Drivers in the Valley continue to steer toward used vehicles

Sales of new cars tumbled 41 percent last month over March 2008 levels.

STAFF REPORT

Car buyers in March favored used vehicles.

Statistics released Monday showed that new-vehicle sales suffered another large decline last month, while used vehicles posted an increase.

Dealers in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties sold 1,645 new vehicles last month, a 41 percent drop from the 2,780 that were sold in March 2008. They sold 4,180 used vehicles last month, which was a 12 percent gain over the 3,733 sold in the same month last year.

The strong gain in used vehicles brings them to about the same sales pace as last year.

In the first three months of this year, dealers have sold 11,070 used vehicles, which was just 1 percent below last year’s pace. New-vehicle sales of 4,109 so far this year are 43 percent below last year’s pace.

The Automobile Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio said the top new-vehicle dealers last month were: Greenwood Chevrolet Hummer in Austintown, 131; Bob & Chuck Eddy Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Austintown, 115; Sweeney Chevrolet in Boardman, 93; Stadium GM Superstore in Salem, 91; and Sweeney Buick Pontiac GMC in Boardman, 80.

The top used-vehicle dealers last month were Denny’s Auto Sales in Youngstown, 99; Stadium GM Superstore, 91; Greenwood Chevrolet Hummer, 89; Fairway Ford Mercury, 83; and Columbiana Buick Cadillac Chevrolet, 81.