Tag Archives: The Car Connection

2013 Ford Fusion, Hybrid, and Energi Earn Five-Star Safety Ratings

Last week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that the 2013 Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid would receive a five-star safety rating, making it the third version of the 2013 Ford Fusion to receive a five-star rating.

Previously, the gasoline 2013 Ford Fusion and the Ford Fusion Hybrid had both received five-star ratings from the NHTSA. Broken down, each vehicle was rated up to five stars in frontal, side-impact, and rollover crash tests. The gasoline Fusion and Fusion Hybrid received five stars in the frontal test, four stars in the side-impact test, and four stars in the rollover crash test. Comparatively, the Energi earned scores of five stars in the frontal test, five stars in the side-impact test, and four stars in the rollover crash tests.

As if all of these honors weren’t enough, the gasoline Ford Fusion won The Car Connection’s Best Car to Buy 2013 award earlier this month, and the Fusion has also been named a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Additionally, the Fusion Hybrid also won Green Car of the Year at the L.A. Auto Show and Autobytel’s 2013 Car of the Year.

Are you looking for a safer car or one with better fuel efficiency? No matter what you’re looking for, Approved Loan Store wants to help you get in a car you want at terms you can afford! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we will work with you! 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!

Four Ways to Avoid Car Thieves

No one expects to be the target of a car thief, but in 2010, over 700,000 cars were reported as stolen. Every car owner should know the proper steps to take to decrease the chance of car theft, but most people do not. At Approved Loan Store, we want to get people into the car they want, and we want them to hold onto those cars as well. For that reason, we wanted to share some tips from The Car Connection for deterring car thieves.

Pack up laptops, iPads, and other electronics: Around Christmas time, most drivers will keep their shopping bags out of sight for car thieves scoping for a target. Year-round, it is smart to store any electronics left in the car in the glove compartment or under a seat, or if you can, leave the laptop or iPad at home.

Park smart: Always park in well-lit areas, and watch for how many people walk or drive by. If the area gets a lot of foot or street traffic, a car thief will feel less comfortable trying to break into the car.

Get a car alarm (and advertise it): Get a real-time vehicle tracking system for the car, and make sure to keep it active. Also, a car thief might think twice about stealing a car if they know the car has an alarm system. If an OnStar system comes with a window sticker, keep it in the window. A thief might be deterred just knowing that the car is protected.

Be extra careful with popular cars: Popular cars are easier to steal because they blend into traffic, and their car parts are in higher demand. Obviously, it doesn’t make sense to tell drivers not to buy popular cars, but if drivers follow the other three steps, their car is less likely to be targeted by thieves.

Are there any tips you would add to The Car Connection’s list? Tell us below in the comments section!

If you are looking for a great new or used car, Approved Loan Store wants to help! 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!

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Car Repairs: Save Money and Don’t Do-It-Yourself!

Thanks to do-it-yourself TV shows and YouTube channels, everyone thinks they can become an expert in hair styling, cooking, or car repairs in no time at all. Unsurprisingly, that isn’t really true. Anyone can learn to change a tire or charge the oil, but for most car repairs, you need a certain level of training.

This week, The Car Connection compiled a list of repairs that should really be left to the experts, and after reviewing the list, we at Approved Loan Store have to agree. If you ever run into these problems with your car, don’t take a risk and try to save money by doing it yourself. Talk to friends or read reviews online, and find a trusted mechanic.

Timing-belt replacement – In one case, a DIY customer turned what would have been a $600 repair job for a mechanic into a $3,500 job for a mechanic.

Transmission maintenance or repair – Automatic transmissions are tricky for anyone, and it is too easy to mess up one of the intricate parts and ultimately destroy the transmission.

Overheating – An overheated engine needs a trained mechanic. End of story.

Drivability problems and error codes – When fixing an error code, DIYers sometimes make the mistake of replacing an entire part when there might not even be a problem with that part. Take it to the professionals and let them run tests on the check light.

Replacing suspension components – Labor costs on suspension repairs isn’t bad, and the chance of error is very high. Also, suspension repairs sometimes require specialty equipment that most DIYers won’t have. In the end, it makes much more sense to let a mechanic do it.

Are you looking for a new or used vehicle but your credit is holding you back? Approved Loan Store wants to help! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and we will set up an appointment with a Special Finance Representative. Also, keep up with the latest from 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(s): FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Auto Loan Education: Best Fuel Efficiency Cars

Anyone who has ever owned a car knows that the true cost of a car goes beyond what is paid at the dealership. Maintaining a car and keeping it in top shape is important to avoid more expensive repairs, but one of the biggest day-to-day costs of a car is, of course, paying for gas. By getting a car that is more fuel efficient, however, drivers can save big bucks over the course of a year at the gas pump. We have compiled some of the most fuel-efficient cars according to FuelEconomy.gov, the United States government’s official online source for fuel economy information, alternative fuels, and ways to save money on the road.

2012 Honda CR-Z
Price: Starting at $19,545
Approximate Fuel Cost/Year: $1365
Miles/Gallon: 35 for city driving, 39 for highway
Reviews: Motor Trend praised the Honda CR-Z for its “bold looks, high quality, and genuine driver appeal” and emphasized that this is more than just a good hybrid car. The Honda CR-Z is a great car, period.

If you’d like to get into a pre-owned Honda CR-Z, fill out this application today.

2012 Scion iQ
Price: Starting at $15,265
Approximate Fuel Cost/Year: $1365
Miles/Gallon: 36 for city driving, 37 for highway
Reviews: Motor Trend gave the Scion iQ a glowing review after driving it around San Francisco. Its small but surprisingly not cramped layout makes it the perfect car for city driving.

If you’d like to get into a pre-owned Scion iQ, fill out this application today.

2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV
Price: Starting at $21,625
Approximate Fuel Cost/Year: $540
kw-hrs/100 miles (for electric cars): 27 for city driving, 34 for highway
Reviews: The Mitsubishi i-MiEV did not do so well with Motor Trend as far as lengthy drives, but they called it a good investment for city commuter drivers who are looking for an environmentally-friendly car.

If you’d like to get into a pre-owned Mitsubishi i-MiEV, fill out this application today.

2012 Chevrolet Volt
Price: Starting at $33,500
Approximate Fuel Cost/Year: $1470 for gas, $648 for electricity
Miles/Gallon: 35 for city driving, 40 for highway
kw-hrs/100 miles: 36 for city driving, 37 for highway
Reviews: The folks over at Motor Trend couldn’t praise the 2011 Chevy Volt highly enough, calling it “one of the most significant automobiles to come out of Detroit in the 60-year history of [Motor Trend.]” While their “First Test” review was not available as of this article’s publication, we expect that Motor Trend will continue their love for 2011’s Car of the Year.

If you’d like to get into a pre-owned Chevy Volt, fill out this application today.

2012 Nissan Leaf
Price: Starting at $27,700
Approximate Fuel Cost/Year: $612
kw-hrs/100 miles: 32 for city driving, 37 for highway
Reviews: Motor Trend did not have their review for the 2012 Nissan Leaf yet, but The Car Connection called it a “quiet, smooth” ride and loved the car’s unique design. They also appreciated that it was an electric car with 5 seats instead of the usual 4 seats standard to most electric cars.

If you’d like to get into a pre-owned Nissan Leaf, fill out this application today.

2012 Hyundai Sonata
Price: Starting at $20,000
Approximate Fuel Cost/Year: $1805
Miles/Gallon: 24 for city driving, 35 for highway
Reviews: According to Motor Trend’s review, the Sonata’s design is not only distinctive and visually attractive but also makes sense aerodynamically. Tests showed that the 2012 design lessened the drag over the 2011 model, showing that Hyundai is constantly striving to make their cars better.

If you’d like to get into a pre-owned Hyundai Sonata, fill out this application today.

2012 Audi A3
Price: Starting at $27,270
Approximate Fuel Cost/Year: $1768
Miles/Gallon: 30 for city driving, 42 for highway
Reviews: Motor Trend hasn’t reviewed the 2012 Audi A3 yet, but U.S. News ranked it as one of their top 11 Upscale Small Cars, calling it practical but fun. Their review said it was the car “able to do it all” from winter driving to back road races.

If you’d like to get into a pre-owned Audi A3, fill out this application today.

2012 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen
Price: Starting at $16,495
Approximate Fuel Cost/Year: $1768
Miles/Gallon: 30 for city driving, 42 for highway
Reviews: No review from Motor Trend yet, but Edmunds claims that the Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen is “in a class of its own,” praising everything from its luxurious interior to its fuel efficiency.

If you’d like to get into a pre-owned Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, fill out this application today.

2012 Toyota Prius V
Price: Starting at $23,520
Approximate Fuel Cost/Year: $1203
Miles/Gallon: 44 for city driving, 40 for highway
Reviews: The Toyota Prius V was a contender for Motor Trend’s Car of the Year award, and even though the fuel efficiency was not as strong as the 2011 model, the 2012 model has more interior space. They said with the added space, it was a good choice for people who wanted something like an SUV but didn’t want an SUV.

If you’d like to get into a pre-owned Toyota Prius V, fill out this application today.

2012 Kia Forte
Price: Starting at $16,200
Approximate Fuel Cost/Year: $1946
Miles/Gallon: 23 for city driving, 32 for highway
Reviews: U.S. News ranked the 2012 Kia Forte in their top 10 Affordable Small Cars, and amongst reviewers, the consensus is that there is a lot to love about the Kia Forte. Besides that, it is the best deal for the dollar when compared to similar cars in its class with a roomy interior and more standard features including iPod USB port, Bluetooth, and satellite radio.

If you’d like to get into a pre-owned Kia Forte, fill out this application today.

Ready to get into a car? Apply for a car loan by clicking on the Approved Car Loan tab, and stay tuned to our blog to learn how to save more on your day-to-day car expenses! Make sure to also follow Approved Loan Store on Facebook.