The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show came to Las Vegas this week, and the event dominated the week in automotive news. The four-day convention attracted several of the world's most popular manufacturers who debuted some new and improved versions of their vehicles.

• Among the most talked-about exhibits at the event was when Honda unveiled some new specs for its Civic coupe, according to USA Today. The company debuted a new version of the car that included a dealer-installed body kit – which featured a new aerodynamic appearance, a lower body and 18-inch wheels. Honda hopes that this will re-invigorate waning interest in the model.

"The Honda Civic was instrumental in the first import-tuner movement in the U.S. during the '80s," Bruce Smith, a Honda vice president, told the publication. "The all-new Civic Si builds on that proud history by offering inspiring performance, improved fuel economy and a great platform for personalization."

• Ford was one of the standout companies that made their way to the SEMA show. In fact, Motor Trend reports that the auto manufacturer had some of the most intriguing cars on the showroom floor. Ford debuted a custom F-350 Super Duty, which was built by Superlift Suspensions to resemble a Matchbox car.

The publication singled out a few of its more enticing features including its bold orange paint job – complete with black and yellow bumpers on the grill – and a heavy-duty roll cage. The F-350 likely brought almost all of the attendees' childhood dreams to life.

• It would not be the SEMA show without some celebrities stopping by and this year's event certainly did not disappoint. Motocross Ricky Carmichael helped kick off the event when he debuted a cutom-built Chevrolet Sonic, which he helped design. According to USA Today, the black and green compact was built to include places to put a wakeboard, mountain bike and other gear.

Carmichael was not the only celebrity to have an impact on the show, however. Reality TV star Jesse James, who is no stranger to customizing cars and motorcycles, made an appearance as well. He was there in part to discuss a series of new racing videos he's releasing, the Las Vegas Sun reports.

Thanksgiving often serves as the unofficial beginning of the holiday season and brings with it an influx of cars on the road as drivers pack up to spend time with their families. But while a recent Allstate survey found that 45 percent of Americans plan on taking a road trip of more than two hours this year, many are unprepared for the dangers they may encounter.

The biggest disconnect the study revealed was that although most drivers have experienced at least four instances of a disabled vehicle, 84 percent of respondents said that they didn't think they would run into any snags this year due to mechanical problems or other issues.

Some mechanical accidents and other potential delay-causing problem are unavoidable but performing regular maintainance can drastically reduce your chances of encountering a completely preventable issue, and according to Allstate, the statistics back it up.

The company's study, which polled about 1,000 drivers over the age of 18, found that the 63 percent of respondents who are on top of routine maintenance experienced an average of 3.7 occurrences of a disabled vehicle, while those who didn't take care of their vehicles regularly encountered an average of 5.7 breakdowns. Conscientious drivers were also significantly less likely to have a dead battery, run out of gas or have their car not start.

If you're getting ready for a road trip this holiday season you may want to make sure your car has had all it's routine maintenance performed. New Jersey State Auto Auction provides drivers with a total car care center located in Jersey City that can perform everything from auto repair to regular check ups. 

Due to the struggling economy, most drivers are holding on to their cars longer than ever before. In fact, a recent survey conducted by DriverSide.com found that around 82 percent of people are planning on keeping their rides longer.

While there are a number of ways to extend the life of your car through regular maintenance and upkeep, sometimes you have to know when its reached its limit. According to Jacksonville's WJXT, there are a few tell-tale signs that it may be time to get behind the wheel of a new or used car.

Among the most distressing signs your ride may be on its last legs is that it's burning through oil. There are a few easy ways to tell if you have this problem but if you notice that your car is using up a lot of oil (about a quarter a week) and there's no puddle underneath it in your driveway or garage you have a problem.

"The oil is just burning it up because the engine is tired and it's not tight anymore," industry expert Mark Larsen told the news channel. "It could be the rings or the valve seals could be so hard that they just can't hold the oil anymore. It tends to be expensive [to fix]."

Any significant transmission problems may mean it's time to get a different car as well. According to the news source, a typical transmission replacement can cost you anywhere from $2,500 to $3,000, so if you notice your car slipping when it shifts gears it might mean you need a new ride.

New Jersey State Auto Auction has a wide selection of cars available at affordable prices to anybody looking to replace their worn out model.

Used cars often offer drivers with a great number of benefits, not the least of which is their affordability and relative reliability. However, both can be seriously compromised if you don't know what to do when it comes to regular maintenance. Edmunds.com recently offered a few tips on what you should regularly check out to ensure that your older car stays on the road as long as possible.

Experts say that the most crucial thing to do prioritize each maintenance issue, with all safety-related problems at the top. You should not be afraid to spend money on areas such as tires, brakes and steering, all of which could seriously jeopardize your safety if they do not receive regular upkeep and inspection.

Replacing hoses can also be a big issue in older cars, and according to website you'll likely have to switch in new ones depending on how long you've had your car. The key here is to watch out for warning signs of leaks. For instance, the faint smell of gasoline can be indicative of a leaking fuel line while squealing suggests a faulty fan or accessory belt. While this area is a little bit lower priority than safety-related issues, it still should be a concern.

Recent statistics suggest that drivers may be placing extra emphasis on keeping their cars on the road longer. Rebecca Lindland, the director of strategic review at IHS Automotive, spoke with Bloomberg Radio and pointed out that the average age of a car on the road today is an impressive 10.7 years and has covered 130,000 miles.

New Jersey State Auto Auction offers motorists with a full service auto center in its Jersey City location, which provides discounted auto repair and maintenance.