|
|
Review 9/30/2011
|
|
First off, I have to state that I went into the situation with the expectation that I was dealing with a dealership that specializes in people who have the very worst credit. You have to adjust your expectations to be realistic and take into account your own circumstances and how you put yourself in the position where you are not shopping at a new car dealership, but at a high-risk used car lot.
I have "fair" credit. I had a repossession 6 years before and a whole lot of old crap that is just about to fall off my report - but it is still there. Even with a recent history of paying on time for several years I could not get even a sniff of financing from the big new car dealers without a huge downpayment - which I did not want to get into.
I took my 9 year old work truck in there needing an engine, transmission, suspension, front end and brake work. It needed work that added up to 3 times the book value. I told them what I wanted to get out of it and they gave me twice what I asked (literally) - even after I gave them a price. I was very happy with that.
As I said, I went into the situation expecting the worst, but needing a dependable truck for work. So, I was willing to live with the embarrassment of exposing my past poor credit decisions. I was actually pleasantly surprised. They were respectful and treated me in such a way as to maintain my dignity.
They told me that I was "approved" for a certain amount. I have heard that before, so I went down feeling very skeptical about the situation, but my truck was failing and I needed to move on something. I told them that I needed a full sized truck and the salesman said "this is what I can get you into with this much down, and that is what I can get you into with a little more down". There was no bull@#!$ at all with this guy. I told him that my expectations are realistic and I understand why I came to this type of dealership so we got on famously from that point on.
I seem to be wandering around, so I will line-item my personal experience with these guys:
Here are the things that I liked...
1. They were respectful and polite even though I didn't have great/good credit.
2. They did not waste any of my time at all (which I greatly appreciated).
3. They were very honest about what they could do for me.
4. They gave me more than I wanted on my trade in.
5. They sold me a nice truck with low miles at a fair price.
6. They specifically told me that the interest would be high - no surprise there.
7. The downpayment was reasonable ($2,500 on a $16,500 truck) and I only had to come up with $1,000 because of my trade-in.
8. The interest is a$$-raping high (which sucks), but the price was below book value and my payoff is a few thousand below book value.
9. The brakes were making a barely-audible squealing noise (which they fixed for free).
10. They did not try to up-sell extended warranties, lo-jack or any other bull@#!$ like that - at all.
11. I was in and out of there in a couple of hours.
12. They were willing to break up the downpayment if needed.
13. For a small dealership they had a decent selection of vehicles. They had some nice trendy vehicles (like the newer Dodge Charger), some family vehicles and SUV's. They also had some older vehicles for the real hard credit cases.
Here are the things that I did not like...
1. They took forever to get me my registration (over 3 months).
2. They installed a gps/ignition cut-off in the truck. I don't like it, but all of the high risk places do this so they are not out of the ordinary.
3. Did I mention that the interest is a$$-raping high? You can expect this at any high-risk lot.
Here are my recommendations to help you have a good experience with this company...
1. Expect to have to explain your bad credit in writing.
2. Expect them to verify your income and only offer vehicles that are affordable for you.
3. Understand that you are at this type of dealership through the reality of your own situation.
4. Expect to get the highest interest rate allowed by law.
5. Expect them to verify your 10 references.
6. Expect that the downpayment required will increase at a ratio directly proportionate to how bad your credit is.
7. For the love of all that is holy, take the damn car that you want to buy to an independent mechanic and pay the $80-100 to have it inspected. They had absolutely no problem when I did so. Make sure that the mechanic performs engine and transmission diagnostics as well as a road test!
8. It is a used car, expect that they will only perform such warranty work as provided for in your contract with them. Do not expect the slightest bit of help beyond this.
9. KNOW THAT CAR SALESMAN LIE!!! Don't forget that YOU also lie about your credit problems when you want to buy that shiny used car, so don't hold it against them.
10. If you let them screw you, they will. So take care of yourself by performing at least a reasonable due diligence on the product.
11. Read the dang contract! If you don't understand contracts bring someone with you who does.
12. Understand that they will shut your ignition down and repossess your vehicle quickly if you do not make your payments.
and finally...
MAKE YOUR PAYMENT ON TIME AND MAINTAIN THE REQUIRED INSURANCE COVERAGE AND ALL WILL BE WELL!
I would recommend this dealership to anyone with problem credit. I would also recommend you go in with your head out of your ass so you can look out for your best interest. Be realistic and earn some respect (from them) for yourself by being honest.
The finance manager asked my why my credit was so bad for a few years several years when all my recent credit and the credit before the few bad years was perfect. My answer to him was simple...I didn't give a F@$K. He patted me on the shoulder and told me that he wished more people would be that honest with them.
Remind me sometime to tell you about Perry Ford (in Poway, CA) and how the finance manager neglected to tell me about a $5,000 cash rebate that I was due from Ford Motor Credit. Ask about how they forged my signature on the document signing said cash rebate over to the dealership. Ask about how I found out about this...Ford Motor Credit called me to verify and asked if I had signed the waiver releasing it to the dealership. Uh, what? I went back down to the dealership and asked the nice lady in the records office for a copy of my contract. She took the contract to the copy machine and I grabbed the file and rifled through and found the forged document. She called the Finance Manager, who then called security, who then tried to stop me from leaving as the Finance Manager cursed and threatened me with calling the police. I took the letter to an attorney and 6 weeks later I got a check for $3,500 from Perry Ford (hey, the lawyers always get their cut).
Moral of the story? The big dealerships will break it off in your a@# just ask quick!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|