There are a lot of good auto blogs online.
We think the RoadLoans blog is one of them, something largely confirmed by monthly views reported by Google Analytics and other rankings of best web sites for car enthusiasts.
What readers may not realize is that RoadLoans is a direct-lending program of Santander Consumer USA (SC), which also has a blog providing more content intended to engage, inform and entertain readers interested in news and trends about or related to cars, trucks and SUVs.
Following are snippets of recent content, and links to the SC posts if you want to read more:
Knowledge is power
Know before you owe.
That’s the advice of the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) if you’re getting an auto loan.
And while it sounds simple enough, a lot of thought should go into financing a car, truck or SUV if you don’t want to overpay – or overextend yourself financially.
Financing a car is the second-largest financial obligation for many Americans (after a home mortgage), so it makes sense to take the time to understand the process and get the right deal.
That includes negotiating on seven things: (1) the price of the vehicle, (2) additional features, services or add-ons, (3) expenses such as delivery charges and origination, document and preparation fees, (4) down payment, (5) trade-in value, (6) interest rate, and (7) length of loan in months.
For additional details, READ MORE of the CFPB’s advice on getting the right deal on your next auto loan.
Spot the ‘hidden danger’
Speedy advances in vehicle safety technology are challenging for many drivers.
Designed to make driving safer and easier, these systems also have tested drivers’ adaptability, as a recent in-depth survey of more than 2,000 adult drivers across the United States found.
The study found that a majority of respondents had heard of, been exposed to, or interacted with at least one of the nine safety features studied, but expressed uncertainty about use of the technologies.
“The level of confusion about features that have been standard in American cars for quite a while was really surprising,” according to Daniel McGehee, director of the Transportation and Vehicle Safety Research Division at the University of Iowa Public Policy Center.
The university is cooperating with the National Safety Council to inform new-vehicle owners. See a bi-weekly series of the videos, MY CAR DOES WHAT, on the Santander Consumer USA blog.
Scary-fast cars, other tales
Halloween is a state of mind.
So, while not many ghosts, goblins, witches and walking dead think of cars on fright night, we found some scary-fast cars on the Thrillist website that outlive the holiday.
“There’s something fantastic about the feeling of getting thrown into your seat by the thrust of your car’s engine as it rockets down the road,” wrote Aaron Miller, Thrillist Cars editor. “Sure, we could list every zillion-dollar supercar out there, but unless you’ve got Mark Cuban sponsoring your business plan, the only way you’ll have one in your garage is in poster form.”
Thrillist’s solution to this: “the fastest-accelerating cars you can buy … for every kind of budget” from the Hyundai Genesis Coupe to the “stupid-quick” Dodge Charger Hellcat.
Of course, you can READ MORE on the blog about the fastest affordable cars.
‘Best to Buy’ nominees
The best new cars for 2017.
That’s a matter of opinion, of course.
But The Car Connection, Motor Authority and Green Car Reports, popular websites of High Gear Media and Internet Brands Automotive Group, will announce their “Best Car to Buy” awards soon.
If you’re the impatient type – or don’t want to think about the winners only – the websites have identified nominees for their respective awards, nine from The Car Connection, six for Motor Authority (a luxury and performance-oriented site) and three for Green Car Reports.
The Car Connection also will name Driver’s Choice award winners in six categories – performance, green, luxury, economy, family and best-looking – based on reader voting.
For details on each, READ MORE about the nominees.
How was your UX today?
UX.
Short for user experience, it describes how well a car, truck, SUV or CUV meets your needs.
In this case, it’s about the 10 models selected by Penton’s WardsAuto in its first-ever UX competition for delivering the best user experiences in 2016.
The lowest-priced vehicles as tested by WardsAuto were the Hyundai Elantra at $27,710 and Ford Escape at $35,370, while the highest-priced was the BMW 7-Series at $128,445.
“Wards 10 Best UX drills more deeply into the user-friendliness of vehicle systems designed to minimize distraction and frustration, prevent accidents and improve safety,” wrote Tom Murphy at WardsAuto.
WA editors tested new model vehicles during their daily commutes and evaluated technology features – in addition to overall value – before announcing the winners.
For a list of the winners, READ MORE on our blog and at WardsAuto.
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