New York & New Jersey - Crest Auto World Is Here To Help

New York & New Jersey - Crest Auto World Is Here To Help

Due to the recent events of Hurricane Sandy, we know you are hurting but Crest Auto World is here to help! If you are in the market to replace your vehicle, due to a loss from the storm, we will pay for your one-way airfare from New York or New Jersey to Portland, Maine. We will pick you up in Portland, bring you back to our dealership and send you home in your new vehicle. It's that simple! Just go to our website to find the vehicle that you want, new or used, and we will take it from there. We have a wide selection of cars, trucks and SUV's for every budget. For additional information on this program, please give us a call at (603) 356-5401 or email us at sales@crestautoworld.com.

Dodge Ram 1500 named Motor Trend 'Truck of the Year'

2013 Truck of the Year: Dodge Ram 1500

2013 Dodge Ram 1500

Yesterday, the editors over at Motor Trend Magazine, named the 2013 Dodge Ram 1500 as its 2013 'Truck of the Year'. The magazine praised the re-engineered 2013 Ram 1500 for its trim levels, towing capacity, stop-start system, thermal management system, pulse-width modulation and active aerodynamics, which include grille shutters and active air suspension. Ram has also redefined its powertrain options with more fuel efficient engines, which (optionally) can be bolted to the new, first-in-segment, eight-speed transmission. The much-celebrated Pentastar 3.6-Liter V-6 has replaced the old 3.7-Liter V-6. This new engine gives this already amazing pickup truck 42% more horsepower and 13% more torque. Don't mind us as we loudly *grunt* like Tim 'The Tool Man' Taylor.

Motor Trend Magazines 'Truck of the Year' contenders are evaluated by Design Advancement, Engineering Excellence, Efficiency, Safety, Value, and Performance of Intended Function. To be eligible, a vehicle must either be new or substantially changed. The Ram 1500's main rivals for this years award were the Ford F-150 pickup and the new large Nissan van. Edward Loh, Editor-in-Chief of Motor Trend Magazine, wrote "The Ram 1500 not only withstood our rigorous testing, it impressed at every step along the way. Our judges were won over by the performance of Ram 1500's broad array of standard and optional equipment."

2013 Dodge Ram 1500 Sport Engine

The new eight-speed transmission will come standard on all V-6 models and will be optional on the V-8. For now, however, the V-8 is only available with the six-speed automatic, with the new transmission coming at a later date. While the 5.7-Liter Hemi V-8 isn't all-new, it has been revamped with variable valve timing and reinforced by more useful systems within the truck itself. 

2013 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Engine

This includes a remodeled cooling system, electric power steering, and an electrical system with pulse width modulation that more adequately uses power to lessen the load on the alternator. Together these enhancements have enabled the new 2013 Ram 1500 to claim the best fuel efficiency in its class, for both the V-6 and V-8 models.

The addition of air suspension in the 2013 Ram 1500 is a huge step for half-ton trucks. The materials used for these modern air springs are more resistant to tearing and puncture, and also resemble those that are used on modern luxury cars. The 1500's interior has also come a long way from work trucks of the past and now includes the next-generation Uconnect access system, which is brighter and shinier than ever. The main screen now measures 8.4 inches, is upgradable with apps, and can also provide an in-vehicle Wi-Fi hotspot. 

2013 Dodge Ram 1500 Sport Driver Cockpit

The minds of truck buyers have changed. The Ram 1500 has demonstrated its ability to cover the entire market and have come a long way from just the farm or job site. Ram has delivered a V-6 powered SLT on the efficient and luxurious side and a V-8 powered Sport, which leans more towards power and performance. The 2013 Ram 1500 is available in nine trim levels and can give you everything from a very basic work truck to a near-luxury vehicle with performance and off-road models falling somewhere in between. 

For 2013, the Dodge Ram 1500 offers 12 different colors, including five new shades. Black Gold, Copperhead, Maximum Steel Metallic, Prairie and Western Brown are all new and available in a monotone and/or two-tone depending on the model.

2013 Dodge Ram 1500 Express Quad Cab 4x4 Pickup in Maximum Steel Metallic

Which model will you choose? The Tradesman, Express, SLT, HFE, R/T, Big Horn, Lone Star, Outdoorsman, Sport, Laramie, or Laramie Longhorn. To compare all 2013 Ram 1500 models, click here. To view our 2013 Ram Inventory, click here.

Until the rest of the industry can catch up with Ram trucks in the half-ton segment, it would be a shame to pass this one up. 

Sources: Allpar, Motor Trend, AOL Autos, Lincah, NetCarShow, Leforse and Ram Trucks

Chevrolet Volt Tops Consumer Reports’ Owner Satisfaction Survey For The Second Year

The Chevrolet Volt topped Consumer Reports' Owner Satisfaction survey for the second year in a row, with 92 percent of respondents saying they would buy their cars again.

Apparently, if you buy a Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, you can get some satisfaction. The Volt topped Consumer Reports’ annual Owner Satisfaction survey for the second year in a row, with 92 percent of Volt owners saying they would buy another.

The survey asked owners the question: “Considering all factors (price, performance, reliability, comfort, enjoyment, etc.), would you get this car if you had it to do all over again?” More Volt owners answered “definitely yes” than the owners of any other car in the survey.

The Owner Satisfaction survey was conducted as part of the Consumer Reports Annual Auto Survey. The magazine received responses regarding 350,000 vehicles from 240 distinct model lines. The survey covered the 2010 through 2013 model years.

The Volt’s win was not the result of jingoism. The top scores were almost evenly split between domestic and foreign manufacturers. The top 44 models included 16 American, 14 European, and 14 Asian nameplates.

Other green cars that scored well included the Toyota Prius, Prius C, and Camry Hybrid, as well as the Nissan Leaf.

While owners are most satisfied with their Volts, the Chevy is not the green car Consumer Reports would recommend. The magazine’s editors noted that owner satisfaction is only one of three critical areas that a car needs to perform well in; the other two are road tests and reliability. Their best pick is the Toyota Camry Hybrid.

The Volt may not have scored as well as the Camry in other areas, but its high owner satisfaction is still remarkable. The car known as General Motors’ moon shot has been in the media spotlight since its launch, garnering both positive and negative press.

The Volt won Motor Trend’s 2011 Car of the Year and Automobile Magazine’s 2011 Automobile of the Year awards. However, it was also criticized for its high, $39,145 base price (before a $7,500 federal tax credit) and spartan four-seat interior.

The Volt’s sales have been equally schizophrenic. Earlier this year, production was stopped due to low demand. In the first ten months into 2012 (November numbers aren’t in yet), Chevy sold 19,309 Volts, compared to 5,003 sold between January and October 2011.

Last year was the Volt’s first full year of sales, but the month-to-month numbers have also been on the rise. Chevy sold 1,108 Volts in October 2011, and 2,961 in October 2012.

Story by Stephen Edelstein at Digital Trends on December 3, 2012