Yeh it's officially dead.  Got the word yesterday.  At least now I can go search for some cars.  My cousin has, in the meantime, graciously given me his car to borrow for a few weeks so things aren't being such a nuisance and inconvenience as it initially looked like it was going to be.  Granted the car is almost dead.  A few kms after driving it from his house the rear view mirror decides to just fall off. Hmmmm.... Right now it's being held up by string attached to the E-tag.  Hooray for citylink!