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.

Car shoppers are always questioning whether they should lease, or buy with new car warranties. But, here’s another question for shoppers: Will you even be able to lease your next vehicle?

U.S. carmakers’ financial subsidiaries have had to cut back on their leasing program, because of lower used-car values, especially with large vehicles.

Based on reports of poor earnings, Chrysler is completely abandoning leasing, and GM and Ford are making it hard for people to arrange leases through financial subsidiaries.

In fact, all carmakers are trying not to rely on leasing because it harms a profit picture that is already bleak.

The reason that this trend is continuing is because of the high risks and costs of leasing compared with regular cash and APR business.

Even foreign carmakers are considering following the lead of domestics, although for now they still offer leases.

But, the original question of should you lease still remains. The domestic carmakers are going to make it so expensive to lease that you should probably avoid it. Instead, purchase new or used with an auto warranty to protect you in case of unforeseen repairs down the road.

When it comes time for you to test-drive a car, you need to be aware of a few things.  After all, this will be one of your most important drives ever, so make sure to get the most out of it.

First, make sure you test-drive the exact model that you’re thinking of buying.  There may be big differences in various models, such as transmissions and engines, tires and suspension, and features in the cabin that will largely affect the way a vehicle handles and feels.

If the salesperson is talking a lot, ask him to please be quiet.  You need quiet to properly evaluate a vehicle.  This will allow you to hear how the vehicle operates.  It might make things easier to tell the salesperson in the showroom that you might need some quiet driving time.

Request a specific test route of your liking if you are familiar with the roads.  You are the only one who knows what kind of driving you will be doing and on what roads.

It is easy to get excited when test-driving a car, but don’t forget these important tips.  They could save your from purchasing a car that might not end up liking.  Also, do your homework to get a good deal.  You’ll need to factor in the price of maintenance costs, an auto warranty, and auto insurance.

The Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Honda Civic, and Nissan Altima were among the new vehicles that were most searched for on AutoTrader.com. AutoTrader.com has researched the shopping habits of over 14 million visitors monthly on their site. Also, they have begun compiling the data in order to provide insight into sales trends in the auto industry.

As SUV and pickup truck sales steadily decline due to gas prices of $4 per gallon, consumers are steadily migrating to compact cars and midsize sedans when looking for a new car. This indicates a continued decline for domestic manufacturers, who rely on the sales of these vehicles.

One bright spot in this downturn, however, is the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The recent Malibu has had its searches rise 293% over the last generation in 2007. The search activity increase even comes at a time when the average price tag of the Malibu has gone up $4,500 year-over-year. This makes it have a slightly higher price than the Camry and Altima. According to AutoTrader.com, the Malibu could be a strong rival for the Camry and Accord in coming months.

Consumers are protecting their wallets by purchasing small, fuel-efficient cars with an auto warranty. According to AutoTrader.com this trend isn’t changing any time soon.

For those people looking for an entry-level car with all-wheel drive, the Subaru Impreza is a great option.  All 2008 Imprezas are equipped with all-wheel drive, and are available in hatchbacks or sedans.  You can buy the base 2.5i model for approximately $16,995, including new car warranties.

If you would rather buy a used vehicle, you can purchase a pre-owned 2008 Impreza.  Even the most basic model still comes equipped with anti-lock brakes, six airbags, and good safety ratings.

Now standard on all 2009 Imprezas is an electronic stability system, however, prices aren’t yet available for the new model year.  On the 2008 model, there is an option for this safety feature, which is part of a premium package for $1,500.  You could probably find this used for less than $20,000, and it might still have a valid auto warranty.

The impressive safety features are what helped the Impreza earn the status of Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.  This means that the car scored the best in front, back, and side crash tests.

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 this week 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 Monday 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.

Most people don’t find tire shopping to be among one of the most fun things to look for.  For the most part, we just want to find a set of tires that will fit our vehicle, and keep us on the road.  Nevertheless, before tire shopping, read the following tips.

First, always buy new tires.  It is not worth saving a few bucks to sacrifice performance and traction.  Make your safety your first priority, not price.

Next, determine what factory size of tires you have.  To find this out, look on the inner part of the door hinge on the driver’s side.

Shop around for good deals.  Look online in order to make price comparisons, however, don’t forget to factor in shipping and installation costs.  Many times you can find good deals and selections on tiretrack.com.  Also, you can read customer reviews there.

Finally, research different tires before purchasing any.  Expensive tires aren’t necessary the best tires.

Although you may not be excited to shop for tires, they are a necessary part of your vehicle.  People tend to neglect their tires, but don’t let this happen to you.  Tires are as important as an auto warranty.

More and more cars are being loaded with high-tech advances.  In fact, some luxury car models have up to 80 switches and knobs to allow for advanced safety and comfort of motorists.  Yet, there are more high-tech gadgets coming onto the market.

Soon there will be sign recognition systems that will be able to read wrong-way signs and speed limits.  This will come on the market in 2009-2010.

Cameras could replace Sideview mirrors in the future.  Images would be displayed on the rearview mirrors on the edges, or on the instrument panel.

We may see chatty cars in the future.  Developers are trying to create a network that would monitor signals from car systems and warn other cars.  For example, skidding due to slick roads could be transmitted to warn other drivers.

Bumper bags could help SUVs be less deadly when hitting a low-riding car.  This has been shown to reduce intrusions and cause less injuries.

High-tech gadgets are great for motorists, but only if they learn how to use them before getting on the road.  In addition, with any new technology, drivers should have an auto warranty to protect themselves from technology failure.

Not many brands have fallen from grace as rapidly as the Hummer by GM.  Just a few years ago the Hummer was General Motors’ own version of the U.S. Mint- it was basically a money machine.  Now, in 2008, there has been a drastic change.  The Hummer sales for this year will probably be less than half of the sales in 2006, when 71,524 vehicles were sold.  GM is even considering discontinuing the Hummer altogether.

The 2008 Hummer H2 faces an all-new environment.  It has a new drivetrain, which has more power, and is more efficient.  Also, the cabin of the SUV has gotten a new overhaul, including more standard safety features.  Although these changes are good, it doesn’t change the fact that the H2 is a large SUV that is very thirsty.  And, this is in a time when people are trying to drive cars that are more efficient and less excessive.

Unfortunately, Hummer’s image isn’t in line with the current national way of thinking, and this is bound to make many consumers who can afford a luxury SUV of this type reconsider purchasing a vehicle that they may not have thought twice about when gas prices were lower.  However, now people are protecting themselves by purchasing fuel-efficient vehicles, and buying an auto warranty in case of unforeseen repair costs.

When it comes to car features, experts claim that women take more of an interest in safety than men and buy more new car warranties, while men are more concerned with the performance of a car, and the technical gadgets.

The interest that women have in safety is basically limited to safety features that are passive, such as rollover protection, airbags, and advanced seat belts, not active safety features, such as electronic stability control, and lane departure warnings, which help motorists avoid accidents. The reason for this is that men take more of an interest in playing around with the latest technology than women do.

Generally, women request the safety features that are going to help their children remain safe. In other words, women’s motherly instincts play a role in the safety features they choose.

In addition, women tend to have a more practical approach to vehicle shopping than do men. That is why women’s purchases have more to do with safety, as opposed to how long it takes for the car to go from 0-60 mph.

Although men typically know more about cars than women, women seek out information about cars before purchasing. This means that they end up purchasing cars that are safer. Also, they make sure to purchase an auto warranty to maintain their cars.