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Prices of Used Cars to Drop in 2010

2010/01/28 By Ryan G Leave a Comment

If you noticed the price of buying a used car in 2009 going up, you are in for some pleasant news. Used car prices are expected to level off and even decrease throughout 2010.

An article in USA Today states that there is an expected increase in the used car inventory. In fact, used car dealers should have about 15 percent more vehicles for sale in 2010 than they did in 2009. Those numbers come from a report by the National Automobile Dealers Association.

Paul Taylor, the chief economist for the NADA, stated there were fewer trade-ins last year. Combining that shortage with fewer rental car fleets and leased vehicles coming to the lots for sale, used car dealers has a lower inventory in 2008 and 2009 than in previous years. But, Taylor says, the Cash for Clunkers had no effect on the shortage nor was it a factor in the increased prices of used cars during 2009.

If you were avoiding your used car dealer last year because of the higher prices, check out the new deals available in the used car market. You will be pleasantly surprised and you may just find a great deal on a car you have always wanted!

Filed Under: Auto Financing Tagged With: auto finance, buying car, car loan, used car market

Honda Oil Changes with 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil are Becoming the Norm

2010/01/27 By vinart Leave a Comment

We’ve been getting a lot of questions lately at Lehigh Valley Honda about motor oil.  A lot of customers are now driving Honda’s that call for  0W-20 motor oil which is slightly more expensive than the more commonly used 5W-20 but it also performs better.   Until recently, 0W-20 motor oil was only being used in hybrids.  That’s not the case anymore.  If you drive a 2010 Honda CR-V, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2010 Insight, 2003-2010 Civic Hybrid or a 2000-2006 Insight, then you will be impacted by this.  The good new is that our Honda auto service center team can explain why.  If you have any questions about this topic, please do not hesitate to contact us.  Hybrid driver’s should be accustomed to this by now as Honda hybrids have always used this type of motor oil.  Here is Honda’s explanation for the migration to 0W-20 motor oil in the more common Honda products:

Without a doubt, oil plays a major part when it comes to an engine’s performance and health. 0W-20
engine oil is fast becoming the recommended service fill for many new Honda models (and those from
other automakers), replacing the ever-popular 5W-20. Why? Because in engines designed for its use,
it provides superior starting performance and fuel economy without the risk of premature engine wear.


Engine wear typically happens when you start the engine cold and it’s warming up, so it’s really important
for the engine oil to get to work right away. 0W-20 is a very low-viscosity oil that’s specially formulated to
quickly reach critical engine components when the engine is started. It also helps the engine use less fuel.
The zero in 0W-20 doesn’t mean zero viscosity; it means superior low-temperature performance.


Honda has been developing and testing engines for a number of years now with the expectation that
someday 0W-20 would become the oil of choice. It’s been used in many Honda models sold in Europe and
Japan since 2001 with no reported problems, and it’s been the factory fill for all Insights and Civic Hybrids
sold in the U.S.

Filed Under: Andy's Posts Tagged With: Honda, Honda Auto Service, Honda maintenance, Oil Change

Common Winter Auto Problems

2010/01/14 By dragonfly Leave a Comment

Cold weather can wreak havoc on an automobile. If you live in an area where weather typically get below the freezing point this time of year, you may have experienced some of these problems before. The good news is that we are halfway through winter and these problems won’t be problems until next winter. The bad news is that we are only halfway through winter and there is still a chance of encountering these problems. Here are two of the most common winter auto problems and how to fix them when they happen.

Wipers Frozen to the Windshield
This is a common problem when you go out to your car the morning after a frigid night or after leaving work. Simply turning on the wipers won’t fix the problem, either. In fact, this can create more problems like a burned out motor or tearing the wiper blades. Instead, scrape off the ice and snow from your windshield until the wipers are free to move.

Frozen Door Locks
A frozen door lock can be a horrible start to your morning. You may have heard the advice to heat up your key with a lighter or a match and insert it into the lock to thaw it out. This is certainly one way to do it, but you can also get an empty toilet paper roll and place it over the lock. Then blow into the roll a few times to unfreeze the lock. This is simpler and you don’t risk melting your key!

These are just two of the numerous problems that can occur during the winter. You can still save yourself some trouble by getting your vehicle winterized now and avoid major problems for the rest of the season.

Filed Under: Auto Repair Tagged With: auto problems, Auto Repair, car repair, maintenance

Is It Getting Easier to Get a Car Loan?

2010/01/14 By dragonfly Leave a Comment

Following the recent credit crunch, car buyers are not as confident about getting an auto loan as they once were. However, according to an article in SFGate, more people are getting approved these days.

The reason for more people hearing those coveted words – “Your loan has been approved” – is due to a new government program that guarantees those loans by selling them to investors. As a result, banks and lending institutions are loaning out more money for vehicle purchases. But wait…there’s more! Car buyers are paying less for borrowing that money, giving a push to the auto industry in the United States.

Lenders gave out 5.5 percent more car loans during the third quarter of 2008 than the previous quarter, according to Experian Automotive. And December saw an increase in auto loan approvals for car buyers who had average or better-than-average credit. Dealers and finance companies were also trying to lessen their inventory which also helped more buyers get approved.

The limited supply of used cars has dropped, making loans for used cars more appealing to banks and lending institutions. If you have decent credit, this may be the best time for you to buy a used car. Visit your used car dealer today!

Filed Under: Auto Financing Tagged With: auto, Auto Financing, buy used cars, car loan

Getting Comfortable with Your Auto Repair Shop

2010/01/12 By Ryan G Leave a Comment

Mechanics have a bad enough reputation without the people going around and scamming people with various repair scams. Repair shops are there to be of service to those needing auto repairs, but there are a few that make the others look bad. Here are three ways to feel more comfortable about the auto repairs shop that you choose.

• Ask a lot of questions. Many people complain that auto repair shops always find something else wrong other than the reason for which the vehicle was brought in. But if the mechanic had to take parts of your vehicle apart to do repairs, he probably saw some other things that need repairs. If you are not comfortable with just telling him to fix it, ask a lot of questions. Is it absolutely necessary? How much will the new parts cost? Does the manufacturer recommend that I change this part based on my car’s mileage? Make sure you are satisfied with the answers before approving the extra repairs.

• Look closely at the bill. If there is something that doesn’t look right, ask the shop manager about it. Consider negotiating the price of the repairs if you think it is too high and always get an estimate before approving repairs. The repairs should not cost much more than the estimate and the repair shop should contact you for further approval otherwise.

• Shop around. You don’t always have to have a repair shop fix your vehicle just because you had them look at it. You can take your vehicle to other repair shops for other estimates. Don’t always pick the cheapest shop, but you can pick the one that gives you the best gut feeling.

Repair shops are not always “out to get you.” There are a few, however, that give the rest a bad name. Use your gut instinct and some common sense to find the best one for your auto repair needs.

Filed Under: Auto Repair Tagged With: auto, car, maintenance, mechanic, repair, shop

What do you think of the new Acura ZDX?

2010/01/11 By ryan.taft Leave a Comment

The 2010 Acura ZDX was 100% designed by a twenty-something designer and was created for consumers of all ages, though I have a feeling this will end up being a great vehicle for retiring Baby Boomers. The new body style, as well as, some very practical utility features will lead Boomers to gravitate towards the 2010 ZDX. The ZDX comes with a six speed automatic transmission, as well as, a 3.7L V-6 engine. Check out this Acura ZDX Car Review on YouTube from Kelsey Mays of Cars.com for some great information on this new Acura.

Our Lehigh Valley Acura Dealership has just received the 2010 Acura ZDX, which is causing quite a stir among the Lehigh Valley Acura community. We are receiving numerous requests to test drive the new ZDX and people are really loving the experience. We want as many interested ZDX fans as possible to come down to the dealership, test drive the ZDX, and then go home and shoot a quick webcam video of their experience. After you’ve created your own personal ZDX car review, we hope that you’ll share your thoughts with our Facebook fans. Simply navigate to the Vinart Facebook fan page and post your video car review on the 2010 Acura ZDX.

Come test drive the ZDX today

If you’re not ready to test drive this great new Acura vehicle because you still have questions about the ZDX, you can still submit a video to our Facebook fan page. We encourage you to shoot a quick webcam video of you asking your ZDX-related question and then post it to the Vinart Facebook fan page. We can then answer those questions for all of our Facebook fans, as many may have the same question as you. We hope you’ll submit your ZDX video questions today.

Filed Under: Car Reviews