Roadside Assistance Program

Car shoppers are always questioning whether they should lease or buy.  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 and roadside assistance to protect you in case of unforeseen repairs down the road.

Modern vehicles are designed safer to survive accidents and keep passengers safe.  Virtually all automakers include emergency kits installed by the factory.  This is either due to competitive pressure or government regulations.  Most of the roadside kits include reflective markers, jumper cables, and flashlights.  These kits typically deal with mechanical and accident breakdowns.

Today’s automobiles endure unique conditions.  There is an increase in natural disasters, such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, etc.  Other emergencies include major accidents, snowstorms, and mechanical breakdowns, which all leave motorists stranded.

This is why it is necessary to be prepared in an emergency situation.  Motorists need to have emergency kits, first aid kits, and most importantly, a roadside assistance program.  In any emergency, drivers are left vulnerable, and knowing that help is only a phone call away leaves drivers with peace of mind.  It is simple to take these precautions, and they can literally save your life.

Many people believe that pickup trucks and SUVs cause extreme damage to cars in a collision because they are heavier and bigger.  And although size is a factor, the main culprit in collisions involving low speeds is the mismatch of bumper heights.

In the United States, SUVs, minivans, and pickup trucks aren’t required to have any bumpers.  While some car manufacturers do put bumpers on these vehicles, they usually don’t match up with car bumpers, which are required to have bumpers 16-20 inches above the ground.

In addition, pickup truck and SUV bumpers are typically flimsy.  In fact, bumpers on most of these vehicles are purely decorative.

The result of bumper mismatch is a hefty repair bill resulting from even the most minor accidents.  Without a bumper, there isn’t anything to protect a vehicle’s expensive sheet metal.

People wouldn’t expect a 10-mph collision to completely disable a vehicle, yet often times when bumper mismatch is involved, one or both vehicles are undrivable.  To deal with this problem, motorists should make sure that their vehicle has a bumper and they should practice defensive driving. Also, roadside assistance is a good idea. In addition, you should always have a good auto warranty in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Did you know that your car is talking?  That’s right, your car is saying a great deal about your personality and attitude.  It’s true we are what we drive.  Car enthusiasts even admit that our vehicles are a window into our souls.

Carmakers admit that minivan sales have declined partly due to the fact that people don’t want that mommy-mobile image.  Ford has completely given up on minivans for this reason and is just focusing on crossovers.

In our culture of cars, drivers idealize their vehicles and even give them qualities that are human.  For example, when hypnotized motorists will refer to their vehicles as if they are their friends.  People even give their cars a name and talk to them.  Also, people try to pick a car that has attributes that mirror their self-image.  For instance, a person who thinks of themselves as outdoorsy buys a vehicle that is rugged.

So, the next time you purchase a vehicle and an auto warranty you might want to consider what your vehicle is saying.  Your car might be telling people more than you would like them to know.  And make sure to protect yourself with roadside assistance in case of a breakdown.

Apparently, car thieves aren’t all that concerned about steeling vehicles that are fuel-efficient.

In fact, SUVs and large pickup trucks are the majority on the top-10 most stolen vehicles list, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute, which is affiliated with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Number one on the list is the Cadillac Escalade ESV, probably because it is a highly desirable and high profile vehicle.  Big time athletes and celebrities drive the Escalade, making it a status symbol.  Also, people who drive this vehicle often include options and add-ons that are expensive, such as fancy rims and top-notch stereo equipment.  There are 11.3 stolen vehicle claims for the Escalade for every 1,000 vehicles.  The average claim is approximately $14,657 loss payment, whereas it is typically $9,396 average for all cars.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, a vehicle is stolen approximately every 24 seconds in America.  Just make sure you protect yourself with an auto warranty and a good roadside assistance program.

Why is it so hard to bring a popular vehicle in Europe to the U.S?  Many people wonder why carmakers sell different models overseas than in the U.S.

The main reason is differing standards in safety.  What is acceptable in Europe doesn’t always pass the test with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  U.S. law has a requirement for crash protection for car passengers that don’t wear seat belts, however, this isn’t a priority in Europe.  Even small details, such as the color of the turn signals in the rear are a major obstacle when trying to take a car from one market to another.

A study was conducted by Ford of 43 regulations in Europe and the U.S. and discovered that there were only 11 that matched.  So, it gets to be very expensive to make an all-new version of a vehicle in order to meet different safety standards.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and American consumers have strict safety standards.  Motorists put safety at the top of their list, which is why they are buying safer cars and signing up for a roadside assistance program.  For this reason, cars in Europe aren’t always introduced to the U.S.

We’ve all been there.  You encounter another driver who loses his temper and elicits road rage directed at you.  And the result is that you yourself become enraged.  Road rage has become a sort of cultural phenomenon that occurs all over the nation. Sometimes road rage even results in accidents that require roadside assistance.

People living in major metropolitan areas on the east or west coast elicit the worst road rage.  Drivers in the Northwest or Midwest tend to be more laid back and don’t experience as much road rage.  According to a study conducted nationwide, the city with the most aggressive driving is Miami, for the second year in a row.  The next worse was New York, followed by Boston, Los Angeles and Washington.  These cities experience the most traffic, and therefore, aggressive driving.

Data also shows that it isn’t just the increase in the number of drivers that is responsible for road rage; it is the increase in the age of drivers.  The senior population is the fastest growing demographic in the nation, which means seniors need to be able to adjust to aggressive drivers and crowded roadways.

There are several things that all drivers can do to avoid road rage.  First of all, people shouldn’t offend other drivers.  This includes tailgating, cutting people off, and making gestures.  In addition, drivers who are at risk for rage should take a minute to adjust their attitudes and put themselves in the shoes of other drivers.

Vehicle safety and maintenance is about performing all of the little things right, like replacing your windshield wipers frequently.  A simple task such as this could save you from an accident or help you avoid calling for emergency roadside assistance.   And, purchasing a quality pair of windshield wipers will only cost you $10, according to Consumer Reports.

Three out of the four blades that Consumer Reports rated on top were actually some of the least expensive.  Included in these were the Michelin RainForce, which were $7 for the 18-inch, the Valeo 600 series, which were $9 for the 18-inch, and Anco 31 Series, which were $7 for the 18-inch.

It’s a good thing that good windshield wipers are cheap because they should be replaced fairly often.  According to the report, even blades that are top-rated will degrade after six to nine months of regular use.

If you’re interested in buying the top-of-the-line windshield wipers, you will want the RainX Latitude because those were the only wipers that maintained a “Very Good” performance rating throughout the entire six months of testing.  However, for those you will have to pay $17 for the 18-inch.

High new car prices and never ending waiting lists for small fuel-efficient cars like the Toyota Prius have many motorists seeking other alternatives that will allow for a significant savings at the gas pump.

Economic vehicles from the ‘90s have had a big increase in the amount of searches on websites such as Cars.com.  Vehicles like the Geo Prizm and Geo Metro have seen searches by consumers rise by over 200% in the last year.  The spiked interest in these fuel-efficient cars that are cheap has also caused their prices to go up.  For example, Geo Metros that are from the 90’s, which are valued at approximately $1,300, are being listed for over $4,000.

Despite the popularity of these older vehicles, consumers should take precautions before purchasing them.  Although people will save money on fuel, these cars will often bear more costs when it comes to reliability and safety, and have you calling for roadside assistance.  This is part of the reason that these vehicles weren’t that popular when they were introduced originally.  Automakers have made great improvements in safety features and construction that weren’t found in older vehicle models.

Older, fuel-efficient cars can be a great way to save money at the gas pump, but make sure you do your homework before purchasing them.  Also, you should protect yourself in case of breakdowns by having a road service program.

There is no vehicle quite as exhilarating as a convertible.  Motorists love to feel the wind in their hair and the sun on their faces.  Convertibles give drivers a sense of freedom that is hard to find in any other vehicle.  However, are convertibles a good purchase?  Read on and decide for yourself.

Automakers have spent a lot of time improving convertibles.  Motorists used to have to worry about retractable tops leaking, but that is a thing of the past.  Today, convertible tops are superb at sealing out weather and sound.  And whether fabric or metal, the tops can go up and down with the touch of a button in less than 30 seconds.

Convertible safety has also greatly improved.  Cars are now equipped with side airbags.  These airbags deploy from the line of the window in order to create protection.  This is important in the case of a crash or rollover.

Although the convertible market hasn’t been growing, there are many interesting choices for consumers to consider.  Models that are newer, such as the Volkswagen Eos and Saturn Sky have been doing well in sales.  You might also want to consider a high-performance convertible, such as the Dodge Viper SRT10, Audi RS 4 Cabriolet, or the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet.  The benefit of buying a new convertible is that it comes with an auto warranty and roadside assistance.

Unfortunately, many convertible owners admit that the novelty of driving a convertible wears off within the first year.  Luckily, convertibles hold their value very well, which means that if you become fickle, you probably won’t have a hard time getting your money back.