Tag Archives: special finance

New Car Financing: Ford Focus Earns NHTSA Five-Star Rating

2012 has been a great year for the Ford Focus. Back in September, the Focus was projected to outsell the perennial favorite, the Toyota Corolla, and become the world’s best-selling car of 2012. This week, the Focus got more good news when it earned a five-star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The NHTSA’s Overall Vehicle Score is a combination of the vehicle’s score on its front and side impact crash tests and a rollover resistance test. Broken down, the Focus scored four stars on the rollover resistance and front crash test and scored five stars for the side crash test, earning it the overall five-star score.

The Ford Focus’ high score can be attributed to the new safety technology utilized in the vehicle. Some of these features include the Safety Canopy curtain airbags which protect passengers during a rollover and driver airbags that better protect the chest and ribs in an accident. Also, the SYNC system includes hands-free calls and texting, and the new AdvanceTrac system helps reduce vehicle skidding and automatically makes adjustments to keep the vehicle on track.

While the Ford Focus has already been selling well in 2012, this distinction might give the Ford Focus that boost it needs to outsell the Corolla in the last few months of the year. We will have to wait and see how the numbers ultimately break down at the end of 2012, and we will keep you posted when we know which car will win out as the world’s best-selling car.

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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: Ferrari F12 Berlinetta Auction Raises $1.125 million

In a follow up to a story last week, Ferrari auctioned off the very first Ferrari F12 Berlinetta sold in the United States at the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix last weekend.

The auction, which was hosted at the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, raised money for the American Red Cross, specifically Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. Larry Roth of Long Island, New York was the winning bidder and paid $1.125 million for the F12. Once the F12 Berlinetta officially goes on sale, it will start at the low $300,000s. Ferrari also raised an additional $345,000 in donations for the American Red Cross thanks to the generosity of dealerships and Ferrari enthusiasts.

As great as that is, I would love to see individual donors like our readers boost those donations. This storm hit close to home for us. We have dealerships throughout the New York and New Jersey area, and it hurts us to see our friends and neighbors still struggling, particularly as the weather gets colder. In our original story, we provided a link to Ferrari’s page on the American Red Cross website, and we’re linking it again here. Please donate to the American Red Cross if you can, even if it isn’t much. Every bit helps.

Looking for more auto news? Check out Approved Loan Store on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube! Looking for a new or used car but running into credit problems? Approved Loan Store can help! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and read our customer testimonials here!

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.

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Chevrolet and Disney Take Test Drives to the Next Level

Since it is Friday, we thought we’d send our readers into the weekend with a smile and a touch of magic courtesy of the good people at Disney and Chevrolet.

In just under 3 weeks, one of Walt Disney World’s most thrilling rides Test Track will reopen after a major renovation and upgrade.

Test Track presented by Chevrolet is a high-speed ride that takes park guests through a vehicle test drive. It opened in 1999 replacing the World of Motion attraction and quickly became a popular ride. In Test Track, riders would brave extreme weather, rough terrain, and sharp turns as engineers test the car’s performance.

In recent years, Disney parks have striven to give park goers a unique experience when they come back to a favorite attraction. The recent Star Tours reboot was broken into 3 acts with different beginnings, middles, and endings, creating hundreds of possible combinations for the ride. Also, the recent Radiator Springs Racers at Cars Land has two different tracks and an ending race that changes with each ride.

Test Track took a page from Star Tours and Radiator Springs Racers’ book. Before the upgrade, every guest that rode Test Track had essentially the same experience. Now, guests will get to design their own vehicle before boarding the ride, and the choices they make will affect their ride experience. Melissa Jeselnick of Walt Disney Imagineering explains, “Your input, plus the Chevrolet design know-how and a dash of Disney magic equals your very own concept car with trillions of possible outcomes.”

From concept art, it looks like riders will design their car on a touch-screen computer while in line, but it is not clear exactly how all of these customizable elements will work once the ride is up and running. Fortunately, car enthusiasts and Disney fans will just have to wait a little while longer to see the finished ride. The new Test Track presented by Chevrolet is scheduled to open December 6 at Walt Disney World’s Epcot Center.

Are you excited for the new test track? Does the interactive design element make you more or less likely to try it? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

Are you looking for a great new or used car that can stand up to bad weather and rough roads? Approved Loan Store can help! 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 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!

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!

CONSUMER ALERT: Jeep Recall on Certain Jeep Grand Cherokee, Liberty Vehicles

Last Friday, Chrysler announced that they will be recalling certain Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty vehicles after discovering an issue with the airbags system.

According to the NHTSA, the front and side curtain airbags in some vehicles have been deploying inadvertently which can cause the driver to be injured or to lose control of the vehicle. The affected vehicles are 2002 and 2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles that were manufactured between January 9, 2001 and March 28, 2003 as well as 2002, 2003, and 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees manufactured between February 13, 2001 and May 23, 2003. Chrysler has stated that any affected owners will be contacted, and owners can take their vehicles to their local Chrysler dealership to have their airbag system fixed free of charge.

If owners have any questions about the recall, go to http://www.safercar.gov or call Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753 or the NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236.

We at the Approved Loan Store want to keep our readers safe on the road, and you can get the latest auto news and consumer alerts by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube. Also, if you are looking for a new or used vehicle, we are ready to help you! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we want to get you in the car you want at rates you can afford! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and we will contact you with the Approved Loan Store location nearest you!

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!