Need help with Loan approval

So here is my dilemma.

I drive my parents 05 Nissan armada (14mpg on a light foot)

with current gas prices my last months gas bill was $600!


I need to get into a little gas saver quick to save money.

I tried to get a loan from my local credit union for a lousy 8k about two months ago and was denied credit.

Which is really irritating because I am crazy responsible with my credit and have over a 700 fico.

The problem is i dont have enough "proveable income".

cant get a cosigner cause all my family members have bad credit and i wouldnt be comfortable asking a friend.

I am a full time student with part time job so income last year was super low (10k)

this year i have started my own business and it is going well but i just recently started claiming the income on my taxes this last month because in the good state of AZ you have to claim at 7 grand.

although the business brings in a descent income it isnt worth anything as far as "proveable income" goes for quite some time.

Is there anyway for me to get a loan? is there any loan programs that lend based on credit alone? i heard about costco's online loan program, do they require check stubs through the mail?

In my eyes the money i would save in gas would pay for the car payment and more but the credit union doesnt seem to care!

any ideas?

thanks