Car Loan for Person with an iffy Rating

Jolt

Evening folks, I was hoping I might be able to draw on your experience.

Since moving house (we're renting btw), my partner has to now make a daily hour long commute along a busy motorway twice a day. She has quite a small, old car and it has recently begun showing signs of imminent failure, and she say she doesn't feel safe in it on the busy motorway. With it being so soon after our move, money is a bit tight and it is looking like she may have to resort to credit to purchase a more motorway able used car.

She has a good job (newly qualified solicitor) that she has been in for a couple of years, but her credit isn't in great shape following some financial difficulties as a student.

She's applied for and been turned down by a few of the standard companies. She was accepted at a couple of places, but the APR seem ridiculously high (40%+) . She feels fairly desperate, but I'm really eager to stop her from taking out one of these high APR loans, but without offering an alternative I'm struggling.

Could anyone offer any suggestions please?

Thanks in advance.

DCFC79

Could she not car share ?
Use public transport ?

CLAPTON

why does she feel unsafe?
is a small car more likely to have an accident than a large one

plenty of decent (large) cars around £2k

Jolt

We've explored the public transport option and it seems like it would take three changes and somewhere around 2 hours each way, so unfortunately not viable. In addition, she needs use of a car to travel around to see clients in the town where she works.

She's mentioned that she feels like she is getting blown around a lot on the motorway, and that with her little car not having a top speed of much for than 70, she lacks the horsepower to react to other people's aggressive driving, should the need arise. She was actually looking for cars in the 2-4k bracket, but doesn't currently have the disposable income to purchase it with cash if her car were to break suddenly.

LovelyLeeds

Jolt wrote: »

She's mentioned that she feels like she is getting blown around a lot on the motorway, and that with her little car not having a top speed of much for than 70, she lacks the horsepower to react to other people's aggressive driving,

Welcome to my world!
All she needs really are good brakes, roadside breakdown cover and a bit more confidence with motorway driving. Is there a reasonable A/B road route she can take if she's not confident with motorway driving?
Not a good move to take out a loan at such a high payback.

CLAPTON

how much does she earn
how much does she save each month

Millie_Millsters

Jolt wrote: »

She's mentioned that she feels like she is getting blown around a lot on the motorway, and that with her little car not having a top speed of much for than 70, she lacks the horsepower to react to other people's aggressive driving, should the need arise.

Lacks horsepower or skills? I'd suggest investing a few quid in the IAM Skills for Life Programme. http://www.iam.org.uk/motorist

Forwandert

Everyone's getting blown around on the motorway at this time of year. I have a large car and also get blown around depends more on the weather than the size of a car.

bungle4by4

so her teeth are bleeding with the desire for a new car, i can understand that. what does she currently drive, and what is she wanting to drive. Office car park politics. especially at a solicitors will be strong.

KingElvis

Buy a Stolly, they don't get blown around much and if someone gets aggressive, she can just drive over them.

I use one for my daily commute and find it a breeze. Good luck.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvis_Stalwart_(FV620)

poppasmurf_bewdley

It seems she is not happy with what she's got, but now wants something that she can't afford.

Sorry to say it, but the only thing she can do is keep with the status quo for as long as possible AND SAVE UP.