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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Man across the road keeps washing his brand new BMW.

189 replies

Zippitydoodar · 31/07/2018 13:47

He got it a few weeks back and he's washed it, polished it or vac it daily, on Sunday he spent over four hours cleaning it. I haven't seen him driving it yet & it's parked in his garage all the time.
He's late 30's married to a horrible woman (to us anyway) has two children & works.

What the Hell makes someone love their car so much. It's a piece of metal.

I last washed mine a few years back & it resembles a dustbin inside.

OP posts:
Everstrong · 31/07/2018 16:28

Our neighbour across the road is like this. 8:30am every Sunday he’s out power washing his car. He takes about 4 hours to clean it.

I think he’s being a bit selfish power washing it every week in this weather when we’re all facing hosepipe bans...

SweetSummerchild · 31/07/2018 16:29

Wow, there are some really nasty, judgy remarks on here. If the thread was about a woman doing the same or about a woman (or man) spending hours at the gym/getting their hair done, the response would be “mind you own business”.

It’s his car and his time.

DH has a ‘hobby’ car. He spends hours cleaning it, often in preparation for shows. So what? Who is he harming?

JohnnyKarate · 31/07/2018 16:30

My DP does this every few weeks. What must the neighbours think. Hopefully that I'm a witch so they leave me be 😂

PrivateDoor · 31/07/2018 16:31

Sorry op but I agree with the pp, this is a very bitchy post. Who cares if his hobby is washing his car? He isn't hurting anyone. I expect he is just so delighted to have bought it Smile

Justinonmybroomstick · 31/07/2018 16:32

I find it rather amusing & a little sad to see tbh

You need to get out more.

SlothMama · 31/07/2018 16:33

Who cares? If it makes him happy then leave him to it!

HereForTheLaughs · 31/07/2018 16:33

@Zippitydoodar Who cares, live and let live!

Bubblesblue · 31/07/2018 16:36

I thought your AIBU was going to be about wasting water. In which case YWNBU. But it seems you were just being a judgy mcjudgy pants so YABU. Maybe he needs time away from his 'horrible' wife. Ask if he'll do yours next.

SweetSummerchild · 31/07/2018 16:39

it resembles a dustbin inside

You actually seem proud of the fact that your car is disgusting. How odd.

KatieKittens · 31/07/2018 16:40

What hamburgers said

PoisonousSmurf · 31/07/2018 16:44

I like to give my car a good wash and wax. Looks great for a few hours.
But even after weeks of dust, it looks shiny and sleek from a distance. But the closer you are, the more the dust shows up all the tiny scratches and swirl marks.
But then it is almost 14 years old!

SilverySurfer · 31/07/2018 16:44

How fascinating. Curtain twitching has never appealed to me, does it keep you amused all day?

Original poster
Zippitydoodar · 31/07/2018 16:47

Yes I'm a complete bitch which I'm sure will be proven by me being so defensive about me being a complete bitch.

Of course it's up to him what he does with his time and I do leave him alone, I do!

I admit I am rather bored today, hence cleaning my car and then sitting at my window watching my neighbour polishing his shiny black number Smile

OP posts:
kmc1111 · 31/07/2018 16:49

So he likes looking after his pricey new car. Big deal. Better that than being proud of your car being gross.

Also even if it looks new it may well be a showroom model or similar that needs some intense detailing to bring it back to sparkling new condition. I had two cars like that. Basically new, but with lots of little flaws and marks and scuffs that needed some care.

Everyoneiswingingit · 31/07/2018 16:52

He has different priorities to you maybe? Probably saved a very long time/dreamt of owning one. You could have cleaned yours in the time you've spent watching and timing him! Grin

NicoAndTheNiners · 31/07/2018 16:56

Every time I get a new (to me) car I swear I will love and look after it. Within a month it’s like a skip on wheels!

Everyoneiswingingit · 31/07/2018 16:57

Dirty people always call tidy and clean people sad or tell them to get a life etc. I once accepted a lift from an acquaintance and had to pick my jaw up off the floor. I couldn't see the floor of the car for junk food packaging and there was ketchup on the seat. She made no comment. Never looked at her the same again.

Everyoneiswingingit · 31/07/2018 16:58

I do agree that 4 hours is quite excessive.

Aragog · 31/07/2018 16:59

He's a bee car and enjoying it, wanting to keep it shiny and new looking. Seemed a tad OTT but the novelty will probably wear off and it will reduce a bit. Also if his partner is awful it's probably a reason to be out and away from her and maybe why he's pouring so much love into his new car too.

However

I last washed mine a few years back & it resembles a dustbin inside

To me this is far worse. Why would you even want to sit inside something so dirty?

There is a compromise you know! You really don't have time to clean it at all? Maybe if done slightly more frequently it wouldn't be such a big job!

I take mine to the wash about once every couple of months, sometimes more frequently if it's dirty weather. It doesn't really get very dirty inside much as we don't eat inside it really. But a quick vac round with the handheld every so often and, taking rubbish with you when you leave isn't so hard.

A friend used to have a car like that - always dirty. I hated having to go in it and always made excuses as to why we should use mine instead!

SweetSummerchild · 31/07/2018 17:00

Why is it important to you how other people spend their free time?

Lots of people have cats. Some people spend hours cleaning and preening their cats and then taking them to cat shows. They spend a fortune buying their cats Christmas presents and follow other people’s cats on Instagram.

Lots of people read books. Some people get really obsessed about a book series and attend conventions dressed as their favourite characters and then make/listen to podcasts about them.

It’s no different with cars. DH had a four-page article written about his car published in a ‘grown up’ car magazine. It’s not just a ‘piece of metal’ to him - it’s a hobby. He’s not depriving the rest of the family of either his time or money.

Looking down on other people’s hobbies and interests just becasue they don’t match your own only highlights your personal insecurities and lack of imagination.

Notthemessiah · 31/07/2018 17:03

It's a BMW - lets all be grateful he's leaving it in the drive and not driving it around like a complete wanker Wink

DrWhy · 31/07/2018 17:08

When I had my lovely little sports car I used to properly look after and polish it. Now I have a toddler and a Skoda I have neither the time nor the inclination. I hate the state it has got into though, it’s been about a month since it was vacuumed and the inside needs a proper clear out including taking the car seat out and cleaning under it - it’s just grim but never makes the top of the to-do list.
DH is currently renovating a beautiful old car and I’ll get to detail that when he’s finished, it will be amazing!
If you want to see what real obsessives are like check out the ‘Detailing World’ forum, but be nice - they are very helpful people on the whole and it’s a hobby like any other!

sugarbum · 31/07/2018 17:09

We just spent a faint-inducing amount on a brand new house. I'm a naturally messy person, yet I'm finding myself compulsively cleaning the kitchen to keep it in its current (merely 4 week old) spotless state. Its beautiful and I want to keep it that way.

< I don't know how long this will last>

I guess he feels like that about his car. Except its much easier for him because he doesn't have to feed the hungry hoards three times a day in his BMW, nag them to clear away their mess, and then clean up the crap anyway....

Slimmingsnake · 31/07/2018 17:13

I love my car she is a little blue 2 seater and I zip all over in her ..no one is allowed to eat in her or fart in her ,or I make them walk.she has a name ..susie ...now I must name change ..sigh..

ShellsBells76 · 31/07/2018 17:17

I opened this as I genuinely thought it could be about us!!
My husband who has generally never washed any of our other cars spends every weekend washing and cleaning our new BMW, however I'm not a bitch so hopefully you're not my neighbour Confused