... when they were going to start taking notice of those auto and motorcycle dealerships that say, "bad credit? we can help", and let you buy what you want as long as you finance it in house and are willing to pay any type of interest they offer. I first noticed this in the motorcycle industry (Hello, Harley Davidson), when a friend of mine, without much thought, bought a NEW Harley Davidson 883 Sportster on an 8 year loan. His family ended up having to bail him out of the crazy terms and interest, selling his house and buying one worth 1/4 as much, just to pay off his Harley Davidson loan and credit card bills. His Harley purchase wasn't his only problem, but it just goes to show how they prey on the weak. And that was 7 years ago. His loan was 5 years old at the time. When he took out the loan in 2002 was the first time I noticed that they were selling to anyone that would walk in the door, make a choice and sign on a dotted line.
Since then, the used car lots, and now I guess the new car lots, have taken this tactic. I didn't realize it was getting this bad. All we see is that Harley Davidson is a remade success story (remember the U.S. of A. bailing them out with tariffs and quotas on Japanese cycles?) and U.S. of A. automakers keep selling more cars. Which is great. But at what price.
A former significant other, whose credit was in the outhouse, overpaid by about 40% on a Ford Escort from a used car lot that promised, "bad credit? we can help", deal and help her re-establish her credit rating. So I know that it isn't just interest that screws them out of their money, either.
Sigh... sure am glad my Bonneville has been paid for since day one of my ownership, it runs like a clock and I would drive it anywhere in the continent, just need a new pair of radial tires up front. 
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