AIBU over car DP got us?

[DrivingTat]

Hi, all

I need to know how U you think I am over this.

So this Saturday my DP went to get us a new car (secondhand), I did not go with him as I had plans and was not that interested tbh. He sorted our last one out, which we scrapped last week as was too much to repair (head gasket)... It was a fiesta 54 plate.

So Saturday I went shopping with my friend, which was lovely! Had such a nice day as I had not seen her for awhile. Anyway half way through the day (about 1pm) I get a text from DP. "Got us a car sorted". I texted back without a thought to ask which one. I said "fab babe, we were just talking about you lol". That was it.

I get home about 8pm, feeling v relaxed and happy. So there I am telling DP about my day and he tells me about his. Yes the car I say let's see it!!

I go outside with DP and he points to it! I laughed my head off thinking he was taking the piss. He wasn't.

It's a blue 1989 escort, with one wheel trim and cassette radio. Why?! Just why?!

I don't like it, don't want it. It's my own fault for being so relaxed about buying a car and leaving it up to him, I know that but AIBU to be annoyed?

I have not said anything to him, because I don't know what to say. It's bought, taxed, insured. WWUD? Do I throw a fit and say take it back? Do I yell at him for not first asking to buy such a old car? Do I just live with it and get over it. It's been two days and I still feel so pissed off at him!! And myself.

We share one car, paid for out a joint account. We agreed on a budget, and yes he stuck to it. I really am not a car snob, I really did not think I cared as long as it got me from a-b but clearly I do. I just don't understand why that one. It's a tatty mess. How is it even still running!!!

Jesus wept, it'll be a death trap. Don't take kids in it.

I'd LTB over that, sorry.

Depends really. If the bodywork is good and the engine's sound it wouldn't bother me. Older cars are simpler to fix because you don't need a degree in electronics to fix the damn things. You showed no interest. Next time you'll know to say "please get something made in the 21st century."

You said you didn't care at all, and then you completely disengaged from the whole process. I think it's fair enough to expect him to think he was fine to just go for literally any car he fancied as long as it runs. You didn't set any expectation of being consulted about it.

I also don't give much of a shit about cars, but when my DH was looking at a second car I said to him "I want one with a boot (our current vehicle is a dual cab ute so no boot, just a tray) it needs to be post 1999, and if it's that old it needs low mileage on the clock, and it needs to be reasonably small". So I at least have him a very basic idea of what I wanted. Doing this also signaled to my DH that I did care enough for him give me a quick call before handing over any money. We ended up with a 2001 Nissan pulsar. Great little car.

You've learned a lesson for next time.

Do women really leave it to their partners to buy them a car when they go out shopping. This must be a wind up.

I had plans and was not that interested tbh

And there lay your problem.

Escorts are an appreciating (?) Classic☺️, so I'm told. We have a MK2 which is my OHs pride and joy, not actually daily driver tho so will it be thirsty?? If it's been looked after it may serve you well. It's not all bad don't worry, and at least it's his fault if anything goes wrong. in another ten years it will be so cool. 😁. He can just the escort owners club,.that's a thing, and go to meet ups with the other car dudes 🤪

Join not just

Yes I admit it, I did not show any interest, did not care. He sorted our last car on his own too.

Yes I talked about it to a degree, said it's got to be 5 door, don't care about colour as long not red. But that was it. I really did not think I had to state dates of reg. I know it's my own fault that's why I have not gone mad at him. I have shocked myself that I do indeed care about the car I drive, never thought I did. Used to say I don't care but I was clearly full of crap to myself.

Now to some of the questions... Yes he does know a bit about cars but not a mechanic. I don't know if it's a cosworth. I don't know what that is. It cost 800 and he got it off somebody not a dealer.

I don't know if it's classed as "classic" to me it's tat. Yes it does look in good condition, even with just one wheel trim! I mean why? Just take it off fgs. I have been out in it today, it fucking stinks every time you pull off. I am sure we are single handedly killing the plant now.

Some of these comments have made me laugh, so thank you. I am off today but will be driving it to work tomorrow, I am so embarrassed.

I’d be fucking furious. But you’ll need to take it as a lesson for next time. You might find car shopping boring, but you could have at least chosen a few together on auto trader before he went to test drive or something.

He also should have double checked you were happy when he decided to make such an eccentric choice though

Bonkers.

a) you should have gone with him

b) just bloody talk to him about it!!

I can't beleive no one has asked the most important question...

What colour is it?

Also, YANBU to wonder wtf your DP was thinking but YABU if you think you can complain to him now. You didn't engage with the process so he exercised his own judgement. Lesson learnt I would say!

Well now you share two cars. And you can see to it he gets the vintage one most of the time.

I'm intrigued that you had a budget. What was it? We have just got rid of a 22 year old fiesta that had become uneconomical to repair, although it runs and had 6 months mot. We got £60 for it. I bet this escort is rusted to hell underneath. Our fiesta was so rusty there was nothing sound to fix anything to anymore.
If I was transporting children I would want them in the safest and most reliable vehicle I could afford, not something that will fall into a million pieces in a minor shunt.

It cost 800

If that was the budget, his options were limited.

Sorry, just seen he paid £800 for it. Someone saw him coming. £800 for a 30 year old car? Bonkers.

Tell him to take it to work tomorrow. If he won't - why not? If the car's good enough for you it's good enough for him.

Unless your budget is really tight, just go out and buy a car you like, he can deal with the retro one.

YANBU, that’s not a car, that’s scrap metal. Is it even safe to drive?

£800?!

Seriously, whatever else you do around this issue, don't let him be in charge of buying cars anymore. A penis does not equal good knowledge of cars. Your DH is proof of that.

I’m so very sorry but I am pissing myself laughing. Sorry OP. Still it’s not all bad, this from Wiki
A minor update occurred in Spring 1989 where the Escort badge at the rear changed to look more modern as well as some minor trim revisions in order to maintain interest in the car until the MKV arrived the following year
So, you see, you’ve got yourself a car with an updated modern badge and minor trim revisions (wonder if it’s ‘minor’ because they only added the one wheel trim?)

Do you even have any cassettes to play?

Omg my DH would love that car, I would tolerate haha!
I do believe they are highly sought after now, classics, if it's in decent condition (fairly original) and especially if it has a cosworth engine, you could have a little money pit on your hands (as long as he doesn't need to keep spending on it!)

You have my sympathies, I have a car nut DH and it is something that he would totally do!

It could be worse. You could be driving a Ka like I am. New car is coming next week.

I'd rather be driving a 'retro' car than a fucking Ka. At least you could go all ironic retro in it to pull it off.

A quick search on Auto Trader (just for perspective) £800 could have bought him a 2010 Vauxhall Meriva 1.6l, 5 doors, Petrol, airbags, a/c, electric windows and isofix.

He either knows something you don't - eg its a soon to be classic that needs a bit of work, he's trying to prove a point, or he is just batshit crazy!

Thanks for the thread OP this has really given me a lol!

From a safety perspective alone this would be going back.

Yes it's a crazy choice as your only family car,
No it isn't