Tag Archives: Nissan

Summer Auto Sales Recap and Fall Preview

ID-10098169School is back in session, and the auto industry is taking stock of the summer’s sales. Who were the winners of 2013, and what will the fall and winter of 2013 bring? Read on to find out.

Ford Motor Company, Chrysler Group, and Toyota Motor Corp have already posted enormous gains in August, and as numbers are finalized, Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. are expected to also have had a very successful August. Of the numbers known so far, Ford had 12 percent increase in sales in August, Chrysler also had 12 percent gains, and Toyota had a 20 percent gain in their U.S. retail sales.

These enormous sales increases can be attributed to end of summer sales, including Labor Day sales, as well as low interest rates, even for consumers with poor credit. Jesse Toprak, a senior analyst for TrueCar, observed that the “historically” low interest rates were giving consumers more of a choice, that they can “buy more expensive vehicles while keeping payments at affordable levels.”

The good news going into the fall is that many of the car manufacturers who were facing shortages on their more popular models are now catching up with production, so the availability of certain models is no longer an issue. For people walking into their local dealership, they might not see the same price cuts and sales like they did throughout the summer, but with Approved Loan Store, car buyers don’t have to shop around for the best rates and deals.

Step 1, go to ApprovedLoanStore.com and fill out the auto loan form.

Step 2, wait for a phone call from one of our representatives. You will hear back within 48 hours. Schedule an appointment with an Approved Loan Store location closest to you.

Step 3, meet with your special finance representative. They will go over all possible options for you and get you a 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!

Image courtesy of suwatpo / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Nominees for North American Car and Truck of the Year Announced

North American Car of the YearIt is that time of the year again. The long list for the 2014 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards have been released, and GM should be feeling pretty good right now.

29 cars and 18 truck/utility vehicles are being considered for the awards. At the end of the year, 50 automotive journalists will vote on 5 cars and 4 trucks to go on to the semi-finals, and the numbers will be trimmed down to 3 cars and trucks/utilities for the final round.

Winners won’t be announced until the 2014 North American International Auto Show next January, nearly half a year from now, which gives plenty of time for speculation. Last year, the Cadillac ATS and Ram 1500 took home the top prizes, and GM is looking pretty good this year with 2 Cadillacs, 5 Chevrolets, and 1 GMC on the list. Still, there are 29 cars and 18 truck/utility vehicles battling it out for the top honors, and the winners have to survive 3 rounds of voting. There is a definite possibility for a few surprises before next January.

Check out the full list below.

2014 Car of the Year

  1. 2014 Acura RLX
  2. 2014 BMW 4 Series
  3. 2014 Cadillac CTS
  4. 2014 Cadillac ELR
  5. 2014 Chevrolet Corvette
  6. 2014 Chevrolet Impala
  7. 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV
  8. 2014 Chevy SS
  9. 2014 Fiat 500L and E
  10. 2014 Honda Fit EV
  11. 2014 Infiniti Q50
  12. 2014 Jaguar F-Type
  13. 2014 Kia Cadenza
  14. 2014 Kia Forte, 5-door, Koup
  15. 2014 Kia Soul
  16. 2014 Lexus IS
  17. 2014 Maserati Ghibli
  18. 2014 Mazda3
  19. 2014 Mazda6
  20. 2014 Mercedes-Benz B-Class
  21. 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
  22. 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  23. 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  24. 2014 Mini Paceman
  25. 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage
  26. 2014 Nissan Versa Note
  27. 2014 Porsche Cayman/Cayman S
  28. 2014 Smart fortwo electric
  29. 2014 Toyota Corolla

2014 Truck/Utility of the Year

  1. 2014 Acura MDX
  2. 2014 BMW X5
  3. 2014 Buick Encore
  4. 2014 Chevrolet Silverado
  5. 2014 Ford Transit Connect / Wagon
  6. 2014 GMC Sierra
  7. 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe LWB
  8. 2014 Jeep Cherokee
  9. 2014 Kia Sorento
  10. 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  11. 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander
  12. 2014 Nissan Rogue
  13. 2014 Nissan NV200 Compact
  14. 2014 Ram 2500/3500
  15. 2014 Subaru Forester
  16. 2014 Toyota Tundra
  17. 2014 Toyota RAV4

From Toyotas to Kias, Chevys, 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!

Earth Day: Nissan, New York City Launch Plan for “Taxi of Tomorrow”

April 22 is Earth Day, and to celebrate, New York City is teaming up with Nissan to put the Taxi of Tomorrow on our city’s streets.

Nissan has donated six Nissan Leafs to the city of New York as part of the city’s plan to transition all taxis to electric vehicles. Over the next few years, they will test out the Nissan Leafs, pinpoint any needed adjustments, and find the best way to transition one-third of the fleet to electric vehicles by the end of the decade.

Nissan executive Joe Castelli was optimistic about the future of the program, stating, “Following the selection of Nissan NV200 as New York City’s Taxi of Tomorrow, our relationship with the city provides us the ultimate proving ground to conduct this Leaf taxi pilot to help optimize the use of electric vehicle technology for future application.”

Are you looking for a new family car, a new summer ride, or something more fuel efficient and better for the environment? No matter what kind of car you’re looking for, Approved Loan Store wants to 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!

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

WardsAuto Announces 10 Best Interiors of 2013

Yesterday, WardsAuto announced the winners of their 10 Best Interiors of 2013, one of the year’s most highly anticipated awards, and surprisingly no single automaker walked away with a majority of the list.

Toyota Motor Corp and General Motors Co took home the most awards with 2 spots each, and the rest of the spots went to vehicles from Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Nissan, and Chrysler.

In a press release from WardsAuto, WardsAuto World Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter spoke about the importance of a vehicle’s interior and how they are “vital” in winning over drivers’ “hearts and minds.”

“It wasn’t uncommon all that long ago for auto makers to view interiors as the best place to take cost out of a vehicle program,” explained Winter. “They eventually figured out that’s a big mistake because people spend a lot more time looking at the inside of their vehicle than outside.

The winners are as follows, in alphabetical order:

Acura RDX (Honda Motor Co. Ltd.)
Cadillac XTS (General Motors Co.)
Chevrolet Spark (General Motors Co.)
Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd.)
Kia Forte (Kia Motors Corp.)
Lexus GS 450h (Toyota Motor Corp.)
Mazda6 (Mazda Motor Corp.)
Nissan Pathfinder (Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.)
Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn (Chrysler Group LLC)
Toyota Avalon (Toyota Motor Corp)

Winners will be honored at a ceremony during the WardsAuto Interiors Conference on May 22 in Dearborn, MI.

Readers, we want to hear from you! What do you think of the 2013 winners? Are you happy with the list, or did you notice any snubs? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

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

Major Recall Affects Over 3 Million Vehicles Worldwide

Toyota, Honda, and Nissan announced this morning that they would be recalling over 3 million vehicles worldwide due to faulty passenger-side air bags.

According to the Associated Press, the inflator on the air bags could potentially burst and send loose plastic pieces flying at passengers. So far, Toyota has had five reports of air bag problems, but fortunately none of the automakers have received reports of injuries.

Toyota will be recalling approximately 1.7 million vehicles including Corollas, Tundras, and other models produced between November 2000 and March 2004, and Honda and Nissan will recall 1.1 million and 480,000 vehicles respectively. Of the vehicles recalled, approximately 1.26 million of those vehicles are in North America.

To find out if your car has been affected by the recall, Toyota owners can find out more information here, Honda owners can find out more here, and Nissan owners can find out more here.

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

Electric Vehicles Outsell Plug-In Hybrids in March

March was a fantastic month for car sales in the U.S., but more notably, it was the best month for electric vehicles ever recorded.

Last month, there were 4,553 battery electric vehicles sold, outselling electric hybrids for the first time ever. There were 3,079 electric hybrid vehicles sold that month and an additional 46,327 hybrid units, bringing the total of electric and hybrid vehicles to 53,959 units.

By comparison, there were 2,616 battery electric vehicles sold in February and 2,022 vehicles sold in January. According to EV World News, the Nissan Leaf did quite well in March selling 2,236 units, and they outsold the Chevy Volt which sold 1,478 units in March. Nissan and Chevy both dropped their prices on the Leaf and Volt considerably last year after sales for both models were lagging, and March might be a sign of those discounts really paying off.

Whatever kind of car you are looking for, Approved Loan Store wants to help YOU get it for the best rates possible! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we will work to get you into a new or used car 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 subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Image courtesy of Victor Habbick / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

March Record Month for Nissan Leaf

If sales trends continue, March might be the best month ever for the Nissan Leaf.

The Nissan Leaf has struggled since its initial release to pull in big sales numbers, mostly due to its price, but Nissan has rolled out a number of discounts and incentives over the past year. Back in October, Nissan dropped the price for the Leaf, and drivers whose cars were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy were able to purchase the Leaf as well as other Nissan models using the typical employee discount. President Obama has also rolled out tax credits on qualifying hybrid, natural gas, and electric cars which includes the Nissan Leaf.

Across the board, electric cars saw a boost in November thanks to these discounts, but now the Nissan Leaf is looking to have its best sales month ever, selling more than 1,900 units in March. While Nissan leadership is pleased with the numbers, though, they are already pushing ahead. Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn was quoted, “Our ambition on the Leaf is not 2,000 a month. The target is much bigger than that. But we will have to be patient and resilient.”

Readers, we want to hear from you! What do you think of the Nissan Leaf? Have Nissan’s incentives and discounts made you consider taking the Leaf for a test drive? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

Are you ready to get into a new or used car today? 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! Get started today by filling out our secure online auto loan application here, and connect with Approved Loan Store on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

New Car Financing: 2013’s Cheapest Cars

As auto makers release their new models for 2013, car shoppers on a budget should be very pleased. Among the new 2013 models, there are a lot of great cars with top-of-the-line features now included with no extra cost. At the Approved Loan Store, we want you to get the best value for your dollar, so we’ve compiled a list of the least expensive 2013 vehicles and some of their standard features. These vehicles range in price from $12,780 up to $15,515.

Bottom line? If you thought you couldn’t afford a new car, you thought wrong.

Nissan Versa – $12,780
Features: 31 city/40 highway mpg, Push Button Ignition, hands-free cell phone calling, Nissan Navigation System with 5-inch touch-screen, USB iPod input, and rear-view camera

Chevrolet Spark LS – $12,995
Features: 32 city/38 highways mpg, 5-speed manual transmission, 4-speaker audio system, 4-wheel antilock front disc/rear drum brakes, and StabiliTrak stability control system

Smart ForTwo Pure – $13,240
Features: 34 city/38 highway mpg, 5-speed automated manual transmission, leather steering wheel and gearshift knob, electronic stability program (ESP) with hill start assist, aux audio input jack, and antilock braking system

Ford Fiesta S – $13,995
Features: 29 city/39 highway mpg, 1.6L Duratec I-4 engine, Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS), AdvanceTrac Stability Control, six-speed automatic transmission, aux audio input jack, 4-inch LCD display screen, 4-wheel antilock brake system, and SecuriLock passive anti-theft ignition system

Kia Rio LX – $14,350
Features: 29 city/37 highway mpg, 1.6L I-4 engine, 4 speakers audio system, USB/aux audio input jack, antilock brakes, 15” tires with steel wheel covers, and electronic stability program (ESP) with hill start assist

Chevrolet Sonic LS – $14,995
Features: 26 city/35 highways mpg, 1.8L 4-cylinder engine, 4 speakers audio system, aux audio input jack, OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics, remote keyless entry, and engine immobilizer, theft-deterrent system

Toyota Yaris L – $15,130
Features: 30 city/37 highway mpg, 1.5L 4-cylinder engine,6 speakers audio system, CD player, aux audio input jack, on-board computer, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, 4-wheel antilock brakes, and stability control

Kia Soul Base – $15,175
Features: 25 city/30 highway mpg, 1.6L 4-cylinder engine, AM/FM/CD/MP3/SiriusXM audio system with 4 speakers, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, power door locks, and remote keyless entry with Folding Key

Hyundai Accent GLS – $15,320
Features: 28 city/37 highways mpg, 1.6L 4-cylinder engine, antilock braking system, 172-watt AM/FM/SiriusXM/CD/MP3 audio system with 6 speakers, power door locks, and remote keyless entry with panic alert

Mazda2 Sport – $15,515
Features: 29 city/35 highway mpg, 1.5L 4-cylinder engine, antilock braking system, AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with 4 speakers, remote keyless entry, and engine immobilizer, theft-deterrent system

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

Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

AOL Autos Announces Technology of the Year Award Winner

This year, AOL Autos gave out its first Technology of the Year Award, and the Chrysler Uconnect was victorious in a very competitive field of “connective” technology.

The other five finalists for the award included the MyFord Mobile app, the Audi connect with Google Maps, Cadillac’s CUE system, Honda’s LaneWatch, and Nissan’s Tire Pressure Alert and Refill System. These systems improved driver safety, made navigational systems more user-friendly, and allowed drivers to access the internet on the go.

Chrysler’s Uconnect won over both the judges and AOL Auto readers alike. AOL Autos Editor-in-Chief David Kiley praised the system, saying, “It was easy to use, it was intuitive. It worked perfectly with our phones. The voice control worked just right, and it had enough new features to qualify it as new among our nominees for 2012. Technology that works the way it’s supposed to? Well, that could be the new definition of state-of-the-art.”

The new Chrysler Uconnect is available in the 2013 Ram 1500 and Dodge Viper, and it will soon be available in all new Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram models.

Readers, we want to hear from you! Does this award make you more likely to check out the Uconnect and the new Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram line-up? Have you had the chance to try out the new Uconnect? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

Want more auto news and 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. Are you ready to get into a new or used car today? Approved Loan Store wants to help you! Get started by filling out our secure online auto loan application here!

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!