The most notable upgrade seen in the 2009 RAV4 is its new four-cylinder 2.5-liter engine, which boosts the power to 179 hp, compared to 166 hp in 2008.  The mileage stays the same at 22 mpg/city and 28 mpg/highway for the two-wheel-drive version and 21/27 mpg for the four wheel-drive version.  Also unchanged is the 3.5-liter V-6.

Toyota also made some changes to the RAV4s exterior.  There is a more angular appearance to the front of the vehicle that resembles the Tundra and Matrix, which were recently redesigned.  Also, there is a small bumper change, and the addition of new taillights.

Other upgrades include new colors, new fabrics in the interior, and standard active front head restraints.

The changes to the RAV4 aren’t drastic for 2009, but they will be able to maintain the vehicle’s successful reputation.  You can purchase the 2009 version now, which has the same base price and auto warranty from 2008.

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.

Because of a full-size pickup truck market that is lagging and the challenge that diesel engines face in the U.S., Toyota has decided to put their plans for a diesel Tundra on hold.

There are several things that forced Toyota’s hand. First, there are technical challenges when it comes to making diesel engines that will meet the standards of federal emissions. Also, costs for diesel fuel are higher than many people are willing to pay right now. However, Toyota does believe it will come back to the idea if gas prices go down and people become more interested in pickup trucks. For now, however, people are trying to protect their wallets by purchasing fuel-efficient vehicles with a good auto warranty.

Instead of the Tundra, Toyota has decided to start production of a vehicle that is based on its concept of the A-BAT (Advanced Breakthrough Aero Truck), which was seen at the 2008 auto show in Detroit. This was one of the favorite vehicles at the show and it has two fuel-efficient drivetrains.

Pre-owned cars are a great option for car shoppers because cars today have such great quality that they last longer.  This lets drivers enjoy a car that someone else has already owned.  Some advocates of used cars like to say that a used car is just a model that’s already been broken in.

In many cases, a used car will serve your needs just fine.  Maybe you need to buy a car for your teenager who will no doubt bend a few fenders along the way.  Or perhaps you need a truck that will take you on weekend getaways.  In these cases, you can enjoy the low price of a used vehicle that you are only going to drive occasionally.

A large amount of the value of a used vehicle comes from the fact that previous owners have already paid for the depreciation costs.  Depreciation is the largest ownership cost.  However, it is important to remember that certain vehicles depreciate at a slower rate.  For example, Acura and Lexus cars depreciate at a slower rate than average.  In addition, BMWs depreciate slowly because the demand on the market exceeds their supply.  Cars, such as the Ford Taurus depreciate at a quick rate since they are often used in the fleets of rental cars.

Purchasing a used car is a great option if you do your homework.  Make sure to research the most reliable used vehicles that will retain their value.  In addition, purchase an auto warranty for peace of mind.

Ford is debuting its new lineup for 2009, and the majority of the models are not only equipped with new car warranties, and numerous safety features, they come with a gas-cap-less fuel tank.  Ford is referring to this as “EasyFuel,” which shouldn’t be confused with “FlexFuel”, which is when a car can use E85.  However, if you get the two mixed up, cars with the EasyFuel system have a warning that E85 won’t flow easily into the gas tank.

When hearing this you may wonder, “Are people too lazy to even screw a gas cap off and on?” but chances are you have actually forgotten a gas cap at a gas station once or twice.  And sometimes it can be annoying to remember if your gas cap clicked properly when you turned it.

If you purchase one of the new 2009 Fords, you may feel a bit strange just taking the pump in and out without doing anything else.  But chances are that you will get used to the convenience after a short time.  Oh, and did I mention that the new 2009 Fords come with a hefty auto warranty?

Smart, which is a Daimler-Benz subsidiary, has been able to sell around 17,000 ForTwos since they launched the small two-seater in America in January.  However, there are approximately 30,000 potential buyers who have been put on waiting lists.

Even so, the carmaker doesn’t intend on increasing their output in order to put supply in line with the demand, according to Dave Schembri, who is the Smart USA president.  Schembri claims that car graveyards are littered with car companies that reacted with too much too soon.

Just a year ago Smart didn’t even have a car or dealership in the U.S.  Smart is willing to grow in volume, but only after it makes sure everything is in place.  The profit margins are pretty thin on small cars, so they want to always be one car short.

Smart’s success has been a surprise for everyone.  But in a time when the economy is poor and gas prices are high, people are happy to buy a two-seater with a good auto warranty.

Although certified pre-owned warranties are very similar, they do vary some depending on the car manufacturer.  They combine the manufacturers original auto warranty with a certified pre-owned auto warranty, and then offer roadside assistance along with other benefits.  The advantages are apparent: instead of taking a risk with a used car that you know nothing about, you get a car with a complete history and an auto warranty.

Chrysler decided to go one step further and offer extended service contracts for Jeep, Chrysler, and Dodge certified pre-owned vehicles.  The contracts will be divided depending on what they cover.  For instance, the Lifetime Powertrain Care will cover transmissions, engines, and drivelines; the Lifetime Added Care Plus will cover those mechanisms and also electrical functions in the interior, suspensions, and fuel systems; and the Lifetime Maximum Care plan will cover all of the above with just a few exclusions.

Chrysler has not yet announced pricing plans for these contracts, so it isn’t clear how much more consumers will have to pay to get a lifetime component auto warranty, or whether consumers will want the used car warranties at all.

Do you find that you are apprehensive about negotiating with an auto dealer?  Are you unsure about topics such as car loans and an auto warranty? Shopping for a vehicle doesn’t have to be nerve-racking, however, you need to be aware of a few things that you shouldn’t say to a dealer.

First, you shouldn’t start talking about monthly payments, instead focus on negotiating the purchase price.  It can become confusing when you’re discussing monthly payments because it might be unclear whether the payment is for 24 or 36 months.

Don’t tell the dealer right away if you’re willing to trade-in your car.  If the dealer is aware of this he will know that you want to get as much money for your car as possible.  The dealer might agree to give you a lot for your trade-in, but usually it’s a smokescreen because then they will fix the price of the new car.

Don’t tell the dealer if you’re planning on paying for the car in cash.  They count on making a lot of money in financing, and if they know that they won’t be able to count on that money, chances are they won’t negotiate on the sticker price.

Do your homework before showing up at a dealership.  Be prepared with information about new car warranties, financing, and vehicle prices.  This will help you negotiate a successful deal on a car.

According to dealers, you may have a hard time getting a car loan these days, unless of course you are Bill Gates.

It isn’t the high fuel prices that are discouraging people from buying vehicles, carmakers say, it’s consumers’ inability to get car loans that is causing them to leave showrooms without making a purchase.

Credit is tight, and many banks have to tread water because they already carry too many mortgages that are high-risk.  This is causing them to shy away from additional auto loans.  And when Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy on Monday, troubles with credit puffed up.

Gas costing $4 per gallon did change the types of cars that consumers buy.  People are looking for small, fuel-efficient cars with a good auto warranty.  However, the credit crunch has changed people’s ability to make a car purchase.  When motorists do get approved for a loan, it’s often for less money than they hoped for.

General Motors is going to halt production of the Chevy Corvette during the week beginning October 6th. When the Bowling Green, Kentucky assembly plant goes back to work after the hiatus, it will employ 75 fewer workers and manufacture 3.5 fewer vehicles an hour.

Last month GM had some excellent deals on new Corvettes, as it was trying to boost its sales by making the car part of its employee pricing deal. This deal will continue through September 30th, and offers big savings. For example, you can get around $10,000 off of the original price of a Corvette Z06, however, in this poor market this kind of reduction isn’t going to turn things around.

Though the discount caused sales to jump, they are way off of the mark last year. In fact sales were down 8.5% through the month of August. Cars that haven’t sold are crowding dealer’s lots, which are causing production cuts. But, the good news is, if you’re in the market for a Corvette, this is the time to get a good deal with a hefty auto warranty.