Convertibles still have security issues – parking them with the top down is an invitation to have problems in a lot of urban areas. But advances in engineering have made them much more practical all weather cars than they used to be in the past.

Mazda Miata MX-5: One of the sportiest "fun cars" out there, and one of the best selling roadsters ever to grace pavement, the MX-5 got a solid overhaul with the 2009 model year, with sharper handling, a new front look and re-done ergonomics. The newer models have a retractable hard top that goes from open to folded in 15 seconds – about the time it takes to sit at the red light and decide you want to let the wind run in your hair.

Mercedes-Benz SLK: The car that brought the retractable hard top to mainstream appeal, this car has smooth lines and retains its roadster roots. It hasn’t had a major refresh since 2005, but the incremental changes have added to its undeniable appeal. They’ve got wonderful handling, and as you go up the line, more horses under the hood, including a V8 on the top of the line model with 355 horsepower.

Ford Mustang GT: This classic muscle car is now 45, and has been in production almost as long as our current President has been alive. The GT is Fords attempt to get deep into the Mustang’s DNA, and arguably, it resurrected every detail that made those 60′s muscle cars such dreams to drive, while updating them to modern sensibilities. The upper end GT convertible has a 315 horsepower monster of a V8 under the hood, and a lovely soft-top. Just because the car’s over 45 doesn’t mean it won’t growl when you need it to.

Don’t forget, when you buy that sexy new convertible, you don’t have to buy the extended warranty from the car dealership. Instead, save a lot of money by going online to buy it directly from Warranty Direct, using our convenient new payment plan.

Every three to four years, the big automakers have to come up with something to drag consumers into the showrooms to buy the biggest and best cars out there; their bottom lines are built on the average tenure of car ownership being about four to five years. This is why they give five year, 50,000 mile warranties and more. It also explains cash rebates, 0% interest sales and more.

With the current down economy, the newest wrinkle on this is the Payment Protection Program. In a nutshell, if you meet all the terms and conditions, if you lose your job, the company will take over paying your car payment for a specified period of time. From their perspective, missing X number of months of car payments if you lose your job is roughly the same as giving you a discount…and if you keep your job, the discount doesn’t even come up at all.

Most of these programs expire within 24 to 36 months after the purchase of the car, which is somewhat telling. Even better, from a corporate accounting perspective, they’re great on the balance sheet for reasons that we won’t cover here.

Psychologically, what they’re trying to do is convince you that it’s OK to spend money even if you’re not entirely certain about your job situation. If that’s sounding kind of familiar, like, say when that mortgage broker talked you into refinancing your house, there’s a reason: It’s usually a bad idea.

Don’t buy the car because there’s a payment protection program and you think you need a new car. Buy the car because you genuinely need the car, new or not. Any time you’re making a multi-thousand dollar purchase, you should ask yourself if you can live without it for a little while longer. Chances are, the answer is yes…and you can save the money you would’ve otherwise thrown into car payments into something earning you interest. Or spend it on fixing up your existing vehicle, or buying an extended car warranty for it.

Remember, if it still rolls, it does everything you need it to do; you’re better off being frugal and saving that money for something really important.

That idea went overboard quickly as competition came in, and painting cars and getting cars in specific colors has been part of the American automotive experience since the 1910s.

Every decade or so, the preferences for colors in cars shifts, as a new generation of 20-somethings buy their first cars and want something that doesn’t look like a parental hand-me-down. Plus, paint manufacturers are working hard on sprucing up the old tried and true color combinations.

There are, of course, the usual pieces of advice: Lighter colors are more comfortable in sunnier climates, and visibility is important. However, here’s the latest wash of new colors in cars:

Pearlescent Neutral Tones
Where white used to be relegated to delivery trucks and rentals, a new wave of pearlescent finishes are giving it a bit of an appeal to work from. It’s now the most popular car color in America. Usually this is done with a three-layer paint job, a base white, a pearlescent over layer, and a clear coat. This type of finish is also being used for black (with subtle nebular effects) and gold. Even beige is getting this sort of treatment.

Metal Is Metal – And Looking Older
Conversely, cars painted the traditional silver have become a bit overexposed, and fewer people are getting their cars in that hue. It’s still popular, but it’s slumping fast as people look for a color that’s a bit more distinctive.

Going Outside The Box
The vast majority of cars are done up in neutral tones, because cars tend to be long term purchases, and nobody wants to get stuck with something that could be charitably called "diaper contents yellow." More innovative use of the color palette tends to happen in smaller cars, where a bright shade won’t overwhelm the way it would if, say, a Suburban was painted Midlife Crisis Red.

Expect to see more earth and nature tones in cars in the next two years, as the market shifts to smaller cars – with the occasional case of Lime Green Envy or Safety Orange to make your eyes water.

Whatever color of car you choose, remember you can buy an extended car warranty for it directly online from Warranty Direct and save bundle of money!

As a college graduate, stepping into a “real” world job and purchasing a brand new car doesn’t have to be so scary.

The truth is that major vehicle manufacturers desire you to drive their brands and therefore are prepared to enable you to do so. There is no need to huff it by foot or bike any longer.

Special Graduate Financing

Most major auto dealers offer special college graduate financing programs that offer benefits. These benefits include no down payment, cash rebates, affordable interest rates, delayed payments and service support.

It would also be in your best interest to secure long-term protection by investing in an extended auto warranty. Surveys have revealed that about 60 percent of first-time buyers remain for life with the brand of the first new car they purchased – so yes, you are in demand! Don’t be intimidated, but be prepared to take advantage of the benefits thrown at you as a young consumer.

Good Credit is Essential

First, you must qualify for the numerous programs that will be available to you. It would be in your best interest to start the process of eligibility a few months prior to your college graduation. If you have already graduated, it is no big deal, but get started establishing credit as soon as possible.

Good credit is essential to qualifying; take care to avoid getting bad marks on your credit report, as this will hurt your chances at qualification. Your credit report can be bought easily online for a fee.

Do Your Research

Second or simultaneously, do your research. Before you visit the dealership it always helps to collect advanced information. Visit the automakers web site directly, as well as the dealerships web sites.

Supplemental research is also vital to this process and can be collected at independent car-buying sites such as CarsDirect.com and Autobytel.com. These sites are useful to collecting information about cost of vehicles, available options, financing terms and payment plans. These sites also will provide articles, reviews and tips.

Sufficient research will give you confidence in your final purchase and help you to avoid being “sold to” – instead you will have control of the process.

Automaker Financing Programs

Get started. Here is list of major automakers that offer financing programs targeted at college graduates:

• General Motors
• Ford
• Honda/Acura
• Hyundai
• Mazda
• Toyota
• Mitsubishi

Enjoy the process and start your professional career off with brand new spankin’ wheels, and I am not talking about for your bike!

When looking to buy a new vehicle, it is extremely important that good safety features fall on the top of your priority list.

Here we will provide some important vehicle safety features that should be considered when you purchase your next vehicle.

Crash test ratings, electronic stability control and rollover resistance should all be looked at closely when evaluating a car for safety. Crash test ratings come from The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. They test cars in frontal collisions and side impacts. Once a vehicle is tested they give it a rating based on its results – knowing the crash test rating of your potential vehicle will help aid you in making a safe car choice.

Electronic stability control selectively applies brakes to one or more of the wheels in order to avoid sliding and skidding. This feature is highly recommended and will help your car stay under control when making sharp and quick turns.

Some vehicles have a high likelihood of rolling over. It is important to determine the roll-over tendency of your potential new vehicle before you buy it. The NHTSA provides a 5-star rollover rating that can be accessed at www.safercars.gov. Take advantage of their research and find out if the car is right for you.

Following through with the suggestions above, along with purchasing an extended auto warranty will help you stay protected. There are so many resources out there that can benefit both you and your vehicle; we highly suggest you take advantage of them all.