Backwards car thinking

A lot of people think that just because its buy here pay here that you can drive away with a super nice car with little to no money down.

Those were the golden days of car buying. You didn't need much credit or money to get a lot of car.

Unfortunately those days are gone. Customers with huge financial problems think that is what buy here pay here is. Its crazy that they want to do the same exact thing that got them into this mess all over again.

What people fail to understand when buying a car is the maintenance costs. They are pretty good at understanding insurance costs but neglect what gas and keeping the car running will cost.

If you take good care of your car you have nothing to worry about. Most people don't take good care of their cars though. They buy it and expect it to run forever ignoring all recomended maintenance practices.

But working on a buy here pay here lot I see how much history continues to repeat itself over and over again. I pull credit and see repos, foreclosures and bankruptcies. Despite all of that they still want that fresh new whip for no money down. Why is that?

I guess I would chalk it up to social pressures. They were living a lifestyle before that they would like to continue to do so. I guess its embaressing to them to lose all of that and have to start all over again. The car has always been so symbolic in showing that you finally "Made it". When did this happen? I don't know.

Here are a few things to expect before walking onto a buy here pay here lot:

1. Things work a little backwards around here. You aren't necesarliy coming to buy a car. You're coming to get qualified for a car loan.

2. You aren't always going to like what we want to put you in. You have to understand though if you have a 1-2 repos on your credit how are you going to expect us to believe that you will pay for our car? We weren't there for what happened. We'd like to help you now but you have to be willing to work with us.

3. Buy here pay here doesn't mean you can get a lot of car for little money. I always get people coming in saying I have $500 down can I get into that 2006 STS. When I say no they say but "isn't this buy here pay here" as if just because we can finance you in house we can bend the rules. It just doesn't make any sense.