'Deep Subprime' Auto Loans Are Becoming the New Normal

A third of all subprime car loans are now being categorized into the ominous-sounding “deep subprime” group. The designation has become progressively more inclusive since America clawed its way out of the recession and now accounts for 32.5 percent of all high-risk loans — up from just 5.1 percent in 2010.

While consumers have fallen behind on most subprime auto loans, the deep classification is responsible for the most serious cases of nonpayment. Delinquencies surpassing 60-day periods have tripled since 2012 and indicate little sign of stabilizing.

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Fitch: Marginal Losses Projected For Subprime Auto Loans In 2015

Despite the risks subprime auto loans carry, the market is likely to experience only marginal losses through 2015 according to a recent analyst forecast.

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Ally IPO Brings New Subprime Lending Options To The Table

With Ally Financial’s IPO now making the rounds on the New York Stock Exchange, the former financing arm of General Motors has its eyes on taking more of the subprime market, a move benefiting dealers once the last ties to the U.S. federal government have been severed and sold to the stock market.

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  • MaintenanceCosts I've never prioritized color when looking for a car, but there are usually some colors (particularly bright reds and refrigerator whites) that I just won't accept.That said, one of my cars gets parked outside in a city environment, and it's silver, and that's good because silver does not complain too much when oxidized to he!l. The brown BMW is neat because there aren't many brown BMWs, and the green Legend is historically correct because the mid-'90s meant green.
  • ToolGuy • Black vehicles and dark interiors burn more petrol and are bad for the planet (look it up, I'm not gonna hold your hand on this one lol).• If your current vehicle was new when you took delivery, and you didn't get EXACTLY the color you wanted (blithely accepted what was foisted on you by the dealer), shame on you. You are the problem with today's franchise system. In future, please notify the dealer that your policy is to collect a Non-First-Choice Paint Upcharge in such a circumstance. I recommend $1200.• Also, fine-thread drywall screws (in wood) waste electricity (and time). When I am President of the Universe, fine-thread drywall screws will be banned in favor of the more environmentally- and wallet-friendly coarse-thread variety. (Again, you can work out the reasons but I am absolutely correct.)
  • Blope Cataluna Red Audi Etron and a Red Golf TDI Wagon
  • Vulpine Considering the size of modern full-sized pickup, they NEED the ability to "squat" just to be able to load/unload them from the rear. It's a law that needs to be contested for the utility of the capability, despite the fact that... yes, it can be abused by show--offs.
  • SCE to AUX I have two bright blue Hyundais at the moment, and I've only had one red car.I think I've had 7 white cars. My very first car was orange.A friend once said he buys the ugliest, or most garish color on the lot, to try and get a better price on a dealer dud. It also makes the car easier to spot in a sea of gray vehicles. I couldn't do that, but I see the logic.