Buy another 2nd-hand car vs a Mobility vehicle

happycatuk

Hiya folks,

Could do with a bit of sensible advice (hence why I'm here!), and I'm not even sure my query belongs here, but ...

Have learnt that my battered but otherwise faithful 10yr old car, which I thought had just a little bit of trouble with its power steering, is actually unsafe to drive as the steering could go completely at any time :eek: I've had a look in the local paper, but it seems there's very little out there at the moment (and even fewer potential sources that I trust).

I really need a car as I can't walk very far due to illness (chronic fatigue/ME), and am in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (higher mobility and lower care), but am not sure which brings me out in a cold sweat more: the idea of accidentally buying a dog of 2nd hand vehicle, or having something shiny I might ruin Also, heck, I plan to get better, is the scheme ok to take back a used vehicle mid-lease (or however they work it)?

Has anyone else purchased a vehicle through a Mobility Scheme? Or should I try using buses/home delivery options, wait until the 2nd-hand market gets more competitive in a couple of month's time, and buy a car outright then?

Thanks!

devizes18193

I've had 2 cars purchesed throuh moblity , a vectra and then a kia seddona , both came from maindealers and had wareerestenty etc. You will need to find out what the award is worth as moblity charge interest . although brought with moblity money the cars where normal so to speak . The rules where the car had to be less then 4 years old and 60k on the clock

happycatuk

Ah, I didn't know about the interest charged bit; hmm, seems alot more complicated than the leaflet leads you to believe ..

It took me 1.5hrs+ by bus to do a 10 mins car journey earlier, so I don't think relying on the local buses is a long-term solution, either ...

Many thanks for your help, I have more to think about now!

devizes18193

I phoned up dla and asked both them and moblity what the award was worth i belive 1st time round it was 7k aprox

goldspanners

why dont you find out how much it would cost to get your own car properly repaired?
this will surely be the cheaper option.
at 10 years old its hardly ancient so will still be worth spending a few quid on it especially if its been reliable and hassle free up to now.

happycatuk

goldspanners wrote: »

why dont you find out how much it would cost to get your own car properly repaired?
this will surely be the cheaper option.
at 10 years old its hardly ancient so will still be worth spending a few quid on it especially if its been reliable and hassle free up to now.

That was my first instinct. However, it is a 97 Daewoo Nexia, which I spotted a local trader selling for around £375 a few weeks ago, so it has a very low market value! I'm not being cavalier about discarding my vehicle due to the following;

To repair the steering by welding it, the engine has to be taken out (£200+), then the welding itself plus any other issues (£200+), which the garage has quoted at around £400+ in total;
There is also a coolant leak, suspected to be head-gasket related (possibly covered by the above amount, but I rather doubt it);
My last MOT flagged up a hole in my exhaust box, which needs replacing (the garage wanted to wait until it was making loud noises before doing so (cost unknown, possibly £50+);
The spare wheel doesn't fit (the tyre is the correct size but the replacement a scrap merchant sold me fits an Astra, not my cloned Daewoo) (£50+, plus possibly a new tyre, £45);
The seal along the back window is damaged and leaks;
A fog lamp is broken (cost to replace unknown);
A headlamp is cracked and needs painting (with clear nail varnish!) to avoid water getting in (£80+);
The front bumper/grill/edge of front number plate damaged, needing repair/replacement (cost unknown);
Plus almost every body panel/wheel arch is knocked, scratched or dented.

I've invested consistently in the mechanics (the gearbox and coolant pump went 2 years ago, which I had repaired), but it's never run as smoothly since it first had its engine taken out for the above repairs. Ever since I began to only do short trips in it, it has definitely stopped running as smoothly, too.

One further bonus of changing cars is also the possibility of going for an automatic transmission, as I often have greater weakness in my left side and not having to change gears in stop-start traffic would be a bonus

I had a look at the Motability scheme online last night, and am a bit confused by the choices available but am thinking it may be the easier option for me right now ...

happycatuk

happycatuk wrote: »

I had a look at the Motability scheme online last night, and am a bit confused by the choices available but am thinking it may be the easier option for me right now ...

.. except it would be if my award didn't expire in less than 12 months' time! I guess I'll have to call the DLA and ask for my review to be brought forward

Heaven knows how long that'll take, so any advice on where and when to find a second-hand car instead is very much appreciated...

steveo3002

you say not much around second hand? are you looking in the right places ? lots people changing cars atm

happycatuk

steveo3002 wrote: »

you say not much around second hand? are you looking in the right places ? lots people changing cars atm

Well, that's what I thought, especially given the new car registration and people needing to release capital through selling items .. however there's little in my local paper, and ebay doesn't have alot nearby (the less distance I have to travel to find it, the better!) Even local garages don't seem to be advertising anything suitable at the moment (if I wanted a 1.8 or 2ltr engine I'd be fine, but I don't!)

Maybe my budget is too optimistic; under £2,000 (preferably alot under), newer than my old car, quite small and economical, ideally Japanese (I hear they're more reliable as they get older), and not about to need tons of work under the bonnet!

steveo3002

do you do massive milage?

theres alot of cheap bigger cars around ..even with the fuel and tax they will work out good motoring for some people

happycatuk

steveo3002 wrote: »

do you do massive milage?

theres alot of cheap bigger cars around ..even with the fuel and tax they will work out good motoring for some people

I do very few miles (easily less than 1,000 a year), but am thinking a smaller car would be easier to handle than a large one (my current one is the size of an Astra), plus will it not be more expensive to keep on the road once the car tax becomes linked to engine size (or does that only apply to new vehicles)?

Am supposed to be visiting some garages this afternoon, but can't even find a starting point (everything is out of my range...)