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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go against dp and buy myself a new car?

43 replies

Jadebugg · 27/05/2014 15:11

Dp is currently stressing about money. We've had a bit of a shit time with it but now we're ok. No debts, both earning etc. we can theoretically get by on just dp's wage but mine allows us to book holidays/activities and save.

Now my car is 14 years old and on the last mot cost us almost £400 to fix. I'm dreading the next mot because I'm starting to think it is just past it now. I could sell it for about £700 and buy a 7 year old car for £2500. Minus the £700 would leave me £1800 to pay on it. I can save up the £800 in two months leaving just £1000 to pay. I think it makes sense. The tax would be cheaper and it would be less likely to cost us a fortune on mot in 12 months time. Dp says no but I actually really disagree with him so why am I obeying?? Aibu to sell my car and buy another without his blessing? I think it's false economy keeping a 14 year old car on the go.

OP posts:
icanmakeyouicecream · 27/05/2014 19:55

Please don't go behind his back.

Nanny0gg · 27/05/2014 20:30

Don't go behind his back unless you'd be okay if he did the same to you.

TeacupDrama · 27/05/2014 21:35

a 14 year old car is probably worth the same as 10, 12, 13 year old car
a car that is not rusty and starts runs etc with MOT is worth about £500+ without an MOT but starts and runs £200-300 anything else scrap value
if you have only £2500 I would suggest something like 1.5 diesel renault kangoo citroen berlingo not trendy but built on van model so designed to keep going for 200,000 miles my DH has one 2005 reg done 155k runs like clockwork he maintains it well but nothing spent on it other than consumables like oil, oil and air filters ( service items) tyres brake pads etc +

TeacupDrama · 27/05/2014 21:36

by all means get a new car but going behind peoples backs will not do any relationship whether DH, family or a friend any good at all

Handsoff7 · 27/05/2014 22:33

Hygiene freak, 17k is a lot to pay for a poorly equipped (no gadgets, cloth seats) Ford.

And Leather seats are hardly going to go unused!

Nevertheless, I feel for your DH if you get a brand new car and he's stuck in an old van.

OP unless you have completely separate finances, don't go behind your DP's back

HygieneFreak · 27/05/2014 22:52

Hands

Dh has a new van, not an old banger!

I didnt want leather seats, they stick to your legs when you have a skirt on and burn you in the summer!

notmyproblem · 27/05/2014 23:50

Weird thread. Obey? You interchange "we" and "I" several times in your post when discussing what things cost. So are you paying for your new car, or is he, or are you budgeting for it together out of family funds/savings?

What's he driving? Maybe if he thinks it's worth keeping your car he should swap cars with you and he can drive it?

If you get a new one, research what to get so you don't end up with a lemon. Our 13yo car cost us £1200 to buy 2 years ago, we put £300 into it right away to get the timing belt changed then haven't spent more than £100/year on it since. If it lasts us another 3 years, that's roughly £400/year for a car (tax/insurance obviously extra, but you'd pay that with any car) and it wouldn't owe us anything. A 7yo car might be fine, or it might be a money-sucker. Do your research and know what you're buying and get something sensible and reliable.

Obey? Weird. Don't you have an equal voice in your relationship? Or when you come to loggerheads, he always has the final say? Hmm

ComposHat · 28/05/2014 00:36

17k is a lot to pay for a poorly equipped (no gadgets, cloth seats) Ford.

I thought 'fucking hell £17,000 for a poverty spec Focus, someone has tucked you up there' but according to autotrader that is about the going rate. Shows how out of touch I am, the most I've ever paid for a car is £1500 and I thought I was being over extravagant then.

PrincessBabyCat · 28/05/2014 02:59

If he is driving a new and fun car, go for it. Why should he get all the new stuff?

If he is driving an economic old car, talk to him about it and see if you can find a compromise.

Either way, don't go behind his back about it. If it's because he has a new car and not allowing you to have one, make sure he knows it's a fuck you purchase. If he's reasonable, you owe it to him to sooth his worries and talk it out.

Gennz · 28/05/2014 04:20

Never borrow money to pay for a depreciating asset if you can help it. A car is a depreciating asset.

It's unlikely a 14 year old car is past it. My car is a 2004 model with 110,000km on the clock. I will be driving it for a good few years yet! It's the "youngest" car I've ever owned as well. My first car in 1999 was a 1956 Morris Minor.

Shonajay · 28/05/2014 08:20

Charlie I think micras have a better rep. I don't get people buying Aygos though - they're exactly the same as peugots or Citroen c1's rebadged.

My thinking is we have done so much to the car we will just run it into the ground!- probably literally!

DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 28/05/2014 08:36

The Aygo/C1/107 isn't actually a bad little car. The engines are good for 150000 miles plus, they don't rust, the clutches cost £400 at 40000 miles and they cost £20 to tax.

Odd little things though; all made in a big shed outside Prague and only badged AFTER they're ordered.

Charlieboo30 · 28/05/2014 09:13

Absolutely love my aygo. Funnily enough, Peugeot and Citroen couldn't offer me anywhere near as good a deal as Toyota so that's why I went with them. I believe the 107, C1 and Aygo are all the same design worked on at the same time. Not sure why people make out like Toyota have ripped off the idea! My mum and nana both test drove Peugeot 107's and both have... Aygos.

Charlieboo30 · 28/05/2014 09:14

Disgrace - my Aygo (can't speak for the others) is exempt from road tax. I believe this only applies to 63 plate or older though - both my nan and I don't pay (hers is 63 and mine is 14) but my mum does (60 reg).

Joysmum · 28/05/2014 09:44

I'd never go against my DH and I'd have his balls for earrings if he ever went against me.

I think you need to do a lot more research as cam belts and major servicing items tend to pop up at about 7 years. 7 years isn't a new enough can to expect maintenance costs to be low.

However, if you do lots if miles you could save a lot due to fuel efficiency.

Poledra · 28/05/2014 09:51

"The trouble with buying a new-to-you car in this price bracket is that the seller has sold it for a reason and you're unlikely to have much of a warranty. "

Well, yes, but the reason I sold my 7-yo car was I wanted needed a bigger one. There was nothing wrong with the car I sold, it just no longer met my needs any more (too much camping gear and children for it to cope with). I rather hope someone got a good deal with it when it was sold on, as it was average-low mileage with a FSH and had always been very reliable for me.

ComposHat · 28/05/2014 13:30

Yes Poledra I got my now 18 yo car when the person who owned it moved abroad and needed shot of it. But that was luck rather than judgement on my part.

But whilst there are people like you who are telling the truth but in most cases when you go to see a car, the seller is unlikely to say 'it is a money pit and I want some other shmuck to sink their money into it not mine' they will go down the 'i want something bigger/smaller/different colour/don't drive it route rather than telling the truth.

Obviously you can take precautions (FSH, tax and Mot matching up etc.) but it is still a bit of a crapshoot. Luckily I've never been properly stung.

erin99 · 28/05/2014 16:34

Poledra of course there are good runners out there. But there are also some that are coming up to needing something big doing on them. I'm just saying it's a risk so budget for it.

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