Car + Car Insurance Help

RainbowGirl90

So this post may be a long one so please bear with me as I could definitely use some help.,

I’m considering getting a new car - or it may be a necessity as I’m fairly certain my car will not pass it’s MOT in a few weeks. I’m somewhat relieved everyone I get it to start.

Anyway, my credit rating is very poor and I don’t have a lot of money to put upfront for a car which I know is going to limit my options but I’m also pretty hard going on cars. My work is 24 Miles from work (mostly motorway) so I do around 240 Miles a week in total. So I need a car which is reliable and can cope with the motorway commute but is also pretty small (I’m not an overly confident driver so don’t want anything big with my car shortly being a Daewoo Matiz, a Chevrolet Matiz and currently a Fiat Panda). Now I’ve only actually been driving for 3 years 9 months.

I also live in a fairly rural location despite the close proximity to the motorway so need a car that can handle that plus cope with the winter weather. As much as my Panda is a good car it doesn’t overly handle heavy wind and rain well - and the snow recently I didn’t even attempt until it was all pretty much gone.

I have access to the NHS Fleet Solutions through work so could get a car this way but it seems to be quite expensive, or I could look to leasing but I’m unsure how that would go given my dreadful credit rating. So I’m not even sure where to look for the best or even the best type of car?

Also given I’ve not been driving that long (I am 27 though) my insurance is still pretty high. I’ve thought of getting a black box but I drive a lot at nights due to being a shift worker. From reading it seems the times you drive are monitored so would I likely be penalised with the black box for the times I drive (which are out of my control)? For reference I mostly do 12 hour shifts which finish at either 7pm or 7am with the occasional 2100 / 2200 /2300 / 0200 / 0300 finish thrown in.

I would be very grateful for any help!

Ectophile

How about getting the car fixed and serviced so it will pass an MOT, and then worrying about what to buy next year?

What is actually wrong with the Panda?

Ebe_Scrooge

You don't give an idea of what your budget is. But a few comments, for what they're worth.


Firstly, 50 miles a day on a motorway is nothing. In fact, this is probably the ideal driving pattern in terms of being "kind" to the car.


Secondly, leasing a new car is an expensive way of going about things. Whichever way you dress it up, you're still shelling out for a new car.


Without knowing more details, I'd be tempted to suggest that your best ( i.e. most economical and "sensible" ) option would be to pay for the necessary repairs to get your current car through its MOT, and also treat it to a good service. If it costs a few hundred quid to do this, it will be far cheaper than replacing it with a new car. Of course, if the repairs are going to be several thousand, then it may be a different matter. But if it's just a case of spending a relatively small amount for another year's motoring, then it's often a case of "better the devil you know". In the meantime, you can be putting money aside each month into a savings account to buy yourself a shiny new ( or fairly young second-hand ) car in a couple of years' time.


Of course, a lot depends on how much you've got saved up, how much you can afford each month for the lease payments, insurance, maintenance, etc. But only you can make that decision.

RainbowGirl90

So with the Panda, it’s pretty reluctant to start and once you have got it started it stalls ridiculously easily (not just with me). So any change between first and reverse will peettt much cause a stall.

Otherwise it’s just a number of little things but it doesn’t alwaus feel safe to drive - particularly in high wind and rain.

RainbowGirl90

In terms of up front cash I currently have 600 in an account so as I said I have very little budget. I’m trying to put aside what I can.

The Panda is currently driving very much the way my Matiz was and the repairs for that would’ve run well in to the thousands hence being replaced by the Panda last year.

fatrab

You can present your car for MOT 1 month before it's due, this might be sensible to find out what it's going to need. Once you know this information you'll be in a better position to decide if it is viable to repair it or replace it. Have you got a local friendly mechanic/garage who you trust to look at the car for you, or do you have a friend/family member who can recommend someone?


You say your credit limit is poor, is this something that can be rebuilt over a short space of time or not? The reason I ask is that the majority of finance available to people with poor history is usually at a phenomenal rate of interest and should be avoided. If you can get another year out of your current car, keep your finances in check and possibly save some money for a decent deposit, this would be a far better option. Personally, I'd avoid leasing.


240 miles per week equates to 12,000 per annum, some would argue this is slightly on the high side of average but 1000 miles per month isn't actually all that bad. Most small cars should cope with that commute with relative ease. Give us a budget and I'm sure you'll get a 100 suggestions!


At 27 with almost 4 years no claims (I assume?) you should be starting to get reasonable quotes, have you followed the guidance on MSE's main site? A telematics box shouldn't be necessary unless you have a bad driving record.


Best wishes

laidbackgjr

When was the Panda last serviced? - what age and mileage has it done?

I would not expect problems starting and stalling - perhaps a dragging clutch - needing a simple adjustment of the clutch cable? would cost thousands on a car as cheap and simple to maintain as a Panda.

Nobbie1967

Get it MOT'd now to see what issues need to be addressed to pass and ask the garage to look into the stalling issue. If it's a reasonable amount then get it done and give the car a service if it hasn't had one recently. With bad credit, you're going to get stung for any finance deal on a newer car.

How old is the Panda? What mileage?

RainbowGirl90

I!!!8217;ll have to check mileage later, but the car is the old style from 2011 (11 plate).

The stalling / start issue is a new one, and there!!!8217;s been a few times where I!!!8217;ve thought it!!!8217;s not going to start this time due to the sputtering and reluctance to get going.

The car has recently had new brake discs and pads as they were completely worn.

Ebe_Scrooge

RainbowGirl90 wrote: »

I!!!8217;ll have to check mileage later, but the car is the old style from 2011 (11 plate).

The stalling / start issue is a new one, and there!!!8217;s been a few times where I!!!8217;ve thought it!!!8217;s not going to start this time due to the sputtering and reluctance to get going.

The car has recently had new brake discs and pads as they were completely worn.

Discs and pads are consumables on any car - you can discount those - and you'd have to replace them on any car after a while anyway.

Best advice - get a decent mechanic to investigate the stalling issue. Starting - could be something as simple as a knackered battery, cheap and easy to DIY.

End of the day, your car is 7 years old ? That's nothing these days, and for something like a Panda where parts are cheap and easy to replace ... I'd be hanging on to it. Why on earth would you want to be thinking about committing to several thousands of pounds worth of debt, on a depreciating asset, when you could get years of motoring out of your current car and saving up in the meantime for something different if you want to ?

RainbowGirl90

Honestly I love the car bar not having remote locking. It!!!8217;s a bit of a pain only being to unlock it from the drivers side door but it!!!8217;s a minor thing.

I!!!8217;ve had issues with the cars spark plug and oil leaks in the past. But for the most part it!!!8217;s been a reliable drive but the jumpy struttery drive and the start and stalling issues concern me.