Just after the opinions of some more people really. I know what I want, but I dunno if thats the best thing for my wallet.

In short, I have a Fabia which is in need of a new steering rack, and all the costs assosiated with it. When I say need, I mean its undrivable at the minute. To pay to fix this would cost around £500 inc. parts and labour. The value of the car is about £800 (or about £1,000 - £1,500 max when fixed) to a dealer in its current state, and I dunno wheather I should take that, and then see what I can get for my £1,000 budget, or pay the costs and keep the car.

If I where looking to change it, the replacement would need to be quite strong in crashes (ideally 4 star+), have ABS, and thats about it really and be less than £1k and need to last for four years while I am at uni and do a daily commute of about 40miles per day.

Just looking for people opinions to try and gauge what the best thing to do would be.

Thanks in advance.

If the rest of the car is good, a £500 repair is fine, even if the value is only £800. Devil you know and all that. Cars do go wrong, and cost money to run, fact of life.

You know what they say. If it's got boobs or wheels it will cause you problems.

Totally agree with the idea of better the devil you know. My 1st car was a Mk3 Astra which was my dad's before mine. Knew the car inside out but after a year got rid for a Polo which I though would be more modern and more reliable but I was wrong and have never had so much trouble in one car before.

Right! Been there, done that! Got to know my devil (2001 1.4 16v elegance) rather well but it never stopped breaking down and eventually I got a loan and bought my vRS! That said, list what's been fixed already and if you can tick of all the common faults it's prob gunna be fine after the rack.

Bushes

Thats all I have done. Still got the leaking doors (easy and cheap fix I know). But the biggest thing hanging over its future is the engine and its oil consumption.

Does about 2-3,000 miles to a tank! I don't know if I am going to fix this only to find the engine is dead in a year or two and I am stuck in the same situation as now, only £500 down on a steering rack.

I appricate the better the devil you know and have thought of this, but in my case the devil isn't a particulary nice one!

I think this sort of question is something only you can answer in the end. But I agree with other posters, if you buy another old car there could be lots wrong and you'll never really know if the previous owner sold for that reason. I would bite the bullet and pay to fix up your current car.

I'd get the current car fixed. Buying a replacement car for 1K, expecting it to last 4 years whilst possible, in the main a car that costs less than 1K is not going to last 4 years without needing some kind of major repair work in the future.

Thanks for all the replys, I shall be probalby getting it fixed for all the reasons above, and I have been quoted a much cheaper price by a friend, and mainly cos I think I will find it hard to find anything to replace it and insure it at my age.