Tag Archives: test drive

Nissan Leaf Quadruples Sales, Inventory Running Low

Nissan LeafJuly is almost over, and with 2013 more than halfway done, it is becoming clearer that this is the year for the Nissan Leaf.

Back in March, Nissan broke sales records selling over 1,900 units that month, and for the past few months, Nissan has sold more than 2,000 units each month. The popularity of the Leaf can be attributed to the recovering economy as well as tax credits up to $7,500 and other incentives, though it seems like Nissan was even surprised that the Leaf is selling four-times its numbers from 2012.

The one downside to the Leaf’s sudden popularity is that Nissan might not have enough inventory to keep up with demand. Erik Gottfried, Nissan’s director of electric vehicle sales and marketing, recently admitted that Nissan would be running short on their Leaf inventory, stating, “It will be late fall before we can produce enough to satisfy everybody.” Car shoppers who want to pick up the Nissan Leaf before the end of the summer will want to get into a dealership as soon as possible. Otherwise, they might have to wait until this fall for Nissan to replenish their inventory.

Readers, we want to hear from you! Have you taken the Nissan Leaf for a test drive yet? With its rising popularity and the tax credits, are you more likely to research and possibly purchase it? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

Summer time is here! Are you finally ready to get into a great new or used 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!

Maritz Research: Over 1 in 10 Car Buyers Skip Test Drive

Once upon a time, car shopping looked very different than it does now. Car buyers would read magazines and consumer reports, go into several dealerships, and test drive different models until they found “the one.” The internet has changed the car buying process with online reviews for dealerships and models as well as online auto loan services like Approved Loan Store. Aside from test drives and signing the deal, consumers can pretty much go through their entire car shopping experience before they even set foot in the dealership.

For the most part, we at Approved Loan Store like this development. We are constantly striving to make the car buying process simple, even for consumers with difficult credit situations. Unfortunately, some consumers are cutting out an important step in the car buying process: the test drive. A recent study from Maritz Research shows that 11.4 percent of car buyers in 2012 did not take a test drive before purchasing the car. Out of the buyers who did take a test drive, nearly 10 percent scheduled the test drive online.

What does this mean? Well, over 1 in 10 consumers relied entirely on online reviews, word-of-mouth, or previous experience with the car such as a rental. They didn’t get behind the wheel of the car before buying it. While we are all for a quick-and-easy car buying experience, we at Approved Loan Store find this trend a bit distressing. We would rather see car buyers trying a vehicle out instead of completely relying on someone else’s word. Besides that, different drivers have different needs, and that is why a test drive is so essential. A mini-van or SUV might seem huge to a single person or a couple, but a family with young children might notice after a test drive that the back seat on the particular model doesn’t fit comfortably with several car seats and a diaper bag. By skipping the test drive, a car buyer could end up paying for the wrong car.

With Approved Loan Store, we want to get you into the car that is right for you at terms you can afford!  Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and come in to take a test drive and meet with our special finance representative! Also, you can keep up with 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!

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GM Announces Major Breakthrough in Electric Car Batteries

This might be only the second full week of August, but already it is the month of hybrid and electric cars. Earlier this week, we told you about new technology out of Middle Tennessee State University that will transform normal vehicles into fuel-efficient hybrid cars.  Yesterday, GM continued the trend by making a major announcement about the future of electric cars.

GM CEO Dan Akerson announced at an employee meeting Thursday that there has been a breakthrough in the lithium-ion batteries used in electric cars. Right now, the Chevrolet Volt can go for about 35 miles per electric charge with a gas motor that kicks in if the battery power runs out. Akerson announced that the new batteries would be able to travel 100 miles per charge, nearly three times its current power, and he teased that the batteries would soon be able to travel up to 200 miles per charge. He called the increased battery power a “game changer” in the industry.

Even with this great news, though, GM is still being cautious and keeping their business in mind while exploring hybrids and electric cars. If it turns out that they can’t make 200-mile batteries, they are also working on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and natural gas vehicles. Akerson compared focusing solely on electric cars to putting “all of our chips on one bet” and assured GM employees and the public that GM would explore all of their options.

If GM came out with electric cars that could go 200 miles on one charge, would you take one for a test drive? Leave a comment below, and tell us what you think!

GM’s new high-powered electric cars are still a ways off, but Approved Loan Store wants to help you get into a new or used car today. Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we want to help you! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and keep up with 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!