Tag Archives: 2011

Edmunds’ Picks for Best Used Vehicles of 2013

While a lot of automotive press is dedicated to the newest models or what lies ahead for automotive brands, Edmunds took a break this week to compile their list of the best used cars of 2013.

There are a lot of good reasons to buy a used car. For one, buyers can end up saving a lot of money and still get a quality car. Second, the value of a new car will depreciate very quickly, so if the buyer plans on trading it in sometime in the next few years, they might be unpleasantly surprised when they go for a trade-in depending on the model. Just as it is with any major decision, an argument can be made either way for buying new or used, but for our customers looking for a great used car, here is Edmund’s list of their used car picks for 2013.

Subcompact – 2007-2011 Honda Fit
Compact Sedan – 2006-2011 Hyundai Elantra
Midsize Sedan – 2007-2011 Ford Fusion
Large Sedan – 2006-2011 Toyota Avalon
Coupe – 2006-2011 Honda Accord
Convertible – 2006-2011 Volvo C70
Wagon – 2006-2011 Subaru Outback
Compact SUV/Crossover – 2006-2011 Honda CR-V
Midsize SUV/Crossover – 2006-2011 Toyota Highlander
Large SUV/Crossover – 2007-2011 Mazda CX-9
Minivan/Van – 2006-2011 Honda Odyssey
Cargo Van – 2006-2011 Dodge/Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
Compact Truck – 2006-2011 Toyota Tacoma
Large Truck – 2006-2011 Ford F-150
Luxury – 2006-2011 Infiniti G35/G37/G25
Hybrid – 2006-2011 Toyota Prius
Two-Seat Sports Car – 2006-2011 Chevrolet Corvette
Performance Car – 2006-2011 Ford Mustang GT

Brand-wise, Honda and Toyota tied for the most vehicles on the list with 4 each, followed closely by Ford with 3 vehicles on the list. By choosing a vehicle for each category instead of top 10 or 20 used vehicles in general, there is a car on the list for every driver and every family’s needs.

From Hondas to Fords and Toyotas, 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!

Image courtesy of sixninepixels / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

“Imported from Detroit” Pays Off Big for Chrysler

Chrysler’s “Imported from Detroit” has received critical praise and accolades ever since its premiere at the 2011 Super Bowl, but all the awards in the world don’t mean anything if the campaign isn’t translating into more sales. Two years later, Chrysler can now say definitively that “Imported from Detroit” has paid off for the company in a big way.

According to Chrysler President and CEO Saad Chehab, the Chrysler brand sales went up 36 percent from 2011 to 2012, and Chrysler sales were up 100,000 units in 2012. Their goal was to see a 40 percent year-over-year growth with the “Imported from Detroit” campaign before then adding a new Chrysler 200 in 2014 and a new Chrysler 300 in 2015, and so far, it looks like they will easily meet that goal.

Why was “Imported from Detroit” such a success? For one, it was a beautifully unified campaign. Every ad fit together as far as the look, the music, and overall message. The original ad with Eminem was a solid base for them to build on and feature some of Detroit’s local heroes. Beyond that, the message of the campaign hit a chord with Americans. In a time when our country was struggling, this ad was a message of hope. It encouraged car buyers to support their own and to be a part of reviving Detroit. Americans weren’t just buying a car, they were helping their own. This is what the “Imported from Detroit” campaign was all about.

Watch the original Chrysler 2011 Super Bowl ad here:

Readers, we want to hear from you! Did the “Imported from Detroit” campaign make you more likely to check out Chrysler? Which new Chrysler model are you looking forward to the most? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

Are you ready to get into a new or used car today? 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!

CONSUMER ALERT: Chrysler Recall on Certain Trucks, SUVs

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced a recall on certain trucks and SUVs manufactured by Chrysler Group LLC from 2009 top 2012.

According to the report filed with the NHTSA, the issue is a rear axle pinion nut that if loosened can cause the axle to lock up, and the driver could lose control of the vehicle. Chrysler is contacting the owners of all affected models, and owners can get a pinion nut retainer installed free of charge at a Chrysler dealer.

Affected vehicles include:

2009 – 2012 Ram 1500
2009 – 2011 Dodge Dakota
2009 Chrysler Aspen
2009 Dodge Durango

If you are unsure if your vehicle is affected, you can contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

You can get more consumer alerts, car buying tips, and auto industry news by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Are you ready to get into a new car? Approved Loan Store wants to help YOU! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we will work with you to get you a car you want at terms you can afford! Get started today by filling out our secure online auto loan application here!

Late Payments, Bad Credit: Car Buyers Beware!

At the Approved Loan Store, we work with people every day who have good credit, bad credit, and no credit alike. We understand that there are many people who have a low credit score but that they might have nothing to do with it. They could have been a victim of identity theft or maybe they agreed to co-sign on a loan and the other person skipped out on their payments. We thought we had heard it all until this story from the New York Times caught our attention.

Roslyn Hooley wrote into the New York Times column The Haggler with her credit horror story in hopes of bringing attention to her case. She purchased a used Mercedes back in 2011 and immediately set up electronic funds transfer for her auto loan payments. Everything seemed to be fine until December 2012 when a check was returned from M.B.F.S. In January, she received another returned check, and her account showed that the loan had already been paid off in October. Confused, she called up M.B.F.S. to find out what was going on. The car had been erroneously declared a loss from Hurricane Sandy. It is not clear if this was an insurer mistake or M.B.F.S.’s error, but after Hooley contacted M.B.F.S. about the error, she started getting hounded by a collection company who demanded that she pay them for those months, plus interest and late fees. To make matters worse, M.B.F.S. had reported those months as late payments to the credit bureaus, and Hooley’s credit took a hit.

Fortunately, The Haggler was able to reach out to M.B.F.S. on Roslyn Hooley’s behalf and resolve the situation, but not everyone is that fortunate. Millions of Americans have blemishes on their credit report that are outdated or inaccurate, and the dispute process can be lengthy and frustrating.

At the Approved Loan Store, we will work with you to find you a car you want at terms you can afford, whether if you have stellar or challenged credit. Get started today by filling out our secure online auto loan application here, and for the latest 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 Naypong / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Study: What Do Car Buyers Want?

Recently we put together an article that look at the advertising practices of the major car companies. It was asking the question of just where the money was to keep the sales the industry is enjoying to keep on coming. There has been a wide range of ways that the industry has been trying to reach out to everyone buying a car. To better answer the question of just what works to attract someone to a car, a report has come out that looks to give the car makers a better idea of what they need to do.

Phoenix Marketing International is reporting on an analysis of advertising practices of 2011. They found in their studies that the most successful way to advertise to the customer was with messaging about innovation and efficiency. They also noted that the message needed to be clear, believable, and informative.

One of the most interesting findings was the difference between the luxury customers and those looking for non-luxury cars. The luxury buyers preferred a serious tone that complimented the attractiveness of the vehicle. On the flip side, buyers looking at the non-luxury cars responded better to ads that emphasized being humorous, clever, and entertaining.

Fuel efficiency was also something that many people are looking for today. With the way people have been with gas prices these days, it’s not really surprising. Hybrids have been doing very well due to demand for high fuel-efficiency cars, and compact cars have seen a similar boost.

No matter what you’re looking for in a new or used car, be it efficiency or glamor, Approved Loan Store is looking to help you find it. Fill out an application online to work with our representatives to find that car. See our long list of happy customers in our testimonials section. Also be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to see all the current news in the auto financial world.

Image(s): FreeDigitalPhotos.net