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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be embarrassed to have the same car?

59 replies

KyraLittle · 16/09/2019 17:02

Husband is buying a new car which we will be sharing. He’s been looking over the weekend and he’s decided on one he likes.

We currently live in a flat. It’s a block of 6 so we know each other well and one of them owns the exactly same model and in the same colour.

I said I don’t know why but I would feel embarrassed parking up on the same small driveway in the literal exact same car.

Husband said I’m turning down a good car for no reason.

(I’m not being a snob because it’s actually a nice car but ... I’d just feel like we were trying to copy them)

OP posts:
Alexel · 16/09/2019 18:08

Audi a1 are pretty common.

When I see someone with the same car as the one I'm driving I say to the kids "oh look, it's our cars sister!"

There's someone end of our road who has the same car as one of ours. Colour, year, make. When I see it driving in the immediate area sometimes I'm like "WHY IS HE HOME WITHOUT TELLING ME" or "WHERE'S HE GOING" with my shifty eyes. Then realise its a lady driving it Grin

I think they're SUCH a popular car everyone bloody has them, in my area bmw, range rovers and audi are prominent. All are black or white. Literally. Remember for a while a couple years back white cars with tinted windows became popular? Hmm

Stabbitha · 16/09/2019 18:13

I bought a car. Proudly drove it home only to find out the neighbours had bought an identical car and picked theirs up that day too.

We laughed and moved on.

Chewbecca · 16/09/2019 18:14

Is it white? They look best in white IMO.
It wouldn’t bother me. Well, maybe a titchy bit, but not enough to choose another car.
If it isn’t white, he should find a white one Grin

NoProblem123 · 16/09/2019 18:14

This made me chuckle - I have a very unusual car/colour combo - pulled out the other day, looked in rear view mirror, another one exactly the same behind me 😁
Literally wanted to throw myself in a hedge.

Completely unhelpful but I know exactly what you mean - get something else.

BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo · 16/09/2019 18:17

Lots are saying it’s a common car so obviously readily available, if it has to be that car surely your DH can wait to get one in a different colour at least? It’s all very well saying it’s a common car but to actively buy exactly the same as your neighbour does seem like copying.

youarenotkiddingme · 16/09/2019 18:21

Totally agree it's one of those situations where it should be a non issue - but there is definitely something 'odd' about it and can see why you feel that way.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 16/09/2019 18:22

Of my street of six neighbours... Three of us had near identical cars (slightly different models but same colour). Two more had them in different colours.

8 families had them in DD1s class at school. We used to line them up outside parties, followed by the ones with different colours. It was a local joke...

It was due to a local workplace discount on the brand of car. White was cheapest so lots had them in white.

nsldriver · 16/09/2019 18:25

It's not an issue in my book, we bought a new car recently and had a choice of two colours unless we paid extra so there must be a lot of people out there with exactly the same make, model and colour as us.

31RueCambon75001 · 16/09/2019 18:27

I know what you mean. Id make a joke of it if you run in to them. Say don't worry, it stops here. Im not going to rename the kids (their kids' names) / buy a Bichon-frisse/ train as an accountant (you get the idea).

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 16/09/2019 18:28

Well, at least you can pinch bits off your NDN car for spares Wink

I am not endorsing theft.

JellyfishAndShells · 16/09/2019 18:29

Looking out of the window, 90% of the cars ( inc mine ) are dark grey, most of those very similar styles. I usually go outside and click the key in either direction, waiting for mine to wiggle its ears ( wing mirrors) in recognition.

nsldriver · 16/09/2019 18:30

Id make a joke of it if you run in to them

Running into their [identical] car wouldn't improve the situation Grin

StudentHelp · 16/09/2019 18:32

Could be worse, my elderly parents had their drive done exactly the same as the neighbours, got the exact same front door and then got the EXACT same car.. colour, makes model, Reg no.

My parents (apparently) didn’t realise until I pointed it out and just “knew they’d seen the drive and door somewhere” Confused

NomDeQwerty · 16/09/2019 18:34

Jazz yours up with stickers
FlowersStarGlitterballStarFlowers

NomDeQwerty · 16/09/2019 18:36

www.hippymotors.co.uk/daisy%2C+gebera+%26+other+flower+decals
Good ideas on this siteGrin

Bobthefishermanswife · 16/09/2019 18:38

In your shoes I'd feel the same. But if I was the neighbour it wouldn't bother me, until I try to get in your car and am super confused why it won't open.

Elieza · 16/09/2019 18:48

If you both park in the street there will be a day when one of you goes to what they think is their own car that their dp had parked earlier....and struggle to get in, as it’s not their car it’s the other one! I hope they don’t break the door handle trying to get into it lol!
Only a matter of time til someone boobs!

Apart from that no probs with the car being the same.

Gumbo · 16/09/2019 18:55

DH and I used to work at the same company and for many years we had the same cars, right down to almost identical number plates Hmm. The fleet managers used to think it was hilarious especially as each time they came up for renewal we'd beg to get different models from each other and saw it as a challenge to ensure our number plates were only every 1 digit apart. I have no doubt at all that every neighbour thought we were both idiots Grin

BrokenWing · 16/09/2019 18:55

I have the exact same model, year and colour as the guy I carshare with. I had mine first, never even considered he was "copying" me, he just liked the same make and just happen to end up with the same model and a standard colour.

Original poster
KyraLittle · 16/09/2019 18:55

If you both park in the street there will be a day when one of you goes to what they think is their own car

We never street park. We all park on the shared driveway which holds roughly 10 cars (no marked spaces)

I think that’s what makes it more awkward. We live in a large converted Victorian house .. literally under the same roof.

I don’t live at number 3 and happen to be getting the same car as the woman at number 13.

  • We both live at bloody number 3 Grin
OP posts:
TSSDNCOP · 16/09/2019 18:57

If I liked the car I’d buy it. Saying it’s “copying” is just silly, and the sort of insult 10 year olds come up with.

feebeecat · 16/09/2019 19:00

Next door neighbour bought exactly same make and model as my car - I thought it made the shared drive way look very tidy!!
Only issues, he used to keep his way cleaner than mine. One time when dh was out in my car, one of dds friends dad's knocked next door (before she could stop him) and tried to drop her off there, based solely on the car on their drive.
Was rather sad when he got rid of it, current cars don't match at all Sad

callmeadoctor · 16/09/2019 19:04

if you are sharing it, why didn't you help him choose it? We would never buy such an expensive purchase without the other being there?

Original poster
KyraLittle · 16/09/2019 19:13

if you are sharing it, why didn't you help him choose it? We would never buy such an expensive purchase without the other being there?

No sure how this is relevant to my OP.

OP posts:
callmeadoctor · 16/09/2019 19:33

Errrr, it is relevant as you have said that you aren't keen, if you had chosen together, you could have ruled it out?