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.

VW expresses interest in F1 racing

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Posted in Volkswagen - DO NOT USE

Used Volkswagens in New York could benefit from the attention that VW has attracted by announcing it might be interested in the world of Formula One (F1) racing.

Volkswagen says it isn’t interested in partnering up with any F1 teams, although it was involved with Red Bull Racing several years ago, according to AutoBlog. Instead, VW would like to begin supplying different teams with engines for their cars.

The German manufacturer has been involved with racing in the past, reports the publication. Audi, a VW subsidiary, has a number of Le Mans wins under its belt, and a Touareg won the Dakar Rally in 2009.

The 2006 Volkswagen Touareg SUV was available with a 310-horsepower V8, according to Automotive.com. The 4.2-liter motor got 18 miles per gallon on the highway and 14 in the city.

Although VW has not yet made any sort of official announcement that it will soon be entering the world of F1 racing, enthusiasts of used Volkswagens in New York could be getting excited about the rumors that are beginning to form.

Used Acura in New Jersey smashes into ‘wrecks’

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Posted in Acura - DO NOT USE

A used Acura in New Jersey was recently involved in an accident that damaged eight Rent-A-Wreck vehicles.

Robert Casiano of Sayreville went careening into the parking lot of a Rent-A-Wreck business in his 2003 Acura on November 30, according to The Star-Ledger. Rent-A-Wreck is the oldest and largest used car rental company in the world, according to the agency’s website.

Local detective Jeremy Berry said Casiano’s accident occurred at around 1:45 a.m., reports the publication. His car smashed into four Volvos and then knocked over a telephone pole that fell on four other cars. The force of the impact was such that the Acura’s motor was ejected from the car’s engine compartment and later found nearby on the ground.

Casiano was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, says the news source.

Law enforcement agencies take seatbelt safety especially seriously during the holiday period, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign has helped create a seatbelt usage rate of 83 percent.

Casiano’s accident could change the reputation of used Acuras in New Jersey.

GM CEO Believes Saab is finished

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Posted in Saab - DO NOT USE

Used Saab models in New York and elsewhere could become the only option for car buyers interested in one of these Swedish-made vehicles.

On November 24, the Swedish supercar manufacturer Koenigsegg backed out of its agreement with GM to acquire Saab, according to the Wall Street Journal. Now GM CEO Frederick Henderson doubts it will be possible to keep the Saab brand alive, although he and other executives have been talking to a number of organizations that are interested in the company.

“We regret that after six months of intense and determined work we have come to the painful and difficult conclusion that we are unable to complete the acquisition of Saab Automobile,” Christian von Koenigsegg told the publication the day the deal disintegrated. “Unfortunately, delays in closing this acquisition have resulted in risks and uncertainties that prevent us from successfully implementing the new Saab Automobile business plan.”

Beijing Auto and Merbanco, an American company, are two of the organizations that have expressed an interest in Saab, reports the news source. Yet, Henderson’s outlook for the brand might suggest that used Saab models in New York could be some of the only cars available to buyers looking for a vehicle built by this company.

Effects of Tiger Woods crash on Cadillac unclear

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Posted in Cadillac - DO NOT USE

Pro golfer Tiger Woods was recently involved in a car accident near Windermere, Florida, which might affect perceptions of used Cadillac Escalades in New Jersey.

On November 27, Woods was taken to the hospital after crashing his Escalade into a fire hydrant and a tree, according to the Orlando Sentinel. At first, various news channels reported that Woods had been seriously injured – claims that were eventually found to be inaccurate. Woods had cuts and bruises on his face, but the hospital said he was in good shape overall when he left.

“It seems like a very strange accident that occurred,” Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn told CNN. “Basically it was facial lacerations, and as I’m understanding it, nothing that serious.”

Although his injuries were reported to be mild, Woods has decided not to play at the upcoming Chevron World Challenge, according to the New York Daily News.

“I am extremely disappointed that I will not be at my tournament this week,” he wrote on his website.

While it seems Woods will recover from his injuries, it is unclear if his wreck will affect sales of used Cadillac Escalades in New Jersey.

Arrival of LFA could spur sales of other Lexus models

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Posted in Lexus - DO NOT USE

A small number of LFAs will soon come to the U.S., and the attention they attract could boost sales of used Lexus models in New Jersey.

The LFA, Lexus’ new sports car, made its U.S. debut at the Specialty Equipment Market Association’s show in Las Vegas earlier this November, according to the manufacturer’s website. Lexus says only 180 LFAs will be sold in the U.S., so Japanese car enthusiasts might start paying more attention to the Toyota subsidiary in the upcoming months.

The $354,000 LFA features a 4.8-liter V10 that Lexus claims will produce more than 550 horsepower and about 350 feet-pounds of torque. The super car gets to 62 MPH in 3.7 seconds and, assuming the road is long enough, will eventually reach 202.

LFAs are each hand-made, a detail that could help sell used Lexus models in New Jersey since some car shoppers might appreciate the manufacturer’s dedication to craftsmanship. Although the supercar might be too expensive for most buyers, the exposure it creates for the Lexus brand could be beneficial for the less extravagant models.

The E60 BMW M5: Decades of MPower

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Posted in BMW

For some people, automobiles simply represent a considerable expense that living in the suburbs requires. German car enthusiasts looking for used BMW M5s in New York might see vehicles differently.

The BMW 5 Series has done 5.5 million in worldwide sales since it came out 37 years ago, according to Inside Line (IL). With the release of the 2011 5 Series only seven months away, some industry experts are getting excited to see what sort of features BMW has bolted onto the sedan for the upcoming summer. But the real aficionados will have to wait about a year longer than their tamer friends to test drive their dream car.

The fifth generation BMW M5, a high-performance version of the 5 Series made by the company’s racing division, is expected to arrive in mid-2011, according to the publication. It’ll feature a twin-clutch eight-speed manual gearbox and a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 that’s expected to produce about 550 horsepower – considerably more than the 2011 402-HP 550i.

For car fans that don’t feel like waiting a year and a half to drive an M5 or who are on too tight a budget to buy a brand-new BMW, there’s always the model’s generously-powered fourth generation. Individuals generally fall victim to the car bug at an early age, meaning loud exhaust systems and paintjobs are all that matter at first. However, their taste sometimes becomes more refined as they mature, and the desire for class and performance begins to grow.

It’s almost as if the fourth generation M5, referred to by BMW as the E60, were built for this sort of driver. The first E60s hit the road in 2006, according to Car and Driver. These M5s featured all the elegance of an adult’s luxury sedan, combined with the mischievousness of a lead-footed teenager’s fantasy.

“The magic of BMW’s M cars has always been their massive performance accompanied by incredible civility,” wrote IL’s D. John Booth and Scott Oldham in November of 2005. “Mat the M5’s gas pedal and all hell breaks loose as 400 horsepower are transferred to the tarmac by the computer-controlled manual clutch Sequential Manual Gearbox.”

But the M5 still offered all the advantages of a mid-size luxury sedan too. “It’s as well suited for a wife’s run to the supermarket as it is for a BMW-club track day,” said Car and Driver.

The letter M that’s found on the trunk lid of this high-performance BMW sedan stands for Motorsport, meaning the manufacturer didn’t simply place a massive engine under the hood of a regular 5 Series. Other important upgrades were also made, including the E60’s available Formula One-inspired transmission control, which was part of BMW’s Drivelogic shift program. BMW says its M cars shift gears in milliseconds and without having to slow down, thus explaining how a 4,000-pound sedan can accelerate to 60 MPH in 4.5 seconds.

The BMW M5 has been around for several decades and each generation includes features its predecessor didn’t. Whether they choose to wait for the 2011 model or purchase a used BMW E60 in New York, it seems M5 fans know how to mix class and performance correctly.

Index could change perceptions of used Toyotas in New Jersey

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Posted in Toyota

Strategic Vision is a research-based consultancy that recently announced its 2009 Total Value Index, which contains figures that could help sales of used Toyotas in New Jersey, hurt new model sales or both.

To prepare the Total Value Index, researchers consulted more than 48,000 car shoppers who bought a vehicle between September 2008 and March 2009. The total value calculation considers customer expectations, predicted fuel economy, price, estimated resale value and innovation. These variables are weighed and then used to measure ownership experience, also referred to as True Value.

For the first time in the history of the index, Toyota did not have a leader in any segment.

“Toyota provides buyers the security needed to make the purchase,” said Dr Darrel Edwards, Strategic Vision’s founder. “However, with so many manufacturers inspired by Toyota improving in perceived quality, customers have a wider range of options to choose from in our current economic climate. This allows them to find both value and love in their new vehicle.”

It seems used Toyotas in New Jersey and elsewhere are the models that generated the best results in past Strategic Vision indices, which could improve sales of pre-owned cars and hurt the popularity of new vehicles.

Justin Timberlake could be an Audi enthusiast

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Posted in Audi

Justin Timberlake was recently spotted climbing into his Audi SUV and then later walking through a parking lot to his A8, which might help used Audis in New York and elsewhere become more popular.

Justin Timberlake has been a pop star since 1993, when he first appeared on The Mickey Mouse Club alongside Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, according to Biography.com. Over the last few years, he has shifted gears and begun acting more, his most recent role being Carlton Garrett in last summer’s The Open Road, according to the Internet Movie Database.

Cars and music are popular interests, meaning there might be Audi fans who love JT’s tunes who are happy to learn he drives an A8. While Edmunds.com doesn’t review music, the website did include the A8 in its Editors’ Most Wanted Category from 2004 to 2006. The ’06 Audi A8 was available with a 40-valve V8 that produced 335 horsepower and got the full-sized sedan to 60 MPH in 5.8 seconds.

For car shoppers who like Justin Timberlake and are looking for used Audis in New York, this celeb sighting could be a good sign.

Swedish company backs out; Future of Saab uncertain

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Posted in Saab - DO NOT USE

Swedish car manufacturer Koenigsegg has decided not to buy Saab from GM, which might change car shoppers’ opinions of used Saabs in New Jersey.

On June 16, 2009, MarketWatch reported GM and Koenigsegg had struck a tentative deal for Saab, but it seems the agreement has deteriorated. On November 24, Koenigsegg decided to walk away from the American manufacturer empty-handed.

“We’re obviously very disappointed with the decision to pull out of the Saab purchase,” GM CEO Fritz Henderson told the publication. “Given the sudden change in direction, we will take the next several days to assess the situation and will advise on the next steps next week.”

Koenigsegg is a small company that employs only 45 full-time workers, reports the news source. Some industry experts believe the company only tried to buy Saab in order to save Swedish jobs, as both the 9-3 and 9-5 are produced in Trollhattan.

Many Saab enthusiasts were excited when they heard Koenigsegg might buy the company. Now that the deal has fallen apart, it’s unclear how sales of new and used Saabs in New Jersey will be affected.