Monthly Archives: December 2015

6 Ways to Make Your Car’s Fuel Last

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Posted in How To

Let’s be honest: Nobody likes pumping hard-earned cash into their gas tank. Unfortunately, avoiding the gas pump isn’t exactly an option. Although you may not be able to save yourself from ridiculous gas prices, there are many ways to make your fuel last. The way you drive and take care of your car has a big effect on the amount of fuel you use, according to the U.S. Union of Concerned Scientists.

Keep yourself from pouring all of your money into your gas tank this month by following these easy tips for maximizing your ride’s fuel economy.

1. Give your car some TLC
The UCS said cars consume less fuel and run best when they are maintained well. This means getting regular oil and filter changes, spark plug replacements and tire rotations. By taking good care of your car, you can prevent future damage and also improve the fuel economy. Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual to figure out when each maintenance appointment should take place.

2. Drive the speed limit
Slow down – save the fast driving for the race car drivers. The Consumer Energy Center of the California Energy Commission said all vehicles lose fuel economy when driven at speeds above 55 miles per hour. As for highway driving, going 65 mph instead of 75 mph reduces fuel cost by 13 percent. Avoid driving aggressively to save fuel in both the city and on the highway by driving the speed limit.

Drive the speed limit to avoid burning gas too quickly. Drive the speed limit at all times to avoid burning gas too quickly.

3. Take advice from your smartphone
For drivers with an iPhone, Forbes magazine recommended using the Maps App to check traffic before leaving the house. By doing this, you can plan an alternate route and avoid wasting gas from idling during your commute. Also consider using a smartphone app that finds the cheapest gas in your area, such as GasBuddy. Not only will this save you money at the pump, but it will also keep you from wasting your time trying to find the best gas prices in your area.

4. Avoid idling for more than a minute
Unfortunately, your engine uses a little bit of gasoline at its initial start-up. According to the UCS, letting your engine idle for more than a minute can burn more gas than turning off your engine and restarting it. Avoid idling by checking traffic in advance, or considering purchasing a car with “stop-start” technology that automatically turns off the engine when you brake.

“Grab a friend and drive to work together.”

5. Carpool when you can
If you have a friend whose business is close to your office, consider carpooling with them to get to work. The Consumer Energy Center said sharing a ride to work with friends is an effective way to double your fuel economy. Alternate every other week for driving with your pals to save the both of you money on gas.

6. Park in the shade
The UCS recommended parking in the shade during the summer. Not only does this keep your car cooler during warm temperatures but it also minimizes fuel evaporation. Park in a garage or under an awning during the summer if possible. This is an easy way to save you money at the gas pump.

If you’re looking for an affordable, fuel efficient car, check out NJ Auto Auction. There, you’ll find a wide variety of Carfax-certified cars, leaving many options to help find the perfect car that suits your need for a fuel-efficient vehicle. 

Car buying made easy

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Posted in General Auto News

Buying a car is stressful, especially if you've never done it before. There are so many things to take into account – some of which you may not even be aware of until you sit down and start talking to a dealer.

If you aren't careful, rushing into the buying process can be less than enjoyable. Fortunately, all it takes is a little preparation and foreknowledge to avoid some of the more common first-time buying blunders and ensure that you drive away with a great car for the right price.

Take the following steps the next time you're buying a car to ensure that you get the best possible deal.

Know what you want
Once you get to the dealership and find yourself surrounded by great-looking cars filled to the brim with bells and whistles, you may get caught up in the experience and find out later that you paid for a bunch of unnecessary extras. Succumbing to the lure of bonus add-ons like on-board GPS systems, rear-view cameras and sunroofs isn't uncommon, but you can prevent this from happening to you by having a clear understanding of exactly what you need in a car before you shop. Deciding ahead of time which features you need – and which you don't – will allow you to price various models yourself before shopping, so you can have a better idea of what you can expect to pay for the features that you actually need.

Do your research
The amount of the car buying process that actually takes place at the dealership is quite small. Ideally, you should do most of the work ahead of time. Useful sites like Edmunds or Kelley Blue Book offer motorists the chance to compare makes and models side by side, and even see what people are spending for comparable cars on average. This is also important to ensure you get a fair deal on your trade-in of your old car, if you have one.

"Financing is one of the most intimidating aspects of buying a car."

Understand your financing options
Financing is one of the most intimidating aspects of buying a car, especially for first-timers. The good news is there's no one "right" way to approach it.

If possible, you may wish to consider trying to get pre-approved for a loan at a bank. This can help you negotiate when it's time to sign for your new car, as it guarantees you a certain amount of spending power up front, though it typically requires a decent credit score to secure this kind of financing.

Even if your credit score is not exactly a point of pride for you, there are many other options you can pursue. Dealer financing is popular, since these options tend to provide more options and flexibility. If you're considering dealer financing, be sure you read the fine print and don't leave anything up to chance. For example, be sure to ask what happens if you make a late payment – you may be surprised to find that many dealers can offer flexible payment plans for the times you come up short. Remember, dealers would rather you keep your car and keep paying down your loans – even late – than to repossess it and lose out on the rest of your payments.

If you're ready to purchase a high-quality used car, head to NJ State Auto Auction. You'll find hundreds of Carfax-certified cars on the lot, and a helpful in-house financing team that is on hand to assist you with securing a loan.