Monthly Archives: May 2009

First online defensive driving course available in New York

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Posted in General Auto News

Those looking at buying a used car in New York may have great credit and a knowledgeable dealer or auctioneer, but they could still be paying extra because of points on their license.

Getting tickets or other violations may add points to a driver’s license, increasing the price of insurance to cover the vehicle, and until now going to class may have seemed like a tough prospect.

A new online defensive driving course may allow used car buyers to lower the costs of operating a used auto in New York without having to step foot in a classroom.

If they take the Improv Aware course, they can knock up to four points off their license and reduce their car insurance bill by 10 percent for up to three years.

“Traditionally, students who were required to take a defensive driving course in New York would have to give up a Saturday or a few evenings during the week to complete the class, which is often difficult for those who work long hours or have families at home,” said Improv Aware founder Gary Alexander.

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Robocalls could make buyers of used cars in New York pay needlessly

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Posted in General Auto News

Buyers looking at used cars in New York may not be completely positive about the details of their warranty, which puts them at risk for a scam that the Federal Trade Commission is trying to stop.

So-called robocalls are pre-recorded messages telling consumers that their vehicle is about to expire, but the problem is that they are not from the dealers or auctioneers that sold the vehicles, but from fraudulent companies trying to sell add-on insurance or repair packages, according to the FTC.

VoiceTouch and its subsidiaries were recently issued a cease and desist order by Judge John F. Grady in response to government efforts to stop the telemarketing; another company was issued a temporary restraining order.

“The FTC has disconnected the people responsible for so many of these annoying robocalls,” said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz. “We expect to see a dramatic decrease in deceptive auto warranty calls, but we are still on high alert.”

Other companies may still try to make similar efforts, so those looking for used cars in New York should refer to the place of purchase to make sure that any warranties they got with their purchase are current.

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A used Acura TL may offer good value

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Posted in Acura - DO NOT USE

Buyers looking for used cars in New York may be following the precept of many consumers, who are forgoing new items for used and second-hand goods, according to a USA Today report.

“We’re seeing classic recession behavior,” Mark Vitner, senior economist at Wachovia told the news provider. “People are trying to get more value for every dollar they spend.”

Kiplinger’s agrees with trying to get the most out of one’s purchasing power in a recently released report on best used car values.

They say that a used Acura TL was one of the best in its class for two years, and the 2006 model offers “quality and reliability,” for a price range that’s $10,000 less than what it retailed for when it was first released.

Edmunds.com editors agree, noting that the car is “enjoyable to drive” and has a well-appointed interior and strong V6 engine that combine for a “pleasant blend of ride comfort and fun.”

With just under 260 horsepower going to the wheels, the EPA estimates that with combined city and highway driving, the used Acura TL would still go for nearly 360 miles on a single tank.

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Anti-crash system to be tested in Europe

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Posted in Honda - DO NOT USE

While a large scale trial in Europe may help enable cars to talk to each other to avoid crashes using wireless technology, those looking for a used car in New Jersey may be better served by choosing safer vehicles already available.

Cohda Wireless is hopeful that its technology, which uses GPS to communicate different cars’ location to each other, will prove helpful in trials expected to involve hundreds, if not thousands of vehicles on European roads, according to a Sunday Times report.

“The first trial systems will only give a warning,” Cohda chief technical officer Paul Alexander told the news provider. “But the ultimate vision is to pretty much remove driver error by allowing the car to react for you.”

But until those trials come to fruition, one way of staying safe may be picking a car that has good government crash test ratings.

A used Honda Civic coupe may fit the bill, as the 2002 model achieved five-star ratings in every category in which it was tested.

Edmunds.com editors say the car also provides good fuel economy and a good amount of space for passengers.

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Biofuels depot may help used car buyers be environmentally friendly

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Posted in Auto Industry News

Those looking for used cars in New York may want to try out biodiesel conversions which may be more environmentally friendly, as a new facility may make it easier to be green.

A company in Massachusetts is offering a biodisel terminal that may give green-focused owners access to biodiesel without the need to figure out how to refine their own fuel from left over food products.

Baystate Biofuels says that by the end of May, it will have completed the first biodiesel terminal in Massachusetts, a facility that the company hopes will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from petroleum products by up to 78.5 percent.

“We are proud to be the greenest, most sustainable wet fuel distributor in the U.S., leveraging existing infrastructure to cut down on waste and minimize environmental impact,” said Dr Jesse Reich, Baystate Biofuels CEO.

Even those who aren’t considering biodiesel conversions, but may be looking at used cars in New York such as the diesel-powered Volkswagen Jetta TDi may benefit, since the facility plans to sell its biodiesel products to local refineries, as well as to local home heating oil suppliers.

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Used Chevrolet Corvettes may cut down on stress

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Posted in Chevrolet

It’s a fact that the economic downturn is leaving some used car buyers in New York looking for avenues to relieve some tension, and a well-handling sports car like the Chevrolet Corvette is on the minds of some, according to one car website.

Carmax, which provides reviews of used automobiles, is reporting that sports car searches are up 6 percent this month, and the Corvette was its 17th most searched car.

The car was also named the National Automobile Dealer Associations Car of the Month for May, in part because “the suspension is refined, the engine is powerful and efficient and the layout is very practical,” according to Michael Caudill, NADAguides.com auto expert.

Those looking to test drive a used Chevrolet Corvette will be able to hear the throat of the 350 horsepower V8 in the 2003 model, contributing to the coupe’s “ultrahigh performance” according to Edmunds.com editors.

But the website noted that with the power put to the pavement, the used Corvette also provided a car that could provide used car buyers with “daily-driver livability,” thanks to dual-zone air conditioning and other amenities.

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Customized ride may have been NBA star’s downfall

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Posted in Celebrity Auto News

NBA player Darius Miles was arrested on May 13 after police reportedly found marijuana following a search of the trunk of his used Chevrolet, but some writers are wondering if his penchant for customization may have also led to the seizure.

Miles has allegedly had at least one car customized by an Ocala, Florida auto shop, according to a River Front Times report, and an image of the supposedly Miles-owned used car that had been modified with lifts, large diameter wheels and scissor-style doors popularized by Italian automaker Lamborghini.

The news provider asked if the player’s “outrageous taste” in his transportation choices may have played a role in being stopped by police.

In a report from the Associated Press, however, it was Miles’ alleged failure to use a turn signal that prompted the traffic stop and subsequent search in Illinois.

While buyers looking for used cars in New York may not be interested in even the suggestion of police attention, the 2005 model offers room to fit six and good safety scores according to Edmunds.com editors, and it remains an affordable option that may be less conspicuous without customization.

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Plug-in hybrid tests may get government funding

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Posted in Honda - DO NOT USE

An electric company is hopeful that it will receive money in from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in order to test the possibility of plug-in hybrids from Ford.

Oncor, based in Texas, says it would be testing up to 67 of the vehicles next year as part of a joint research project with Ford to develop ideas for the infrastructure necessary to support plug-in models.

The company may also incorporate plans to use wind turbines for power generation, and Oncor CEO Bob Shapard said, ” It could be the ‘ah ha!’ moment that changes conventional thinking.”

But, while plug-in hybrid technology may be several years off, buyers who look at used cars like the Honda Insight may be able to have a lower-cost vehicle that still is environmentally friendly.

The Insight was one of the first commercially viable hybrids, and Edmunds.com editors said that the 2005 model was “still the class leader” with good fuel economy and its “high-tech look.”

They also lauded the little coupe for its handling abilities and standard features, but it was produced in limited numbers, so for those who can find them, they may be joining a somewhat select club.

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Not everyone finds a winning lottery ticket, but car cleaning may save money

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Posted in General Auto News

It may not seem like it, but simply cleaning out one’s car can help improve the fuel mileage, according to a report from the Congressional Budget Office that found that the heavier the vehicle is, the less fuel efficient it will be.

Used car owners could even luck out like a man from Portland, Oregon did, who cleaned out his glove box and found a lottery ticket worth $2.6 million, according to a KGW report, more than four months after the original drawing.

While windfalls like that may be rare, reducing the weight of a vehicle by 100 pounds could net fuel economy benefits of around 2 percent according to figures from Shell Canada.

They recommend taking out anything unnecessary from the backseat or trunk, including winter items such as tire chains or other gear that can weight a car down.

One man in Germany recently found out how costly it can be to not keep track of what’s on one’s backseat.

He was test driving a convertible and roughly $4,000 in bills blew away from an open envelope he had left on the backseat, according to a report from The Local.

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BMW convertibles offer handling and hard-top convenience

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Posted in BMW

For almost 80 years, BMW has been offering sleek roadsters, which provide buyers with the handling of a rear-wheel drive vehicle and a design that the company hopes will live up to, the promise of an “ultimate driving machine.”

The model now offers a hard-top option that can be raised or lowered in under half a minute, as well as a sport suspension that drops the car up to half an inch when needed for stiff handling in certain situations.

For those looking for a more alternative option, the Z4 that was introduced in 2003 may provide some of that flair, according to editors from the Edmunds.com website.

As a replacement for the Z3 roadster, they were concerned about styling that has since taken hold in all BMW models, but say that the update is “even more fun to drive,” than older predecessors.

The options, even for standard base models, leaves a variety of transmission and other options up to a used car buyer, wrote the editors, and the “superb road manners” and standard features can be found across the offerings of trim lines available to used car buyers at a cost that approaches those of new convertibles: under $15,000 in New Jersey.

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