to scrap DPs car?

[ruledbyheart]

I've had enough of it, I bought the blasted thing in November for DP and so far have spent so much money repairing it I don't think its worth it.

I paid for a new cam belt £185
I paid for a new tensioner £100
I paid for the new tyres £100ish
I paid for the new exhaust when the other one fell off.

I also pay the insurance £100 per month and tax is due next month which is another £123 .

I bought the car for DP so he could work, he would help pay for it if he could but so far its my money being spent as he can't afford it.
DP needs the car for work (delivery driver) so with out it we will be back to square one .

However the clutch went last night, I have no money left to fix it - well I could but it will leave me broke again, DP cannot afford it either.

I have said to scrap the bloody thing, I have had enough of spending money I dont have on the car.

Obviously the insurance and tax I don't mind paying for as thats budgeted, the cam belt was expected but everything else has not been and it has been every month since December its needed fixing.

DP is willing to scrap it but it means he will loose his job, but MIL has had a right go asking how we meant to save for another car on benefits?

A better question would be how are we meant to save for a new car if this one is costing £300 a month repairing and running a car we can't afford?

AIBU to scrap the car knowing it means we will end up back on job seekers?

Ps with the car history even if I pay out to fix it I cant ride in it, being stranded several times at night has made my anxiety rise and I know even fixing this time something else will go wrong and we will be back in this position.

[ComposHat]

stuff like exhausts, cam belts and tyres are consumables and will have to be bought regardless of whether you own a fifty quid banger or a top of the range Rolls Royce. From what you've said it doesn't sound like a car in terminal decline.

if you scrap it now you will be chucking away all the money you've apent so far.

[ruledbyheart]

That is a very good point, if it had all beenspread out over the space of a year it wouldn't be so bad but all this in a short space of time has wiped me out financially and if I fixed it again I would have nothing left if anything else break or my DCs need anything.

The car only cost £300 so I expected things to need doing but not this often as its of the road every other week at the moment.

[Julezboo]

Trade it in for anoither one? If you are going to spend money fixing it. Trade in for scrap money and spend a little bit extra on a better car. We have done this for years. Started off with a R reg fiesta. We have moved up in value slightly each time and just bought an 04 plate car after trading in our multipla.

If its a fiat, get rid asap! What car is it? x

[ruledbyheart]

Its a 98 ford escort so has seen better days.
Can't trade it in for another as have no money at all to put towards another car.

We plan on getting another car but can't afford it for a few months as I have DCs birthdays and a new baby to get essentials for.

[ComposHat]

it would be daft to trade it in at this stage unless you can afford something significantly better. You could have the same trouble all over again. Nobody will buy new tyres change a cam belt If they are selling It for a few hundred quid.

Ally cars hsve come from the automotive bargain bin. I've found an extensive service history is a better guide than mileage and would always put that ahead of make and model preferences.