Need to buy car before chapter 7 filing

[bkbkbk]

I have delayed filing chapter 7 for a few years. I've been using a friend's car but that is no longer an option. I have been going back to school. I have also been working mostly part-time up until May and have been unemployed since then. I have very little help from other people at this time...

I need a car so I can look for a job and reliably get to school and work. However, I am unsure of what the best option for me at this point is. If it matters, I live in Southern California and my last year's gross income was between $15-20k. I only have a bit less than $5k saved up. My credit report is filled with many negative items, and my myFICO score is nearly 600.

My options for checking out cars are:
- walking or taking the bus to nearby dealerships
- having someone take me to a dealership, but this isn't so easy for me
- looking for private sellers and having them meet me in public within walking distance of where I live
- I can rent a car for nearly $250 per week from Hertz, and use that to drive myself around for car-shopping. This is expensive and I am not sure how long I would need it for to be able to accomplish buying a car.

My options for cars to buy are:
- old cars that cost a few thousand dollars. I am just worried about reliability and how to safely pay a private seller
- used or certified car in the $10-$15k range or slightly higher. I would have to get financing such as from Capital One. I am unemployed at the moment and need a car to get a job, so I think on the application, I can just say I am self-employed for now.
- Q: is this 2nd option a bad idea?


I am very unsure of what to do. Any advice is appreciated!

[newbie2]

The 2nd option would be a bad idea, because you would be lying on the application. You are not self employed, you are unemployed. You have enough saved to be able to purchase an inexpensive car. Do that, and then get a job so you can work on getting your finances in order. Good luck to you.

[jetsfan2010]

You can get a decent car to drive back and forth in for 2-3k imho. Check out your local craigslist

[IamOld]

I'm with Jetsfan...my son bought himself a car with his own $$ saved from work plus a few dollars from his grandmother - and spent about $2000 on an 8 year old manual car. He says it's POS - it is not - BUT has a dent on one side (no big deal), everything works. However, (manual) his reverse gear doesn't work, which is no big deal for him, as he just drives a few miles/day to/from work/school.

SO - when/if you do look at cars like this make sure that:

a) you drive it...at least for a half hour if not more - fast, slow, surface street, freeway - back up, forward, roll thru the gears, etc. CHECK EVERYTHING!!!!! all buttons, etc.

AND DO NOT FORGET - even if you're not a mechanic, look under the hood, and LOOK UNDER!!!!! THE car to see if anything's "hanging" off of it!!!!!!

[bkbkbk]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I've been checking Craigslist for a used car in the $2-3k range. It's frustrating because many sellers seem to be reluctant to let me take their cars to a mechanic to inspect their car. (I've only been speaking to sellers on the phone, so far.) However, they're willing for me to bring my own mechanic in person. Is there a difference? Are these sellers avoiding more rigorous testing and computer records that can be checked and recorded at a shop?

I don't know a mechanic on a personal level so I would have to entice one from a shop.

I don't have money for any major repairs that might need to be done. Should I insist on having a car I'm about to buy be inspected at a shop?

[IamOld]

bkbkbkb - YES try to get it to a mechanic...do you have a shop locally that folks seem to like??? (By the way - son's car's manual transmission broke a rod - damage total=461)