Weird car buying/financing question

[Greyd]

Because my credit sucks, my father will be using his credit history to "buy" the car. However, I will be paying everything. I have a normal career job (teacher).

Now onto my questions:

1) If I want to buy a car at a dealer about 200 miles out of town - how much can be done without my father being present at the dealer? For example how much paper work can be faxed,etc. When does he actually have to be there in person?

2) Financing is "higher" when there's no payment down correct?

Yeah I know these are noob questions...bear with me here.

Thanks

 

[Pacfanweb]

1. He needs to be there to sign the papers.
2. Not necessarily. If you have good credit, you don't need money down and you'll get the best rate anyway.

 

[Dunbar]

I would e-mail the internet managers of all the dealers around you "pretending" to be your father. See who gives you the best price. Than whoever gives you the best price represent yourself (in an e-mail) as your father and mention you'll be signing for your son. That way when you show up in person there are no surprises. If pops has good credit, there shouldn't be any surprises.

 

[RossMAN]

1) He has to be physically there at the dealership to sign the loan documents. Or you could try to get financing locally from a Credit Union and they cut you a check which you deliver to the dealership.
2) It depends on many different factors. Credit history and debt/income ratios are more important than a down payment. If the down payment is substantial it may have a little impact on the APR.