The Bob Smith Journal
The vehicle problem you haven't named yet.
Nobody starts with "I need a different vehicle." They start with a repair quote, a longer drive to work, a car seat that won't fit, or a truck borrowed one too many times. These are the situations we hear about most, written by the team at Bob Smith Auto Sales in Mineola, TX.
Buying Tips
When the Repair Quote Costs More Than the Truck Is Worth
If the shop just handed you a number that's bigger than what your truck is worth, you're not stuck. Here's how to think about repair versus replace when you live in a place where you need a vehicle to get anywhere.
Financing
The Second Vehicle That Won't Start Is Costing You More Than a Payment
You bought it as a backup. Now it's the reason you were late twice this month. Here's how to tell when a spare vehicle has stopped being cheap insurance.
Buying Tips
Your Commute Got Longer Than Your Car Was Built For
Forty miles each way to Tyler adds up fast. If your car was fine for town driving and now it isn't, the problem isn't your driving habits.
Buying Tips
The Crew Cab Question Nobody Asks Until the Car Seat Won't Fit
Your truck was perfect until the second car seat. Nobody warns you that the back seat math changes everything, and it happens fast.
Buying Tips
Borrowing a Truck Every Weekend Is a Sign
Lake Fork, a trailer, a load of hay, a side job. If you're asking the same neighbor for the same favor, the math probably already favors owning.
Financing
No Credit Score Yet: What First-Time Buyers Should Know
A thin credit file isn't the same as bad credit, and it isn't a wall. Here's what actually gets looked at when you've never financed anything before.