CARS program may run out of funding to exchange used cars in New York

Buyers who had been considering a new vehicle using refunds from the Cash for Clunkers program may want to take another look at used cars in New York as the program faces a funding shortage.

The appropriated money ran out in less than a month, and although the House of Representatives passed a bill authorizing a new infusion of money, there are some doubts that the Senate will allow for more than $2 billion to be approved before Congress goes on recess for a month, reported the New York Times.

Senators Dianne Feinstein and Susan Collins issued a bipartisan statement saying that they would not approve any more funds for the program unless the mileage numbers were increased, limiting the options of those who had been planning to make an upgrade from used cars in New York, reported the newspaper.

Car dealers had told buyers beginning on July 30 that the program had been suspended, and although the government has promised dealers that they won’t be asked to pay any refunds themselves, the head of the National Automotive Dealers Association is cautioning members to wait, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Verifying VIN numbers could protect owners of used cars in New Jersey

The VIN is like a social security number or a serial number for one’s vehicle, but it may not be as unique as it should be if owners aren’t careful to protect their used cars in New Jersey.

Scammers may break into used cars to steal documentation and VIN plates of one car. An owner may notice the break-in, but not report it because nothing looks amiss.

The problem occurs when the thieves then steal another car, and put the documentation into the second vehicle. It now appears to be a clean car, with no issues and is often passed off unknowingly to consumers.

“A Cadillac Escalade was stolen out of Canada,” Detective Scott Robideau of the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles told the Kennebec Journal. “There were actually two or three of those vehicles with that VIN registered.”

And while buyers should ask a reputable inspector to check for hidden VIN locations to limit the possibility of buying a cloned car, owners of used cars in New Jersey and other states should report break-ins to limit the need for future interviews from law enforcement, reported the paper.

Motorists who text can have problems when driving used cars in New York

A tow-truck driver recently found out the hard way that using cell phones while driving can leave one all wet, and drivers of used cars in New York and other states may want to use his experience as a lesson.

Niagara County Sheriff’s deputies said that the 25-year-old driver was reportedly using two cell phones, one to make a call and one for texting, when he collided with another vehicle before continuing through a fence and into a swimming pool, according to the Associated Press.

Police said that the occupants of the car that collided with the truck were in good condition with minor injuries, and that the tow-truck driver was cited for several offenses, including using a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle, the wire service reported.

Although it is against the law in several states, drivers still operate cell phones and increase their risk for causing an accident more than 20 times the rate if they weren’t texting, notes a Virginia Tech Study.

“Texting while driving kills,” said NY attorney Steven J. Schwartzapfel. “Thousands of lives are being irreparably damaged every year as a result of driving distractions and texting is just one more deadly distraction.”

Minor league game could appeal to buyers considering used cars in New Jersey

Buyers who find themselves in Tennessee this month with their children may want to take in a game featuring the minor league Chattanooga Lookouts if they have been considering used cars in New Jersey.

The baseball team has a variety of promotions, and one begins in the first inning on August 8.

Used Car Night means that one fan each inning will receive a used car as part of a promotion that the Lookouts say is hugely popular.

Families looking for vehicles that comfortable accommodate a bevy of children may not have to travel to the Volunteer State if they look at used Dodge Caravans in New Jersey.

The 2005 model was one of the most affordable minivans in its class, with seating for seven or enough space for 146.7 cubic feet of cargo if the back rows are folded down, noted Cars.com.

To reduce some stress for drivers trying to keep track of younger passengers, the van is more than 15 percent quieter than older models, the website’s editors added.

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

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

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.

One family to travel without modern accessories with used car in New York

Some used cars in New York can evoke memories of a bygone age because of styling cues or features not found in newer models, and one family is looking to take that retro concept a step further by making a road trip without several modern luxuries.

The Monteiths, including Mom, Dad and four children aged 5 through 9 will attempt to make a road trip through Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey in a van that will not be equipped with a CD player, and without modern road trip accessories like video games or personal music players.

“I have been preparing the kids for the road trips that I grew up taking, which will mean car games instead of game consoles or DVDs,” said mom Vonnette. “They are really excited to experience an old fashioned road trip.”

Once they get midway through, after stops at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and Philadelphia, the family will switch to a more modern van with various accessories including DVD navigation and an integrated entertainment system to compare the two styles of road trips using new and used cars in New York.

Some early Cash for Clunkers purchases may not receive discount from used cars in New Jersey

One company has become on advocate for consumers, calling for the government to explain how it will deal with used cars in New Jersey and elsewhere that were traded in as part of the Cash for Clunkers program but are no longer eligible because of revised fuel mileage numbers from the EPA.

Edmunds.com had previously shed light on the fact that the pool of less fuel-efficient cars had shrunk, even though many were originally listed at the maximum of 18 mpg when they were sold, because the federal government refreshed the numbers and made several models ineligible.

But the program was already running for three weeks when those updated ratings were announced, and Transportation Department spokesperson Rae Tyson said, “We’re evaluating our options, [although our] mandate is clear and based on fuel economy ratings.”

“Consumers acting in good faith should not be penalized for undisclosed and last-minute changes made by the government,” said Kevin Smith, Edmunds.com editorial director. The company wonders whether consumers will have to forgo the savings they had expected.

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

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.

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

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