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!!!

Brilliant!

I’m feeling all nostalgic now.

I love classics. It's a specialist market though so unless it's a shit barn find I'm struggling to match the car to the price and condition.

Also, why are there no pictures of said car?

I would love one of those. I am so tired of going to the garage and them telling me that the computer says nothing is wrong, when there clearly is something wrong. or the electric windows won't go up, but apparently the computer says there is nothing wrong. Enjoy your low tech car. I've had enough of the money pits called newer cards.

Those of you saying you can get a 12 YO Peugeot or similar for the same money are missing the point. They're not classic cars, they're just cheap old cars, perfectly fine and yes, probably a more practical type of car for that amount of money.

But a 30 YO Ford Escort is a classic, and the fact that it's still running makes it a rareity. There's hardly any of them left, from the millions that were on the road when they were new.

And, depending on the model, they have a big following amongst enthusiasts, and the car could probably be sold for £800, or more any time in the next few years, which you can't say about a newer Peugeot.

Other car enthusiasts might like this website:

www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=ford+escort+

People really don't know the value of classic cars here.
no - people don't know value of a 1989 Escort, that's blue - with one wheel trim and cassette radio.

What does your crystal ball tell you based on that?

I have a left hand drive Smart car from 1999 - Its old, but I love it. I paid £1,000 a year ago. I fill up each week after commuting to work (30 mins each way) £15 - I did replace the tape player (its in the cupboard) with a Bluetooth enabled radio which cost £90 installed

Me too, @Seeingadistance.

I just decided I wanted an early 70s Renault 16TS, and was disappointed to see there are only 16 left.

Looks like I'll have to go to France and get a LHD one if I want to relive my lost youth.

Yes that's just it! I trusted him and I get dumped with this tat. I think that's why I feel so angry, I just want to scream at him. But I know it's just as much my fault.

I can laugh about it, but then in the same vein I want to kick the car.

I think I just need to find out why he got it, I just can't talk to him at the minute because I really am so annoyed. It's not fair on him for me to take my feelings out in him.

Thank you for the link @Adobe I will look when I am ready to face it. I want to ignore the fact he may have been ripped off. Plus knowing the model does not change the fact it's here, with its tatty trim!

What Barbara said

Oh god, no AC! We've just upgraded to a modern car after years of old bangers – in the summer they're absolutely dire.

I'd be interested to know the model; you can find out how many other blue Ford Cosworths there are out there here!

Driving Tat. It doesn't matter if it is a "classic" or not if you really hate it and cannot appreciate its "inner Petrolhead beauty" , especially if you've had to pay for half of it! I don't think its your fault at all. How could you have predicted the numptyness of this purchase?
It's good that you can laugh about it and I hope you resolve this to your satisfaction. Some good ideas on here for finding out more and maybe selling on?

7 pages of ignorance and extreme snobbery.

The majority of any car's carbon footprint comes from the use of raw materials and manufacture.

Although newer cars (may) have better emissions economy and secondary safety, a car like this is very very environmentally responsible and the economy and emissions are offset by the extra weight and size of newer ones.

People are sneering out of pure snobbery and an irrational desire to have something newer fuelled by the ridiculous unsustainable consumer society we have.

Ooh, I like your link better ThreeDrinks

@ItalianFiat DPs dream 'old car' is a Fiat Strada Abarth, but sadly there are literally only a handful left in the UK. We saw one in Spain a few years ago, and obviously it had lasted in the Spanish sun a lot better than the UK drizzle.

If we won the lottery and could afford to spend silly money on cars, that's what we would be buying. None of this new Range Rover nonsense, I'd be there with my navy blue Corrado and him in his Fiat Strada Abarth.

It's going to be a bitch to parallel park.
I remember the days before power-assisted steering........

Car parts for 30 year old cars are absolutely not impossible to get a hold of. Ever heard of a scrapyard?! Or eBay?!

OP do some research on it. Look at the details on the registration cert and have a look online to see what they're making. Or join a classic car forum (there are many for Ford Escorts) or facebook group and see what it's worth. I don't know why you're feeling like he has been swindled, listen to the people who actually know what they're talking about who are telling you he may have gotten a massive bargain here.

@BarbaraofSeville I've always had a weird hankering for a Nissan Bluebird, now there's a boxy car

Duck, you are right it does not matter if it's a classic. It's now my everyday day car, going to work, shopping, having the dog in the back, picking up my friends and kids. It will be sitting out in the rain not in a garage.

I made this thread because I am feeling stressed and annoyed about it. I really don't want to sound rude but I do not care about the model. I am stuck with it, we don't have the money to just throw a car away because I don't like it. But it does not change the fact I feel so angry that I made such a mistake as to trust the man I love to buy us a car that will see us through. I don't need a car that is or is not going to go up in value.

I am v upset and embarrassed to be driving round in a car that's so old. If I am pulled up at lights let's hope no kids are close because they will get bloody knocked out by the stink of petrol. Yes this thread has now got some people on that love old cars, that's great but it was never meant to be a post about new Vs old.

I can laugh but I still feel bloody annoyed about it. I feel so stupid, I really thought it would be a 15 year old car at the most. Not perfect, scratched, dents. But this is a whole new level. Yes it may not seem so bad to people that love them but I don't want to deal with it breaking down, it not starting or staying running. Oh and in the hot days I am going to have to drive around looking for shade because it will cook in the sun and with no AC it will be horrible, yes that's how it was years ago but I live in 2019 or so I thought.

@AlansLeftMoob - I am not a car enthusiast. My idea of car ownership is driving it to the dealer for service with the magical word "warranty". Simply because it's not my hobby and my car is utility for me. I certainly wouldn't want to browse e-bay or the local scrapyard to get replacement parts.
I have a friend who bought himself an Alfa Romeo Spider. As far as I know, it lamost swallowed his savings in repairs but he's a high earner, he's single and the car is his life. Pretty literally by now. Other than that I certainly wouldn't buy a car that's vintage - with all the potentially negative connotations it brings with it.

Amazed how many people are saying he has been ripped off despite several knowledgeable posters giving links to show that it could actually be a very sound financial purchase (whether he knew that or not)

The fact that it has wheel trims rather than alloys would suggest its not a XR etc, but if it runs and is decent knock it could very well be worth significantly more than the 800 he paid.

Snobbery of the highest order by some very ill informed people.

Op. Give us a model (it will be written on the boot) and mileage, and someone here might be able to point you to a site where you could sell it next week, make a nice return on your £800, and buy something else.

Or just keep whining and live with it for a while.

Your shout

There was a female TV presenter on a TV programme a year or two driving a red Mini Metro from the 1980s.

Someone like Sara Cox, but I don't think it was her. It was either something like Back in Time for Dinner or maybe a consumer type programme and this thread has reminded me of cars of that era as my first car was a Mini Metro and I was amazed that the TV woman's car was still on the road, because both the ones I had were rust buckets when they were 10 YO in the 1990s.

This is why it's amazing that 30 YO cars are still on the road and considered classics as 99% of them would have failed the MOT due to being basically made of rust.

I'd forgotten about the lack of power steering though which has taken a shine off my Corrado fantasy a little.

If you chose to delegate the task to your DP and instead went on a shopping trip with your friend then you have to accept his decision. Buying cars is a nightmare in my experience. I have never known a car salesman tell the truth and always end up feeling I have been conned. It's a horrible job and you should have gone with your DP to help. At least he stuck to the budget and presumably it goes.

YABU it's a classic.

Besides, you said you wasn't interested. I'm sitting in the van/car that dp bought without me seeing as i was working but i found it on AutoTrader and arranged it all. I love it.

I would have been about the escort but it could be an investment

Sorry, the point of my last post is that I'm now racking my brains trying to think who it was in the red Mini Metro.