BUY HERE PAY HERE-THE GREAT CAR CAPER
American Pride Automotive • March 12, 2012
Buy Here, Pay Here (BH,PH) is a term you may have heard in recent years during your search for a quality used car but what exactly does it mean? The term is associated with companies that offer on-site financing to individuals with “Good credit, bad credit, or no credit”. It sounds like a great deal, finally someone willing to work with you through hard times, but is it too good to be true?
BH,PH shops have had an ever increasing popularity in recent years due to poor economic growth and, frankly, desperation. Families going through financial difficulties have been turning to these companies as a life line to help them but at what cost? A very common scenario for someone that buys a used vehicle from a BH,PH lot is a 60-72 month pay period with interest rates up to 30%, that’s more than four times the national average for a used-car loan. It’s not uncommon for the buyer to become overwhelmed by payments and have their car repossessed and resold by the same dealer they thought was helping them.
At American Pride Automotive we put the customer first. When you buy from us you’re guaranteed to receive a quality used car inspected and maintained at a Certified Full Service Center. We also offer experienced financial assistance with over 30 years in the field. We have financing options from six different institutions (like Langley FCUand 1st Advantage FCU) so even if you have bad or no credit we can still work with you. Unlike a BH,PH shop, all of our banks report back to the Credit Bureau so we can assist you in getting your credit back to where it belongs. Most importantly we promise not to take advantage of you, the customer, by offering ridiculous interest rates you can’t afford.
We’re here to help you. So when you decide to purchase your next vehicle you can trust that we’ll be there to walk you through each step of the process.
We want to say thank you to all of our healthcare and first responders. Please accept this specialized offer.
You’re driving home at night and it is raining cats and dogs. You can’t see but 20 feet in front of your car, but you’ve slowed down and are being extra cautious, so what could go wrong? Then you feel it. A sinking Cl-clunk. Maybe that “puddle” you saw ahead of you was deeper than just a puddle. Before you know it, your car is stalling in the high water in the middle of the road. Now what? First off, don’t panic. Turn on your hazards and crank the ignition once. If the car starts, make it dry land and pull over to assess the damage. If it does not start the first time, do not try to start it again. Doing so can result in a hydro locked engine and will likely necessitate the rebuilding or replacement of the engine. Unfortunately, if you find yourself stalling in water at all, your vehicle will probably need costly repairs. The best way to avoid water damage is to practice safe and smart driving in wet weather, which brings us to Part 2 of the Everything Auto “Blame it on the Rain” series (Find Part 1 here). Take heed of these severe weather driving tips: 1. TAKE NO CHANCES ON PUDDLES Even if the standing water ahead of you looks shallow enough to drive through, think twice. If the water is “rushing” or if other drivers are making a point to avoid it, don’t assume that your vehicle is the exception. Additionally, you never know the hazards that lay at the bottom of a puddle. Hidden potholes or debris can pierce your tires and jostle your alignment and suspension system. 2. IF YOU MUST TAKE A CHANCE, TAKE IT SLOW AND STEADY When you deem it necessary and safe to drive through water of questionable depth, go slowly. Speeding through a puddle, even a shallow one, can splash water into your vehicle’s intake and critically harm the engine. Like we mentioned last week, after driving through standing water, lightly tap your brakes to make sure they aren’t saturated and to dry them off. 3. KEEP A ROADSIDE EMERGENCY KIT HANDY Sometimes, no matter how careful you are on the road, accidents and vehicle malfunctions happen, especially in wet severe weather. That’s why it is extremely important to keep emergency supplies ready in the trunk for the worst case scenario. You can buy a preassembled one, but it is cheaper (and more rewarding) to assemble your own. What should you include? Edmunds.com provides an excellent comprehensive list of items, a few of which include: 12-foot jumper cables Four 15 minute road flares Two quarts of oil A gallon of antifreeze A first-aid kit. Find the rest of the list here We hope that this series has given you helpful safety insights and tips for driving in the rain! Remember that American Pride Automotive is always here to help and ready to answer any and all of your auto repair and maintenance questions! Call or contact us today.
Along with flat tires and low or faulty batteries, an overheating engine is one of the leading causes of car breakdowns. An engine can overheat for many reasons, but coolant issues are often to blame.
ONCE I HAVE REGISTERED MY VEHICLE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, HOW LONG DO I HAVE BEFORE MY VEHICLE MUST BE INSPECTED?
There is no grace period. Once you have registered a vehicle with the Division of Motor Vehicles in the state of Virginia, it must be inspected immediately.
Your vehicle's powertrain can last for hundreds of thousands of miles with proper maintenance and minor repairs in most cases. Unfortunately, major, unexpected problems can happen in which your only option is a replacement of the engine or transmission.
Sometimes it's simply time to buy a new or used vehicle that you LOVE at the right price.
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Our cars and trucks carry us from point A to point B all year long and everyday use can create significant wear and tear that may not make itself obvious until a long road trip.
While most leaks are caused by damaged outer seams on the evaporator core, others are a result of corrosion inside the unit.
For July, August and September, $5.00 from every State Inspection performed was set aside for this quarter's community: star Hospice House & Support Care of Williamsburg.