How Much Car Insurance Do You Really Need?

Ah, car insurance - you can't stand paying for it every month; you can't get away with not having it. And really, it would be unwise (read: incredibly stupid) not to have insurance. Okay, we don't mean to be belligerent here; perhaps you have a perfectly valid reason for not having auto insurance coverage, although we personally can't think of any. But who are we to get all self-righteous on you? Let's focus instead on remedying the situation. If you're like many people, your first priority is to get the bare minimum requirements down. We'll start with that, and work from there. Most states require that you have liability insurance. This covers your arse when you're at fault in an accident. (Remember all those near misses in parking lots and while changing lanes on the freeway when you were blabbing on the cell phone, trying to change the CD, or pushing the slobbering dog/significant other out of your face? Well, your luck won't hold out forever, honey.) If you live in New Hampshire, South Carolina, Tennessee or Wisconsin, you aren't required by law (yet) to have liability coverage. For the rest of us, the mandatory coverage varies according to state. In the chart below, minimum liability limits are read as follows (in thousands of dollars): bodily injury liability for one person in an accident/bodily injury liability for all people injured in an accident/property damage liability for one accident. So, for Alabama, the minimum requirements are $20,000 of bodily injury liability for one person, $40,000 bodily injury liability for all people and $10,000 property damage liability. Personal Injury Protection (PIP), or Medical Payments (MedPay) in some states, pays for your own medical expenses, any lost wages and whatever other costs may arise when you're injured in an accident. It usually pays about 80 percent of your losses, and it also pays a death benefit. PIP is required in Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon and Utah. Some states also require you to purchase car insurance that will cover your own medical expenses, pain and suffering losses and, in some states, car damage in the event that the other motorist is at fault and is either uninsured or underinsured. See the chart below to find out if this applies to you.

Even though each state has minimum (or no) requirements for bodily injury liability, it is probably in your best interest to purchase higher limits. If someone else is injured and you're at fault, the minimum liability coverage may not cover their medical expenses, in which case their attorney will most likely come after your assets. It is generally recommended (by insurance companies - who else?) that you purchase 100/300 limits of bodily injury liability. On the other hand, if your personal assets don't amount to much (you don't own a home, struggle from paycheck to paycheck, violins are wailing), you don't have a whole lot for them to bother about, so the minimum requirements might actually suit you, not to mention save you some much-needed cash. Besides bodily injury liability, personal injury protection, property damage liability and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, you have collision and comprehensive auto insurance coverage to consider. Collision covers damage to the policyholder's car resulting from running into anything, be it another car, a fire hydrant, a light post, whatever. Comprehensive coverage takes care of your car in the case of theft, fire, falling objects, missiles, explosion, earthquake, flood, riot and civil commotion, among other things (like what? Alien invasion, we guess). Comprehensive and collision coverage are required on most lease contracts, and are essential if you own an expensive car. If you're driving an old POS, on the other hand, and the cost of the sum of your premium and your deductible nearly or in fact exceed the worth of your vehicle, you might want to consider doing without this coverage. Before you purchase any type of auto insurance coverage, be sure to study your other insurance policies so you don't end up paying for something you don't need. If you have a decent health insurance plan, you might get away with purchasing the bare minimum personal injury protection coverage, or none at all. However, you might end up paying a co-pay and deductible that wouldn't apply with PIP or MedPay. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage might also be a wise buy, even if you have full medical coverage, because they can pay for your pain and suffering damages. If you belong to an organization that offers roadside assistance, you don't need to purchase that through your insurer, natch. Same goes for mechanical breakdown insurance if you own a newly financed or leased vehicle which is still covered under warranty. Hey, we're all resentful about having to shell out a bunch of cash every month for something we may never need, but what're ya gonna do? The fact is that car insurance will most likely come to your rescue at some point, so it's imperative to purchase a worthwhile policy. Know what you must have and know what you should have and just pay the man, alright?

2007 GMC Yukon XL 1500 Review

Introduction
The GMC Yukon XL is all new for 2007, and you can't find an SUV that works better as a tow vehicle. It has all the right stuff. The ride is better than ever, handling is steady and light. These are benefits of a new boxed frame for rigidity, a redesigned suspension, a new ring-and-pinion steering system, and other changes.
The driver sits way up high and feels like he or she is master or mistress of his or her domain. The optional leather seats are wonderfully comfortable for long distances. The pedals adjust for long or short legs. The instruments and gauges are finally stylish. There are new halogen headlamps that are bigger for improved visibility at night. Storage space is intelligently designed and all over, including a huge center console.

Those in the second row will find a lot of leg room. Bucket seats with a center console between them are available for the second row, turning them into first-class accommodations; and there is an optional power folding option, making it easier for third-row passengers to climb in. There's even decent legroom and good headroom in the third row, something few SUVs can claim.
The Yukon XL seats six to nine people, depending on the seating configuration. Essentially GMC's version of the Chevy Suburban, the Yukon XL stretches the already long wheelbase of the Yukon another 20 inches. There are many vehicles that seat seven people without taking up so much space to do it, but not quite so comfortably, nor with so much room left over for cargo.
Towing is the other area where the Yukon XL excels. It's a great vehicle for drivers who want an SUV that can tow cars, boats, horses, and travel trailers. A Yukon XL 1500 is rated to tow up to 8200 pounds, while the heavy-duty 2500 version can tow up to 9700 pounds.
The standard 5.3-liter V8 represents a new generation of engines, and it offers excellent horsepower and torque. An optional 6.0-liter V8 for the Yukon delivers more towing power.
And at the top of the line is the Yukon XL Denali. The Denali is almost a separate breed. It has its own engine, a 6.2-liter V8 based on the Corvette's 7.0-liter, making 380 horsepower and 417 pound-feet of torque. It also has its own transmission, a six-speed automatic with manual mode and its own all-wheel-drive system. The Denali comes standard with the AutoRide active electronic suspension, which is optional on the regular Yukon XL.
Deluxe options include a liftgate that raises and lowers under power, a DVD entertainment system, a Bose sound system, a navigation system, and a rearview monitor that improves safety and makes it easier to hook up trailers.

All-new, smoother and more refined.
Lineup
The 2007 GMC Yukon XL comes in basic SLE ($37,665) or SLT ($41,800) trim. It's available as a 1500 (half-ton), 2500 (three-quarter ton, with truck tires and a heavier suspension using leaf springs), and in two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.
A choice of V8 engines is available, two of which are versions of the Vortec 5.3-liter V8, and which can run on E85 ethanol. The new generation 5.3 with an aluminum block, the engine in our test SLT, makes 310 horsepower and 335 pound-feet of torque. The more powerful optional engine ($1095) is an all-aluminum 6.0-liter V8 with variable valve timing, making 366 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque.
The Yukon XL Denali ($49,970) comes with a 6.2-liter V8 making 380 horsepower and 417 pound-feet of torque, a six-speed automatic with manual mode, all-wheel drive system, and the AutoRide active electronic suspension.
All other Yukon XLs use a four-speed automatic transmission, available in three strengths, depending on whether the XL is 2WD, 4WD, or 2500. They all have a Tow/Haul mode, which reduces upshifting and downshifting, and also shifts quicker, so the transmission doesn't work so hard when pulling a big load. Transmission oil temperature is part of the instrumentation (along with a tire pressure monitor).
The SLE comes standard equipment with cloth interior, six-way power driver's seat, 60/40 second row bench seat, two-passenger third row seat, three-zone climate control, AM/FM/6CD/MP3, rear seat audio and climate controls, power windows and locks with remote entry, cruise control, heated sideview mirrors, 17-inch aluminum wheels, roof rack rails, deep tinted glass, foglamps, and last but definitely not least, a tow package including heavy hitch, seven-pin wiring harness, two-inch receiver and electric brake control harness. Also standard is GM's OnStar system, which, among other things, notifies headquarters if there has been a crash, and someone calls the vehicle and sends help if necessary.
The SLT package ($4135) includes leather interior, 12-way power heated bucket seats in front, power adjustable pedals, remote starter, Bose sound system, XM satellite radio, garage door opener, power folding sideview mirrors, rear parking assist beeper, and roof rack crossbars.
Safety equipment on all models includes dual frontal airbags, four-wheel-disc anti-lock brakes with electronic proportioning, and StabiliTrak, GM's electronic stability program with anti-rollover mitigation and traction control. Full length airbag curtains are optional (standard with SLT), but front side airbags are not available, which is surprising, given the competition and price. The XL earned the maximum five stars in the government's head-on crash tests.
Options include a navigation system ($2145), rear-seat entertainment system ($1295), power sunroof ($995), second-row bucket seats ($490), power release for those seats ($425), power liftgate ($350), rearview camera monitor ($195), three-passenger third-row seat ($100), heated washer fluid system ($85), and 20-inch polished aluminum wheels ($1795).

All-new, smoother and more refined.
Walkaround
The 2007 GMC Yukon XL should not be confused with the Yukon. The XL stands for Extra Long. Though the same width, the Yukon XL is about 20 inches longer than the Yukon; it's the same length as its near twin, the Chevy Suburban, measuring 18 1/2 feet.
The Suburban and Yukon XL are among the most familiar vehicles on the road. They share styling although not the details. For example, the Yukon has a cleaner air intake below the bumper than the Suburban, a different shape to the headlights, and the grille is not split.
The 2007 redesign makes subtle but effective changes to the exterior, and GM has done an excellent job with the Yukon XL, making this huge vehicle look smooth, if not sleek. The contours are gently shaped. There's nothing in-your-face or edgy about it. Body-colored side moldings and door handles help a lot. Finally, they got rid of the chrome!
The running board is integrated and unobtrusive, extending no farther than necessary, with a black grippy coating. The tinted glass behind the C-pillar is expansive, and looks nice. The front end has been cleaned up, with beefy block-like headlamps over a front bumper fascia that has vastly tighter tolerances with the body. In fact, all the panels are a tighter fit. It's nice to see that GM can produce this kind of quality.
The windshield is more sloped than before, although the tailgate remains vertical. The rear window opens separately, which is convenient. Our SLT had the optional power liftgate, and we're not sure what we would have done without it. At least the liftgate is aluminum, which would reduce the grunting, if not the stretching way up to reach it. The split barn-style doors, handy when trailers are attached, are ancient history, no longer available.

All-new, smoother and more refined.
Interior
The Yukon XL is comfortable for long tows or major outings. It's a wonderful feeling to drive down the highway in one of these, sitting up high with all the comforts, including the optional Bose sound system.
Completely redesigned for the 2007 model year, the dashboard has been lowered by six inches, and the seats redesigned and raised, with a more convenient and secure seatbelt mounting on the B pillar. They are very comfortable, in leather.
We especially like the touch-screen radio/navigation system, much easier to operate than in so many cars, Mercedes, for example. We set the programs we liked, and could switch from favorite XM to AM to FM stations with one finger push; many vehicles require switching bands, then switching stations.
The switchgear is simple, and the instrumentation is clean. The console is huge (20.1 liters says GM, although we couldn't see 5.3 gallons being poured in there), with a deep storage box and a tray on top. The glovebox is 25 percent larger than the one in pre-2007 models. Two cupholders are provided in a removable tray forward of the console and they work very well. There's another cupholder in each door pocket. A slot in the dash just left of the turn signal is perfect for coins or toll-road tickets. The pedals are adjustable, to accommodate short wives and tall husbands or vice versa.
The rearview camera and monitor is quite useful, although it might take some new skills to fully use. One night we had to back up a narrow winding driveway squeezed by trees, and it could only be done by using the monitor. It was tricky. The backup lights did a great job of lighting the road for the camera; looking over our shoulder, our naked eye couldn't see the road nearly as well. Without this device, we would have been backing-up blind. It's also quite useful for spotting a child playing behind the truck after shifting into reverse or maybe a short, unseen pole. With a little practice, the camera makes parallel parking easier and quicker. It can also be used to help position the tow ball under a trailer hitch, reducing the number of times the driver has to jump out to check distance and alignment.
The Yukon XL can seat six, seven, eight or nine passengers, depending on the seats selected. Our SLT had the second-row bucket seats, with room for seven, in a two/two/three configuration.
The second row offers good legroom, at least with the two bucket seats: 39.4 inches, nearly as much as in the front. Second-row passengers have their own console, with an elbow tray and two cupholders each. They have their own audio controls too, and a front-row seat for the DVD screen that drops down from the headliner, and uses wireless headphones. The second-row bucket seats come with a console between them.
An optional power feature allows folding the second-row seats with the touch of a button on the instrument panel or C-pillar. It's slick: the seatbacks fold flat against the sitting part, and then the seats flip up against the back of the front seats.
The third row seats two or three, depending on the package. Split 60/40, the third-row seats fold and tumble, but don't fold flat into the floor like some competitors. The third-row seats flip up against the back of the second row. This fold-and-tumble feature sacrifices some quick cargo space because the seats don't fold flat, although there's still a lot compared to other SUVs. The third-row seats are also removable.
The third-row seats offer good head room and okay leg room (34.9 inches), and a great view through the wraparound glass, so it's not cramped or claustrophobic as it is in the GMC Envoy XL. But with the optional center seat, all you'll ever fit in the third row are three small kids. The kids on the end have their own cupholders. Their climate control vents are inconveniently located in the headliner over the necks of the second-row passengers, but they can be aimed rearward toward the third-row passengers' knees. The second-row passengers have their own vents in the headliner, over their laps.
Cargo space is where the Yukon XL excels. There's 137.4 cubic feet of storage behind the front seats, with the second row folded and third row removed. Even with all seats in place, there's still 45.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row.
The lift-over height at the rear bumper is relatively high, so it's not easy to climb up into the cargo compartment to reach things, especially since there are no grab handles.

All-new, smoother and more refined.
Summary & Specs
The Yukon XL/Suburban has long been the tow vehicle of choice, and this redesign enables it to maintain its position on top. The latest version 5.3-liter Vortec V8 makes plenty of horsepower and torque for towing, and two more powerful engines are available. The suspension and brakes are considerably improved, the instrumentation is finally worthy, and it's hard to fault the SLT's leather interior, especially the comfort of the seating in all three rows. We do wonder why there are no available side-impact airbags in front, however.
Sam Moses filed this report to NewCarTestDrive.com from the Pacific Northwest's Columbia River Valley.