Need a new car. Awful credit! Options?

throwoff

Hey everyone.

myself and my wife own cars, I have an 05 plate punto she has a W plate Astra.

The punto is for want of a better word 'knackered' almost 100k on the clock, engine been replaced, cluncking noises, bad everything. Basically if I were to sell it I would be best scrapping it and pocketing 20 quid!

The wifes Astra is in much better nick and I should think reasonabley has another 20,000 miles minimum in it and she really only drives to the shops and a short commute to work.

Anyway onto my problem, I have dire credit, really very poor, several defaults, am on a management plan with the CCCS etc.

Money is a lot better nowdays since I went on the plan but will not be off it for 4 years and it absorbs a lot of my disposable income as you can imagine.

I need to get the punto replaced. I have no savings as I used them to pay down a bunch of debts before entering the plan to get the time frame down and avoid the possibility of an IVA.

What are my options? I mean I have quotes from decent trusted mechanics of around £1200 to get the Punto fixed up, it needs replacement, well everything! and that is more than the car is worth.

I know there are bad credit car companies but I hear some pretty bad things, do I just hold out for a few months and scrape in 1,000 and spend that on a second hand unfashionable car in good nick?

Any advice appreciated!

fivetide

throwoff wrote: »

, do I just hold out for a few months and scrape in 1,000 and spend that on a second hand unfashionable car in good nick?

Any advice appreciated!

Do the above. In your position I'd worry about a reliable wee car above whether or not it is fashionable though.

You can always get a status symbol in the future!

throwoff

Hello mate, sorry I think that bit was unclear, I have no qualms buying something unfashionable! What I mean by that was I want to buy something reliable over anything else!

fivetide

Toyota Starlet
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-Starlet-1-3-Sportif-3dr-/160920695914?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item25779ef46a

Basically something Jap/Korean rather than French or Italian!

throwoff

Blimey, if I was nearby I would probably have gone and bought that!

Thanks for your advice, I was leaning on the second hand option being the best choice just needed someone to tell me so!

Thanks given!

fivetide

No worries. Brother in law had a Starlet. Cheap to run and insure and a doddle to work on. Tend not to be rusty as well. Make sure brake pipes etc are ok on anything you might buy though

Tilt

You say the engine has been replaced on your Punto... so whats' the probs now with it then? It may be economical to fix if you look in the right places; http://www.fiatforum.com/ I have a W reg Punto and it's a fantastic little car. If yours is an 05, it could potentially be worth a lot more than £1200 depending on the spec.

forgotmyname

How many items on you repair list are essentials? £1200 is a lot.

100,000 miles is nothing for the modern car IF SERVICED PROPERLY.

My last car Mondeo 2L petrol 150,000 miles only sold because i needed an estate. Engine sounded better than cars with half the mileage.
Currently a Diesel Mondeo i just pushed past 160,000 miles and all good. Except a lazy motor in the drivers door. Winds down OK but goes up like a lazy hamster is powering it.

Not a big job but a garage may charge a couple of hundred £ to replace. £20 2nd hand motor and £40 or less to replace. If i wait.

throwoff

Tilt wrote: »

You say the engine has been replaced on your Punto... so whats' the probs now with it then? It may be economical to fix if you look in the right places; http://www.fiatforum.com/ I have a W reg Punto and it's a fantastic little car. If yours is an 05, it could potentially be worth a lot more than £1200 depending on the spec.

Gearbox mount, one engine mount, exhaust mount and back box, all shocks, front tyres, back brakes, bonnet release, handbrake cable, plus a myriad of other problems.

Most of it being essential, when I drive it (and I do 100 miles a day for work... although am luckily borrowing my brothers car at the moment instead) it feels like a car about to die.

As for servicing, this was my first car, I had it since new, first 3 years, had full service annually, then I went to uni, did this and that, got into stupid money problems and it has not had one for 6 years.

My own silly fault that I know and throw my hands up to. But it is the situation I am in!

Tilt

I also have owned mine from new. 12.5 years old and still drives like new so it shows that they can last a while.

To be honest, all those 'faults' certainly don't add up to £1200 imho. If the engine (which you say has been replaced) and bodywork is good, then I would say the most economical thing would be to shop around for the bits and repair it.

fivetide

The stuff listed you can probably get for about £500 looking on Eurocarparts at prices. Fitting is the pricey buit if you can't do it yourself.

What do you know about the motor? When was that fitted and is it that that has done 100k or the chassis?

If it is the 1.2 and it hasn't been serviced I can understand it not being so happy with 500 miles a week.

Ebay seems to suggest about £1400 in decent nick so you are right on the edge of it being worth fixing. Sometimes it is better the devil you know but I can understand the frustration with it.

I'd go second hand and Jap if you decide not to fix (which is what I was basing the earlier chat on)