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Tips for Getting a Cheap Car Loan

Purchasing a car is a necessary part of life, and getting an auto loan
is a common element of the car-shopping process. But just like shopping for a car, you can shop for your auto loan. There are several different strategies that consumers can employ to save money on their auto loans. By practicing these smart shopping tips, you can feel confident that you’re getting the best loan to fit your needs. Here are some of the most common strategies you can employ today:
1.Get competitive quotes: One of the smartest ways you can ensure that you’re receiving the most cost-effective loan is by getting competitive quotes. The Internet is a perfect tool for this, as you can comparison shop with a number of lenders all from the comfort of home. But even better, through services such as Automobile.com you can have comparison quotes created on your behalf. By receiving multiple quotes, you can assess several loan proposals at once and select the one that offers you the best advantages.
2.Keep your credit in good standing: Your credit rating could be the most important factor for getting approved for a low-interest rate auto loan. Several factors go into creating your credit score, which is also called a FICO score. You can improve your score gradually by always paying your bills on time, keeping balances on credit cards low, and keeping your credit card accounts open for several years (not opening and closing accounts haphazardly). In general, consumers with a credit score above 700receive preferable interest rates.
3.Think about term: If low monthly payments are your concern, then you may want to consider extending the term of your loan. If you select a loan with a 60-month term, you will pay less each month than a loan with a 48-month term. Of course, you will pay more in interest overall – but this may be a necessary decision to help you get approved for a loan you can afford. Conversely, if your goal is to pay off your loan fast, you may consider a 36-month loan if you can afford the higher monthly payments. In the long run, a shorter term loan will save you money overall because you spend less on interest.
4.Shop within your budget: Can you really afford leather seats or a moon roof? If these luxury items are costing you thousands of dollars you don’t have, you might want to consider a stripped-down version of the car you have in mind. Here’s why: That extra $5,000 in luxury add-ons also means $5,000 on the balance of your loan, which means you’ll be paying for that moon roof for the next five years (or longer).
5.Be a critical consumer: The Internet is making the loan-application process much easier for consumers, and it’s also putting them in control. Rather than walking into a bank and applying for a loan, you can apply for several loans at once online. This means multiple banks are competing for your business – and not the other way around. There’s nothing wrong with shopping for a loan just as you shop for a good deal on a car. Be a wise consumer, and you can find areas to save money in the long run.

Mercedes SLR McLaren

The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is a sports car and supercar automobile co-developed by DaimlerChrysler and McLaren Cars. It is assembled at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England. Most people presume "SLR" to stand for "Sportlich, Leicht, Rennsport" (German for "Sport; Light; Racing"). The car's base price is £300,000 or $455,500. The SLR has a supercharged 5.5 (5439cc) litre dry sumped 90 degree V8. It produces 466.8 kW at 6500rpm (626 hp) and 780 N·m (575 ft·lbf) torque at 3250 - 5000 rpm.

Aston Martin Vanquish

The Aston Martin V12 Vanquish is a supercar manufactured by Aston Martin since 2001. It rose to fame after being featured as the official James Bond car in Die Another Day, the twentieth James Bond film. In the film, the Vanquish has the usual Bond film embellishments, including active camouflage which rendered the vehicle virtually invisible. The Vanquish is powered by a 5.9 L (5935 cc) 48-valve 60° V12 engine, which produces 343 kW (460 hp) and 542 N·m (400 ft·lbf) of torque. It is controlled by a fly-by-wire throttle and a 6 speed 'paddle shift' or semi-automatic transmission. A special V12 Vanquish S debuted at the 2004 Paris Auto Show with the power upped to 388 kW (520 hp) and 577 N·m (426 ft·lbf).

Rolls-Royce Phantom

The Rolls-Royce Phantom is a luxury saloon automobile made by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, a BMW subsidiary. It was launched in 2003 and is the first Rolls-Royce model made under the ownership of BMW. It has a 6.8 L, 48-valve, V12 engine that produces 453 hp (338 kW) and 531 ft·lbf (720 N·m) of torque. The engine is derived from BMW's existing V12 powerplant. It is 1.63 m (63 in) tall, 1.99 m (74.8 in) wide, 5.83 m (228 in) long, and weighs 2485 kg (5478 lb). The body of the car is built on an aluminium spaceframe and the Phantom can accelerate to 60 mph (100 km/h) in 5.7 s.

Koenigsegg CCX

The Koenigsegg CCX is the latest supercar from Koenigsegg. CCX is an abbreviation for Competition Coupe X. The X commemorates the 10th anniversary of the completion and test drive of the first CC vehicle in 1996. The CCX is intended to be more suitable for the U.S. market and thus engineered to comply with US regulations. The CCX is powered by a Koenigsegg designed and assembled, all aluminium, 4700 cm³ DOHC 32-valve V8 based on the Ford Modular engine architecture enhanced with twin Rotrex centrifugal superchargers with response system, 1.2 bar boost pressure and an 8.2:1 compression ratio. The engine produces 806 hp (601 kW) and 678 lbf.ft (920 Nm) on 91 octane (U.S. rating) gasoline, 850 hp (634 kW) on 96 octane (Euro rating) gasoline and 900 hp (671 kW) on biofuel.

Ferrari Enzo

The Enzo Ferrari, sometimes referred to as the the Ferrari Enzo and also F60 is a 12-cylinder Ferrari supercar named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. It was built in 2003 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fiber body, F1-style sequential shift transmission, and carbon-ceramic brake discs. Also used are technologies not allowed in F1 such as active aerodynamics. After a maximum downforce of 1709 pounds (775 kg) is reached at 186 mph (301 km/h) the rear spoiler is actuated by computer to maintain that downforce.

Bugatti Veyron

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is the most powerful, most expensive, and fastest street-legal production car in the world, with a proven top speed of over 400 km/h (407 km/h or 253 mph). It reached full production in September 2005. The car is built by Volkswagen AG subsidiary Bugatti Automobiles SAS and is sold under the legendary Bugatti marque. It is named after racing driver Pierre Veyron, who won the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1939 while racing for the original Bugatti firm. The Veyron features a W16 engine—16 cylinders in 4 banks of 4 cylinders. According to Volkswagen, the final production Veyron engine produces between 1020 and 1040 metric hp (1006 to 1026 SAE net hp), so the car will be advertised as producing "1001 horsepower" in both the US and European markets. This easily makes it the most powerful production road-car engine in history.

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CAR'S SAFETY:
Which Vehicle History Report Is Right for You?For safety's sake, you should know a used car's history before you buy it. But not all vehicle history reports offer the same level of information. Edmunds test-drives the old standard, Carfax, plus new entrants AutoCheck and VinCheck
What Crash Test Scores MeanA high rating in the government's frontal crash test and the IIHS's frontal offset test mean two very different things. Know the difference before you buy a car.
Update: How To Avoid Buying a Flood-Damaged CarGulf Coast hurricanes. Midwest floods. How to know if that new car you want (or just bought) was sleeping with the fishes – then given a "clean" title.
Look Officer, No HandsDue to new laws, drivers in California and Washington are joining millions who have gone "hands-free." Here's a guide on how to go Bluetooth, no matter where you live or what you drive.
How To Keep Your Old Car Safe To DriveIn this economy, many folks are trying to make their old car last a lot longer. We'll help you stretch that dollar safely.
New Side-Impact Requirements Change the Cars We BuyA tough government "pole test" will translate to more side airbags standard on new cars. What will that cost you?
Visibility: Now You See Me...Now You Don'tFrom small cars to big SUVs, visibility problems loom large in the U.S. car market. Are automakers designing for style or substance?
Find the Safety Features, NHTSA and IIHS Crash Test Ratings on any new car instantly!
Feds' Tougher Crash Tests Raise the Bar on Car SafetyHow government crash tests will get harder — and what it could mean for your vehicle rating.
See if your car has been recalled or needs service!
See All Car Safety Articles

CHILD SAFETY AND CAR SEATS:
New Safety Act To Save Kids' LivesIt's been a long time coming, but the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act will save lives by improving rear visibility and requiring other vehicle changes.
Driving PregnantAirbags and seatbelts can protect unborn children, but there are important rules for expectant mothers to follow.
Should School Buses Have Seatbelts?Think this is a no-brainer? Not so fast. Safety, money and enforcement are all part of an ongoing debate.
Tragic YouTube Video Questions Seatbelt SafetyAfter their 3-year-old was killed in a crash, the Millers produced a heartbreaking video and posted it on YouTube. Almost 2 million views later, the debate over seatbelt failure continues.
Are Infants Safe in Their Car Seats?Consumer Reports' publication — and quick withdrawal — of infant car seat crash tests created confusion and controversy. Here's the low-down for parents.
Preventing Backover DeathsAs advocacy groups battle the government and automakers to create the first rear visibility standard for U.S. vehicles, 100 children die annually from "backovers" and thousands more are injured. Here are some of their stories.
How To Choose a Car SeatChoosing a car seat is an important and confusing decision. Here's how to seat your children safely, from the time they're born until they can fit into adult seatbelts.
How To Install a Car Seat More than 80 percent of all car seats are incorrectly installed or used. Here's how to properly protect your most precious cargo.
Booster Seats: Fight the Good FightYour child may not want to sit in a booster, but it's the easiest way to protect him.
Ten (Mostly) Safety Features Every Minivan Should HaveFamilies buy minivans for safe, convenient transport. Include as many of these safety features as you can afford.

TEEN DRIVING:
Too Fast, Too Fatal: An Insider's Look at Street Racing The street racing trend is growing, often with tragic results.
How To Crashproof Your Teen DriverOur new teen driver safety series offers comprehensive advice on protecting this highest-risk group, including best/worst cars and strategies for parents.
Driving Skills for Life: Crash CourseTeen defensive driving school sounds like a great idea — to adults. Here's a teen's take on the experience.
Life-Saving Annoyance — The Graduated Driver LicenseStates with graduated driver licenses (GDLs) require teens to earn driving privileges in several stages. Teens complain, but GDLs do save lives.
Skidding for Safety's SakeDriver's ed just doesn't cut it. Ford's "Driving Skills for Life" program provided 700 lucky teens with hands-on training for real-world emergencies.
Painful Now or Painful Later: Teaching Your Teen To Drive A father and his teenage daughter offer tips for parents bravely attempting to teach their teens to drive.
Driver's Ed Online: The End of Classroom Drudgery?Know someone who's ready for driver's ed? Tell them about this, and they'll sing your praises.

CAR SAFETY TECHNOLOGY:
The Latest Auto Safety TechnologyForget pie-in-the-sky, concept technology. Here are recent safety advances you'll soon see in showrooms.
Evaluating Stolen Vehicle Recovery SystemsUnless you have a stolen vehicle recovery system in your car before it's stolen, there’s little chance you'll get it back. We break down the pros, cons and pricing of available systems.
Bluetooth CompatibilityWhether you're required by law to talk "hands-free" while you drive or simply enjoy Bluetooth's convenience, you'll need to know which phones work with which cars. Here's a guide.
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems: Can You Rely on Them?Soon, every vehicle in the U.S. will have tire pressure monitors. But by the time the dash light illuminates, your tires may be dangerously low on air.
Protecting Pedestrians Through Vehicle DesignPedestrian accidents comprise about 11 percent of motor vehicle deaths annually. Automakers are now putting some of the safety focus outside the vehicle.
Telematics: Can Great Tech Find an Encore?OnStar, TeleAid and BMW Assist make consumers feel safe and secure, but can they do more?
Most Important Safety Features for a Family VehicleWhen buying a family car, don't skimp on the safety features. These will help you achieve maximum peace of mind.
Safer (and Sportier) Utility VehiclesCan an SUV be as safe, and even as much fun to drive, as a sport sedan?
Traction ControlTraction control improves vehicle safety, especially if you drive in rain or snow. What is it, and how does it work?

BMW Builds a Shape-Shifting Car Out of Cloth

Concept cars give automotive designers a chance to let their imaginations run wild, often with outlandish results. But even by that measure, BMW has come up with something as strange as it is innovative — a shape-shifting car covered with fabric.
Instead of steel, aluminum or even carbon fiber, the GINA Light Visiionary Model has a body of seamless fabric stretched over a movable metal frame that allows the driver to change its shape at will. The car — which actually runs and drives — is a styling design headed straight for the BMW Musium in Munich and so it will never see production, but building a practical car wasn’t the point.

"68 mpg" Honda Insight

Name: Honda Insight (last year of production 2006)

Manufacturer: Honda Certified Car Search

Sold in: USAMRSP: Used cars only

Engine: 995 cc

Fuel efficiency: Average: 61-68 mpg. (manual)

Avge CO emissions: gr/km

Average range: about 700 miles (manual).

Fuel: Regular Unleaded/Electricity

EV Innovations unveils two electric cars — one fast, one funky

We're at the New York International Auto Show today, and one of the first things that caught our eye was the Wave, a brand new plug-in electric car from EV Innovations (formerly
Hybrid technologies). The car is meant to be an affordable electric vehicle for commuters — it can get up to 170 miles on a charge. It starts at $34,000.