2013 Dodge Dart to become company’s first compact car since 2005

By
Posted in Auto Brands News

It may conjure up images of the '60s and '70s, but one of the most iconic cars of the period is heading back to dealerships. The 2013 Dodge Dart will be the first compact car released by the manufacturer since 2005 and will be unveiled to the public at the January 9 Detroit auto show, Cars.com reports.

Although it shares a name with the car that was a staple on roads from 1960 to 1976, the new car will bear little resemblance to the original model. In fact, this ride will be much more closely related to the Fiat Alfa Romeo Giulietta. It will also have the same 1.4 liter turbocharged engine that's in the Fiat 500.

The move comes as the manufacturer plans to end production on the Dodge Caliber. The hatchback will be discontinued after the the 2012 model year. The change could be big news for drivers looking to get behind the wheel of a compact sedan. In fact, it will be the company's first such car since the Dodge Neon was discontinued in 2005.

According to Cars.com's Kicking Tires blog, the inaugural model of the car has not been officially revealed, but early details point to an impressive-looking body. Specifically, it will include features that are present on both the Charger and Challenger including similar tail lamps and grille.

Though it may be some time until the 2013 Dodge Dart reaches dealer lots, there are plenty of other options for drivers looking to downsize to a more fuel-efficient car. Those choosing to do so may want to turn to New Jersey State Auto Auction, which offers customers with a wide variety of makes and models at affordable prices.
 

Trade-in values continue to stay high

By
Posted in General Auto News

The end of the year is widely considered to be one of the best times to purchase new and used cars, and as it turns out, this year it is also an ideal period to trade in your car. Experts say that used cars have been retaining their value over the last six months so if you've been waiting for the best moment to sell, it might be now, according to NBC affiliate KARE.

Over the last four years or so, few people have been buying new cars. As a result, this has lowered the number of used cars on many lots so most dealers are looking to buy, and some say they have no set limit on how many vehicles they want to purchase.

"We can't get enough trade-ins. We, like most other dealers in the cities will make really good offers just to buy used cars outright. We need them to sell them," industry insider Doug Sprinthall told the news channel.

New Jersey State Auto Auction is a great place to go if you're considering taking advantage of the excellent trade-in market. Due to its status as an authorized Autotrader.com Trade In Marketplace Dealership, customers can quickly get a free appraisal.

Although experts say that most cars that are between one and two years old can get the close to their original value, there are a number of models that are especially high in demand. According to MSN Autos, the 2009 Ford Fusion, 2008 Honda CR-V and 2008 Hyundai Elantra are all popular choices. 

GM blames Chevy Volt fires on leaked coolant

By
Posted in General Auto News

General Motors launched an investigation into what may have caused fires in its Chevrolet Volts after a federal crash test, and the manufacturer may have found a culprit. Experts believe that the fires may have been started by a coolant leak that managed to puncture the battery case, USA Today reports.

The first signs of trouble occurred several weeks ago, after the plug-in vehicles were tested by federal officials. Two of the cars experienced a fire days after the tests while a third one's battery heated up considerably. GM has addressed the issue by offering the estimated 6,400 Volt owners with a free loaner until the matter is resolved.

"It's just kind of a detective game to say, 'Is there something we can do to protect from this situation?'" GM product chief Mary Barra told the publication.

The fires come after already-disappointing sales for the electronic vehicle. According to The Wall Street Journal, the company will likely fall short of its goal of 10,000 cars sold this year – instead analysts estimate they will likely sell about 8,000. Still, despite the fires and the low sales figures, those who have purchased the car are standing behind it and officials are confident.

"There is no question in my mind that the Volt is safe. We are doing everything we can to make sure that it is even safer," GM CEO Dan Akerson told the Journal last week.

Whether electric or gas-powered, regular auto-maintenance is a must to keep cars running smoothly. New Jersey State Auto Auction provides motorists with its Total Car Care Center, which not only can perform general upkeep but also offers repairs on other fixes to the general public.  

Think about length, trade-in value when considering an auto loan

By
Posted in Auto Loans & Financing News

When it comes to buying a used car there is often a great deal of emphasis placed on which model you should select. While it is certainly an important consideration, after all you will likely be behind the wheel for years to come, perhaps even more crucial is how you will finance the new vehicle. Though there are many options available to you and everyone enters in a different situation, experts say there are a few things that nearly all consumers should mull over before settling on a loan.

Among the first things to consider is the length of your loan, says Stock Market Digital. Though most are between three to five years, the length can make a big difference in terms of monthly payments. Although long-term loans may have lower incremental payments, it may result in more cost to you when all is said and done.

Along with addressing the length of the loan you will also want to think about the possibility of trading in your current car. If your vehicle is in good condition, you can probably get a good price for it and knock some of the number off your purchase. Some dealers, like New Jersey State Auto Auction, make doing so especially easy. The business is an Autotrader.com Trade In Marketplace Dealership and can provide you with an appraisal in a matter of seconds.

Perhaps most importantly, you should set a limit for the amount you can afford to pay. According to the website, you should consider everything from the projected cost of gas to auto maintenance to insurance.

In addition to making it easy to trade in your car, New Jersey State Auto Auction also gives consumers and easy option for auto financing by approving everyone, regardless of whether or not they have no credit history or bad credit history.  

Lenders increasingly likely to approve supbrime loans

By
Posted in Auto Loans & Financing News

In years past it may have been difficult for prospective drivers to get behind the wheel of a used car if they had a checkered credit history, but recent statistics prove that is no longer the case. According to data from Experian Automotive, lenders are growing increasingly likely to provide loans to credit-challenged customers. In fact, 21.87 percent of all loans were nonprime, subprime and deep subprime.

There are a number of reasons for the findings, but a lot of it has to do with the fact that consumers are doing a better job at repaying loans. This is especially evident in deep subprime loans (the highest risk category), experienced the highest jump with a 17.3 percent increase. Experian also found that the average credit score for car buyers dropped from 769 in the third quarter of 2010 to 763 in 2011.

"The automotive finance industry is continuing a steady climb to good solid footing," said Melinda Zabritski, director of automotive credit for Experian. "Consumers continue to do a better job of repaying loans, while at the same time, many of the most risky loans from 2007 and 2008 are now off the books. These factors combine to lower the total volume of dollars at risk and give lenders more confidence in loosening their overall lending standards."

For those who have a less-than-ideal credit score, paying back an auto loan on time can be one of the best ways to rebuilt it, and New Jersey State Auto Auction is the place to go. The dealer automatically approves everyone regardless of whether they have good, bad or no credit, which can make buying a used car especially easy. 

Auto sales continue to rise in November

By
Posted in Auto Industry News

The end of the year is often seen as one of the best times to buy a new or used car, comma and it appears as though American consumers got the message. Auto sales in the United States saw a 14 percent jump in November and some analysts believe that December sales may be even higher, The New York Times reports.

Although most manufacturers saw an uptick in sales, Chrysler stood above the rest. The company reported that sales for all of its brands were up 45 percent compared to the same period last year and Jeep sales were at the highest level for the brand since 2003.

Of course, Chrysler was not alone. General Motors' sales rose by 7 percent with compact cars like the Chevrolet Cruze being especially popular. Additionally, sales of Fords rose by 13 percent with demand for the company's Explorer leading the way. Some analysts have been skeptical of the increase in sales, but others believe it could be indicative of a larger trend.

"The industry sales rate has exceeded 13 million in each of the last three months," Ken Czubay, Ford‘s vice president for United States marketing, sales and service, said in a release. "This suggests the current momentum is not an aberration. We believe replacement demand will continue to support stronger levels in 2012."

Those in the market for a used car may want to act quickly. The average price of a used car has dropped by 10 percent since June, Time reports. At New Jersey State Auto Auction, prices are always affordable. Additionally, the dealer offers a wide variety of makes and models that are all Carfax certified, so consumers know they are getting a reliable automobile.  

Small cars may overtake midsize sedans in popularity

By
Posted in General Auto News

Midsize sedans have long been the most popular cars on the road, but it looks like there may soon be a changing of the guard. Analysts from J.D. Power and Associates believe that smaller, compact cars may overtake larger models by as early as this year, The Associated Press reports.

The predictions are in stark contrast to five years ago when dealers sold about 250,000 more midsize sedans than compact cars. However, drivers have become increasingly likely to get behind the wheel of a smaller car for a number of reasons. In addition to being generally more fuel efficient and less expensive, they are also much more spacious than they used to be.

According to the AP, popular sedans like the Toyota Camry are being challenged by smaller cars like the Hyundai Elantra, which costs about $5,000 less and gets about 40 miles to the gallon. Additionally, newer versions of the compact Honda Civic have been popular due to an increase in features.

"The new Civic really feels like a luxury update of the old one," Mara Landers, who drives a 2009 Civic, told the AP.

Manufacturers have also placed an added emphasis on smaller cars in an effort to meet the increasingly stringent fuel efficiency standards placed on them by the government. Specifically, companies' fleets have to get an average of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.

Whether you're looking to downsize or simply get behind the wheel of a used car, New Jersey State Auto Auction has plenty of makes and models to choose from. Along with a wide selection, New Jersey Auto also offers guaranteed credit approval so getting a loan is an especially easy process.  

Toyota tops Kelley Blue Book’s list of cars with the best resale value

By
Posted in Auto Brands News, Toyota

For many car owners, making sure that their vehicle retains its value is of the utmost importance. Not only will it likely run better, but when it comes time to trade in your car you can get a much better price for it. Regardless of how well vehicles are maintained, some makes and models simply hold their value better than others. Kelley Blue Book's website kbb.com recently revealed its list of cars that are expected to have the best resale value for 2012.

Toyota has earned considerable praise for being among the most reliable cars on the road and its cars also retain their value exceptionally well. Toyota earned the website's Best Brand award because its vehicles keep about 40.5 percent of their original value five years after rolling off the lot, marking the second time in three years that Toyota has come away with the distinction.

According to the website, one of the company's best models is the FJ Cruiser, which gained eight points compared to last year and keeps about 50 percent of its value after five years. The Camry also improved its rating, moving up to 36.8 percent and the Tacoma moved up to 49 percent.

Although Toyota bested all the other brands, it was a different manufacturer that had the best car overall. The Jeep Wrangler came out on top with a 55 percent retention rate, and Jeep as a brand was slightly behind Toyota at 40.4 percent. Scion, Honda and Lexus rounded out the top five.

In addition to buying the right car, part of making sure it has a high resale value is keeping up on maintenance. New Jersey State Auto Auction's Total Car Care Center is open to the public, which makes it easy to ensure your car is running smoothly and can be traded in for a good price when the time comes.  

Honda’s commitment to hybrids highlights importance of fuel efficiency

By
Posted in General Auto News

The 2011 Tokyo Motor Show included some of the most innovative designs in the automotive world, but Honda decided to highlight its continued commitment to fuel-efficient cars. Along with renewing its commitment to drastically cut carbon emissions over the next 10 years, company CEO Takanobu Ito also hinted that Honda may try to roll out a new hybrid version of the Accord.

What is surprising about the announcement is that it would not be the first Accord hybrid to hit the United States. According to USA Today, a fuel-saving model supposedly hit the American and Canadian markets in 2005, but by the end of 2007, the company decided to end the experiment. The car performed poorly in sales largely because it did not save as much as gas as the name led consumers to believe.

Despite the lack of success with the hybrid Accord, Ito said in a speech at the convention that Honda is developing a new engine that will hopefully make the cars more eco-friendly and exciting to drive.

"Under the name 'Earth Dreams Technology,' Honda has created a new next-generation engine and transmission series, which we will apply to our products to realize both 'fun' and 'environmental' values at a high level," he said at the conference.

While it may be some time until Honda rolls out some more fuel-efficient models, there is some good news for motorists looking to save money at the pump. According to USA Today's Drive On blog, the national average for a gallon of gas dropped to around $3.25 and while that is certainly not cheap it's good news that the price is dipping during a time when it is usually on the rise. Additionally, it's a considerable drop compared to the average of around $3.90 earlier this year.

Along with the car you choose and the price of fuel, there are several types of maintenance you can perform to ensure your vehicle gets the best gas mileage possible. According to Edmunds.com, easy steps like keeping your tires properly inflated and checking your air filter can all pay off.

Getting your engine tuned also yields numerous benefits when it comes to fuel efficiency, and New Jersey State Auto Auction's Total Car Care Center makes the process easy. Located in Jersey City, the center is open to the public and can go a long way to getting the most out of your car.  

Buy a used car before the end of the year, analysts say

By
Posted in Auto Industry News

If you're on the fence about buying a used car before the end of the year, some new information may change your mind. Kelley Blue Book's website kbb.com reports that used car prices are going to rise in early 2012 and could increase as much as 6 percent.

Not only will prices likely be on the way up after the new year but they are also at their lowest point in quite some time. Analysts say that used car prices have been falling steadily since June and are expected to continue on that trend through December. Add that to the fact that sales tend to decline during the fourth quarter anyway, and the next few weeks are shaping up nicely for those in the market for a new ride.

"Used-car values typically decline through the fourth quarter due to a seasonal drop in demand that lasts through the holiday season," said Alec Gutierrez, manager of vehicle valuation for Kelley Blue Book. "We believe sales volume also will decline through the remaining fourth quarter, similar to years past, and as a result values will likely remain soft through year-end, with few exceptions."

Along with timing, which car you choose is also important. According to Edmunds.com, some of the best used cars for 2011 are the 2004-2009 Nissan Altima and 2006-2009 Hyundai Azera as well as the 2004-2009 Ford Explorer.

If you're looking to take advantage of the low prices, New Jersey State Auto Auction is the place to go. Regardless of the time of year, the lot has a wide variety of makes and models at affordable prices, and each vehicle is Carfax certified so you know you're getting a reliable product.