When shopping for a car, men look for different qualities than women. In fact, a recent LeaseTrader.com survey indicates women are more thorough in their research when purchasing cars than men.

"Our data specifically says that women not only have a larger interest in cars overall, but women today are taking a more active role in the negotiating process of a vehicle and in the car-shopping process in general," John Sternal of LeaseTrader told National Public Radio.

They also tend to choose different vehicles, and Inside Line looked at Polk data to determine the top 10 cars women buy more than men. Roughly 57.9 percent of Volvo S40 drivers are women, making it the most popular car for the female population. The Nissan Rogue came in second, with 56.9 percent of its buyers being female.

Rounding out the top five were the Volkswagen Eos, Beetle and Toyota Matrix. The Beetle only had 54.6 percent of female buyers, even though the car is often associated with ladies because of its "cute" design. However, the 2012 and 2013 models have been revamped to look tougher and appeal to more drivers, which is why Inside Line believes the Beetle isn't higher on the list.

The Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V and Toyota Rav4 also made the top 10. Tow vehicles tied for ninth place – the Nissan Juke and the Jeep Compass. Roughly 52.7 percent of buyers of each these cars were female.

Ladies who want to find the perfect ride, whether or not their car of choice falls on this list, should head over to New Jersey State Auto Auction. NJ Auto has a huge selection of different makes and models to choose from, so every driver will be able to find the perfect vehicle to suit their needs.

Safety technology is one of the fastest-changing segments of the automotive industry, and Cadillac is the latest brand to introduce new technology to its vehicles. The American luxury brand recently announced the addition of numerous sensors and cameras to improve visibility and safety in its 2013 lineup.

"New technology in the XTS and ATS is intended to extend the vision around the car to help drivers identify obstacles," said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac Marketing. "When necessary, the vehicle may take action to help them avoid a collision. Cadillac expands its lineup dramatically in 2013, and these technologies are an important component."

Safety seat alerts use subtlety in the form of vibrating seats to alert drivers when potential crash situations may be ahead or behind them. This technology is a variation of collision alert systems found in many other vehicles. Some drivers may not like the idea of a flashing light or a beeping alarm that could frighten them when they're behind the wheel.

Cameras, radars and other sensors will also be installed in new ATS and XTS models to assist with collision, lane departure and blind spot warnings. The new vehicles will also have automatic braking, adaptive cruise control and forward lighting to improve visibility at night.

While the new technology may not be available on older vehicles, drivers can take steps to improve the safety of their current vehicles . Regular maintenance can catch mechanical problems early so drivers don't find themselves stranded on the side of the road. The knowledgeable staff at New Jersey State Auto Auction's Total Car Care Center in Jersey City will be able to perform routine tuneups and repairs to keep vehicles running smoothly and safely.

Consumer Reports recently conducted a reliability survey to determine the overall value of three-year-old used cars in 2001 versus three-year-old used cars in 2002. A number of vehicles showed vast improvements in reliability and cost of ownership in newer models compared to older ones, but not every used car on the market today is a good buy.

ABC News recently highlighted the vehicles that did not make it to the top of the list and were instead categorized as "much worse than average." This means they had a higher rate of problems than the average model, but it by no means makes them unreliable or bad choices for drivers. Rather, knowing a car you want may come with a lot of mechanical problems could sway your decision or at least help you plan for the future.

The Audi Q5 wagon was included in the group, as many drivers reported problems with the cooling system, body integrity and mostly the audio system. The discontinued Chevrolet Aveo was also on the list, as its fuel and climate systems had sub-par ratings and there were many minor engine issues as well. The Aveo has been replaced by the all-new Chevy Sonic, which Chevy claims is a major upgrade from the Aveo.

Many of the vehicles in this category were luxury models, including the Cadillac STS, BMW 535i, Jaguar S-Type and Mercedes-Benz GL Class.The GL was found to have issues with the suspension and fuel system that could render the car completely useless.

Whether you think these issues are worth the luxury or you'd rather find something with a lower overall ownership cost, New Jersey State Auto Auction's wide selection of used cars will be sure to have the right car for your needs.

When the recession first hit at the end of 2008, the economic crash was met with reduced spending in the automotive industry. People were holding on to their vehicles longer and putting off maintenance to save money. Now that the U.S. economy is steadily improving, more drivers are heading to dealers to trade in their cars and sales are returning to pre-recession levels. In fact, automotive experts have increased their predictions several times after positive sales at the end of 2011 and in the first few months of this year from just below 14 million units to more than 15 million cars.

While vehicle sales are returning to pre-recession levels, car buyers are approaching the task from a different angle. A recent study by Foresight Research found that buyers are more influenced now by practical information such as discounts, fuel economy and vehicle reviews. In the past, buyers may have been swayed by marketing tactics that appealed to their emotions, including style, whether a car is fun to drive and luxury features.

"The auto industry continues its recovery," said Steve Bruyn, the CEO of Foresight Research. "After historic lows in 2009, U.S. light vehicle sales stabilized in 2010 and improved toward the end of 2011. Our sample of 2010 to 2011 buyers represents a unique viewpoint into the behaviors and influences as the auto industry recovers from the worst economic period since the Great Depression."

The survey reveals more consumers are being practical about their purchases, which may indicate consumer confidence in the economy has not fully been restored.

Whether searching for an economical vehicle or something a bit more sporty, drivers should head to New Jersey State Auto Auction. With a wide variety of used makes and models, consumers are sure to find the perfect car to suit their budget and their desires.

High gas prices have led many consumers to research more fuel-efficient used cars, and recent findings from Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com found that their preferences appear to be shifting. In fact, as many as 51 percent of in-market consumers said they are likely to consider buying a smaller car in the near future.

The results of the study revealed some other interesting tidbits as well. For instance, 20 percent of consumers said they are likely to consider purchasing a car that runs on alternative fuel including diesel-powered vehicles, electric cars and hybrids.

It appears as though consumers' actions are backing up their preferences, kbb.com found. Even before gas prices started their ascent to nearly $4 per gallon, year-over-year sales of fuel-efficient vehicles for last month grew considerably. In particular, sales of hybrid gars jumped 56.4 percent in February compared to last year. Furthermore, sales of subcompact cars grew 38.9 percent, and mid-size cars rose 24.8 percent. For anybody looking to get a fuel-efficient car, now may be the time, analysts say.

"As fuel prices continue to rise, we may see pricing become less favorable as demand increases, so risk-averse consumers should by now while dealer inventories remain plentiful," wrote Alec Gutierrez, the senior market analysts for automotive insights at Kelley Blue Book.

Anybody looking to downsize to a more fuel-efficient vehicle should head to New Jersey State Auto Auction. With a wide variety of makes and models at affordable prices, there is something for everyone. Additionally, thanks to a partnership with the Credit Acceptance Corporation, NJ Auto is able to offer guaranteed credit approval.

When it comes to car repair and maintenance, drivers tend to prefer dealer facilities to independent auto repair shops. A recent J.D. Power and Associates survey found that overall customer satisfaction at a dealership shop is an average of 38 points higher on a 1,000-point scale than that of drivers who go to independent shops. The results also revealed that 5 percent more drivers who own cars that are less than three years old are taking them to dealer shops for work, up from 74 percent in 2011.

Customer satisfaction was rated in five categories – service quality, initiation, advisor, facility and vehicle pick-up. Lexus was found to be the best luxury company for car care customer satisfaction for the fourth year in a row, and Mini took the prize for mass market brands.

"Steady improvements in vehicle quality, longer intervals between recommended service visits and a higher mix of maintenance service events have had a positive effect on overall dealer service satisfaction," said Chris Sutton, senior director at J.D. Power and Associates. "Moreover, manufacturers and their dealers have instituted broad-based customer service improvement initiatives to increase satisfaction with both the purchase experience and after-sales service, with the understanding that a substandard service occasion can and will impact their ability to make a future vehicle sale or gain repeat service business."

The survey may have only looked at new-car owners and dealerships, but used car owners may want to check out New Jersey State Auto Auction's Total Car Care center in Jersey City. The shop is open to the public and can handle everything from basic maintenance to major repairs.

President Obama recently unveiled the government's plan to speed up the adoption of alternative energy, the EV-Everywhere Challenge. This is just one part of the Obama administration's effort to provide more affordable technology to Americans and simultaneously reduce U.S. dependence on oil. The latest challenge is calling on "America's best and brightest" to work together to develop ways to make electric vehicles (EVs) more affordable and convenient than the handful of current options.

Obama is calling for these changes to be implemented within the next decade. His hope is to bring together members of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) with leading scientists, developers and engineers from the industry and higher education institutions. The goal includes finding ways to lower costs for batteries and drivetrains and improve charging speeds and battery capacities.

"The Energy Department's Clean Energy Grand Challenges will engage American scientists, engineers and young people to solve some of the nation's biggest energy challenges and make clean energy technologies affordable and accessible to the vast majority of American families and businesses," said Secretary of Energy Dr. Steven Chu. "The EV-Everywhere Challenge is focused on advancing electric vehicle technologies and continuing to reduce costs, so that a decade from now, electric vehicles will be more affordable and convenient to own than today's gasoline-powered vehicles."

Until EVs are widely available, drivers can head to New Jersey State Auto Auction, which has a wide variety of affordable, fuel-efficient used vehicles. They may be able to find a hybrid vehicle like a Toyota Prius or a small gas-powered car that gets good mileage like the Honda CR-Z, which is the most fuel-efficient car in America, according to the DOE.

New parents may be wary of buying a family-friendly vehicle, as this can conjure up images of "soccer mom" minivans. However, minivans are not the only vehicles well-suited for young families, and Forbes recently put together a list of appropriate options based on safety features, affordability, and style. Every one of the top 10 family cars costs less than $25,000 and is rated as a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Only one van, the Dodge Grand Caravan, made the list. The rest of the cars chosen by Forbes were smaller, crossover SUVs, wagons and even a few sedans. The Honda CR-V was among the best options for new families as well, and one new parent explained why she chose it for her family.

"I like that in a small SUV, you sit higher up from the road, Liz McCorry, a new parent looking for a family car, told the news source. "In general it makes me more at ease as a driver, and is more comfortable to get in and out of."

The Kia Soul also made the grade, and this small SUV has been an IIHS Top Safety Pick since it was first introduced to the market in 2009. Since many drivers trade in new cars after about three years of ownership, it's likely that used Kia Souls will be available this year. Kelley Blue Book estimates that a used 2010 model in excellent condition will sell for around $13,300.

Whether new parents are looking for a minivan or something more modern like a Soul or a CR-V for their families, New Jersey State Auto Auction has plenty of options to choose from. With a wide variety of makes and models at affordable prices, drivers are sure to find the perfect family car.