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!!!

Yes 800 was just under budget, however bare in mind that was just for the car not the tax and to insure it. I don't even know how much they were, I have not asked. I don't want to know because I am likely to go out there an beat the car with the mop if I find out it cost more then our old car.

I know 800 is not much for a car but really, the last one cost the same and was newer. He is not driving it to work as he walks, 5 min walk.

Oh and it's blue.

You don't pay tax once they get to 25yo I think.

Do you have kids? I mean, what's the safety of it like?

I don't drive and know sod all about cars but this would be my first thought.

My dad did this to my mum when I was in middle school. BRIGHT YELLOW VOLO. He drove in with delight for about 3 years. They have a pretty damn nice deep red jaguar estate now so it DOES get better OP ...

For £800 it definitely not a Cosworth type car. They sell for 52k on auto trader

Careful OP, next he'll be wanting to restore it and your £800 classic car will be taking all his time and money and he'll be taking it to shows.

But if it's in really good condition, it could end up worth far more than £800.

www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1158179

Don't feel embarrassed in an old car, just because you are surrounded by shiny more modern cars ,it's a car,and it's paid for, and not on finance.

I have had a few oldie cars in my time, a few duffers, but some were pretty good. The best oldie I once had, was a 26 year old Renault,I had it for 12 years,.it never once let me down, never ever refused to start. it was an awful dull beige colour, but no bother to me.and I could always find it quick in a car park,as it was probably the worst looking car in the park, as in dull dirty looking beige,amongst all the smart shiny more super cars !

I hope that you might get to like your Ford in time,and it turns out to be trouble free.

We've had to buy a new car this week and we've really noticed a big price jump this time. I'd bet it was only thing he could find for the price.

Do you want a Nokia 3310 to go with it? 🤣 So sorry OP!

Oh dear, not much you can do I suppose unless the car had an unfortunate accident and drove itself into a lake somewhere..... 😉

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

DS and I bought a car with zero input from DH. The first he saw of it was when I drove it home! That said, he did know roughly what we were looking for and that I wasn't going to come home with something older than the car we had already!

To be honest I would absolutely love it! My friends (both lawyers) drive a classic orange ford escort. No cassette, no air con, they love it, as do I.

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 left DH to buy our Mondeo because he knows what he is looking for in terms of engine and oil filters etc having been an engineer and able to do all our services that don't involve requiring heavy lifting.

With a budget of around £1k I'd probably just have had the head gasket done on the current car.

Well, on the plus side, i wouldn't imagine it would be the first car that any roaming car thieves would nick...

Introduce me to your DH, OP. I've got these magic beans he may be interested in...

@ElizaDee

Vehicles made before 1st January 1979 are tax exempt so unfortunately for the OP, doesn't apply.

Well at least you don't have to tax it I think

In you can shoes I'd shove it in for an MOT, even if it is in date. You might get lucky.

Always go with husband's when they go to buy a car. I learned that one when mine brought my most hated colour home when he went to get mine. Tbf it was a surprise for me but I made my feelings gently known.

That thing must be a joke
I think he is teasing you
That is such a pants car for a family it will probably break

I hope it is a cossie for £800!! Bargain. Enjoy OP. Not sure what else you expected for such a small budget though??? It will be far better than any vauxhall a previous OP mentioned. Vauxhall's have had more recalls and safety issues than I've had hot dinners and in general they just break..which is why you can pick up a newer one for a similar amount to this 30 year old ford!

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.

I was going to say similar. I had a late 80s Escort and replaced both the water pump, the thermostat and the filters with myself, and I'm not mechanically minded at all. I had for about 5 or 6 years, and it cost me next to nothing to run. It was the cheapest car I'd ever had for repairs, until I got my first B-series Audi (1996, bought in 2010, and got through it's MOT every year for 5 years without having any money spent on it).

Anyway, DP reckons it could be an investment if it's the old boxy shape, especially if it's a Ghia or an XR3. A future classic, he reckons.

Someone saw him coming. £800 for a 30 year old car?

You think thats expensive for a classic car? Please don't look at XR2's, Sierra Cosworths etc
I have a 40 year old car in the garage thats around £25k.

£800 for a 30 year old car could be a very good buy indeed.

I think there's no tax to pay for 30 year old 'vintage' cars.

The old car had other problems too, it needed a new pump or something and the pads were worn. But yes I now miss the old car with its whine. No I don't have any tapes to play lol.

Yes I did leave it up to him but not because he has a penis but because I did not care. I regret it now but what can I do?

We can't afford to bin it off, so we will be keeping it for awhile. I know I will get over it but I am so annoyed over it. Maybe I should go for drinks later with a friend and have a moan. Lord help me in the winter mornings.

People really don't know the value of classic cars here.

DH has a few friends in Vintage/Classic car societies, older cars aren't ready for the scrapheap or worthless.

People think £800 is a lot for an '89 Escort?! It's a MKIV, they're usually listed on auction sites as fixer-uppers for anything from £600-£1500. Do NOT pull the original trim off it. The trim was one of the only changes from the MKIII to the MKIV.

It's a bit bonkers of him to buy this as an everyday car, though - has he insured it under regular insurance?! He would be eligible for much cheaper tax & insurance through a vintage club. As a project or investment it's a good car to have, as a main family car I don't know what he's doing. But, yeah, you showed absolutely no interest in it beforehand so he did what he wanted to do and bought exactly what he wanted. Is he into classic cars? He could double his money on an auction site if the bodywork and engine is in good nick.

YABVU for taking no interest and leaving it all up to him when you drive it more than he does.

I can't believe someone actually said LTB, what a ridiculous response.

I don't know what on earth possessed him to buy it but you have no right to be angry with him.

Well, on the plus side, i wouldn't imagine it would be the first car that any roaming car thieves would nick

Au contraire. It was cars of that era being so easily nickable that led to massive improvements in car security, that makes them pretty much impossible to steal these days, unless you have the keys or can hack the electronics.

On the other hand, any car thief who wants a bit of retro joy riding action would love to get his hands a 1989 Ford Escort, especially if it's an XR3i or similar.

i cant remember what size engne u said but the tax will wither be 165 or 255 depending

I can't believe the amount of snobbery about this.

How many of you realise you're probably travelling on similarly aged trains and planes I wonder?