Another car question

[pambysue]

I apologize for posting so many stupid questions, but I have a serious issue. My car almost didn't get me home from work today. The transmission is locking up terribly everytime I stop. It is a 1995 van with 200,000 miles on it so I'm really not greatly surprised. But, I was HOPING it would hold out until my bk was filed/discharged!
Anyway..if I am filing in the next 6-8 weeks (chap 7) would the trustee be questioning me if I bought another used car this soon before filing? I will probably be incurring another $240 - $280 monthly for the next 18-24 months for a car payment (I know someone who has a buy here-pay here lot and he wouldnt make me put a down payment on anything). I really can't afford anything else. I dont have the money to buy from a private owner and I can't get financing anywhere because of my credit rating (late payments & pre-foreclosure showing on credit reports). I really dont want to do anything to jeopardize my chap 7 filing being accepted, but I HAVE to have a car to get me to work. I am a single mom and the sole breadwinner in the family and I have no other means of transportation. My only other option is to take a taxi everyday and that will run me $30 daily! Any advice will be greatly appreciated. I don't want to do anything that will screw over this nice man who owns the lot!

[emoney]

You really need help, and I am not sure you can get what you need from this forum. Are you in a good church? What I am saying that you need some help on a local basis.
A mechanic could look at your van and determine that a fluid change may help it of some time. Other wise if you do buy a car look at Consumer Research first to help you choose a dependable car type and then have an independent mechenic check your potiential car over before buying. There are NO exceptions to this rule for buying a used car unless you want the same problems that you have today.
Best of luck,
emoney

[pambysue]

Thankyou emoney. I had a mechanic look at it around Christmas time and I was told it would cost between $800 and $1000 to fix. They said it wouldnt be worth it and I should drive it until it dies..but, they said they estimated it would last another 6 months or so. Unfortunately, it has only lasted 3 weeks. yes, I am in a good church and if you are insinuating that I ask them for help, there are so many people in my church congregation who are so much worse off than I am (I know that sounds hard to believe..but its true). At least my child has a roof over her head & food in her mouth. I would feel extremely selfish to ask them for any help with this.
I just wanted to know if the trustee would make me give up any car I might buy if it is so close to my filing..even if it is a low priced used vehicle. It would be a lot cheaper than paying for a taxi every day, but I have to get to work. I am 51 yrs old and have no family to turn to for help. It is me & my 12 yr old daughter. My other children live out of town except for one daughter who has a handicapped child & is struggling financially herself.

[CATCHMEIFYOUCAN]

My 99 Honda Accord had 140,000 miles on it, it got flooded just before I was getting ready to file. I got myself a new car (06 Hyundai Sonata), the Trustee didn't question it. And it kind of surprised me because the insurance company wasn't going to Total my car, they gave me $1800 to replace the engine. So with the insurance money, I just put a down payment on a new car thinking I might as well since I'll be in Ch13 the next 5 years.

Get yourself a good one! Catchmeifyoucan

[bige1030]

Yeah - there should be no problems if you plan on paying for the car, either through reaffirming or redeeming it in Chapter 7 or through the plan in Chapter 13.

[emoney]

I was not talking about financial help, but someone to help you with a sound plan for you car. Repairs, purchase, insurance and so forth.
Consumer Report is a gold mine with information about reliable cars and other items we purchase.
Thanks,
emoney

[pambysue]

Thankyou all for your input & advice. Cars are almost as frustrating and confusing as figuring out all this BK stuff..lol! I am willing to reaffirm or redeem as long as I have a way to get to work! Also, if I find something reasonable & reliable, should I write the amount in my monthly debt payments that my attorney is having me fill out?
emoney..regarding the Consumer Report, how do I access that? Is there a website?
Thankyou all again

[emoney]

Consumer Report has a monthly publication and an annual review of all of the tests they conduct. You can subscribe for about $20 a year or public librarys have all the current and back issues.
On cars the first thing is to determine what you need it to do. If you have tools and supplies then a PU might be in order. If your annual driving is great then mileage becomes more important in the one you select. I keep my cars for a long period of time so reliability is what I look for in my. My last car was a '86 Acura, and it had 249,000 miles when it was sold.
Consumers Report shows the reliability of the items it tests. It even has a good car and bad car list to help.
regards,
emoney

[pambysue]

Thankyou so much emoney! I will check with my library on saturday to see what they have. I am looking for reliability mainly. My caravan has 200.000 miles on it and I had been very satisfied with it for quite a long time. but, like the mechanic said, because of the mileage and the fact that the body is starting to fall apart, he recommended I drive it till it dies or sell it for a few hundred now to someone who wants a cheap van & is willing to put the money into fixing it. I really was impressed that he told me this instead of insisting on fixing it and charging me upwards of $1000! He has totally left it up to me what I choose to do. I had never heard of Consumer Report but it sounds like a wise idea to check into car reputations! Thanks again.

[emoney]

I forgot to mention that the reliability reports are in the annual edition of Consumers Reports. Did you find it helpful?
emoney