Buy here/pay here car places??

[MomtoTwo]

Does anyone here have any experience with buy here/pay here car places? I did read the sticky thread above on buying/leasing a car out of bankruptcy, but I don't think I saw anyone that actually went through a buy here/pay here place. We were discharged 2 weeks ago, and are in desperate need of a reliable, safe vehicle. We will have probably $500 down (if we do it this week) or $1000 down (if we can wait until our income tax refund). We can also use our current car for trade (but probably only about $300 worth). We can afford about $200 a month. I'm guessing our only option is going to be buy here/pay here. I would really appreciate any advice that anyone could give me on that, or if you think there may be a glimmer of hope of getting an actual loan on a used car. I don't need a shiny new car - just something safe to get hubby and me to work, and perhaps to the family 200 miles away. Your thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Minnymouth]

Whever you buy your interest rate is going to be extremely high right now due to just coming out of BK.....

You might check with an auto dealer that handles all kinds of problems - many advertise bankruptcy's are okay- see what they can offer you.

Many use the buy here/pay here because they have no other options open to them.

Just make sure you find you a good reliable vehicle.

Having a downpayment will help a great deal.

[StaciMM]

Buy Here/Pay Here is a bit of a gamble... Generally speaking, the amount they get from you as a downpayment covers their cost in the vehicle-meaning it is likely not worth the ongoing payments. (Info is from the expertise of my brother, who had his own repo business handling alot of local BH/PH places.) The last one we bought turned out to have a cracked head gasket. (No, we didn't get it checked out in advance-not smart...) A year later, it was a judgement on Dh's credit report for $3200, and 5 years later had grown to $9200. THat was a major factor in our filing BK.

You might be better off looking in the paper for a used car, for the cash you have to put into it. Then, no car payment.

[bkfiler]

places that are in business to make money are going to make more money off of the car then if you bought it off a individual.

places like that take advantage of people in desparate need of a vehicle.

look in the newpaper and any local online ads for deals. drive around town and look for sale signs in cars.

you can have a mechanic check a car for $80 to makek sure its in good shape. test drive a car 3 different times - once early in the morning before it ever gets started. and once at night to see all the lights and other things are working. this is a good way to help insure its a decent car.

[bilbo]

I have a car from one of those places. The car has been good, some repairs here and there--but I drive 30,000-40,000 miles every year. So repairs are to be expected.
MOST of those places will come and get the car no questions asked if you are late on your payment at all. Expect to pay more in interest than you would with a subprime lender.
Like I said: I lucked out with mine--the car was good and the people worked with me well--I told them I was filing bankruptcy, I have reaffirmed with them 1)because the car will be paid for in about 5 months and 2) that place DID work with me on my late payments prior to filing BK
Even though my experience has not been a bad one I would avoid those places in general.
BTW, those places won't report to CRA's unless you default--THEN they will report the default to EVERYONE they can. Buying from a buy-here/pay-here place will not help your credit any
Oh, one more thing--don't expect to get low payment at one of those places. Most of them are geared to weekly or bi-weekly payments and they want the car paid off in 1-2 years

[bkfiler]

great information! thanks for sharing.

BTW, those places won't report to CRA's unless you default--THEN they will report the default to EVERYONE they can. Buying from a buy-here/pay-here place will not help your credit any

[pink_amulet]

We have a car from a buy here pay here place.....and it SUCKS!!!!!

We got a 1994 Dodge caravan. It ran PERFECT, I really mean PERFECT we were so happy to finally find a reliable car. We got it in May 2005..well it stopped running in November....WHY? I have NO idea. We did a complete tune-up, changed all the wires plugs, fluids, O2 sensor, fuel filter and pump...and NADA!!! The damn thing has a full tank of gas, and BRAND NEW tires on it. I told my neighbor he can siphon the gas out and he said fine ....LOL gonna give me $10...LOL
We are using my parent's extra car right now, which they may give us....verdict still in the air about that, she is not happy we filed...oh well! We can use their car indefinitely right now, until we will probably get one with tax refund, or the let us have theirs.

We got the van and it was a 1 year loan, at 28% interest...and that was for EVERYONE...28%...good or bad!!! All the car payments are the same price $75/week...just different down payment amounts. We paid $75 a week or since hubby gets paid every two weeks we paid $150 every two weeks. Sometimes I just paid the entire $300 a head of time, cause it was easier. We have been excellent on payments, never missed and always paying ahead of time. We have $1495 left on the loan, but the damn thing won't run. The Kelley blue Book price is....get this....$ 150!! YES $150 ..I didn't know it went that low...It's worth more for the parts...LOL the buy out price is $1345...so basically we have been paying interst the past 7 months. So instead of dumping EVEN more money into the van we are giving it back this Monday. We called our lawyer and he said OK, since we did not sign a reaffirmation.

I don't want to face her "the owner's wife" she is down right nasty!!! I called and asked about if they suggest any good mechanic, and she said "what to expect? The van is 12 years old"...Nice huh?? I can't stand her!! I REALLY hope she is not there. Hubby and I are dropping the van off and I'm gong to have a paper with the lawyers name and number if she starts anything I'm going to hand her the paper...and say TALK TO HIM!!! Our lawyer said to have them call him if there are any problems.

If you are in a pinch, I guess you can go there....I will NEVER use one again! 99% of the cars on their lots are from the auctions, so if that tells you anything. Also our buy here pay here place, does not accept trade ins. I don't know why? they did "hold " the van two weeks until we were able to come up wit the $1000 down payment. We are waiting to get our credit in a bit better shape, and going to try to see what rates are out there.

good luck

pink

[bkfiler]

pink_amaretto, did you pay $80 and have a mechanic do tests on it?

how mechanically inclined is your boyfriend?

tell us whats wrong with it. does it turn over? start, stall?

[pink_amulet]

pink_amaretto, did you pay $80 and have a mechanic do tests on it?

how mechanically inclined is your boyfriend?

tell us whats wrong with it. does it turn over? start, stall?

The cheapest around here to put it on the machine is $125. That doesn't even count towards what repairs. Hubby is not mechanically inclined. However our neighbor is. His car was doing the same thing, and he said all he need to do was the plugs, and his is fine since, so we replaced it and nope not the problem.

The van starts fine, it stalls. It also shakes while in reverse, really bad, like it's going to die ALL the time!!The weird thing is the stalling is not consistent. You can drive it down to the end of the block and it has stalls once, Then if you take it a different time...it can stall up to 12 times...There is NO rhyme or reason. It does it in the damp weather and the dry weather. You can be driving and in the middle of a turn it dies out on you....which is NOT SAFE, I almost got hit!!!
We put in new wires, plugs, cleaned out the injectors, replaced the fuel pump and filter, new air filters/ hose, vacuum hose, and oxygen sensor. My neighbor said he did all he can, next is the expensive route...and the van is not worth it. It is 12 years old and has 104,00K on it. We were hoping it would last until sept 06, but it won't. I will not put more money into it. we are just going to have to cut our losses. What is nice is until we get our refund, we are using My parent car so no car payment for us. We are putting that money towards a down payment. We have $500 so far.

thanks for your input.

pink

[bkfiler]

-make, model, year.

-automatic or stick?

-does it stall while speeding up, slowing down or after you come to a stop?

-does it start every time?

-if you start it and let it sit there does it run without dying?

-how well does it idle?

-what happens when it dies? before it dies?

-does it start up right away? if not then what does it do?

-what does it do when you keep the brake on and put it in gear? forward? reverse?

-what is this noise when in reverse? when does it happen? what does it sound like? where is the sound coming from?

-are you sure you changed the fuel pump or just the fuel filter?

-are their two fuel pumps on it by any chance?

-when did this start happening?

-did by any chance the tank get empty when this first started happening?

-is the check engine light on?

-does it smoke at all? when? does water come spitting out of the tailpipe?

-did it overheat at all?

-did you change the floor mats already? did that help? ok just kidding.

[pink_amulet]

-make, model, year~DODGE CARAVAN (REG MINIVAN) 3.0 L 6CYL, 1994, 104,000 K

-automatic or stick? AUTOMATIC

-does it stall while speeding up, SOMETIMES( NOT ALWAYS) slowing down (SOMETIMES) or after you come to a stop (NO)

-does it start every time? YES, BUT THEN STALLS RIGHT AWAY-SOMETIMES I HOLD THE GAS DOWN TO PREVENT IT FROM STALLING AGAIN, ONCE I RE-START IT

-if you start it and let it sit there does it run without dying? IF STARTING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME OF YOUT TRIP YES, AFTER IT STALLS, SOMETIMES IT DIES UP TO 5 TIMES

-how well does it idle? FINE

-what happens when it dies? ENGINE SHUTS OFF, RADIO AND VENT STILL WORKING YOU DON' RELIZE IT DIED UNTIL YOU TRY TO STEER. before it dies? YOU CAN'T TELL IT GOING TO DIE....ALL OF SUDDEN YOU HAVE NO ENGINE POWER

-does it start up right away? SOMETIMES YES , MOSTLY NO...if not then what does it do? DIES RIGHT AWAY OR IF I HOLD THE GAS DOWN IT RUNS, SOMETIME IF I LET GO OF THE GAS IT DIES

-what does it do when you keep the brake on and put it in gear? MOSTLY STAYS RUNNING foward? STAYS RUNNING reverse? SHAKES, BUTS STAYS RUNNING

-what is this noise when in reverse? NO NOISE when does it happen? SHAKES ALL THE TIME what does it sound like? NOTHING where is the sound coming from? NONE...THE CAR SHAKES BAD, NO NOISES

-are you sure you changed the fuel pump YES or just the fuel filter? BOTH

-are their two fuel pumps on it by any chance? NOT THAT THEY SAID

-when did this start happening? ONCE IN SEPT, THOUGHT IT WAS THE RAIN AND MOISTURE, OCTOBER ONCE AT THE TOLL BOTH, THEN ALMOST EVERYDAY IN NOVEMBER AND DEC AND NOW IN JANUARY

-did by any chance the tank get empty when this first started happening? NO

-is the check engine light on? NO NEVER! WE TRIED TO TAKE IT TO AUTO ZONE CAUSE THEY HAVE THE MACHINE TO CHECK THE ENIGINE LIGHT, BUT SINCE OUR LIGHT HAS NEVER CAME ON THERE WERE NO CODES TO READ

-does it smoke at all? NO when? does water come spitting out of the tailpipe? NOT THAT I HAVE NOTICED

-did it overheat at all? NOPE NEVER

-did you change the floor mats already? LOL HEY NOW!! did that help? THANK YOU..THAT WAS IT!!!! YOU ARE WONDERFUL....LOL ok just kidding.

You have to understand...iut is totally weird....this is not something that HAPPENS EVERYTIME...somedays no stalling at all.....other days it stalls everytime (and alot of times) we drive. That is the huge mystry!!! if it was something that happens everty single time, we can pinpoint it better. If it's a bad day, it almost dies at evry slow turn, like into the garage, or parking spot. The idle is fine. It doesn't die/stall at stop lights though.

I'm confused...thanks for all your help!
pink

[bkfiler]

well, everything else except for the shaking (which i cant tell if you mean its just low on power so its shaking or it is shaking shaking like something is screwed lol) points to the fuel system imo.

if you want to maybe, im no mechanic and would hate for you to spend more money, but have the guy next door:

-check the fuel pressure - if too low then change the fuel pump and filter again. make sure there are no other fuel pumps or filters.

-check the fuel pump relay - it could be faulty.

-check for a faulty EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve that may be sticking open. i dont know if you vehicle has one.

-check and listen carefully for a vaccum leak.

- maybe check the fuel pressure regulator - but i dont think this is it.

-just wondering, is the oil on the dipstick foamy? or like a bubbly shake looking brown color?

-also, with the distributor wire from the coil unplugged and grounded to the cars metal somewhere, and the fuel pump relay unplugged (so no fuel is pumped) take off the radiator or over flow cap and have someone turn it over. it wont start. just keep it truning and have someone watch the water insdie the overflow tank or raditor. if it bubbles over then you have a blown head gasket or cracked head. i doubt that is what it is though based on what you said. but it depends. try it anyway.

well that should do it! let me know.

[pink_amulet]

well, everything else except for the shaking (which i cant tell if you mean its just low on power so its shaking or it is shaking shaking like something is screwed lol) points to the fuel system imo.

if you want to maybe, im no mechanic and would hate for you to spend more money, but have the guy next door:

-check the fuel pressure - if too low then change the fuel pump and filter again. make sure there are no other fuel pumps or filters.

-check the fuel pump relay - it could be faulty.

-check for a faulty EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve that may be sticking open. i dont know if you vehicle has one.

-check and listen carefully for a vaccum leak.

- maybe check the fuel pressure regulator - but i dont think this is it.

-just wondering, is the oil on the dipstick foamy? or like a bubbly shake looking brown color?

-also, with the distributor wire from the coil unplugged and grounded to the cars metal somewhere, and the fuel pump relay unplugged (so no fuel is pumped) take off the radiator or over flow cap and have someone turn it over. it wont start. just keep it truning and have someone watch the water insdie the overflow tank or raditor. if it bubbles over then you have a blown head gasket or cracked head. i doubt that is what it is though based on what you said. but it depends. try it anyway.

well that should do it! let me know.

Damn why couldn't I have you as a neighbor!!....I could pay you to fix my car....oh nevermind...lets not go there....next you wil be asking money to do other things.. .LOL




No seriously, thanks for all your input and time! I'll run it past hubby and my neighbor.


pink

[bkfiler]

no i do those things free

keeps me up to date just in case there are any changes...

the car! im talking about the car!

[bkfiler]

i was just thinking - this thread sure will scare the hell out of anyone thinking of buying a vehicle at a "buy here, pay here, get screwed here" car place.

pimk_amurigeo, that reverse thing is strange. is your tranny going out? no i dont mean your 'tranny' friend, i mean your transmission. call around and see if there isnt a place that does checks free. pinky_ampm, i said checks, not chicks. focus.

when you call ask them what they think it is. if they talk to much and you fell comfortable with them then take it if its free. if they dont talk, dont take it to thtem unless its still free and close. with mechanics like attorneys, you need to get the warm fuzzy with them.

maybe ask them what their sign is too.