So here's the latest update on the car -- we got the estimate yesterday from the steering column repair guy here in town, and it's pretty much along the lines of what I was expecting. Yes, the parts for the steering column and ignition/switch themselves are pretty cheap and are in stock (maybe $100-125 total) and the labor isn't incredibly bad for it either. However, it looks like they damaged the entire turn signal array/mechanism as well, which means the wheel needs to be replaced (another $12-15 or so for a compatible wheel). The problem, however, isn't in getting the parts but in getting a key that goes with those parts. Since my car's anti-theft device is in the ignition switch (which, I might add, is the first thing the thugs ripped off/cut out) and corresponds with a security microchip in my ignition key, we'd have to get a steering column and ignition that already had the key with it ready to go -- otherwise the car would need to be completely re-keyed and that would add another $150-200 to the total. It's substantially harder to find one with a matching key set for it, so the estimate for everything is anywhere between $250 and $450-500.The other option, of course, is to sell the car. The people who the used parts come from (U Pull It Omaha) buys vehicles to add to their used parts inventory. You can fill out a form online and they'll make you an offer, come to you, tow the car for free, and write you a check then and there. They're a really reputable company and we have friends who have used them before not only to get parts, but to sell their cars. Therefore, over the holiday weekend, I'm going to see what they'd offer me for the car as-is (since the rest of it is in good working order and it has two new tires with less than fifteen miles on them). If their offer is more than it would cost to fix it, or at least comparable, I'll just sell it to them and put the money towards something else as long as it has four wheels, doors, and a heater. At this point I really don't care as we're going into winter and I need a car.
This pretty much sums it all up, to be honest with you.
Daisy has told me that we can do whatever I wish; if we want to try to fix it regardless, we can, if that's what I so choose. If not, we can get me something else. If I do have to get something else, I am being honest -- I really don't care what it is as long as it runs, has heat, and I can drive it to and from work. If nothing else I'm sure I could find a Sunfire or Neon or something like that which I could purchase relatively cheaply and drive it until I can afford something else. At this point it's not about what kind of car I'd want, but what I could get. Believe me, I have wants, but none of them are anywhere near our available price range, and because of our current credit card debt we don't qualify for a car loan right now. We checked.
So. Those are really our options. Before all this happened, we'd originally planned to get me a new car sometime in the spring once it warmed up, as we would've been able to save enough money by then and have our credit cards paid down more, enough to where that would be a feasible option. Now? Yeah, it's been bumped up and it's no longer feasible to wait. Obviously, this puts us in a rather tight spot. Plus, there's the issue of my student loans coming due in about two weeks as well, so...yeah.
I'm not messing with any of it until I'm off for my "weekend," as I don't have the time or patience to otherwise fuck with it until then. We'll wait and see what happens.
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