Monthly Archives: August 2014

Check Out These Star-Studded Celebrity Car Campaigns

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Posted in Celebrity Auto News

Cars and celebrities are a match made in heaven, and auto manufacturers know it. This is why more stars have been driving their way into ad campaigns in recent years. Using star power to sell a product is far from new, but the double glitz factor of famous people in fancy cars is particularly intriguing for consumers. Especially when it comes to high-end luxury models, pairing a famous face with a high-end car can be a good way for manufacturers to generate an added buying incentive for those who may be on the fence about splurging on a new set of wheels.

Here are some of the more recent and high-profile celebrity car campaigns:

Audi
The German car company launched a campaign back in March to raise awareness of its new A3, the first in the manufacturer's line of affordable luxury cars, AutoNews.com reported. In order to generate buzz, the company turned to several celebrities in a minute-long commercial mixing Hollywood star power, intriguing cuts of the Audi A3 and the music of rock superstars Queen.

Everyone from athletes to musicians to actors lent their talent to the project. One of the most notable additions was Ricky Gervais, comedian and television producer responsible for shows like "The Office." The funny man's appearance book-ended the commercial, with the messaging encouraging viewers to "stay uncompromised."

Jaguar
This veteran of the luxury market recently embraced and celebrated its U.K. heritage by enlisting the help of several prominent English celebrities in its new campaign. According to MarketingWeek, jaguar's campaign, dubbed FeelXE, sees British superstars such as Idris Elba loaning their faces and voices to the company's cause. Post-2008 recession, Jaguar is looking to reestablish the wow factor driving a high-end luxury car can evoke, and pairing its sleek wheels with some of the most well-known individuals from the U.K. is certainly a move aimed at doing just that.

Avis
Of course, not all campaigns are designed around selling luxury cars. Some, like Avis' recent star-studded series, just want to give people what they need. The rental car company launched a handful of spots featuring celebrities such as fashion photographer Nigel Barker and beach volleyball player Gabriella Reece, GlobalNewswire stated in a press release. Rather than position expensive cars as solid buys, the celebs advocated Avis as a sensible rental option for business travelers in need of a car while on the road.

If you're looking to buy a high-quality used car, head to NJ State Auto Auction. There are hundreds of Carfax-certified cars on the lot, and the dedicated finance team can help create an affordable financing solution.

How To Tell When Your Car’s On Its Last Legs

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Posted in Uncategorized

While we often do our best to keep our cars on the road, both for sentimental and financial value, sometimes you have to recognize when it's time to move on. If you think your ride may be on its last legs, here are a few things to keep in mind.

The basic formula
It's time for an introductory lesson in economics. If money out exceeds money in, it's probably time to sell. This is the golden rule when it comes to deciding whether your car is a fixer-upper or a trader-inner. According to Edmunds, determine if the repairs will cost you more than your car's market value, or compare it against one year of monthly payments. If fixing it up is more costly than either of these, it may be time to say your goodbyes.

As with any advice, this is intended to be more of a guideline than anything etched in stone, but for drivers who are truly on the fence, it can serve as a helpful point from which to evaluate options. Some people may be reluctant to trade in their car. If you're one of them, it helps to know what you can expect financially.

Repair costs can be exponential
You may feel it's cheaper to repair problems with your car than it is to trade it in and buy a new one, and in many cases this is true. After all, spending a couple hundred bucks on a new part – or even a couple thousand for more in-depth repairs – is better on paper than spending substantially more for a whole new car.

However, the older your car is, the more likely it is that you'll encounter maintenance issues on a semi​-regular basis. Every make and model is different when it comes to reliability, of course, but in general, a 10-year-old model won't run as smoothly as a 3-year-old one. Even if small repairs are cheaper, they can add up over time and nickel-and-dime you to death.

The longer you keep your car, the less it's worth
Depreciation is an unpleasant reality of car ownership, but it's still something to keep in mind. Cars lose value exponentially, so the longer you hang on to it, the less you'll get in trade. In fact, keeping your car for five years instead of three can result in an 18 percent loss of value, according to Edmunds. Smart drivers should decide if saving money now is worth the hit they'll take when they do trade in later.

If you're shopping for a used car, head to NJ State Auto Auction. There are hundreds of Carfax-certified cars on the lot, and an in-house finance team available to help get you approved for a loan.

Why A Used Car May Be The Right Choice For You

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Posted in How To

Shopping for a car can be as confusing as it is exciting. Understanding the vast array of special features and options many cars come with, not to mention matching them to your specific needs as a driver, can be frustrating. And this doesn't even take into account the added stress of dealership hype surrounding their shiny newer models. 

You may have reservations about purchasing a pre-owned vehicle, but a quality certified used car can be an idea option for a buyer who is looking to get a reliable ride without breaking the bank. Here are some points to consider when you're deciding what car to buy.

Save money now, save money later
If spending less is your primary goal, opting for pre-owned is the way to go. New cars are laden with hidden costs and financial pitfalls that you won't have to deal with when you buy used. In addition to typically bearing a lower sticker price, new cars depreciate, or decline in value, at an alarming rate. Based on data from Edmunds, a new car loses 9 percent of its value as soon as you drive off the lot. In fact, a mere three years after you bring your new ride home, you can expect it to be worth 40 percent less than what you paid for it. Contrast this with the value of a used car, which Consumer Reports mentioned depreciates at a rate of 27 percent in the first three years, and you can see that pre-owned cars offer a much higher value-for-money ratio.

They're more reliable than ever
Sure, you know that used cars cost less, and can even save you money down the road, but isn't it true that you get what you pay for? Won't you just be signing up for a host of mechanical problems when you opt for a used model instead of a new one? According to Consumer Reports, not really. In fact, for lower-income buyers, there hasn't been a better time to buy a pre-owned car and trust in its reliability. Even between 2007 and 2014, the overall reliability of 5-year-old cars increased by 33 percent, the source pointed out. 

As CNN reported, this is in part due to many manufacturers adopting or expanding their used car certification programs. Dealers and manufacturers are putting more of their support behind pre-owned models, implementing stricter inspection standards and warranty coverage, and providing additional peace of mind.

When it's time to shop for a used car, head to NJ State Auto Auction. You'll find hundreds of Carfax-certified cars on the lot, and the in-house finance team is available to help approve you for an affordable auto loan. 

Beat The Heat With These Car Safety Tips

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Posted in General Auto News

The hot summer sun is a welcome arrival for those looking to spend their days outside, but it can also be dangerous. Anyone who's stepped into their car on a summer day knows just how hot they can get when left in the sun. Unfortunately, some people still leave pets or even children alone in overheated vehicles, sometimes with tragic results. Whether planning a road trip or simply heading out for groceries, be aware of the dangers of leaving loved ones in the back seat in the hot sun.

The problem is heating up
It may seem unthinkable, but the fact is that drivers leaving pets and children in the back seat while they run errands is more common that you'd think. Even if you're just planning on stepping inside a store for a few minutes, the heat building inside your car can be deadly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that parents leaving their kids in parked cars for too long resulted in 19 heat-related fatalities in 2014. To help combat this threat and raise awareness, the NHTSA launched National Heatstroke Prevention Day July 31 to remind parents of the dangers they and their youngsters face. 

According to SafeCar.gov, a child is susceptible to a fatal heatstroke reaction once his or her temperature reaches 107 degrees Fahrenheit – and parents may be shocked to learn that car interior temperatures can rise to these dangerous levels even on relatively mild days in the 60s or 70s. 

Awareness is cool
Preventing such tragic occurrences is often as simple as taking an extra moment of awareness before heading inside. Drivers are urged to remind themselves of their child in the back seat – consider leaving your purse or wallet in the back seat, which will require you to check the rear of your car when you leave. One mother commissioned the creation of a smartphone app called Kars4Kids – an app that sends a reminder to your phone when you leave a child waiting in the car for you. Regardless of how quick you think a jaunt into the dry cleaner's will be, cars can heat up at an alarming rate, and in today's world with parents balancing more on-the-go tasks than ever, it's easy to lose track of who's waiting for you, and for how long.

For your pre-owned vehicle needs, head to NJ State Auto Auction. You'll find hundreds of Carfax-certified cars on the lot, and an in-house finance team ready to help approve you for a financing plan to make your choice of vehicle affordable.