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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that the car you buy is a statement of the 'tribe' you belong to.

474 replies

BusyCee · 06/04/2016 20:44

DH wants to buy a Discovery Sport 7 seater so we can fit 3 DCs plus others.

We live in a relatively affluent area. Discovery Sports around here are driven by perfectly pleasant women, but women who tend not to work, to spend a lot of time and energy on appearance, and who definitely don't ever drive off road.

I come from a working class family. We currently are not affluent. I have worked since I could. I like working. I like to look nice, but for me style is less important than substance.

I do NOT want to drive a Discovery Sport. We have talked about this. He has just bought a friend who works for LR home with one for us to test drive. I work in marketing. I understand very clearly why people chose the brands they chose.

AIBU to insist that we do not buy the Discovery Sport on brand/looks/target market grounds only and the fact it has a fucking tiny rear window which might be why they're always parked over two bays round these parts

OP posts:
DirectorFury · 06/04/2016 21:50

Oh! And a VW T4 (with engine conversion, obviously Wink ) that's done out as a day camper.

I should probably justify the 2 Discoveries by saying that sometimes we both need to tow different things at the same time (me - horse, OH - rally car/resto car/most recent knackered purchase) and it was cheaper and easier to buy two than try and compromise on who was doing what/where/when.

DirectorFury · 06/04/2016 21:50

Oh! And a VW T4 (with engine conversion, obviously Wink ) that's done out as a day camper.

I should probably justify the 2 Discoveries by saying that sometimes we both need to tow different things at the same time (me - horse, OH - rally car/resto car/most recent knackered purchase) and it was cheaper and easier to buy two than try and compromise on who was doing what/where/when.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 06/04/2016 21:52

Our Disco 2 was cream leather inside. We had covers on the seats and mats down lot of the time as it was always full of muddy kids (and adults). It always scrubbed up well when required, part exchanged for a decent sum. Leather is actually pretty practical.

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 06/04/2016 21:52

Actually the DM did an article along these lines the other week.

They said that affluent women now don't drive 4x4s or audis but instead drive a 5 door Mini.

Almostfifty · 06/04/2016 21:52

I test drove an Evoque, hated it. The wing mirrors are so big I could barely see out of them.

Despite trying to buy a new car for three years, I'm still running around in a nine year old Galaxy. DH has a company Merc, which I pinch whenever I can. I could afford a rather nice new car, but I'm just not really bothered.

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 06/04/2016 21:54

Someone in a Discovery (a man) reversed into me years ago. He got out and looked like he could cry. Said he'd only just got it back from the garage after reversing into someone else and he couldn't see fuck all out the back. I pointed out if that was true that perhaps reversing outside a primary school at dropping off point wasn't the most sensible thing to do!

VilootShesCute · 06/04/2016 21:54

Nah don't get a big car. Stupid tax and bad for the roads. I can get a wolfhound, two children, (one in a car seat) a buggy and all wellies in a sodding aygo. Yes it's a squeeze but totally doable. Worth it too to see the looks on people's faces when the lot of them unload.

ThePortlyPinUp · 06/04/2016 21:55

I'm into the rockabilly scene and drive a pt cruiser as do many of my friends, it's definitely a tribe car for us.

LBOCS2 · 06/04/2016 21:56

My big car is a hybrid - no road tax and very good for the environment. Cheap to run too ;)

TentUpFirstBunkUpLater · 06/04/2016 21:57

I am now on my third Skoda Octavia; piles of bang for your buck.

It gets me from A-B safely.

What else do you need?

I belong to the get the kitty to the vet tribe

DiseasesOfTheSheep · 06/04/2016 21:57

I have a Disco because I couldn't afford a similarly aged/mileaged/spec of Defender. I use it to tow horses and it does go in fields. I still have my old Defender, but it's not up to heavy towing any more.

Other than the thick coating of mud and the hefty towbar on the back, you might make judgements about me. But you'd almost certainly be wrong Wink

Fooshufflewickbannanapants · 06/04/2016 21:59

Hate to think what tribe I'm in, I have a 13 seater clapped out minibus covered in flowers 😁.
I long for my classics mini days!.

Aworldofmyown · 06/04/2016 22:00

I would like to say that (if it hasn't already been said) a Landcover Discovery and a Landcover Discovery sport are completely different cars.

A sport version is like a reverse tardis and very similar to the evoque.

The original Discovery is HUGE inside and out, we are just about to buy our 2nd, its the only car I like that can get 7 people in, comfortably plus a buggy.

Also OP, YADBU. If you don't like the car don't bloody buy one.

DiseasesOfTheSheep · 06/04/2016 22:00

Also, I can reverse park it with a trailer - I certainly don't have issues parking without in car parks Grin

Not that I'm smug about that. Oh no. But the visibility isn't too bad and it has parking sensors which make an obnoxious racket if I don't switch them off

ouryve · 06/04/2016 22:01

Most cars have tiny rear windows, these days!

Our car is probably boring middle class family tribe. An Avensis tourer. Can't actually think of a car we'd rather have, though. It's massive without being massive or uneconomical to run - 1.8l petrol engine doesn't lack acceleration, though would be useless with a caravan, which we couldn't give a hoot about, anyhow. Loads of leg room and head room in the back and front and loads of boot space.

MrsMook · 06/04/2016 22:03

I've always been somewhat bemused by my relatives' choice of a Discovery. They have never used the 7 seats, their aging parents struggle to climb in, it's too big for the wife to want to bother using it for the school run and the closest it's ever come to off roading is driving across the spare car parking field at the National Trust. I'm not convinced that it's for decorative functions as it makes their otherwise rather decent house look small. They're happy with it and can comfortably afford it so not my problem.

My car however clearly states that I own small children and place a low priority on maintenance of said vehicle as a status symbol. It's not too bad at the moment as it's recently had its annual clean. I like to think its interior functions as crime deterrent. It's got a lot of clones out there as it's the default colour of a bog standard mid-range car which was why it was good value when bought nearly new many years ago.

DH's car is chosen on 3 criteria: value, ramming in camping gear and having a driver's position that comfortably accommodates the two extremes of adult height. Good job we're not bothered about brand as it's a tricky combination!

flingingmelon · 06/04/2016 22:05

Ooh, DH drives a Mini Countryman, I drive a thoroughly knackered Toyota Yaris.

What's our tribe?

missapples · 06/04/2016 22:05

Flippin offensive.

I drive a Range Rover, I am not a gangsters wife nor a spoilt brat that has nothing better to do with her time other than look pretty.

I work damn hard and earn good money, more than my DH. I drive a nice car for the same reason I like living in a nice house, go on nice holidays, wear nice clothes. Because I work my ass off and I spend it on things that impact on my life.

I never go off road but I do live in a rural area and all my previous non 4x4 cars meant that if it snowed I couldn't get to work, so I went for it as a physical requirement not a statement of tribe or success.

cozietoesie · 06/04/2016 22:07

I gave up cars when I moved. Smile You can manage fine in a city with no cars.

Before that, I liked high performance ones - the reassurance of having up-geared brakes, suspension, tyres etc etc even when you were driving in normal road conditions........ Oh Joy. Grin

wonkylegs · 06/04/2016 22:08

We have just replaced our big family car and I stated when we started looking that there was no way we were getting a LRDS it was just too big! We got a LRDS - it was the best for what we needed and really wasn't that big compared with its competitors, and it's so nice to drive and be in.
We confound car salesmen as we buy cars rarely (last family car was 8 yrs old, my small car is 10yo) and buy them outright and do loads of research so know what we are talking about when we try them. I don't buy cars for their style but whether or not they drive well and do what I need them to - anyway I drive a 10yo Yaris most of the time so I'm not sure what tribe that puts me in.

HoneyDragon · 06/04/2016 22:09

Lois do you wanna hang in a tribe with me?

rollonthesummer · 06/04/2016 22:10

I'm more concerned that your DH bought a friend

Ha ha-that was my first thought, too Grin

ouryve · 06/04/2016 22:10

jcscot love the top gear review of the i800 :o

www.topgear.com/car-reviews/hyundai/i800

Kaddy · 06/04/2016 22:11

OP, if you genuinely don't mind what you drive I suggest you test drive a Citreon Belingo - Wink Cheap, economical, brilliant visibility, sliding doors but really, deeply ugly.

....or do you, perhaps, mind just a little bit.

cozietoesie · 06/04/2016 22:12

Yes, everybody. I'm afraid that I was that person who took your water at those traffic lights. That big black/silver/pink thing on your left.

'Tribes'? Grin

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