Buying a used car can be a great choice.  You can get a nice car for less money and don’t have to worry about depreciation.  However, it is always necessary to inspect the car that you are looking at before purchasing it.  And since you will spend most of the time on the inside of the car, make sure to inspect there as well.

After you open the door of the car, smell the interior.  If you detect, mold, must or mildew it could mean that the car has water leaks.  Look for wet spots under the floor mats.  A smoker might have owned the car if you detect an acrid smell.  Odors can be very hard to eliminate, so if you smell something you don’t like, look for another car.

Sit in all of the seats, including the back, even if you don’t plan on ever riding in the back.  If a car is supposed to have low miles, the upholstery should be in good condition.  Make sure seat adjustments work properly.

Look at the rubber on the pedals for wear.  The pedals shouldn’t look very worn if the car indicates low mileage.  If they are worn through in places, it could be a sign that the mileage isn’t correct.

A used vehicle is a great option if you do your homework.  Research costs for an auto warranty, maintenance, and auto insurance to make sure you are making a smart purchase.  And definitely have the car inspected before buying.

The 2008 Chevrolet Aveo5 didn’t have many trophies to its name; however, it was best known for being the most affordable car in America.  But for 2009 there are several new contenders.  Nissan just announced its new rock-bottom entry, which is now the cheapest car in America; it is the Nissan Versa 1.6 that has an MSRP of $9,990 including new car warranties.  That price beats the Accent by about $1,000 and the Kia Rio, Toyota Yaris, and Chevy Aveo by around $2,000.

The Versa has a four-cylinder 107 hp, 1.6-liter.  It has 15 hp fewer than the standard Versa 1.8, however it is still competitive.  The newer version has a standard five-speed manual with the option for a four speed automatic for $11,990.  Gas mileage is 26/34-mpg city/highway for the manual and 26/33 for the automatic version.

For the price, Nissan makes air-conditioning an option for $1,000 extra. However, it comes standard on the other models, and also on the 1.6 Versa.

Not only is the Versa the least expensive car in America, but also it exceeds its competition in passenger volume and has good power and mileage ratings, as well as an excellent auto warranty.

Do you realize that your vehicle is talking?  Your car says a great deal about your attitude and personality.  It’s true when they say we are what we drive.  Vehicle enthusiasts believe that our cars are a window into our souls.

Carmakers claim that the decline of the minivan is partly because of people not wanting to have a mommy-mobile image.  In fact, GM and Ford have given up on minivans completely and are just putting their focus into crossovers.

In our car culture, motorists idealize their cars and even give them human qualities.  For instance, when people are hypnotized, they refer to their cars as friends.  Motorists even name their cars and talk to them.  In addition, people choose cars that have similar attributes to their self-image.  For example, a person who is outdoorsy purchases a rugged vehicle.

So, when it comes time to buy your next car and an auto warranty, take a minute to consider what your car is saying about you.  Your vehicle may be saying more about you than you would like.

Every year there are more than 10,000 vehicle accidents in the nation and approximately 450 people die as a result of the collision. Many of these accidents can be avoided by having routine maintenance performed on your car.

The vehicle is by far the most popular means of transportation in the U.S. In fact, 91% of adults in our country own, or have owned a car.

Before you hit the road again, check the following parts of your car to make sure that they are operating properly.

First, take a look at your tires. Many people neglect to check their tires and end up with blowouts. Make sure that your air levels are good. You can reference your owner’s manual to find out what the right level should be. Also, you want to make sure that there aren’t any leaks, low treads, or worn spots.

Next, change your windshield wipers about twice in a year. Your windshield is actually one of the most important parts of your car because if you can’t see the road well you are in trouble.

Brakes should be monitored to make sure they are working correctly. If your brake pedal is moving all the way down to the floor when you step on it, have your brakes looked at by a professional. More recent cars have a warning system to let you know if your brakes aren’t operating correctly.

Maintenance can save you from a dangerous accident. To save your wallet, make sure you have a good auto warranty that will keep you from paying unnecessary repair costs. You don’t want to find yourself unprepared.

After a great deal of excitement for several months about the new El Camino looking vehicle by Pontiac, and a lot of speculation that the vehicle might even use the El Camino name, Pontiac has chosen a name: G8 ST.

G8 comes from the fact that this sporty truck has been based on the car platform of the G8, and ST means that it’s a sport truck.

Pontiac had a national contest to come up with a name for the truck.  They had to sift through approximately 18,000 names by almost 90,000 submissions in its contest called ‘Tame the Name’.  G8 ST was one of the suggestions that were the most popular, which kept with a trend for easy-to-remember, simple names.

The new G8 ST will be sold late in 2009 as a model that is 2010.  Although information about the price of the car and the auto warranty haven’t been released.  This vehicle has a 361-hp, 6.0-liter V-8, and has active fuel management that has the ability to shut off four cylinders if they aren’t needed.

As the carmakers around the world race to build electric cars, North America isn’t prepared in regards to mining the battery material and producing batteries.

North America doesn’t have a hearty supply base for the market.  In fact, South America provides over half of the required lithium for batteries.  In about a decade, approximately 40% of lithium will derive from China.

The key is to come up with a long-term investment that is strategic.  This sort of investment came today.

Johnson Controls-Saft made an announcement that it won a contract of two years from an advanced battery group, made up of several carmakers and battery suppliers, including the Detroit carmakers, to build lithium-ion battery systems for hybrid cars that are plug-in.

Included in the contract is an $8.2 million allotment in research money that comes from the U.S. Department of Energy.  This joint venture between Saft and Johnson Controls Inc. will try to make the technology ready commercially for mass-market plug-ins.

It is essential that the manufacturing base is developed to make batteries in North America, so that we don’t have a dependency on other countries.  After all, consumers want to save money on gas by purchasing hybrid cars with a good auto warranty.

Soon, Nissan Motor Co. will put out vehicles that push back if drivers attempt to put their pedal to the metal.  Also, Nissan has been busy developing a test model that is loaded with added sensor technology in order to make cars crash-free.

The safety features that Nissan unveiled are among the latest of carmakers’ efforts to beef up their images.

The collision-free prototype by Nissan includes side and back sensors that enable brakes and alarms to turn on and aid in avoiding collisions.  This system also allows the car to maintain a driving distance that is safe from the vehicle in front, as well as aiding in preventing the car from veering out of its lane.

Nissan hopes that these efforts will cut the number of car accidents in half involving Nissan cars.

Nissan’s system, called “ECO Pedal”, which has been promoted as being safe and green, causes the gas pedal to press up when it is sensed that drivers are speeding up to fast.

In a news release, Nissan claimed that this system would allow motorists to improve their fuel-efficiency from 5-10%.

Global warming concerns and high gas prices are pressuring carmakers to put out ecological products.  In addition, consumers are protecting their wallets by taking extra precautions, such as purchasing an auto warranty, driving fewer miles, and buying fuel-efficient vehicles.

New York State has a humungous budget gap to fill, which is why Gov. David Paterson is trying anything and everything to fill it. Included in his efforts is a proposed 5% tax on vehicles costing over $60,000.

Today, however, $60K isn’t what it used to be in terms of luxury vehicles.  Consumers should keep in mind that this tax isn’t only for vehicles with an MSRP of $60K or more.  If you buy a car that has an MSRP of $50,000, but you throw in a moon roof, GPS, leather seats, and a high-tech stereo system, it may push the price of the vehicle to over $60K, which would mean you would owe an additional 5% tax in NY.  Many cars would fit the bill, such as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and the BMW 5 Series.

Yachts are also affected, however the tax doesn’t kick in until you spend at least $200,000.  Private jets will also escape this tax if they stay under $500,000.

The main problem with this tax is that luxury car sales will be hurt, even if just slightly.  Nameplates like Mercedes, BMW and Lexus have experienced a recent drop in sales, just like all of the other carmakers.  Unfortunately, this tax may make people hold off on buying a luxury vehicle and instead hold onto their current vehicles with the addition of an auto warranty.

Over the past few decades, perhaps one of the biggest technical developments has been to tires.  And now, new rules concerning tires will yield even more mileage and safety improvements.

After the estimated 280 deaths that were linked to Firestone tire failures on the Ford Explorer SUVs, lawmakers ordered tire pressure monitoring systems are used.  These systems alert drivers if they have a tire with low air.

Thankfully, some of the recent monitoring systems don’t have problems that were experienced with the earlier technology.  Problems included false alerts, and failure to advise drivers which of their tires was low.

Now, there is a national registry that has been approved, allowing drivers to register their tires that they purchase.  In the case of a recall, such as Firestone, drivers would be notified quickly.

Drivers will be much safer with the new tire rules.  However, drivers should always protect themselves by doing regular tire pressure checks and having an auto warranty in case of necessary repairs.

In Minnesota, there are new teen driving laws that will help teens sharpen their driving skills.  During the first driving year, teens won’t be able to drive late at night or carry multiple teenage passengers.

The Department of Public Safety claims that teens in Minnesota are overrepresented in car accidents every year because of distractions, driver inexperience, driving at night, and not using seat belts.  From 2005-2007, drivers who were 16 and 17 yrs old had involvement in 116 crashes that were fatal, which resulted in 133 deaths.

Having these laws will allow teen drivers to be safer and result in less injuries and deaths on roads in Minnesota.  Also, having used car warranties and maintaining cars will help teens stay safe on the roads.

The limitation on nighttime driving during the initial six-month licensure period will prohibit teens from driving after midnight, until 5 a.m., unless they are accompanied by a driver of at least 25 yrs of age.  Drivers who are 16 and 17 yrs old are approximately three times more likely to have a car crash resulting in a fatality at night than in the daytime.

The limitation on passengers for the initial six-month licensure period will allow just one passenger under 20 yrs old, unless there is a parent or guardian in the car.  Throughout the second six-month period of licensure, there can’t be more than three other people in the car under 20 yrs old, unless there is a parent or guardian in the car.

It is recommended by the DPS that parents help reinforce these laws and protect their children by making strict driving rules, purchasing an auto warranty, and keeping cars maintained.