Maria Shriver: California’s favorite scofflaw

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Posted in Cadillac - DO NOT USE, Celebrity Auto News

Used Cadillac models in New Jersey could soon attract more attention since California First Lady Maria Shriver was busted parking her Cadillac Escalade in a red zone on October 26.

The celebrity gossip website TMZ.com reported that Shriver parked her car in an emergency vehicle zone for over an hour while she visited her doctor in Santa Monica.

The incident came only two weeks after paparazzi photographed Shriver talking on her cell phone while driving—an act that her husband, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, banned in 2008.

TMZ has reportedly photographed Shriver committing the same offense three times in as many months, according to CNN.com.

Her husband promised to “take swift action” to make sure that the incident does not repeat itself.

“I regret that I made a mistake,” Shriver said in a statement. “I take responsibility for it.”

California’s First Lady later stated that she planned on donating her old cell phone to a program that benefits domestic violence shelters.

In late November, Governor Schwarzenegger followed in his wife’s footsteps by parking his silver convertible in a red zone in Beverly Hills. “No one is perfect,” he said. “Not even me.”

For car shoppers looking for used Cadillac models in New Jersey, the Escalade seems to be a popular choice for both celebrities and politicians.

Inspirational tale could generate sales of used Toyota models in New Jersey

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Posted in Toyota

Used Toyota models in New Jersey could start attracting more attention after Wednesday’s human interest story on the Today Show.

On August 12, 2000, Tillie Tooter, now age 93, was on her way to Fort Lauderdale airport to pick up her granddaughter when she was rear-ended, sailing her Toyota Tercel 40 feet down an embankment into a nearby mangrove swamp.

Tooter spent the next 72 hours as a castaway, trapped in her car, praying to be found before the elements took their toll on her 83-year-old body.

The octogenarian survived on food rations that consisted of a stick of gum, a cough drop and a piece of peppermint candy. She used a pair of socks to absorb rainwater and would draw out the moisture to remain hydrated.

After spending nearly three days in the snake-infested swamp, Tooter felt resigned to her fate. “I made my peace with God,” she recalled on the show. “I felt repentant for anything I may have done to hurt anybody, and glad for the things that I did that were good.”

Tooter’s nightmare finally came to an end when a local teenager, who she affectionately calls “my angel,” spotted her car while he walked along the highway. She was soon rescued by paramedics and was back on her feet in just a few days.

When a friend was asked why Tooter’s story is still being told nearly a decade after it occurred, she responded with a question of her own.

“How many Tillie Tooter’s have come along in the last nine years?” she asked. “She’s terrific; she’s one of a kind.”

As for Tooter, she says the experience hasn’t changed her a bit. The Brooklyn native was raised to handle the most menacing of circumstances.

Tooter began working at the age of 13 as her family struggled through the Great Depression. She also raised a four-generation family on her own after her husband passed away during the D-Day invasion in 1944.

She now spends her time traveling around the south Florida area, speaking at retirement homes to inspire people to live life to the fullest.

“Every minute counts,” she told WPLG Local News in Miami. “Take whatever you can out of this life. Every bit of joy and every bit of pleasure and give as much as you can.”

Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports that there were approximately 246,000 car crashes in 2000 resulting in nearly 232,000 injuries.

Tillie Tooter’s harrowing ordeal could benefit sales of used Toyota models in New Jersey.

Danica Patrick set to drive a Chevrolet in NASCAR next year

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Posted in Celebrity Auto News, Chevrolet

On Tuesday, IndyCar Series star Danica Patrick confirmed that she will drive the number 7 Chevy in a limited NASCAR schedule in 2010, which could boost sales of used Chevrolet models in New Jersey.

Patrick has inked a two-year deal with JR Motorsports, a team co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr and Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, one of NASCAR’s most successful teams.

The media darling will continue to run a full IndyCar schedule, but plans to race her GoDaddy.com Chevy in about a dozen Nationwide Series events, according to ESPN.com.

Even with Patrick’s well-known competitive fire, not everyone believes that she can handle the transition from open-wheel racing to stock cars.

“I think she’s got the talent and everything but I don’t think she knows what she’s getting into,” said Juan Pablo Montoya, who left the IndyCar circuit three years ago to begin a career in NASCAR.

“They’re so different to drive,” said Montoya, explaining the difference between a stock car and an Indy car, quoted by the news source. “It’s not the same feeling.”

The Danica Patrick signing should come as good news for those in the market for used Chevrolet models in New Jersey.

Germans eco-friendly with their 4-door compact

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Posted in Audi

The 2010 A3 TDI was named Green Car of the Year at the Los Angeles Auto Show in December, which might have people wondering if used Audis in New Jersey and elsewhere are as eco-friendly.

Green Car Journal really liked the “rakish styling” of the A3 TDI, according to the New York Times. The alphanumeric in its name refers to this compact’s size – it’s smaller than the A4 because it isn’t a sedan. TDI, which stands for Turbocharged Direct Injection, is a description of the clean diesel engine found under this Audi‘s hood. The motor will go for more than 40 highway miles on a single gallon of diesel, which likely pleased the competition’s judges, who included TV host and car nut Jay Leno, as well as auto guru Carroll Shelby.

The only problem with the new A3 TDI is that it starts at $29,950, which is a bit expensive for a compact with a 2-liter engine that produces a meager 140 horsepower. After all, the $29,675 2004 Volkswagen R32, which shares its platform with the A3, had a 3.2-liter that was good for more than 240 HP, according to Motor Trend.

Given the 2010 A3’s price tag, some auto buyers might not be able to afford a brand new TDI, even though it’s economical. So, for eco-friendly individuals, perhaps an older A3 is more realistic. Unsurprisingly, Audis get better and better every year, and shoppers shouldn’t expect older models to be as fuel-efficient as their younger counterparts, especially since the TDI engine only became available in American A3s a few years ago.

In spite of its gasoline motor, the Audi A3 still got 29 highway miles per gallon in 2007, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. This intriguing statistic could generate interest in used Audi models in New Jersey and elsewhere.

Saab’s future remains unclear

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Posted in Saab - DO NOT USE

Used Saabs in New York could continue attracting attention now that yet another company has expressed an interest in the Swedish manufacturer.

When Koenigsegg decided to back out of its deal with GM to acquire Saab, it seemed the fate of the Swedish company was sealed. However, a Dutch automaker recently gave Saab enthusiasts hope by expressing interest in the brand, according to Automobile Magazine.

Spyker, a company based in Zeewolde, has already begun talking to Deutsche Bank about a potential transaction with Saab, reports the publication.

“We are a very related group of people who understand each other,” Victor Muller, CEO of Spyker, told Automotive News. “It is not too far-fetched for Saab to be a good premium brand again.”

Currently, Spyker builds less than 100 cars each year, says Automobile Magazine. Last year, Saab built more than 100,000 vehicles. Because of the Dutch company’s small size, acquiring Saab could involve taking control of more manpower and resources than it has ever had. With news of the company’s future changing so frequently, it’s possible used Saabs in New York could generate extra interest.

Lexus generates interest with new strategy in LA

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Posted in Lexus - DO NOT USE

At the Los Angeles auto show, which began on December 4 and lasts nine days, visitors can test drive some of the cars on display, which might help sell used Lexus models in New Jersey.

This year, as in the past, manufacturers such as Lexus have racing simulators set up at their booths, according to the Los Angeles Times. The purpose of these video games is to recreate the excitement that driving a Lexus on racetrack can create and generate interest in the brand.

“When we first brought this video game out, there wasn’t anything like it at the auto shows,” Suzie Latham, a Lexus product specialist, told the news source. “But we made quite a stir and there were always long lines. Video games are taken a little more seriously now.”

Ford also had video racing at its booth, reports the publication. The show’s attendees were invited to do some virtual off-roading in an SVT Raptor F-150.

Because the concept is still relatively new, allowing consumers to virtually test drive cars at auto shows could help sell used Lexus models in New Jersey and elsewhere.

Nissan entices enthusiasts with simulation racing

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Posted in Nissan

Used Nissans in New York could start attracting more attention when racing enthusiasts learn the manufacturer has entered into an interesting partnership with Sony.

Nissan and Sony want to let racing simulation fans get behind the wheel of a real sports car and take on the Silverstone Circuit in England, according to CNET.com. Individuals participating in the GT Academy competition will first have to post record times in four stages of Gran Turismo 5, Sony’s racing simulator for PlayStation 3.

The fastest 20 entrants of each country competing will then race each other to win stage two, says the news source. In stage three, these national winners will battle it out amongst themselves to make it to the final round, in which they’ll go to Silverstone.

Polyphony Digital is expected to release Gran Turismo 5 to the U.S. public on February 2, according to VGReleases.com. The most recent installment in the series is Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, which became available in April of 2008. The GT Academy competition could generate interest that might benefit sales of used Nissans in New York and elsewhere.

GM CEO resigns; Used Chevrolets in New Jersey Could Benefit

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Posted in Chevrolet

All used Chevrolets in New Jersey and elsewhere were produced by General Motors, whose CEO recently resigned.

On December 1, GM chief executive Fritz Henderson left his post, reports the New York Times. He has been temporarily replaced by the company’s chairman, Edward Whitacre, Jr.

“We all agreed that some changes needed to be made going forward,” said Whitacre, according to The Times.

Henderson’s departure meant he wouldn’t be able to deliver his speech at the Los Angeles auto show on December 2 as expected, says the news source. Robert Lutz, GM’s vice chairman, was asked to take his place.

“As you know, I’m kind of a last-minute substitute,” Lutz told the show’s attendees, one of whom was the newspaper’s auto blogger Jerry Garrett. “You may have read something about it. Like GM has been doing very little to fill the newspapers lately,” he continued sarcastically.

Henderson was GM’s CEO for less than a year, according to MSNBC. Ideally, restructuring the automaker’s management will have a beneficial effect on used Chevrolets in New Jersey and the company’s other subsidiaries.

Ford to spend $80 million on Americans

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Posted in Ford

Used Ford models in New York could benefit from the Ford Foundation’s efforts to support of the country’s economy.

The recession has cost many Americans their jobs and led them into deep levels of debt, prompting the Ford Foundation to launch a five-year, $80 million effort to stabilize the financial situations of families in the U.S. The project concentrates on improving employment opportunities for low-wage workers and modernizing the public programs that Americans need when they are having difficulty supporting their families.

“Millions of Americans are working hard to build economic security for their families, yet antiquated labor policies actually set them up to fail,” said Luis Ubinas, president of the Ford Foundation. “These grants are about building a smarter system that rewards responsibility and brings basic economic security within reach of more workers.”

Edsel Ford, the former president of the Ford Motor Company, chartered the Ford Foundation in 1936, according to FordFound.org. Since its inception, the foundation has distributed more than $15 billion worldwide. It’s possible that such philanthropy has contributed to the popularity of used Ford models in New York.

Hyundai to leave Japanese market

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Posted in Hyundai

Used Hyundais in New Jersey could soon receive negative attention when more buyers learn the South Korean manufacturer has decided to leave the Japanese market.

The Hyundai brand has been growing in many of its markets, but Japan isn’t one of them, according to Automobile Magazine. Sales have been so slow in the country that the company has already begun informing its Japanese dealers of its intention to withdraw.

Hyundai entered Japan eight years ago and has sold only 15,095 vehicles since that time, according to Motor Trend. In 2008, Volkswagen sold nearly 62,000 cars – VW being the country’s best-selling brand of automobile.

Although its 46 Japanese dealers will soon cease much of their activity, Hyundai’s commercial vehicle operation will continue doing business, says the news source.

Brand image often has a lot to do with a buyer’s choice of car. Fortunately for used Hyundais in New Jersey, the company has experienced growth in nearly all of its other major markets, reports the publication. In the U.S., the manufacturer saw sales improve by 4 percent in October.