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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to loath needing to research and buy a "new" car

153 replies

RandomMess · 01/09/2026 16:09

As in new to us car, I have comprehensive reasons so surely everyone should I agree I am not being unreasonable to loath the whole process?

  1. Nearly new 2nd hand car prices appear to have doubled in the last 11 years (our salaries have not)
  2. I don't want a new car but the current one seems to have reached the point of beyond economic repair so it no longer a choice, we've been putting it off for 5/6 years
  3. All the major car groups/brands websites seem to have flashing/moving graphics that quite frankly give me a headache as soon as I open them so can't bear to explore them for the information I want
  4. The fancy pants websites don't seem to have the information I want on them
  5. The basic information I want is not easily found so I ending up resorting to AI to find eg. outer dimensions of the vehicle
  6. Far too much choice it's utterly overwhelming
  7. Choosing between part hybrid, full hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric, petrol, diesel - just too overwhelming
  8. There is no information on "can my 6'4" husband with arthritic knees fit COMFORTABLY in the passenger seat without something digging into said knees
  9. I can't go browsing without DH due said knees
  10. Most cars don't tick the comfortable for DH box so it's an exhausting waste of time ruling out 95% of cars
  11. When I do find a car that I think ticks the boxes I read various reviews and they score badly so no longer have them as an option
  12. About 4/5 cars that I have really wanted over the years have been discontinued or they've changed the shape and/or size so I no longer like them or can't buy one only a few years old
  13. Most of the dealers have closed near us so it's all a bloody trek to even sit in any.
  14. The purchase options, sadly don't have the cash to buy outright so another then to read and digest and make a choice on
  15. My absolute go to Car Review website "Honest John" has been shut down and you can no longer even view the historic reviews they did - seriously disheartened by this discovery.

I've probably listed a fair few rants so need to stop.

OP posts:
hirsuteonHRT · 01/09/2026 16:30

Pistonheads are a useful forum for good car advice. I hire the car I am thinking of buying. Feel like it’s a small ivestment to reduce the risk of buying something that doesn’t suit us. Also tall and with wonky backs and hips.

TurkishShepherd · 01/09/2026 16:27

Yeah, getting a new car should be fun but it's just not.
Cars are expensive & depreciate quickly however you fund them.
You run the risk of them going wrong, even when brand new (looking at YOU Hyundai).
You can't really tell of you like them & whether they're truly comfortable from a 30 min test drive.

However, if you give us your budget and list of needs/wants/don't wants, there are some knowledgeable people on MN who may be able to help?

Lmnop22 · 01/09/2026 16:18

Was your previous car comfortable? If so, just get another newer and not dying one!

I had the same utter confusion about cars when I replaced mine last year and in the end I just bought the same car again but obviously newer so higher spec and in a different colour. It’s all jargon to me and there are so many bizarre features on cars that seem to cost more that I just wouldn’t use like air conditioned seats that loudly blow a gale up your bum as you drive or a “heads up” display which means the speed limit and your speed dance around in front of your eyes the whole time 😳