A Texas used-car dealer is racking up views on TikTok after laying out what he calls the "unpleasant" reality of buying lower-priced used cars—the $3,000-to-$5,000 range he specializes in.
Tom (@buxton.auto.sales), who works at Buxton Auto, posted a video earlier this week promising to level with buyers about what to expect.
"Buy here, pay here, used car dealer speaks the unpleasant TRUTH!" he wrote in the text overlay.
Tom doesn’t sugarcoat his industry’s reputation. He says used car lots like his "get a bad reputation" and concedes that "it’s hard to be trusted." Still, he insists he tries to operate cleanly. He checks every vehicle he buys and makes sure it’s roadworthy before selling it.
"There’s a difference between what is worn out and what is unsafe," he says—an important distinction, he argues, when you’re dealing with cheaper cars where "every car is going to need something."
From there, he launches into what he calls his biggest frustrations with customers who expect a bargain-priced car to behave like something fresh off the lot.
His revelations have sparked a conversation about buy-here, pay-here lots. As of this writing, his video has pulled in more than 25,100 views.
What Are the Buy-Here, Pay-Here Used-Car Dealer’s Annoyances?
Tom says one of the most common questions he gets is whether he’s selling buyers a "good car."
His answer: it’ll be "good" for what they’re paying. He consistently urges customers to take any car—his included—to a mechanic for an independent inspection, noting that few actually do.
"If used car dealers fixed everything wrong on a used car, we would make zero money," he adds.
He also fields constant questions about whether "anything" is wrong with the vehicles on his lot. Often, the honest answer is yes, which is why he repeats his advice to get a shop’s assessment before signing anything.
Another sore point: the disdain some customers express for the buy-here, pay-here model. Tom says people often tell him, "Oh, they sell those cars five or six times before somebody actually pays it off," a claim he says doesn’t match his own experience.
"I think I sold it three times. Three is my max," he says—explaining that the first two buyers "didn’t do what they said they would do" and make their payments.
High interest rates, he argues, aren’t a trap but a reflection of risk.
"The higher your interest rate, the bigger the risk you’re perceived to be," he says.
And when a car gets repossessed, it’s rarely returned in the shape it left in.
"That down payment money we got, some of it went to repo," he explains. "We’re almost starting back over, very close to zero."
Ultimately, Tom insists he’d far prefer that buyers finish paying off their cars. His advice is straightforward: Ask to take the vehicle to a shop, understand that buy-here, pay-here financing comes with higher rates, and be realistic about what a budget used car is meant to be.
"Look that car over," he says. These vehicles, he adds, are a bridge—not a long-term plan. "Credit makes the world run, unfortunately. Just keep those things in mind when shopping for a used car."
What Is a Buy-Here, Pay-Here Dealership?
Buy-here, pay-here financing is exactly what it sounds like. The dealership sells you the car and also fronts the loan, so you’re not dealing with a bank or any outside lender.
It’s a setup that many people with poor credit rely on because approval is usually easier, and upfront costs can be lower. But the trade-offs are real, and they’re worth understanding before you sign anything.
Instead of sending a monthly payment to a lender, you pay the dealership directly. Some lots offer small or even zero down payments and a little more wiggle room with financing. In the best cases, you can even rebuild your credit if the dealer reports your on-time payments.
The risks are what make people nervous. Interest rates tend to be much higher than traditional loans, and because the dealership controls both the financing and the car itself, repossession can happen fast if you fall behind. Some lots only report negative marks, which means your good behavior may not help your credit at all. And with high rates and low down payments, you can easily end up owing more than the car is worth.
Viewers Applaud Salesman for His Honesty
Tom’s blunt assessment clearly struck a chord. People flooded his comments section to praise the candor they say they rarely hear from used-car dealers.
"Straight truth," one viewer said.
"He didn’t tell any lie here," another chimed in.
"You speak the truth," a third echoed.
"You are a great, honest man," someone else added. "I wish you the best in your business endeavors."
Some said they’ve followed the same approach Tom recommends and were glad to hear him spell it out.
One man explained, "I’ve gotten by on a few $3-$5 cars. I knew what I was buying and paid them off. I drove them till I could afford something nicer."
Tom jumped in to agree, responding, "That’s how it’s meant to be."
Others were just relieved to learn that "dealers like Tom" are still out there.
"Glad to know places like yours exist still," one commenter wrote, saying they’ve primarily switched to private sellers out of frustration.
Another veteran of the industry added, "39 years in the business myself, you’re the kinda car store I can recommend to my credit-challenged customers."
Motor1 has reached out to Tom via direct message on TikTok. We'll update this if he responds.
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