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Chevy Volt Priced Under $35,000

Car shoppers who have been looking at the Chevy Volt will have 5,000 more incentives to buy now.

This morning, Chevrolet announced that the starting price of the 2014 Volt would be cut from $39,995 down to $34,995. Adding on federal tax credits, the starting price could be as low as $27,495, and with a fuel economy of 35 city/40 highway, drivers will save hundreds of dollars on gas every year.

Chevrolet’s leadership has made a point of emphasizing advancements in the Chevy Volt in recent years including an increased battery range and a more comfortable interior. With the new price cut, they are hoping that car shoppers on the fence about the Volt will finally take the plunge and that car shoppers who are not looking at plug-ins or hybrids will check out the Volt.

In a press release, Chevrolet’s U.S. Vice President of Sales and Service Don Johnson said the price cut would give drivers “an unmatched balance of technology, capability and cost of ownership” with “the same impressive list of features, but for $5,000 less.”

From Chevys to Kias and Mazdas, 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 is My Credit Score Calculated?

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 want to improve my credit score. What is my credit score based on?

Answer: A credit score is based on a number of factors including length of credit history, payment history, credit utilization (credit used compared to credit available), and variety of credit. To have an optimal credit score, a person needs to show the ability to obtain credit and make payments on time. They need to have a variety of accounts such as credit cards, auto loans, mortgages, or other personal house loans because it shows they can budget and manage several accounts at once.

Improving a credit score takes time, patience, and careful planning, but we have two tips we would like to recommend for improving a credit score. First, pay down your credit cards. This will lower the overall credit utilization and boost the score. Second, add some variety to your accounts such as an auto loan with the Approved Loan Store. We work with clients who have subprime credit every day and help them get an auto loan at terms they can afford. If you make your loan payments and all other payments on time, the credit bureaus will see another positive account, and your credit will improve.

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

Toyota Takes Top Earner in Second Quarter

With the quarterly profits now in for the auto industry, Toyota can claim bragging rights for the top quarterly profits as well as the world’s largest automaker.

Currently, Toyota is predicting that their full-year global production will be over 10 million vehicles after earning $5.5 billion during the second quarter. This was a 94 percent increase in profit compared to the second quarter in 2012.

North America, Oceania, Africa, and Central and Southern America all had increases in Toyota sales. In North America, sales increased 26,309 units, and Oceania, Africa, and Central and Southern America’s sales increased 28,106 units. The only regions where Toyota did not perform well were in Europe where sales decreased by 16,336 units and in Asia where sales decreased by 23,890 units.

According to Autoblog, the sales jump can be attributed to the popularity of the Camry which officially sold its ten-millionth vehicle last month.

From Toyotas to Rams and Chevys, 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!

Mobile App Follows Driving Habits

Mobile apps today can track everything from calorie intake to running distance, and now a new app is available to track driving habits (and offer helpful suggestions for improvement).

Mobile apps like Dash and Automatic connect to the Onboard Diagnostics port and then give information back to the driver. There isn’t much information on Dash yet, but their website promises that the app will “make the roads safer, more affordable, and much more social.” Pictures of the app in use show a “Dash Score” out of 100 as well as miles driven and saved trips. Automatic, on the other hand, has an extensive rundown of features including tips for better fuel efficiency, crash alerts, and even a tracker that remembers where the car is parked.

The upside is that the driver or a teen driver’s parent can keep track of their driving habits, such as rough braking, speeding, and rapid acceleration. The downside is that insurance companies could later use this information to jack up insurance costs, and government agencies could potentially have access to this information as well.

Our recommendation is before downloading any driving apps or installing any car trackers, take a few minutes to read through their terms of use and privacy policy. If you are uncomfortable with any way that they plan to use your information, then don’t download the app.

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!

Image courtesy of jannoon028 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Is Google Glass a Driving Distraction?

Ever since Google started testing the Google Glass, the product has been criticized as creepy, intrusive, and rude to everyone who doesn’t want their life recorded. Unfortunately, Google Glass might be facing another obstacle as lawmakers debate whether wearing Google Glass while driving is a dangerous distraction.

Lawmakers in the United States and United Kingdom are examining how the Google Glass is used by drivers and whether it is equivalent to using a touch-screen dashboard or GPS system, both of which are completely legal, or whether it is more akin to texting while driving. Many states across the country currently have laws against texting while driving, and depending on what they decide, drivers using Google Glass could be subject to fines.

This is a tricky subject, and the argument that Google Glass isn’t any more distracting than a GPS is not without merit. Personally, though, I hope that using Google Glass while driving will be classified as a driving distraction. A driver needs to be focused on the road and their fellow drivers, and this device takes a person’s eyes and attention off of the road.

Readers, we want to hear from you! Do you think the Google Glass is a distraction? Would you use it while driving? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

Hyundai Sells One-Millionth Santa Fe

Hyundai got to end July on a high note with the announcement that they had officially sold their one-millionth Santa Fe.

John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America, announced the one-millionth sale on Wednesday. Krafcik praised the Santa Fe as being integral to Hyundai’s overall success in the United States, stating, “When the 2001 Santa Fe launched in the United States 13 years ago, not only was it Hyundai’s first SUV, but it was one of the first compact crossovers on the market – just behind Toyota RAV4 and Honda CRV. It was a bold move that paid off and helped position Hyundai as a brand that could innovate in design and package, not just value and warranty.”

Since its introduction, the Santa Fe has been well liked by drivers and critics alike. The Santa Fe received the 2013 ALG Residual Value Award, and Autobytel named the 2013 Santa Fe as their Crossover/Wagon of the Year. The Santa Fe’s success is also good for American jobs. Hyundai produces the Santa Fe at a factory in West Point, Georgia, creating thousands of jobs for the region.

From Hyundais to Ford and Chryslers, 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!

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?

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.

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!