To want a new car

[strawberrycake]

I'm coming to hate mine.

It's a 17/18 year old BMW 3 series. It handles like a boat, it's so long bay parking is harder than my maths GCSE was, it looks like an old man's car. Also one window doesn't work and 2nd gear is a bit sticky. The cassette player (!) is naff and has blu-tack holding the cover on. Kids at the school I teach mock it (in a friendly way) and shout out offers for a push-start if I go near the car park. DH bought it years ago before I could drive. I drove my mum's Micra and how EASY was it, no squeezing on nasty East London roads and into bays when parking.

But. It has passed every damn MOT with no more than the odd bald tyre or blown bulb/ fuse. It will not die. It eats very little petrol. Three kids have plenty of space in the back.

Is it bad to want a new car when mine is simply unstylish, awkward to drive but it very cost efficient?

If you hate it then its not bad to want a new one. If you can afford it then get one thats easier to drive.

btw I did agree I'd drive until it gave up the ghost ten years ago when it sounded a 'bit funny' (there was a carrier bag in the exhaust).

no it is not.

i have car that is functional. a fiat multipla. i bought it because i had 2 dcs and hoped to have another.it is the most practical, useful thing you could have- we can all fit in it for hols including my mum, take the seats out and it is a van,

i hate it- it is a middle aged mum car and i want a vw beetle. i have as much emotinal attachment to my car as my toaster. it is, however paid for and even i can find no sensible reason to get rid of it.

risingstar, I guess I feel that way. I just secretly glare at it willingly it to have an issue. It is unbelievable, it's suffered so many miles and so much abuse from four learners.

lol at keeping it til it gave up the ghost= we did this with our old crt tv- i eventually gave in and bought a fancy flat screen last summer- when that blew up after 6 weeks the old one came out of the garage and went back in its spot!

At least yours is more practical though and you chose it. You can get sod all in a BMW boot/ onto the back seat.

I'll keep it in the garage if I get a new one then! It'll be free tax after 25 years...

Oh I love getting a new car so YANBU!!

I know people go on about how much the depreciate once you leave the car show room BUT I love every 2nd September when my new car gets delieverd!!

Buy a small efficient one.

upahill, I've NEVER bought a car so Im not greedy. Before this I had an A reg Nissan Cherry hat died last year left to me by a teacher who moved to South Africa. This car pre-dates meeting DH.

YANBU - although 'tis very hard to justify getting a new car at the moment with the fuel price and insurance hikes.

I have just got a new car though, as my little 3 door car was just not baby friendly (need both hands to pull seats back and tiny boot) and I am 26 weeks pregnant. New car all shiny and lovely to drive with huge boot - and thankfully not at all 'mumsy' (was worried about that. If we hadn't have had a little one on the way though I think I would have struggled to sell the new car concept to DH.

I never thought you were greedy!!!!

Any way by buying a new car you will be helping the car industry. If nobody bought new cars the industry would decline, people will be out of work and it won't be good for the ecconomy! (that's how I try to convince myself anyway!)

You have a reliable beemer, that IS rare... if you sold it would you get much for it? or could you scrap it for £2k against something (do they still do that?) that way it is worth more 'dead' than alive??! just helping you justify!

No scrappage any more, alas.

At least your car is 'yours', ie bought and paid for...all these 'options' deals where you pay an amount at the end to keep the car or give it back, it's never really yours and they have you over a barrel, so to speak. (Unless you can buy outright).

Look at the NCAP crash tests - you can justify a new one to get the latest safety features