Tag Archives: gas prices

Road Trips Returning as Airlines Increase Prices

News for the airline companies of late hasn’t been the best. The headlines have been negative for both the airlines themselves and for their customers. It’s been bankruptcies or charging more for checking luggage or just the introduction of fees just to store your bag in the overhead. Airfares themselves are on the rise. The cost of summer flights in the US are up 3 percent on average from the past year. That’s an 18 percent increase from 2010. It’s starting to be clear that flying is no longer the go-to solution for a cheap vacation.

The Car Care Council is reporting that the family road trip is coming back into style. It’s hard not to see why, especially when purchasing a plane ticket for a family can be almost four-times as expensive to just loading up the mini-van. Gas prices have also been seeing a steady decline over the last few weeks and appear to be dropping still as vacation season starts to come around. A recent survey from Mandal Research/Solutionz shows that 74 percent of respondents would much rather drive than fly to their getaway.

“Because flying is getting more expensive and gas prices are heading lower, more travelers are finding that driving their own car is the better alternative, “said Rich White, the Executive Director of the Car Care Council. “The bottom line is that travel by vehicle costs less, is more convenient, and is not as stressful as flying.”

Summer is just starting to heat up and this is the time to think about getting out. Are you ready to travel for this vacation season? Do you really want to pay for a flight that costs in the thousand dollar range, deal with the large crowds in the security check in, the hassle of getting to the airport and paying for the parking, and paying even more to check your luggage? Wouldn’t you rather pay a fraction of the cost to load the family into the car and still leave time to check out the world’s largest ball of yarn on the way to grandma’s house? Go ahead and give us some feedback in the comments.

Approved Loan Store is here to help put you and your family in the car they need to head out for a vacation, even if you have challenged credit. Fill out an application online and see how our representatives can put you in the car you need. Be sure to like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter to keep yourself current on the news coming out of the auto and financial industries.

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Average Price of New Cars On the Rise

Earlier this week, we showed why buying a used car is smarter than buying new. The value of a new car will depreciate very quickly only a few years after buying it, so the owner will get a better return on a used car vs. a new car if they eventually have to trade it in. As it turns out, Forbes is talking about the new vs. used car debate as well. A few days after we published our blog, Forbes published an article about the rising average price of a new car.

According to Forbes, the average cost of a new car or light truck is $30,303. The average cost has gone up $1200 from 2011, making a new car an even pricier investment with less potential return. To be fair, the cost of used cars has gone up slightly as well, but in most cases, buying a good used car is still the best choice in the long run.

The good news for car shoppers is that Approved Loan Store has access to a wide inventory of used cars with vehicles to suit your specific needs. Whether you’re buying your first car or looking for something to accommodate a growing family, Approved Loan Store’s Special Finance Representatives will help you get into a car. Challenged credit is not a problem. Fill out Approved Loan Store’s secure online auto loan application here, and keep up with the latest news and trends in the auto industry by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook and following Approved Loan Store on Twitter.

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Should I Buy a Hybrid?

The rise of gas prices have lead car drivers to start making more educated choices in their choices. Hybrids are really seeing a surge in sales due to people looking to keep away from those high prices as much as possible. That popularity is causing many buyers to ask the question, should I buy a hybrid?  The San Francisco Chronicle offers advice for these very people.

Hybrids have gained this upswing in sales because it’s thought that they will save money when gas prices rise. The cars SF Chronicle uses to show the difference is the 2012 Honda Civic Sedan and the Civic Hybrid. The Sedan has a price of $15,995 and gets around 28 miles per gallon in the city and 39 on the highway. In comparison, the Civic Hybrid’s price is $24,200 and is 44 miles per gallon in the city and highway. After doing some math based on the average miles driven by someone ages 20-34 (15,098 miles a year) the conclusion shows that the fuel cost is indeed lower on the Hybrid by $455. The problem with that number is that the difference in cost is still $8,205. That means it’ll take 18 years for the buyer to make up the lose.

That doesn’t bode too well for the idea that hybrids save. It’s unrealistic to expect a car to last 18 years. There’s other things to take into account, however. The government used to have tax incentives to encourage purchases of hybrids. This was done more then the idea was new though, and since the car maker has sold more than 60,000 vehicles, that incentive has gone. As of December 31st, 2010, that credit is no longer eligible. There’s one exception however, and that’s the plug-in hybrids. They still offer credit of up to $7,500 but be warned the vehicle tends to be rather pricey.

That brings us to the new generation of the hybrid, the plug in hybrid. While normal hybrids use a combination of a gas engine and electricity, the plug in relies on batteries. While keeping gas out of the equation, they are subject to shorter ranges, only having about 50 to 100 miles in them before needing a recharge. There is a gasoline-powered engine, however, that does take over once the battery is dry. What to keep in mind when thinking of purchasing a plug in to save on gas costs is that they do come with a hefty price tag. The 2012 Chevy Volt for example is $39,145. The tax incentive brings that down to $31,645. The traditional Honda price is half of that.

Hybrids do a good job of making the driver feel good about the environment. In a world that is starting to put the green moniker on everything they can, driving a hybrid gives a sense of aiding to make the world a better and cleaner place. Hybrids certainly are good for the environment, but in the problem of if they are worth the extra cost to cut down on gas prices, they aren’t so good. It’s up the consumer to see if this is a good enough value for themselves, but a hybrid will not save you overall at the pump for the time being.

Wanting to get yourself a new or used hybrid anyway? Don’t worry if you have challenged credit, here at Approved Loan Store, we work with people struggling with bad credit to put them in the car, or hybrid in this case, they want. Go online to fill out the application to see how our staff can help you. To stay current on all the latest news and advice pieces, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Reuters: Lose Weight, Improve Car’s Fuel Efficiency

If you want your car to be more fuel-efficient, Reuters has a novel idea: lose weight.

A recent statistic shows that gasoline consumption has gone up along with the needle on American’s scales. According to the study, Americans in 2012 compared to Americans in the 1960s are wasting 1 billion gallons of gas in their cars.

Where are those 1 billion gallons going? Well, Americans in 2012 on average weigh more than Americans in the 1960s, and it takes 1 billion gallons more to power their cars. Across the country, Americans could be getting a better gas mileage on their cars and spending less at the pump by getting their weight down to the average American’s weight in the 1960s.

Of course, you can’t turn a gas-guzzler into a hybrid just by dropping a dress size, and Approved Loan Store can help you find a more fuel-efficient car in your price range. Fill out an auto loan application online here, and keep up with the latest news from the auto industry by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook and following Approved Loan Store on Twitter.

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New Fuel Standard Predicted to Help Auto Industry

The news has been coming out recently about how much consumers are looking to getting more fuel efficient cars in an effort to deal with the rise in gas prices. Many hybrid classes have benefited not only from the resurgence of the auto industry such as the Ford Focus. It’s clear that the pump is what is really on people’s minds these days when looking to invest in buying a car.

A new report from Citi Investment Research and Analysis, along with Ceres, is predicting that the new fuel standards being enforced by federal regulations is going to be a massive benefit for the auto industry. The new 54.5 MPG standard is expected to increase the industry as a whole by 5.3 percent into 2020, bringing it up to $4.76 billion. The major auto makers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) are looking to see improvements of around 4 percent.

Carol Lee Rawn is the transportation director of Ceres, and she sees that this new standard of fuel efficiency in cars is definitely going to help the industry. She says that, “Automakers who invest in more efficient vehicles are investing wisely. Given the volatility of gas prices – and the likelihood that they’ll head through the roof again – it’s clear that customers want better fuel economy and delivering it means a better bottom line for the industry.”

Regardless of your credit, Approved Loan Store is wanting to make sure you get the fuel efficient car you want. Fill out an application today and see how we can help you. Be sure to follow us on Twitter, and like us on Facebook, to see all the latest trends in the industry. If you’re still not convinced, check out our Youtube page to see our satisfied customers.

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Gas Prices Increasing Used Car Prices?

There’s been a lot of news on the rise of gas prices lately. With the increase of sales for the auto industry, it’s clear that people are looking for a car that spends more time on the road and less at the pump.

Kelly Blue Book has put out a report stating that rising gas prices might be driving the used car prices up 20 percent this year. While prices only saw a moderate growth of .4 percent in February, the prices saw a fast increase in the final week of the month. Compact cars rose 1.3 percent in that time and hybrids had an 3.6 percent increase.

Alec Gutierrez, senior market analyst of automotive insights for Kelly Blue Book, said of the increase, “Dealers have been aggressively bidding on fuel-efficient vehicles at auction as consumer demand increases in response to rising gas prices. If the past is any indication of things to come, Kelley Blue Book could see values of used fuel-efficient vehicles increase more than 20 percent during the course of the next few months.”

Now is definitely the time to get into the dealership to get the car that you’ve been wanting. There is a wide range of fuel-efficient models, new and used, to choose from. Apply online on Approved Loan Store’s website and see how we can pair you up with a local dealer. Check out our Facebook page and you can read the latest industry trends and see testimonials from our satisfied customers.

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Auto Advertising Changes For New Trend of Buyers

Car buyers have been struggling along with the auto industry and now are both seeing an upturn in their situation with the economy finally recovering.  With more money in their pocket, they are wanting to get back in the seat. The problem the industry is facing, however, is how to advertise to the interested party.

According to a report by the Foresight Research, buyers have begun to turn away from advertising that makes the car out to be “sporty” or “fun to drive.” People are looking to get quality out of their vehicle, they care more about seeing a vehicle as “competitive” and in “discounts.”

The constant rising of gas prices has also given rise to the consumer who wants to make sure that their car has good fuel economy. The report also notes that brand recognition still plays a large role in what people purchase. Due to that, it’s not really surprising that the strong sales in February were in part to the fuel efficient cars such as the Honda Civic and Ford Focus.

Go online to Approved Loan Store and apply to get driving away in the car you want, be it practical for the family or for a sporty fun ride. Be sure to check out and like our Facebook page to see all the latest on news and testimonials from our satisfied customers.

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Gas Prices Equal Increase in Used Car Sales

Gas prices may be on the rise, but apparently that’s not going to make an impact on used car sales according to predictions by the National Automobiles Dealers Association (NADA).

The expectation is that the average gas price will peak at $4 a gallon this May.  Normally, when gas prices are high, the average consumer didn’t like getting a car loan to buy a used car.  This year, however, seem to be an exception of the rule.

Jonathan Banks, an analyst with NADA Used Car Guide, says that the rise in gas prices won’t make that big of an impact in their decision.  “Considering consumers have become accustomed to gasoline prices that averaged more than $3.50 last year, this time around we don’t expect to see dramatic shifts in the shopping behavior of consumers for more fuel-efficient vehicles when prices approach the $4 mark.”

He continued on to say that compact cars will be seeing a raise in demand while the SUV, notorious for gas-guzzling, will see a drop.  This is highlighted by the sales in February which were at a four-year high.  Compact vehicles especially are seeing a boost by 16 percent.

New or used cars, good or bad credit, Approved Loan Store can help get you into a car. Fill out the auto loan application form today, and keep up with the latest auto news by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.

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