money at the gas pump and allow you to put your money towards important things, such as an auto warranty, and maintenance costs.

Many motorists don’t realize that buying a less-expensive vehicle model can actually end up costing you more in the long run than a model that is more-expensive up front.

One example of this is a Mitsubishi Lancer vs. a Mini Cooper Clubman.  A new Lancer costs around $17,500, which is $5,000 less than the initial cost of the Mini Cooper.  Yet, when you consider what ownership costs will be with each vehicle, the Mitsubishi Lancer will end up costing you about $3,000 more after owning the car for five years.

Also, a Toyota Highlander will initially cost you $3,000 more than a Ford Explorer V6.  However, when you consider ownership costs you will end up paying $6,500 more over a five-year period.

Motorists are very concerned with the sticker price of a vehicle when choosing a car, but many people fail to factor in the ownership costs.  For example, auto loans, maintenance costs, an auto warranty, fuel costs, repair costs, and sales tax need to all be factored into the equation.

Consumers can experience sensory overload when walking down the car care isle at their local store.  It can be confusing to know what products to purchase, or even if you need to purchase them.  Some people assume that if you have a factory auto warranty that includes the finish, you don’t need to bother washing and waxing, but this isn’t true.

A factory auto warranty will protect you by ensuring that the paint job was sound, that they used quality paint, and that it was cured correctly.  However, new car warranties won’t protect you from oxidation that occurs over time.  This happens naturally if you don’t care for your finish.  Car wax serves the purpose of being a sacrificial layer between Mother Nature and your paint.

If new car owners want to keep their finishes looking great, they don’t have to spend a lot of time or money.  Preventative maintenance is the key for your finish, just like it’s under the hood.  All you have to do is wash your vehicle frequently with car care products.  Even just a basic car wash will do a lot to help protect your investment.  After washing, you can spray-on a wax that will boost the shine and extend the intervals between regular wax jobs.

A diesel engine used to elicit a wince from people who associated diesels with engine noise, a not so pleasant smell, and blue smoke coming out of the tailpipe.  However, this is changing.  Diesel engines will soon elicit a positive response.

The new generation diesels are considered clean.  They use a very low sulfur diesel fuel that was made available in the United States in 2006.  It is predicted by experts that diesel sales are going to increase approximately 300% within 10 years.  One of the reasons for this is that diesel engines have around 20%-40% better fuel-efficiency than engines powered by gasoline.

The Clean Diesel Fuel Alliance claims that using ultra low sulfur fuel in these new and improved diesel engines will cause air quality to improve greatly.  The yearly reductions in emissions will be the same as taking away the pollution from over 90% of the buses and trucks today.  This is when the fleet of heavy-duty vehicles has been replaced by 2030.

It may take time to change perceptions about diesel engines, but people will begin to realize the benefits.  Not only will they make our air cleaner, they will save people at the gas pump.  However, as with any car, it is necessary to buy an auto warranty so you are covered in the case of failure.

It may be tempting to go to one of the giant retail chains that seem to be popping up everywhere for auto service, but is it smart?  Well, there’s something to be said for building a relationship with your auto repair facility, and with a large chain, it’s not likely to happen.

Think about it, you go to a mass retailer for a repair, and then after a year the part fails.  Yet, when you go back to the original location for an auto warranty claim, the first thing they ask for is your receipt.  If you don’t have the receipt you’re out of luck.  Chances are they will have no recollection of you or your car from the previous year.

Many people make the mistake of looking for a service shop just on the basis of price.  However, you need to consider other factors when choosing a shop.  Imagine how nice it would be to build a relationship with a shop where the mechanic recognizes you and your car and you feel a loyalty. We’ve all been in an emergency situation where we need a repair done that day.  If you have a relationship with your mechanic, chances are that he will be more likely to squeeze you in.

Ultimately, the choice is up to you when choosing a service shop.  However, keep in mind the benefits of being able to feel loyalty from your mechanic. And make sure you have used car warranties in order to have peace of mind.

Sometimes you can find great prices on a new vehicle, however, make sure you understand everything about the offers.  Often there are exclusions, restrictions, or limitations that you need to understand.

Many car advertisements feature the big numbers in very large print, and scrunch down the unappealing stuff to mini print.  There are several things that buyers need to look for.

Some offers are only available in certain states.  Incentives are often regional, so they are only available to people within a specific area.  If you cross the state line you might be paying $1,500 more.

Some deals on financing rely on the buyer paying a pre-determined down payment in cash.  If you don’t provide the down payment you might have to pay a finance rate that is high.

Often times new car deals are only available if you buy before a specific date.  This can make consumers feel pressure to make a fast decision, or buy a car off the lot that may not have everything they want.

There are many good deals to be had out there, but make sure you understand the small print.  As a consumer you need to protect yourself by doing your homework and purchasing an auto warranty.  After all, you don’t want to pay unnecessary repair costs if your new car needs service.

Most people believe that SUVs are the safest vehicles on the road; however, recent test results show that midsize SUVs may not offer the best safety.  In fact, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that a lot of cars produced better results in crash tests than six midsize SUVs.

The SUVs tested were the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Nissan Pathfinder, Nissan Xterra, Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Toyota 4Runner.  These vehicles were tested in a front collision at 40mph and a side impact.

All of these vehicles showed improvement since the last IIHS test.  In the instance of the front collision, five out of the six vehicles were rated Good.  The Trailblazer was rated Acceptable.

However, the results of the side-impact tests weren’t as good.  The Trailblazer and Grand Cherokee didn’t protect the torso because they are only equipped with standard side airbags to protect the head.  The Pathfinder, 4Runner, and Xterra had better performance with side impact because they include side airbags that protect the torso as well as the head.  However, cars had better ratings on side impact.

If you’re looking to purchase a midsize SUV, purchase one with high crash ratings.  For instance, the Ford TaurusX and Edge, Hyundai Santa Fe, Honda Pilot, and Subaru Tribeca are the highest rated midsize SUVs.  Although these SUVs are durable, it’s necessary to purchase an auto warranty to protect yourself from repair costs down the road.  After all, no vehicle is full proof.

What features, besides an auto warranty, can help older drivers stay safe and comfortable on the road?  The American Automobile Association has the following recommendations to help older drivers.

First, it is helpful to have a steering wheel that tilts and telescopes.  This puts the driver 10 inches from the airbag, and also alleviates shoulder and neck pain.

Also helpful are mirrors that allow for wide visibility.  This allows older drivers to compensate for a limited range of motion.

Seats that are heated with lumbar support allow relief from an aching back.

Six-way adjustable seats allow drivers who are short to see over the steering wheel, and allow for an easier entrance and exit out of the car.

A car with adjustable foot pedals will allow small drivers to be able to reach pedals while remaining far enough away from the airbag.

Four doors are better than two for older drivers because they are lighter and easier to open and close.

Purchasing the right car for an older driver is important for safety reasons.  Keep these things in mind to help your loved one stay safe on the roads, and don’t forget to purchase used car warranties to avoid unnecessary repair expenses.