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New vs. Used Cars War Rages On

There is a lot of debate among car and personal finance writers as far as buying new vs. used cars. Should car shoppers go with the security of a new car with no chance of a bad previous driver history, or should they go for the value with a used car?

In a recent article for Business Insider, financial planner Sophia Bera made the case for sticking with a reliable used car and not spending beyond one’s means on a luxury car. She cites Dr. Thomas Stanley’s research which found that Toyotas are the most popular car make among millionaires. By opting for a less expensive car, they had more money to save or put towards other luxuries like vacations or a nicer home.

Bera sings the praises of her 1997 Toyota Corolla which she bought used and is still running great. Her husband’s car, a 1998 Honda Civic, has also served them well, and since he paid it off in only nine months, they cut down on additional interest.

While Bera has some great points in her piece, we want to hear from our readers! Do you prefer buying new or used, and what would you choose for your next car? Leave a comment below, and tell us what you think!

If you’re looking for a 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

South Beach Tow Shows the Other Side of Car Repossession

Many Americans have experienced the frustration and embarrassment of a car repossession, but very few people stop to imagine what it is like to be a repo man or woman. The work is hard, safety is often a big concern, and nobody likes it when repo man is successful at his or her job. In Jennifer Lopez’s new show South Beach Tow, a camera crew follows the daily life and work of Tremont Towing in South Beach, Miami.

The show reminds me a lot of Dog the Bounty Hunter except that Tremont Towing brings in cars, not parole violators. Sometimes it is funny, sometimes it is scary, but it is almost always ridiculous. People in South Beach will apparently do everything and anything to prevent that tow truck from taking their car. In one episode, a team of paintball players gang up and shoot paint over the VIN number before chasing Junior, one of the repo men, back into his truck. In another, a frat boy at a pimp-and-hoes party busted out the passenger-side window with his cane.

Whether you enjoy this type of reality TV or not, though, I think it provides some perspective to the many Americans who have dealt with a car repossession. No matter what the circumstances surrounding a repo, those repo men and women are human beings who are just trying to do their job, and violence or verbal abuse is not helpful nor warranted. Also, if you are having trouble keeping up with car payments, reach out to your lenders and work out a plan of action. They understand that job loss or other unforeseeable circumstances happen, and more often than not, they want to work with you.

If you have gone through a car repossession, a bankruptcy, or other credit problems, you can still get into a new or used vehicle through Approved Loan Store! We want to help you get into the car you want at terms you can afford! Fill out our secure auto loan application here, and 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.

Fred Flintstone’s Car, Now Available in the 21st Century!

A custom car in Germany is bringing back memories of classic Saturday morning cartoons. Engineer Sebastian Trager loves the Flintstones so much that he decided to turn a Volkswagen Polo into a real-life Flintstone’s car.

Unlike Fred’s iconic car, Trager’s car has a real motor, but otherwise the car is a fantastic replica from the animal skin-covered bench seats to the fake “stone” wheels. Unfortunately, the car is missing many necessities for a modern car to be street legal, like seat belts and headlights. Trager recounted, “When we got the registration form section about the number of lights, windscreen washers and wipers, well, we don’t even have a windscreen so we gave up.”

While Trager’s car might be banned from the road, his Flintstones car has gotten a lot of attention at shows and exhibitions from nostalgic car lovers. For many people, the Flintstones car was one of the first cars they saw on TV as a child, and it holds a special place in my heart personally. My grandfather loved the Flintstones, and I can only imagine his delight if he had gotten the chance to see Trager’s creation.

Approved Loan Store might not be able to get you into the Flintstones car, but we have a huge new and used inventory with hundreds of makes and models available. Bad credit? Not a problem! We have helped hundreds of people get into the new or used car of their dreams! 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!

Auto Loans and the Road Back to Good Credit

For consumers looking to re-establish a strong credit history, auto loans are becoming the best choice, even for those with especially poor credit.

The qualifications for mortgages, business loans, and credit cards have held steady with strict income and credit requirements, and consumers whose credit took a hit during the economic downturn are having a tough time getting back in good graces with lenders. As many of these applicants have been turned down for credit cards or mortgages, though, many of them have been approved for car loans.

For many consumers with poor credit, a car loan is perfect. Car ownership has been show to correlate with job security and less reliance on public assistance, and it is a purchase that most consumers want and need. Besides that, their credit score will improve as they make their car payments on time, provided they keep up with their other payment obligations of course.

This is one of the reasons why Approved Loan Store exists and why we do what we do. We want to help more people get into the car they want and need. Just take a look through our hundreds of testimonials, and you’ll see that we are the best in the business. Give Approved Loan Store a try by filling out our secure online auto loan application here. You will hear from one of our representatives in 24 – 48 hours, and they will set up an appointment with a Special Finance Representative at a dealership closest to you.

Want to know more about Approved Loan Store? Browse our website ApprovedLoanStore.com, and be sure to like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

June’s Top Selling Cars: Trucks, Compact Leading the Pack

Anyone paying attention to car sales in 2012 knows that June was a spectacular month, continuing the upward trend set in the spring. Everyone is asking what is causing these high sales and renewed interest in getting back on the road. Personally, I think the best way to find out why people are buying new cars is to look at the type of cars they are buying. Below, we have listed the top 10 selling cars in June with #1 selling over 55,000 units and #10 selling slightly under 24,000.

Ford F-Series pickups – 55,025 units
Chevy Silverado – 33,566 units
Toyota Camry – 32,107 units
Chevy Malibu – 31,402 units
Honda Accord – 28,924 units
Ford Escape – 28,500 units
Honda Civic – 27,500 units
Toyota Corolla and Matrix – 26,647 units
Ford Fusion – 24,433 units
Ram pickups – 23,951 units

Some people are pointing to the Ford F-Series pickups and Chevy Silverado topping the list and saying that car buyers are looking for a fun summer car for camping or just getting outdoors for the day. Even though trucks took the top two spots, though, compact cars dominated the overall top ten list in June with those top compact cars selling 171,013 units. Only one SUV or crossover made the list which could be due to high gas prices, but considering that trucks are selling just fine, it might be that car buyers just aren’t looking at SUVs and crossover vehicles.

What do you think of the top 10 list? Are there any cars on the list that surprise you? Leave a comment below, and tell us what you think!

Are you looking for a great new or used vehicle? Approved Loan Store can help! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and keep up with our latest auto blogs and consumer alerts by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

“Connected” Cars: Distraction or Asset?

Recently, activists and parents have been speaking up on the dangers of distracted driving, using PSAs and popular TV shows like Glee to warn drivers of all ages. If a study from market researcher ABI is to be believed, though, the battle against distracted driving is uphill, barefoot, and through torrential rain.

Distracted driving is the all-encompassing term which includes talking on the phone, texting, or surfing the internet while driving. The answer isn’t as simple as outlawing cell phone use in the car, though. New touch-screen technologies in vehicles could also be considered distractions, and ABI’s projections predict that more than 60 percent of cars will be “connected” by 2017. Never mind getting teen drivers off their phones, imagine disconnecting cars from new technology. All those anti-cell phone laws will be worthless when people have a myriad of distractions built into their cars.

Of course, there is another way to look at this trend. Some of these new technologies allow for cars to communicate with each other and avoid collisions, and many people see “connected” cars as a step towards self-driving vehicles. People won’t have to worry about being distracted drivers because in the future, they won’t be driving at all. Until then, some of these “distractions” have safeguards built in to keep the driver safe, such as Ford’s SYNC and MyFord Touch system with driver stress test. The system measures the driver’s vitals, and when they show signs of stress or the road conditions worsen, all outside distractions are lessened. Incoming texts and calls through Ford SYNC are disabled, and the driver can better focus on safe driving.

Readers, we want to know what you think! Are these new technologies an asset and a step towards a brighter driving future, or are they a distraction that will endanger other drivers on the road? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

Are you looking for a new or used vehicle? Approved Loan Store wants to help, even if you have poor credit or no credit! 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

Carpooling Network Coming to the United States

At the Approved Loan Store, we know how long and boring the morning commute can be. If you’d like to qualify for the carpool lane, though, a German company wants to give you some company on the way into work.

Carpooling.com was founded by 3 German MBA students, and since its inception, it has spread to Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Greece, the United Kingdom, and now the United States. Approximately 1 million people use their services every month. The concept is simple. Riders can register through the website and look up drivers according to area, type of vehicle and seating accommodations, available time, and price. Carpooling.com also has a Facebook, iPhone, and Android app to make booking on the go easier. They also offer women-only rides, driver safety ratings, and an online ratings system to put the riders and drivers at ease.

There are a lot of advantages to carpooling. First, it saves on commuting costs with riders splitting the cost of gas, and there are obvious benefits for the environment. Also, carpooling matches up people who might otherwise never meet, and some drivers and riders have struck up life-long friendships after riding together. Their website also brags of more than 10 wedding of people who met through Carpooling.com.

The reason why Carpooling.com has taken so long to get to the United States is that people feel iffy about riding with someone they don’t know. Some people worry about safety, either that the driver will be reckless or that the driver or rider will be a dangerous individual. Fortunately, there are safeguards in place to protect riders and drivers, and it is certainly more safe than finding a carpool ride through other online avenues like Craigslist.

Readers, we want to hear from you! Would you consider being a driver for Carpooling.com or another carpool website? Would you ever use it to find a ride? Leave a comment below, and tell us what you think!

Are you looking for a new or used vehicle? Approved Loan Store can help! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and keep up with the latest news by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

“God Save the Queen” As Performed by MINI Coopers

All around the world, people are getting excited for the upcoming Olympic games which will be hosted in London this year. MINI Coopers have teamed up with the London Philharmonic Orchestra to celebrate the occasion.

Earlier this week, MINI Cooper released this video of the British national anthem as performed on car horn. Nine red, white, and blue MINI Coopers were lined up in front of a conductor’s stand, and nine musicians dressed to the nines sat with their hands poised over the car horn, waiting for their cue. Then conductor Gareth Newman led them in a rousing rendition of “God Save the Queen” as the British flag is raised over the stadium.

You can see the full video here:

The video is silly fun, and I expect people will get a kick out of it. Plus, I love MINI Coopers. In my opinion, they have become as much a part of pop culture as the VW Bug. Still, I will always prefer horns and strings to the sound of car horns belting out “God Save the Queen.” These car music videos are a novelty, but they aren’t necessarily good music.

Are you looking to get into a MINI Cooper or another great new or used vehicle? Approved Loan Store can help! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and 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!

Another Show About Nothing…and Cars

The original “show about nothing” might not be returning to TV, but Jerry Seinfeld will be bringing a new show to the internet. What’s the show about? Nothing much, except coffee and cars.

Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee is Seinfeld’s new web series. The show is exactly what the title suggests. Jerry Seinfeld takes one of his prized sports cars out for a drive and picks up a different comedian in each episode to go out for coffee. So far, the line-up includes such comedy greats as Colin Quinn, Joel Hodgson, Alec Baldwin, and Ricky Gervais, and Seinfeld fans will be excited to hear that Larry David and Michael Richards will be making appearances.

The show premieres July 17^th, but a few sneak peeks have been posted on YouTube and the show’s website. While it is hard to tell if Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee will be a success like Seinfeld or a flop like The Marriage Ref, the short-form format is a huge advantage. Audiences can casually check out a few episodes, and because there is no on-going plot or storyline, people can start watching whenever they want. Plus, Seinfeld is hitting two types of shows that have been very successful recently, which are celebrity shorts and celebrities with cool cars. Will Ferrell has had many viral hits with Funny or Die, and Jay Leno’s Garage website has also done fairly well.

Personally, I’m sold. The promo clip with Ricky Gervais was hilarious, and I love to listen to comedians chat, mostly because they’re a bunch of hams and have to one-up each other. It is one of the reasons why I love Louis C.K.’s Louie. As a bonus, I’ll get to see Jerry Seinfeld’s car collection, and from the promo alone, it looks like he has a pretty nice collection.

Approved Loan Store might not be able to get you into Jerry Seinfeld’s car collection, but we want to help you get into a great new or used car, even if you have poor credit or no credit! 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.

June Sales Defy Commentators, Continue to Grow

All through the month of June, car news and commentary was saturated with talking heads claiming that auto sales would see a downturn this month, and the soaring sales could not continue.

Needless to say, those commentators will be eating a mighty helping of crow this week as auto makers are reporting continued growth across the board. Chrysler had a 20 percent sales increase in June, making it their best June since 2007. General Motors saw a 16 percent increase, Ford had a 7 percent increase, and Toyota had a stunning 60 percent increase, coming back from the 2011 natural disasters in Japan.

The conditions are perfect for this trend to continue as the summer weather compels people to the road for vacation, convenience for work, or an old-fashioned drive in the country. Also, interest rates are dropping with an average of 4.5 percent interest rate on a 60-month new car loan, so more consumers can afford to drive.

Have you gotten into a new or used car yet? Approved Loan Store wants to help you get into a new car this summer! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and keep up with the latest auto and consumer news 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: FreeDigitalPhotos.net