"When I decided that I wanted a new car, I knew I was upside down in my current car loan. I was looking for something more family oriented, going from a two door to a four door and something used to bring down my car payments. I decided that I wanted a Nissian Sentra, and went shopping.
I went to a few dealerships and kept getting asked, you know you are upside down right? Of course I did, and most asked for more money down, which in my situation wasn't possible. I had figured out numbers in my head, and even being upside down and adding money to the new loan, I didn't understand how some dealers couldn't offer the payments that I wanted. I was currently paying $461, and I wanted to be under $400. Dealership after dealership told me couldn't give me what I wanted with no reason why - it was baffling and upsetting to say the least.
While surfing the web, I found a Nissian I liked, but it was in Pennsylvania, and I had heard some stories about having to pay exorbident amounts for sales tax because I live in NJ. I left a message for the dealership asking about the tax. I recieved a call back in less than an hour from Jim at Lehigh Valley Auto Group who answered my question and then some.
I expressed my interest in the Nissian, Jim, unlike so many others, actually gave me figures over the phone instead of the "come in and see" that so many other dealerships wanted me to do. I was preparing to make the hour and a half drive up to see the car when Jim called back with some bad news - he was going to tell me what every other dealership told me, he couldnt do the loan - but added as is. Jim, unlike every other dealership actually explained to me why and gave me an alternate option. Apperantly, there is a percentage over the what the bank sees the car worth that you can loan out, and I was way over that percentage, which was why all of the other dealerships couldn't do the loan.
Jim said that he had another idea, if I was interested, he had an Infiniti on his lot, and there is a lot more room to move in a luxary car, because of the values that the bank puts on it. I liked the idea of owning a luxary car, and told him I would be interested in getting some numbers. I went up that night and saw the car and fell in love, it was very clean, roomy and drove like a dream!
I filled out a credit application (the banks were closed already so it was going to get submitted the next morning) and drove home excited. I got a call the next morning from Jim that the bank denied me, but once again, he had an alternate plan for me. He had recently met with a company that finds financing for people - he hadn't signed up for their service, but would if it would help me get financing, he would.
The companies name is ODS Financing and they are terrific! I dealt with Brian, and he took care of every single detail imaginable. He got me financing (with no co-signer for the first time!), got me a good interest rate with a known bank (TD Bank North) and got me GAP Insurance and an extended warranty. ODS Funding dealt with the dealer for all financial issues so I didnt have to - including negotiating money off the car to get my payment down further.
I give my sincerest thanks to Jim at Lehigh Valley Auto Group for working with me and pointing me in the right direction and selling me a great car!!!!!!!!"
Kristin Holdzkom