car tech
December 4, 2011 | 
Author Insurance specialists and concerned policyholders are expressing apprehension over the possible increase in insurance costs if more American carmakers close shop. According to experts, if the current economic crisis forces major automakers to shut down, there could be a domino effect in the insurance industry.
Analysts explain that insurance companies determine rates and premiums based on several factors, one of which is the availability of parts and repair services. Some vehicles and car models are more expensive to repair or replace in the event of an accident. The collapse of a major car manufacturer can mean spare parts that are harder to find. This can help drive up insurance costs significantly.
The availability of parts plays a crucial role in how insurers determine rates. Popular car models with abundant supply of parts and services tend to be much cheaper to insure than vehicles from discontinued brands. Generally speaking, fewer parts available means more expensive replacements. This is then passed on to the car owners who will have to pay more for insurance.
The discontinuation of a particular car brand or model can also present problems to car owners when it comes to finding specialized repair services. Not all vehicles are made in the same way. Because of this, some car models often require specialists who are experts in handling the car problems of specific vehicle models. This can drive up costs significantly.
According to insurance experts, motorists should consider all the possibilities before deciding on a car to purchase. They recommend researching all known car parts distributors and checking on the financial status of the carmakers. Knowing how the companies fare financially can help them gauge their survivability especially now with the ongoing economic slump.
Policyholders unfortunate enough to own cars that have been discontinued or were once made by defunct automakers can still find ways to slash their insurance expenses. For instance, car owners can choose to increase deductibles and shoulder a portion of the repair expenses needed for their vehicles. They can then look for spare parts and specialized repair services on their own without employing the services of their insurer. However, specialists say that policyholders should only do this if they know how and where to find replacement parts for their vehicles.
And then of course, motorists can take advantage of the broiling price wars between highly competitive insurance companies. Because of the increasing competition among insurance providers, most insurers are slashing rates and premiums to attract more customers.
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(NAPSI)-The slow decline in gas prices over the past few months has many used-car buyers bypassing expensive hybrids in favor of what you might feel is a surprising choice: SUVs.
According to a new study, consumer interest in SUVs remains strong despite the seeming popularity of high-fuel-efficiency cars.
Evidence shows that shoppers are more interested in these cars if there is a clear vehicle history and the vehicle is priced right-which, according to experts, they increasingly are.
“Many used SUVs, even those with greater fuel efficiency, are selling below market value because of the growing supply on dealers’ lots, so buyers can be choosy about the next vehicle they purchase,” said Larry Gamache, communications director at Carfax, the organization that ran the study.
Gamache says there’s been a dramatic increase in consumer activity at carfax.com over the past year for SUVs and crossover vehicles, some by as much as 3,000 percent. The Web site allows shoppers to run a vehicle history report, checking for past accidents and major damage on the vehicle they are considering. Additionally, the report highlights attributes such as low mileage and regular maintenance to help people find the best-value SUV.
So which SUVs are people researching on the site?
Searches on the Kia Rondo were up 3,600 percent from a year ago, while searches for Jeep Patriots and Buick Enclaves were up well over 2,000 percent.
Searches for the Mazda CX-9, Land Rover LR2, Saturn Outlook, Lincoln MKX and Suzuki SX4 were up more than 1,000 percent.
Hyundai Tucson and GMC Acadia searches were up over 900 percent.
More than 32,000 dealers across North America subscribe to Carfax and millions of free reports are available online for used cars and SUVs listed by participating dealers at places like AutoTrader.com, cars.com, AutoMart.com and Yahoo! Autos. For more information, visit www.carfax.com.
A study found that an increasing number of consumers are researching used SUVs.
Because the SUV’s are so large the tendency for them to crush other motorists in accidents are common.
What I will do in this report is to define for you what a SUV is and what its’ supposed use is. I will then discuss why people feel that SUV’s are a problem and later what its advantages are. Of course we can’t end without the writers comments. My sources for the information in this report is from sites on the Internet. I will give you links to the sites in case you want to check them out.
SUV stands for Sports Utility Vehicle. It has been named a sport utility vehicle because of its use. “Sport” because it enables people to carry all sorts of gear for activities. Some uses for the SUV include towing boats, carrying surfboards etc… and it allows you to take the family and your gear to other such out door events like camping. It is a “Utility” vehicle because of its usefulness. Besides those above mentioned activities it can take you to any other activity that you desire. Finally, it is a “Vehicle” for obvious reasons.
SUV’s differ from something like a van because it may come with a four wheel drive feature with is used for off roading. It doesn’t come with a sliding door and the look of the SUV is more sporty and rugged. It is a kind of all purpose vehicle. The van was not created to go off roading. It is more a cargo vehicle built to carry a lot of cargo and take its passengers for point A to point B.
The controversy surrounding the SUV’s are the danger that many feels it poses. Because of the increasing popularity of sport utility vehicles there have been many who oppose its use for everyday tasks. There have been some controversy over the safety of them for those who operate the vehicle and the safety of others on the roads with them. Many feel that people are purchasing them for its appearance and not for its proper use, what ever that may be.
According to the SUV Safety site the advantages to owning an SUV are many. First, many of the vehicles are equipped with four wheel drive. These vehicles handle better in the rain and snow or what ever extreme conditions the weather may bring. There is more traction because of the four wheel drive there fore better control over the vehicle in those conditions. Besides better traction the, four wheel drive feature allows the operator of the vehicle to drive in places that other cars are unable to go. Also due to the generous amount of space from the ground to the bottom of the vehicle there is less chance of damage. The height also allows better visibility so the driver can see in to traffic easier than smaller cars.
The site mentions that the SUV’s are much safer than other cars because of the large amount of metal that surrounds the car. It provides the vehicle with a larger frame structure and thus protects the occupants of the car. In general due to the large size of the vehicle it is safer than driving a tiny sports car. On impact an SUV will be less likely to be crushed or tossed around.
In defense, the site claims that the problems with the vehicles turning are not really a problem at all. According to the NHSTA, rollovers “typically involve dangerous driver behavior. Lower seat belt use, speeding, and alcohol use are common factors in more than 90 percent of all rollover fatalities.” Basically if drivers of utility vehicles follow the traffic laws then problems with roll overs should not occur. They feel that all vehicle pose problems for motorists. It is possible for any kind of car, truck or van to tip while taking turns if they are breaking traffic laws. Besides this point, they say that other large vehicles pose the same problems as SUV’s.
According to the site that I searched The Sport Utility Vehicle Anit-Fan Club the main problem with the SUV is its tendency to roll over while taking turns. Supposedly the manufacturer of each SUV is required to place a sticker in each vehicle which advises the driver to be cautious while taking turns. The sticker should read, “This is a multipurpose passenger vehicle which will handle and maneuver differently from an ordinary passenger car, in driving conditions which may occur on streets and highways and off road. As with other vehicles of this type, if you make sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers, the vehicle may roll over or may go out of control and crash. You should read driving guidelines and instructions in the Owner’s Manual, and wear your seat belt at all times.” What this club is saying is that not all manufacturers do this. The reason they say for the vehicles tendency to roll is the vehicles high center of gravity. The closer the center of gravity to the ground the less likely the car is to tip.
A second problem that some have with SUV’s are the the size of the vehicles. There are those who feel that the large size of the vehicles are a problem on the road. Because the SUV’s are so large the tendency for them to crush other motorists in accidents are common. Also, in fender benders the height of the SUV’s are a problem. The fenders on the vehicles are so much higher then those on normal sized cars that they over ride the smaller cars bumpers crushing the occupants in the car. Also because of the cars height when it flips over it crushes the smaller vehicle as a can crusher crushes a can.
The anti lock breaks have been reported to be defective in three thousand five hundred and fifty cars but approximately fifteen thousand consumers have complained of problems with their anti lock breaks. Aside from these problems other problems that people feel are caused because of SUV’s are air pollution. The vehicles are as many call it “gas guzzlers.” So they require more amounts of gas then other smaller vehicles thus more pollution.
Conclusion Both sites have valid arguments as to the safety of sport utility vehicles but as a sport utility vehicle owner I have to side with the advantages of owning one. Every vehicle has its faults and other larger vehicles may possibly pose the same dangers as SUV’s. Also every car on the road add to the pollution of the air and the destruction of the environment as well as uses a large amount of gas. I can not understand why people feel the need to target SUV’s. A site that I found lists the top ten reasons people own sports utility vehicles and one of the reasons is because everyone else drives one. I agree, sports utility vehicles may be the fad now but so were hondas and even station wagons at one time. Personally I enjoy my SUV. I like being able to see over smaller cars and carry more passengers. Aside from that my vehicle allows me to carry a lot of cargo both inside and on top of the roof. It is in my opinion an all purpose vehicle.
As you browsed ‘ The SUV Controversy ‘ you may find interest in following news . . .
Article source: http://www.smartmotorist.com/traffic-and-safety-guideline/the-suv-controversy.html
The low-cost auto insurance program was formally introduced by the Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones to the students at the East Los Angeles Community College with the new corporate partner – ASUS Computer International. This program is administered by the California Department of Insurance (CDI).
All students are on a tight budget and look for ways to save money. The California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program (CLCA) is an affordable liability-only auto insurance program which meets the requirements of the state’s financial responsibility laws and is available for less than $400 per year.
Commissioner Jones stated that the CLCA was a great resource for most Californians and is especially helpful for these college students who generally look for various means to stretch their budget. Students can get liability insurance through the CLCA program for as little as $22 per month and this will help meet California’s insurance requirements.
Most of the college students are faced with rising costs just like the rest of the Californians. Campus fees, tuition, living expenses, and books etc are on the rise and students look for various means to stretch the dollar.
This new partnership between CLCA and ASUS Computers International will be a reminder for students not only to use their computers for connectivity but to save some money as well. In today’s times, functioning without a computer or a car would be really difficult. Hence this collaboration between CLCA and ASUS is a great opportunity to keep students engaged online and they can ascertain if they qualify for the CLCA programs right on campus in real time.
The Latin Business Association as well as the Asian Business Association joined the event to lend support as they recognized the value of CLCA for all Californian citizens.
With the current budget crisis in California, these public-private partnerships are vital to inform consumers about the state programs so it can reach the eligible participants. These on-campus events help provide an opportunity for students to pose questions and see if they really qualify for the program. Students will also get the opportunity to try the new ASUS products and participate in contests.
All motorists must take the liability insurance before hitting the road. This program from CLCA is really affordable and a great option for the eligible drivers. Hence, there must be no excuses to drive without a valid insurance. It is also easy to qualify for the program.