While a used car in New Jersey can help motorists save at the pump, a new report finds that rising fuel prices last year did not change the number of purchases of more fuel-efficient vehicles for very long.

Experian Automotive found that from May to September, small and economy cars showed a brief uptick in sales as consumers worried about the 70-cent increase in fuel prices nationwide. But even as gas prices continued to rise, the segment quickly returned to its normal share of the market, rougly 10 percent.

“Anyone who predicts a long-term shift in consumer car-buying sentiment based solely on last summer’s knee-jerk reaction to gas price increases could be in for a surprise,” said Jeff Anderson, Experian Automotive head of consulting and analytics.

In fact, some buyers looking at used Chevy Silverados in New Jersey will choose their car even as gas prices skyrocket, as sales remained steady during that period, Experian’s data showed.

The 2005 model handles well, even in urban environments, and the powerful engines may be one reason for sustained demand, note Cars.com reviewers.

Consumers who are considering buying a vehicle may want to take a page from some local police agencies and buy used cars in New York or other states to manage financial constraints.

In Colbert County, the “new” sheriff’s deputy cruisers will be used models bought on auction from state surplus, saving up to 66 percent of the price of a new vehicle, reported NBC affiliate WAFF.

The reason? County freeholders and police administrators told the news provider that the low cost of the low-mileage used Chevrolet Impalas and other vehicles helps them find more room in the budget to replaces cruisers that are often driven until they reach 200,000 miles or more.

Buyers who are looking to justify costs on a full-size sedan may find that the 2005 model of the Chevrolet Impala could fit their needs.

As can be appreciated by police or anyone looking to have easy access, used Chevrolet Impalas in New York have larger doors to make it easier for passengers to enter and exit with enough room to seat six, according to Cars.com.

A consumer recently wrote into the Boston Globe, asking what inexpensive used cars had the lowest maintenance costs, and while buyers considering used cars in New Jersey may have expected to see Japanese makes dominate in the answer, other options could be just as affordable.

While compact and mid-size offerings from Honda and Toyota like the Civic, Accord or Camry have long been thought of as reliable cars in the used market, John Paul, public affairs manager for AAA Southern New England, says they’re not the only choice. He also recommended some domestic mid-size cars like the Chevrolet Malibu and the Buick Century.

For the 2005 model year, a no-frills used Chevrolet Malibu in New York came with a four-cylinder engine rated at 145 horsepower that offered a range of 400 miles in combined city and highway driving, with “plenty of passenger and cargo space,” according to Edmunds.com

The website also estimated the cost to own a Malibu, and drivers can expect to pay about 34 cents per mile including maintenance costs, repairs and fuel. That’s 20 cents lower than the federal government’s rate for mileage.

A NASCAR star says that you can get a trip to an upcoming race, guitar autographed by him, and an all-new 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. For those who want better odds on ways to pick up a pony car, a used Chevrolet Camaro in New Jersey might also make sense, too.

For a little more than a month, interested web users can head over to WinDaleJrsCamaro.com for a shot at the Camaro of their choice, a chance to meet Dale Earnhardt, Jr., tickets to the Rock & Roll 400 in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series and the custom Paul Reed Smith guitar autographed by both Smith and Earnhardt Jr. with paint matched to the pace car used in the NASCAR race.

Buyers who have already done research on the performance of the new model to answer the three questions required to enter the contest may have found that older models could offer similar benefits at much better odds.

For example, a recent Autotrader search turned up 40 used Chevrolet Camaros in New Jersey from 2000 or later, versus just one car signed by Earnhardt, Jr.

It’s a fact that the economic downturn is leaving some used car buyers in New York looking for avenues to relieve some tension, and a well-handling sports car like the Chevrolet Corvette is on the minds of some, according to one car website.

Carmax, which provides reviews of used automobiles, is reporting that sports car searches are up 6 percent this month, and the Corvette was its 17th most searched car.

The car was also named the National Automobile Dealer Associations Car of the Month for May, in part because “the suspension is refined, the engine is powerful and efficient and the layout is very practical,” according to Michael Caudill, NADAguides.com auto expert.

Those looking to test drive a used Chevrolet Corvette will be able to hear the throat of the 350 horsepower V8 in the 2003 model, contributing to the coupe’s “ultrahigh performance” according to Edmunds.com editors.

But the website noted that with the power put to the pavement, the used Corvette also provided a car that could provide used car buyers with “daily-driver livability,” thanks to dual-zone air conditioning and other amenities.

Find Used Chevrolet Cars in New York with New Jersey State Auto

The cost of gas has hit many Americans where it really hurts – in the wallet. But one man was recently in for the shock of his life when he was charged $81 billion to fill up his tank.

According to Tri-City Herald, Juan Zamora filled his 1994 Chevy Camaro at a local Conoco station and used a PayPal debit card to pay the $26 in gas.

Zamora says he later got an email saying his debit card was overdrawn and called a customer service representative to see what was wrong. That’s when he got the news that a flaw in the system had mistakenly charged him $81,400,836,908.

“That’s a B, as in billions!” Zamora wrote in an email to the Herald.

He told the paper that it took some time to get customer service to believe his story with the representative asking him at one point if he got the gas. “Like I had to prove that I didn’t pump $81,400,836,908 in gas,” Zamora wrote to the paper.

According to the Lundberg Survey released earlier this week, the average price of unleaded rose 2.6 cents in the past week to $1.94 a gallon. At that price Zamora would have had to pump almost 42 billion gallons into his Camaro.

Find New York Used Cars with New Jersey State Auto