First off, went to JD Byrider to find a dependable car w/in our budget. First we test drove a Pontiac Grand Am. While test driving the vehicle; the salesperson demonstrated how to turn on the A/C. (My wife has asthma and won't drive a car w/o air.)
The night was cool and cool air came from the vents. We purchased the vehicle and the next day the A/C wouldn't work in the heat. We returned to the dealership and were told that Byrider would fix the air but we would have to pay half.
Finally, they relented based on the fact that the salesperson represented the car as having functional a/c. Their final solution was to allow us to pick another car in our budget. They gave us 3 (wow) to choose from and we still had to add money to our down payment to get the same general bi-weekly pmt amt.
So here we are w/96 Lumina that has 139,000 miles on it. We had to replace the battery and alternator almost immediately. Several other minor problems but none so expensive as to break me. After paying our payments for almost 2 years, my wife lost her job and we managed to miss only 1 payment.
We always paid more than the monthly payment and according to CNAC we were always 2 weeks ahead. So, my wife gets a new job and resumes payments. However, her paychecks are a week off and CNAC refuses to reset the weeks payments are due (they also don't defer interest). Consequently, each week that I make a payment is followed by collection calls the very next week.
According to CNAC interest accrues at 6 bucks a day. My last couple of payments I have added extra to and yet I still get asked to make a 190 dollar payment to catch up the interest (instead of my 141 dollar payment).
I have repeatedly explained that my car payment is #1 after my house payment and I will always pay at least the regular pmt. Plus any extra I can afford. However, my wife now makes 1/2 what she did before and I just can't squeeze an extra 50 bucks when I am trying to keep utilitys on etc.
Currently my bal. Is about 4600 dollars and the blue book is about 2000 even b-4 taking into account high mileage. Yesterday, the engine light started flashing, engine shaking, and no speed over 20 mph. Do you think I will have my car towed 40 miles to Byrider service only to be ripped further by their incompetant and dishonest staff? HELL NO!
My summary: Walk, bicycle, thumb a ride or even trade sex for transportation before you look twice at JD Byrider or CNAC. You'll be glad you did.:) My rant is finished... I think I'll go outside and try to figure out what is wrong w/the damn car this time.
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