Tag Archives: car affordability

Kia Teases Sporty Concept Before Chicago Auto Show

In the last few years, Kia has been making a concerted effort to appeal to a wider range of drivers. Besides vehicle value, they want to offer minivans, crossovers, and fuel-efficient compacts as well. Next month at the Chicago Auto Show, Kia will be unveiling its latest endeavor into luxury with their concept car, the Kia Cross GT.

Kia just released a teaser of the Cross GT which will premiere at the Chicago Auto Show February 7th thru 18th, and car enthusiasts are starting to see what Kia meant by “tiger nose.” Its copper-toned color, sleek build, and narrow headlights remind one of a vicious tiger. Kia has never looked so good.

Unfortunately, this picture is all that has been revealed about the Cross GT. Kia hasn’t released any more specs or details yet. Besides that, it isn’t known if the Cross GT will move past being a concept car and whether it will be available for sale in the next year or so. Still, this teaser does exactly what it is meant to do, and our interest is piqued. We will be looking forward to seeing more of the Kia Cross GT next month and hope the rest of the car lives up to the anticipation.

Are you looking to get into a new or used car? Approved Loan Store can help! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, luxury or minivan, we will work to get you into the car you want at terms you can afford! Get started 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!

New Car Financing: Winter Deals Available on New and Used Convertibles

As cabin fever sets in, drivers are itching for spring and the freedom of the open road. For many drivers, the perfect car for a joy ride is a convertible, and now during the winter months, dealerships want to give car shoppers an incentive to spring for their dream convertible.

In a recent interview for Philly.com, Kerry Pacifico of Pacifico Ford in Philadelphia encouraged drivers shopping for a new convertible to buy now. He claims that buyers will get a better deal if they just order the car instead of purchasing it off the showroom floor since they avoid floor-plan expense. Besides that, there is less demand for convertibles in winter time, and dealerships will be more willing to strike a deal.

If a convertible seems out of your reach, here is a rundown of some of the more affordable convertibles on the market right now.

2013 Chrysler 200 Convertible – Starting at $27,100
Estimated MPG: 18 city, 29 highway
Standard Features: Air Conditioning with Automatic Temperature, Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel, 6-Speed Automatic Transmission, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, Anti-Lock 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, and more.

2014 Ford Mustang V6 Convertible – Starting at $26,995
Estimated MPG: 19 city, 29 highway
Standard Features: Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel, MyKey, Auxiliary Audio Input Jack, Cloth Front Bucket Seats, Stainless Steel Dual Exhaust, and more.

2013 Mazda MX-5 Miata – Starting at $22,424
Standard Features: Black Z-Fold Vinyl Soft Top, 16-Inch Aluminum-Alloy Wheels, 5-Speed with Short-Throw Shifter, 6-Way Adjustable Driver’s Seat, 4-Way Adjustable Passenger Seat, Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, and more.

Are you ready to get into a new or used convertible today? Approved Loan Store wants to help you! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we will work hard to get you the 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 Twitter!

Image courtesy of M – Pics / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

New Car Financing: Ford Offering Incentives on Focus Electric

As 2013 kicks into gear with low interest rates and more flexible loan lengths , automakers are also offering additional incentives for a variety of makes and models. Ford is the latest to announce major incentives in hopes to boost sales for the Ford Focus Electric.

Typically, the Ford Focus Electric has a starting price of $39,200. Right off the bat, Ford is knocking that starting price down to $37,995. From there, buyers can choose to buy the Focus Electric outright and get an additional $2,000 discount or take 1.9 percent financing from Ford Motor Credit. Either way, it means thousands of dollars in savings for people who might have been eying the Ford Focus Electric but were waiting for a good deal.

Standard features on the Ford Focus Electric include SYNC with MyFord Touch, dual zone electronic automatic temperature control, HD Radio, and heated front seats. I can’t deny that in this cold weather, the idea of heated seats is very tempting.

Now is the time to buy! Are you ready to get into that new or used car? Get started by filling out our secure online auto loan application here, and get more auto news and buying tips by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Low Interest Rates, Longer Loans Drive Auto Sales in 2013

2012 was an amazing year for the auto industry. Sales were so strong in 2012 that it would be completely understandable if the industry saw a slight dip in the beginning of 2013. To combat any drop off in sales, they are offering some of the lowest interest rates in years and longer loan lengths for more affordable monthly payments.

A review of banks and credit unions found that five-year new car loans had an average interest rate of 4.15 percent, and four-year used car loans had an average interest rate of 4.77 percent. Some were offering as low as 0 percent to 1.9 percent or a cash rebate depending on the model, and certain lending institutions are giving consumers more time to pay off those loans. 72-month and 84-month car loans are becoming more common place, and with the lower interest rates, consumers can take those longer auto loans without feeling like they’re paying too much in interest.

At Approved Loan Store, we want to help you take advantage of great interest rates and flexible loan terms. Whether if you have good credit, bad credit, or no credit, we will explore every option to get you the best possible terms on a car you want. Click here to see testimonials from real Approved Loan Store customers.

Are you ready to get into that new car? Get started 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 on YouTube.

Image courtesy of renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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

Buying a Car By Horoscope – Not a Great Idea

Sometimes on a slow news day, news sites like to trot out silly fluff pieces like “How Clean Is Your Purse?” and “What Your Toothpaste Brand Says About Your Love Life.” We at Approved Loan Store had a good laugh, though, when we saw this headline, “Follow Your Zodiac Sign and Buy the Perfect Car in 2013.” This is not a joke. Someone actually wrote an article about buying a car based on your zodiac sign.

What do they recommend? Well, Aries gets the 2013 Dodge Challenger. Taurus will go for the 2013 Ford Flex. Gemini will jump for the 2013 Acura ILX. Cancer will prefer the 2013 Mazda CX-5. Leo, having a “flashy personality,” will pick up the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado. Virgo will take the reliable 2013 Toyota Corolla. The 2013 Volkswagen CC will catch Libra’s eye. Scorpio will spring for a 2013 Infiniti M37. Sagittarius will look for fuel efficiency and choose the 2013 Acura RDX. Capricorns will have a tendency towards the 2013 Lexus GS450h, and finally, Aquarius will pick up a 2013 Hyundai Elantra.

Now, I enjoy reading my horoscope in the paper. I don’t put much stock in it, but they can sometimes remind me to take things easier or to appreciate my friends or family. The notion that someone would base their car buying decision on a horoscope, though, is kind of ridiculous.

At Approved Loan Store, we don’t base how we do our business on horoscopes but on years of experience in auto financing. We work with customers who have stellar credit, no credit, and poor credit alike and use every available option to get them the car they want at terms they can afford. No need to check your horoscope, we are ready to help you!

Get started today by filling out our secure online auto loan application here, and get the latest auto news and buying 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 Danilo Rizzuti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Bad Credit Car Shoppers Trading In for Better Interest Rates

Last year all across the country, car shoppers with subprime credit got approved for auto loans, often for much better terms than they imagined. In 2013, even more people are applying for auto loans, and along with them, consumers are looking to trade in their car in hopes of getting a much lower interest rate.

Back when subprime auto loans were less available, consumers with challenged credit would pay up to 25 percent interest rates on their auto loans. Their car choices were dictated solely by what they could get approved for, not what fit their needs as a driver. Some of these people are still paying off their loans, and they are asking themselves why they would throw away more money on high interest rates for a car they didn’t really want in the first place.

Fortunately, they don’t need to keep paying insanely high interest rates. If these consumers paid their loan on time and otherwise kept up with their financial obligations, their credit is probably good enough to trade in for a much better car and loan terms, especially now. 2012 was a great year for people with challenged credit to get back behind the wheel. 2013 is looking to continue this pattern, but there is no way of knowing how long these optimal conditions will last. People who are considering trading in and trying for that lower interest rate should keep that in mind and perhaps get into a dealership sooner than later.

Are you looking to trade in your car? Are you looking for a new or used car but concerned about your credit? Approved Loan Store wants to help you! No matter what your credit situation, we will work hard to get you into a car you want at terms you can afford! Get started today by filling out our secure online auto loan application here, and get more auto news and buying 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 watcharakun / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

84 MPG, Compact Size Make New Elio an Appealing Car

The 2013 Toyota Prius boasts 47.3 average miles per gallon. The 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid gets a combined highway and city 47 mpg. While these have been impressive numbers up until now, a new vehicle is boasting an unheard of fuel economy of 84 mpg.

Elio Motors announced that it is now taking reservations on its revolutionary new vehicle, the Elio. The Elio is technically classified as a motorcycle. It has only 3 wheels, 2 in front and one in the back, but the vehicle is enclosed like a car. It can hold a driver and one additional passenger, and the trunk space measures 27” x 14” x 10”.

While the Elio certainly isn’t built for families or anyone needing extra space, this is the perfect car for singles or couples. For a person who needs to commute into the city for work, the Elio is a great middle ground between a car and a motorcycle or moped. Plus, the price tag is very reasonable at only $6800.

Elio Motors has already started taking reservations on their website, but the Elio will not be available for sale until 2014.

Readers, what do you think? Would you feel comfortable driving an Elio? Do you think vehicles like the Elio are the future of cars or just a fad? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

Are you ready to get into a new or used car? Approved Loan Store can help! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we can help get you into a car you want at terms you can afford! Get started by filling out our secure online auto loan application here, and be sure to like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube for the latest auto news and buying tips!

Auto Loan: VW Celebrates 2012 Sales, Prepares for 2013 Challenges

In the first month of 2013, many automakers are still crunching their numbers from 2012, and though it is already well-known that 2012 was a great year for the auto industry, it is still not known just how well each individual automaker sold.

This week, VW announced that brand sales went up 31 percent in December, even as some of the other European brands did not see the same success. In Russia, China, and the United States, VW saw major gains, delivering millions of vehicles around the world.

Still, VW isn’t ready to rest on its laurels in 2013. VW’s Sales Chief Christian Klinger predicted that 2013 would be “a very demanding year” for VW, especially with auto sales struggling in most of Europe. Klinger made it clear in his statement, though, that VW is aware of the challenges ahead and preparing to meet those challenges head-on.

Readers, we want to hear from you! What do you think of the VW brand and their line-up? Are you looking for a new car in 2013, and will you consider buying a VW? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

Are you ready to get into a new or used 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! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and get the latest auto news and buying tips by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

CONSUMER ALERT: GM Recalls Trucks, Vans for Roll-Away Problem

Over the weekend, GM announced a recall of approximately 69,000 2013-model full-size trucks and vans including the Cadillac Escalade and Chevy Silverado.

According to General Motors, there has been a problem with these vehicles shifting out of park and rolling away. They believe the problem could be defective transmission interlocks, but GM has also said that the problem could be due to a fractured park-lock cable or a deformed steering –column lock-actuator gear.

Recalled vehicles include:

  • Cadillac Escalade
  • Chevrolet Avalanche
  • Chevrolet Express
  • Chevrolet Silverado
  • Chevrolet Suburban
  • Chevrolet Tahoe
  • GMC Savana
  • GMC Sierra
  • GMC Yukon

Fortunately, most of the vehicles affected by the recall are still on dealer lots since they are 2013 models, but any car owners affected by the recall will be contacted by GM about replacing the vehicle’s steering column for no charge. If you think your vehicle might be affected and have not heard from GM, you can call 1-800-630-2438 for Chevrolet vehicles, 1-866-982-2339 for Cadillacs, and 1-866-996-9463 for GMC vehicles.

For the latest consumer alerts, auto news, and car buying tips, be sure to like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube. Looking for a new or used car? Approved Loan Store can help! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we want to get you into a car you want at rates you can afford! Get started by filling out our secure online auto loan application here.