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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask you to help me choose a car?

29 replies

Friedbanana · 13/03/2023 09:32

Sorry totally not an AIBU I just can’t find a car topic 🤣

So I have no idea about cars but partner is into nice cars but has too sensible head on him and even though we could afford it he just mentally can’t indulge himself (the last car we had was a Nissan note.. not cool but v practical and we’d have kept that if it hadn’t been written off, but honestly he’d love and could prob afford a Porsche if that gives any indication of the type of person he is🤪).. we have to have just one car between us as we have a tricky parking situation, needs to be preferably under 1.9m wide and under 4.3m long (if Up to the limit or over we would need parking sensors!) I use the car for city driving a few times a Week for work and he would use it on the weekends for leisure (country roads to go mountain biking so big boot space/ability to fold down seats is top priority!) And even better if it fits a surfboard (our Nissan note did!) we want something really reliable and very safe/crash tested well etc. but also not lame! I thought I’d scored a winner by finding a Renault Clio as it’s the right dimensions and super practical boot space and very safe, however apparently it is very much not a cool car. We would buy out but internally I think he’d be really sad, and he works really hard and saves and overpays the mortgage and I just feel like he deserves to indulge his wants a bit!?

The top budget we’d like to spend is £20000 (he’d prefer as low as possible and is saying 12000 just because of how risk averse he is, but I think if it’s the right car/won’t depreciate in value (we will be paying cash) I could persuade him)

Want something really reliable so I’m assuming less than 4 years old and under 20000 miles? But that’s me not knowing much about cars..

Location north east England, but any makes/model suggestions would be incredible

Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!

And I am just asking the Internet because he has got overwhelmed with the choice and this internal struggle to be sensible/want something cool 😅

OP posts:
Friedbanana · 13/03/2023 09:35

Oh also he says it needs to be petrol! And I’m aware this sounds like I’m just completely going with what he wants but I honestly don’t care! We’ll each be paying half and all I need is something reliable!

OP posts:
Friedbanana · 13/03/2023 09:44

Oh also obviously I know every car will depreciate in value haha, I just meant not tooo much! Like if there are any males that tend to retain their value a bit more?

OP posts:
PurBal · 13/03/2023 09:46

Ford Fiesta.

Twoshoesnewshoes · 13/03/2023 09:49

How about a VW T-Roc? Quite small but big boot and lots of passenger space, nice and chunky for surf boards etc.
also v safe.

Twoshoesnewshoes · 13/03/2023 09:49

Or a Seat Arona for similar but cheaper

Twoshoesnewshoes · 13/03/2023 09:51

Get a 3 year old car to avoid the worse of the depreciation loss.

takealettermsjones · 13/03/2023 09:52

BMW X1? Might be a bit long though, not sure

Twoshoesnewshoes · 13/03/2023 09:53

Also, my fave is the Nissan Juke
very reliable, chunky, but boot not as big as the other two, and rear seat space is tighter (though fine for two adults on medium journeys).

FoxFeatures · 13/03/2023 09:57

A mini. The JCW mini is fun, though the cooper and cooper s are too. Minis are the very best car. I have one. I've had a Porsche, Mercedes slk etc etc but it's the mini I love and will buy again.

Hesma · 13/03/2023 09:59

I’ve got a Vauxhall Mokka and I love it!

TallulahBetty · 13/03/2023 10:00

Golf or Polo

Laurdo · 13/03/2023 10:02

TallulahBetty · 13/03/2023 10:00

Golf or Polo

Yup. Can't go wrong with a VW. They last for ages.

Elephantscantjump · 13/03/2023 10:03

I'd second the VW TRoc, it's a golf chassis so feels roomy but is really easy to park in smaller spaces. Comes with a reasonable amount of kit as standard generally too.

ObamaLlamas · 13/03/2023 10:03

Fiesta ST? Can't see it fitting a surfboard etc in though but it's fast, fun and interesting at least

Can't believe someone that owned a Note doesn't want a clio because its not cool 😆

Anyway, he needs to loosen his purse strings a bit more, tightness is so unbecoming.

What about a A class merc? Is that too big?

ObamaLlamas · 13/03/2023 10:05

TallulahBetty · 13/03/2023 10:00

Golf or Polo

Polo GTI? My father in law has just sold his it was 4 years old and sold for £14k in mint condition.

Friedbanana · 13/03/2023 10:32

Amazing!!! Thanks so so much everyone! VW golf and Ford Fiesta he has mentioned before actually, so they seem like really good bets! The T roc looks really cool too but I know he’s more of an estate fanatic!

haha @ObamaLlamas i know, he’s a funny one! I can’t imagine what it’s like in his head, a mad boy racer fighting with a sensible tight person who makes spreadsheets to compare cars (he genuinely had a spreadsheet on the go this weekend but has just got overwhelmed 😂)

OP posts:
Twoshoesnewshoes · 13/03/2023 11:11

A used golf estate will actually be cheaper than a hatchback so that’s a great option.!8
the seat Ibiza estate is a good all rounder too

IjustbelieveinMe · 13/03/2023 11:13

I have a Mazda 3 hatchback and it's fantastic.

Sockloon · 13/03/2023 11:17

Toyota CHR or a Corolla look for an Excel model, most reliable cars on road loads of features, hybrid. 10 Years / 100,000 miles warranty and 15 years for the hybrid battery.

Sockloon · 13/03/2023 11:18

*Corolla estate are called sports models in Toyota talk)

ObamaLlamas · 13/03/2023 11:46

Friedbanana · 13/03/2023 10:32

Amazing!!! Thanks so so much everyone! VW golf and Ford Fiesta he has mentioned before actually, so they seem like really good bets! The T roc looks really cool too but I know he’s more of an estate fanatic!

haha @ObamaLlamas i know, he’s a funny one! I can’t imagine what it’s like in his head, a mad boy racer fighting with a sensible tight person who makes spreadsheets to compare cars (he genuinely had a spreadsheet on the go this weekend but has just got overwhelmed 😂)

He can get the best of both worlds but getting a top of the range or sport model. Such as the fiesta ST or golf/polo R or GTI. Still great value for money, economical but a bit more interesting.

NoodleQueen90 · 13/03/2023 13:39

I had a whole reply in my head about Volkswagen/Audi Group being the best (VW/Audi/Skoda/Seat) and then I got to the bit about having to be a petrol...I wouldn't buy anything other than these but I still have a dirty diesel. Their petrol engines are very unreliable.
For petrol, stick with Japanese. Honda/Toyota/Lexus/Mazda are all reliable...not sure of residual value for these makes but if the engine blows up, its not going to be worth much anyway. Hint: Nissan/Mitsubishi now mostly have Renault engines in them...look up the specific engine for reliability rather than the car in general.

averythinline · 13/03/2023 13:47

ive found toyotas underpowered so make sure you go up the specs a bit...also expensive for what they are 2nd hand
better value hyundai n3 i think is the estate version...
other good estates seat Leon seems really good value..but maybe bit long..szme with bmw3 estate, x1?

skoda kamiq more mini suv but gets good reviews

Iluvteandbiscuits · 13/03/2023 13:51

averythinline · 13/03/2023 13:47

ive found toyotas underpowered so make sure you go up the specs a bit...also expensive for what they are 2nd hand
better value hyundai n3 i think is the estate version...
other good estates seat Leon seems really good value..but maybe bit long..szme with bmw3 estate, x1?

skoda kamiq more mini suv but gets good reviews

Complete and utter clap trap, Toyotas have the best selling cars in the world. Underpowered what are you talking about.

I drive a lot of cars and they would be my first preference too, Hyundai`s are okay but no where near the quality of a Toyota.

Howzthatmum · 13/03/2023 14:13

@Iluvteandbiscuits I was just about to post something similar.

My DH has a GR Yaris Track Edition and I have a GR86, not very practical but not supposed to be. @Friedbanana Toyota`s would have another vote from me.

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