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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What should I do with my car?

36 replies

Azurehawker · 22/05/2024 18:20

Sorry not much of an aibu more of a wwyd, and also hoping someone who knows about cars can offer advice.

my car has developed a major fault that need a specialist repair (automatic transmission) the only garage I can find who are able to offer this kind of repair is is 200 miles away. I don’t think the car would make it there without being transported. Repair is likely to cost anything between 800-2000 depending on what they find. I still have 3000 outstanding finance on the car and the extended warranty I paid for has now expired.

The issue is complicated by the fact that the car has some quite severe damage to the bodywork as a result of a slight accident with my own garden wall 😬 it would also cost 1000+ to fix and I was resigned to just driving it into the ground with the damage unfixed, it also has around 90,000 miles on it so all in all it’s definitely worth less than the outstanding finance even without the transmission issues but I was hoping it would last the next 18 months so the finance was at least paid off.

I’m so stressed about it all as I can’t work without my car (self employed) I have no idea what to do for the best. I also feel like a complete failure as this was the car I bought after separating from my husband and it was a massive step for me, now it’s all gone wrong and I’m finding it hard to keep things in perspective and not just spiral into anxiety depression about it. Especially as I’m still having to drive the car for work everyday and it’s getting worse and worse, i know it’s just going to pack in any day now.

I could really do with some suggestions for the best thing to do in this situation.

OP posts:
ABCBasics123 · 22/05/2024 18:24

Find a local garage that can do the repairs

Original poster
Azurehawker · 22/05/2024 18:25

ABCBasics123 · 22/05/2024 18:24

Find a local garage that can do the repairs

The closest garage that can do the repair is 200 miles away

OP posts:
PickledPurplePickle · 22/05/2024 18:26

I don’t believe that the nearest garage is 200 miles away, who told you that?

Bluevelvetsofa · 22/05/2024 18:30

Would you be interested in getting a car on PCP or lease?

I suppose it depends how old the car is too, but potentially spending about £3000 would mean I’d need it to be reliable for some time afterwards and that would also depend on the age.

Could you use that money as a deposit for another car. PCP doesn’t necessarily mean getting a brand new car.

PonyPatter44 · 22/05/2024 18:33

Whatever sort of car is it, where only one garage in the whole country can fix it? I think you might want to try phoning round a few garages, or looking for an independent garage that specialises in your make of car.

Ghostgirl77 · 22/05/2024 18:35

It seems like your choices are to either get the work done and continue driving it or scrap it, in which case you’ll presumably still have to pay off the outstanding finance but will be able to use the money saved on the repair to buy another car.

ABCBasics123 · 22/05/2024 18:56

I repeat, find a local garage or a mobile mechanic who can do the repairs

Mobile mechanics can come to you

iamtheblcksheep · 22/05/2024 18:59

Is it a VW by any chance?

Original poster
Azurehawker · 22/05/2024 18:59

ABCBasics123 · 22/05/2024 18:56

I repeat, find a local garage or a mobile mechanic who can do the repairs

Mobile mechanics can come to you

no one local can do the repairs, it’s a dsg transmission

OP posts:
theteddybear · 22/05/2024 19:01

I would claim your car insurance. Say u hit the wall at your home and now there's internal damage. You wld need to possibly lie about when it happened though. As I don't know how long ago u hit the wall.

RubberyChicken · 22/05/2024 19:07

I don't think a mobile mechanic is going to br able to remove, strip and rebuild a gearbox on your drive. It really does need a specialist to do it. You need special tooling and know what you're doing.
How much would the car be worth in good condition op?

RubberyChicken · 22/05/2024 19:08

theteddybear · 22/05/2024 19:01

I would claim your car insurance. Say u hit the wall at your home and now there's internal damage. You wld need to possibly lie about when it happened though. As I don't know how long ago u hit the wall.

And if you're found out you would possibly get a conviction for fraud

Silvesterthecat · 22/05/2024 19:15

Try looking for a new (second hand) car at places like cazoo or cinch or auto trader and type in your cars details as a PX and state the issues. You won’t get much for it but you could get rid before you spend anymore on it and replace it with another for a similar monthly amount.

HowardTJMoon · 22/05/2024 19:19

Rather than repair, could a local garage source and fit a replacement reconditioned gearbox?

If it came down to it and you had to cut your losses, how much cash do you have on hand to buy a replacement car? Second hand car prices have been mad for a few years now but non-ULEZ compliant cars are notably cheaper than ULEZ-compliant ones. Depending on where you live that might not be a problem.

billyt · 22/05/2024 23:00

I'd get myself onto one of the forums for that make of car and ask for ideas/help on there.

Lots of small garages have mechanics trained/experienced on lots of models.

My local workshop can do most mainstream ranges as well as a few high end models.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 22/05/2024 23:17

Automatic transmissions are always very expensive to repair. And in my experience repairs don’t work in the long run. My advice (not knowing anything about your finances) is to start looking for a new car.

I say this as a person that had a transmission repaired twice on a beloved SUV, but finally gave up when it blew for a third time. The root cause was too much power/torque and was ultimately a design flaw.

PotatoPudding · 22/05/2024 23:29

Where do you live that it’s 200 miles to the nearest place that can replace a DSG gearbox?

Winter2020 · 22/05/2024 23:53

I was going to suggest putting the car for sale/auction with the faults declared but if you have outstanding finance I don't think that you can just sell it unless with their agreement and you can settle the finance.

I think speak to the finance people. See what they suggest in the circumstances. I wonder if it might be possible to borrow more and get a new car absorbing the existing finance into a new agreement.

If not "bangernomics" spend 2-5k on something with 12 months MOT and a clean bill of health on it's MOT history.
https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history
Look for cars that have passed MOTs or failed on a light bulb etc and not corrosion etc.

If you don't have the money (as you need a car for work) I suggest you buy it on a 0% purchases offer credit card or a normal credit card then balance transfer to a 0% balance transfer credit card offer
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/

I think you will still have to pay off the finance unless there is any insurance against it becoming unusable and uneconomic to repair.

Check the MOT history of a vehicle

Check the MOT history of a vehicle from 2005 onwards, including if it passed or failed, its mileage and why it failed, download MOT test certificate

https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history

MotherWilliam · 23/05/2024 05:29

Sympathies, Op. I've had to bite the bullet and cut my losses with my automatic. Have you tried asking for advice on the Pistonheads forum?

Walkden · 23/05/2024 05:48

Have you tried posting on owners forum's. People may know garages without websites that fix the problem.

Is the gearbox being repaired or is it possible to replace with a second hand one?

SpanThatWorld · 23/05/2024 05:51

You say you "don't think it will get to the garage". Is it driveable? Do you have breakdown cover? Could you start off and, if it dies, get the breakdown vehicle to transport it the rest of the way?

HappiestSleeping · 23/05/2024 05:52

In order to offer proper advice, we need to know the make and model of the car, and where you are located @Azurehawker

logicisall · 23/05/2024 06:12

Honest John warns against buying a high mileage car with dsg gearbox, particularly if it has not been well maintained. Depending on the problem, repair/replacement can cost £2k - cut your losses and get rid of the car. Don't throw good money after bad.

CommeUneVacheEspagnole · 23/05/2024 06:31

Realistically your options are

Insurance fraud - although it is damaged so technically not fraud but if it can't be driven then not an option
Selling to we buy any car
Fixing it

DSG is not some rare unicorn. I see no reason why you have to go 200 miles to get this fixed unless you live 200 miles from everyone.

Lovelynames123 · 23/05/2024 06:35

Have you asked for a settlement figure? Depending on your agreement once you've paid more than 50% you can hand the car back, worth investigating