Well, first off forgive me, but I must vent.
Here goes....
Most or at least some of you are aware of all of the problems I have been having with the Bonnie. STILL won't start. The wife and I decided that it is probably time to go ahead and purchase a newer vehicle. We actually found something we really liked and was a good deal. 01 Malibu with 75,000 miles with a Brand NEW PA inspection, which is a HUGE plus, for $5,000. Ran the Carfax (thanks again) and it was clean. Was actually a Southern car for a few years.
SO, I call the credit union and spoke with 2 different people explaining my credit situation and asking if they would take a look.
SHORT Story- I had bad credit in the past and just finished paying everything off, except the student loans which just started and I have been paying on time.
I explained that they are proabably not updated on the credit report yet, but I can provide proof they were all paid if neccessary.
I told them I wanted to think it over (the wife and I are also considering buying a house in the near future and I don't want to go into to much debt at one time).
SO, I call back the next day for a "pre-approval". The guy takes all of my info, puts me on hold for like 10 mins with NO explanation, comes back and says they can't do an "instant" approval but they will call me back the next day. So yesterday afternoon I call because I hadn't heard anything, and was told that I was declined because my score was too low
They have a minimum score with NO exceptions...they guess who processed my ap. works in some call center and just inputted the info. A differnet lady actually looked at the ap.
I was so angry that I got sick. Such a bad head ache I need a pain pill to get rid of it and couldn't eat (which NEVER happens)
It'* not that I am mad I didn't get it, it'* that they did exactly opposite of what I told them I was looking to do.
SO, I call the lady who actually looked at the ap, and was not rude, but stated my anger and that I wanted to file a complaint on how I was treated. Supposedly the VP of lending services is going to review everything and get back to me.
Now, I have a non running car needing maybe another grand or so that I don't have, on top of the fact that I don't even know where I am going to be living soon.
As I said, we were thinking of purchasing a home once the credit is all straightened out and our land lord was supposed to go month to month while we found a place.
Now, he'* saying he wants a year lease OR we have to be out by the end of May!!!
UUGGHHH!!!!

how much more could be WRONG with it?!? i mean seriously. jees.

Ya know...I hate finance people.

Ask him if you can sign a year lease with a clause that if you give him 60days notice, you will get back your deposit and are not liable for the rest of the year.

He'* likely afraid you will bail on him, leaving him rent-less for a time period. By offering to work together - you are protecting your needs and filling his as well.

as for the low credit score, credit unions seem to be a tad bit more flexible than banks (my experience) And once you do get an auto loan, your score will likey go up (my experience). I'd recommend staying where you are for a while, get a car loan and your credit score up, then proceed with the house buying... if that'* possible.

Tracy.....
I think I am going to stay put for a while. His reasoning is that he wants to be able to rent the apartment out over the summer, which I understand...what gets me is that he had previously siad we could do month to month.

WJ
Well, I know something is wrong somewhere causing me to have LOW oil presuure, perhaps an oil pump, maybe beariings?, maybe jsut a bad guage. I need to get a mechanical guage to accurately check the pressure.
Then, I need to have it pass the PA safety inspection, which means I need to fix the problem in the front end, I think a wheel bearing. I will probably need brakes ( haven't put any on in two years) and I guarantee there will be other things they will find. That'* how it always goes. Oh eah, I need new taillights (the pass side is being held o with wire right now) and I have a nice crack in the front fender.
None of these are THAT bad, but I am VERY limited in my mechaninc abilities and I only have two months to get this done.....after I figure out why it won't start.
EDIT-MAYBE I will try to save her. I really love it and would hate to let it go to waste, not to mention all the money I have into it.

Okay, I have calmed down. TIme to think clearly and decide what to do. I will probably stay here one more year, no sense of moving and then moving again when we find a house.
As far as transportation, I am really stuck. I really wonder if it is worth getting her fixed, but I obviously cant get financing, and don't have / want to just buy something cash that is gonna be a whole nother set of problems.

Oh man, that'* rough. I feel for you.... Any chance you could sublet the apartment? Is there a college anywhere close to you?

I went through a credit union this time and it'* my first time buying a car with a third party funder not setup with the dealer. All in all everything went well. The amount available to me was low compared to a bank and it'* a pain to be the middle man and have to hand carry a check to the dealer, but the APR is worth it.

No, I am pretty sure a sub let wouldn't fly here. I like the idea though.
Yeah, I am still ticked about the credit union, but what can you do.
The big problem is that this is all coming at once. Any of these issues at once would be relatively easy to handle, but all at once it is making my head spin.

If it gets to the point that you have no other choice, you can get a car. You just might not get the best rates. Those "We finance anybody" places really do, but there'* a chane you'll take it up the butt on interest.

Look around, though. We have a couple of reputable dealers here that offer financing for "special cases". That'* how I got the Bonne. My credit was shot at the time, and now the car is paid off, and I am a homeowner....

Mos, that'* funny. That'* exactly what I have been thinking. The only problem is I don't know of any around here that are reputable at all. I am going to do some investigating. I was just checking out J.D. Byrider, and I don't like what I have seen. As a matter of fact, I stumbled upon this http://www.jdbyridersucks.com/
But, there are plenty of regular dealerships around here that offer "special" financing, so I may look into those. No, I'll probably just need to come up with some $ for down payment.