Monthly Archives: October 2009

Automaker shakeup means used cars in New Jersey may be only option for some models

By
Posted in Auto Industry News, Chrysler - DO NOT USE, Dodge - DO NOT USE, Jeep - DO NOT USE

When Fiat announced that it was buying a stake in Chrysler, automotive enthusiasts understood that some models of the ailing corporation would only be available in the future as used cars in New Jersey. But a new report indicates that a healthy percentage of the automaker’s product line will no longer be sold.

Chrysler sells cars under its own name, as well as Dodges and Jeeps. According to the Wall Street Journal, Italian automaker Fiat will be eliminating production of the Chrysler PT Cuiser and Sebring, as well as the Dodge Caliber, Nitro, Avenger and Grand Caravan. Also set to be taken off new car dealer showroom floors are the Jeep Commander, Compass and Patriot.

In their place, buyers will see Alfa Romeos and the Fiat 500, a subcompact that is popular in Europe according to the news provider. It notes that the new offerings will arrive in 2012, and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne will need to keep the company afloat while the changes are made.

Buyers can add those models to the lists of vehicles only available by researching used cars in New Jersey, thanks to automakers’ cutbacks. Other cars that are no longer produced include Pontiac’s G-series and all Saturns.

Brad Pitt spotted in updated version of used Chevrolet Camaros in New York

By
Posted in Celebrity Auto News, Chevrolet

He may be looking more like his character in True Romance with a scruffy beard, but it was Brad Pitt who celebrity photographers spotted checking out a new Camaro SS. Buyers could find a cheaper counterpart with some used Chevrolets in New York, however.

The paparazzo from X17.com didn’t find out why Pitt was checking out the classic looks of the Camaro SS, although it intimated that a recent motorcycle crash might have been the reason to go from two wheels to four.

But while a new SS can top out at more than $30,000, used Chevrolet Camaros in New Yorkcould offer similar performance without the hit to the wallet. It cradles the driver in “position for hard driving” with the capability of the powerful V8 engine, according to a Cars.com review of the 2002 model in SS trim.

“On straighter pavement, the thick tires cling as if they have claws,” notes the website. “Acceleration appears more vigorous from a standstill than at highway speeds, and automatic-transmission shifts are crisp and positive.”

Used LS 430s in New York can handle the snow

By
Posted in Lexus - DO NOT USE

Buyers looking for a used Lexus in New York should know that even though the LS 430 is rear-wheel drive (RWD), it’s not afraid of the elements.

The LS 430 was released in 1989 and has been redesigned three times over the years. The model is now available with all-wheel drive (AWD), but in 2005 it wasn’t. And yet Forbes tested the car on a snowy day in upstate New York when the 2005 was still new, and the publication says it handled the weather nicely.

The 2005 is a third generation model of the LS 430, meaning it came only with a V8 matched to an automatic transmission. This is common among full-size luxury sedans, which rarely come in stick.

To keep all the power of the eight-cylinder on the road, Lexus equipped the LS 430 with traction-control, which seemed to be Forbes’ favorite feature. “With a flip of the traction-control switch and a depression of the accelerator, the needle red-lined on the rpm gauge and the car sprang out of the snow with the alacrity of a mountain goat.”

These days, many cars comes in AWD. But some owners of used LS 430s in New York know this RWD sedan is a real snowcat.

Snow and ice clearance a legal issue for drivers of used cars in New Jersey

By
Posted in General Auto News

Using a scraper to get the previous night’s snow and ice off a car may seem like a hassle for owners of used cars in New Jersey, but a recently signed law will make it a ticketable offense to go without the cleaning.

Governor Jon Corzine recently signed into law a bill that requires drivers to make a “reasonable effort” to remove snow and ice from their vehicles or else face fines of between $25 and $75 dollars, according to the Newark Star-Ledger. Although the law is not enforceable until next year, police in New Jersey as well as other states are already citing drivers using “obstructed vision” statutes.

“We need [the law to affect trucks] because one inch of snow or ice coming off the back of a tractor-trailer packs with it the equivalent force of almost a ton,” State Assemblyman John Wisniewski told the newspaper. He added that the impact can damage windshields.

So-called “peephole driving,” where motorists operating used cars in New Jersey and other states, is difficult to measure in terms of the numbers of accidents caused, but law enforcement agencies throughout the Snow Belt are planning to cite drivers for the practice, reports USA Today.

Adult revelers should consider designated drivers for used cars in New York

By
Posted in General Auto News

Halloween isn’t just for the young, although adults tend towards candy-flavored alcohol rather than trawling for sweets. But with the change in trick-or-treating venues comes a need for designated drivers to operate used cars in New York, as well as other vehicles.

The National Retail Foundation reports that orange-and-black-themed parties for adults are becoming more common, and AAA is putting out a call for attendees to consider making one costume-wearer the designated driver.

“Halloween has become an increasingly popular occasion for adults to host and attend parties where alcohol is frequently served,” notes Beth Mosher, AAA spokesperson. By designating a sober driver, or by choosing not to drink alcoholic beverages if driving solo, this p”opular holiday can be less frightening for everyone.”

Since different towns celebrate the holiday on different days, children in costumes could be walking along roads throughout the weekend, increasing the potential for accidents among those who have lessened their awareness. Those who drive used cars in New York, or any vehicles this weekend, may want to consider an overnight stay, or avoiding residential areas.

Used Altimas in New York can look like new

By
Posted in Nissan

People interested in buying a used Altima in New York might like to know that well-maintained 2007 models can look brand new.

Nissan first released the Altima in 1993 and since then it has been redesigned three times. The fourth generation of the sedan came out in 2007, according to Edmunds.com. This means purchasing an Altima made within the last two years will get the buyer a car that looks very similar to the 2010 model.

One of the Altima’s cooler features is its continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The CVT is different from other transmissions in that it makes use of an infinite number of gear ratios, which can provide better fuel economy.

The recession has made spending money on gas painful for some, so the CVT might be an attractive feature for buyers looking for used Altimas in New York. The CVT also allows Altimas equipped with a V6 to accelerate to 60 MPH in 6.6 seconds, which is a respectable time for a family sedan, says the website. Individuals who really want to save on gas can choose a 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine that produces 177 horsepower.

Drivers may be able to take steps to reduce distracted driving of used cars in New York

By
Posted in General Auto News

Drivers operating used cars in New York may find that cell phones with a multitude of features are making it harder to stay focused on the road. Of course, there’s an application for that.

A company called ZoomSafer says that it’s application could help reduce the amount of information and number of alerts for Blackberry users who register for its free service.

“Beyond legislation and education, this is a major milestone in the fight to prevent distracted driving and is a powerful example of how technology is helping make our roads safer,” argues the company’s co-founder, Mike Riemer.

It works by auto-replying to text messages and emails, then limiting the number of alerts that a driver hears while driving, and can also lock the keypad so motorists don’t try to text while driving used cars in New York.

“Driving while distracted should just feel wrong – just as driving without a seat belt or driving while intoxicated,” Federal Transportation Secretary Roy LaHood said, according to an Argusleader.com report. Nationwide efforts have begun to limit the ability for people to text and drive during interstate travel.

Used GTIs in New York can make hot hatches

By
Posted in Volkswagen - DO NOT USE

German car lovers looking for used Volkswagens in New York might be interested to know that driving a hatchback has its advantages.

Mike Olson had a Jetta before he got his 2003 GTI, according to Eurotuner Magazine. But he didn’t take to the longer chassis.

“I never did like the Jetta body style so I went back to a hatch,” said Olson to the publication about his decision to switch to a smaller model.

VW has been making the GTI since 1974 and it has been redesigned several times since its original release. Olson’s is a fourth generation model and although it’s equipped with a turbo-charged engine, Volkswagen offered several other types of motors in the GTIs of this era. A naturally-aspirated four cylinder and a 2.8 liter six cylinder were also available.

People looking for used Volkswagens in New York should know that driving a hatchback can be very convenient, especially in the city where parking is limited. Backing into a tight spot can be much easier when you’re not driving a sedan.

Madoff’s used Mercedes Benz wagon in New Jersey auctioned off

By
Posted in General Auto News, Mercedes-Benz

The U.S. Marshals sold a used Mercedes Benz in New Jersey on October 23 that had last been owned by convicted Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff as part of a plan to liquidate all of his assets to help pay restitution for his victims.

Held in East Brunswick, the auction for the black 2001 Mercedes Benz E320 wagon is “just the beginning, and not the end, of the liquidation of Madoff properties,” said James Plousis, U.S. Marshal for New Jersey, according to a Star-Ledger report. Other scammers like Samuel Israel also had their vehicles prepared for auction today.

While the stigma surrounding by the financiers may have limited interest from some in these auctions, a used Mercedes Benz wagon in New Jersey could be a worthwhile addition for some buyers.

The 2004 E-class includes a hydraulically controlled loading tray for heavier items going in the trunk, and a redesign from the year before means “the E-Class lost most of the heavy feel that was unpleasantly noticeable on previous models,” according to Cars.com.

Discontinued models could provide value to buyers of used cars in New York

By
Posted in Auto Industry News, Cadillac - DO NOT USE, Chevrolet

As automakers struggle to control costs, models are being dropped and that could mean savings forr buyers considering used cars in New York, according to an Edmunds.com report.

Two losses include the Cadillac CTS-V and the Chevrolet Cobalt SS, two sportier versions of other cars that the reviewers loved, especially the CTS-V whose “handling is exceptional and thankfully, its pricing is more down-to-earth than that of its Teutonic rivals.”

It may also benefit buyers to look at a used Cadillac CTS-V in New York, as well as other discontinued models, because used car values depreciate more rapidly when there are no new cars in the line.

“The CTS makes you feel like you’re piloting a Corvette or a Viper,” noted the Chicago Tribune of the 2005 model, adding, “the V-Series CTS does things you don’t expect from a sedan, and certainly not from a Cadillac.”

For those looking for a more affordable option, used Chevrolet Cobalts in New York that come in the SS trim offer a 260-horsepower engine that helps 0-60 times of less than 60 seconds with 25 mpg combined.