The national average cost for fuel in June and July was just over $4 per gallon, fueling a trend in small, fuel-efficient cars.  However, motorists’ focuses on small cars in now shifting as fuel prices are dropping.

In fact, data shows that small vehicle trends are leveling off, and there is a reclaimed interest in segments that were previously declining, such as crossover SUVs.  Even the all-popular hybrid has seen a 34% decline in interest since June, as fuel prices have decreased.

It’s as if high has prices made consumers forget other car requirements, and just focus on fuel economy.  However, with the initial alarm fading and prices declining, people are now able to look at the big picture.

It’s gas prices, not vehicle incentives that are causing the shift in vehicle requirements.  Many cars that offer big incentives still have large drops in consumer interest, while other cars that offer lower incentives are seeing an increase in consumer interest.

Although interest seems to be shifting, people still aren’t purchasing bigger cars.  Instead, consumers are putting their money into smaller cars with an auto warranty that will save them money on gas.

With the fall term approaching, college students are seeking out the perfect vehicle to drive to college.  And while it isn’t hard to find a great looking car, it takes a lot of research to find a vehicle high in fuel-efficiency, reliability, and safety, with a low sticker price and a good auto warranty.  Here are some great cars with all of these features.

The Ford Focus is an entry-level car that is roomy.  Also it will fulfill music lovers because of it SYNC system, which is a hands-free, voice activated entertainment and communications interface that allows the car to be linked to all phones, MP3 players, PDAs, and storage devices.

The Honda Fit is a five-door hatchback subcompact with great fuel-efficiency.  On the highway it gets 34 mpg and in the city it gets 28 mpg.  This car has a roomy interior featuring a “Magic Seat” that folds and reveals a cargo area that can fit a standard bicycle.

The 2008 Hyundai Elantra is a great compact car.  It’s fuel-economy is 25/33 mpg.  The interior has numerous features, such as power door locks, power windows, remote entry, and heated rearview mirrors.  Also, this car has the option for a Bluetooth system, a power sunroof, and a 220-watt audio system that has an iPod jack.

These are all great cars for college students that will satisfy parents and students.  In addition, they come with impressive new car warranties that will protect students from unnecessary repair expenses.

With the average fuel prices at around $4 a gallon, many motorists are opting to trade in their big vehicles for small fuel-efficient models and purchase new car warranties. But, while that is a smart goal, it could cost you more in owner costs if you switch too early.

It makes sense that motorists want to cut down on their gas expenses and reduce the negative environmental effects as soon as possible. This is apparent from the recent dramatic drop in sales of pickup trucks and large SUVs.

However, it usually doesn’t pay to downsize if you’ve owned your vehicle for less than three years. It is important to remember two factors when considering a trade-in: financing charges and the depreciation of the car.

If you still owe on your car loan, it won’t be worth downsizing until after three years. This is because your initial monthly payment is made up mainly of interest, therefore less principal is paid into the loan in the first year than at the end.

Depreciation is the other main hurdle. In the first five years of ownership, depreciation makes up approximately 48% of the total car costs. After that point, depreciation will level off.

So, if you’re within the first five years of ownership hold off on purchasing a new car to save money because you won’t really be saving. It’s better to keep your car and purchase an auto warranty to protect yourself from costly repair expenses.

Shopping for insurance isn’t as easy as many people make it out to be. In fact, it requires a lot of effort to shop for the best deal. Consumers need to compare not just the price, but coverage details and exclusions. You don’t want to discover after a claim is filed that your policy with the terrific premium doesn’t include a type of coverage that you need.

According to the spokesperson for State Farm Insurance, it pays for people to shop around because coverage that is exactly the same can vary significantly from one carrier to the next.

The best thing to do is to call several large carriers and then contact a few independent agents to make sure you covered all of the bases.

When shopping for car insurance, the saying, “It’s too good to be true” definitely applies. If the premium is very low, you may not be getting the coverage you need.

When you talk with insurance agents, make sure to ask a lot of questions. Definitely find out what is covered and the cost, but also make sure you know how the claims will be processed.

Consumers should protect their wallets by purchasing insurance coverage that works for them, and make sure to have a comprehensive auto warranty. By taking these steps motorists can rest-assured that they wouldn’t be paying unnecessary costs.

Many drivers don’t know if they should be using regular or synthetic oil in their vehicles. To determine the answer you need to consider the age of your car, it’s mileage, and what is recommended by the carmaker.

Cars that have high mileage and are older usually have engine wear that is excessive, which allows for internal oil leakage. Because synthetic oil is thinner than regular oil it will flow more freely, and therefore it isn’t recommended for these vehicles. By using it your car may experience internal combustion.

Many automakers today recommend synthetic oil for their engines. This is especially true when the car has a high performance engine with high compression, high operating temperatures, and tight engine tolerances. However, if your vehicle still has an auto warranty, you should consult your dealer before switching to synthetic oil.

Synthetic oil is a great idea in the right vehicle, but consult your owner’s manual first. Although synthetic oil will cost you double what regular oil will, it will make your engine last longer, and it lasts longer.

There has been a drastically changing landscape for the SUV market over the past year.  Driven by the high fuel prices, truck-based and full-size SUVs have declined in favor of car-based SUVs that are smaller.  MSN Autos has also experienced this trend among car searches.

The most popular SUV is the Honda CR-V, and best selling SUV in America.  Following close behind is the Toyota RAV4.

Three vehicles by Ford are also among the most popular SUVs.  The Ford Escape, as well as the Escape Hybrid follow behind the RAV4, and the Ford Edge comes in 10th place.  One prime example of how America’s taste for SUVs now differs is the difference in the lineup by Ford.  The Ford Explorer was the top selling SUV two years ago, however now the Explorer isn’t a best seller.

New Nissan SUVs, the Rogue and Murano have experienced great popularity, coming in fifth and seventh.

With the high fuel prices, and poor economy, consumers are staying away from big SUVs that guzzle gas, and instead are purchasing smaller SUVs.  In addition, motorists are trying to protect their wallets by purchasing an auto warranty.

Starting with model year 2010, new car window stickers will have a safety rating combining front, side, as well as rollover tests.  Also, the federal government will upgrade the tests used to compile the ratings.  In addition, female crash dummies will now be used and a new test with a side pole will simulate a car hitting a tree.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration test results, using its New Car Assessment Program, will have a supplement rating indicating if there are advanced safety technologies, such as forward collision warning systems, lane departure warning systems, and ESC.  However, the effectiveness of the individual devices used on each vehicle will not be rated by the government agency.  And, with new technology, such as these safety technologies it is a good idea for consumers to purchase an auto warranty in case of faulty gadgets.

The efforts by the NHTSA to upgrade its car safety program are commendable.  And the car industry is now addressing the safety standards that are becoming increasingly stringent.  The consumers will benefit in the end because they will have a clear presentation of standard safety equipment and crash-test results that are more detailed.  However, as cars become more advanced, it is even more essential to purchase new car warranties.

The 2009 Ford Flex has a boxy exterior that provokes a definite response: either you love it or you hate it. This vehicle has a singular style on the inside and out, and therefore could never be called a me-too car. At the press launch, Ford noted that this vehicle is in the same bloodline as the family station wagons, which will appeal to baby boomers. But this unique crossover may also appeal to the young hip-hop crowd. However, the SE starts at $28,295 with an auto warranty and the LTD goes for $34,705, so that will limit buyers.

Driving in the city and on suburban streets, the Flex is confident, and on the highway the V6 allows for ease when passing other rubbernecking motorists. Also, this car has a smooth ride and responsive steering. However, when going up steep hills the Flex is challenged. And going down it is necessary to ride the 4-wheel disc brakes, because downshifting isn’t an option with only one low setting to slow down the car.

The Flex is a great people mover, and does well as a city cruiser and highway hauler, however its performance doesn’t excel. Yet it has a lot more attitude than a typical crossover. But with fuel prices at an all time high, consumers are going to have to value style over fuel-efficiency to buy a car that has an MPG rating in the teens. After all, people are trying to protect their wallets by purchasing fuel-efficient cars with new car warranties.

Many drivers have a hard time finding a repair shop that they feel is trustworthy.  While some motorists feel comfortable taking their car to the dealership, others prefer going to an independent repair shop.  So, which one is better?

You will find several advantages to going to the dealership repair shop.  First of all, dealerships pay for their technicians to have special training, and they provide them with special tools and equipment.  Dealerships also have a years worth of proprietary information on new vehicles that they have sold.  This information is important for making repairs and diagnosis, yet only the dealer has access to it.  Finally, dealership service departments only work on the specific makes and models that they sell, so they are efficient at diagnosis and repairs.

Independent shops also have advantages.  Because independent facilities try to serve the neighborhood that they are in, customers can benefit from a more personal customer service.  Also, independent repair shops provide more versatile services on a wide range of cars.  In addition, top-notch repair shops will offer an auto warranty through the supplier of the parts.  Finally, prices are usually better at independent repair shops.

There are advantages to both dealerships and independent repair shops.  Consumers should find a repair shop that they feel comfortable with, regardless of what kind it is.  In addition, it is important to purchase an auto warranty to avoid paying unnecessary repair costs.

In this day and age there are numerous different places to buy a used car.  You can do an Internet search, look at your local car dealer, or buy from a private owner.  Any one of these places is a good option for buying a used car if you do your research.

If you want to shop for cars conveniently from your own home, you can look at used-vehicle websites.  You will have to enter your price range, your desired make and model, and your zip code.  Then, a car list will be displayed with the seller’s contact information.  You can also put in a classified ad for your old vehicle.

Independent used car dealers will handle all makes of cars.  You can purchase anything from an old, beat up car to an almost new car.  If a dealership has been around for a while you know that they are reputable.  The good thing about buying from a dealer is that financing and an auto warranty can be arranged for you.

Many times, you can get the best deals from a private owner.  Often, they are just trying to get rid of their old vehicle and there is no overhead like with a business.  The only downfall is that private owners may not be aware of mechanical difficulties that a car might have.

Used cars can save you lots of money in the long run.  Just make sure to do your homework on used car warranties, car prices, and car loans.  This will allow you to make a wise decision when it comes time to buy.