Dealers expect Cash for Clunkers cessation to increase sales of used cars in New York

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Posted in General Auto News

The Cash for Clunkers program may have affected the supply of used cars in New York, but dealers nationwide believe that now that the blitz of sales is over, more buyers will be considering pre-owned vehicles.

Jeff Young, the sales manager at one dealership, told the Times-Herald that he expected to focus on discounts for used cars still on the lots, once he gets through the backlog of paperwork associated with the government program.

Fellow salesman Tim Gaither said that the stringent and esoteric rules behind Cash for Clunkers drove many people to his lots, where they left with a used car after finding they couldn’t qualify for the savings needed to purchase a new vehicle, reported the news provider.

But buyers who are now considering used cars in New York may want to act sooner, rather than later. A combination of fewer available trade-ins because of crushed clunkers and decreased production could limit pre-owned choices, according to USA Today.

While there are still deals available, some sellers caution that the effects of taking hundreds of thousands of used cars off the road may soon affect supplies, noted the newspaper.

Minor logo tweak by Audi may not be noticed by owners of used cars in New Jersey

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Posted in Audi

When people like a product, it’s generally not recommended to change it very much. Audi has done little to change its classic logo, and buyers considering used Audis in New Jersey may find that they hold up as well as the automaker’s famous four-ring design.

The logo is still the same four inter-linked metal rings, with the red Audi name beneath, reported AutoCar in the UK. The principal differences are more three-dimensional rendering for shadows in the rings, and justifying the name to the left.

Similarly, used Audis in New Jersey often offer similar quality to their newer counterparts, but at prices much more attractive to those considering a German luxury car.

For example, the Audi A3 was introduced in 2006 as a four-door hatch based on the popular version that had been sold for years in Europe.

And buyers considering the A3 from that year will be able to take advantage of its “wagonlike cargo versatility” in a package that offers “precise” steering and an uncluttered interior, notes a Cars.com review.

Used Toyota cars in New York may be a safer bet for winter driving

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Toyota

Buyers often look to Toyota because of a belief that they are reliable, according to some autmotive experts, but a new safety recall could point potential buyers towards used cars in New York instead of some current options.

The Japanese automaker is initiating a recall of nearly 100,000 Toyota Corollas, Matrixes and Scion xDs from model years 2009 and 2010 because of brake issues in freezing temperatures for cars that come with a 1.8 liter engine.

Officials from the company say that a cascading effect of moisture in the crankcase could cause freezing in the brake system, leading to reduced stopping ability for residents in New York and 18 other states.

Used Toyota Corollas have not been the subject of similar concerns, and buyers considering used cars in New York could be attracted to the 2005 model of the entry-level vehicle.

“It delivers a satisfying blend of fuel economy, refinement and reliability,” noted a Cars.com review. “Riding smoothly, Corollas feel solid and are confidence-inspiring”

The website also notes that buyers may enjoy the fact that it’s “long been one of the best compacts on the market,” with a powerful engine in some models.

Car and Driver: Best used cars in New York include Honda S2000

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Posted in Honda - DO NOT USE

In a now annual feature, the journalists at Car and Driver have been putting together a list of the best cars they’ve driven that are less than $20,000, and used Honda S2000s in New York come out near the top of the list.

Since they consider themselves enthusiasts, they have stuck with used cars since they are more affordable, and one that struck them as epitomizing affordable performance was the 2000-2006 model Honda S2000.

“In 1999, the S2000 screamed onto the scene and instantly elevated our sports-car expectations,” they noted. “The high-revving four-cylinder engine developed more power per liter than any naturally aspirated powerplant had ever achieved.”

Buyers could consider a 2006 model, which included a more refined engine and “agile” chassis that combined to offer a “high level of performance for the price” of a used Honda S2000 in New York, according to Edmunds.com editors.

“After driving it back-to-back against the best roadsters in its class, our editors couldn’t help but fall in love with [it],” they wrote.

Automotive journalist recommends buying used cars in New Jersey

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Posted in Auto Loans & Financing News

Steve Williams writes for AutoWeek, Newsday and other media platforms covering cars and the automotive industry. In a recent interview he said that used cars in New Jersey are a better bet than new cars or leasing.

“Used cars have more attractive price points initially, of course, and this year a lot of cars are coming into dealers off lease, so larger inventories in used-car lots give dealers more incentive to move them out quickly,” he said in a Minyanville.com interview.

Williams also added that attractive financing options limit the appeal of leasing, since a low interest loan will provide the same affordable initial price to own, but also give buyers ownership of the vehicle rather than having to give it back, according to the website.

New cars could receive another blow in appeal to consumers now that the government’s Cash for Clunkers program has ended and the $4,500 rebates are no longer available. Although some automakers are continuing to give discount, many promotion programs have lost about half of the savings they initially offered.

New service could help owners of used cars in New York diagnose maintenance needs

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Posted in General Auto News

Many owners are considering holding onto used cars in New York, and even recent buyers don’t want to see their cars off the road because of a breakdown.

A service like DriverSide may help people who want to keep their cars in good shape, but may not have a strong mechanical background. Similarly to some medical websites, owners can input symptoms of car trouble into the database, or begin by choosing what they see, hear or smell.

For some of the repairs, how-to videos may help new owners solve the problem themselves, or the site can provide an estimated cost to fix the problem.

“A hundred dollars spent in proactive car care can save drivers thousands in repair costs down the road,” said Jad Dunning, DriverSide.com CEO.

Whether or not a driver checks out websites like DriverSide, maintaining a used car in New York can save money and frustration. According to a Kelton Research survey, only one in six car owners performs some basic maintenance on their vehicles.

Possible plant closure affects more than future supply of used cars in New York

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Toyota

While buyers who prefer used cars in New York may have seen the possible closure of the joint Toyota-General Motors plant, known as NUMMI, as a sign that some cars may stop being offered in showrooms, the impact on local families is also a growing concern.

Advocates with Friends of NUMMI, or New United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated, say that shutting down the plant puts 50,000 jobs at risk in California because there will be no future

The plant employs less than 5,000 people, but the organization says that the true scope of the shutdown includes suppliers and other local business that help to put out nearly half a million vehicles each year.

“I’m definitely worried about my future,” NUMMI employee Freddy Martin told the San Francisco Chronicle during a recent rally to keep the facility open. “I’m only hoping that all the tax incentives and business breaks the state is offering will make it possible for Toyota to stay.”

While General Motors has pulled out of the partnership, Toyota is in talks to keep the plant open, which may mean more used Toyota Matrixes in New York for future buyers.

Hummer dealer tries new inventory, but buyers may opt for used cars in New Jersey

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Posted in General Auto News

A Hummer dealer in Chesterfield, Missouri has opened a secondary shop at his facility that offers an add-on buyers considering used cars in New Jersey have probably never seen: an in-store gun showroom.

Although the website for Jim Lynch Hummer touts the dealership as the only one in the country that offers Hummers exclusively, that focus didn’t pan out for him.

“[We] didn’t have enough business to keep this big, beautiful building going with the decline, so we decided we needed to do something else,” Lynch told the Belleville New-Democrat. “And the guns fit in with our customer base… a lot of sportsman, a lot of outdoorsmen, and they’ve loved it.”

He says that customers have responded well to the shift in inventory, and some customers explained to the newspaper that they valued the ability to shop for sporting goods at the dealership.

Buyers who are looking for fuel-friendly vehicles unlike the Hummer can look at a variety of used cars in New Jersey, with enough money left over for whatever hunting equipment they like. Many hybrids offer fuel mileage over 40 miles per gallon, and smaller German sedans with diesel engines can also help owners save on gas.

European-derived model may not interest buyers of used Buick Regals in New Jersey

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Buick- DO NOT USE

Part of General Motors efforts to revitalize its many lines of vehicles includes updates that come from its design teams worldwide, but the new Regal may not interest buyers who would prefer the American look of used Buick Regals in New Jersey.

The 2011 Buick Regal will be a rebadged Opel Insignia, a sedan sold in Europe that has a higher waistline and a more continental appearance, according to the Detroit News.

Recent speculation from automotive writers suggest that the new car would be unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show, marking the first Buick Regal in America in six years. Buyers who are turned off by the styling, however, could consider used Buick Regals in New Jersey.

The 2004 model costs less than some new motorcycles, and according to Edmunds.com editors, it is “a competent sedan for the money” with a supercharged V6 available in some trims and a roomy interior.

Updates for that year also included expanded wood trim and dual-zone climate control options, noted the website.

Crackdown on drunk driving could affect owners of used cars in New York

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Posted in General Auto News

From August 21 through Labor Day Weekend, police departments around the country will be increasing the numbers of sobriety checkpoints and patrols to limit the number of drunk drivers, and motorists operating used cars in New York should take steps to limit their intake before getting behind the wheel.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued grants to more than 11,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide to pay for officers for overtime related to the “Drunk Driving, over the limit, under arrest” program designed to keep intoxicated Labor Day revelers from making poor decisions.

The administration has seen an uptick in the number of female drivers involved in fatal crashes while allegedly driving intoxicated, and notes that will be a focus for police officers monitoring used cars in New York and other states.

“Impaired driving is an issue that cuts across all segments of society and, sadly, the number of arrests of women driving under the influence is on the rise,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “This is clearly a very disturbing trend.”