to feel a little, not quite pissed off, but at least miffed about this?

[newcarwoes]

I'm trying to buy a new car - new to me that is rather than brand new. My old one recently gave up the ghost and although I can manage short term without one, I do want to replace it.

I was thinking about a lease car as we get a deal through work but when I looked at it, it actually isn't that good for the size of car I wanted. So looked around and identified a particular make/ model that I thought was good, and I can afford a 2-3 year old model.

So my partner and I have been to a couple of local dealers to have a closer look at the model, I've not test driven one as the first time we were literally just passing, and the other time they only had 2 salesmen in so couldn't take us out (fair enough). The showrooms shut at 6 in the week (and I don't finish work til then) so I can only go at the weekends.

Anyway, I've also been checking online and found another dealer that has a better spec model than the ones I've seen locally, for only a couple of hundred more, and it's also in a colour I'd prefer. Although like the places here they are main dealers, they're not part of the same group, so I couldn't get this car brought to a local garage, I'd have to go and see it. Car is about 60 miles away.

So when I spotted car I emailed a link to Dp for his views (my car, but I value his input). He agreed it looked good, and said why don't we go look at it at the weekend?

So then today after I mention our road trip at the weekend, he asks how far it was (it clearly said on the link I sent him where the garage was) and when I tell him says that's a bit far, and he doesn't think we should drove all the way down there just for me to drive it, am I serious about buying it, etc. And that he won't take me unless I can say I'm committed to buying it. I say that I can't say for sure until I see it. To which he says well you might not be able to drive it. Oh, and it might have damage accounting for the reasonable price. He said it would be much easier if thre was one up here. We'll obviously but this specific, better, one isn't here.

So I'm now not sure whether we're going at all, it feels like he's backing out of it. I don't feel it's that far to look at a car, but maybe I'm wrong?

I would test drive a local one rather than drive all the way there to discover you hate the gearbox or something. I sort of think that makes more sense practically than schlepping 60 miles with no idea if you want to buy that kind of car or not.

i think once you've decided its the right type you should look for colours or spec you prefer.

Empire yes - agree.

I looked online for 2 months at cars within my price range and drive to garages to look at different models and makes.

I happened to stop at a dealership near me one day on the way home and loved a different model (same make but bigger) of the car I did then drive.

I did the research online. They then had a cheaper one come in with less mileage. Rang garage and asked why and it was simply a more basic engine and other one was limited edition. Salesman said for me - mostly in town driving the cheaper one would be perfect as wouldn't use or need what the more expensive one offered.

I had already decided I wanted the car and wanted that man to sell it. Test drive was just tick boxing exercise.

Dad came with me and turns out the man was the same one who'd sold my dad his car 2 months earlier! And my dad IS NOT an easy man to sell too

Can't you drive your DP's car to the test drive if he doesn't want to go?

I'm not insured on DP's car so can't drive that, and my insurance doesn't cover me to drive any other cars.

I take the point about test driving up here, however I can't drive the same size engine/ fuel type locally, and I'm also worried that if I leave it to next weekend or beyond, the car I want will have gone - and the next one might be 150 miles away, or further.

The warranty is from the manufacturer rather than a dealer warranty. The car also is fully checked before sale as part of the warranty so I think I'm pretty well protected.

You could probably go on DP's insurance for a day for about £20, We sometimes do this when my H sister comes to visit and needs a wee run around.

If your heart is set on the one 60 miles away borrow DP's car, or get the trains. I wouldn't get into a row with your DP about it though, he just isn't interested in the whole thing, and at the end of the day it will be your money and your car so you don't need him to be interested (though obviously it would be nice if he just went along with it)

The warranty is from the manufacturer rather than a dealer warranty. The car also is fully checked before sale as part of the warranty so I think I'm pretty well protected. it doesn't matter who it's from. Check the details, don't just think you are protected. What do you think it will protect you against? How old is the car?

And please take the points and so some checks before you go

The car is 18months old. It's sold with a 7 year manufacturer warranty which is pretty comprehensive, and as well as full mechanical testing includes full hpi check etc.

It would probably cost quite a lot to add me to dps insurance for the day (as adding me to his premium would treble it which is why I'm not a named driver) and he wouldn't lend me the car for the day anyway.

My current plan is to check with garage car is still available, book in a test drive and then speak to dp again about it later, and see if I can persuade him.

Is it a Kia? Which car is it?

He's being daft. I would book a test drive first though to make sure it's there when you go.

I have been test driving cars recently and because we have been looking specifically at hybrids I've had to drive quite far to see even new ones as not every garage has them in. 1yo DS2 & I did a 100mile round trip the other week, it was a nice day, we stopped for lunch & a play. Dealership were lovely, only thing was the car had a few niggles I didn't like. I'm being quite fussy though because I've had a car I really love for 12 years and having to replace it as it's not quite big enough now we have 2 kids and nothing does quite what I want.