Any recommendations as to where to go for HP for a new car. My IP has agreed to this

[Antony.kt]

Hi, I am coming up to end of the 2nd year in IVA, I have spoken to my IP and they have agreed that I can get a new car on HP (essential due to rural location and work commitments)as my current car is 13 years old and costing a fortune in running repairs each month. My family cannot afford to do this in their names as suggested (i thought this was "fronting"!) so I am wondering if anyone has any recommendations as to where to go for HP whilst in an agreement. I have seen a car for £5k, very low miles, diesel so economic and have only two weeks to get this through as review is coming. Can anyone suggest any companies to try?

[Foggy]

Moneybarn is the only company I know of .. and the interest rates will be high.

[mazbrown]

Hi Antony , try moneybarn , they get good reviews and are iva friendly

[Shining]

For fear of repeating the others Moneybarn may be able to assist. Other posters have used this company successfully.

[IVANotOverYet]

font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:<hr height="1" noshade>Originally posted by Antony.ktI have seen a car for £5k, very low miles, diesel so economic

You may wish to research whether a diesel is right for you; depending on the type of driving you do it may not be appropriate - a modern diesel with all of its associated emissions control technology such as the diesel particulate filter (DFP or FAP) is really not suited to doing low mileages. As a result, very low mileage secondhand diesels can sometimes represent not the best buy.

A very low mileage car is often not necessarily better than one with average miles – a car which isn’t used much will deteriorate and wear much more quickly sitting around doing nothing than if it’s used regularly. Also, cars that only do very short runs to the shops and back are often not a great buy; because they never get properly warmed up engine and gearbox wear are very high for the mileage.

If a car’s been used for mainly under 5 mile journeys the wear rate is likely to be around 5 or 6 times that on a car used for greater than 5 miles at a time. Personally, I’d suggest looking around at ‘low-average’ miles rather than ‘very low’.

I’d tend to steer clear of anything that’s done less than 4,000 miles a year. It’s less important for cars with tiny petrol engines (1.3 or below) as they warm up much more rapidly (within a mile or two), but move up to a 1.6 or any diesel engine and you’ll find it takes much longer (as much as twice as long) for them to get properly warm. In that ‘cold’ period, the wear on the engine and gearbox is huge. If a car’s done less than 4000 miles a year, it’s likely it’s been a second car and has done shorter trips; even if it were used every day it’d only be doing ten miles a day (probably two 5 mile trips) which means it’ll be ‘cold’ for probably 70+% of the time. That is not good news at all for wear and general reliability, especially on a modern engine. Diesels have their own issues with low mileage as they tend to be heavier lumps but run at lower temperatures, which is why they take a while to get hot.

It will of course depend on the model, age, and type of driving you do as to whether or not that particular diesel vehicle is right for you.

Happy to advise you personally if you wish. I made it through my arrangement in cars with well over 100K (and as much as 197K at one point). I changed my cars several times but none of the changes ever cost me more than I would have spent on fixing whatever was wrong with the car I was getting rid of.

[calshan]

Thanks for this advice, I travel 45 mile round journey on a roads to work, rarely do short runs, have seen an astra, 33k miles on 07 plate, 1.3 cdti, which I use a similar one at work. Returns 58mpg and prove reliable workwise. Decent return on fuel too. Would you consider this suitable?

[calshan]

Sorry, should read A roads

[IVANotOverYet]

font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:<hr height="1" noshade>Originally posted by calshan

Thanks for this advice, I travel 45 mile round journey on a roads to work, rarely do short runs, have seen an astra, 33k miles on 07 plate, 1.3 cdti, which I use a similar one at work. Returns 58mpg and prove reliable workwise. Decent return on fuel too. Would you consider this suitable?

Your driving pattern sounds suited to a diesel, certainly; but there are a few things to bear in mind when you're looking for a car... let's think about this one. I suspect looking at AutoTrader that I've found the car you're looking at.

So, 07 plate means registered between 01/03 and 31/08 in 2007, so it's at least 6 and possibly 6.5 years old. At that age it's done less than 6K a year, so make sure it's been serviced regularly (annually at least, as that mileage counts as 'heavy wear' usage). The 1.3CDTI has a timing chain not a belt IIRC, so no worries there.

It may or may not have a DPF - ask the garage to check - if it doesn't, that's good news. Much less to go wrong.

If it does have a DPF, it's important that as well as being serviced regularly, its been given the right spec oil at the services (if there's no proof of that, be wary); it is essential that modern diesels with DPFs use the correct oil which is intended to minimise the amount of ash created in the particulate filter - ash cannot be burned off and will block the filter over time. Make sure that they warrant the emissions control system including DPF - many warranties don't, but if the DPF is 60% full of ash, it'll be regenerating more often than it should and that will cost you money in fuel as the process uses it during active regeneration; it'll also mean the DPF will need replacing far earlier than on a car which has been used for long runs.

A car with that low miles has probably spent a lot of time in town in traffic, so be absolutely certain to check the clutch for slip (stick it in high gear at low speed and floor it - the revs should rise slowly along with the speed and not quickly).

Also check the clutch pedal for any pulsing or vibration at the bite point, and for any rattling or knocking noises - most modern diesels are fitted with dual mass flywheels which DO wear out when used heavily, especially in stop-start traffic and where used predominantly at low speed in high gears (typical behaviour for town cars). DMF failures are expensive - you're looking at a clutch change plus flywheel plus labour being in the region of £700+)

If they're OK, then everything should be just usual checks; HPI the car to check its history with insurance and finance companies, make sure everything works (and don't be fobbed off with excuses!), make sure you've driven it and there's no nasty knocks, rattles, bangs, warning lights, odd noises, pulling to left or right under acceleration or braking, shuddering through the brake pedal, flat spots in acceleration, or smoke (white steam from exhaust is fine when it's started, but blue smoke is a no-no).

Hope this helps a bit!

[Drew]

Hi Moneyway might be able to help

[calshan]

Declined by moneybarn even though they said can help in iva. Got very little options now as family cannot help, even a payment break to get a run about would no doubt fail as I would be in the same position paying out repairs constantly, hence wanting a newer car. My work cannot help (police) so don't know where to go next. I don't want to resign on the fact I cannot get to work but looks like it could be a reality

[IVANotOverYet]

font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:<hr height="1" noshade>Originally posted by calshan

Declined by moneybarn even though they said can help in iva. Got very little options now as family cannot help, even a payment break to get a run about would no doubt fail as I would be in the same position paying out repairs constantly, hence wanting a newer car. My work cannot help (police) so don't know where to go next. I don't want to resign on the fact I cannot get to work but looks like it could be a reality

You don't need to end up constantly paying for repairs even when you buy a cheap car. Surely someone at work (like one of the police workshop fitters) would be able to help you find a cheap but decent car?

Example - A mate of mine spent £400 on a 1989 Peugeot 205 diesel on eBay. It lasted three years and 75,000 miles before he got rid of it, and in that time cost less than £200 in parts (excluding normal servicing - oil and filter and an air filter every 6,000 miles = £25 plus 45 minutes to change). Alright, I did the work for him, but even if I hadn't over 3 years he'd still have spent less than £20 a month on it including labour.

[calshan]

Thanks for your advice, Ivan, I may have to look into that option,the reason I am reluctant is that my last three cars have been this,older cars which initially ran ok for a month or two before the issues really started and began costing a fortune. I know very little about cars, but have tried to learn when friends have repaired mine. I am a cautious driver, drive at 55mph to get the best fuel economy, but forever having things go wrong. A payment break may afford me to get a car like this, however, I don't want to be in the position of running to my ip for help each year when the car has new issues. I work for a small force now up north and don't know our fitters so will have to try and speak to one. Wish I took mechanics at college now!

[IVANotOverYet]

font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:<hr height="1" noshade>Originally posted by calshan

Thanks for your advice, Ivan, I may have to look into that option,the reason I am reluctant is that my last three cars have been this,older cars which initially ran ok for a month or two before the issues really started and began costing a fortune. I know very little about cars, but have tried to learn when friends have repaired mine. I am a cautious driver, drive at 55mph to get the best fuel economy, but forever having things go wrong. A payment break may afford me to get a car like this, however, I don't want to be in the position of running to my ip for help each year when the car has new issues. I work for a small force now up north and don't know our fitters so will have to try and speak to one. Wish I took mechanics at college now!

If you're anywhere in the North-East by any chance, I'm happy to lend a hand finding you a car.