Tag Archives: Chevrolet Volt

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!

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Toyota Wins the Internet with $14.5 Million in Free Publicity

All press is good press, and lots of press and online chatter about the Prius are leading to millions of dollars in free publicity for Toyota.

A study from GenSents Insights, a social analytics company, found that the Toyota Prius is the most discussed hybrid vehicle online, generating approximately $14.5 million in media value from January through April. Discussion of the Prius was monitored on Facebook, YouTube, Google, and other popular social media websites. Prius was mentioned in about 86,000 Twitter tweets, over 8,300 of them accumulating solely from a mention of the Prius by Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear fame.

Honda Fit came in second place at $4.5 million in online buzz, $10 million less than the Prius. Third, fourth, and fifth place were all very close with Chevrolet Volt at $3.1 million followed by Tesla Motors with $3 million and Honda Insight at $2.9 million.

Readers, we want to hear from you. Does online buzz about a car make you more likely to test drive it and ultimately buy it? Do you think the online buzz for the Toyota Prius is justified? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

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Consumer Reports: Top 10 Cars We Would Buy Again

Repeat business and brand loyalty is extremely important in any industry, but it is especially important in the auto industry. Bad customer feedback can sink a model and cost an automaker greatly. Fortunately, there are plenty of vehicles on the market today that have repeat business, and Consumer Reports has compiled the top 10 cars that have customers coming back for more.

According to Consumer Reports, consumers said they would be most likely to buy the following cars again:

10/9. Toyota Camry hybrid and Ford Mustang V-8 (87 percent)
8/7. Dodge Charger V-8 and Audi A-6 (88 percent)
6. Lexus GS (89 percent)
5/4. Dodge Challenger V-8 and Audi A7 (90 percent)
3/2. Porsche 911 and Chevrolet Corvette (91 percent)
1. Chevrolet Volt (92 percent)

With only a 5 point range between tenth and first place, competition was tough this year. There was a tie for ninth, seventh, fourth, and second places. All of these automakers should be proud of these numbers, especially that the top 5 were at 90 percent or above. These are customer satisfaction stats that every company dreams of and rarely achieve, so consumers that are in the market for a new car should consider taking at least one of these 10 vehicles for a test drive.

Are you ready to get into a new or used vehicle? Approved Loan Store can 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!

Car Loan: New Models, Discounts Sell More Electric Cars in November

Getting consumers to adapt to new technology is tough, and the electric car has faced its fair share of challenges. Sales numbers for electric cars in November, however, bode well for the future of the electric car.

November sales numbers from Maxim Group show that car dealers sold 7,600 electric cars in November alone with a yearly total so far of 47,500. Right now, projections predict that dealers will sell 56,000 electric and plug-in hybrid electric cars by the end of 2012.

Industry analysts attribute the electric car’s success in 2012 to a variety of new electric vehicles as well as deep discounts and incentives on existing models. Nissan has worked to make the Nissan Leaf more affordable, and Chevy has offered discounts adding up to $10,000 in savings on the Volt. Some of the newer models have really led the pack, though, with Ford selling 1,259 of the C-Max Energi, a vehicle that was only just introduced in November. Those numbers are very strong considering that the Chevy Volt sold 1,519 units and the Toyota Prius sold 1,766 units in November.

The demand for electric cars is only going to go up, especially as the economy continues to recover and consumers can better afford electric cars. Right now is an exciting time for the auto industry as they move more and more towards electric and hybrid vehicles. Soon, consumers will be able to pay less at the pump and lessen our negative impact on the environment.

Whether if you are looking for a more fuel-efficient car, a car for the family, or just something fun and sporty, Approved Loan Store can help! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we want to get you into a car you want at terms you can afford! Fill 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!

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President Discusses Additional Financing for Green Cars

There’s some good news for the buyer who’s been looking at green cars such as the Nissan Leaf or the Chevrolet Volt. It turns out that the President is wanting to aid in special finance for such electric and hybrid cars.

President Obama, in a speech delivered at the Daimler Trucks North America manufacturing plant in Charlotte, North Carolina, made note of his goal to raise the existing tax credits on vehicles. This will pertain to vehicles from $7,500 to $10,000 in an attempt to make these new cars appealing to the average consumer. If a car buyer decides towards the hybrids, natural gas, or electric cars, they could be looking at being qualified for the credit.

“To cities and towns all across the country, what we’re going to say is, if you make a commitment to buy more advanced vehicles for your community — whether they run on electricity or biofuels or natural gas — we’ll help you cut through the red tape and build fueling stations nearby,” the President said, “And we’ll offer tax breaks to families that buy these cars, companies that buy alternative-fuel trucks like the ones that are made right here at Mount Holly. So we’re going to give communities across the country more of an incentive to make the shift to more energy-efficient cars.”

The plan that he has set forth will be investing up to $1 billion dollars in the National Community Deployment Challenge. This is being done in order to help the local communities get the infrastructure it needs to support the alternative fuel cars.

No matter what kind of car you’re looking for from a hybrid to luxury to a rough-and-tumble truck, Approved Loan Store can help. Fill out our application here, and like us on Facebook to read more auto news and watch video testimonials from Approved Loan Store customers!

Auto Loan Education: Best Fuel Efficiency Cars

Anyone who has ever owned a car knows that the true cost of a car goes beyond what is paid at the dealership. Maintaining a car and keeping it in top shape is important to avoid more expensive repairs, but one of the biggest day-to-day costs of a car is, of course, paying for gas. By getting a car that is more fuel efficient, however, drivers can save big bucks over the course of a year at the gas pump. We have compiled some of the most fuel-efficient cars according to FuelEconomy.gov, the United States government’s official online source for fuel economy information, alternative fuels, and ways to save money on the road.

2012 Honda CR-Z
Price: Starting at $19,545
Approximate Fuel Cost/Year: $1365
Miles/Gallon: 35 for city driving, 39 for highway
Reviews: Motor Trend praised the Honda CR-Z for its “bold looks, high quality, and genuine driver appeal” and emphasized that this is more than just a good hybrid car. The Honda CR-Z is a great car, period.

If you’d like to get into a pre-owned Honda CR-Z, fill out this application today.

2012 Scion iQ
Price: Starting at $15,265
Approximate Fuel Cost/Year: $1365
Miles/Gallon: 36 for city driving, 37 for highway
Reviews: Motor Trend gave the Scion iQ a glowing review after driving it around San Francisco. Its small but surprisingly not cramped layout makes it the perfect car for city driving.

If you’d like to get into a pre-owned Scion iQ, fill out this application today.

2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV
Price: Starting at $21,625
Approximate Fuel Cost/Year: $540
kw-hrs/100 miles (for electric cars): 27 for city driving, 34 for highway
Reviews: The Mitsubishi i-MiEV did not do so well with Motor Trend as far as lengthy drives, but they called it a good investment for city commuter drivers who are looking for an environmentally-friendly car.

If you’d like to get into a pre-owned Mitsubishi i-MiEV, fill out this application today.

2012 Chevrolet Volt
Price: Starting at $33,500
Approximate Fuel Cost/Year: $1470 for gas, $648 for electricity
Miles/Gallon: 35 for city driving, 40 for highway
kw-hrs/100 miles: 36 for city driving, 37 for highway
Reviews: The folks over at Motor Trend couldn’t praise the 2011 Chevy Volt highly enough, calling it “one of the most significant automobiles to come out of Detroit in the 60-year history of [Motor Trend.]” While their “First Test” review was not available as of this article’s publication, we expect that Motor Trend will continue their love for 2011’s Car of the Year.

If you’d like to get into a pre-owned Chevy Volt, fill out this application today.

2012 Nissan Leaf
Price: Starting at $27,700
Approximate Fuel Cost/Year: $612
kw-hrs/100 miles: 32 for city driving, 37 for highway
Reviews: Motor Trend did not have their review for the 2012 Nissan Leaf yet, but The Car Connection called it a “quiet, smooth” ride and loved the car’s unique design. They also appreciated that it was an electric car with 5 seats instead of the usual 4 seats standard to most electric cars.

If you’d like to get into a pre-owned Nissan Leaf, fill out this application today.

2012 Hyundai Sonata
Price: Starting at $20,000
Approximate Fuel Cost/Year: $1805
Miles/Gallon: 24 for city driving, 35 for highway
Reviews: According to Motor Trend’s review, the Sonata’s design is not only distinctive and visually attractive but also makes sense aerodynamically. Tests showed that the 2012 design lessened the drag over the 2011 model, showing that Hyundai is constantly striving to make their cars better.

If you’d like to get into a pre-owned Hyundai Sonata, fill out this application today.

2012 Audi A3
Price: Starting at $27,270
Approximate Fuel Cost/Year: $1768
Miles/Gallon: 30 for city driving, 42 for highway
Reviews: Motor Trend hasn’t reviewed the 2012 Audi A3 yet, but U.S. News ranked it as one of their top 11 Upscale Small Cars, calling it practical but fun. Their review said it was the car “able to do it all” from winter driving to back road races.

If you’d like to get into a pre-owned Audi A3, fill out this application today.

2012 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen
Price: Starting at $16,495
Approximate Fuel Cost/Year: $1768
Miles/Gallon: 30 for city driving, 42 for highway
Reviews: No review from Motor Trend yet, but Edmunds claims that the Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen is “in a class of its own,” praising everything from its luxurious interior to its fuel efficiency.

If you’d like to get into a pre-owned Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, fill out this application today.

2012 Toyota Prius V
Price: Starting at $23,520
Approximate Fuel Cost/Year: $1203
Miles/Gallon: 44 for city driving, 40 for highway
Reviews: The Toyota Prius V was a contender for Motor Trend’s Car of the Year award, and even though the fuel efficiency was not as strong as the 2011 model, the 2012 model has more interior space. They said with the added space, it was a good choice for people who wanted something like an SUV but didn’t want an SUV.

If you’d like to get into a pre-owned Toyota Prius V, fill out this application today.

2012 Kia Forte
Price: Starting at $16,200
Approximate Fuel Cost/Year: $1946
Miles/Gallon: 23 for city driving, 32 for highway
Reviews: U.S. News ranked the 2012 Kia Forte in their top 10 Affordable Small Cars, and amongst reviewers, the consensus is that there is a lot to love about the Kia Forte. Besides that, it is the best deal for the dollar when compared to similar cars in its class with a roomy interior and more standard features including iPod USB port, Bluetooth, and satellite radio.

If you’d like to get into a pre-owned Kia Forte, fill out this application today.

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