Tag Archives: savings

Auto Loan: VW Celebrates 2012 Sales, Prepares for 2013 Challenges

In the first month of 2013, many automakers are still crunching their numbers from 2012, and though it is already well-known that 2012 was a great year for the auto industry, it is still not known just how well each individual automaker sold.

This week, VW announced that brand sales went up 31 percent in December, even as some of the other European brands did not see the same success. In Russia, China, and the United States, VW saw major gains, delivering millions of vehicles around the world.

Still, VW isn’t ready to rest on its laurels in 2013. VW’s Sales Chief Christian Klinger predicted that 2013 would be “a very demanding year” for VW, especially with auto sales struggling in most of Europe. Klinger made it clear in his statement, though, that VW is aware of the challenges ahead and preparing to meet those challenges head-on.

Readers, we want to hear from you! What do you think of the VW brand and their line-up? Are you looking for a new car in 2013, and will you consider buying a VW? 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 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! 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!

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!

NHTSA: Hybrids, Electric Cars Need to be Noisier

Since they hit the market, electric cars and hybrids have had trouble really finding their audience. Everyone loves to pay less on gas, but questions of safety and whether it is really better for the environment have plagued its journey into mainstream America. A new, less obvious problem has recent come to light as more drivers are choosing hybrid and electric cars.

Federal safety regulators are concerned that hybrid and electric cars are simply too quiet. Most cars make enough noise to alert pedestrians, cyclists, or visually impaired persons, but these hybrids and electric cars are so quiet that pedestrians are sometimes unaware of their presence.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, is asking automakers to add sound systems to their hybrid and electric vehicles. The sound system, which will emit warning sounds to pedestrians, is expected to cost an additional $30 to automakers but will have a minimal effect on the vehicle’s fuel efficiency. According to David Strickland, the NHTSA’s Administrator, automakers would be able to choose a variety of sounds depending on the make and model.

Are you looking to get into a new or used vehicle? Approved Loan Store can help! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we can get you into the car you want at terms you can afford! 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 James Barker / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

New Car Financing: Average Fuel Economy Hit New Height in 2012

If you purchased a new vehicle in 2012, you most likely chose a vehicle with higher fuel economy than any of your previous cars.

On Friday, researchers from the University of Michigan released data on the average fuel economy of new vehicles sold since October 2007. They found that fuel economy has gone from 20.1 mpg to 23.9 mpg, a 19 percent improvement in a five year period.

To be clear, this doesn’t mean that SUVs or minivans have suddenly become 19 percent more fuel efficient. The overall average is affected by car buyers gravitating towards mid-sized sedans, compacts, and minicars instead of larger vehicles. Within this group, hybrid vehicles like the Prius and Volt are also doing very well even as electric cars are struggling.

Readers, we want to hear from you! When you’re looking for a new car, how important is fuel efficiency? Will you get a compact or a hybrid vehicle for your next car? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

Are you looking for a new or used car? 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! 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!

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UPDATE: NHTSA Pushes Back Standard Rear-View Cameras

Back in March last year, we reported that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) would make rear-view cameras a standard feature in all vehicles. Unfortunately, it looks like the NHTSA will be delaying the adoption of that rule for a while yet.

According to Autoblog, automakers were supposed to have rear-view cameras in a minimum 10 percent of their cars by 2012, 40 percent by 2013, and 100 percent of all vehicles by 2014. Right now, automakers are not on track to make those numbers, mainly because automakers have complained about the cost of making these cameras standard.

How much do these cameras cost automakers? Well, many cars currently come with display screens, and for those vehicles, the upgrade to a rear-view camera system is only $58 to $88. Vehicles that don’t have display screens, however, will cost $159 to $203 to upgrade. Consider, however, that back-over accidents cause an average of 183 fatalities and up to 7,419 injuries every year. Perhaps the cost of an upgrade is one that consumers and automakers should be willing to pay.

Readers, what do you think? Do you have a rear-view camera in your car, and do you think rear-view cameras should be mandatory? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

Are you looking for a new or used vehicle? Approved Loan Store can help you! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we want to 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!

Discolor Tyre Reminds Drivers to Change Worn Tires

Are you unsure if your car needs new tires? A new product called the Discolor Tyre will take the guesswork out of deciding to change your tires.

The concept is so simple that I am surprised it took so long for someone to create it. A Discolor Tyre looks like any normal tire at first, but with use, the top layer is rubbed away to reveal an orange color underneath. When the driver sees that orange color, they know that they need to change their tires.

Knowing when to change your vehicle’s tires is a safety issue. Worn-out tires put a car at higher risk for hydroplaning and traction issues. Besides that, it is a legal issue. Most states require that drivers change their tires when they are worn down to 1.6mm of the remaining tread depth. With the Discolor Tyre, drivers will have one less car maintenance requirement to worry about because the tire will remind them when to change it.

Readers, we want to hear from you! What do you think of the Discolor Tyre? Do these tires mean the end of the tried-and-true penny test? Leave a comment below, and let us know 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 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!

Consumer Reports: Best Value Cars of 2012

When shopping for a car, it is important to look at the long-term value of that car. As 2012 comes to an end, Consumer Reports has released its list of the top vehicles that will retain their original value, and they chose an overall best value from the wide range of vehicles on the market last year. Needless to say, Toyota was very happy with the results.

Here is a full rundown of the winners.

Overall Best Value – Toyota Prius
Small Hatchback – Toyota Prius Four
Small Sedan – Toyota Corolla LE
Family Sedan – Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE
Upscale Sedan – Acura TSX (I4)
Luxury Sedan – Cadillac CTS
Sports Car/Convertible – Mini Cooper
Wagon/Minivan – Toyota Prius V Three
Small SUV – Honda CR-V EX
Midsize SUV – Toyota Highlander Limited (V6)
Large/Luxury SUV – Lexus RX350

Across the board, Toyota Motor Company was the clear favorite taking 7 of the 11 categories with the Lexus RX350 included, and none of Toyota Motor Company’s vehicles made the Worst Value list. No other automaker even came close to that level of excellence. Better yet, many of the vehicles featured on the list are hybrid vehicles or have an extremely good fuel economy, so consumers are saving money at the pump.

Do you want to check out these cars for yourself? Approved Loan Store can help you! We have a huge range in our inventory whether if you are looking for more power, greater value, or just something reliable. Get started by filling 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!

Auto Loan: Chevy Volt Gets Top Customer Rating for Second Year

It is the ultimate goal of every automaker to produce a car that drivers love so much that they would buy it again for their next car. I would guess then that GM is very happy this week as the Chevy Volt has, for the second year in a row, received the highest user satisfaction rating from Consumer Reports.

93 percent of Volt owners stated that they would buy a Volt again. The Volt beat out the popular Dodge Challenger and Porsche 911 which both received a 91 percent rating.

Some of the other top vehicles of the year were the Volkswagen Golf TDI at 80 percent, Toyota Camry Hybrid at 87 percent, Audi A7 at 90 percent, Toyota Prius V at 83 percent, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 at 81 percent.

Readers, we want to hear from you! Does the Chevy Volt’s satisfaction rating from Consumer Reports make you more likely to buy a Volt? What cars have you loved so much that you would purchase them again? 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 you! 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 for more auto news and buying tips, check out Approved Loan Store on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

New Car Financing: 2013 Chevy Cruze Introduces Safer “Smart” Airbags

When looking for a new or used car, the price, features, and comfort are all taken into consideration, but at the end of the day, I want to know that the car I am buying will keep me safe.

With that in mind, GM has announced that the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze will come with a “smart” airbag as a standard feature. Typical airbags can actually cause injury to the driver if they are not seated the proper distance from the front airbag, but these new airbags use a flexible vent so that the driver’s momentum will push the air out.

GM General Director of Vehicle Safety Gay Kent has praised the new airbag as a “smart way to manage crash forces,” and GM is marketing it as an “industry first” in safety technology.

When it comes to airbag injuries, it is important to remember that airbags are most effective when passengers are wearing their seat belts. The large majority of airbag injuries occur when the driver or passenger was not wearing a seat belt, and even with the new technology in Chevy’s airbag system, it will not work properly if seat belts are not worn.

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 with you to get you into a car you want at terms you can afford! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and for 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!

Bad Credit Auto Loans: More Subprime Auto Loans in 2012

According to one of the big 3 credit bureaus, now is the time for subprime credit car shoppers to go for an auto loan.

Earlier this month, Experian Automotive released statistics about auto loans written in the third quarter, and they found that 42 percent of new and used auto loans were for subprime buyers. In this report, subprime buyers are classified as buyers with credit scores below 680. Overall, average credit scores on new auto loans are down to 755 compared to 763 last year, and looking at individual automakers, the average scores could be as low as 694.

For car buyers with a troubled credit history, it is clear that this is a great time to buy. The end of 2012 is offering a perfect combination of holiday sales specials and lenders ready to grant auto loans. Besides that, car buyers looking for a used car will get the added advantage of dealerships wanting to move last year’s inventory to make room for the new models.

Are you ready to get into a new or used car today? Approved Loan Store can help you! Good credit, bad credit, 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.

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

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