Monthly Archives: March 2009

The test drive – an important step before a used car purchase

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Posted in General Auto News

With so much information available on the internet today, many used car buyers are able to get almost all the knowledge they need on a car purchase. But there is still one important part of the car buying experience that has to be done in person – the test drive.

The test drive is one of the most important steps in buying a used car. No matter how good the car looks on the outside, if it drives poorly or has horrible noise coming from the engine, it’s probably not going to make a good purchase.

According to U.S. News & World Report, before stepping into the used car to go for a spin, buyers should take a look around the car to look for any signs of damage or other problems.

Once in the car, the magazine suggests driving in a normal fashion, but advises to be conscious of any noises that might be a sign of trouble. It also says to look for factors that might come into play later like passenger space, visibility and the checking to make sure the controls work.

Having a third party mechanic look at the vehicle is also a suggestion made by many experts before buying a used car. If the owner or dealer won’t allow you to drive the car or have it inspected it might be the sign of underlying problems with the vehicle.

Find New York Used Cars with New Jersey State Auto.

Jaguar, Buick take top spots on J.D. Power dependability list

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Posted in Buick- DO NOT USE

A new study from J.D. Power and Associates finds that Buick and Jaguar have tied for the crown of most dependable car, dethroning Lexus from the top spot which it’s held for the last 14 years.

Although Lexus fell to the third spot on the list, Neal Oddes, director of product research and analysis said the car still performs well.

“Buick and Jaguar both lead the industry in nameplate performance,” Oddes told the Associated Press. “In terms of individual model performance, Lexus and Toyota still do very, very well.”

While knocking the luxury Japanese brand from its perch at number one was a big upset, it is somewhat surprising for many in the industry to see Jaguar vaulting to the top spot from last year’s ranking of 10th.

In ranking the car brands, J.D. Power looked at problems car owners complained of over the last three years. It surveyed 46,313 original owners of 2006 model year vehicles.

This means that late model used cars from some of the top brands may be a good choice for used car buyers looking for a dependable vehicle.

Find Used Buick cars in New York Tri-State Area with New Jersey State Auto.

Jennifer Love Hewitt and her new Bentley

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Posted in Celebrity Auto News

It’s not uncommon to see a new couple head to the local fast food chain for a quick bite to eat in the afternoon, but it is somewhat surprising when the couple is Jennifer Love Hewitt and Jamie Kennedy. And maybe even more surprising when they pull up to Taco Bell in a Bentley.

Hewitt and Kennedy were spotted Sunday at a California Taco Bell driving in what appeared to be the Ghost Whisperer’s new silver Bentley Continental. But only the day before the former Party of Five star was seen in a white convertible version of the luxury car.

According to Automotive.com, the manufacturer’s suggested retail price for a base 2009 Bentley Continental is $197,100. Switch to the convertible model and the price increases to $217,200.

These prices are without a variety of available features for the vehicle including 20 inch 7-spoke alloy sports wheels which will bump the price another $5,990.

But Edmunds.com says the car may not be worth the money. While a number of high-powered people purchase the car because of its intrigue, Edmunds says a Mercedes CL600 – which outperforms the car in every category – goes for about $25,000 less.

Find New York Used Cars with New Jersey State Auto.

Car buyers falling behind on loans

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Posted in Auto Loans & Financing News

The state of the economy is causing many drivers with car loans to fall behind on payments, according to credit reporting agency TransUnion.

TransUnion’s report finds that the number of car owners whose auto loans have gone past 60 days due or more rose 8.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008.

States with the highest rates of delinquency were Mississippi (1.62 percent), California (1.46 percent) and Louisiana (1.37 percent). Bucking the trend were Alaska (0.19 percent), North Dakota (0.34 percent) and Wyoming (0.41 percent) which had the lowest rates.

Although the delinquency rate rose during the end of 2008, the amount Americans owed on car loans actually fell 0.2 percent according to the agency. The average amount of auto loan debt fell to $12,713 during the fourth quarter which TransUnion attributes to the decrease in lending from banks.

Because of the state of the economy, many Americans are turning to used cars to help make ends meet and save some money. But it appears many are also increasing the length of their loans in order to decrease monthly payments. A recent study from Cars.com found that the median length of car loans rose to 60 months in a February survey – up from 48 months in October.

Find New York Used Cars with New Jersey State Auto.

Best to do homework before buying a used car

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Posted in Auto Loans & Financing News

Statistics show that as the economy continues to struggle more Americans are buying used cars. But according to U.S. News & World Report, there are some things car buyers should consider before even heading out the door to look at cars.

One of the first things the magazine says to do is to sit down and come up with how much you can afford to spend. With that figure in mind, it suggests checking out the going prices of cars you’re interested in through the websites of the Kelley Blue Book or National Automotive Dealers Association.

The price of the car is not necessarily the only monetary factor to consider, as the news provider says car buyers should also consider the cost of insurance for the vehicle they’re looking at purchasing.

Even before heading to the car lot, the magazine also recommends doing some homework on the used car you intend on looking at. Checking websites like J.D. Power and IntelliChoice can give buyers more insight on the reliability and depreciation rate of the car of their choice.

One type of vehicle used car buyers may want to consider is a hybrid. Because of the drop in gas prices in recent months, the demand for these cars has waned which may give sellers more of a reason to offer incentives.

Find New York Used Cars with New Jersey State Auto.

Best used cars for under $10,000

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Posted in Ford

During trying economic times, Americans are doing everything they can to make ends meet. But according to some experts, there are some late model used cars that can be had for a relatively low price.

In checking price, reliability, crash scores, safety feature, gas mileage and a number of other features, Boston.com came up with the top cars that can be had for under $10,000.

Ford came out as the big winner, according to the list, with five of the automaker’s cars making the top 10 – including the 2005 Ford Taurus.

According to the news provider, although the 2005 Taurus was predominantly a rental car, that may be one of the car’s positive features as it was able to stand up to daily driving. A car buyer should be able to get base model with 50,000 miles, antilock brakes and side airbags for around $8,000, with a more equipped version going for about $9,300.

Another car maker ranking on the list was Hyundai which had three of the top 10 including the Tucson, XG350 and Santa Fe models.

Earlier this year Cars.com also listed the 2005 Ford Taurus as one of its top buys for used car shoppers, but warned it may be difficult to find a model with side airbags as only 10 percent of the cars came with the feature.

Find Used Ford cars in New York Tri-State Area with New Jersey State Auto.

2,000 auto dealers to shut down in 2009

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Posted in Auto Industry News

Although news of car dealers closing is not a good sign for the state of the economy, it may mean savings for used car buyers across the country as many car lots will be overfilled with vehicles.

According to Lang Marketing, at least 2,000 car dealers will shut their doors in 2009 with an estimated 32,000 dealer service bays also shuttering.

However, the company said the exact number of dealer closings can fluctuate as some may shift to the growing used car market.

Jim Lang, president of the company, said the shift will cause an increase in sales to independent automotive dealers and will be the largest change in the auto industry in about 60 years.

“This is part of the greatest restructuring of the automotive aftermarket competitive landscape since World War II, which will extend over a number of years,” said Lang.

The used vehicle market is already seeing growth as more Americans are turning to used cars as the recession continues. A recent survey from Cars.com found that 32 percent of car buys who would have normally purchased a new car in better economic times shopped for a used car instead last month.

Find New York Used Cars with New Jersey State Auto.

Deathmobile from Animal House being sold

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Posted in Lincoln

Although most people are buying used cars these days to save money, some might be able to use their cash to buy a car that is also a piece of history – like the Deathmobile from the 1978 film Animal House.

According to a post on the online classified website Craigslist, the Barris Star Car Collection is selling the 1966 Lincoln Continental made famous in the John Belushi film which has become a staple for college students around the country.

“The Deathmobile is by far one of the most easily recognized movie cars ever made,” says the ad. “People flock to this car wherever it goes, people 30 and up all remember the car, people younger than 30 still get a kick out of the wild creation!”

In addition to a 462 340 horsepower engine and automatic transmission, the car comes with a tank style turret which is made of plexiglass to allow for safe driving for quick trips to the grocery store or maybe even destroying a parade or two.

The car, which is currently in Orlando, Florida, can be yours for $19,998.

Find New York Used Cars with New Jersey State Auto.

Avoiding the repo man

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Posted in Celebrity Auto News

As the recession continues, many Americans are struggling to make their used car payments which is causing many to lose their car to the dreaded repo man. But according to Edmunds.com, there are some steps drivers can take to avoid getting towed away.

Tom Webb, chief economist at vehicle auction giant Manheim told Edmunds.com that 1.67 million people in the U.S. had a car repossessed last year and the numbers are only expected to increase this year.

The news provider says if a car owner is having trouble making payments, the amount of time they have until the repo man shows up depends on how they’ve made payments in the past. If they’ve been relatively up-to-date, a credit agency may work to help set up a payment plan. But if payments are chronically late or not made altogether, a car owner may have only days after the due date.

Another option for some car owners would be to try to sell their vehicle and purchase a more inexpensive used car.

Because of the economy more people are looking for used cars, which is driving the price for many makes and models.

Find New York Used Cars with New Jersey State Auto.

Tips for getting the best car loan

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Posted in Auto Loans & Financing News

As more Americans are looking to save money during the recession, many are turning to used cars. But there are still tips used car shoppers can take to save even more money when it comes to getting a loan.

Jesse Toprak, analyst for car research and buying website Edmunds.com, told the Associated Press that car buyers should attempt to get preapproved for a loan before heading out and looking for the vehicle they want to purchase. He says by doing this a used car buyer will know how much they can spend and can potentially work out a better deal.

The Associated Press also says car buyers should be aware of their credit score before negotiating deals. A better credit score is most likely going to result in lower interest payments which could potentially save thousands of dollars over the life of the car.

Anyone can receive a free credit report once per year at www.annualcreditreport.com, according to the AP.

It seems that in an attempt to reduce monthly car payments, some used car buyers are also increasing the length of their loans. According to a recent study from Cars.com, the median length of loans increased from 48 months last October to 60 months in the most recent survey in February.

Find New York Used Cars with New Jersey State Auto.