Tag Archives: Ram 1500

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!

WardsAuto Announces 10 Best Interiors in April

Next month, WardsAuto will be narrowing down 47 competing vehicle interiors to only 10 for the honor of being named one of Ward’s 10 Best Interiors of 2013.

The top 3 automakers represented this year were General Motors with nine nominees, Toyota with seven nominees, and Honda with five nominees. Notably, the Ram 1500 was the only pickup truck nominated this year after having no pickup truck nominees last year.

WardsAuto editors serve as judges narrowing down and selecting the final list, and they judge interiors based on a wide variety of factors from the quality of materials used to safety features and “smart” car features. It seems like more expensive vehicles would have an edge over their competitors, but editors are less interested in price than what the driver is getting for their money. If the vehicle is a good price with a superior interior, it will have a better chance of making the list than an expensive car that doesn’t live up to its price tag.

The list will be announced next month, and WardsAuto will present the awards at a ceremony on May 22 in Dearborn, MI as part of the WardsAuto Interiors Conference. Stay tuned to the Approved Loan Store blog for the full list when it is announced.

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 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!

New Car Financing: Ram 1500 Gets Diesel Option in 2013

The Ram 1500 made headlines across the country this week when they announced that later this year, it will be getting a diesel option.

When it hits the market, the Ram 1500 will become the first modern half-ton pick-up in the United States to offer diesel. This is a major development considering that diesel trucks typically have a higher resale value than gasoline engine trucks, and they have more pulling power and a better fuel economy. With the diesel option, the Ram 1500 will have 240 horsepower and 420 pounds-feet of torque, making it more appealing to buyers who plan to use the truck in their business.

Automotive industry insiders are predicting that the diesel option could bring in tens of thousands in additional sales every year, and the CEO of Chrysler’s Ram brand Fred Diaz said in a phone interview that this is a change that Ram drivers have been “craving.”

Readers, we want to hear from you! Are you more or less likely to buy a Ram 1500 now that it has a diesel option? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

Are you ready to get into a new car? 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!

CONSUMER ALERT: Chrysler Recall on Certain Trucks, SUVs

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced a recall on certain trucks and SUVs manufactured by Chrysler Group LLC from 2009 top 2012.

According to the report filed with the NHTSA, the issue is a rear axle pinion nut that if loosened can cause the axle to lock up, and the driver could lose control of the vehicle. Chrysler is contacting the owners of all affected models, and owners can get a pinion nut retainer installed free of charge at a Chrysler dealer.

Affected vehicles include:

2009 – 2012 Ram 1500
2009 – 2011 Dodge Dakota
2009 Chrysler Aspen
2009 Dodge Durango

If you are unsure if your vehicle is affected, you can contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

You can get more consumer alerts, car buying tips, and auto industry news by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Are you ready to get into a new 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! Get started today by filling out our secure online auto loan application here!

Auto Loan: Finalists Announced for 2013 North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year

This morning, the top 3 finalists for the 20th annual North American Car of the Year and Truck/Utility of the Year were announced at a luncheon for the Automotive Press Association. Contenders for Car of the Year will be the Cadillac ATS, Ford Fusion, and Honda Accord, and contenders for Truck/Utility of the Year will be the Ford C-Max, Mazda CX-5, and Ram 1500.

Finalists for both awards were voted on by 49 American and Canadian automotive journalists. 11 cars and 10 trucks/utilities made the short list of nominees. The Dodge Dart, BMW 3 Series, and Nissan Altima were among the cars that didn’t quite make the cut. On the truck/utility side, the Ford Escape, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Nissan Pathfinder didn’t make the top 3.

Here are the complete nominee lists for the 2013 North American Car of the Year and Truck/Utility of the Year Award.

2013 North American Car of the Year

BMW 3 Series
Cadillac ATS – FINALIST
Chevrolet Malibu
Dodge Dart
Ford Fusion – FINALIST
Honda Accord – FINALIST
Lincoln MKZ
Nissan Altima
Scion FR-S
Subaru BRZ
Toyota Avalon

2013 North American Truck/Utility of the Year

Acura RDX
Audi Allroad
BMX X1
Ford C-Max – FINALIST
Ford Escape
Hyundai Santa Fe
Infiniti JX35
Mazda CX-5 – FINALIST
Nissan Pathfinder
Ram 1500 – FINALIST

Both winners will be announced on January 14th as part of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Last year’s winners were the Hyundai Elantra and the Land Rover Range Rover.

Readers, we want to hear from you! Who do you think will win Car and Truck/Utility of the Year? Do you disagree with the top 3? Leave a comment below, and tell us what you think!

Are you ready to get into a new or used car, truck, or utility vehicle? Approved Loan Store can help! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we will work with you to get you 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 buying tips by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!