While it's true that many lenders these days are seen as the bad guys, there is - in fact - a lender whose programs are creating satisfied customers and helping them personally. RoadLoans has always had many positive testimonials, but a recent one is especially relevant because it illustrates how a simple thing like an auto loan can make a difference in the quality of someone's life.

Greg was driving 160 miles a day in his pickup truck to travel to and from his job. At around 17 miles per gallon, that translated into a monthly gas bill of about $800. 

"I really needed to get out of my truck and get a better fuel economy car," he recalls. "But I couldn't get financed." He was turned down at every dealership he visited because of his credit situation. Then he found RoadLoans. 

"I received an e-mail approval from RoadLoans...I was able to negotiate as a cash customer. I purchased a brand new Nissan Sentra that gets 33 mpg on the highway. RoadLoans not only saved me $400 a month on gas, but they also helped me get a new car with a warranty and no worries of breaking down."

If you are feeling the pinch of high gas prices and are thinking about finding a more fuel-friendly vehicle, visit RoadLoans and see what they can do for you. 

 

 

If your idea of fun is racing down a picturesque road at lightening speed in a car that is movie-worthy, well...your wait is over. For the bargain price of $5,000 and a trip to the New Jersey Motorsports Park, you can test your skill behind the wheel of, say, the Ferrari F430 or a Lamborghini Gallardo. Not your style? How about a Mercedes CLK63 AMG (top speed: 189 mph) or an Aston Martin DB89?

 

The creators of SuperCar Life offer a full-day package that pampers the car enthusiast with gourmet meals at the track and educational sessions designed to improve your driving skill. And then there's the driving. It's fun. And fast. And a bit frightening. Did we mention fast? People that have done this say it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience to ride in a dream car. 

The folks at RoadLoans also have a record of helping people get into their dream cars. OK, so maybe not Lamborghinis or Aston Martins, but cars that would make any owner proud. Take Brian and Joni from St. Petersburg, Fla. They always wanted a BMW, but never imagined they would own one until they found RoadLoans. 

"I always wanted a BMW convertible. RoadLoans made my dream come true," said Joni. "With the fast approval process, friendly staff and quick turnaround on my RoadLoans check, all I had to do was negotiate my price with the car dealership and sign my check. Thank you, RoadLoans!"

With all the flooding that's been happening in the U.S. this summer, it's not a bad idea to know how to spot a vehicle that has spent some time in the water. The National Automobile Dealers Association offers this summary of the problem: "Five million vehicles are totaled by insurance companies each year. Many of them are resold at salvage auctions, rebuilt and then enter the market with a clean vehicle title. Consumers could buy a rebuilt wreck without kknowing the extensive damage to the vehicle."

NADA offers 10 tips for spotting flood damaged vehicles on their Web site. Among the things to look for: recently shampooed carpet, water residue or stain marks under the floorboard carpet, and a moldy or musty smell in the upholstery, carpet or trunk. 

NADA notes that "the problem with totaled, flooded...vehicles persists because state motor vehicle titling laws are confusing and incomplete. Insurance companies are not required to 'red flag' total loss vehicles for customers. Also, buyers do not have enough timely access to title data from DMVs or total-loss data from insurance companies."

Consumers and dealers could benefit from having more complete VIN-based histories prior to purchasing vehicles. Bills are currently in the U.S. House and Senate that would provide for a VIN-based ID system that would permanently "red flag" totaled vehicles, and require insurance companies to disclose the VINs of vehicles deemed totaled, and the circumstances surrounding such losses. 

 

Any parent that has successfully survived a road trip with their kids knows that the key is planning, lots of distractions and a little luck. (Think anti-Griswolds.) Never been brave enough to try a car trip with the kiddos? No worries. A few minutes spent searching on the Web yields some resources that might very well save your sanity.

The About.com site has a cool library of travel ideas for kids of all ages. There are printable games, locators for finding restaurants where kids eat free, and more. Nick Jr. online also has a comprehensive travel section that not only has great resources, but ready-made kid-focused itineraries of fun things to do in places like New York, Orlando and Los Angeles. 

Happy travels!

If you are shopping for a car and have kids, it's a good time to check your child safety seats to ensure that they work properly and are installed correctly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration, more than 90,000 children under the age of eight are killed every year in auto crashes. Three out of four safety seats do not pass an inspection for proper installation. Child Passenger Safety Week is Sept. 21-27, and the NHTSA is hoping to spread awareness of the importance of seat inspection. 

Today, many auto dealers not only help you with buying a car or finding an auto loan, they can also help you properly install your kids' safety seats. Every year more of them send their dealership personnel to certification classes for installing restraints, and hold child passenger safety inspection days at their stores. Fire stations, hospitals and other organizations can also inspect your car seats. The NHTSA has a great tool that allows you to search for inspection locations near you. 

And don't forget booster seats. Research shows that the majority of the 20 million booster seat-aged children (generally kids between ages four and eight) are not properly secured while riding in automobiles.