Tag Archives: low-income

New Car Financing: And the 2013 Green Car of the Year Winner Is…

Back in October, we brought you the nominees for the 2013 Green Car of the Year Award and our predictions for this year’s winner. The winner was announced last week at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and while the Ford C-MAX was not victorious, Ford still went home very happy.

The 2013 Ford Fusion was the winner chosen by Green Car Journal, beating out tough competitors like the Dodge Dart Aero, Ford C-MAX, Mazda CX-5, and Toyota Prius. With an estimated 47 mpg in city, highway, and combined driving, the Ford Fusion is a fantastic choice for drivers looking for the best fuel economy. Additionally, Ford is releasing a plug-in hybrid version of the Fusion early in 2013 called the Ford Fusion Energi.

This week, Approved Loan Store is running a poll on its Facebook page, and we want you to weigh in! Which car do you think should have been named Green Car of the Year? Do you think Green Car Journal got it right, or was your money on the C-MAX? Go to Approved Loan Store on Facebook or click here to cast your vote!

Are you looking for a more fuel efficient car? Approved Loan Store can help! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we have new or used cars to fit your needs! 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!

Auto Loan: Drivers Still Wary of Driverless Cars, For Now

Trends in automotive technology are clearly moving towards driverless cars or at least cars that need minimal driver input, but surveys show that for consumers are still wary of driverless cars, or at least they are for now.

A recent survey of drivers in the United Kingdom found that 40 percent of respondents would never use a driverless car and 10 percent believed that driverless cars were “irresponsible.” 50 percent thought that a driverless car would not sell very well, and the overall opinion of the respondents was that resources should be put towards better driver’s education.

Even though most of the responses to the driverless cars ranged from skeptical to doomsday rise-of-the-machines conspiracy theories, there was plenty of positive feedback too. When the respondents were told that driverless technology would only cost about $3,000, 20 percent said they would probably or definitely buy it. 1 in 5 respondents could be early adapters to driverless cars. That might not sound like a lot, but consider that this is technology that could completely change automotive culture. At this point, 1 in 5 is great news for companies developing this technology.

Readers, what do you think? If driverless technology was available and affordable, would you get it for your next car? Leave us a comment below and let us know what you think!

Are you looking to get into a new or used car? Approved Loan Store wants to help you! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we work hard to get our customers the car they want at terms they 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!

Image courtesy of winnond / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Auto Loan Amounts Hit Post-Recession Peaks

According to a new report from Equifax, consumers looking to get an auto loan could be getting a lot more than they expected.

Back in August, Equifax recorded that auto loan originations year-to-date through August 2012 came out to more than $283 billion. The last time it was that high over an eight-month period was back in 2006 at $297.5 billion or the equivalent of 14.6 million new and used vehicles. Loan amounts have also gone up with loans averaging $19,492 back in August, once again having comparable numbers to average loan amounts in 2006.

Equifax’s Chief Economist Amy Crews-Cutts claims that auto loans recovered quicker than other types of loans because the public’s demand has not waned. It makes sense because while people can put off certain purchases like a house, a car is a necessity in most parts of the country. Americans will still go for an auto loan because they need to get to around, to drive to work or pick up their kids from school. When consumers couldn’t get the loan amount they wanted, they made do with what they got. Now that loan amounts are at pre-recession levels, consumers can afford to get a car that they both need and want.

Have you been waiting for the right time to get into that new or used car? The time is now! Whether if you have good credit, bad credit, or no credit, Approved Loan Store wants to help you get into the 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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Used Car Financing: ALG Announces Residual Value Award Winners

Earlier this week, ALG announced the winners of its 14th Annual Residual Value Awards which honors vehicles that are projected to retain the highest percentage of MSRP after a three-year period. Top honors for Mainstream and Premium brands went to Honda and Acura, but the big winner of the year was Toyota with six awards.

Toyota took home six segment awards for the Toyota Prius c, Toyota FJ Cruiser, Toyota Sequoia, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra, and Toyota Land Cruiser. Interestingly enough, though, Toyota only ranked sixth on the Mainstream Brand rankings after Mazda, Subaru, Scion, Hyundai, and Honda.

Here is a complete breakdown of the awards results and the top 10 brand rankings for Mainstream and Premium Brands.

Segment Awards

Sub Compact Car – Honda Fit
Compact Car – Hyunda Elantra
Midsize Car – Honda Accord
Fullsize Car – Hyundai Azera
Sports Car – Scion FR-S
Alt-Fuel Vehicle – Toyota Prius c
Minivan – Honda Odyssey
Sub Compact Utility Vehicle – MINI Cooper Countryman
Compact Utility Vehicle – Toyota FJ Cruiser
Midsize Utility Vehicle – Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
Fullsize Utility Vehicle – Toyota Sequoia
Midsize Pickup – Toyota Tacoma
Fullsize Pickup – Toyota Tundra
Premium Compact Car – MINI Cooper
Premium Midsize Car – Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Premium Fullsize Car – Lexus GS 350
Premium Executive – Lexus LS 460
Premium Sports Car – Porsche 911 Carrera
Premium Alt-Fuel Vehicle – Mercedes-Benz ML350 BlueTEC
Premium Compact Utility Vehicle – Acura RDX
Premium Midsize Utility Vehicle – Audi Q7
Premium Fullsize Utility Vehicle – Toyota Land Cruiser

Top 10 Mainstream Brands

Honda
Hyundai
Scion
Subaru
Mazda
Toyota
Nissan
Kia
Volkswagen
Mitsubishi

Top 10 Premium Brands

Acura
Infiniti
Audi
Lexus
Mercedes-Benz
BMW
Cadillac
Porsche
Volvo
Lincoln

Readers, we want to hear from you! Are you surprised by the awards and ranking results? Which cars would you have picked for the segment awards? Leave a comment below, and tell us what you think!

Are you looking to get into a reliable new or used car? Approved Loan Store can help! 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 more car 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!

Bad Credit Auto Loan: Top 10 Most Reliable Cars

Recently, Warranty Direct celebrated 15 years of ranking vehicle reliability, and to mark the occasion, they released their top 10 list of the most reliable cars of the past 15 years.

Their website Reliability Index breaks down the raw data of a car’s average repair costs, mileage, age, and chance that parts of the car will have maintenance issues like the transmission or braking system. Taking all these factors into account, they calculate an overall reliability index number that tells consumers at a glance if the car is reliable or not. The lower the number, the more reliable the vehicle will be for the driver.

Here is the top ten most reliable vehicles according to the Reliability Index along with their index rating.

1.  Mitsubishi Lancer – 6
2.  Vauxhall Agila – 8
3.  Suzuki Alto – 9
4.  Toyota Aygo – 10
5.  TIE: Honda HR-V and Volvo S40 – 16
6.  Mazda MX-5 – 19
7.  TIE: Mercedes E Class and Toyota Yaris – 20
8.  Honda Jazz – 21

Readers, we want to hear from you! What do you think of the list? Were there any vehicles on the list that surprised you? Leave a comment below, and tell us what you think!

Are you looking for a reliable new or used vehicle? Approved Loan Store can help, no matter what your credit situation! Fill 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 anankkml / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Car Loan: Women Drivers Now Outnumber Men, Upsetting Status Quo

These days, women are dominating in higher education, making great strides in the work force, and now, for the first time in the history of the U.S., outnumbering male drivers on the road.

The statistic comes from a University of Michigan study which showed that in 2010, there were 105.7 million women with driver’s licenses compared to 104.3 million men with driver’s licenses. Only 15 years prior, men had outnumbered women 89.2 million to 87.4 million.

While women drivers are by no means dominating the road yet with only a 1.4 million lead, it is surprising to see women drivers edging ahead. There have always been more driver’s licenses issued to men than women, and unfortunately advertisers have wrongfully assumed for years that women don’t really care about cars. I wonder if this trend continues how advertisers will change their approach or if they will. Like many other industries, the car industry will have to ask themselves if they know how to appeal to women and if they are willing to lose out on millions of potential customers in maintaining the status quo.

Readers we want to hear from you! What do you think of this trend favoring female drivers? Are you surprised that male drivers have outnumbered female drivers until now? Leave a comment below, and tell us what you think!

Are you looking to get into a new or used car? Approved Loan Store can help! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we want to get you in a car you want at rates you can afford! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and get more news and buying tips from the Approved Loan Store by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

New Car Financing: Toyota’s New Teaser Trailer for 2013 RAV4

The L.A. Auto Show is almost here, and auto makers are teasing us with all sorts of previews before the show’s official debuts. The latest to jump on the bandwagon is Toyota with their teaser trailer for the 2013 RAV4.

The RAV4 will premiere at a press conference on Wednesday, November 28 as part of the Los Angeles Auto Show. Toyota calls the new RAV4 “a new generation” of car, “embodying sophistication and strength.” Whether it lives up to that praise is yet to be seen, but here is the flashy teaser trailer for the RAV4.

While I am intrigued by the unveiling of the RAV4, the teaser trailer showed very little of the car. The ad had a lot of tight shots and quick cuts, and when it was over, I was disappointed at how little the ad showed off. I get that they don’t want to show off too much before the show, but I was hoping for more than what Toyota gave me.

Readers, what do you think? Do you like the teaser for the 2013 Toyota RAV4, or did it leave you wanting more? 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 get you in a car you want at rates you can afford! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here.

Looking for more auto news and buying tips? Check out Approved Loan Store on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

LA Auto Show: Honda Announces New Civic Premiere

In 2 weeks, Honda will unveil the new Civic at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and early word that Honda listened to its fans and critics with the newest model of one of their most popular cars.

Almost 50 vehicles will debut during the show including world premieres from Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler, and Honda will be showing off several new vehicles including the Civic. Some members of the press, though, got an early look this week to stir up excitement for the official premiere at the show.

On the outside, the 2013 Civic will have an open-mouth lower bumper, a black mesh grille with integrated fog lights, and larger jewel-style tail lights, but reports are saying that it is what’s on the inside that counts with the new Civic. According to the Wall Street Journal, Honda has updated the interior, turned their focus to the driver’s comfort, and overall aimed to give it a feeling of luxury and youth.

Will the new Civic live up to the hype? We won’t know for another two weeks yet, but looking at the LA Auto Show line-up, it will have to bring its A-game to stand out from the pack. Then again, Honda has a history of excellence with awards from Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book, and Green Car Journal, not to mention About.com’s 2012 Best New Car award. They just might be up to the challenge.

No matter if you’re looking for a Civic, an Accord, or something else entirely, Approved Loan Store can help you! Whether if you have good credit, bad credit, or no credit, we want to get you into the car you want at terms you can afford! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and get the latest auto news and tips by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Veteran’s Day: GM Military Discount Now More Inclusive

Last Sunday was Veteran’s Day, but even before Sunday, General Motors was honoring our veterans by announcing an expansion on their current military discount.

For years, GM has offered discounts on most Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC models for active duty, reservists, and retired service members and their spouses. Starting this weekend, however, the program will be expanded to veterans within a year after discharge. Linda Stouffer, who serves as GM’s marketing manager for vehicle service programs, explained that the expansion would help include more returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan and emphasized that the program is “just one way” that GM thanks America’s servicemen and women.

In addition to the military discount, GM supports Cell Phones for Soldiers, Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans, the Fallen and Wounded Soldiers Fund, and numerous other employment initiatives for returning soldiers. They are also sponsors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes initiative, a nationwide program that sponsors hundreds of hiring fairs every year.

If you want to learn more about GM’s program and whether you qualify, go to their military website here, and if you are looking to get into a new or used car, Approved Loan Store can help! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we are ready to get you into the car you want at terms you can afford. Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and get the latest auto news by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Ferrari Auction Benefits Red Cross’ Hurricane Sandy Efforts

If you happen to have a load of money burning in your pocket and want to do something for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, Ferrari is auctioning off a car that is the first of its kind.

The very first F12 Berlinetta sold in the United States will be auctioned off by Ferrari this Saturday in Austin, Texas. Proceeds for this car, which typically goes for a base price of $315,000, will go to the American Red Cross. Ferrari will be taking bids in person, and bidders who cannot make it to Austin can contact their local Ferrari dealership this week to get information about placing a bid virtually.

Marco Mattiacci, chief executive and president of Ferrari North America, expressed his sympathy for those affected by the hurricane, saying, “Here at Ferrari, we have experienced and seen the devastation that Hurricane Sandy has caused in the affected area firsthand. We want to use our event next week at Formula One in Austin to give back to our local community by auctioning the F12 Berlinetta.”

If you don’t have the money to bid on the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, don’t worry. Ferrari is also working with the American Red Cross to collect general donations. You can donate through Ferrari’s Red Cross page here.

Are you looking for a new or used car? That Ferrari might be out of reach, but Approved Loan Store can help you find a car you want at rates you can afford, whether or not you have good credit! 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!