Auto Roadside Assistance Blog

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.

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.  Just protect yourself with a road service program in case you find yourself stranded on the side of the road.

It’s familiar to us all.  You’re 10 minutes late, driving to work, and you need to make up for lost time.  So, suddenly you find yourself with a lead foot and you begin multi tasking by catching up on phone calls.  Doesn’t sound very safe, huh?  We all make common driving mistakes, but we need to be aware that these mistakes could leave us calling for road service.

Pushing buttons on your dashboard while driving can be very dangerous.  In fact, car companies find themselves jumping through the hoops of lawyers when they develop consoles equipped with climate gauges, satellite navigation and stereos.  Playing with these devices is the #1 cause of accidents.

In approximately 56% of fatal car crashes, aggressive driving is a factor.  Aggressive driving includes tailgating, speeding, making improper lane changes, and running red lights and stop signs.  Most motorists admit that they make the same mistakes that they hate to see other motorists make.

Mobile devices are a big temptation for everyone on the road, but especially teenagers.  These include cell phones, Blackberries, and iPods.  It is best to place phone calls, text, and set up your music before putting your gear in “drive”.  These simple devices can prove fatal in a car.

We are all guilty of making common driving mistakes, but being aware of them will help us avoid calls for emergency auto assistance.  Safety should be your first concern on the road, which is why you should buy an auto warranty.

College students who live far from their school find it hard to commute on a daily basis.  It can be tough to wait for a bus, as well as time consuming.  Having a vehicle can help a great deal in this situation.  But students are usually tight for cash, so they need to get car loans for students.

Students need to plan their budget well.  Purchasing a pre-owned vehicle is a great option for students because they are cheaper than new vehicles.  Of course there are other expenses, such as insurance, roadside assistance, used car warranties, and fuel that come along with car ownership.  So, it is necessary to consider these factors when calculating the cost of buying a car.  Car loans for students are designed so that students can repay them without problems.  Loans such as these are offered through banks and financial companies.

Students with poor credit are even eligible to apply for car loans for students; however, their interest rate will be higher.  To make the interest rate lower, students can arrange to have a co-signer.  Auto loans for students are considered secure because if the student can’t repay the loan, the lender will take the car, and it will be sold to recover the loan amount.

With modern vehicles, professional help is usually required for repairs.  A roadside assistance program brings a great deal of reassurance in case of breakdowns.  However, picking a road service program can be difficult.  Here are some things to consider when trying choosing a program that works for you.

Price is a large factor to consider when shopping for roadside benefits.  Yet, keep in mind that this shouldn’t be the only issue.  Determine what aspect of the coverage you find most important, and then proceed with the search.

A lot of times you have the option to choose between auto road services that just help on the road, or those that will also assist you if your vehicle breaks down at home.  It would be wise to purchase the latter.  After all, you can’t choose where your car will breakdown.

Also, you should inquire if the coverage covers you, or the actual vehicle.  The former is a good idea if you are going to drive more than just one car, and the latter is ideal if there are other family members that are going to drive the car.  Also know that it is possible to get discounts for husband and wife policies.

It can be difficult to determine the roadside assistance program that is ideal for you.  Just determine the kind of road service that will suit your needs, and find a company that can provide you with a lot of options.

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 big alteration in the auto industry is on the way.  Electric cars and plug-in hybrids are coming, and we have been asking for a while. However, is America ready?

At the Institute of Transportation Studies, located within the University of California, this question has been the topic of research.

What they have found is cause for concern.  First, they discovered that a large obstacle to acceptance of these cars is a lack in consumer education.  Motorists just don’t have a lot of knowledge about plug-ins, or they get the information confused with already available hybrids.  Car shoppers may not even understand what the benefits are of having plug-in vehicles, including the gas savings that they will receive.

Next, approximately half of households in the U.S. don’t have the infrastructure that will support plug-in cars.  For example, look at Chicago residents.  A citizen who lives in an apartment could really benefit from a car that could drive 40 miles without needing any gas.  However, a person such as this wouldn’t have any garage access, which would mean they wouldn’t have a way to recharge the vehicle.

According to the study, only one-third of households wanting to buy a new car had the infrastructure necessary and an interest in hybrid or plug-in cars.  This is definitely an obstacle for the mainstream success of plug-ins and electric cars.  After all, a lot of people would be making calls for roadside assistance without an infrastructure to be able to recharge their cars.

With people wanting to save money on gas and the trend for green living, motorists 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?

There’s nothing more inconvenient than turning your ignition just to find that you have a dead battery.  At that point the only thing you can do is get a jump-start or call for roadside assistance.  However, there are some preventative measures that you can take to avoid getting stuck in this position.

Regardless of the type of battery you have, you need to check the terminal connections periodically.  You want to make sure that there is no corrosion or tightness.

If you determine that there are corroded terminals, you can clean them off with a small brush and a mixture of water and baking soda.

Also, you can do a visual check of the battery to determine if there are any leaks, cracks, or damage.  If any of these things are apparent, replace the battery immediately.

Of course, the time to save your battery is prior to the signs of wear and tear.  Unfortunately, you can’t always predict when your battery will fail, which is why it is important to have a road service program.  However, if your starter turns slow, your headlights brighten when you rev the engine, or your clock is noticeably slower, your battery should be examined.

There is a new website that Tribal has launched that allows car shoppers to experience a true life like shopping experience from the comfort of their own homes.  Now, at Volkswagen.co.uk people can virtually walk around a new vehicle and sit in it.  Tribal created this website because shopping for cars can be confusing.

Research shows that car shoppers do the majority of their car research on the Internet, which cuts showroom visits in half.  In response to this, VW decided to give car shoppers a virtual experience that they could experience without leaving the house.

In the site you will find a sophisticated car configurator in which there are 3D models of the VW range.  Visitors can change different options in order to alter the vehicle’s appearance.  Basically, people can create the car that they choose to have.

In the near future people can go to the site and book test-drives through different retailers.  They will also have the ability to see what models are available at different retailers.

VW has listened to customers needs and designed a website that allows people to shop from their own homes.  It is also convenient that people can shop for new car warranties and road service by searching various websites.  By doing comparisons, people can rest assured that they got the best deal on a car, an auto warranty and insurance.

What features can help older drivers stay safe and comfortable on the road and avoid road service calls?  The American Automobile Association has the following recommendations to help older drivers.

First, it is helpful to have a steering wheel that tilts and telescopes.  This puts the driver 10 inches from the airbag, and also alleviates shoulder and neck pain.

Also helpful are mirrors that allow for wide visibility.  This allows older drivers to compensate for a limited range of motion.

Seats that are heated with lumbar support allow relief from an aching back.

Six-way adjustable seats allow drivers who are short to see over the steering wheel, and allow for an easier entrance and exit out of the car.

A car with adjustable foot pedals will allow small drivers to be able to reach pedals while remaining far enough away from the airbag.

Four doors are better than two for older drivers because they are lighter and easier to open and close.

Purchasing the right car for an older driver is important for safety reasons.  Keep these things in mind to help your loved one avoid emergency roadside assistance calls.  In addition, purchase an auto warranty that will help you avoid unnecessary repair costs.