Car and Driver recommends used Mercedes-Benz E-Classes in New York

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Posted in Mercedes-Benz

Buyers who would like the prestige of driving a luxury sedan but who only have the money for entry-level models may want to consider used Mercedez-Bens E-Classes in New York, according to Car and Driver.

The automotive enthusiasts there recommend the most recent generation, which was produced from 2003 to 2009, saying that the mid-size German sedan “will retain its status for some time.”

The base model comes equipped with an engine that offers good power throughout the RPM range, while all models offer drivers an interior that is “luxurious, roomy, and fitted with every safety feature,” added the magazine’s reviewers.

Potential buyers enticed by the magazine’s enthusiasm may want to check out a 2003 model of the used Mercedes Benz E-Class in New York.

That was the first year of the latest generation, and offers a “more elegant” exterior and a price point now that is less than the price of a new Honda Civic, notes Edmunds.com

Parents play key role in teaching safe teen drivers of used cars in New Jersey

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Posted in General Auto News, Honda - DO NOT USE

Parents who teach their teen children safe driving habits in used cars in New Jersey are more likely to find that younger drivers are operating vehicles more safely.

Geico says that while new GPS-based monitoring devices can help keep track of errant youth motorists and detect potentially dangerous driving habits such as speeding and large acceleration changes, teaching them to be responsible at the start may be the most effective choice.

The company cites a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that found parents who took a hand-son approach in their children’s driving education had a larger influence on automotive safety.

“The more involved a parent is in the learning process, the less likely a teen is to be engaged in all the risky behaviors associated with the teen years,” says Geico assistant vice president Janice Minshall.

Those who are looking for a car that may keep younger drivers protected in case of an inadvertent mistake may want to consider a 2005 Honda Accord coupe, which earned four 5-star crash ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Cash for Clunkers may limit buyers’ choices of used Dodge Rams in New Jersey

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Dodge - DO NOT USE

One of the byproducts of the federal Cash for Clunkers program is that all qualified used cars in New Jersey that are given to dealers must be completely scrapped with their engines rendered unusable to prevent fraud.

Many of the vehicles that qualify for the rebates are SUVs and pick-ups, and some industry websites are finding that owners of these vehicles have been researching their options online.

Some of the most likely candidates to go to a junkyard are Ford F-Series pick-up trucks, Chevrolet Silverados, and used Dodge Rams in New Jersey, according to web traffic statistics.

For those who may want to get a Ram before they’re put out to pasture, the 2004 model was one of the first that offered a “Hemi” V8 engine that provided more power than previous versions, along with “sharp handling,” according to the editors at Edmunds.com

Ciara’s ride may be an inspiration for those considering used Jeep Wranglers in New York

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Posted in Celebrity Auto News, Jeep - DO NOT USE

Ciara’s Jeep Wrangler, which photographers recently found her driving, can be described in one word: black. Those considering used cars in New York may want to adopt the singer’s sleek style as their own, or at least her choice in transportation.

The open top is framed by gray roll-bars, and the interior is charcoal, but everything else is black, from the matte finish wheels up to the paint job.

Reports didn’t indicate the singer’s reason for choosing the affordable but sporty vehicle, but buyers may want to look at used Jeep Wranglers in New York for their versatility.

The 2003 model year included the introduction of the Rubicon trim line, which offered more off-road capability than the standard Wrangler and maintains the “classic, rugged styling” of a Jeep, according to a Detroit News test drive.

Like Ciara’s style, the Rubicon trim could also catch the eyes of passersby, with the reviewers finding pedestrians took note of the 31-inch wheels and the distinctive Inca gold paintjob.

End of an era could lead enthusiasts to used Pontiac Solstices in New York

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Pontiac - DO NOT USE, Saturn - DO NOT USE

In Newport, Delaware, the final car rolled off the line at General Motors’ Boxwood Road factory, and buyers considering used Pontiac Solstices in New York may be able to purchase a car that celebrates the plant’s history.

The final coupes produced at the GM assembly line in Delaware were two models based on the automaker’s Kappa platform, the Pontiac Solstice and the Saturn Sky roadsters, and it was a Pontiac Solstice that capped production activities after more than 60 years, reported the News Journal.

Saturn and Pontiac have both been cast aside by the struggling automaker as it looks to re-focus on core brands and increase sales, and the plant has been closed following GM’s bankruptcy hearing, according to the newspaper.

Enthusiasts of the convertibles may still find used Pontiac Solstices in New York, including the 2006 model which brought the car from concept to the salesroom.

Affordable when new, buyers may enjoy a car whose “stubby roadster proportions are perfect, with the compact aggression of a Japanese short sword,” according to an L.A. Times review.

NASCAR to allow racecars resembling used Ford Mustangs in New Jersey

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Posted in Ford

Buyers considering used Ford Mustangs in New Jersey can expect to see similar-looking vehicles competing in NASCAR’s second tier series next year, Ford North America Motorsports announced.

Unlike the Sprint Cup racers, which generally have graphics that look like mid-size sedans but contain few structural similarities, FNAM director Brian Wolfe says that the Nationwide series will include sports cars like the Mustang.

It’s the first time that the pony car has been included in NASCAR racing, Wolfe noted, although the car has competed in other events ranging from drifting to drag racing since it was first introduced as a 1964 1/2 model.

Those looking for an updated version may want to take a look at 2006 model year used Ford Mustangs in New Jersey.

The car offers the same looks that will soon appear on racetracks, but it may offer an affordable alternative to starting one’s own race team with “compelling performance” according to Edmunds.com editors.

Used BMW X5s in New Jersey may be safer than newer models

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Posted in Auto Industry News, BMW

Buyers may be concerned about a recall of two new BMW SUVs due to rear brake issues by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. If they want to choose from the automaker’s other options, they could look at used BMW X5s in New Jersey that have received high safety ratings.

The NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation issued the German automaker a notice to recall 2009 BMW X5s and X6s because of faulty manufacturing in the rear brake discs, which provide the clamping force necessary to slow the wheels.

ODI said that the brake assembly could potentially reduce stopping ability, and in extreme cases the brakes could fail entirely.

Used BMW X5s in New Jersey, on the other hand, have good safety ratings, including 5-star crash ratings for the 2004 model, noted Cars.com.

Reviewer Jim Flammang wrote that the car-based SUV may attract buyers because of its “more distinctive, eye-catching shape” compared to offerings from other luxury automakers, as well as its strong acceleration when equipped with either a V8 or V6 engine.

Used Mitsubishi Lancers in New York may offset automaker’s production decline

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Mitsubishi - DO NOT USE

Mitsubishi announced that in the past six months, overseas production and exports in markets like the U.S. has dropped significantly, and buyers may consider used Mitsubishi Lancers in New York because of reduced availability of newer options.

A three-month halt to manufacturing in North America has led to June production numbers that are one-quarter what they were the same time a year ago, Mitsubishi noted, and export sales from Japanese plants to the market were down 35 percent over the same period.

Since January, Mitsubishi has built roughly 80 percent fewer cars in North America, and sold one-third the number of vehicles in North America that were manufactured in Japan compared to 2008.

With a smaller number of new cars available, used models like the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer could be worth considering.

The rally-inspired design includes a lower belt line and instrument cluster that can increase visibility for drivers of used Mitsubishi Lancers in New York, according to a Cars.com review.

While the engine is about average in terms of noise heard in the cabin, the reviewer noted that acceleration with the four-cylinder engine is “peppy.”

Auto financiers recommend planning ahead before buying used cars in New Jersey

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Posted in Auto Loans & Financing News

Automotive financiers say that buyers considering used cars in New Jersey can benefit from making sure they understand the terminology surrounding loans and credit options before they sign their names to a contract.

Start by checking with outside loan agencies like credit unions or banks where one has an account to determine what interest rates are available, says industry group Americans Well-informed on Auto Retail Economics. Consider increasing one’s down payment as a way to lower the rate, or APR.

When one has an idea of what monthly payment is affordable based on his or her budget, AWARE recommends sticking to that number. It may be easier to negotiate the interest rate and lower monthly payments there as opposed to haggling over the purchase price of a used car in New Jersey.

Extras like credit insurance or extended service warranties are often offered at this point in negotiations, the coalition notes, but determine whether they are necessary beforehand and stick with that decision, it says.

Consumers “will get the most out of their vehicle financing experience if they do their homework,” says Eric Hoffman, AWARE spokesman.

Cash for Clunkers backlash could increase sales of used cars in New Jersey

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Posted in Auto Industry News

One industry group says that car buyers who thought the Cash for Clunkers program would help make new cars more affordable are likely to find that they’re better off with used cars in New Jersey.

The program offers vouchers of up to $4,500 for owners with low fuel mileage who have owned their vehicle for at least a year and then trade it in for a more fuel efficient new car.

It would be just as easy to trade up to a newer used car or through better maintenance of existing cars, argues the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if there is a consumer backlash once car owners realize that ‘Cash for Clunkers’ is nothing more than a … program to fund a government subsidized vehicle trade-in to help new car dealers sell cars,” said Kathleen Schmatz, the association’s president and CEO. “Consumers will soon learn that they are simply trading in their vehicle and will still have to jump through all of the hoops to qualify for and purchase a new vehicle.”