Monthly Archives: November 2009

Face-off: Nissan’s 350Z vs. the 370Z

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Posted in Nissan

On November 19, Nissan North America announced pricing for the 2010 370Z Coupe, but used 350Zs in New York and elsewhere might offer comparable performance for a fraction of the price.

Nissan’s 2010 roadster is available in two trim levels: the 370Z and the 370Z Touring. Both will cost Japanese car enthusiasts over $30,000 and are available in a new color, Black Cherry. The 370 is available with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed automatic, the latter adding $1,470 worth of heft to the roadster’s sticker price at both trim levels. The 370Z has four-wheel independent suspension and a 3.7-liter V6 that produces more than 330 horsepower.

Z-line cars trace their heritage so far back their hoods used to wear Datsun badges. Production of the Datsun 240Z began in 1969 and two versions were manufactured – one for the U.S. market and another for Nissan’s own in Japan. Over the last 40 years, the Z has been redesigned five times.

The 370 is the 350’s successor and their similarities are recognizable at first glance. The cars’ front wheels are pushed all the way forward and their rear wheels are pushed all the way back. However, the 350’s wheelbase is almost four inches longer, according to Edmunds.com. But the roadsters share a similar stance because the 350 is also more than two inches longer than the 370.

In terms of performance, it looks like the 370Z has the 287-horsepower 350 beat by about 45 ponies. Combine that with the weight reduction of roughly 140 pounds that was partly achieved by shortening the car, and it seems the 370Z is going to be faster off the line.

Car and Driver says the 2007 350Z will reach 60 MPH in 5.2 seconds, and complete the quartermile in 13.7 seconds at 104 MPH. Motor Trend says the 370Z gets to 60 in 4.7 seconds and does the quartermile in 13.3 seconds at 105.6 MPH, so it seems the specs make sense.

There is one last factor that some car buyers may want to take into consideration before they decide which Nissan roadster they would prefer to purchase. Edmunds says that a 2007 350Z can sell for as little as $16,500, while Nissan will get $29,990 for its least expensive 370. The average car is driven approximately 12,000 miles per year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, which means the odometer of a 2007 350Z will probably read about 36,000.

Although the 370Z is faster, smaller and lighter than its predecessor, a 2007 350Z costs about half as much. Cars today will put six digits on the clock without a problem, so 36,000 miles isn’t necessarily a lot. Whether car shoppers choose to buy a new 370 or a used 350 in New York, it seems they will be getting their money’s worth because Nissan has been perfecting its Z-line cars for several decades now. After all, Jay Leno has a Nissan in his garage and it’s parked near his Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.

iPhone app helps buyers find used C230s in New York

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Posted in Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz (MB) and Apple have come together to develop an iPhone application that could make finding used C230s in New York easier.

MB recently announced mbrace, a new system that connects drivers to their Mercs using their iPhones, according the New York Times. The system will include all sorts of features, like an application that will allow owners to unlock their cars using their mobiles.

Another application included in the system will help MB enthusiasts find their local dealerships, reports the new source. C230 lovers, for example, can receive directions to the closest MB locations on their iPhones and go check out the sales floor or have their vehicle serviced.

The 2005 C230 Kompressor features a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine equipped with a supercharger compressor, according to Automotive.com. This Merc’s motor gets about 23 miles per gallon (MPG) in the city, 32 MPG on the highway and produces nearly 190 horsepower.

The mbrace system could both improve the driving experience for existing MB owners and help interested parties find used C230s in New York and elsewhere.

Celebrity couple perpetuates popularity of used Escalades in New York

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Posted in Cadillac - DO NOT USE

Actors and pro athletes can be influential in a variety of matters, and impacting perceptions of which cars are cool is no exception. Used Escalades in New York could benefit from a recent celeb sighting.

In October 2009, American Superstar Magazine reported that former LA Laker Rick Fox and Eliza Dushku of the TV series Dollhouse had confirmed their relationship. Recently, the couple was spotted attaching a bike rack to their Cadillac Escalade, according to CelebrityCarsBlog.com.

The Escalade has long been a popular SUV among the Hollywood crowd. Appearing in the popular HBO drama series The Sopranos and a variety of hip hop music videos, this Cadillac turns heads with its 20-inch chrome rims and the bassy exhaust note produced by its monstrous V8.

A 2004 Escalade with a 6-liter engine and all wheel drive generally sells for about $17,000, according to Edmunds.com. Drivers looking for better fuel economy can opt for the 5.3-liter motor and rear-wheel-drive Escalade, which gets slightly higher gas mileage.

Cadillac has always been a name that has stood for luxury, and when celebrities like Rick Fox and Eliza Dushku are spotted in one of these cars, used Escalades in New York seem even classier to some.

Safety rating could help sell used Jettas in New Jersey

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Posted in Volkswagen - DO NOT USE

A certain Volkswagen sedan has established a reputation of safety over the last few years, and recent praise from an authority in the matter could help sell used Jettas in New Jersey.

The 2010 Volkswagen Jetta is one of the 19 cars the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says is very safe, according to USA Today. This may not come as a big surprise to some, as this generation Jetta has been an IIHS favorite since its inception in 2005.

VW refers to its latest generation Jetta as the Mark 5 because this model has been redesigned four times since it was first manufactured in 1979. The Mark 5 began rolling out of the plant about four years ago, and IIHS has given the sedan its top safety rating in front, side, roof and rear crash protection every year since, according to the institute’s website.

Performance-wise, the Jetta is no slouch, either. The top trim level for the 2007 Mark 5 was the GLI – a Jetta that came with a 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produced 200 horsepower and got to 60 MPH in about 8 seconds, according to Edmunds.com.

Another favorable rating from the IIHS could help sell used Jettas in New Jersey and elsewhere to people who see safety as a top priority.

Used C30s in New Jersey enjoy Volvo exposure in Twilight

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Posted in Volvo - DO NOT USE

On November 20, the latest installment in the Twilight Saga will debut in theaters, which could spur sales of used C30s in New Jersey and elsewhere.

TopSpeed.com says that two Volvos are featured in New Moon: the C30 and the XC60. The C30 went on sale in the U.S. in late 2007, and came equipped with an in-line five-cylinder turbocharged engine that produced over 215 horsepower. The six-speed manual transmission was one of this car’s most attractive features, as cruising on the highway in the highest gear possible is often a good way to increase fuel economy and most cars only have five speeds.

The C30 was also featured in the first Twilight, which was released in November of 2008. This vehicle is considered a compact, according to Car and Driver, but that doesn’t mean it’s an econobox. The 2007 model sold for about $24,000 and came with a sound system that included Alpine audio components.

The Twilight Saga will continue giving Volvo exposure in its upcoming installment New Moon, which could boost sales of used C30s in New Jersey.

Motor Trend praise could generate interest in used Priuses in New York

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Posted in Toyota

On November 17, Motor Trend (MT) will announce its 2010 Car of the Year. One contestant, Toyota‘s hybrid, could draw attention to used Priuses in New York.

The 2010 Toyota Prius could very well be MT’s Car of the Year, as it has already won this competition in the past, according to the magazine’s website. In 2004, the Prius won MT’s competition because the publication valued its roomy cabin and fuel efficiency ratio of 60 miles per gallon in city driving.

The 2004 Prius came equipped with a 1.5-liter engine that worked with an electric drive motor, according to Edmunds.com. The gas and electric power plants produced 76 horsepower and 67 horsepower, respectively. This Prius reached 60 MPH in about 10 seconds and its base model generally sells for about $10,000.

This year could mark the second time the Prius wins MT’s competition. Praise from a recognized authority on automotive matters like MT might benefit both new and used Priuses in New York, as many people read this magazine.

Nissan scholarship could make used Altimas in New Jersey popular

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Posted in Nissan

Many companies approach the marketplace from a variety of angles to better their chances of boosting sales, and Nissan’s latest strategy could make both new and used Altimas in New Jersey more popular.

In 2009, Nissan announced the LEAF, its zero-emission electric car, which will eventually become available in North America, Europe and Japan, according to the Wall Street Journal. The LEAF proves Nissan is investing more into going green, and the manufacturer is trying to bolster its eco-friendly reputation by holding the LEAF Zero Emissions Student Competition, which gives students a chance to discuss the future of the auto industry and win a scholarship.

The 2007 Altima Hybrid is another environmentally-friendly Nissan. It gets 34 miles per gallon, according to FuelEconomy.gov. This midsize vehicle costs less than $2 to drive 25 miles and uses Toyota‘s hybrid technology, which became popular thanks to the Prius.

Used Altima Hybrids in New Jersey might start attracting more attention now that Nissan has made another push toward protecting the environment with the zero-emission LEAF.

Used X3s in New York benefit from BMW delays

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Posted in BMW

BMW won’t be selling its newest X3 in the U.S. as early as originally thought, which might mean used X3s in New York could experience better sales.

The X3 is going to be built in South Carolina, according to Automobile Magazine. While the BMW will be built in the U.S., it will go on sale in Europe six months earlier. This schedule is unusual because American-built BMWs are normally first sold in the U.S. market and then in Europe.

The X3 will arrive late because BMW is setting up a new customer order program in which individuals will be able to customize their vehicle, reports the news source.

People who are looking to purchase this BMW immediately might choose to buy a used X3 in New York or elsewhere rather than waiting. Although the 2007 models have already been on the road for more than two years, they come equipped with a variety of features, like a 3-liter six-cylinder engine that produces 260 horsepower and a stability control system, according to Edmunds.com. The base price for an X3 of this year is generally around $24,000.

News of wagon arrival could spark interest in used TSXs in New York

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Posted in Acura - DO NOT USE

Used TSXs in New York could be back in style when more people learn about the Acura wagon that is about to hit American shores.

The Acura TSX has always been a hot car. In fact, its sales in 2004 were only marginally lower than they were in 2008, according to HondaNews.com. The success of the TSX has been such that Acura is now planning on bringing the sport wagon edition to the U.S., according to CNET.com.

Drivers who prefer sedans over wagons will want to know that a base model 2004 TSX equipped with a manual gearbox generally sells for under $13,000, according to Edmunds.com. This car came equipped with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that put down 205 horsepower at the wheels. That sort of muscle is rather impressive for a naturally aspirated motor of this size. This engine is a great performer that doesn’t consume too much fuel or severely damage the environment.

While drivers who want Acura wagons will have to wait until next year to pick one up, shoppers looking for used TSXs in New York can head to the dealership tonight.

Used Chevrolets in New Jersey enjoy Leno’s fame

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Posted in Chevrolet

The Jay Leno edition Camaro that appeared at this year’s Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) auto show in Las Vegas could get car buyers interested in other Chevy muscle cars like used Corvettes in New Jersey.

Most Americans know who Jay Leno is because he has been on TV for over a decade and has an impressive car collection. A special edition Camaro bearing his name was at SEMA this year, according to TopSpeed.com. This Chevy has a pair of T-3 turbos and 3.6-liter that delivers a total of 425 horsepower – 40 percent more muscle than stock.

But the Camaro isn’t Chevrolet‘s only powerhouse. The 2002 Corvette ZO6 made 405 horsepower without any modifications, according to ZO6Vette.com. A 2002 ZO6 normally sells for about $18,000, reports Edmunds.com.

While Jay Leno might like the new Camaro, car shoppers looking for a vehicle that is more than fast enough and considerably less expensive should consider checking out used Corvettes in New Jersey and elsewhere because the ZO6 is a classic example of American muscle.