The economic downturn has forced a lot of people to adopt more frugal practices in most areas of their life and that includes how they treat their cars. In previous years, motorists may have opted to purchase a new vehicle if their current ride was past its prime. But now they are more apt to hang on to their cars longer and get regular maintenance to save money in the long run, and according to The Capital, it's paying off.

There is a stark contrast between how long drivers are keeping their cars now compared to before the recession hit in 2008. The research firm Polk says that consumers are holding on to their cars an average of 7.2 months longer than they did before '08, and in 2010 the average car on the road was 11 years old. With the economy still in flux, analysts say that the best bet is to usually to keep up with maintenance for the time being.

"They don't know what's going to happen with the economy, or with their jobs," industry insider Jack Bell told the publication. "They already know what they've got, so they fix what they've got."

Additionally, statistics show that even if consumers want to get behind the wheel of something different, most of them are used cars. The Capital reports that 70 percent of all purchases in 2010 were used cars.

Whether you're looking for a way to keep your current vehicle on the road longer or purchase a used car, New Jersey State Auto Auction offers you with both. In fact, New Jersey Auto offers a full auto service center located in Jersey City, and also provides drivers with discounted repair and maintenance. 

There's a common misconception that used cars are not built to last, and while that may have been true decades ago, today cars are lasting longer than ever. If you know where to look you can get behind the wheel of an affordable, reliable car from one of the world's top manufacturers, and Popular Mechanics recently shared its list of best choices for used cars.

The BMW 3 Series is one of the more popular cars on the road and though a brand new model might set you back a good amount, a pre-owned version from the 1990s can offer the style, class and performance at a much more affordable price. Even dating as far back as the late '80s, the publication says that the 3 Series is one of the most reliable cars around and can go for as low as $2,000.

Much like the 3 Series, a used Mercedes Benz E-Class offers drivers an excellent opportunity to own a classic luxury car at a fraction of the cost. In particular, Popular Mechanics highlights the years between 1986 and 1995 as the best options, and adds that models made during these years can go as low as $1,500 or as high as $10,000.

Consumers should not be afraid to purchase older used cars since the ones that are already on the road are lasting longer than ever before. In a recent interview with Bloomberg Radio, Rebecca Lindland, the director of strategic review at IHS Automotive, said that the average mileage of a car on the road today is 130,000 miles, with each driving around 13,400 miles a year.

Whether you're looking to get behind the wheel of a luxury used car or simply a sedan, the New Jersey State Auto Auction offers a wide variety of makes and models at affordable prices.

It's not unheard of for drivers to attempt to get the most of their vehicles. In fact, it's no longer rare for cars to easily surpass the 100,000 mile mark thanks to drivers placing an increased emphasis on maintenance. However, a man from Maine recently set an impressive record when the odometer on his 1990 Honda Accord hit 1 million, The Portland Press Herald reports.

Joe LoCicero, who is a native of the Pine Tree State was honored for the impressive achievement with a parade down the streets of Saco, Maine, as well as a 2012 Accord. According to Honda, he is the first documented person to drive one of their cars for 1 million miles.

If someone was going to get their car to reach the milestone, it's not surprising that it was LoCicero. He is known throughout New England as an expert auto techinican and has often traveled throughout the region inspecting vehicles for warranty claims and lease terms.

According to the Press Herald, LoCicero first bought the car in 1996 when it had just 74,000 miles on it. He drove about 48,000 miles a year to rack up its current total.

LoCicero is just one of many people aiming to drive their car as long as possible, and though most drivers will never get to the 1 million mile mark, there are certainly ways you can get your ride past the 100,000 or 200,000 mile mark.

The New Jersey State Auto Auction has a Full Auto Service Center located in Jersey City. The company provides discounted auto repair and auto maintenance for their customers. Call Brian at 201-200-1100 for our current Service Specials and ask for our Current Coupons.

While there were no major upheavals in the industry this week, the last few days in car news runs the gamut from offbeat to important safety info. Additionally, it points to a good future for electric car manufacturers – even if they are not flying off the lots.

• Sales of electric vehicles such as the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf have been modest at best, but that doesn't mean that their manufacturers aren't seeing returns. Many consumers are coming into showrooms simply to check out the innovative new rides and often end up driving away in a different car, the Los Angeles Times reports.

"There is such a halo effect," Oliver Hazimeh, an automotive industry consultant at PwC's PRTM Management Consulting, told the Times. "These cars appeal to the cool tech-savvy consumer segment."

In the first nine months of 2011 about 3,895 Volts and 7,199 Leafs have been sold. But statistics reveal even more good news for the manufactures. The Times reports 78 percent of Volt drivers had never bought a Chevy while 90 percent of Leaf drivers never drove a Nissan.

• Tailgaters are likely to see cars of all shapes and sizes when they pack in parking lots before football games, but one ride in particular caught the attention of police in Detroit. A mobile strip club dubbed The Booty Lounge was shut down just minutes before a recent Monday Night Football game, The Detroit News reports.

"If they're in there and they have semi-dressed girls, or they're in there dancing nude or whatever, that's a violation," Detroit Police Sgt. Charles Spruce told the newspaper.

Joe Parsons was the operator of the bus and says that he might be shut down for good – in Detroit at least.

• The Fiat 500 has made headlines lately for its aggressive ad campaign featuring Jennifer Lopez, and although the seductive songstress certainly gives the model a famous face, the small car recently garnered attention for more than its spokesperson. The car was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Cars.com reports.

The Fiat 500 earned the distinction after receiving a rating of "good" in front, side, rear and rollover crash tests. The only other mini-car to be a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS is the Ford Fiesta. 

Trading in your car is a great way to save money when you're looking to get behind the wheel of a used car, and a new online services has just made the process even easier. The popular automobile valuation company Kelley Blue Book has partnered with AutoTrader.com to provide a service that lets consumers shop their car to dealers all in one spot.

The newly-launched service allows those interested in selling their car to fill in all of the ride's information including its make, year and condition, making everything open to dealers interested in making a purchase of their own. If your car gets a hit, you can drive it down to the dealer and they'll likely buy it from you on the spot.

"In addition to Kelley Blue Book's top-notch values, this new option provides consumers further peace of mind that they can get an actual offer online to trade in or sell their current cars quickly and easily," said Justin Yaros, the executive vice president of Kelley Blue Books' kbb.com. "And best of all, that offer is backed 100 percent by AutoTrader.com."

Trading in your used car is also an option at New Jersey State Auto Auction, which is an authorized AutoTrader.com trade-in marketplace dealer. The partnership gives consumers the opportunity to get a free appraisal of their car within seconds.

"As an authorized Autotrader Trade In Marketplace Dealership, we are equipped to provide an instant quote to Trade or Purchase a customer's used car, with payment right on the spot," said Lazlo Ember,the internet marketing director at New Jersey State Auto Auction.

It could have been from a piece of asphalt kicked up by the car in front of you or a rock when you were driving behind that dump truck last week, but the bottom line is the same – you have a small crack in your windshield. While it may not seem like a problem now, a small crack can quickly grow into a larger one that could obscure your vision, but there are ways to make sure that doesn't happen.

If you wait too long, you may have to end up replacing the entire windshield rather than just fixing the crack itself. Experts say that if it is more than 30 days old, wider than one-eighth of an inch thick or longer than 12-inches, you've missed your opportunity. So you'll want to act quickly if you want to minimize the damage to both your car and your wallet.

Though some drivers might take matters into their own hands by way of some home remedies, they might not always do the trick and could make matters worse. Some of the most popular fixes are using super glue and clear nail polish to fill the crack, but this doesn't always work and may make what was once a manageable repair much worse. Instead, most experts suggest taking your car to professionals to take care of the damage.

New Jersey State Auto Auction not only offers makes and models at affordable prices, but it is also provides service and repairs at its Jersey City location that is open to the public. Call Brian at 201-200-1100 and New Jersey Auto's expert technicians can help you with any repair be it a crack in the windsheild or more.

Though making sure your car is running smoothly should be taken into consideration the whole year, October is known as Fall Car Care Month, and drivers who may have otherwise put off that inspection may want to do so before winter hits.

Many mechanics recommend following a regular maintenance regimen for a number of reasons. Not only does it ensure that your vehicle will drive well, but it could also save you a great deal of money in the long run.

"A thorough inspection of your vehicle this month will go a long way toward ensuring safety and dependability when temperatures drop and wet winter weather strikes," Rich White, the executive director of the Car Care Council told The Northern Light. "A routine maintenance program also makes financial sense, extending useful vehicle life and helping avoid costly repairs down the road."

There are few things that you should check every time you inspect your car, but several are especially important with winter right around the corner. Experts say that should make a point to check their tires this month, including the air pressure and treads, to make sure they are ready for winter driving.

In addition to the tires, it will also behoove you to check all your fluids including oil, power steering, transmission and brake fluids. Furthermore, you will also want to schedule a tuneup to ensure your engine is running as efficiently as possible.

By taking steps during Fall Car Care Month you'll be able to be one of the many drivers who are getting the most out of their used cars. In fact, Rebecca Lindland, the director of strategic review at IHS Automotive, recently told Bloomberg Radio that the average mileage of a car on the road today is about 130,000 miles, and vehicles are getting fixed and lasting longer than ever before.

The internet has changed the way car buyers prepare to make purchases, and it looks like women are more apt to use blogs and official product information resources to do their research than their male counterparts.

The study, conducted by publisher BlogHer, Inc. found that when it comes to buying cars, women tend to be more excited than men as well. Specifically, 74 percent said they were excited about making their purchase, while just 71 percent of men said the same. And while they were also more nervous than men (53 percent to 42 percent), those fears were allayed somewhat by turning to blogs for advice, with confidence among women rising 8 percent after visiting such websites.

Although going online helped with confidence, in-person dealership visits were still the respondents' top destination when it came to doing research on a potential vehicle purchase. Word of mouth, car review websites, auto manufacturer websites and blogs rounded out the top five.

"Women clearly articulated the features they need to see and the voices they want to hear when considering a car purchase," said Elisa Camahort Page, the co-founder and COO of BlogHer, Inc. "We see a huge opportunity for auto manufacturers to indeed 'Put her in the driver's seat' and let her buying preferences re-shape how the automotive community reaches the powerful women's market."

If you happen to be considering a used car purchase and want to also trade-in your current ride, New Jersey State Auto Auction is the perfect place to go. New Jersey Auto offers visitors to their website a free appraisal from AutoTrader.com, which will instantly show you how much your car is worth and should be a must when researching your used car purchase.