So... I need to get to work somehow, right?
April 18, 2013 10:49 PM   Subscribe

How do I go about getting a car to go to work?

I bought the wrong car. The engine has sludge build up which means it doesn't drive right now(Transmission is fine. ). This engine has some damage on it from when it was dropped(Don't ask, I don't know) . I need to replace the engine. However I don't have a job right now and wont till the end of May when I start working as an engineer. But I need to drive to work at that job. Ideally this means I have a car at that point. So what I'd like to do is get a loan either for a car or to fix my car. Any ideas? My credit is fine. I just have income issues currently. I own my car its a 2007 Hyundai Elantra. I have a couple bonuses coming in but thats not going to happen before I get there.
posted by Rubbstone to Travel & Transportation (7 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Are you a member of a credit union? They seem to be more willing to work with people who need loans. It is worth checking out! They are supposed to work in your interest. Many credit unions have loosened their requirements for joining so it is worth investigating!

If you are going to work for a large employer, could be useful to see if they offer a carpool or vanpool program. If public transit is an option, it would be worth trying a trial run to your new job to see if it would work for you. Then, once you start receiving your salary, you'll be a better candidate for a loan.
posted by dottiechang at 12:01 AM on April 19, 2013


I need to drive to work at that job

Do you need a car simply to commute? or is it integral to your job that you have to drive from location to location, etc. If it's the first, i'd check on public transit before anything else. If it's the second, well...

Is there some kind of Zipcar/car2go type "rent a car from your smartphone" service in your area? I'd price out how much it would cost to use that as a commuting method for the few weeks until you had cash flow from the job. I bet it wouldn't be a huge amount.

When i've done the math it was cheaper than a taxi, but more expensive than public transit by a fair leap. The catch here being of course that a quite a few commutes are either completely crap on transit(IE 45 minute drive vs 2.5 hour total bus rides including a transfer and a wait between buses) or outright impossible. And of course that issue that you might simply need a car for your job.

The zip car/etc service thing also hinges on how much cash you have on hand though. Would you be able to float the coast of the reservations/rentals until you got your first paycheck? how much would those rentals be estimated to cost?(they have per mile rates and such on their sites).

It might be up to $40 a day, but bear in mind they cover gas and all that. My first thought after doing that math on just the rental prices was "well, buy a $4-500 beat up car on craigslist and hump it along for a couple weeks, then sell it/scrap it and get a portion of your cash back"... but then i realized that you have to factor in fuel and insurance and such. It's probably the cheapest option if you need to get there and get around after, but just for getting there and back and nothing else i'd lean towards public transit if possible or finding someone else who works there who lives near you and chipping in for gas.
posted by emptythought at 4:53 AM on April 19, 2013 [2 favorites]


Enterprise has good rates on long term rentals. Once you start working, then you can go buy a different car. The good part of that is that you don't have to pay until you need the car.

Check into carpooling in your area.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:32 AM on April 19, 2013 [2 favorites]


If you have a credit card, nth'ing car rental - Honest Ed's Rent-a-Sled or your local equivalent will likely be even cheaper than the national chains, with equivalent vehicles.
posted by Slap*Happy at 5:59 AM on April 19, 2013


The engine has sludge build up which means it doesn't drive right now

I'm not sure you have the best information, I've dealt with a lot of sludged up engines (I've never owned a car less than 20 years old, or with less than 100K miles), and I'm having a hard time imagining your situation. I have a 1955 chevy that is so sludged up I had to poke a coat hanger down through the drain holes in the head to get the oil to return to the pan (it was pooling in the head and fouling a sparkplug). That was 10 years ago, and I take that car to work all the time. Maybe get a second opinion, possibly from one of those craigslist "on the street" mechanics who may have more experience/motivation to just get your car going again.
posted by 445supermag at 6:24 AM on April 19, 2013


Yeah, since you seem to have a little time I'd hit up your social networks hard for anybody who knows anybody who knows anybody who lives near you and works near you and see about carpooling.

This is the kind of thing I'd do for a friend of a friend sort of a thing, and it's probably your cheapest option. You should chip in for gas once you've cashed your first paycheck, if you can't do so earlier, but you won't have to expend any other sort of capital. If I had a regular carpool rider in my car, I wouldn't expect them to pay more than $20 for the week, and would be totally happy with $10 (although this will of course vary depending on the gas mileage of the car in question and the personality of the driver).

People are generally decent and your situation is really understandable. Ask around. I bet something comes up, and if not, you can still (maybe?) rent something.
posted by gauche at 7:15 AM on April 19, 2013


Another thought: do you have a close relative or trusted friend with an extra vehicle (or an infrequently-used vehicle) that maybe you could pay to borrow for a couple of weeks, until you get your paycheck and get yours fixed?

I'd look into public transit first, and that or carpooling second. A long-term rental might also work. Don't do ZipCar for this - ZipCars are usually around $8-$10/hr, and you multiply that by say 9 hours/day, that's close to $400-$500 per week for three weeks...it's a lot of money.
posted by breakin' the law at 9:21 AM on April 19, 2013


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