Auto Roadside Assistance Blog

The Subaru Impreza is a sensible, simple, enjoyable vehicle equipped with all-wheel drive, good fuel-efficiency, a comfortable interior, and an ample amount of people space, all with the addition of an auto warranty.

This is what you will find in the Subaru Impreza. Generally, this car hasn’t been a frontrunner when shoppers are considering purchasing a small vehicle, however, now the Impreza is a smarter choice than many of its competitors.  In fact, it makes more sense than ever.

It is not because it has unbelievable fuel economy, however it does pretty well, but because this car will give you a lot of vehicle for an excellent price.  All of those cars that are popular as fuel-efficient cars, such as the Civic and Corolla seem pricey now that people are concerned with gas prices.  And with the Impreza you get AWD, which you don’t with the others.

It is hard to beat the amount of car you get for your money with the Impreza, complete with new car warranties and roadside assistance.  You’ll find this car to be a simple car without all of the fuss and complications, which is a pleasant surprise.

The heart of the cooling system in a vehicle is the water pump.  It serves the purpose of circulating engine coolant through the entire system, starting with the radiator, then to the engine and back.  The water pump allows you to use air conditioning when it’s hot out.

The vehicle’s engine powers the water pump so that it works correctly.  It uses either a gear and chain system or a belt and pulley.  The pump generates power that goes to a shaft with an impeller.

The impeller circulates the coolant throughout the vehicle.  The impeller can be compared to a propeller that makes a boat move.

The impeller and shaft spin on a sealed bearing.  Checking this part of the water pump is essential because it wears out easily.  You can look for coolant that is leaking and an odd noise.  Also be aware that a wet engine is an indicator that you should replace your water pump.

If you notice any of these signs, it is time to replace your water pump.  Also, it is a good idea to have a road service program just in case of emergencies.  After all, you can’t always foresee when your car will fail you.

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 emergency roadside assistance program so you don’t find yourself stranded with no ride.

Choosing a roadside assistance program that is right for you can be challenging.  Drivers should do their homework and find a company that they feel is reliable and trustworthy.  In addition, motorists should know what services they are paying for.

Recently, a Toyota customer purchased an extended warranty that has free roadside assistance with it.  This is supposed to give drivers help in the event of a breakdown or if they run out of gas.  Unfortunately, this customer ran out of gas on a freeway in Cleveland, but didn’t experience the emergency auto assistance desired.  The rescue driver didn’t even bring the gas initially, he had to run out and get it.  Then, he only put one gallon of gas in the car, when you are entitled to 3 gallons.  The one gallon wouldn’t even start the car, and when asked if he would go get more gas, the driver said, “No. They don’t pay me enough for that.”  Then the driver drove off!

This is a prime example of why people need to feel good about their road service company.  Make sure you know what services you are entitled to, and search the Internet for blogs about various companies.  You can learn a lot by customer comments.

Modern cars provide safety for adults, but it is up to parents to provide the special protection needed for children.  However, there are many different types of Child seats out there today, which can make it confusing for adults to know what to choose for their child.  There are three different types of seats.

Infant car seats are designed to be rear facing.  These seats are for infants that weigh less than 20 pounds and are less than one year old.  One advantage to this seat is that you can unclip it from its base and carry your baby in it.

Convertible seats offer versatility.  These seats can be used with infants that are rear facing, or children less than 40 pounds that are forward facing.  You can purchase these seats in various configurations; so make sure you do your homework to secure your child correctly.  These seats are cost effective because with this type of seat you don’t ever have to purchase an infant seat.

Booster seats are intermediate seats between the infant or convertible seat and a seat belt.  These seats are designed for kids between 40-65 pounds and face forward.  These seats come in low-back and high-back models.  You don’t want to buy a low-back type if you have a child whose head is above the top of the back.

Don’t get overwhelmed with the child safety seat options.  Do your homework so you know what to look at when you go to the store.  It is important for you to be responsible for your child’s safety.  This includes purchasing an appropriate car seat and having a road service program so that you don’t find yourself stranded on the side of the road with your child.

If you ask a woman if she would like to buy a Dodge Viper, chances are she will say “no”.  This car is a V-10 two seater that starts at approximately $80,000.  Although this may not be a woman’s cup of tea, studies show that many men would like to have this car.  Like many other aspects of life, men and women seem to have very different tastes, and cars are no exception.

Men and women buy the Viper, but 91% of customers are men.  The Porsche 911 and BMW M5 are also cars being bought primarily by males.  These models costs above $60,000.  Studies show that men often equate their car with their image.  In other words, they choose cars that will portray a certain status.

What cars do women like?  The #1 choice is the Toyota RAV4.  Women like to purchase small, affordable cars that are easy to buy.  For example, the Saturn SC, SL, and ION are popular choices for women.  These cars start at around $10,000 and have a reputation of being “no hassle” when it comes to buying.

It is obvious that women and men think very differently in lots of areas, cars included.  Men like to buy the fast, impressive cars, whereas women purchase the inexpensive, small cars.  The only common ground that these cars have is that they are backed by an auto warranty and roadside assistance.

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?

According to a recent survey by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety, many drivers believe they have super abilities to complete complex tasks behind the wheel.  And although it may seem monotonous to just drive a car, multi-tasking while driving increases the chance for having an accident drastically. In addition, many calls for road service are due to multi-tasking. So, what are drivers really doing behind the wheel?

Well, 32% of drivers surveyed admit to reading while driving.  The survey didn’t specify whether they are reading maps or autobiographies, but it doesn’t really matter.  Either way, these drivers are 3.4 times more likely to get in an accident.

And, although most of us detest seeing drivers eat behind the wheel, NETS says that 70% of the surveyed drivers do it.  These drivers have a two to three times greater chance of crashing because of their eating habits.

Another group of people are making work preparations behind the wheel.  In fact, 10% of motorists admitted to making phone calls, reviewing notes, using computers, and making lists, all while trying to navigate during rush hour.

Although driving may seem monotonous at times, motorists need to resist the temptation to multi-task behind the wheel.  These habits can result in accidents and calls for emergency roadside assistance.

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, used car warranties and maintenance costs.

Many drivers have experienced feeling drowsy behind the wheel.  Either you have been with someone else feeling sleepy, or you’ve been the one trying to stay awake.  Many car accidents and calls for road service are easily avoided by avoiding getting behind the wheel when you’re drowsy.  Here are some warning signs that a driver is too drowsy to be on the road.

First, weaving is a good indication of drowsiness.  Many times sleepy drivers don’t make as many steering corrections, which means the ones that are made are jerky and often severe.

A lot of times drowsy drivers rely on conversation to keep from falling asleep.  If you notice that conversation isn’t making much sense, it is time to get off of the road.

If a motorist drives over rumble strips they need to pull over and rest.  This often means that the driver actually fell asleep briefly, or that they can’t stay on the road because of fatigue.

The neck jerk is a tell tale sign of drowsiness.  This is when the motorist falls asleep and their neck jerk causes them to wake up.

As a rule, don’t get in the car with a sleepy driver, or behind the wheel.  Many emergency roadside assistance calls have been made due to sleepy drivers.