Aargh!!! How do you stay on the straight and narrow???

immoral_angeluk

I know how you feel as we were in the same position car wise last year. I had an M reg corsa which was literally any minute from dying a dramatic death to total cambelt/camshaft failure and we couldn't afford to get it repaired. This was before our LBM so we went out and got a 03 reg rover 25 through ucan car credit at a ludicrous 24.1% apr because we were desperate. Don't get me wrong we love the car and have had no problems with it at all but at the time it really hit us hard and actually triggered out LBM. So in a way I should be thankful but realising we were going to end up paying 8k for a car worth 5k hurt like hell!

MrsTinks

Now I am not one to encourage people into debt, BUT ask your garage what they think it's likely to cost you to get the car through it's MOT... If it's considerable then maybe it's time to think about replacing it. And please tell me you have recovery? AA or RAC or something? If not then use Martins loopholes in his mails recently - it's possible to get something for under a fiver and at least that way you won't be stranded in the middle of nowhere.
I recently decided it was time to change cars from an MX 5 (value about £2500) to a new mini cooper. More practical (yes really) and fits in with our plans for starting a family next year etc. Price difference a mere £7000... :eek: however I managed to get a loan with Egg at an ok rate, same monthly repayments as I already have and I can over pay with no penalties. Don't forget what Martin says - Debt isn't bad, bad debt is bad. Think very carefully but if it's time to get a new car (NOT to keep up with the jones's) and you can afford it then don't feel bad for it. However ideally try and save up for it beforehand if possible

Pauper_Princess

Ooh, more replies :j

This is what I really love about this site - I need it to keep me sane!!!!

Yep, there's definitely an air of "keeping up with the jones's" about the whole car thing - it's stupid really as I'm not even a "car" person really - as long as it gets me where I need to be, what does it matter what it looks like? But it is starting to worry me about how much it's going to cost me in the long run...

tine, your advice is fab, thank you... when I can find the time and I'm not using the car for work I need to get it to the garage. I know for definite the brakes and suspension need fixing, but I've no idea what else is wrong with it

I do have AA cover, wouldn't risk taking it anywhere otherwise! Sometimes I'm travelling 60 miles a day for work so it's not worth the risk :rolleyes:

If I do have to get a new one, I've already got about £800 put aside from my old job, it was going to go towards my garage into a home gym! :rotfl: But I'll have to put this towards a car if I need to, at least that way I won't be borrowing as much.

Thanks again everyone :beer:

LookingAhead

Just wondered how you were getting on.....how the car is and also.....any more weight loss (if you need to - doesn't sound like you do!).

I hope you are OK.

chalky_75

I used to have a really good friend who was the manager of an Abbey National branch and he always said the people with the newest cars were nearly always in the most debt.
The people who he reckoned always had the most money were the farmers stanmding in the branch with mud all over their boots and scruffy clothes on ( no offence meant to farmers)

tifnstav

That reminds me of something i read on another post about how some people in America driving scruffbag cars are millionaires and none of their neighbours know.
i'd love to be like that, with a million pound little secret! unfortunately i'm a scruffbag on a bus who isn't certianly isn't a millionaire.