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Friday, August 26, 2022

Doc's Auto Clinic has new owner with same drive to provide service in Steamboat - Steamboat Pilot & Today

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Jason Bongiorno inside Doc's Auto Clinic at 2565 Copper Ridge Dr. in Steamboat Springs on Tuesday, Aug, 23, 2022, Bongiorno, who graduated from Steamboat Springs High School, recently purchased the business, which was opened by Brian Small in 1997.
*John F. Russell/Steamboat Pilot & Today*

The driver behind the wheel of Doc’s Auto Clinic changed seats in June when longtime mechanic and Steamboat Springs resident Jason Bongiorno purchased the longstanding local business, but he plans to maintain the course.

“Brian (Small) has made an amazing reputation in this valley, and Doc’s Auto Clinic has always had the cleanest and most well-kept and nicest facility in town,” Bongiorno said. “It’s been very important for me to just continue to hold onto what he has built, and my plan is just to keep making it even better.

“That’s all I care about, and I’m not trying to change anything that he has already been doing very, very well since ’97.”

Small, who owned and operated Doc’s Auto Clinic for more that 23 years, is now retired. He said it wasn’t always easy, and he learned a lot building Doc’s Auto Clinic into what it is today.

“It wasn’t all roses,” Small said. “I had to go to school and learn how to be a business person; otherwise I would have failed. It’s been a work in progress, and you always strive to do what’s best for the community you live in. Basically, that was my motivation.”

His motto was to take care of his customers and their families by taking care of their cars. But Small also made sure Doc’s was a supportive community member, often giving to local events and organizations including the Town Challenge Mountain Bike Series and Partners in Routt County.

For him, owning a business also meant being a part of the community.

A few years back, when Small started to think about retiring, he took the same approach to selling the business that he did building it over more than a quarter century. He wanted to find a buyer who shared his passion for the community and wanted to provide important services that local residents need.

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Small met Bongiorno years ago when he was working as a mechanic at Stambaugh Motors, now Steamboat Motors, and Bongiorno was learning the ropes as a carwash boy.

Over the years, he watched Bongiorno, who graduated from Steamboat Springs High School in 1997, grow into a talented mechanic, going to school at John Deere and working as a heavy equipment mechanic at Wagner Rents for three years and at Routt County from 2003-16.

Bongiorno also started his own business, 1 Off Performance, which specializes in automotive and diesel service, repair and performance and accessories, in 2009.

These days, when Bongiorno is not at work, he is busy with his family, which includes his daughter Kietalyn, a sophomore at Steamboat Springs High School, and his son Quinten, who is a seventh grader.

“He built his own shop, and we still talk with each other about that,” Small said. “A couple of years ago, I started saying to him, ‘You know you really ought to just buy my place.’ I was just trying to plant a bug in his ear, and ultimately, over time that’s what happened.”

Bongiorno took over Doc’s Auto Clinic on June 17 and has merged 1 Off Performance and Doc’s Auto Clinic to better meet the needs of both customer bases.

Small is retired and living in Maryland with his wife Anne. He said he has plenty to keep him busy.

“We have moved all the way back across the country, and I’ve had the last three weeks of setting up a household, spending time with my wife and then I also have a boat to play with and take care of,” Small said. “I’m not short of things to do, but what I miss about going to the shop is just the camaraderie and the people that I worked with — that’s what I miss the most.”

He said he will be keeping and eye on Doc’s and has confidence the shop will continue to meet the high standards he set for more that 25 years. Bongiorno said that’s the plan.

“We are now 1 Off Performance and Doc’s Auto Clinic,” Bongiorno said. “That means the same superior automotive service and repair that has been here with Doc’s Auto Clinic since 1997 … but now it’s a team effort with 1 Off Performance and Doc’s Auto Clinic offering all of your automotive, diesel, service, repair and custom needs in one shop.”

To reach John F. Russell, call 970-871-4209, email jrussell@SteamboatPilot.com or follow him on Twitter @Framp1966.

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Thursday, August 25, 2022

What Bad Credit Auto Dealers Are - Bankrate.com

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Bad credit can make it difficult to buy a car from a traditional dealership. However, bad-credit auto dealers can help you get a loan and get approved. These dealerships usually charge higher interest rates and fees, and they may not report your payments to the credit bureaus.

It is best to compare the rates and fees offered by the bad-credit auto dealer with those offered by banks and credit unions to ensure that you are getting the best deal.

How bad-credit auto dealerships work

Buying a car through a bad-credit auto dealer is much like buying from any other dealer. The only difference is that you might have a tougher time finding a competitive interest rate. But, like a traditional dealer, you will walk away with a new — or new to you — car and a loan to pay off.

Because you have a less-than-ideal credit score, you’ll be offered a higher interest rate than a customer with good credit. The dealership will also take a commission, which is usually added to the interest rate offered.

Bad-credit auto dealers may still require a credit check, depending on the type that you go to. Be prepared to have a fresh inquiry on your report by picking out all the places you may want to apply ahead of time so you can keep your shopping window tight and avoid multiple hits to your credit.

Financing offered by bad-credit auto dealers

Many bad-credit auto dealers will finance a car regardless of your credit. Still, your options are limited. Some dealers may charge extra fees for the financing option or take a larger commission.

Buy here, pay here dealers

You may also be put into a financing program that doesn’t report your payments to any of the main three credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax or TransUnion. This is most common at “buy here, pay here” (BHPH) dealerships. At a BHPH dealership, you may be offered a loan without a credit check, but you will only have used cars to choose from, and there will be other eligibility criteria that you have to meet.

Subprime auto lenders

Other dealerships simply work with subprime lenders to offer financing to bad-credit borrowers. These lenders may or may not report to credit bureaus. If you’re unsure, ask. Having an auto loan can be a good way to help build your credit up — as long as you keep up on payments — but it won’t be if it’s not reported.

Regardless of which option you’re going for, it is best to compare the offered rates and fees with those you’d get from a bank or credit union on your own to ensure that you’re getting the best deal.

How to get the best deal at a bad-credit auto dealership

To get the best deal, think about your needs well before you arrive. If you know that you want a specific car, it might be best to shop local inventories online when you’re doing your research. You’ll have a better chance of knowing your options and what cars you’d like to drive. Be mindful of the sales process and avoid impulse purchases that you might regret later.

Determine your budget

Determining your budget is a crucial step in the car-buying journey. Work out how much you can afford monthly, including the other bills and expenses you have, and subtract the amount you need to put toward other debts, such as student loans or credit cards.

Also keep in mind that financing is only one part of the cost of owning a car. You also need to work insurance, gas, maintenance and registration fees into your budget.

Get preapproved

Before heading to the dealership, reach out to banks, credit unions and online lenders that may offer preapproval for car loans. The dealership will likely offer you a car loan, but outside lenders might give you better rates and terms if you can qualify.
Most of the time, used car dealerships work with the same lenders that offer car loans directly to consumers. In this case, you’ll be able to get prequalified for the same loan the dealer would offer, but without the dealer’s markup.

Shop around

Even if you receive preapproval with what seems like a decent rate, don’t go for the first loan offer you receive. Shop around to see if you can get a better rate elsewhere. Just keep your shopping within a two-week period to avoid multiple hits to your credit.

Alternatives to using a bad-credit auto dealer

Car dealers are not always the best route to consider when buying a vehicle — even a used one — if your credit is not in top shape. There are many other ways to get a vehicle if you have a bad credit score, including:

Direct lenders. These lenders have online platforms that offer direct applications to people with poor credit.
Credit unions. Many credit unions have more lenient lending requirements than banks and offer special financing for members.
Get a co-signer. A co-signer is someone with very good to excellent credit — typically 740 or more — that guarantees repayment of the loan if you can’t. A lender may view you as less of a risk with a co-signer and offer a better rate because of it.
Improve your credit. If you can hold off on buying a vehicle, it may be worth taking the time to pay down your other debts and improve your credit before buying a car.
Save up. This is another option if you’re not pressed to buy now. If you can save up for a less expensive used car, you may be able to forego financing altogether.

The bottom line

Bad-credit auto dealers may be able to help you get a loan and get approved, but they might not be the most reliable option when it comes to finding the best deal. Before heading to a dealer with bad credit, research auto loan rates with your local credit union and other lenders to see if you can qualify for a better deal.

Learn more