Monthly Archives: July 2011

John Dillinger’s car making the rounds

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Posted in Celebrity Auto News

One of the most famous cars of the early 20th century is set to go on display at Richmond, Virginia, convention center. USA Today reports the getaway car of iconic gangster John Dillinger, the 1933 Essex Terraplane, is currently on the move across the country in honor of the 77th anniversary of his death.

The car is usually housed at the National Museum of Crime and Punishment in Washington, D.C., but it has since been making several stops, including the Baltimore airport. Dillinger is perhaps most famous for deftly eluding police during his legendary crime spree, eventually being killed by law enforcement in Chicago on July 22, 1934.

According to the publication, the car is valued at about $150,000 and is one of several famous getaway cars that have made their way into the annals of history, including the iconic Ford driven by Bonnie and Clyde in which they were gunned down after being cornered by police in 1934.

In fact, the news source reports that Clyde wrote Henry Ford himself to tell him what a reliable car he made, saying it was perfect for "sustained speed and freedom from trouble."

GM to offer year of free insurance to buyers in Washington, Oregon

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Posted in General Auto News

Car insurance is often one of the major costs of owning an automobile, but General Motors is hoping to change all that. According to CNN Money, the manufacturer is planning to provide a year's worth of insurance along with the purchase of one of its brand new vehicles.

The initiative, which expires on September 6, is currently limited to motorists in Washington and Oregon because GM has had trouble gaining traction in the two Pacific Northwest states. However, officials at the company say that there is the strong possibility that the program could make its way to other states across the country, if it is successful.

"We want to give residents of Oregon and Washington another reason to discover Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles," the U.S. vice president of GM Marketing said in a statement.

The move could be a good one for the manufacturer as it looks to build on a positive year in terms of sales. According to CNN, its sales are up 11 percent over this period last year. Furthermore, there has been indicators that auto insurance rates have risen considerably in many states across the country.

Ohio, Missouri the best states for affordable car repairs

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Posted in General Auto News

CarMD.com recently unveiled its first annual Vehicle Health Index report, which highlights the best places to receive automotive repairs, and the results paint a nice picture for Missouri drivers. The study found that the Show-Me State had one of the lowest average "check engine" repair costs, being beat only by Washington, D.C.

The report revealed that Missouri mechanics charged an average of $297.27 for parts and labor, which is significantly less than the national average of roughly $356, and an impressive 29 percent lower than Arizona, which was the most expensive state on the list at more than $421. Ohio, Wisconsin and Nebraska rounded out the top five most affordable.

"We are releasing this data to empower consumers and technicians with a better understanding of common repairs and costs, and to call attention to the fact that, regardless of region, drivers who follow a regularly scheduled maintenance program and address small problems early tend to have reduced fuel bills and repair costs," said Art Jacobsen, vice president of CarMD.com

In 2010, the most frequently reported issue was replacing the oxygen sensor, making up about 9.3 percent of all repairs. 

Scion, Mitsubishi most popular among young drivers, study shows

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Posted in Auto Brands News

New research about the car buying habits of the youngest driving demographic reveals some interesting findings about which cars they prefer. Surveyors found that Scion and Mitsubishi are far and away the most popular brands for youthful drivers.

The study, which was conducted by TrueCar.com, analyzed the buying habits of four million individuals between the ages of 18 and 27. What they found was that, of those who purchased a Scion, 21.2 percent fell in that particular demographic, while 20.3 percent of Mitsuibishi purchasers were of that age. Mazda, Nissan and Volkswagen rounded out the top five.

Analyst Jesse Toprak believes that other automakers should take heed of the findings, as attracting young buyers is crucial.

"Generation Y buyers are very important to automakers because they help set trends from popularizing social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter or technologies such as the iPhone and iPod," he said. "It's also important for an automaker to get a young buyer into their vehicle from the beginning in hopes of continued loyalty to the brand."

Young buyers looking for an affordable used car, whether it be a Scion, Honda or Toyota will want to check out New Jersey Auto Auction.

New York man to reach 3 million miles in one car

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Posted in Auto Brands News

Getting one's car to travel 200,000 miles without incident is certainly impressive, and anything above that will make even the thriftiest drivers smile. However, one man from East Patchogue, New York may have put all other motorists to shame in terms of longevity.

Irv Gordon's 1966 Volvo P1800 has traveled nearly 3 million miles throughout its 45-year lifespan, and it shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. The key to its longevity lies in Gordon's commitment to maintenance, he says, and he even put 1,500 miles on the car within two days of purchasing it.

Gordon surpassed the 500,000 mile mark by the time the car was 10 years old, and he hopes to keep going and breaking the world record he already holds.

"Recently, my P1800 has been through some terrible weather, and never complained once," he said. "What a great automobile! Hitting 2.9 million miles is a true testament to Volvo and those who designed it."

As Gordon proves, Volvo has a long history of reliable vehicles, and New Jersey Auto Auction carries a wide variety of makes and models to suit the needs of any driver.

Man turns heads with banana mobile

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Posted in General Auto News

Residents of Flint, Michigan, are certainly used to being near the center of the U.S. auto industry, but even the most longtime citizens may not have been prepared for what they saw last week. Steve Braithwaite drove into town with his customized pick-up truck, which was made to look exactly like a gigantic banana.

According to The Flint Journal, Braithwaite has no agenda for driving the fruit-like ride, it just seemed like the right thing to do. His quest started two years ago when he purchased a Ford F-150 from a Michigan junkyard and had to return to show off the finished product.

"He told me about his pipe dream and I thought that I'd never see it," the junkyard owner Robert Cole told the news source. "And now I'm 74 years old and I did see it and I'm thrilled half to death."

Though he has no affiliation with any company or politician, the news provider reports that Braithwaite does hope to raise awareness for deep vein thrombosis, and has its own website to further the cause. 

Nissan Micra may be coming to the U.S.

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Posted in Auto Brands News, Nissan

For years, the Nissan Micra has been a popular car in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, and if rumors hold true it may be making its way to the United States. Ken Davis, president of the Eaton Supercharges vehicle group, hinted that a the company will launch a supercharged model in the U.S. sometime in the near future.

In an interview with Automotive News, Davis said that his company sees great growth potential in working with Nissan, and that the popular Japanese automaker will be expanding its horizons in terms of supercharged cars.

"Nissan will bring their supercharged vehicles here [the U.S.]." he told the news source. "We'll be on Audi and Volkswagen platforms, too. We are starting to get some attention."

Supercharger engines work by allowing more fuel to be burned per cycle, resulting in greater power output, and is especially beneficial to smaller engines.

Drivers looking to get in a reliable Nissan may want to stop by New Jersey Auto Auction, which carries plenty of used cars at affordable prices.

New Jetta a hit with consumers

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Posted in Auto Brands News

The Volkswagen Jetta enjoyed a serious boost in sales for the month of June, and it may have been thanks to an unlikely source – Katy Perry. The "California Gurls" singer performed at the company's launch of the redesigned Jetta, and the sales subsequently grew 88 percent over the same period of last year.

According to USA Today, the popularity among drivers is a change of tune from the thoughts of industry experts, who gave the new look Jetta less-than-favorable reviews. But consumers seem to be responding to the lower price and new look, as evidenced by the fact the June was the best month ever for Jetta sales in the United States.

Volkswagen will also be giving its Passat a new look, and new price for 2012, in the hopes that it can follow in the footsteps of the Jetta. The news source reports that the new Passat, which debuts in September, is a bit bigger than in previous years but still has the sport European feel that motorists enjoy.

Drivers looking to slip into a sporty used car like a Volkswagen Jetta will want to check out New Jersey Auto Auction, which offers plenty of affordable pre-owned vehicles at affordable prices.