Used Jeep Liberties in New Jersey may be the best choice for transporting Fluffy

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Posted in Jeep - DO NOT USE

Unless the family’s beloved pet fits into a seatbelt, driving with Fido or Fluffy can become a concern for motorists, unless they drive animal-friendly vehicles like used Jeep Liberties in New Jersey.

The compact SUV made a recent list compiled by researchers from Edmunds Automotive and pet safety advocates Bark Buckle Up, thanks to features like side-impact airbags and rear seats than can fold flat.

“Regardless of which vehicle you own, it is critical to safely restrain your pet when you’re driving,” asserted Christina Selter, Bark Buckle UP founder. “Even the calmest unrestrained pets can become frightened in a moving vehicle, distract the driver and cause an accident.”

The two groups say that roughly 80 percent of all pet dogs travel in vehicles at least once in their lifetime, but unrestrained animals weighing 60 pounds can have the same impact as a 2,700 pound object in a 35 mile-per-hour crash.

Buyers considering used Jeep Liberties in New Jersey may find more than pet safety features in the 2005 model: the SUV got an exterior update and buyers may be able to find one with a more efficient diesel engine, according to Cars.com.

Buyers considering used Saabs in New York may be interested in automaker takeover

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Saab - DO NOT USE

Koenigsegg, the maker of million dollar sports cars in Sweden, has agreed to a deal with General Motors to take over the Saab line of cars, and buyers considering used Saabs in New York may want to take a look at older models before any changes are made.

The agreement was announced today, with the deal set to be completed by the end of the year if the European Investment Bank guarantees a $600 million loan to Koenigsegg, reported Bloomberg. It represents a move from supercars to a full product line with volumes in the hundreds of thousands.

“It is good that the ownership question for Saab now gets clearer but there are still several steps left before it is completed,” Swedish Industry Ministry State Secretary Joeran Haegglund told the news provider.

The two automakers plan on sharing resources and development facilities during the transition to Swedish ownership, but Koenigsegg has said that it will work to “transform” the automaker into a profitable venture, which could mean models with different appearances than used Saabs in New York, according to Automotive News.

Automakers’ lineup changes may not impact value of used cars in New Jersey

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Posted in Auto Industry News

General Motors is looking to revamp its entire line of automobiles, with majors shifts in store for brands like Buick, but as some state agencies and other buyers are finding, used cars in New Jersey and other states may be more economically sound choices.

Currently, less than one in five new cars sold in America are made by GM, and the company has focused on younger buyers with new styling and more fuel efficient vehicles, along with programs designed to improve brand awareness, according to the New York Times.

“People are looking at us with a healthy degree of skepticism,” Fritz Henderson, GM’s CEO, told the newspaper. “The awareness of our products was painfully, almost pitifully low.”

But states like West Virginia, constrained by funding shortfalls, are choosing to move away from new vehicles to fill shortages in various agencies, reported the Associated Press.

Buyers considering used cars in New Jersey may not see the $800,000 that West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin expects, according to the wire service, but they may be able to find a vehicle that costs 40 percent less than a comparable new vehicle.

Air conditioning may save fuel when driving used cars in New York at higher speeds

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Posted in General Auto News

The dog days of August may have motorists reaching for the air conditioning switch in used cars in New York, and they can now do so without worrying about fuel economy.

Industry scientists say that for sedans, the aerodynamic drag caused by rolling down the windows at highway speeds robs a vehicle of more energy than putting on the A/C.

To make the process more efficient, air conditioning subunit manufacturer Delphi recommends that before starting up a car that has been out in the sun, roll down all the windows to allow hot air to escape, then roll them up and put on the A/C.

Proper maintenance may also help owners cool down in used cars in New York: air filters can become clogged and less efficient, pushing less cool air through vents to occupants. Old coolant may also cause a similar reduction in the effectiveness, noted Delphi.

In city driving, however, SUV and truck owners may want to consider not using the air conditioning feature, since the boxy shape of those vehicles will outweigh any fuel savings, reported Slate.

Buying a new vehicle instead of a used car in New Jersey could require five months’ wages

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Posted in Auto Loans & Financing News

Comerica Bank recently issued a report on the costs of purchasing a new vehicle, and while the affordability index has remained relatively unchanged, it still takes 22 weeks’ wages to purchase a new car, compared to lower prices for used cars in New Jersey.

The financial institution said that the numbers are actually slightly higher this quarter, as dealers and automakers restrict some of the affordable lending options initiated during the financial downturn to boost sales.

“Reflecting the partial normalization of credit markets, the average rate paid on a car loan at finance companies was only 3.45 percent last quarter, the lowest level seen in five years,” noted Dana Johnson, Comerica Bank chief economist.

However, incentives like attractive financing and the Cash for Clunkers program are unlikely to last, as Congress and the Obama administration are looking to put Chrysler and General Motors onto a comfortable profit margin with limited incentives to buyers before selling the public’s stake in both companies.

Resistance from Republican lawmakers, as well as some Democrats and environmentalists, could also limit future funding for the Cash for Clunkers program, making used cars in New Jersey a more affordable option for some buyers.

Buyers no longer enticed by Cash for Clunkers may be looking at used cars in New York

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Posted in Auto Industry News

Recent internet purchasing analysis shows that by August 20, interest in new cars will be down to the level it was before the government-sponsored programs, in part because of people preferring used cars in New York.

Edmunds.com said that although interest reached a high on July 29, two days after the federal program was officially launched, buyers are now less likely to be shopping online and researching new vehicles.

“The funding for the original program was very low in relation to the size of the auto market,” said Michelle Krebs, Edmunds.com senior analyst. “This created a ‘Gold Rush’ mentality where consumers hurried to take advantage before funding ran out.”

People are still looking at purchasing vehicles, however, including those now considering used cars in New York, but there is some concern about new car sales later this year.

Krebs’ colleague Jessica Caldwell warns that a continued economic downturn could impact sales this fall, even with the introduction of new models after the spate of purchases related to Cash for Clunkers.

Buyers don’t need to wait for concept car to see roomy used Toyota Matrixes in New Jersey

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Posted in General Auto News, Toyota

A compact hatchback based on the Toyota Corolla is likely to take a bow at the Frankfurt Auto Show next month, but buyers looking for a roomy hatchback from the automaker could also consider a used Toyota Matrix in New Jersey.

The small concept will be made as a Lexus, and is designed to compete against the Audi A3 and BMW 1-series, a class of high-end hatchbacks that are more popular in Europe than here, reported Edmunds.com.

The car is likely to be presented at the Geneva show in 2010 as a pre-production model, but the website cautions that it’s not likely to make it here any time soon.

On the other hand the 2005 model year offers buyers considering used Toyota Matrixes in New Jersey a car they’ll be able to actually purchase, and one that offers good headroom and flexible seating, according to a Cars.com review.

The hatchback also adds more steering feel than the Corolla it is based on, and drivers can use up to 52 cubic feet of the interior for cargo with the seats folded down, reported the news provider.

Used Ford cars in New York may represent the last of their generation

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Ford

Buyers who like some Ford models could find themselves looking into used cars in New York, as the automaker recently announced plans to revamp a wide swath of its worldwide product line.

In fact, up to 9 out of every 10 Ford cars offered in 2012 will be either an all-new design or an update of a model that incorporates global cues, another hallmark of the company’s rebuilding plan.

“In the worst of economic times, we are taking the actions necessary not only to strengthen Ford’s business but also to deliver world-class levels of product freshness globally,” said Lewis Booth, Ford’s chief financial officer.

That consolidation is also expected to reduce the variety now available with used Ford cars in New York. Worldwide, the automaker is hoping to cut the number of models it offers from the 59 it offered in 2008, a 40 percent decline from the number of options available just two years earlier.

“As we reduce costs, manage cash and increasingly leverage our ‘One Ford’ global product plan, our critical priority is protecting and enhancing our new vehicle pipeline,” added Booth.

Chevy Volt realities could point buyers to used Volkswagen Golfs in New Jersey

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Chevrolet, Volkswagen - DO NOT USE

They may be working together on a separate educational program to develop hybrid technologies, but buyers considering used cars in New Jersey may be interested in learning that the Environmental Protection Agency is distancing itself from General Motors’ claim that its new Chevrolet Volt hybrid could get 230 miles per gallon in certain situations.

“The EPA has not tested a Chevy Volt and therefore cannot confirm the fuel economy values claimed by GM,” an administration spokesperson said in a statement. The official did go on to say that the EPA was glad that the automaker was making efforts to develop fuel efficient technology.

There may be one other problem for buyers looking at the Volt, slated to go on sale later next year: it’s expected to cost $40,000, and is not much more efficient than some diesel cars after 200 miles.

For example, used Volkswagen Golfs in New Jersey can get more than 50 miles per gallon, dependent on driving style, not far off from the Volt’s estimated mileage over 200 miles and many are priced at less than half of the price of a new Volt, reported the Atlantic.

Cash for Clunkers could limit charities’ access to used cars in New York

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Posted in General Auto News

When people consider their options when looking for a newer model vehicle, one possibility is to donate used cars in New York to charities. Owners get a tax break and charities profit from selling their stocks.

Unfortunately, the nonprofits say that the Cash for Clunkers program has had a negative effect on their ability to raise funds for initiatives like housing and feeding the homeless, which is the aim of Mission Solano in California.

“Those profits were already down as consumers hold onto old cars longer or broker their own sales to weather the bad economy,” says Ron Marlette, the organization’s executive director. “But, the Cash for Clunkers program is also hurting those who traditionally turn to the Mission to buy low priced transportation.”

It also hurts the prospects of those who may want to buy used cars that are within their price range, but are unable to do so because the vehicles are now marked “Not for sale – must be crushed,” he added

Further east, some charities in Chicago say they will be lucky to have sales reach 25 percent of their height, according to CBS News.