u/Fendixantana3

I owe 10k more on my 2019 Kia forte fe. I pay $500 a month, with 22 payments left. I started a new job, so I will be paying $900 per month for the next 12 months, until I pay the loan off. This was a perfect plan, until I got rear ended, and my car started to fall apart from separate issues. My VVT related to the camshaft needs to be replaced, and it’s causing my car to have less power and very slow pick up. Long story short, it is falling apart and I am scared that it will break down completely before I finish paying it off. My hopes with this car was to pay it off and drive it for as long as possible without having another car loan, but at this point I’m not sure if it’ll make it til then. I tried to go to a dealership and get a $8,000 car, but they told me I would have to look at a car that costs $12,000 or more. Should I get a cheap car and make $900 payments until it’s paid off, or are there other options? I’m pretty sure I have gap insurance.