There is nothing worse that purchasing a car and finding out that it has an ocean of problems, literally.

Why?  The number of cars on the market in the last five years that have been damaged by flooding, hurricanes or rains has doubled.  Certain states have actually reported an increase of six times more than the number recorded five years ago.

A lot of times, vehicles with this problem are moved from regions that experience a lot of flooding to less suspicious areas.  These cars will find themselves back on the pre-owned market, disguised and rebuilt to look clean.

It can be hard to realize if a flood has damaged a car, yet if a car has been underwater it will rot inside and out.  Also, water damage can threaten the mechanical systems and ruin electronics in a vehicle, without even leaving a sign on the outside of the vehicle.

Since sales of used cars are expected to reach 45 million this year, consumers need to be on high alert for any signs of flood damage.  Also, purchase an auto warranty to protect yourself in case you have unforeseen repair costs.

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.

Volvo already has a good reputation for its impressive safety features.  Yet, Volvo has recently debuted new safety technologies.  To improve their safety features Volvo has built on its current safety features.

Volvo’s latest safety package is available on the Volvo XC60.  The package has the purpose of assisting distracted drivers.

One impressive safety feature is an automatic low-speed system of braking.  It can detect reflections from bumpers and license plates using a laser.  If the driver has a speed of less than 20mph and they get too close, the car will stop automatically.

They also added an interesting approach to the LDW system.  This system serves the purpose of audibly alerting drivers if they cross the line without the use of a turn signal.  Another program that Volvo has added detects micro corrections, which indicate a driver is falling asleep.

Drivers are becoming more concerned with safety features, and Volvo has provided great safety advancements. By purchasing an auto warranty and driving safer cars, motorists are now able to have peace of mind.

Terms like geometric morphometrics and pareidolia aren’t generally important to people designing or buying cars, however they were significant in a recent study that found that people see faces when looking at vehicles, and typically they prefer ones that look powerful.

Pareidolia is an occurrence in which people actually see faces in various things from clouds to inkblots to cars.  A recent study was based on this concept and used geometric morphometrics to let participants rank vehicles on how they looked, using traits that are human like disgusted, sad or extroverted.

The results of the study confirmed that pretty much all people like cars that are powerful looking, like the BMW 5 Series.  Also, people tend to shy away from designs that are feeble-looking, like the Toyota Prius because they worry that they won’t be as sturdy and will require a good auto warranty.

Who knows if this research will determine the future designs of cars, but it might mean that we will see more big-mouthed grilles on the roads.

It’s the moment that every motorist dreads, a flat tire.  You don’t know if you ran over glass or hit a nail, but you need to take action.  You may need to call for road service, and then you have to have the tire fixed or do it yourself.  Surprisingly, it isn’t that hard to repair a tire yourself, and you can save the extra expense of having a repair shop do it.  Here’s how.

First, it is necessary to determine the location of the puncture.  You can do this by submerging the tire in water and watching where the bubbles come from.  Before you can patch the tire you must remove any foreign objects stuck in the tire.  You can pull out the object with pliers.  Be sure to pull out the object in the direction of the tread so you don’t do additional damage to the tire.

Now, use a tire reamer and clean out the hole from the inside of the tire.  Center the patch over the puncture to ensure proper sizing.  Take off the patch and coat an awl using cement.  You should run the awl in the hole a few times to make sure the damaged area is coated adequately.  Then, put a coat of vulcanizing cement directly on the patch and tire and let it dry.

Next, apply a layer of cement on the stem of the patch and then pull the stem through.  When the patch stem is all the way through the hole, cut it off.

Now, you are ready to get back out on the road.  With a little diligence you can do a quick tire fix and save yourself a trip to the repair shop.  Always have an auto warranty in case you need repairs down the line.

Microsoft’s latest attempt at vehicle technology appears to be promising.  Vi-Fi, or vehicle Wi-Fi, is Wi-Fi connections in vehicles.  Microsoft has partnered up with the University of Washington and the University of Massachusetts in order to make Wi-Fi connections a reliable and steady experience, which hasn’t happened with offerings by cell phone makers and their cards for laptops.

This new system allows for multiple Wi-Fi signals to come in and out at any given time in order for the signal to remain strong and steer clear of “hand-offs”, which are known to fumble and lead to spotty service.

But many people might ask, “Why do we need Wi-Fi in cars anyway?”  Do we really need to net surf behind the wheel?  Well, Wi-Fi- would be a good addition to technology in cars because it would replace satellite subscription services that are expensive, and it would allow us to have an unlimited amount of applications.  With Wi-Fi in cars, the weather and movie times could be displayed, as well as Internet radio, live stock quotes, instant messaging, and pretty much anything else you could access on a laptop.

For this to be an option for the everyday driver, there will need to be a larger infrastructure for Wi-Fi, but Microsoft has proven they can produce terrific technology in cars with the Sync system. Just make sure you have a good auto warranty to cover you in case new car technology fails.

The majority of Ford’s 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 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 Fords come with a hefty 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.

A recall has been issued by Kia of 6,680 of the Rondo EX and LX minivans from the model years 2008 and 2009.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there may be a defective fuel pump for the four-cylinder 2.4-liter engine, which may not be able to get enough fuel effectively to the engine.

This could result in engine hesitation or failure of the engine starting correctly, which might endanger motorists if the problem gets progressively worse.  If the problem occurs, the check engine light coming on may alert drivers.

If you have a 2008 or 2009 Kia Rondo, Kia will replace your fuel pump free of charge.  Vehicle owners can also call Kia at 1-800-333-4542.  Taking care of the problem right away may save you trouble in the future.

Unfortunately, you never know when your car will fail, which is why an auto warranty is a must. However, listening for recall alerts can also save you from unnecessary car problems.

People love to get a new car, but they don’t love the new car payments. But, although you can’t avoid those monthly payments, you can keep them reasonable. And make sure to factor in other costs, such as new car warranties, maintenance, and auto loans. Here are some tips to keep those car payments down.

Make sure you purchase a car that you need, not necessarily one that is on the lot.  Often, cars on the lot have more features than you need.  Dealers’ benefit from selling you one of these cars.  Not only do they move a vehicle off their lot, they sell you a more expensive car.

Only buy features that you must have.  For example, air conditioning is something most of us can’t live without, yet we don’t need climate control air conditioning.  You can save a lot of money by living without luxury features.  Watch out when the dealer tries to sell you power seats, audio systems, and tire packages.  All of these things are nice, but not essential.

You can save a lot by avoiding a bigger engine.  Test-drive a car model that has a standard engine.  You might find that the car has more than enough power.  By skipping the engine upgrade, you can save money upfront, as well as on fuel down the road.

Follow these simple tips to save yourself from paying high monthly payments.  However, realize that the one thing that you shouldn’t skimp on is purchasing an auto warranty.  You don’t want to be stuck with unnecessary repair costs down the road.