Need to be pointed in the right direction...

My beautiful car that my father bought me when I was 16 is beginning to fail me. A couple weeks ago my parents poured $ 1200 worth of repairs into it; a couple of months before that it was $ 1600 in repairs, and a couple of months before that it was about $ 900. Some days it won't start at all, other days it will but then I get stuck somewhere because it will decide it doesn't want to start (like at the store, getting off work, etc).

I want to get a newer vehicle. I just moved to a new city two months ago, and I don't have a lot of contacts for when I'm stranded somewhere, and I don't have the funds for taxis and Uber (that's gas and food money lol). I make about $ 350- $ 400 a week at my job, and I have a decent amount in savings for a down payment (~ $ 4000). BUT, my credit is bad. I don't have a lot, and my score (sitting at 585) is based on a charged off credit card that I missed a couple of payments on when I was 17/18 years old.

My loan application was declined by Capital One and a local credit union. I know my dad is just going to want to put more money into the car in repairs, but I don't have the time or the money to deal with the repercussions (i.e. catching an Uber, missing/being late to class or work) when the car continues to act up. It's not likely that I'll be able to get him to co-sign a loan with me.

What do I do? Can anyone recommend lenders who can help a first-time car buyer in my situation? Or shall I manage until I've raised my credit score above 600? I have no idea 😢 😢



Thanks.