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Auto manufacturers often tout the factory warranty as a reason to buy a vehicle.

The question is, should you buy a car based on the warranty? The answer is, it depends.

The warranty is definitely a factor. Don't underestimate your desire to avoid repairs, not only the cost of the repairs, but also the hassle of taking the car to the mechanic and not knowing whether they really need the repair.

A warranty is basically a manufacturer's promise to repair certain items if they fail on the vehicle within the specified time.

Major warranties are usually one of two types: a general or bumper-to-bumper warranty and powertrain-only coverage. Read the fine print carefully on a warranty to see what's covered and what's not.

There may also be separate warranties for rust corrosion, emissions system, restraint system, tires and the battery.

The general warranty typically runs for 3 years/36,000 miles or 5 years/60,000 miles, whichever comes first. These warranties cover just about everything on the vehicle that is not covered by another warranty or specifically excluded. Normal wear-and-tear items, such as tires and belts, are usually not covered.

The terms of a powertrain, also known as a drivetrain, warranty usually run longer than the general warranty, but are limited to the engine, transmission, transaxle and drive system. Items that will be repaired under the warranty vary by manufacturer. For instance, one manufacturer might cover the cylinder heads but not the electrical parts of the engine, such as the alternator or computer. Power-train warranties usually include the transmission, but most exclude the clutch because that's a "wear" item. Again, it's best to read the warranty information from each manufacturer carefully to see exactly what is covered. Some manufacturers offer warranties up to 100,000 miles for the power train.

No matter how long the term of a warranty is, if a car owner complains to the dealer about a problem while the warranty is still in force, the manufacturer is obligated to fix the problem, even if the warranty expires before they actually fix it.

A warranty is one way that manufacturers attract attention to their products in a competitive marketplace.

Look at the manufacturer's warranty terms. Manufacturers that have had a reputation for poor quality may have to tempt people to buy cars.

For example, Hyundai offers one of the longest powertrain warranties in the market, with a term of 10 years or 100,000 miles. The Korean manufacturer had to prove itself

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