Texas man finds his car on eBay. 42 years after it was stolen

Andrew Buckley/MCT

USA Today

If there is a lesson to this story, it is that persistence can pay off -- even if it takes 42 years.
That's how long it took for Bob Russell of Southlake, Texas, to track down his stolen 1967 Austin-Healey 3000. The Dallas Morning News reports that it had been stolen from a Philadelphia apartment complex.
Now he has it back after finding it in a listing on eBay. He had been scouring the online auction site and eyeing every Austin-Healey he saw on the road.
Things were looking pretty grim for Russell, 66, a retired sales manager, when it came to the search until he got his big break. That came when he found the car listed for sale online, being sold in California by a dealer called the Beverly Hills Car Club. Even then, getting the car back wasn't easy.
Russell didn't have the stolen-car report from 1970. But he did have the key and a copy of the car title. Detectives were unable to help him at first because they couldn't find the report, either. But it was located after it was determined that a digit was off when the report was entered into the computer system.
Eventually the issues were settled, and Russell came to California to claim it. How much is it worth, besides sentimental value? The last bid on eBay was $19,700.

Looking to buy a used car? Here are the 15 best

By Paul A. Eisenstein, The Detroit Bureau

The Detroit Bureau

The 2010 Toyota Prius; one of 15 Used Car Best Bets.

It’s not been a great year for used car buyers. Prices have been soaring because of inventory shortages – in large part because with fewer new cars sold during the recession there are now fewer new cars entering the “previously owned” vehicle market.
The good news is that inventories are once again rising – which means used car prices are beginning to fall, according to a new report by the Black Book, a used car pricing and tracking service. In the meantime, vehicle quality is reaching an all-time, something true for both used cars and new.

So, the question is which are the best used car to buy? The folks at Edmunds, an automotive data tracking and testing service, have compiled a list of 15 best bets. This isn’t just a beauty contest. The selections were based on criteria including reliability, safety, value and, yes, availability. It wouldn’t help to pick a product consumers can’t find. The list was limited to vehicles now between two and seven years old.
The list includes a total of 11 different brands, but four marques appear twice, Ford, Honda, Hyundai and Toyota. (Nissan is there twice, as well, if you include both the Nissan and Infiniti brands). The editors’ picks:

• Compact Sedan: 2005-2010 Hyundai Elantra
• Midsize Sedan: 2005-2010 Nissan Altima
• Large Sedan: 2006-2010 Hyundai Azera
• Coupe: 2005-2010 BMW 3 Series
• Convertible: 2005-2010 Mazda Miata
• Wagon: 2005-2010 Pontiac Vibe
• Compact SUV/Crossover: 2005-2010 Honda CR-V
• Midsize SUV/Crossover: 2005-2010 Ford Explorer
• Large SUV/Crossover: 2005-2010 Chevrolet Tahoe
• Minivan/Van: 2005-2010 Honda Odyssey
• Compact Truck: 2005-2010 Toyota Tacoma
• Large Truck: 2005-2010 Ford F-150
• Luxury: 2005-2010 Infiniti G35/G37
• Hybrid: 2005-2010 Toyota Prius
• Sport Compact: 2005-2010 Subaru Impreza WRX

How much you’ll pay varies widely, not just on the age but also the condition of the vehicles listed here. Costs vary widely by region, and equipment levels play a major role, of course. Even vehicle color can be influential. Black cars tend to be hard to sell in Phoenix or Miami this time of year. All-wheel-drive models can command a premium in the Snowbelt when winter arrives.
But the big bubble in used car pricing may finally be at an end.
“Almost a million more used vehicles will be added to the industry this year as a result of more trade-ins on new-car sales,” said Ricky Beggs, auto analyst at Black Book USA. “This is a significant driver of lower prices, combined with additional rental cars being sold at auction and dealers preparing for the coming 2013 models.”

Survey Reveals Safety at the Front of Car-Shoppers' Minds

By Auto Remarketing Staff

With technological advances in the fields of in-car technology, as well as fuel efficiency, the list of features consumers might come to expect when in the market for a new car continues to grow. That said, it seems that an age-old concern is still at the front of car shoppers' minds.
According to a survey conducted by marketplace of in-process vehicle leases Swapalease.com, at the top of car-shopping consumers’ needs is still safety. In fact, more than 60 percent of Swapalease.com users chose safety as the most important consideration in choosing a new car, outranking style and appearance (30 percent), luxury and convenience (12 percent) and electronic features (9 percent), officials shared.
"Safety has long been high on the list for prospective car buyers or lessees, and our survey shows that changing times don't always change people's priorities," said Scot Hall, executive vice president of operations, of Swapalease, which is an online marketplace of in-process vehicle leases.
"Thanks to today's technology, we have an ever-growing list of features that make cars safer than ever before,” he continued.

And what safety features are consumers most concerned with?
Specifically, survey responders showed a particular interest in blind-spot warning systems, giving it 32 percent of the vote for most important safety elements.
Following close behind were hands-free calling and a back-up camera, the company added.
"It's interesting to note that people are so interested in the blind-spot warning system. It's the very latest in safety technology, and I know from personal experience that it's a wonderful feature," said Hall.
"It's also currently priced at a premium, so whether consumer will put their money where their opinions are remains to be seen,” he continued.
Next up, for those who chose electronics as a crucial element to consider when in the market for a new vehicle, a navigation system was of utmost concern, taking more than half the vote.
The company also noted that the majority of other technology features mentioned fell into the “entertainment category,” such as iPod/MP3 player compatibility.
Moving along, in the luxury and convenience category, heated/cooled seats were by far the most desired features, officials shared.
Memory settings for things like seat and steering wheel placement; rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a heated steering wheel, were also important to survey responders.
Lastly, upgraded interior trim and upgraded wheels took the top spots for style needs.

Read more: Autoremarketing | Survey Reveals Safety at the Front of Car-Shoppers' Minds http://www.autoremarketing.com/trends/survey-reveals-safety-front-car-shoppers-minds#ixzz1zVUiYOge