Tag Archives: used car

Road Rage, Texting Problem with American Drivers

According to a new survey from Harris Interactive, more Americans need to take a breath and put down their phones when they get behind the wheel.

The survey looked at American drivers who are employed full-time and examined their behaviors on the road. As it turns out, women were slightly more likely to admit to road rage than men with 61 percent of women saying they had experienced road rage compared to 56 percent of men, and drivers between the ages of 25 and 34 experienced road rage more than the 55 and older respondents.

If this wasn’t discouraging enough, 30 percent of survey respondents admitted that they have texted while driving. States across the country have passed laws against texting while driving, and shows like Fox’s Glee have done episodes and PSAs on the subject. Still, drivers continue to text and drive undeterred by the obvious dangers.

At Approved Loan Store, we want all of our readers and customers to stay safe on the road, and there are simple steps to alleviate stress while driving! Turn off your cell phone so there isn’t any temptation to answer it while driving, and in the summer heat, stay cool and hydrated to avoid road rage. Be calm, be careful, and stay safe this summer!

Are you looking for an auto loan? Approved Loan Store wants to get you into a new or used car! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we want to help you get the car you want at terms you can afford! 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

Free Wedding with Oil Change? Dealership Wedding Makes Headlines

In Wichita, a young couple walked into a car dealership and left with a truck, a car, and a wedding.

Jada Miller and Shane Starlin weren’t even planning to get married when they walked into the Suzuki of Wichita. They were looking for a truck and a Suzuki Kizashi, and as they were shopping, their salesman Randolph Warren commented on the lack of wedding rings. Jada bluntly replied that they weren’t married because Shane hadn’t asked her. After some playful joking around, Shane said he didn’t know a minister, and Randolph volunteered that he was an ordained minister and could perform the ceremony at the dealership. Jada and Shane didn’t immediately take him up on the offer, but when they returned to get a tire replaced, they took Randolph up on his offer.

The dealership transformed the showroom into a wedding chapel with a flowery wedding arch and a white walkway. The wedding music was “Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts and songs by the a cappella group Intensity. The dealership even arranged for the cake, a baby-blue and white cake with wedding ring cake toppers. While it was unconventional, there was a genuine sweetness to the whole event.

Jada and Shane’s story has been covered by the Wichita Eagle and Jalopnik among other news sites, and the wedding highlights video is available on YouTube. I think what draws people to the story is the spontaneity of it. Wedding culture has turned into a monster of satin and lace that seemingly feeds on piles of money. For many people, weddings are stressful affairs that lose the celebration of love in the midst of family politics and fighting over the budget. Jada and Shane’s wedding was simple, fun, and low-maintenance while still being memorable for everyone involved.

While Approved Loan Store hasn’t hosted any weddings yet, we continue to do what we do best: get customers into cars. Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we want to help you get into a great new or used car! 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!

Original Image at Suzuki of Wichita

Two-Face Car: State Farm Builds Monster Classic Car

Last weekend, The Dark Knight Rises broke box office records and won critical acclaim as well. America has Batman on the brain, including car enthusiasts, so Jalopnik was very excited to find a classic car rebuilt to resemble one of Batman’s most famous villains.

Harvey Dent, also known as Two-Face, is an iconic villain, and even people who don’t read comic books know Two-Face. One side of his face is handsome, and the other is hideously deformed. Now, State Farm needed a new way to train classic car insurance appraisers so they could tell the difference between a good restoration and a shoddy one. They wanted something that would be memorable for the trainees, so instead of just bringing in a good classic car and a bad classic car, they build a classic car with two “faces.”

On the driver’s side, this 1968 Camaro has been meticulously refinished with an off-white paint job. On the passenger’s side, the car is a patchwork of parts covered in flashy red, white, and blue paint. The brakes, wheels, and cylinder heads don’t match, but the car does its job. Side by side, it isn’t hard to see the difference between the good restoration and the bad restoration.

Unfortunately, there is a bit of a downer for anyone thinking about getting their hands on State Farm’s Frankenstein of classic cars. The “Harvey Dent” car is not exactly built for the road. It can drive well enough to use in training or show off at an auto show, but personally, I wouldn’t feel comfortable driving it out on the road.

Approved Loan Store might not have the “Two-Face” car, but we love to get our customers into the new or used car of their dreams! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we want to help you! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and connect with Approved Loan Store on Facebook, Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Image Credit: State Farm on Flickr

Auto Loan vs. Cash: When a Loan is the Better Choice

Last Friday, guest blogger Lance from “Budgets are Sexy” was featured on MSN Money and stirred up some controversy with the headline “Why a car loan can beat paying cash.” As expected, many cash-only advocates got very upset and all but called for the authors head to be served on a silver platter to Dave Ramsey. We wanted to take a quick look at why he took out a car loan instead of paying cash and then open it up to our readers for feedback.

First, he wanted to get an installment loan on his credit history. At this point, he had several credit cards which he paid off regularly and on-time, and he did not take out any student loans in college. With such a sparse credit history, he thought that an auto loan that was paid on time would make a good addition to his credit report.

Second, he got a 0.9 percent interest rate for 36 months. Some readers didn’t know why he would pay any interest rate on a purchase he could afford to pay with cash, but considering that the interest he was earning on his savings account covered the additional interest on the car loan, it was a smart choice. Under these circumstances, he built up his credit history, and it didn’t cost him anything extra.

Finally, he appreciated not depleting his funds to pay for the car outright. By taking out the loan, he could still maintain his emergency fund in case of job loss or medical emergency. Most personal finance experts recommend keeping an emergency fund with enough money to live on for six to eight months, and thanks to the loan, he could keep his six-month emergency fund.

What do you think about his decision? If you could pay for a car in cash, would you choose to take out a loan? Leave us a comment below, and tell us what you think!

Are you looking for an auto loan? Approved Loan Store can help! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and get connected with Approved Loan Store on Facebook, Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Business Insider: In the Auto Industry, Subprime is Not a Dirty Word

Here at Approved Loan Store, we work with customers with all sorts of credit situations. While we help out plenty of customers with good credit scores find a better deal, our specialty has always been working with consumers who have subprime credit.

Now, the term “subprime lending” has become a loaded term because people associate it with subprime mortgages, but there are enormous differences between the subprime auto and mortgage industry as outlined this week in an article by Business Insider.

There are two main reasons why subprime auto loans are not the same risk of subprime mortgage loans. First, consumers default less on auto loans than on mortgages. Car repos happen much quicker than foreclosures, so consumers feel compelled to keep up with their payments. Besides that, a car is necessary for many people to make it into work, especially in areas of the country without public transportation options. If they don’t have a car, they have to rely on other people for a ride to work, to the grocery store, or to go out on the town. Most people will make cuts where they need to so they can maintain their car and their independence.

Second, subprime auto loans are not nearly the same risk for lenders as subprime mortgages. This is why so many of Approved Loan Store’s lender partners have been able to offer these auto loans to consumers with very low credit scores while they would deny that same consumer for a credit card, a mortgage, or a personal loan. For this reason, auto loans are a great way for consumers with challenged credit to re-establish themselves and build up a positive payment history. We call this the “Everyone Deserves a Second Chance” effect.

Are you looking to get into a new or used vehicle? Approved Loan Store wants to help, even if you have bad credit, good credit, or so-so credit! Fill out our secure online auto loan application today, and keep up with the latest in credit and 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

FIAT’s New “Immigrants” Ad Gets It Right

In the past few years, FIAT has tried commercials starring model Catrinel Menghia, Jennifer Lopez, Charlie Sheen, and an Italian-speaking baby. Overall, the ads have been hit or miss, and in my opinion, they have sold the commercial’s gimmick better than the car. After seeing FIAT’s new commercial titled “Immigrants,” though, I think they might have finally gotten it right.

The commercial opens in Italy and plays up the heritage with traditional music and images of an Italian wedding and cyclists dressed in red, white, and green. FIAT 500s zoom around through the town and along the oceanfront. Suddenly, one FIAT calmly drives off the edge of a cliff into the ocean, and like lemmings, the rest of the cars follow into the ocean. The traditional Italian music fades out, and then the cars emerge on the other side of the ocean with the Statue of Liberty reflected in the windshield. Music by Pitbull fades in as the “immigrant” cars drive through the streets of New York, and the narrator says, “The next wave of Italians is coming to America, and they’ve come to party.”

You can view the full commercial below.

More than any other ad, “Immigrants” captures what sets FIAT apart from other brands. The ad is quirky, cute, and memorable. It creates a distinct identity for FIAT that will appeal to car shoppers, something that couldn’t be done with random celebrity appearances and talking-baby gimmicks. Hopefully FIAT will continue in this direction with their new ad campaigns and not swayed by a pretty face or a famous name.

What do you think of the ad? Do you like this new ad campaign from FIAT? Leave a comment below and tell us what you think!

Are you looking for a great new or used car? Approved Loan Store can 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.

New Jersey Car Enthusiast Stumbles Upon Nazi-Owned Mercedes-Benz

A car collector in New Jersey might have stumbled upon a rare find, a Mercedes 320 Cabriolet D convertible that might have once belonged to Adolf Hitler.

Zenop Tuncer, the owner of Euro Tech Motors, made the discovery while trying to procure a Mercedes-Benz 540K for real estate developer Fred Daibes. He couldn’t get the car Daibes initially wanted, but he offered a 1942 Mercedes 320 Cabriolet D convertible instead which Tuncer found during his search. Tuncer suspected something was unusual when he contacted Mercedes-Benz to order additional parts for the car, and a company rep asked if there was an eagle with a swastika next to the serial number. As it turns out, Mercedes-Benz had built eight of these cars for the Nazis, and Daibes’ car could be one of them.

The authenticity of the car and the claim have not been fully investigated yet, but it is a fascinating story nonetheless. If the car is one of the ones that Mercedes-Benz built for the Nazis, it is a rare piece of history, and Tuncer and Daibes were lucky to stumble upon it. Daibes told CBS News, “It’s Hitler’s car, he’s a devil, but you know, he’s still part of history. From a financial point of view the car is worth more money than when I paid for it so that’s the only way I look at it.”

Readers, we want to hear from you! How would you feel about owning a car that might have belonged to Hitler? Would you preserve it for history, or would you feel uncomfortable with it? Leave a comment below, and tell us what you think!

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

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!