It can be difficult to find a car that is suitable for the needs of a family.  In fact, consumers can often feel overwhelmed with all of the choices.  So, what are some necessary considerations when purchasing a family car?

First, most families are in search of an affordable vehicle.  This typically means that the sticker price is under $30,000 and comes with a good auto warranty.  There are many good quality vehicles out there that go for less than $30,000, so if you are looking at a company that can’t produce a good vehicle for this price, you’re searching with the wrong company.

One very important feature for a family car is comfort.  Five people should be able to fit into a vehicle comfortably, otherwise no one will be happy.  Also, make sure that you have sufficient cargo space for groceries, hobbies, etc.

Safety is essential in a family vehicle.  Many of the new car models have innovative safety features capable of saving people’s lives.  For instance, the Chevrolet Malibu incorporates the OnStar system of communication, which has the Advanced Automatic Crash Notification.

Try not to get overwhelmed with the shopping process when looking for a family vehicle.  Just take these tips into consideration and make sure purchase an auto warranty in case of unforeseen repairs.

The perks of purchasing a used car are the low initial price, property taxes, and insurance costs.  The “downs” are that it isn’t new, which means there’s no auto warranty and you are more vulnerable to car problems.  However, you can reduce your exposure to risk by taking these precautionary measures.

First, shop for used vehicles that are newer, which might still have a portion of their new car warranties left.  Most late model cars have three-year/ 36,000-mile basic auto warranty coverage, so you could get a year of coverage if you look for cars less than three years old.  Otherwise, you should purchase an auto warranty to cover your used vehicle.

Next, check the background of the make and model car that you are looking at.  Go to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations website to check out recall and safety information.  Also, it never hurts to take a look at Consumer Reports to see if the particular car you like is problematic.

Also, you should always have a mechanic look at the car you are thinking of buying.  This will let you know if the vehicle has been well maintained or has any major problems.

Used cars are a great option for people who don’t want to pay for the instant depreciation associated with new cars.  Just make sure to protect yourself by doing your research and purchasing an auto warranty and auto road service.

Many motorists struggle to find 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 for repairs.  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 good 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.  Also, 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.  The important thing is to find a shop so that car maintenance can be performed regularly and in case you need to be towed by roadside assistance.

Unfortunately, mistakes often happen when you’re in an unfamiliar place.  A recent survey reported that people driving in RV’s often make expensive blunders.  More than 1,000 RV drivers were surveyed, revealing some interesting mishaps that they have had.

The blunders that were the most common are as follows:  backing up into something, failing to connect taillights in a correct manner, running out of fuel, driving out of a parking lot with the steps still out, and not judging clearance well.

Also discovered was that just over 50 percent of RV drivers spend at least a month out of the year traveling, and over 40 percent travel over 500 miles in a trip.

Although often you can find humor in blunders, they can mean big money in damages and repairs.  This is why it is so important to purchase good insurance and an auto warranty on you RV.  After all, you want to get back out on the open road quickly after a mishap.

You know that the trend for green cars has come of age when Hummer and Lamborghini get in on the picture.

The manufacturers of supercars for $400,000 and high-end SUV’s have realized that they need to keep us with small, efficient car models.  People desire lightweight, economical vehicles as opposed to heavy gas-guzzlers.

Lamborghini has an updated version of its Gallardo at $222,000.  Its new design is more “green” because it emits less CO2.  This is the greenhouse gas that is responsible for the change in the climate.

However, cutting 20 kg off of a 202 mph vehicle is not exactly radical.  This is why leading manufacturers, such as Toyota are making a big impact in the car industry.  It is hard to truly make a supercar or SUV green, although it is impressive that Hummer and Lamborghini are making a large attempt.

Green or not, whatever car you buy; make sure that you have an auto warranty to protect your investment.  You don’t want to find yourself paying unnecessary expenses for auto repairs.

Due to the poor economy, electric and hybrid cars are in great need these days.  However, these cars also will come at a cost.  They will strain scarce resources for water, according to a new study.

Every mile that is driven using electricity consumes approximately three times the water than a car using petrol.  Sciencedaily reported this.

Michael Webber and Carey King calculated the usage of water, consumption, as well as withdrawal during refining of petroleum and generation of power in the United States.

This does not mean that the impacts on sources of water make the shift undesirable.  Instead, the increase in the usage of water resources should be a consideration when people are planning for an automotive economy that is plugged-in.

Every technological advance has potential downfalls.  Vehicles that lack petroleum are good in many ways for out environment, and our wallets.  Also good for your wallet, is an auto warranty that protects you in case new technology fails.  Also, it brings drivers peace of mind.

With summer traveling in full gear, Americans are trying to find ways to save at the gas pump.  Ford has put together some easy tips for all motorists, which suggest ways to alter their driving behavior.

First of all, drivers should slow down and keep a steady speed.  Consider driving 55 mph instead of 65 mph.  Just by following this simple tip you can improve your fuel economy 10-15%.  Also, by maintaining a constant speed and not pumping the accelerator you can avoid sending more gas to the engine.

Next, avoid aggressive driving to avoid wasting fuel.  Also, this will help you avoid wearing out brakes and tires.  Try to have a smooth acceleration and soft brake.

Don’t waste money idling.  Even in frigid temperatures, engines today don’t need to warm up.  After starting the vehicle, drive away gently.  Instead of idling in traffic and fast food drive-thrus, just turn you engine off.

Finally, purchase an auto warranty so that you aren’t afraid to have maintenance and repairs performed.  Maintaining your vehicle will ensure that it is running efficiently and has the best fuel economy possible.

Most motorists have experienced the drowsy driving syndrome.  Either you’ve been the driver yourself or you’ve been in the passenger seat.  Many wrecks and road service calls can be avoided if drivers aren’t drowsy.  Here are some signs to look for in a drowsy driver.

If the driver is weaving drowsiness may be setting in.  The driver doesn’t perform as many steering corrections, which means that the ones made are more severe and jerky.

Often drivers become very quiet or rely on conversation to stay awake.  Conversation often doesn’t make a lot of sense.

If the driver passes over rumble strips they need to pull over and take a rest.  This could mean that they actually fell asleep for a second, or that they are so tired that they can’t stay on the road.

The neck jerk is always a tell tale sign.  This is when the driver falls asleep for a moment and then their neck jerks and they wake up.

Never get on the road drowsy, and never get in a car with a drowsy driver.  There have been many calls for emergency roadside assistance due to drowsy drivers.  In addition, make sure your protect yourself with an auto warranty.

With everyone worried about the economy, there are numerous tips circulating about how to save money on fuel.  A lot of this advice, however, isn’t worth the time of the average driver.  So, which strategies are worth the time and which aren’t?

There are several things that you can do to significantly improve your fuel economy.  It makes sense to drive slow and steady to improve gas mileage.  If you travel at the speed limit and avoid accelerating rapidly you won’t burn as much gas.  Also, you don’t want to let your car idle.  Every second in which your engine is running while your car is stationary you are wasting gas.  Also, keeping your tires inflated properly will allow you approximately a 10% improvement in fuel-efficiency.

There are also some tips that aren’t worth your time.  First of all, don’t bother filling up when temperatures are cool.  Although this theory is true, it won’t save you enough to be concerned with it.  Next, lightening your load isn’t going to help you with fuel-efficiency very much unless you’re carrying 100 pounds of cargo in your car.  Most people don’t carry enough stuff in their car to amount to much.

Consumers are becoming more and more concerned with saving money on their cars.  To do this they are buying fuel-efficient cars with an auto warranty, and following tips to save on fuel.  Motorists are feeling the pinch due to the poor economy.

Often, drivers who have a big SUV feel a false sense of security.  People feel that just because they are in a large vehicle nothing can happen to them.

Yet, the truth is that SUVs are much more likely to roll in an accident than other cars.  And approximately 35% of fatalities in car accidents occur because of rolling.  Also, it was recently discovered by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that the strength of a SUVs roof is directly correlated to the risk of injury to the occupants.  In other words, if a vehicle’s roof is made stronger, it can reduce injuries.

The U.S. government currently requires cars to be able to withstand a force 1.5 times the car’s weight before it reaches 5 inches of crush.  For safety reasons, the government would like to change that to 2.5 times the weight of the vehicle.

Drivers never know if they are going to be involved in a car accident.  Drivers should protect themselves by buying a safe vehicle, having a good auto warranty, and taking safety precautions while driving.