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!!!

I am so fucking jealous.

I wanted something like this

Omg. I really am envious. I wanted a 89 saab and ended up with a shitty qashqai

First one was a calf scour brown LPG converted Land Rover. It has been used as a farm vehicle, was infested with fleas and stank of shit. Half the inside had been chewed out by the farmer's dog. It used to back fire when the gas was warming up, which was terrifying. And broke down regularly in inconvenient locations (Heathrow spur junction of M4 for example).

A bargain 😂

You need some fluffy dice for sure. And one of those name sun visor sticker things with your name and dh's name across the top.

If you take the cassette player out keep it so if you sell it on then you have the original cassette player.

"Using the link above, I found another 1988 Escort for sale - here. 74,000 miles - £2,495."

I have had a good laugh at this thread, and I reckon everyone who has posted should make a donation of one casette tape to the OP to start their collection off
There is an XR3i (1990) on Autotrader today for £6,500. I love old/classic cars and they can be every bit as safe and reliable as newer ones if you look after them and realise their limits. Ten years ago we took a 1982 BMW 528i to Italy and back.

Blue 1990 one with an auction estimate of £6-8000.

www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1156469

Another blue one on for £8500

www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1156469

Although if I was to buy a car from that era, I'd rather have a VW Corrado.

www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1144604

He bought himself a boy-toy that he can now spend his free time 'fixing up'.

So essentially OP's DH has purchased a classic car, which may or may not be a bargain, but either way if treated with a bit of love and care will actually appreciate in value.

Added to this she will get cheaper, classic insurance, a car that doesn't need an OBD reader every time a light comes on the dash and an abundance of spare parts at a price a lot less eye watering than for a modern vehicle.

Yes, he probably should have discussed it with her but as she said she had no interest I can understand why he didn't.

There is a lot to be said for classic motoring and at £800 it's certainly worth giving it a try.

Did he have one when he was younger and is reliving his yoof??

I think you have to chalk it up to experience and next time you go shopping for the car....

I don't know the model of the car, but seen as it has manual windows, no AC or central locking. I am guessing it is not the posh version of anything. Yes it's in good condition but it's v basic, oh it has a rear wiper though lol. I guess I should be grateful.

Please don't tell me he overpaid for it! I have been telling myself it was partly due to a low budget but now you are all making me think he has been ripped off, and it's my fault for not paying a interest.

I just did not expect it. I did not think we would get anything "newish" but really.

I know it's my own fault
How is it your fault that he didn't apply common sense and consider your needs/feelings?
You've been with him long enough and he KNEW you wouldn't be happy with this - and the extra it's going to cost to keep it roadworthy.

The only problem you have right now is you lack of assertiveness and expressing yourself honestly and clearly.
Don't put up and shut up.
This is YOUR money/car too and you need to sort it.

Go on, whack a spoiler on the back and go down the local supermarket carpark to pull some handbrake turns with the boy racers.

My brother bought a Sierra Cosworth last year and and has spent about £10000 restoring it. It was definitely a nostalgia thing for him, misty eyed memories of racing along the seafront in our dad's Cosworth when he first passed his test

Well, let’s hope you don’t get in an accident, especially with children... does it even have airbags?

OP, if you want to DM me or @BarbaraofSeville who's also pretty knowledgeable on classics the reg number we can tell you more about it.

I'm with you OP, why oh why would be not try come up in the years a bit.

I would not drive a 30 year old car as it does not have the up to date safety features and parts will be a nightmare to get hold of. But yes it is partly your fault for not going with him or at least asking him to check with you before buying it. Also £800 is a very low budget so maybe next time save up more before buying a car. I think he has been robbed as you can get way newer cars for that amount.

I've got some old cassette tapes. But you really want the theme tunes from Minder and The Professionals playing, and I've only got Erasure

@AdobeWantKenobi thank you for the v kind offer but I don't want to give my reg or photos out. I don't mean any offence, just this is a online forum and although I like Mumsnet you can never be too careful.

Also tbh without sounding rude to any of you here, I really don't care about the model of the car. I want to key it if anything lol

Absolutely ROFL here. That is EXACTLY what my husband would do and has done on a few occasions!

We've had one or two wrecks turn up on low loaders unseen from ebay! To be fair one of them lasted 6 years!

We got an 07 puergeot 308 with all mod cons and almost pristine bodywork for £900 a few months ago.

I'd be sitting him down and asking him wtf he was thinking.

Tricky. You trusted him to do the "car thing" and and assumed he'd go about it in a practical and intelligent fashion and he has totally taken advantage of that trust to buy a stupid car he knew you would not be happy with. He's got to do a lot of work to earn that back because personally I wouldn't trust him with a purchasing commission again.
You are paying to indulge him in this classic car fantasy. Its half your money that he's spending so he should have taken your views into account.
So I guess you need to consider is there any upside to this car? does it look cool (I have no idea about cars) will insurance/tax be cheaper or more expensive?. when's the MOT due? how much will repairs cost.
I'd actually be finding out the answers to this and not taking his word for it. With a bit of luck you may be able to convince him to sell it on when the gloss of a new purchase wears off.
But then I think you need to take matters into your own hands and start finding out what car you do want, what the price is and so on..
buy the car you want/need and have a good laugh about it.

@DrivingTat knowing more about the car will help you find out whether it was a bargain or not.
I understand you don't want to give out the reg, but if you go to this site:

www.gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla

Enter the reg it will tell you the full make. You can then tell us the exact model, or if you don't want to do that google it and find out more about it.

This is hilarious. Thank you

I think it was 07, may be 08.

I don't know if it's got airbags. I think if any of us crash in it, we are dead tbh. I do wonder now if the tape player works lol. It's still coming out though. I like my cd playing, gosh and I thought CDs were old school.

I'm really sorry op, you must feel awful. I'd be furious, another elderly Fiesta would have been better. We bought an 03 Fiesta 3 years ago, drove it for 18 months (including me passing my test) and sold it for the same as we'd paid for it. It's still going now and I wish we hadn't sold it, to be honest.
I did replace it with a slightly boy-racerish 3 door Astra, but I grew out of it quickly, after a summer of pretending I was a teenager again! Perhaps your partner will get quickly bored too and you will be able to sell it and buy something more sensible?