The first day I went to CAL CARS I was 18, by myself and not aware that people could be taken advantage of so easy by a company. First they told me I couldn't get a car thru them without a co-signer, but they also saw that im 18 working full time and not so aware with the ways of the world yet.
So I called my mom and my dad both and neither one of them said they could do it. My brothers couldn't do it even if they wanted because of their credit. So bummed out that i still had to walk a mile to work everyday rain or shine and that kinda lowers the chance of doing much of anything not having a car.
Well I woke up the next morning with three messages on my phone from Cal Cars. The same man who told me a day before he couldn't sell me a car after calling his authorities on the phone they wouldn't let him do it. Somehow some miracle a day passed and he could sell me one today. So I went in and the car I test drove the day before was there and waiting for me. They began the paperwork and the salesman was slick talking to people on the phone every other minute and I sat there with my friend and waited for them to print everything up. When I test drove the car I found that the break pads probably just needed replaced and that was all i noticed wrong with it.
I hesistantley signed the papers and was ready to have a car. My car. The paperwork got finsihed and i went to work. The very same night a new waitress at the restaraunt where im employed asked for a ride home and I hadn't had a car of my own since I was 16. So I was anxious to get in it and drive it. Well she lived in the country and on the one to her house I told her and turns anything u need to let me know ahead of time because of my breaks and I continued to take her home. I could see a yellow turn sign a little ahead in the distance so I started breaking. Then she said something about the turn. Which if I remember right there wasnt even a recomeded speed anything for this sharp of a turn. Well I was doing about 30mph at this point and i started to realize it was a hell of a turn. So I pushed on my breaks hard enough to where at 30 mph even with bad break pads u should be okay.
Luckily i was only going 30 because little did I know the car had no breaks what so ever. The break pads, calipars, and the rotars were all worn beyond belief on the car. I ended up putting the car in a 3 foot ditch next to a cornfield. So convientley there wasn't a house around for a mile or two. So we began to walk because my cell phone had no reception where we were at we had no choice.By the time we got around anything my phone had reception and hours had passed and I called my brother and he came and got me. I couldn't call a tow company or the police because the girl i was taking home didn't know the road names and i sure didn't have a clue how to tell them where the car was. I was just happy to make it out of everything okay.
Imagine if another car would have been coming from the other way OR If i was going the speed limit. So I go in search of the car the next day not 8 hours later still hadn't been to bed and I finally find the location of the incident and my car is no where to be seen. I ended up paying $200 to get my car back from the tow company and then had to turn around and make a payment for this car.By that point my check was next to nothing.
Then theres still the matter of the brakes needing fixed. Well Cal Cars policy is that if the estimate is over $300 they will refer you to a mechanic and just add the cost on to your loan. Well I'm thinking if these people sold me a car in thiS condition I'm not so sure I want them fixing it. So i go and have it fixed my self. $600. My avg. Check is 400. Im 18 taking care of myself. I've been emancipated. Thats alot of money to be throwing around. Well I ended up borrowing some money from my mom and my grandma and still haven't been able to pay them back, and I'm a man of my word so thats painful for myself to have to do. I get that taken care of.
I drive it off the lot everythings fine for a couple weeks meanwhile im making outrageous payments on this car. A 95 Grand Prix SE with 198,000 on it. Well I understand that they say it's a used car and it may need maitnence work and as is. Then im going to visit my dad and it starts overheating. So I pour some water in the overflow and drive it next thing I know there is steam rolling from the hood.
My bypass hose was completely torn in half. I had some duck tape in the car and tried to do what i could till i got to my dads. We ended up replacing the bypass hose before it became a major problem. But if I wouldnt have noticed the steam i could have blown a headgasket or what have you. Which who knows I might have. I was having more problems with it but didn't get a chance to see how much more money i got to pour into the car because i wrecked it.
Now I'm in the process of deciding whether I pay 250 to get another p.O.S. Car, or do I take the cd player and speakers and everything else of value out and say screw them and my credit. I work to hard to be broke all the time. But I'm also trying to go to Ivy Tech on my own will and I'm not sure if my credit will effect student loans? I've talked with a mechanic here in town that used to do work for Cal Cars and he told me my best bet is to get out now. I'm young my credit will hurt but not for too long. I'm also right to the attorney general and I suggest that you all do the same. I'd love to see Cal Cars go down. It's painful to see that people can smile at you while they are stabbing you in the back. Don't let your loved ones drive a car from there!
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