MBP ‘really came in handy’

Gale Bonner found a great deal at an American 1 used auto sale – a 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis with 69,000 miles on it at a good price.

But even great cars can have problems.

“You know how a car is,” Bonner says. “Something’s going to go wrong. If it’s not one thing, it’s another.”

Eventually, that “something” was her wheel bearings. Bonner noticed her wheels squeaked on turns. When she learned it was the wheel bearings, she couldn’t afford the $300-plus repair cost.

Luckily, Bonner opted for American 1’s Mechanical Breakdown Protection (MBP). She picked the Gold Package when she financed her vehicle, and her wheel bearings were covered.

“That really came in handy,” she says. “I’m glad I got the warranty. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to afford it.”

The mechanic called to arrange payment, Bonner’s repairs were approved, and she got her Grand Marquis back the next day.

“That made me happy I put the extra money into the warranty,” Bonner says. “The whole thing was really simple.”

When Bonner originally financed the car, she was skeptical. Was a warranty worth the added payment? But because she was able to finance it into the loan, Bonner couldn’t pass up the deal.

“In my situation, I can’t afford costly repairs like that,” she says. “So I took a chance and financed the MBP with my car.”

She’s glad she did.

Bonner found her Gold MBP package covers more than she thought, and since her bearings were fixed, she’s used MBP again.

Now she recommends the protection to everyone who finances a vehicle with American 1.

Winter car care & driving tips

The past few winters have come earlier and earlier, at least here in Michigan, even thought this winter it’s taking its time. Either way, winters in Michigan mean keeping your gloved hand on the wheel and keeping some winter driving tips in mind.

Mother Proof recommends keeping an eye on the side of the road for “phantom shoulders”: “Snowplows can create a deceiving shoulder made of snow that’s level with the road surface. Going off would mean sinking into the snow.”

Leave it to Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers of NPR’s Car Talk, to have some fun with a block heater, a device that keeps your engine warm all night long: “If you do get a block heater, try to remember not to drive off with your car still plugged into your house.”

Dumb Little Man advises keeping a roadside emergency kit, “including a flashlight with fresh batteries, a blanket, food bars, water bottles, cell phone, jumper cables, flares, Fix-a-Flat, HELP Sign, and a first aid kit.” An extra pair of gloves and a hat to cover your head wouldn’t hurt either.

As MSN Autos suggests, your tires can be key in winter driving conditions. Make sure to check for the appropriate tire pressure and tread depth:

Tread depth is critical to controlling a car at all times, especially in snow or heavy rain. A simple way to check tread depth requires only a penny. Insert a penny in between the tread blocks of your car’s tire, making sure Abe Lincoln’s head goes in first and is facing toward you; once the penny touches the bottom of the groove, note if you can see the top of Abe’s head with the tire’s surface at eye level. If the tread doesn’t reach the top of Abe’s head, too much has been worn off and the tire definitely needs to be replaced.

And then there are the fluids, says CarJunky.com: brake fluid, oil grade, antifreeze, and be sure to have plenty of gas in your tank. They also suggest checking your battery’s strength in cold weather starting conditions.

You can browse for the best cold weather car options over at Cars.com. As for the best winter-ready vehicle on the road? What’s your experience? Let us know what car or truck makes the best-driving, winter-ready vehicle in the comments.

Don’t forget about our upcoming Winter Weather Vehicle Sale, offering many vehicles to prepare you for cold-weather driving.

Save money by changing your own oil

Looking to save money on auto maintenance, and happen to be in a do-it-yourself (DIY) mood?

Try changing your own oil. That’s the advice from the Art of Manliness blog.

Changing your own oil will do three things, Brett & Kate McKay say: save money, prevent theft, and feed the inner hobbyist in you.

The materials, like the oil filter and wrench set, are important, as is safety. But if you have the space, time, and inclination, changing your own oil is a good way to beat those instant lube $30 jobs.

Tips when using SimpleLoan checks

Let’s say you get pre-approved for an auto loan with American 1. You’ve got your amount all set, we’ve cut you a SimpleLoan check, and you have an idea of what kind of vehicle you want.

Now what?

Since we don’t want to send you out without the proper preperation, here are some tips to keep in mind when shopping for a vehicle with your SimpleLoan check.

First, do some research on what you want to buy. If you have a vehicle in mind, see what it’s available for in the area. Do you want used? New? Hit the auto classified section of your newspaper to see what’s selling for how much. This kind of information is extremely powerful later in the process.

If you have a trade-in vehicle, do some research to see how much you can get for it. Sites like NADA and Kelly Blue Book aren’t always 100% accurate, so ask around. And check out sites like eBay Motors and Auto Trader to see how much you vehicle is going for in your area.

Negotiate for your vehicle without letting the dealership know you have a SimpleLoan check. You should first negotiate the price of your vehicle with all the options. Once you have a price you’re willing to pay, then you can work on payments and whatever else with us at the credit union.

Pretty soon, the conversation will turn to financing. Tell the dealership you have your financing taken care of. Let them know that you are writing a check, and that you don’t need any help finding financing. The secret is that you’ve already been pre-approved with American 1, and you’re armed with your SimpleLoan check.

Don’t let them know your pre-approval amount. If the dealerships knows that amount, they’re more likely to add extras to drive up the price to your limit. This also gives you walk-away power. Remember – with that SimpleLoan check and a pre-approval amount, you’ve got the negotiating power. Don’t be afraid to walk away if you don’t get the deal you want.

When you know the price, and you’re set to finance, then you can start talking about your trade-in vehicle. By now you’ll know what your trade-in vehicle is worth. Don’t be afraid to negotiate on your trade-in vehicle’s worth to get the maximum value.

Since you’ve settled on the vehicle you want, the price you can afford, the financing is set to go, and you’re getting a decent deal on your trade-in vehicle, you can write your SimpleLoan check right then and there.

For more auto buying tips, visit our Auto Loan Experts page, or browse through other articles here on our blog.

Caveat Emptor: beware trade-in fraud

Imagine trading in your vehicle, driving away in your new vehicle, only to find out the dealership hasn’t paid off your trade-in. And you’re stuck with the bill.

That’s what happened with several couples, the Detroit Free Press reports. It happened when Walt Michael’s RV Superstore failed to pay off a couple’s trade-in RV. When the dealership went under, the couple was stuck with the RV payoff amount. Even though the trade-in RV was sold by Michael’s, the Free Press reports.

The Free Press recommends paying off your trade-in vehicle before turning it over to the dealership, or making sure the dealership agreement includes a promise-to-pay provision that says the dealer is 100% responsible for the trade-in amount. Also, ask around to see how the dealership does businesses. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see what others have to say, or to check for problems in the past.

As always, caveat emptor: buyer beware.

Payment-free auto loan winners

A hearty congratulations to Carl and Pamela Barkema of Onondaga. American 1 is paying off their $8,800 Ford F250 loan thanks to our big payment-free auto loan promotion in September.

The Barkemas have been members since 1989, and remember getting their first loan with American 1 – a four-wheeler to take up north.

In September, the Barkemas used their truck to finance an outdoor wood stove to heat their home. They were deciding between a signature loan or a secured loan using their vehicle. Carl and Pamela made the right decision, because American 1 is paying off their loan completely.

When we called and talked to Carl, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He only remembered vaguely what the promotion involved.

“I thought maybe it was to pay off all the interest,” Carl said. “It surprised me to hear that the whole thing was being paid off.”

“It’s like having an extra $180 a month for the next five years,” Pamela said.

The Barkemas are using their new-found money to purchase a hi-def TV.

We held a little celebration for them at the Home Office Tuesday morning. Check out pictures on our Flickr photo gallery, and congratulate the Barkemas if you see them around.

GAP eases crushed sense of security

Nick Detlaff never figured he would need something like American 1’s Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP). He’s a good driver, never been in an accident – why would he need to protect his vehicle?

Then a semi made a right turn that crushed Nick’s 2002 Nissan Altima, and changed his thinking.

The accident happened when Nick was taking his family to the airport for a vacation. He pulled up to an intersection and saw a semi waiting to make a left turn at the light. Nick pulled into the right lane, but things went horribly wrong when the big rig swung right, into Nick’s lane, smashing his Altima against the highway concrete.

“Luckily he stopped, or we would’ve been crushed,” Nick said. “It was a mess.”

With the vehicle totaled, the insurance company’s settlement left about $2,500 left on Nick’s auto loan.

“We weren’t thrilled,” he says. “We thought we would have to eat that payment.”

Thankfully, Nick opted for GAP on his loan. GAP covered the remaining balance on the loan, and gave him $1,000 toward his next vehicle purchase. Nick says it was like a down payment toward his next vehicle.

The ordeal taught him a good lesson: your driving skills can’t always protect you from other drivers. That’s where GAP can help.

“Just because you’re a good driver doesn’t mean everyone else is,” Nick says. “GAP is worth it. It ended up paying for itself.”

Nick now plans on getting GAP on his vehicle loans from here on out.

“Not that you plan on getting into another accident,” he says. “But anything can happen.”

Super Sale $1000 gas card winner

Congratulations to Amy Pollard, our Fall Vehicle Super Sale $1,000 gas card winner.

Amy financed a Hyundai Accent at the sale. She was looking for something with good gas mileage to get her back and forth to work near Lansing.

Now she has plenty of gas money for her commute. Congratulations, Amy!

Super Sale survival guide

If you haven’t heard about our Fall Vehicle Super Sale, I’d be surprised. We’ve been talking about it for weeks now, and it’s going to be huge.

Huge.

But how do you get ready for such a massive event? What prep work do you need to cover? What would a Super Sale to-do list look like?

That’s why we’re the auto loan experts, right? Leave it to us.

GET PRE-APPROVED: This one’s easy. Even if you’re only, slightly, maybe consider yourself in the market for a new or used vehicle, get pre-approved to give yourself an idea of what you can spend. Having a number in mind will help make your shopping decisions easier. Plus you get an extra entry into our $1,000 gas card drawing when you get pre-approved.

BRING COMFY SHOES: Since the Super Sale is so gargantuan, you might end up doing a bit of walking. In that case, bring your comfortable shoes. We’ll have golf carts on hand to help you navigate the colossal sale, but not at all times. Be prepared. Lace up and head out to the Jackson County Fairgrounds to walk the lot.

BRING QUESTIONS: Our new Auto Expert Expo will feature a bunch of vehicle smarties in one location, ready and willing to answer your questions. Need an oil change coupon? We’ve got it. Want to learn more about protecting your vehicle? We know it. Want to learn more about handicap-accessible vehicles? We’re ready.

BRING THE KIDS: No, really. Our family fun area will have facepainting, pony rides, a petting zoo, and different games and activities to keep the kiddies occupied. Just don’t leave them with us permanently, okay?

COME HUNGRY (OR THIRSTY): If you’ve been to an American 1 sale before, you know how we like to advertise: with yummy food smells like hot dogs and popcorn. We’ll have the usual refreshments there that you can grab for a donation to help the Jackson Legacy Program. It’s not 100% healthy, but it’s 150% yummy.

BRING YOUR AD, STICKER, OR POSTCARD: See our ad in the paper, or receive a postcard about the sale in the mail? Bring it with you. They’ll all earn you extra entries into our $1,000 gas card drawing. Unless you don’t like free fuel.

COME EARLY, SHOP OFTEN: Sure, we have 500 vehicles on hand at the sale to shop from. But do you think that shiny new Dodge Avenger will be there through the whole sale? Better get there early to stake your claim on your dream car, truck, or SUV. Shop early, do your research, and come prepared to make a deal.

See you at the sale!

Auto loan experts: tire care from Belle Tire

Do you know the quarter test? How about how to read those numbers and letters on the side of your tire?

Belle Tire, a Detroit-based auto service company, provides those answers and more on their Auto Care Tips web site. There, you’ll find all kinds of handy tire and auto care facts, and even a tire dictionary. For instance, the site offers this advice on rotating your tires:

You should rotate your tires every six months or 6,000 miles for most vehicles. If you have performance tires, rotate them every 3,000-4,000 miles since softer tread compounds often wear more quickly.

It’s a good idea to remember to rotate your tires every other oil change, in other words.

But they don’t just stick to tires. You’ll find coolant system and brake care facts on the site, too.