Please give my readers a history of DRIVE 1 AGAIN. How long has your car dealership been in business?

DRIVE 1 AGAIN (D1) opened it’s doors to customers at 10890 W Colfax, Lakewood, CO in April 2013. The D1 executive team members are all residents of Colorado. Before D1, I owned and actively managed the 5000 Car Store (5K) chain of Buy Here Pay Here car dealerships based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 5K started in 1999, and grew to 3 used car dealerships before it became a used car super center under a different name and new ownership. In 2012, we developed a new concept platform in the Denver Metro Area. We’ve had a warm response from our customers to our integrated sales, service, finance and warranty model.

Does your dealership primarily sell domestic or foreign used cars? Or would you say it’s a mix of both?

We sell American used cars and a variety of foreign used cars, trucks and SUVs such as Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia and Volkswagen. Customers who want to buy American are pleased to learn that many foreign cars, like the Toyota Tundra, are produced in the United States with mainly domestic parts and USA assembly. If a car’s VIN starts with a 1, 4 or 5, it’s assembled in the USA. We list all VIN numbers on our inventory page, and we offer free vehicle history reports for D1 pre-owned vehicles.

If a person has just declared bankruptcy and they want to buy a vehicle, what do you suggest they do?

At DRIVE 1 AGAIN, we simply don’t check credit scores. We are more interested in our customers’ current financial status rather than past financial mishaps. For our in-house, auto financing program, we require a low down payment and verify current pay stubs or other sources of income to confirm that the customer can easily afford the monthly payment. Customers are eligible for D1 Financing once their bankruptcy is discharged.

Should a consumer run their own credit report before they purchase a used car?

Since credit is not a concern at DRIVE 1 AGAIN, it’s not necessary. We encourage our customers to improve their credit scores with on time monthly payments. When customers request our credit help, we are hopeful to have the capacity to begin reporting quarterly car payments to the credit bureaus. If a customer misses a payment, we are on the phone immediately; often the evening the payment is due. If our customers can improve their payment patterns and rebuild credit scores, then we both succeed together.

If you’re divorced and as a result of that divorce have bad credit, what tips would you offer the consumer on how to obtain a loan?

The D1 Sales team is well versed in bad credit auto loans, and the cause of bad credit is not relevant to D1. We welcome single, divorced, married and widowed customers with any credit status!

What questions should the consumer ask the BHPH dealer when they walk into the car dealerships?

Customers should ask about the vehicle’s current condition. What service or maintenance has the dealership performed to recondition the car? We perform a 52-point inspection on every vehicle. Also, customers should inquire about any used car warranty and roadside assistance programs. D1 includes a 90-Day Limited Warranty and 1-Year Roadside Assistance with every vehicle purchase. These customer protection programs are usually only available at new car lots.

What are some common buy here pay here misconceptions the public should be aware of?

BHPH dealerships often get a bad rap for well-deserved reasons. The D1 Team has recognized this shortcoming and works on the opposite side of the spectrum. We offer D1 Certified, fully reconditioned used cars because we want our customers to drive safe, reliable cars. To keep our customers on the road without added financial burdens, we discount in-house auto service and include the limited warranty and roadside assistance with all used car sales. We are always available by phone or in person to help out with car related questions, concerns or issues.

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Todd B.
DRIVE 1 AGAIN
10890 W Colfax Ave, Lakewood, CO 80215
PHONE: 303.274.7692
FAX: 303.274.7690

This is our twenty-sixth interview in our “1000 Interview Challenge” If your interested in an interview, please contact me.

This interview was conducted by Shane McC. Shane currently is attending RISD studying computer programming. He enjoys traveling and plays hockey. He played for the Boston Junior Bruins of the EJHL during the 01-02 season. You can follow him on Google+