Monthly Archives: July 2013

J.D. Power and Associates: The World’s Happiest Car

American consumers want the best of everything, especially when it comes to their cars. They walk into car dealerships with mountains of research on which car is the most fuel-efficient, the most powerful, the best car for a growing family, and so on and so forth. Interestingly enough, though, a new study from J.D. Power and Associates did not rank popular vehicles by these typical factors but rather looked at which car brand has the happiest owners.

The results of the study were based on 77 attributes. Each vehicle and brand was assigned a numerical score and then ranked on overall brand, best city car, best compact, best midsize premium, and so on. The industry as a whole came in with a score of 795, not much lower than the top-scoring brand which was the Porsche.

American brands performed fairly well in the survey with the Chevrolet Sonic winning Best Sub-Compact, Chevrolet Volt winning Best Compact, Ford Mustang winning Best Midsize Sporty Car, and Dodge Charger winning Best Large Car. Ford and Chevrolet also managed to make it into the top 5 car brands, and Chrysler and GMC made it into the top 10.

Which car makes you the happiest? Approved Loan Store wants to help you get into a car that you will love at terms you can afford, even if you have challenged credit! Get started today by filling out our secure online auto loan application here, and for more auto news and buying tips, like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Kia Reveals Final Justice League-Themed Sorento

For the past year, Kia has been auctioning off Justice League-themed vehicles to benefit the DC Entertainment’s charity We Can Be Heroes. These specialty vehicles have included a Batman Kia Optima as part of New York Comic Con, a Wonder Woman Sportage, and five other vehicles based on Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg.

Bringing the project full circle, Kia revealed the final Justice League vehicle at the San Diego Comic Con last week. The final vehicle was a Kia Sorento with all seven members of the Justice League featured prominently on the side of the vehicle and “Justice League” printed across the hood of the car. Inside, each seat is themed around a Justice League member with Superman in the driver’s seat. Famed comic book writer and artist Jim Lee designed the vehicle.

Bidding for the Sorento ends today, and with 18 bids, the Sorento is currently going for $38,100. To bid on the Sorento or any of the other auction items, go to http://stores.ebay.com/we-can-be-heroes.

From Kias to Chryslers, Mazdas, and more, Approved Loan Store wants to find you the car you want at terms you can afford! Are you finally ready to get into a great new or used car? Get started today by filling out our secure online auto loan application here, and for more auto news and buying tips, like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Auto Loan FAQ: How Can I Pull My Credit Report?

At Approved Loan Store, we work with a wide range of customers every day. For some of them, they have gone through the car buying process before, and this is their second or third car. For others, however, we are helping them purchase their first car. Buying your first car with good credit can be intimidating, but buying your first car with poor credit or no credit can be downright frustrating. Over the next few weeks, we will answer some of our most-asked questions here on the blog, and we encourage our readers to comment below with any other questions you would like us to address!

Question: I have no idea what is on my credit report. How can I get a copy of my credit report?

Answer: The best and easiest way to get a copy of your credit report is through AnnualCreditReport.com. You can pull a free copy of your Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion credit reports, and if you want to view your credit score, they give you the option to purchase the score for a reasonable price.

Past delinquencies, unpaid accounts, and public records can all affect your credit health, and as a result, you might have to pay a higher interest rate than someone with a good or above-average credit score. Reviewing your credit report gives you the chance to catch any mistakes and set the proper expectations for yourself as you move forward in purchasing your vehicle. If your credit has suffered in the past, it might be a better idea to buy a lower-cost used car and make all payments on time. As you make your payments on time, you will establish a positive recent credit history, and then you can trade it in later for a new vehicle at a lower interest rate.

Still have questions about our program? Give us a call toll-free at 877-217-2217, or visit us online at www.ApprovedLoanStore.com. You can also get more car buying and credit tips by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

GM Announces World’s Most Efficient Car, Only Available in California and Oregon

This week, there is some really good news and some bad news from General Motors.

We will give you the good news first. The new 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV has been getting some very positive press from The Car Connection as well as Auto Blog and Car and Driver. Critics are praising the Spark’s powerful motor, smooth ride, and affordable price with all the tax breaks available.

Now, the bad news is that the new Spark is only available in California and Oregon. It is not clear if or when the 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV will be available throughout the rest of the country, but if there is enough demand across the country, GM might be convinced to expand to the rest of the United States. Personally, I love the thought of never having to pay for gasoline ever again, and considering the reviews, I would like to take the Spark for a drive myself.

If you’re looking for a more fuel efficient vehicle today, Approved Loan Store wants to help you, no matter what your credit situation. Get started today by filling out our secure online auto loan application here, and for more auto news and buying tips, like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

2014 Chevy Impala Receives NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating, Top Marks from Consumer Reports

Car shoppers who consider safety their top priority have another great new option among the 2014 models.

Late last week, the 2014 Chevrolet Impala received a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s New Car Assessment Program. The vehicle also has the distinction of being the first American sedan in two decades to receive the top score from Consumer Reports.

How did the Impala earn such a high rating from the NHTSA? Chevrolet packed the Impala with the latest safety features including traffic-sensing radar, adaptive cruise control, crash-imminent braking, lane departure warning, and more. Additionally, OnStar will send out a call to emergency services if the vehicle is in an accident, and the rear-view camera prevents collisions when parallel parking.

Best of all, the Impala is a bargain compared to its competitors. The starting price is $26,725, and standard features include 10 air bags for the vehicle, SiriusXM and HD Radio audio system, 4.2” diagonal color infotainment display, and seat adjuster for the driver and front passenger.

Are you looking for a safer car or one with better fuel efficiency? No matter what you’re looking for, Approved Loan Store wants to help you get in a car you want at terms you can afford! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we will work with you! Get started today by filling out our secure online auto loan application here, and for more auto news and buying tips, like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Auto Loan FAQ: What is a DTI?

Question: What is a DTI, and what does it have to do with my approval?

Answer: DTI stands for “debt to income.” It is the amount of money owed by a person including rent, utility bills, car insurance, credit card bills, etc. compared to the income earned by that person. A person’s DTI determines how much they can afford to pay for their car each month. People with less debt and higher income will obviously have more options available. They can make a down payment or negotiate higher monthly payments for a lower interest rate.

Consumers that don’t have an optimal DTI, however, should still apply through the Approved Loan Store. Our special finance representatives have years of experience helping customers to get into cars, especially customers with challenged credit. As part of our one-on-one customer meetings, the special finance representative will explore all available options and find the best plan to suit each customer’s needs.

Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Nissan Leaf Quadruples Sales, Inventory Running Low

July is almost over, and with 2013 more than halfway done, it is becoming clearer that this is the year for the Nissan Leaf.

Back in March, Nissan broke sales records selling over 1,900 units that month, and for the past few months, Nissan has sold more than 2,000 units each month. The popularity of the Leaf can be attributed to the recovering economy as well as tax credits up to $7,500 and other incentives, though it seems like Nissan was even surprised that the Leaf is selling four-times its numbers from 2012.

The one downside to the Leaf’s sudden popularity is that Nissan might not have enough inventory to keep up with demand. Erik Gottfried, Nissan’s director of electric vehicle sales and marketing, recently admitted that Nissan would be running short on their Leaf inventory, stating, “It will be late fall before we can produce enough to satisfy everybody.” Car shoppers who want to pick up the Nissan Leaf before the end of the summer will want to get into a dealership as soon as possible. Otherwise, they might have to wait until this fall for Nissan to replenish their inventory.

Readers, we want to hear from you! Have you taken the Nissan Leaf for a test drive yet? With its rising popularity and the tax credits, are you more likely to research and possibly purchase it? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

Summer time is here! Are you finally ready to get into a great new or used car? Approved Loan Store wants to help YOU! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we will work with you to get a car you want at terms you can afford! Get started today by filling out our secure online auto loan application here, and for more auto news and buying tips, like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Getting an Auto Loan Approval with Low or No Credit

Here at the Approved Loan Store, people ask us every day how we help people with poor credit or no credit to get an auto loan, particularly if they have been turned down at banks or dealerships. In today’s blog, we will shed some light on our program’s requirements and why meeting each of the requirements improve the chance of getting approved.

To qualify for the Approved Loan Store’s auto buying program, applicants must fulfill the following requirements.

Valid driver’s license
United States citizen
18 Years of Age or Older
Verifiable income of $1800/month minimum
Steady employment
No open bankruptcy

The first three requirements should be fairly obvious. Without a driver’s license, it is impossible to drive any purchased vehicle. Also, any lender will require documentation proving age and citizenship, so this is nothing out of the ordinary for any consumer getting an auto loan.

Consumers are usually most interested in the last three requirements. First, our customers need a verifiable income of $1800 so they can prove they are capable of paying an auto loan. W-2 workers only need to bring in pay stubs proving their income, but self-employed workers will need their tax filing paperwork from the past 2 years which has been prepared by a professional. Without the pay stubs or tax documents, the special finance representatives cannot verify your income, and the car buying process cannot move forward. Steady employment goes hand-in-hand with our income requirement. If the consumer cannot prove steady employment over the past year, a lender will be unlikely to approve their auto loan.

Finally, consumers with open bankruptcies cannot qualify for our program. When someone declares bankruptcy, it means that they cannot pay their debts. Banks are not going to approve an auto loan for a consumer who has stated that they cannot pay their current debts. A consumer who has declared bankruptcy cannot apply for an auto loan until the bankruptcy is discharged.

Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Georgia Plant Assembles One-Millionth Kia Vehicle in U.S.

Kia is still considered an up-and-coming car brand in the United States, but the Korean automaker hit a major milestone this week, producing their one-millionth vehicle in the United States.

The one-millionth vehicle was a snow white pearl 2014 Sorento SXL assembled at Kia’s manufacturing plant in West Point, Ga. Since the plant opened in 2009, it has created more than 11,000 jobs for the region, and today the plant produces the Kia Optima and the Kia Sorento for hundreds of dealerships across the country.

Byung Mo Ahn, Group president and CEO for Kia Motors America and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, had nothing but praise for the West Point workers, stating, “People are the heart and soul of this company, and our team members’ commitment to world class quality is one of the major driving forces behind Kia’s unprecedented sales and market share growth in the U.S. over the last few years.” He also called the one-millionth vehicle milestone “a tremendous achievement” which Kia “can take great pride in.”

New Car Financing: 2014 Versa Note Price Under $15,000

Nissan has recently announced the pricing on the 2014 Versa Note, and car shoppers on a limited budget will be happy to hear that the base price is still very low.

According to Nissan, the 2014 Nissan Versa Note has base price of $14,780 which includes shipping. This is actually a price drop compared to the 2012 Versa hatchback which started from $15,450, shipping included. The new Versa Note will have a fuel economy of 36 mpg highway, 27 mpg city and come standard equipped with a trip computer, speed-sensitive volume control, Nissan’s Advanced Air Bag System, Vehicle Dynamic Control, and AM/FM/CD audio system with auxiliary audio input jack.

The only real downside to the new Versa Note is that it loses some power over the 2012 Versa hatchback. For an economy car, though, it is hard to complain about the list of features that come standard and the price for a new car.

Readers, we want to hear from you! What do you think of the 2014 Nissan Versa Note? Would you take it for a test drive? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!