My friend an I are of the same age but his car insurance is very cheap compared to mine. Why is that? We both live in Houston.

Fred

Houston Texas

Houston car insurance company’s uses different rating system to determine your car insurance rate. There are also several factors that are being considered that can affect your car insurance premium. Here are the most common factors:

Model and type of car. This refers to the cost of repairing a vehicle. The more expensive the car is to fix, the more expensive it is to insure.

Car mileage. Your premium are being looked at if you just only drive yourself from home to work and or drive for pleasure with friends. The higher the car usage, the higher your car insurance rate will be.

Age. Basically, teen drivers specifically are charged with higher auto insurance rates. Insurers generally get the impression that a responsible student is a responsible driver so if you have good grades, you can get lower car insurance rates.

Garage location. If you live in an area that has a high crime rate and theft, insurer will likely raise your insurance rate.

Driving record. This refers to your past driving history. Accidents, Tickets and claims history can affect your car insurance premium. Generally you will be charged with high car insurance rates if you do not have clean driving record because of the risk posed to the insurance company.

Deductible. This is the portion of a covered loss you pay before the insurer becomes responsible for payment for the accident. The higher your deductible is, the lower your car insurance premium that you have to pay every month.

Defensive driving class. This provides assurance to the company that you have safe driving habits if you take any defensive driver class This can provide reduced cost to your premium policy.

The missus just gave birth to our fourth child, so I’m thinking of getting a new vehicle. I need something that can lug cargo (and kids!) around. Any suggestions?

Carl

Houston, TX

Well, Carl, if you want family-friendliness, a good option is the Dodge Grand Caravan. Its remarkable safety features and its vast cargo room combine to make it an excellent mode of travel for families. In fact, with its Swivel ‘n Go seating, which allows second-row passengers to turn and face those in the third row, it looks kind of like a family room (on wheels!) Oh, and it even has a removable table.

More things for the family to enjoy are the video entertainment system. It’s three-zone, meaning the front, middle and last row can access separate entertainment sources. Imagine, a TV screen for each row! Great for kids who fight about which show to watch, right?

And for your newborn babe, I’m sure you’d be pleased to hear that the Grand Caravan gives you a smooth and supple driving experience. Nothing would disturb the baby’s sleep since the vehicle absorbs the bumps on the road.

Now, since the Dodge Grand Caravan was made for comfort, you’d have to live with the fact that interior aesthetics are kind of basic, and its handling and maneuverability could be made better. But you aren’t buying a minivan for its carlike precision, I’m sure. You want a peaceful and enjoyable family trip, and a minivan, the Dodge Grand Caravan, more specifically, will give you just that.

Sadly, I can’t afford a Dodge Viper, and my wife doesn’t want me behind the wheel of a “macho” car around here in Texas. Is there a way for me to get the best of both worlds from Dodge?

Tom

Houston, TX

Good day, Tom! You want macho? Frankly, I haven’t really used that word in quite a while, MACHO. Seriously, man, you need to get an update…kidding there. Well, personally, I still drool at the Dodge Viper, but when functionality is going to be the gauge…and the missus is breathing down my neck, I’d go with a 2009 Dodge Avenger. For two letters more, you might get what you wish for.

What’s with the Avenger aside from the longer spelling compared to Viper? Although I am not saying that this is a capable substitute, the 2009 Avenger does have an inkling of the good looks that the Dodge Viper has. We will talking more about what the wife wants, something subdued for you. The Dodge Avenger is just that, subdued with its base 173 horsepower 2.4 Liter engine. Of course, you can always go upstream with a 3.5 Liter V6 but what will the wife say? Fine, you can indulge in the 235 horsepower 6-speed auto transmission. We’ll keep it between ourselves. For your family trips, it even has beverage coolers. At least the wife won’t complain of warm drinks whenever you two are driving out of Texas. So there, that’s enough to whet your appetite. Go for a test drive at your nearest Houston Dodge dealer.

Tags: car dealers, Dodge car, Houston Dealer, Houston Dodge

Hi, I saw a Dodge Caliber on the road a few weeks back, and I’m thinking of getting myself one as a present. I usually drive around Texas and just go on an occasional weekend drive with my friends. What can you tell me about it?

Katie

Houston, TX

Boy, am I surprised with your choice of vehicle. Well, reading up on some reviews about the 2009 Dodge Caliber, and I originally thought that it was more aimed at netting the male market. Well, I guess you have a thing for power and speed because that’s what you are supposed to get when you drive off in a Dodge Caliber.

It depends on the trim that you’d like, but if you ask us, I think I’d pair you up with a Caliber R/T. Think of it as the “light” version of the Caliber SRT4 (that’s the “sport” model to you). Since you like trips with some friends, utility wise, the Caliber has ample trunk space, and if you need more, you can always fold up the rear seats in 60/40 style. What’s going to haul your gear? I’m quite delighted that it’s one of the lifetime warranty backed powertrains from Chevrolet. It’s a 2.4 Liter with manual transmission for you and it still does 25 miles on the highway. I am pretty sure that you’d end up trying to maximize the power on the car. Oh, in case you are no pro driver, there’s ESP or electronic stability program to help you whenever you negotiate tough turns and curves. I think you’ll enjoy driving this car in Houston, Texas, Katie.

Tags: Dodge car, Houston Dealer

Viper! I’d like to be seen in one of those here in Houston, Texas. Seriously, can anyone offer some specs about this car?

Angelo

Houston, TX

First of all, Angelo, are you ready to sit behind 600 horses? If you can handle that much muscle then this car should park in your garage, really. I’d like to take time to pay homage to an amazing vehicle, the Viper.

Personally, I want to be thrilled and excited daily. I want to drive this car for myself daily. Why? There’s just too much to enjoy in this car. I would particularly like to feel the roaring 600 hp of the 2009 Viper’s 8.5 Liter V-10 engine. I’d want to enjoy this sensation as it rushes through me every single day of the week. I would love to be in its leather seats as I grab the steering wheel and gear shift and press hard on the accelerator pedal to take me from 0 to 60 in just 4 seconds (although some have already clocked it at 3.5). Frankly, I won’t care that the EPA rating is 13 miles to a gallon in the city since I’ll be taking the 2009 Viper mostly to the highway where it will perk up to an even 22 miles to a gallon. I’d love to put this car through its paces around Texas. I’d love to just admire its hand-made brilliance.

Let’s not spoil the fun anymore, alright, Angelo?

Tags: Dodge car, Houston Dealer, Houston Dodge

Hi, what features are there in the 2009 Dodge Nitro? I can definitely see myself touring Texas in a Nitro. I’d like to see some numbers, please.

Will

Houston, TX

Will, the Nitro? Boom! You gotta love a Dodge to love a Nitro. Okay, what’s there to know about the Nitro? Since you’ve seen how it looks, now let’s see what else comes with the appeal that caught your eye. What comes with every 2009 Nitro deal?

Remember: the Nitro used to be the entry-level SUV from Dodge. So, this vehicle ought to be easy for a person making the transition from a small car to driving an SUV. I think the same vehicle criteria apply when you will look at the Nitro. If you are interested in EPA ratings, the Nitro does about 21 to 22 miles per gallon on the highway, and 15 to 16 miles per gallon in the city. If space for people and cargo are what you are after, you will be pleased to know that it can seat 5 adults without seat reconfiguration. If you want more stuff loaded at the back, you can fold the rear seats to expand the cargo hold. If there’s a heavy load, the Nitro comes with Load N Go, the floor slides out by 18 inches (and can hold 400 lbs), to ease your heavy stuff in. In terms of handling, the Nitro comes with an assortment of electronic stability systems built in. After all, this car is powered by a 3.7 Liter V6 and if you don’t have any cargo loaded in it, you might just want to give the pedal a good squeeze to sample the power. Stability systems keep you on the road. The Nitro trims, except for the R/T 4×2, come with Part- 4WD. So whenever you have the urge to get off the paved paths of the cities and highways of Texas, you are confident the Nitro can handle it.

Tags: car, car dealers, Dodge car, Houston Dealer

With the recent gas price crisis just easing up, I am now concerned about fuel economy. But personally, I don’t want to get a small car. I have my wife and 2 kids here in Houston, Texas. What can fit our needs?

Brian

Houston, TX

Hello, Brian, there is hope for your needs, yet. I know that the great motoring majority wishes just that – a spacious car, power when you need it. In my opinion, there is a hybrid waiting for you to drive home. Before you go all allergic to the thought of driving a hybrid, let me say that you should take the image of an underpowered vehicle out of your head.

There is an SUV out there that, I say, can fit your needs perfectly. It’s called the 2009 Dodge Durango. It comes packed with a lot of features that meets the demands of a family man. The hybrid variant has a 5.7 liter V8 engine. Of course, like some hybrids, this one has regenerative braking, as well. Overall, with the hybrid performance of the Durango Limited HEV, it’s possible that you can stretch your gas dollars. The rating for the Dodge Durango Limited HEV is at 18 miles per gallon in city driving and 19 miles per gallon on the highway. Yes, this is still an SUV, you know. Anyway, it still beats 13 or less miles per gallon on a standard gas SUV. So, in my opinion, you can go with the Dodge Durango Limited HEV.

Tags: Dodge car, Houston Dealer

I want to know the best-value Dodge truck I can get here in Houston, Texas. I’m hoping someone can give me some advice. I usually haul a lot of stuff during the week as part of my business. I’d like to have a vehicle that can double as a work and personal vehicle.

Chris

Houston, TX

Hello there, Chris. It is a good thing that you decided on owning a Dodge as your pickup truck. And another good thing is you chose to ask around first before you went to your Dodge Dealer in Houston, Texas. My concern with these big cars and trucks is their usually low rating when it comes to fuel economy, and this concern is why I will recommend a 2009 Dodge Dakota.

Considering the Dakota is a pretty large truck and can haul more than 1,700 pounds of load, I would not have expected Dodge to put in a flex fuel option. What I like about this fact is that you can drive a tough utility or even weekend vehicle and still not kill the environment.

Ratings-wise, the Dakota can hit about 20 miles per gallon using its 3.6 Liter V6 engine. Not bad for a powerful truck. As far as trims are concerned, the 2009 Dakota gives you four different choices that vary with pickup bed size or drive systems. As a standard, all Dakotas have automatic transmission. What about luxury features? The Dakota even has satellite radio and an mp3 compatible stereo deck. You get functionality and luxury in a pickup truck.

Tags: Dodge car, Houston Dealer, Houston Dodge

My family loves going out regularly here in Houston, Texas. We found out that Dodge has released its new Dodge Journey car. What are its features that made it very interesting to other people?

Celine

Houston, TX

The 2008 Dodge Journey R/T has far very good features compared to the previous Dodge Caravan. But like any other car, I think, has various features that could be considered the car’s strength or weakness. The Journey is fairly smaller than the earlier Dodge Caravan making it a nice one to drive there in Houston, Texas for a family of five. Because it is fairly small and drivers can have also fair handling of its road manners, the Dodge Journey R/T requires you also a fair amount of diesel.

The Journey comes along different trims depending on the models of your options, which are Base, SXT and R/T. But critics reviewed the latter as convincingly the best among the three.

While it targets the family or those perky groups of friends going out of town, Dodge Journey R/T has good sound insulation and quieter interior. And with these features making passengers more comfortable, you might not vacillate buying it. At least the R/T plus its convenient interior, features the MyGIG stereo system which has big screen for better navigation to your music collections even while driving. MyGIG nicely has up to 30 gigabytes of memory that can even accommodate your whole music collections and lets you listen for songs during long trips.

Tags: car, car dealer, car review, Dodge dealer

I just had a new check engine light for my Dodge Diesel here in Houston, Texas. I just wanted to know, what are the repair strategies after getting the check engine light?

Charles

Houston, TX

I just had a fault code repaired for my Dodge Diesel truck. Let me share these useful tips that I got from my mechanic here in Houston, Texas. First lesson I learned is that, after getting the fault code fixed and basic repairs done, it is really important to get proper instruction or service manual to verify the sensor or circuit being checked. A wiring diagram is perfect for this task. It looks very challenging to begin with but as soon you treat each sensor or circuit individually, everything will be on its own place.

Should you need further help in doing this, there are lots of automotive online assistance available willing to help you for paid membership. Some of these service centers won’t even charge you if the code is not fixed or carries 90 day guaranty. With all these available options and resources, there is no need to bring your Dodge diesel truck to any garage if you have a check engine light problem. I also suggest that once you have everything straightened up, try checking for a good deal on car insurance carriers that are willing to cover even minor repairs like these. I believe that this page actually advertises affordable insurance rates. I was lucky to take advantage of a great insurance deal for myself.

Tags: car, car dealer, car insurance, car repair, car review