Monthly Archives: February 2012

New England, New York Differ on Cars as Well as Sports

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Posted in General Auto News

Though they are separated by only a little more than 200 miles, New York and Boston could not be more different. Whether it comes to sports allegiances or personality, the fierce rivalry between the two cities is alive and well. That will certainly be on display this weekend as the New York Giants take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 46. It turns out that their differing opinions also extend to the road and car buying habits in each region vary greatly.

The lifestyle choices of the two regions are definitely reflected in which cars they choose. According to TrueCar.com, New Englanders overwhelmingly chose small SUVs and other cars that value function over form. In fact, of the top 10 vehicles purchased in New England, four are SUVs. The findings make sense if you consider that New Englanders are more likely to prefer outdoor activities than their neighbors to the south.

As for New Yorkers, it's clear that they value luxury much more than New Englanders. The top 10 cars purchased by Empire State residents included mostly cars and only two SUVs, and luxury brands such as Mercedes, Acura and BMW are well represented.

While what kind of car each fan base prefers likely will not have an impact on what happens on Super Bowl Sunday, it certainly does say a bit about their driving habits. New York does have an edge on one thing, however – it's proximity to New Jersey State Auto Auction. The reliable dealer has a wide variety of makes and models, even those to suit the higher-end tastes of New Yorkers.

Auto Sales Off to Better-Than-Expected Start

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Posted in Auto Industry News

The auto industry had a great 2011 in terms of sales and after a strong January, it looks like 2012 might follow suit. Analysts found car sales rose 11 percent in January, which indicates Americans are starting to replace cars they held onto during the recession, Reuters reports.

The figures surprised most prognosticators who believed sales growth, if there was any, would have been modest at best. However, spurred by the popularity of Volkswagen and the rebound of longtime favorites like Toyota and Honda, the industry avoided its usual early-year slump.

"Normally you have a little bit of the December hangover," Al Castignetti, head of U.S. sales for Nissan brand, told the news agency. "January starts out very slow and you try to make the month in the last 10 days. The absolute opposite happened this year."

The strong beginning to the year has some experts rethinking their forecast for the year. Now, they think that there could be as many as 14.18 million vehicles sold in 2012.

There are a number of reasons for the sales growth. According to Reuters, one of them may be that gasoline prices, while still high, have remained relatively stable. Additionally, ABC News reports many people may be leaping at the opportunity to replace their rides with updated used cars, as the average age of cars on the road is nearly 11 years.

Whether you're looking to get in a used car because your current model is running on fumes or if you just want a change, New Jersey State Auto Auction has you covered. With a wide variety of makes and models at affordable prices, there is something for everyone.

When Do I Need to Have My Brakes Checked?

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Posted in How To

There are few things more important to a car than its brakes. Having brakes that function properly is crucial to how your car drives but it also has an impact on safety. Despite the importance of the component, some people may not know when they have to get their brakes looked at and replaced. Luckily, there are a few signs that can tell you when it's time to have your car looked at.

It may seem difficult to know when you need a brake job. After all, there is no set mileage for when brake linings are worn down to the minimum level, and a lot can depend on how and where you drive your car. This makes paying close attention to subtle indicators that much more important.

One of the most obvious signs you need a brake job is if there is a squealing or grinding noise coming from your wheels when you apply the brakes. According to AOL Autos, the noise is actually caused by indicators put in place to tell you it's time to get new pads.

Having trouble accelerating can also be a symptom of a brake problem. In this case, the drag may be caused by the fact that emergency brake cables are frozen due to rust, which can be avoided by  regularly using it.

Pulling to one side should tip you off to an issue with your brakes. This can happen for a number of different reasons including having brakes that are adjusted incorrectly, leaking brake fluid or spilled oil or grease.

If you notice any of these indicators you may want to head to New Jersey State Auto Auction's Total Car Care center to get your brakes looked at.

Driver-In-Chief: Obama Checks Out Cars at Washington Auto Show

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Posted in Celebrity Auto News

The Washington Auto Show descended upon the nation's capital recently and it welcomed a well-known visitor. President Barack Obama stopped by the event on Tuesday to take a look at the flock of cars powered by alternative fuel and even sat behind the wheel of several vehicles, The Washington Post reports.

The appearance was unusual in that Obama's presence was relatively subdued. Instead of taking questions, giving a speech or talking with voters, he simply examined the cars that were on display. It's not surprising that Obama wanted to investigate the eco-friendly cars, given that going green has been a fairly significant part of his platform. Among the cars he looked at was the electric Chevy Volt, which has created substantial buzz in the auto industry.

"He was mainly interested in what are my greatest challenges in designing these vehicles," General Motors president of global design Ed Welburn told the newspaper. "I always want to raise the level of execution and design something that’s profitable."

The Volt may have been the most high-profile car that got Obama's attention but it certainly was not the only one. According to USA Today, he stepped behind the wheel of seven cars including hotly-anticipated fuel efficient rides such as the Ford C-Max Energi plug-in electric and the Chevrolet Malibu Eco. However, he also took time to check out a few classics including a Corvette and the Dodge Ram.

You don't have to the Commander-in-Chief to find a good deal on a used car at New Jersey State Auto Auction. With a wide variety of makes and models at affordable prices, there is something for everyone.