AIBU to drive a banger?

NDNs’ teenagers, learning to drive (often mounting the pavement lol) have an 11 year old car which is a year younger than my Yaris. Until last year I paid no road tax on its tiny engine but it flies like a bird and never lets me down. With 29,000 on the clock, this sole owner only drives it when dark to keep her safe.
Jimmy cracks corn and I don’t care.

People are so stupid about cars. New cars are the biggest waste of money, even (especially) on finance. My 19 year old car costs £20 tax and is so cheap to insure and repair. Like you, I care not a jot if it gets dented / scratched.

Mine is 11. I love not worrying about scratces etc (though I'm still careful obviously).
I'm perfectly happy taking DP's cast offs. The cars are joint owned,and I can drive both.
Even DP has stopped buying brand new.
We used to take turns getting a new car in alternate years.
I don't even notice other people's cars - just the colour!

I find your friends attitudes utterly baffling.

I have a 13 year old Qashquai, it's scratched all over and a bit dinged up where I backed into a Range Rover with a spare tyre on the back (don't ask) but it drives fine, and that's what it's for! I don't have a car because I love them, I have one because it gets me from A to B safely and conveniently.

My friend on the other hand has a Lexus on some sort of leaseplan and constantly bitches about money and affording nursery. I do understand the desire for nice new things, but there is a very broad range between 13 year old car and a flippin' Lexus!

People are daft about cars, just don’t understand it. Mine is a 14 year old VW golf, it’s in good condition and very reliable. I pay nothing for it apart from tax and insurance- I will keep it until it has an issue that’s not economically viable to fix

My car is 10 years old. Bought it second hand from dealership when it was 3 years old. 65k miles. Never given me any bother. Teen dd does sometimes say it’s a bit crap compared to her friends parents cars. But I don’t really care. I think I’d get joy out of a flashy car for about a week then it would turn into dumping ground my current car is. I’d rather spend my disposable income on several holidays a year.

That probably means that you have other things that give you ‘status’. I am proud of the job I do, for example, and I get quite a lot of self worth from that. For some people, that is what a car can represent.

My 15 year old car has just sailed through its MOT and I couldn't be happier!

I think if somebody scraped their trolley alongside it, I wouldn't be bothered.
If I had a new BMW? I'd be crying 🤪

DH has just sold his car. He bought it when it was 8 years old and kept it for 11 years. Mechanically really sound and less than 100k miles. He's sold it to a neighbour and replaced it with a 12 year old car.

People trade up cars far too easily imo. I bought a 5 year old car last year and hope to keep.it for at least 5 years. The only reason I might change it before then is if we have grandchildren (DS and his GF are 28 so it's a possibility) as it's a 2 door 2 seater.

A 10 year old car is not a banger.
My car - a 14 y/o VW Golf - is the newest car I've ever owned and I'm 40. My last car was 26 years old when she quit (RIP) - that was a banger.
I don't give a shit what people think.

Your friends and you have different spending priorities but, regardless, buying a depreciating asset on credit isn't the smartest thing to do and, if unavoidable for practical reasons, always best to keep debt as small as possible.

If you have a big fat bonus sitting in your current account and you love flash cars, fill your boots. Unless that all applies, your current postion is emminently sensible.

My car is 9 years old and will be kept for many more years. It does not reflect my wealth, just my spending choices.

Those comments must be annoying. I think the best response would be to ask why they care. Put the ball back in their court. I'm guessing they would have to start explaining how image conscious, shallow and insecure they are and that it ticks them off that you are unfettered by that nonsense.

10 isn't old, mine is now 14 years old and going strong, it's a very reliable Seat Leon and I love it.
Like yours there are dings and dents here and there, and I'll be honest the inside needs a good clean!
But I'm not wasting a penny more on a vehicle that will only ever decrease in value, it's a tool to get from A to B, not a fashion accessory.

I've always had older cars but after the last one started to cost me too much in repairs I got my first one on PCP albeit not new. The lack of worry about it breaking down was huge.
I think if you've an old car and it's reliable then keep it, it's when they're in the garage repeatedly that I'd rethink. Mind you that can happen with newer cars too.

As long as it gets serviced, passes the MOT and is what you need for the driving you do it's fine. No one has commented about mine but it's older than yours 2011, but still looks pretty good really.

My car isn’t a banger per se , but it’s 5 years old and has scratches and dents ( all done my myself as have had it since brand new ) , I put my dog in the boot and drive regularly down country lanes where brambles scratch etc , and that is the only reason I haven’t upgraded , and like yours it’s been serviced regularly & ( touch wood ) never caused me a days trouble

Every time I drive 200 miles to visit my mum she's hoping beyond hope that I turn up in something new/better/not quite as shit. Every time she's disappointed. It's 14 years old and in a bit of a state. A couple of years ago she perked up when I briefly considered getting a new car but it's passed another two MOTs since then so why bother.
I think it's one of the many ways I've failed as a daughter especially as she knows I could easily afford to pay cash for something really nice but choose not to.

Ironically this is as shallow and judgey as the comments people have made to the OP!

I'm not a car person but I'm objective and intelligent enough to understand that there are lots of other reasons, some quite sensible, why people might like having a new car rather than only because they're "deeply secure about their image!"

There's nothing wrong or "breathtakingly shallow" with anyone wanting a new car, the only issue is them criticising OP for not wanting the same.

I wouldn't call a 10 year old car a banger. I have an 8 year old Nissan Micra and it's a good little car. Very reliable. Passed the last two MOTs without any problems. I have had a couple of tyres on it and a new battery.

When I was young, we used to buy cars for a few hundred and then things would go wrong and you would manage, parking them on hills if they wouldn't start or using the handbrake when the brakes were dodgy. Some people had grass or moss growing inside because they weren't water-tight. They needed welding every year when they were moted. Now they were 'bangers'!

I used to get this from one of my siblings. On paper I could afford something much nicer. I had one basic car from new for 15 years. It was a reliable skip on wheels. I loved it. Reliability always is the most important thing for me. Do as you please.

My airport taxi driver had to get rid of his Skoda last year when it had half a million miles on the clock- he was gutted and wanted it to last longer 😂😂

yours is a youngster!

Yeah, its best to make sure you can afford the monthly repayments before signing up. If you can stick it out, wait until you are in positive equity before leaving.

Very very few of those in flashy new cars own them, they are all on finance. At least you own yours and it is not an old banger our car is 20 years old, has done less than 100,000 miles is well looked after and will last another 10 years at least.

Its up to you what you do with your cars. I replace every three years or so on my PCP finance deals, but I like just having new cars and not dealing with an MOT every year as well as servicing which does get more expensive. I currently pay £280 for my Mazda 2 hybrid on a PCP.

I agree, we have gross household income £200k+, net equity £2m+ and drive a 16 year old battered Nissan that I have had almost 10 years.