Consumers who are perusing listings of used cars in New York may look at the CARS program and wonder if it makes financial sense for them, or helps the environment. Several opponents are hoping they’ll stay away from junking their used cars.

The average price of a new car is $27,800, while used cars run roughly $14,000 dollars, according to Edmunds.com data cited by ABC News.

The program will issue a maximum of $4,500 for trade-ins of used vehicles, bringing the average cost down to $23,000, and the question is whether or not consumers will want to save the $4,500, or the $9,000, according to the news provider.

Opponents of the law aren’t just looking at prices, though, as environmentalists worry that the program won’t have the desired effect of reducing greenhouse gases.

“When introduced, the program had an environmental rationale,” wrote Dan Becker, Safe Climate Campaign director, in a Star-Ledger editorial. “It is now so diluted that in some cases, buying a car or light truck offering an improvement of a mere one mile per gallon over your junked wheels will get you a $3,500 voucher.”

Edmunds says that there are roughly 100,000 shoppers in the planning and research stages of purchasing a used car in New Jersey and other states, according to recent research.

As dealers continue to offer increasing incentives to spur sales, prospective buyers may find that they have waited too long.

“There has been a recent surge of purchase intent that has not translated into sales,” Dr David Tompkins, Edmunds.com senior analyst. “Given that these 100,000 shoppers represent about 10 percent of monthly sales, automakers and dealers should find a way to capitalize on the opportunity and entice these folks to actually buy.”

An L.A. Times report also sheds light on reasons to consider making a purchase of a used car in New Jersey sooner rather than later, explaining that as people hold onto their cars longer, there is a smaller supply of used cars available from trade-ins and former rentals.

Edmunds.com analysts say that the average trade-in car is driven an extra 8,000 miles before buyers consider bringing it in, the equivalent of 8 months more for the average driver.

Drivers of used cars in New York may worry that with the realignment of General Motors and Chrysler that has led to the closure of more than 1,000 dealerships, many of which no longer retain their service departments, it may be necessary to drive further to find a dealer-sponsored mechanic.

While that could be a concern for some who think that only mechanics at a dealership can do repairs on cars without voiding the warranty, the Car Care Council says that that is not the case.

“Legally, you can have maintenance performed by any mechanic without affecting your warranty,” notes a recent Conumer Reports advisory piece. “Just keep thorough records in case of a warranty claim.”

Thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, customers can be sure that their warranties will remain in effect even if they use one of the 130,000 local shops around the country.

While the shops now cover more than 70 percent of repairs for used cars in New York and other states, according to the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, those looking for quality will find that repair shops with ASE-certified technicians and good customer references may provide better service.