New vehicle, used car sales post April gains

New vehicle sales rose 19 percent last month, while used car sales posted a 3 percent gain.

The Automobile Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio reported Monday that local dealers sold 2,683 new vehicles in April, compared with 2,264 in the same month last year.

The Pontiac G6 was the most popular vehicle with 242 sales last month in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. The rest of the Top 5 were the Chevrolet Impala, 139; Chevrolet Trailblazer, 130; Chevrolet Cobalt, 107; Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 87.

Of the total deals, 43 percent were financed purchases, 42 percent were leases and 15 percent were cash purchases.

For the first four months of this year, new vehicle sales are up 12 percent at 9,870.

Local dealers sold 4,065 used cars last month, compared with 3,951 in April 2007.

The top used cars last month were the Chevrolet Cavalier, 110; Pontiac Grand Am, 100; Ford F-150, 98; Ford Taurus, 94; and Chevrolet Impala, 89.

For the first four months of this year, used vehicle sales are down 2 percent at 15,178.