Monthly Archives: September 2009

Used Subaru Tribecas in New York may offer room for 7 for half price

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Posted in Subaru - DO NOT USE

Subaru recently announced the price points for its Tribeca crossover SUV, and while buyers may be interested in the features offered, a used Subaru Tribeca in New York may offer similar capabilities for a much lower price tag.

There are options for 10-speaker sound systems, 18-inch alloy wheels and satellite radio in the upscale trim lines, as well as a six-CD changer. But the asking price for standard models hovers around $40,000, and the premium packages can add another $10,000 to what new car dealerships are asking for.

Instead, even a more recent model could be an attractive option both for its price point and design compared to other models in the class.

The 2007 model is one year that offers buyers considering used Subaru Tribecas in New York a midsize SUV with an upscale interior and standard all-wheel drive, according to Edmunds.com reviewers.

Best for families with kids, “the Tribeca’s highway ride is smooth and the cabin remains quiet,” and is a good choice for “road trips but not so great for tackling a favorite mountain pass in record time,” the website notes.

General Motors plan may increase number of used cars in New Jersey

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Posted in Auto Industry News

Late night infomercials often tout that their products come with a money-back guarantee. Now General Motors is offering a similar 60-day guarantee, and the company admits that it may increase the supply of used cars in New Jersey and other states.

Buyers who are looking at Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac vehicles now have the opportunity to return their purchases for up to two months and receive the full purchase price, notes Forbes. The campaign is designed to improve the perception of GM’s build quality, which has been seen as lacking compared to other manufacturer’s offerings.

“The parents went bankrupt, but the kids had nothing to do with it,” Lutz told the magazine of the new campaign, which avoids the stigma of government bailouts by not including the GM logo. “In the public eye, the brands are morally exonerated from the unfortunate moral event that befell their parents.”

The plan includes funding for a return rate of up to 3 percent of cars purchased, meaning that the company is willing to consider that several cars out of each one hundred sold could be returned, notes thetruthaboutcars.com. Although company officials estimate that fewer than 3 percent will actually be returned, they admit that it could increase the supply of used cars in New Jersey and nationwide.

Shoppers continue to check out used cars in New Jersey

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Posted in General Auto News

There was a huge rush of buyers flocking to new car dealerships in August, but after the initial rush subsided, shoppers have returned to used cars in New Jersey and around the country.

Cars.com reports that the sector has experienced steady growth, with users checking on different alternatives at a rate two percent higher than in July, before the Cash for Clunkers program began.

The program “certainly had a halo effect on the used car market,” noted Mitch Golub, the website’s president, with heavy buying interest increasing by six percent from earlier in the summer.

Buyers who have been taking advantage of the affordable prices offered in some vehicles may want to take a second look at safety features from fleet vehicles to make sure they are actually included.

Some of automakers’ best customers are rental car companies or other firms that operate fleets of vehicles, and until this year, General Motors had allowed buyers to delete the “standard” side airbag option to reduce costs, reports the Detroit News.

It may not be an issue for all cars, but it means that buyers who are planning on buying used Chevrolet Impalas in New Jersey, as well as several other vehicles, will want to check the record to ensure that the features are properly listed, the newspaper adds.

Jets fans who own used cars in New Jersey could benefit from car insurance discounts

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Posted in General Auto News

With football season beginning, it may be time to take a look at saving some money that could be put towards tickets and souvenirs. One insurance company is teaming up with the New York Jets to offer reduced rates for used cars in New Jersey.

High Point Insurance says that it can offer more affordable coverage for season ticket holders, team employees and other individuals in the state thanks to a partnership it recently brokered with the Jets.

“We’ve all worked hard to secure a win-win relationship where thousands of fans like me will now be able to get a better rate on their auto insurance through this new partnership,” said John Benton, the agent who worked with the team’s corporate office to start the new initiative.

While it may be one option for those who live in green on Sundays, similar corporate sponsorships may also be a way to save on insurance premiums on used cars in New Jersey. High Point has agreements with local realtors’ and dentists’ associations, and other companies may be able to offer a discount based on employment affiliation.

Ludacris giveaway may inspire buyers to check out used Nissan cars in New Jersey

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Posted in Celebrity Auto News, Nissan

Rapper and actor Ludacris has given away 20 vehicles to Atlanta-area residents in need, but the gesture could remind buyers of the lower prices of used cars in New Jersey.

“People are getting laid off, and now are looking for jobs,” he told the Associated Press. “To be efficient, you need some transportation of your own to get there, that’s why I wanted to give back to those who need it.”

A local dealership partnered with Luda to offer used Nissan cars to local people who had written a 300-word essay explaining why they deserved a vehicle, according to the wire service.

The odds of winning were 1 in 200, but the odds of finding a used Nissan car in New Jersey are much higher.

Buyers on a budget may want to check out the Sentra, the Japanese automaker’s entry-level option. The 2004 model “blends a pleasant ride with easy maneuverability – all for a moderate price,” notes Cars.com. For a little more money, the SE-R trim offers “appealing” handling capability and a better engine.

Recouping the bailouts funded by owners of used cars in New York may never happen

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Chrysler - DO NOT USE

Owners of used cars in New York, as well as other taxpayers, are currently on the hook for $74 billion that the U.S. government has invested in Chrysler and General Motors. A new report suggests that there’s no way they’ll make all their money back.

“With the economic suffering the American taxpayers have endured during the past two years one wonders why Chrysler and GM merited such generosity to the exclusion of other taxpayers,” Representative Jeb Hensarling told the Washington Post of the findings. The Republican was a member of the panel that issued the report.

Roughly $5 billion given to Chrysler isn’t likely to be repaid, and the loans to General Motors would require stock prices many times greater than current levels before the company could afford to pay them back, the newspaper notes.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner defended the bailouts, saying that there would be benefits to American taxpayers, according to the Detroit News. He did admit that “some scenarios, which in Treasury’s view are more likely, show much lower recoveries for the initial loans made to GM and Chrysler.”

Used Honda Ridgelines in New Jersey could be one pick for tailgating

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Posted in Honda - DO NOT USE

Football season is nearly upon us, and that means tailgating for college and professional games. For those looking to bring the party to the stadium, a used Honda Ridgeline in New Jersey could be one pick.

The editors at Kelley Blue Book recently compiled a top-10 list of vehicles to bring friends, family and food to the next big game, and the Ridgeline made it on the list because of a lockable trunk with a lot of storage areas.

Other benefits for football fans include a tailgate, which can be used as a seat, as well as space inside the cab that allows for stowage, the piece notes.

Although it’s a pickup truck by design, a 2006 model of the used Honda Ridgeline in New Jersey may appeal to buyers who are looking for something more car-like, with good handling and room for different tailgate necessities.

“Like a 4×4 Accord on steroids, the 2006 Honda Ridgeline is the perfect pickup for those who don’t really need a truck,” noted Edmunds.com reviewers.

Customers who enjoy European styling may appreciate used Volvo C30s in New Jersey

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Posted in Volvo - DO NOT USE

The rear end of the Volvo C30 has remained unchanged in photos released by the Swedish automaker to advance the 2010 model, and those who appreciate the distinctive styling of the exterior but not the new front fascia may want to consider used Volvo C30s in New Jersey.

New models are expected to more closely resemble Mazda front ends, with air intakes underneath the headlights based on similar designs from the Japanese automaker that has a stake in Volvo. Other changes include the angles of the headlines, a specially-designed bumper and an updated interior.

However, buyers who like traditional appearances may enjoy the 2008 model and other used Volvo C30s that offer the distinctive rectangular grille in a more compact package than other offerings from the Swedish carmaker.

The hatchback seats four adults, and includes safety features like standard side-impact and side curtain airbags, as well as a system that prevents the car from chiming or making unnecessary alerts based on the driving conditions, noted a Cars.com review.

Those features are mated with a 227-horsepower engine and “running gear [that] should help establish the C30 as a hot hatch” similar to the Mini Cooper S or Volkswagen GTI, the website editors added.

Sex and the City actress could inspire purchases of used Mercedes-Benzes in New York

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Posted in Celebrity Auto News, Mercedes-Benz

Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker was recently spotted stepping out of a Mercedes-Benz cabriolet on the set of the upcoming movie sequel being filmed in New York City. While it may be difficult to afford some of the fashions seen in the film, a used Mercedes-Benz CLK in New York may offer some of the same flair in the form of automotive styling.

Parker’s appearance offered the first view of the 2011 E-Class convertible, a new model that is expected to supplant the CLK in the German automaker’s product line. Previous reports were only of renderings or spy photos of the two-door roadster.

Buyers will no longer see the CLK, and will instead find the E-class cabriolet as well as a new C-series convertible in coming years, but those interested in a luxury convertible may be able to find used Mercedezs-Benz CLKs in New York for the price of a new midsize sedan thanks to depreciation.

The 2005 model offers a “stylish melding of comfort and performance suitable for all but the most serious driving enthusiasts,” noted Edmunds.com. The car also included a newer automatic transmission for smoother shifts.

Research can help buyers find affordable and reliable used cars in New Jersey

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Posted in General Auto News

People who are considering their next automotive purchase may be looking at used cars in New Jersey, but with the recent Cash for Clunkers program, it may be better to start searching sooner rather than later because of supply concerns.

Used cars have given many less affluent families the ability to have more freedom in their activities without the need to rely on public transportation and work their schedules around infrequent trains or buses.

“I’ve been able to keep my youngest one at New Generations and Head Start. It enables us to go to the grocery store … I can work late and not have to worry about walking after dark,” Sheila Ratliff, a mother, told the Morganton News Herald.

And as the Cash for Clunkers program destroyed nearly 700,000 vehicles, buyers considering used cars in New Jersey could start looking now if they want a similar change in lifestyle.

But choosing the right one can be a confusing issue for people, since there are many models available on the market.

It may help to start off with what needs the vehicle should address, such as transporting children or being comfortable for a long commute. Fuel efficiency and maintenance needs could also affect one’s decision because of the monthly costs they influence.

In New York and New Jersey, all-wheel drive may be one consideration for prospective owners, but it may mean purchasing a vehicle larger than one’s needs.

Once those questions are answered, one will want to establish how much he or she can afford to pay each month, including gas and insurance, as well as regular maintenance costs.

Using both of those sets of information, a buyer can then determine the right class of vehicle, such as a crossover for a small family, and use the price constraints to pick several options among used cars in New Jersey.

It may seem like doing homework, but “most shoppers have difficulty keeping up with all of the vehicles manufacturers introduce and the changes they are making to their older vehicles, so it’s important to do your research,” writes Philip Reed, Edmunds.com senior consumer advice editor.