Roadside Assistance Program

With the high cost of gas and trend for green living, people are looking to carpooling as an option.  This way of commuting is good for the pocketbook, the environment, and perhaps even people’s social lives.

People who ride in carpools find each other through websites, word of mouth, employers, and the state Executive Office of Transportation.  Some people use their own cars, while others form a vanpool.  This is when a group of people decides to lease a van together with the intention of using it for commuting.  Members then share the costs, such as maintenance, gas, insurance, and a road service program.

At this particular time in history, carpooling makes sense.  According to traffic planners and environmentalists, this is one of the cheapest and easiest ways that cities can decrease congestion and pollution.  In addition, carpooling allows people to reduce their transportation costs, which according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumed around 15% of the American budget in 2006.  And not like public transit, being in a carpool doesn’t require much money in the way of maintenance or infrastructure that is taxpayer-funded.

Although Americans crave their independence and freedom, they are realizing it is beneficial to join a carpooling group.  And in the end, commuting with a group of people is safer anyway.  After all, who wants to experience a breakdown alone calling for roadside assistance?

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 beware, with a road full of drivers surfing the Internet, you might want to sign up for a good emergency roadside assistance program.

Every year there are more than 10,000 vehicle accidents in the nation and approximately 450 people die as a result of the collision.  Many of these accidents can be avoided by having routine maintenance performed on your car.

The vehicle is by far the most popular means of transportation in the U.S.  In fact, 91% of adults in our country own, or have owned a car.

Before you hit the road again, check the following parts of your car to make sure that they are operating properly.

First, take a look at your tires.  Many people neglect to check their tires and end up with blowouts.  Make sure that your air levels are good.  You can reference your owner’s manual to find out what the right level should be.  Also, you want to make sure that there aren’t any leaks, low treads, or worn spots.

Next, change your windshield wipers about twice in a year.  Your windshield is actually one of the most important parts of your car because if you can’t see the road well you are in trouble.

Brakes should be monitored to make sure they are working correctly.  If your brake pedal is moving all the way down to the floor when you step on it, have your brakes looked at by a professional.  More recent cars have a warning system to let you know if your brakes aren’t operating correctly.

Maintenance can save you from a dangerous accident.  To save your wallet, make sure you have a good auto warranty that will keep you from paying unnecessary repair costs.  In addition, sign up for a good roadside assistance program. You don’t want to find yourself unprepared.

The thermostat in your car serves the purpose of regulating the temperature so it stays at a desired level.  To achieve this, it controls the cooling and heating mechanisms that control the heat flow throughout the system.  The thermostat manages the amount of coolant in the internal combustion engine.  A thermostat is necessary in all liquid cooled engines.

If your thermostat isn’t working correctly it may be due to several reasons.  First, the thermostat may be affected if the water pump is failing.  The thermostat may also be affected with an overheated engine or if coolant is leaking.

Make sure you have a mechanic look at your thermostat on a regular basis.  It plays a key position in keeping your engine cool, so it needs to be replaced every few years.

Also, if you don’t replace your thermostat when it’s time, you may find yourself with additional problems, such as emission problems, knocking with acceleration, and poor fuel-economy.  This is why it is important to have a good auto warranty.  You don’t want to find yourself paying unnecessary repair costs.  In addition, roadside assistance will provide you with peace of mind in case of a breakdown.

A recent report shows that new car customers aren’t doing enough to ensure the best deals on financing, insurance and new car warranties.

Only 64 percent of motorists would even attempt a negotiation on the price of a new vehicle.  In addition, over 2 million motorists wouldn’t even bother to research the current value of their existing car when planning to do a trade-in.  In fact, over 30 percent of drivers admitted they wouldn’t even spend an hour researching how they are going to pay for their new vehicle.

Alarmingly, 91% of customers weren’t able to explain what the phrase ‘lease purchase’ meant, which is a term often used in car financing deals.  Also, 50 percent said they would go ahead and purchase a new car without getting any quote for the insurance.

Our nation is known for being bargain hunters and trying to get the best deal.  But for some reason when it comes to purchasing a new vehicle motorists are falling short.  It’s crucial for all drivers wanting to buy the newest vehicle to do their homework.  Financing, insurance, roadside assistance and an auto warranty are an essential part of the car buying experience.  So, shop around and find the best deals.  Otherwise, pay the price.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners recently performed a study to determine what the best and worst states are in the country for auto insurance.  According to the study, you are paying the highest insurance premiums if you live in the Northeast.

New Jersey proved to be the most expensive state.  On average, premiums in New Jersey are over $1,300 yearly.  The capital of our nation, Washington D.C. was the second highest, with average yearly premiums of $1,185.  New York was third highest with $1,110 being the average premium.

Revealed in the study was that urban driving, high salaries, and a lot of traffic are responsible for elevated costs in those states.  In addition, liability insurance premium costs are higher in the Northeast.

Midwestern and Northern states proved to have the lowest insurance premium costs.  The overall lowest was Idaho with costs at $530 per year.  The next lowest was Maine at $560 a year, and North Dakota was $570 per year.

According to this study, your location is a key factor in determining your car insurance costs.  Today, consumers are paying more than they ever have for their vehicles.  These costs include insurance, roadside assistance, and maintenance costs.

According to the Associated Press, Toyota has “secretly” started to develop a solar-powered car, even though the Japanese company has experienced its first year down after having positive growth for 70 years.

However, don’t get too excited yet.  Perhaps the story that is the biggest here is the reason that the AP wrote about a potential solar car being created by Toyota.  This isn’t any different than any other carmaker that has developed a prototype in the Research & Development department.  Toyota is known for a reputation for its green technology that is cutting edge, and it will receive key expertise when Panasonic, its battery developer, takes in solar leader Sanyo later in the year.

The technology is there to build such a car, without a doubt.  However, you have to ask, what sort of range is it going to have?  Also, is there going to be anyone that will purchase a car costing $200,000 that will need to be recharged after 35 miles?  One thing’s for sure; an auto warranty and roadside assistance would be a good idea for a car with solar technology, such as this.

In other words, can a vehicle that is solar-powered be mass-produced and actually work for people’s lifestyles?

People often try to choose a repair shop that is close to their homes and that they believe to be trustworthy.  However, the time may be coming when motorists aren’t going to have the freedom to pick whichever repair shop they want.

Cars today are operated through computers, therefore to determine what repairs need to be done the computer codes are needed.  Carmakers don’t like to release these codes, which means that independent service shops may not be able to repair cars properly.  This means that motorists are being forced to take their vehicles into dealerships for repairs.  This makes having an auto warranty even more essential because dealerships usually charge more for repairs.

Congress has realized that this is a problem because independent repair shops may be put out of business.  In response to this they are trying to get the Motor Vehicle Owners Right To Repair Act passed.  This bill would make it mandatory for automakers to disclose information with independent repair shops.

Motorists need to be able to have the option of where to get their cars repaired, otherwise people may avoid having repairs done and end up calling for roadside assistance.

Most people realize that hypermiling is not the safest practice; in fact it leads to car accidents. However, many people still do it.  Well now, AAA is weighing in with their view on the subject.

AAA has released a very strong warning saying that practices to save gas, in which illegal driving techniques are used, are dangerous, and therefore shouldn’t be used.  They are referring to practices like drafting off of other cars by tailgating, rolling stops, and turning off the car while driving.

Other gas saving practices toe the line of acceptability.  For example, motorists who have manual transmissions sometimes cruise in neutral to conserve fuel.  This practice is fairly common, yet safety advocates express concerns about motorists not having complete control of their cars.  Also controversial is the practice of utilizing neutral with automatic transmissions, however some drivers who do this say that they can do it safely.  AAA also doesn’t bring up the fact that there are numerous local laws having to do with improper driving, like not keeping your vehicle in gear.

Although motorists are tempted to do anything possible to save money on gas, including skimping on an auto warranty, people need to realize the danger involved in illegal driving techniques.  Unfortunately, hypermiling has been known to lead to car accidents, which is why it is important to have roadside assistance.  After all, we can drive responsibly, but we can’t foresee what other drivers will do.

Hybrids are wonderful cars.  They get good gas mileage, they help our environment, and people who own them love them.  And best of all they’re quiet. But are they too quiet?

Often you will hear salesmen tell their customers to be careful when walking out of the showroom.  Hybrids are so silent that it is virtually impossible to hear them coming.

This can be dangerous for pedestrians.  Many times people walking in a parking lot will have no idea a Hybrid is driving close to them.  This is also true of bicycles in traffic.  This means that Hybrid drivers must exercise extra caution.  Sometimes it is necessary to honk at pedestrians, however, drivers must learn how to do this politely.  Also affective, is rolling down the window with music playing, so people will know you’re coming.

The Honda Civic hybrid might be a good option.  Although it is pretty silent, you can still hear it coming since it has a gasoline powered engine.  The only problem with this car is that drivers will often grind the ignition by turning it twice.  This is because they don’t realize that the car is on.

It is ironic that quiet cars are presenting challenges.  Who would have ever thought that a lack of road noise would present a problem?  Nevertheless, Hybrids are great cars.  Motorists should protect their quiet gems with an auto warranty in case of a breakdown.  You never want to be faced with unnecessary repair costs.  In addition, roadside assistance will bring you peace of mind.