First off, let me just say that I'm not one of those unfortunate individuals who happens to have gotten involved with a car from Drivetime that is breaking down daily. I purchased a 2004 Hyundai Elantra GT from them in January '08 and it's running really well. My only complaint from them is that I naively am now upside down in my loan and am basically stuck. And yes, they call if you're a day late on the payment, but when I've spoken to them they're helpful and understanding if I need an extra day because a paycheck didn't clear or if I just plain forgot to make the payment online. But my experiences with them have been overall positive. Sure, I had to put new tires and new belts on my car after the 6-month warranty period was up (not that it would have covered it anyway), but I drive my car for a living and things wear out. They're used cars&expect repairs to happen. If they sell you a lemon, report it... Period. There are major, mainstream dealerships that have sold cars (both new and used) that have been eventually classified as lemons. And, Drivetime doesn't exactly sell top-of-the-line vehicles. Many are cheap or less expensive models of major manufacturers. And no, my decision to go with Drivetime wasn't because I was irresponsible with my personal credit; that can all be associated with identity theft and only student loans to show for.
It's unfortunate, but unless an actual federal or state law has been broken, which I doubt it has since they're still in business and legally are abiding by legislation assigned to them by the respective states they're operating in, then you really can't do much about it. Follow the proper precautions and use common sense when getting involved in legal financing options. My suggestion, is go to Carmax in the future. I know from personal experience that they have financed individuals with credit circumstances that straddle the spectrum. The down payment is a little higher ($1000 minimum), but they're more 'mainstream' and legit and have a better track record when it comes to consumer appreciation.
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