All posts by Admin

What Are Some Of The More Common Car Repair Tasks?

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Posted in General Auto News

If you've ever owned a car before, you'll know that occasional repairs are inevitable. Even if you treat your car as well as it treats you, you're going to find yourself in the mechanic's garage every now and then. While nobody likes it when their car goes on the fritz, understanding what some of these more commonly performed maintenance tasks are may help to ease your mind the next time you hear a rattle or feel a bump that shouldn't be there.

Oil change
One of the most common maintenance tasks is also one of the most basic. Almost everyone knows the importance of changing your car's oil on a regular basis, but what you may is why it's so important. As Car Talk reminded, motor oil lubricates the important parts of your engine that do much of the work when it comes to moving your car. If left to sit for too long, dirty or insufficient oil leaves your engine poorly lubricated, causing it to grind against itself. In layman's terms, this is setting you up for some serious repair costs down the road, so make sure to keep your oil in check.

Fuel pump
You make sure to put gas in your car when needed, but your vehicle's fuel system requires more maintenance than that. Fuel filters can clog, especially if you use lower-grade gas, Autos.com said. Also, if you're a driver who likes to get every last gallon out of the tank before filling up, be warned. If you make a habit of driving on less than one-quarter tank of gas often enough, you can damage your fuel pump, which may need to be repaired or replaced if the clog is significant.

Brakes
When it comes to safety, there may be few more important vehicle components than your brakes. Fortunately, while you should have your brakes checked fairly regularly, repairs tend to be fairly simple. According to Autos.com, brake pad replacement constitutes the most common type of repair in this area, as the pads will commonly wear down due to regular use. The good news is, this is a fairly standard procedure, and won't shoulder you with a massive bill either. Even better, keeping on top of your brake pad replacement can help prolong the life of other, more costly brake components that you wouldn't be so happy to have to replace.

If your car needs repairs, head to the NJ State Auto Auction Total Car Care Center. The knowledgeable team of mechanics can help diagnose problems, and can perform any needed  maintenance to keep your car on the road.

Why It May Be A Better Time Than Ever To Buy A Used Car

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Posted in Auto Industry News

If you're on the fence about whether to buy a car, there's some good news. Purchasing a vehicle is always a significant financial investment, but for those who are interested in a used car, the time to purchase may be now. Recent economic recovery has affected the auto market, and as a result, pre​-owned vehicle prices have begun to sink drastically. 

Increased supply
One potentially unforeseen consequence of the 2008 financial recession was a major increase in the number of cars that were turned over or sold to dealers. As a result, many used car providers have found themselves with an influx of pre​-owned vehicles. When the economy began to turn around in recent years, more people had more money to spend, and the increase in number of used cars meant that prices dropped lower than they had been in years.

The start of a trend
According to Reuters, this is merely the beginning of a years-long boom in used car values that drivers considering buying should take advantage of. Estimates indicated that the average price of used cars will drop by an additional 5 percent by 2017, and the National Automobile Dealers Association noted that the average used car would run around $15,000 by 2016. 

How buyers can benefit
All this number crunching is good news for buyers, as it means that the time is ripe to head to the dealer and finally take the plunge into car ownership. However, just because prices are low doesn't mean that drivers should rush into a purchasing decision. Making an informed choice when buying a used car is essential. Once you've got the cash, you should make sure to arm yourself with information as well.

Especially with more cars being on the market, prospective buyers should be extra careful to get the details on whichever model catches their attention. Cars.com recommended that knowing a used car's background – its repair history, how many miles are on its odometer and even things like what kind of use the car saw in its past life – is helpful for determining whether a ride is a good investment, regardless of the price tag. Regardless of what kind of a deal you're offered, make sure to cover your bases. Request the vehicle's repair history, take it for a test drive and even have it inspected by an independent mechanic to make sure that you're not purchasing a car that's going to cause trouble for you down the road.

When you're ready to buy a used car, head to NJ State Auto Auction. You'll find hundreds of Carfax-certified cars on the lot, and a helpful in-house finance team that can assist you in obtaining a loan for your vehicle. 

Your Car May Be More Secure Than Ever

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Posted in Auto Industry News

In today's world, the beep of a car alarm activating has become a common sound for drivers parked in public spaces. We are constantly exploring new measures to keep our cars safely in their parking spaces and out of the hands of car thieves. It makes sense – after all, autos represent significant investments and are essential to many people's livelihoods. 

Fortunately, evidence indicates that we may be able to relax a little bit. Incidents of car theft seem to have dropped across the country for a number of reasons, making this an ideal time for wary motorists to reconsider their dream of car ownership.

Car theft bites the dust
The days of unwitting drivers returning to their parking spots to find their cars stripped or completely gone may be coming to a close. A recent article from The New York Times indicated that instances of auto theft have dropped exponentially in the past two decades. While one in every 50 New York City residents experienced a stolen car in 1990, today the numbers have plummeted to just one in 1,100 – a drop off of 96 percent. 

This is good news for motorists, for sure, but raises an interesting question of what exactly has caused the sharp decline in shady practices. 

Technology to the rescue
It's become a cultural truth in the 21st century that technology improves many aspects of our lives, and security is no exception. As cars have become more technologically advanced, so too have the measures we use to protect them, from the simple Club up to the GPS anti-theft system. One ingenious piece of auto protection fits right into the palm of your hand, The New York Times explained. Introduced in the late '90s and early into this century, engine immobilizer systems prevent cars from starting without the presence of a specific microchip present only in the ignition key. As a result of this technology, hotwiring – starting a car without a key by bypassing its ignition sequence – may become a thing of the past.

Bad for business
One important point to make is that this technology has hit the car thieving business as a whole. As The Washington Post indicated, more complicated anti-theft systems mean cars take longer to steal and come with a higher risk of being caught and prosecuted. Ultimately, swiping somebody's ride simply isn't good business anymore.

If you're looking for a high-quality used car, head to NJ State Auto Auction. You'll find hundreds of Carfax-certified cars on the lot, and an in-house finance team ready to help you afford the used vehicle that's right for you. 

A Look At Some Of History’s Most Interesting Automotive Firsts

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Posted in General Auto News

There's little doubt that with the advent of cars in modern society, everything changed. From travel to leisure, our lives have been forever shaped by the introduction of these complex and convenient machines. But the history of the car's development is long and speckled with individual triumphs and astounding firsts that are worthy of recognition in their own right. Here are some of automotive history's grandest, if lesser-known, landmark firsts.

First mass-produced car
While Henry Ford is often credited as the father of modern automobiles with the Model T assembly line, he actually wasn't the first to the table in the auto production game. In fact, Auto Evolution pointed out that car manufacturer Oldsmobile was actually mass-producing cars a full seven years before the early runs of the Model T. In April 1901, the curved-dash Olds began seeing "mass production" – defined at the time as more than 10 cars per week, each selling for $650.

First cross-country road trip
Summer road-trippers may not be surprised to learn that the cross-country drive has been around almost as long as cars have. According to Jalopnik, Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson and Sewall K. Crocker set out in 1903 to drive from San Francisco to New York, bulldog in tow. The stalwart trio managed to make the nearly 2,600-mile journey before anyone else, despite only 150 of those miles being driven on paved roads.

First commercial car radio
The emergence of the car radio is more of a spectrum than a single event. Esurance estimated that the first radio was attributed to an 18-year-old who, in 1922, simply strapped a portable radio to the door of his car. However, it wasn't until eight years later when Motorola brought its 5T71 radio to cars on the consumer market. In fact, the company's name itself is an homage to this early endeavor – Motorola being a portmanteau of "motor" and "victrola."

First air-conditioned car
Anyone who's taken refuge in the cool embrace of their car's air conditioning in the summer months will appreciate this first. As Popular Mechanics reported, air conditioning has been around in some form or other for a couple centuries, but it wasn't until 1939 that motorists got to cool off on the go with an in-car version. Developed by car company Packard, the invention cooled down drivers but did little else. It didn't allow for dashboard temperature adjustment, and if you wanted to turn it off, you had to shut off the car's engine, pop the hood and manually disconnect the air conditioning from there.

If you're looking for a used car, head to NJ State Auto Auction. You'll find hundreds of Carfax-certified cars on the lot, and an in-house finance team ready to help make your vehicle affordable.

Understanding Your Car’s Essentials Part 2: Brakes, Steering and Suspension

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Posted in How To

Your car works hard to get you where you need to go every day, but do you understand how? A collection of complex mechanical systems, your vehicle is an ecosystem all on its own, with countless components working together to offer you safe, convenient transportation.

Of course, part of the appeal of a car is that it keeps you as comfortable as it does safe. This task falls to your brakes, suspension and steering.

Brakes
Your car's brakes are what transform it from a rolling safety hazard into a useful piece of transportation. You rely on your brakes to be responsive and effective, but how do they work? 

For such a simple task, your brakes are actually complex pieces of machinery. As CarParts.com explained, when you step on your brake pedal, a hydraulic system injects brake fluid into the wheel. The pressure of this fluid causes brake discs to push up against your car's wheels, creating friction and ultimately slowing it down.

Suspension
The next time you sleep through a long road trip, you should be sure to thank your car's suspension when you wake up. This system is responsible for ensuring you have a smooth ride regardless of road conditions. Comprised of a series of springs and shocks, the NTB Tire & Service Centers reported that this system is important for more than just keeping passengers comfy. In fact, vehicle suspension is an essential part of its handling.

Without the stabilizing power of your car's suspension, bumps and potholes would jostle your car and throw off your steering, or even cause your tires to lose traction with the road. Needless to say, either of these would pose serious safety concerns.

Steering
Like so many of the mechanical systems in your car, the steering is more complicated than you would suspect. Responsible for turning your wheels and keeping your pointed in the direction you want to travel in, power steering is included in nearly all models these days. This is a hydraulic system that uses fluid injection to assist with applying the necessary force to your car's wheels, enabling you to turn your several-ton car without exerting Herculean effort. 

As NTB reported, power steering also helps make sure you don't steer too hard – it responds to how much force you exert on the wheel and compensates accordingly, keeping you on the straight and narrow.

If you're looking for a used car, head to NJ State Auto Auction. You'll find hundreds of Carfax-certified cars on the lot, and an in-house finance team ready to help you get approved for a loan.

Get To Know These Essential Parts Of Your Car Part 1: The Basics

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Posted in How To

Cars are among the most complex machines ever made, and people can often be intimidated by their complex mechanical inner workings. While you don't have to be a professional mechanic or even an extreme enthusiast to enjoy your driving experience, having a basic working knowledge of some of the star parts of your car can be useful, especially when it comes to maintenance.

Tires
These four rubber superheroes do all the heavy lifting when it comes to keeping your car on the road – literally. They may seem simple, after all, the wheel was one of the first human inventions, but in reality there's a lot of science at work keeping you safe.

According to the University of Southern California Illumin engineering review, your tires are all about tread. This is the part that grips the road and keeps you from sliding around. You should make a habit of checking your treads to make sure they're still in working order – if they're too worn, it could be time to change your tires.

Transmission
If there were to be a heart and soul of your car, it would be the transmission. This is one of the most complex components a vehicle contains, both in terms of its construction and the science behind it. In layman's terms, your transmission is what makes your car go. As the Science Channel indicated, it takes the energy generated by the engine and sends – or transmits – it to the part of the car that turns the wheels known as the driveshaft. It's a very basic concept that is practically witchcraft when it comes to the actual execution, which is why "transmission" is the last word you ever want to hear your mechanic say in the shop.

Fluids
Humans are made up of about 70 percent water. While cars may not be quite so aqueous in their construction, they still contain a good amount of various fluids, some of which you're probably already familiar with. Motor oil is probably the most well-known and, arguably, the most important to the auto's operation. According to Autos.com, oil lubricates the engine as it turns and burns and keeps the parts from wearing out. 

Of course, there's more in your car's veins than just motor oil. Everything from brake fluid to washer fluid help your car function. Keeping on top of your  fluid maintenance is important. Not only should they be checked regularly and refilled as needed, certain changes in coloration or viscosity could indicate potential problems.

If your car needs maintenance, head to the NJ State Auto Auction Total Car Care Center. The on-site mechanics will help you identify and problems and get your car back on the road.

Check Out These Star-Studded Celebrity Car Campaigns

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Posted in Celebrity Auto News

Cars and celebrities are a match made in heaven, and auto manufacturers know it. This is why more stars have been driving their way into ad campaigns in recent years. Using star power to sell a product is far from new, but the double glitz factor of famous people in fancy cars is particularly intriguing for consumers. Especially when it comes to high-end luxury models, pairing a famous face with a high-end car can be a good way for manufacturers to generate an added buying incentive for those who may be on the fence about splurging on a new set of wheels.

Here are some of the more recent and high-profile celebrity car campaigns:

Audi
The German car company launched a campaign back in March to raise awareness of its new A3, the first in the manufacturer's line of affordable luxury cars, AutoNews.com reported. In order to generate buzz, the company turned to several celebrities in a minute-long commercial mixing Hollywood star power, intriguing cuts of the Audi A3 and the music of rock superstars Queen.

Everyone from athletes to musicians to actors lent their talent to the project. One of the most notable additions was Ricky Gervais, comedian and television producer responsible for shows like "The Office." The funny man's appearance book-ended the commercial, with the messaging encouraging viewers to "stay uncompromised."

Jaguar
This veteran of the luxury market recently embraced and celebrated its U.K. heritage by enlisting the help of several prominent English celebrities in its new campaign. According to MarketingWeek, jaguar's campaign, dubbed FeelXE, sees British superstars such as Idris Elba loaning their faces and voices to the company's cause. Post-2008 recession, Jaguar is looking to reestablish the wow factor driving a high-end luxury car can evoke, and pairing its sleek wheels with some of the most well-known individuals from the U.K. is certainly a move aimed at doing just that.

Avis
Of course, not all campaigns are designed around selling luxury cars. Some, like Avis' recent star-studded series, just want to give people what they need. The rental car company launched a handful of spots featuring celebrities such as fashion photographer Nigel Barker and beach volleyball player Gabriella Reece, GlobalNewswire stated in a press release. Rather than position expensive cars as solid buys, the celebs advocated Avis as a sensible rental option for business travelers in need of a car while on the road.

If you're looking to buy a high-quality used car, head to NJ State Auto Auction. There are hundreds of Carfax-certified cars on the lot, and the dedicated finance team can help create an affordable financing solution.

How To Tell When Your Car’s On Its Last Legs

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Posted in Uncategorized

While we often do our best to keep our cars on the road, both for sentimental and financial value, sometimes you have to recognize when it's time to move on. If you think your ride may be on its last legs, here are a few things to keep in mind.

The basic formula
It's time for an introductory lesson in economics. If money out exceeds money in, it's probably time to sell. This is the golden rule when it comes to deciding whether your car is a fixer-upper or a trader-inner. According to Edmunds, determine if the repairs will cost you more than your car's market value, or compare it against one year of monthly payments. If fixing it up is more costly than either of these, it may be time to say your goodbyes.

As with any advice, this is intended to be more of a guideline than anything etched in stone, but for drivers who are truly on the fence, it can serve as a helpful point from which to evaluate options. Some people may be reluctant to trade in their car. If you're one of them, it helps to know what you can expect financially.

Repair costs can be exponential
You may feel it's cheaper to repair problems with your car than it is to trade it in and buy a new one, and in many cases this is true. After all, spending a couple hundred bucks on a new part – or even a couple thousand for more in-depth repairs – is better on paper than spending substantially more for a whole new car.

However, the older your car is, the more likely it is that you'll encounter maintenance issues on a semi​-regular basis. Every make and model is different when it comes to reliability, of course, but in general, a 10-year-old model won't run as smoothly as a 3-year-old one. Even if small repairs are cheaper, they can add up over time and nickel-and-dime you to death.

The longer you keep your car, the less it's worth
Depreciation is an unpleasant reality of car ownership, but it's still something to keep in mind. Cars lose value exponentially, so the longer you hang on to it, the less you'll get in trade. In fact, keeping your car for five years instead of three can result in an 18 percent loss of value, according to Edmunds. Smart drivers should decide if saving money now is worth the hit they'll take when they do trade in later.

If you're shopping for a used car, head to NJ State Auto Auction. There are hundreds of Carfax-certified cars on the lot, and an in-house finance team available to help get you approved for a loan.

Why A Used Car May Be The Right Choice For You

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Posted in How To

Shopping for a car can be as confusing as it is exciting. Understanding the vast array of special features and options many cars come with, not to mention matching them to your specific needs as a driver, can be frustrating. And this doesn't even take into account the added stress of dealership hype surrounding their shiny newer models. 

You may have reservations about purchasing a pre-owned vehicle, but a quality certified used car can be an idea option for a buyer who is looking to get a reliable ride without breaking the bank. Here are some points to consider when you're deciding what car to buy.

Save money now, save money later
If spending less is your primary goal, opting for pre-owned is the way to go. New cars are laden with hidden costs and financial pitfalls that you won't have to deal with when you buy used. In addition to typically bearing a lower sticker price, new cars depreciate, or decline in value, at an alarming rate. Based on data from Edmunds, a new car loses 9 percent of its value as soon as you drive off the lot. In fact, a mere three years after you bring your new ride home, you can expect it to be worth 40 percent less than what you paid for it. Contrast this with the value of a used car, which Consumer Reports mentioned depreciates at a rate of 27 percent in the first three years, and you can see that pre-owned cars offer a much higher value-for-money ratio.

They're more reliable than ever
Sure, you know that used cars cost less, and can even save you money down the road, but isn't it true that you get what you pay for? Won't you just be signing up for a host of mechanical problems when you opt for a used model instead of a new one? According to Consumer Reports, not really. In fact, for lower-income buyers, there hasn't been a better time to buy a pre-owned car and trust in its reliability. Even between 2007 and 2014, the overall reliability of 5-year-old cars increased by 33 percent, the source pointed out. 

As CNN reported, this is in part due to many manufacturers adopting or expanding their used car certification programs. Dealers and manufacturers are putting more of their support behind pre-owned models, implementing stricter inspection standards and warranty coverage, and providing additional peace of mind.

When it's time to shop for a used car, head to NJ State Auto Auction. You'll find hundreds of Carfax-certified cars on the lot, and the in-house finance team is available to help approve you for an affordable auto loan. 

Beat The Heat With These Car Safety Tips

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Posted in General Auto News

The hot summer sun is a welcome arrival for those looking to spend their days outside, but it can also be dangerous. Anyone who's stepped into their car on a summer day knows just how hot they can get when left in the sun. Unfortunately, some people still leave pets or even children alone in overheated vehicles, sometimes with tragic results. Whether planning a road trip or simply heading out for groceries, be aware of the dangers of leaving loved ones in the back seat in the hot sun.

The problem is heating up
It may seem unthinkable, but the fact is that drivers leaving pets and children in the back seat while they run errands is more common that you'd think. Even if you're just planning on stepping inside a store for a few minutes, the heat building inside your car can be deadly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that parents leaving their kids in parked cars for too long resulted in 19 heat-related fatalities in 2014. To help combat this threat and raise awareness, the NHTSA launched National Heatstroke Prevention Day July 31 to remind parents of the dangers they and their youngsters face. 

According to SafeCar.gov, a child is susceptible to a fatal heatstroke reaction once his or her temperature reaches 107 degrees Fahrenheit – and parents may be shocked to learn that car interior temperatures can rise to these dangerous levels even on relatively mild days in the 60s or 70s. 

Awareness is cool
Preventing such tragic occurrences is often as simple as taking an extra moment of awareness before heading inside. Drivers are urged to remind themselves of their child in the back seat – consider leaving your purse or wallet in the back seat, which will require you to check the rear of your car when you leave. One mother commissioned the creation of a smartphone app called Kars4Kids – an app that sends a reminder to your phone when you leave a child waiting in the car for you. Regardless of how quick you think a jaunt into the dry cleaner's will be, cars can heat up at an alarming rate, and in today's world with parents balancing more on-the-go tasks than ever, it's easy to lose track of who's waiting for you, and for how long.

For your pre-owned vehicle needs, head to NJ State Auto Auction. You'll find hundreds of Carfax-certified cars on the lot, and an in-house finance team ready to help approve you for a financing plan to make your choice of vehicle affordable.