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AIBU?

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Original poster

That a used car having had a "lady owner" is not something to value

56 replies

Jolly77 · 01/12/2022 10:12

Searching for a used car on autotrader and other websites I see that reference is made to the car having had a 'lady driver' or 'lady owner' and this make it a better buy than a bog standard car.

Whilst I would be intrigued to have a car that has been owned by a member of the aristocricy I dont think that they are referring to this.

Instead they generally mean that the car has a low mileage and has only been used for local trips. To my mind this is not necessarily a good thing - surely these local short trips add more strain to the car than long motorway trips implied by a higher mileage.

Friend (male) also suggested that these cars are less likely to have had oil changes/ services etc and also that long nails make marks on the door handles but I think this was just his bad experience!

I am looking at cars in the region of £5-8,000, so usually 7+ years old and on second or third owner

So should I go for the lady owned or treat them with scepticism?

OP posts:
ALoadOfCodswallop · 01/12/2022 10:38

Isn't this just code for hasn't been ragged around by a 17-year-old doing doughnuts in his local car park at 2am

Notimeforaname · 01/12/2022 10:40

Isn't this just code for hasn't been ragged around by a 17-year-old doing doughnuts in his local car park at 2am

That was my thinking too.

Cancelledtwiceover · 01/12/2022 10:43

Usually careful lady owner, code for not been trashed by 17year old lad.

AccioChocolate · 01/12/2022 10:44

ALoadOfCodswallop · 01/12/2022 10:38

Isn't this just code for hasn't been ragged around by a 17-year-old doing doughnuts in his local car park at 2am

Yes.
Which is why a few years ago she'd have had cheaper insurance than your sexist friend who thinks women don't know how to look after cars.

RandomMusings7 · 01/12/2022 10:44

Women are generally more careful and less aggressive in traffic.

softpilllow · 01/12/2022 10:47

Instead they generally mean that the car has a low mileage and has only been used for local trips.

No, they don't. They mean what pp has mentioned unthread

FictionalCharacter · 01/12/2022 10:48

It's been a joke in the car trade for years "owned by an old lady who only used it to go to church on Sundays". A way of fooling gullible buyers.
Your friend is a sexist dick though. Women are less likely to keep to the oil change schedule? Women scratch cars with their titanium nails? Sexist twaddle.

miceonabranch · 01/12/2022 10:49

Less razzing of the engine, less harsh braking, no charging over potholes/speed bumps and putting the tracking out and straining the suspension. All the aggressive nutcase drivers I come across seem to be men.

arethereanyleftatall · 01/12/2022 10:49

Eh op? That isn't what it means whatsoever! What a bizarre take. It means careful and not doing wheelies or whatever they're called.

softpilllow · 01/12/2022 10:49

Friend (male) also suggested that these cars are less likely to have had oil changes/ services etc and also that long nails make marks on the door handles but I think this was just his bad experience!

Friend? Is an idiot.

Why would an adult female be less likely to put their car in for a service then a man? Oil changes btw are part of the service. If you have a modern car needing oil between services you have a problem.

The nails? What I find the worst for scratches around the door isn't nails, it's people who hold their keys in the same hand they open the door with.

RewildingAmbridge · 01/12/2022 10:49

It's your friend who's being sexist. As PP it means it hasn't been ragged about by a teenager

arethereanyleftatall · 01/12/2022 10:51

Actually, on reflection, I think this is a fake post, (as no one thinks that) designed to goad sexist responses.

Grantanow · 01/12/2022 10:55

It's simply aimed at the gullible. Ignore it - it's not serious information. My present car did have one previous 'lady owner' and it was a good buy but I did not rely on the ' information'.

Dailymash · 01/12/2022 11:13

Careful lady owner: never been more than 3 miles away from home, brake is probably worn out from said owner jumping on it every 10 seconds, a few dinks in the alloy wheels from dodgy parking, bonnet has probably rusted shut having never been opened. Low mileage though Wink

NeverOneBiscuit · 01/12/2022 11:13

Women are responsible for less car accidents than men (insurance industry figures). They are also on average less aggressive than men. So on balance I’d rather buy a car with a previous female owner.

Most men I know are no more likely to change oil etc than women - the garage does it.

Purpleblob · 01/12/2022 11:15

We were told our car was previously driven only by a nun as a selling point! Not sure if true as no way to check 😂

user1496262496 · 01/12/2022 11:22

When my son’s were new drivers pretty much all the razzing about, doughnuts and wacky races went on in cars that young men had borrowed from their mums…

Miajk · 01/12/2022 11:23

Tbh statistically it's valid no?

Isn't that why car insurance would be cheaper often for a woman Vs man.

bigbluebus · 01/12/2022 11:29

I wouldn't necessarily see it as a good selling point tbh. My neighbour has a car which will undoubtedly have low mileage but I wouldn't buy it off her. She revs the engine so much trying to back it off the drive and I move off my sofa if I hear her as I worry that she might come careering through my front wall. It is regularly serviced though (I've seen the garage picking it up and dropping it off) and she definitely doesn't have long nails!
It's definitely an outdated phrase. Can't believe it's still being used.

Tombero · 01/12/2022 11:31

I traded my car in then found it advertised elsewhere. I found it quite meaningless. DH and I both drove it and I’m no advert for exceptional driving. But DH did enjoy calling me lady owner for a bit.

That a used car having had a "lady owner" is not something to value
Henuinequest · 01/12/2022 11:31

'Friend (male) also suggested that these cars are less likely to have had oil changes/ services etc and also that long nails make marks on the door handles but I think this was just his bad experience!'

Your friend sounds like an idiot.

Henuinequest · 01/12/2022 11:33

Women are generally more careful drivers - which is why they were offered cheaper car insurance before it was deemed sexist.

Winter2020 · 01/12/2022 11:38

Never thought "lady owner" meant low mileage and local journeys.
Agree with others it is designed to convey considered driving not harsh accelerating and braking as in "boy racer" or handbrake turns etc.

Speedweed · 01/12/2022 11:40

ALoadOfCodswallop · 01/12/2022 10:38

Isn't this just code for hasn't been ragged around by a 17-year-old doing doughnuts in his local car park at 2am

That's exactly how this 'lady' drives her car.

Eat my dust sexist/ageist suckers!

Wiluli · 01/12/2022 11:51

I agree with you and furthermore I see cars with low mileage as a bad thing for the same reasons . It’s very funny as it’s a very British thing to look for low mileage cars . Other countries are not so focused on miles . I would prefer a 5 year old car with 100 000 miles and a full service history than one with 30000 with only a couple of services . It means any possible problem is still gonna land on your hands