To add to the previous post, in my (short-lived, but insightful) experience doing some work for a dealership, most major manufacturers will have a vehicle they gear toward drivers in your situation. The Ford dealership at that time offered the Escort ZX2, a sporty but economical car that was usually easier to get folks with newer credit and/or lower incomes into. A used car is much more difficult, as the banks see the decreased value as a liability should they ever have to repossess it.
I should add that even finance managers of these places are either not very bright or not willing to give up trade secrets to new folks (I would suspect both), so I never found out exactly why or how this worked, but would imagine it had to do with pricing, as they're usually lower ticket vehicles. But somehow they made it work - the very skilled there could take someone dead set on a used Expedition or Mustang (a very profitable commision for a salesperson) only to find out when they go to finance that their credit is shot, new, or they don't have a very good income, and they could turn them to the ZX2 and have them driving it off of the lot.
My experience was with Ford (who I believe now use the Focus in a similar capacity), but shop around - Chevy and Dodge have similar programs from what I'm told. Good luck!
Message Edited by OBXFrank on
09-18-2007 02:55 AM