Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be so upset about my wee car?

54 replies

ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs · 26/03/2026 15:01

Had my wee car for 15 years. She's nothing fancy, but she's been a great wee car (I have had several cars previously that have been a nightmare!) But she went for her MOT today and apparently is severely corroded, and the cost of repair is not feasible. I am irrationally upset. I love her so much and I dont WANT a new car (but will have to get one) DH doesn't get it- he changes his car every couple of years.
Am I a conplete nutter to be crying over a car, or has anyone else felt like this?

OP posts:
lalaloopyhead · 26/03/2026 19:40

Our incredibly reliable car of 15+ years died last year and we ended up scrapping it...I felt so bad that I sent DH to clear all out belongings out before it was collected (it had been towed to a garage) because I couldn't face it. But then afterwards I felt bad for not going and thanking the car for it's good service before it's demise 🙄🤣.

BlackSheepThisYear · 26/03/2026 19:41

My little car was written off last year. I was so upset, I cried on the lovely man who had accidentally driven into me. We’d been through a lot, me and my car - she’d driven me and my children safely around, helped me move house, given me somewhere to cry and sit quietly when I was going through my divorce. Silly but I was devastated. If it makes you feel better, I now have a new (to me) car and I am so happy with it. Went for a large, well made, safe car and it’s done me well so far. So there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

dyzzie · 26/03/2026 19:46

I am the same with my 16 year old Yaris. It passed its MOT 2 weeks ago with flying colours. I am so attached to it so will be reluctant to just throw it on the scrap heap 😉

Maray1967 · 26/03/2026 19:46

ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs · 26/03/2026 16:04

I did grasp this hope, but I do trust my mechanic (I think he was also sad to see her go!) Apparently her axle is so corroded its ready to snap. Repair is possible but £1000+.. and then something else could go next year.
Its crazy how you can get so attached to a car, but like others here (thank you all for making me feel less crazy!) I spoke to her all the time, telling her what a good girl she was, the prettiest car in the car park etc.
DH took me to look at new cars and I behaved like a toddler [embarrassed] - dont like these cars! Hate them all! Want [insert name]!
Dont feel ready, but acknowledge i need a car!
Any recommendations for a small, reliable, economic car??

I love my Fiesta. I’m hoping when mine goes I’ll be able to get one of the last ones made which will be about 7 years younger than mine.

tinyspiny · 26/03/2026 19:49

YANBU we have kept our last 4 cars to end of life and our current oldie is Sylvester , who is a 15 yo Kia Soul who I have owned from new . He has done 170k miles and currently just potters with my husband as I have a newer car for day to day . He failed his MOT this year but it only cost us £80 to get him through his retest .

Lesina · 26/03/2026 19:49

I was so upset when I had to scrap my Qashqui I had to tell the breaker to hurry up and just take her before I started crying. You are not alone.

ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs · 26/03/2026 20:05

Im loving hearing all the stories of your much loved cars! Im amazed noone has come on to tell me IABU and need a head wobble!
Feel much happier now wee Dilys won't be scrapped. Maybe if she gets fixed I can sell the new car her

OP posts:
3isthemagicnumber · 26/03/2026 20:34

After 20 years of needing big cars / unattractive tanks to ferry children around ,I finally got the car is always wanted .A nothing particularly special but beautiful ,nippy mini .
it was the first time I almost felt like I ‘got’ cars and why people love them .
It was written off whilst parked outside my house .The guy that did it accepted full responsibility and his insurance payed out almost immediately .
it was this time last year ,the start of the Easter holidays, and I really needed a car for the plans we had so ,thanks to the swift insurance payment , bought what seemed an almost identical one rather hastily .
its not identical .Its not the same at all .Its not done anything wrong but it’s not my mini .I miss it so much still .

Aniceempirebiscuitandacupoftea · 26/03/2026 20:51

Littlebitpsycho · 26/03/2026 18:43

@ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs she was so pretty 😭 RIP little Maureen

Nice colour!

ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs · 26/03/2026 21:06

3isthemagicnumber · 26/03/2026 20:34

After 20 years of needing big cars / unattractive tanks to ferry children around ,I finally got the car is always wanted .A nothing particularly special but beautiful ,nippy mini .
it was the first time I almost felt like I ‘got’ cars and why people love them .
It was written off whilst parked outside my house .The guy that did it accepted full responsibility and his insurance payed out almost immediately .
it was this time last year ,the start of the Easter holidays, and I really needed a car for the plans we had so ,thanks to the swift insurance payment , bought what seemed an almost identical one rather hastily .
its not identical .Its not the same at all .Its not done anything wrong but it’s not my mini .I miss it so much still .

Yes, this was my Dilys!! Gave up the people carriers which always had so many problems for my wee Nissan Micra- utter freedom!! Park anywhere, road tax £30/ year, total breath if fresh air!

OP posts:
gamerchick · 26/03/2026 21:17

Is it the subframe? There is a way to fix it without replacing it. Some sort of cage welded on or something.

I really need to start listening properly when husbands telling me car stuff.

ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs · 26/03/2026 21:21

gamerchick · 26/03/2026 21:17

Is it the subframe? There is a way to fix it without replacing it. Some sort of cage welded on or something.

I really need to start listening properly when husbands telling me car stuff.

Yes, I think so! Its the rear axle, but dad was muttering about the subframe..

OP posts:
FuriousInventions · 28/03/2026 12:32

I cried like a baby when our 20-year-old, owned-from-new, battered and dented, basic, uneconomical car had to be scrapped. I behaved like a proper toddler over it and wouldn’t entertain any of the new ones DH made me go to look at, we argued like mad over the fact that he wanted to buy the new, whistles-and-bells, super-eco version of Old Car - because “it’ll be just the same and you’ll get used to it”. Well no, it’s not just the same, and two years later I’m not used to it. It’s comfortable but boring. It does everything by itself with minimal input from me. It has multiple lights and beeps, and a daft screen for the speedo instead of a needle. Its windows don’t stick halfway up, the boot hatch doesn’t need to be wrestled closed, it doesn’t rattle on bumpy roads, and the stereo works. It has no personality whatsoever. It’s nothing like my old friend. I hear you, OP 🥺

gamerchick · 28/03/2026 13:33

ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs · 26/03/2026 21:21

Yes, I think so! Its the rear axle, but dad was muttering about the subframe..

Mines on the way out. It's just started but not too bad ATM, but apparently on its last MOT.

But apparently something can be done about it without replacing the subframe. It's finding a good independent garage who knows their shit. We got scoffed at scrapping a perfectly good car just because of that. Which I don't really understand but cars aren't my thing.

Or maybe it's time to just get another runner if you don't want the faff.

Toddlerteaplease · 28/03/2026 13:35

I was really sad when I sold my first car. I loved him. Not helped by my BIL teasing me a bout the car being sad. 😂

JaceLancs · 28/03/2026 13:39

I get very attached to cars and keep them at least 10 years - current one is 13 years old and I’ve had it 10 - done over 200k - previous one was same make and model just older and got it to nearly 300k before body work made mot unviable
I feel your pain - hope the joy of a new car will help somewhat

MmeGregoire · 28/03/2026 13:52

I love my car she’s a teenager now and my then teenage son helped me to choose her all those years ago.
She’s a car I would never have chosen for myself being quite sporty and flashy and of the type that mainly appeals to teenage boy racers!
I drive her quite sedately and I like to astound people when I get out as they aren’t expecting a middle aged lady to emerge from such a vehicle.
My son is a family man himself now and drives a sensible family car.
He finds it amusing that I’m still driving around in his teenage fantasy car.

WearyAuldWumman · 28/03/2026 13:53

I was the same with my first car and with with my wee campervan when I had to let her go last year. I gave her bonnet a pat when I left her.

ChequerToRed · 28/03/2026 13:58

I don’t drive by my DH is a great lover of a wee car, little Japanese ‘nuggets’ (for any Mighty Car Mods fans). He’s got two and has spent what would normally be uneconomical amounts of time and money keeping them on the road. Both are Daihatsus, one a tiny rollerskate of a convertible and the other a very rare rally spec model that makes a noise like it’d steal your Amazon parcel from your porch if it got the chance. Both are early 2000s so a bit long in the tooth, the convertible is currently SORNed due to killing its third radiator, the other is his daily driver. He would definitely cry if anything happened to his daily driver, he loves that little car so much, but I doubt he’d shed a tear over the big Citroën that’s the family truck.

Katemax82 · 28/03/2026 13:58

I get it. I still miss my Toyota Aygo I sold last September

KimberleyClark · 28/03/2026 14:08

I had a red Micra for years that I was very fond of. Then my mother had it for another few years until she could no longer drive because of dementia. My DB and his partner then took it over as a run around. But it came to a sad end, it was stolen from outside DB’s house and was found burnt out a few miles away.

I now find I prefer something slightly larger and am on my second A3.

Beebumble2 · 28/03/2026 14:34

My 22 year old VW Bug, that I bought from new only failed one MOT and that was the last one. It was also due to corrosion. I couldn’t bear to bring it home from the garage, so I took the paperwork to them and said goodbye to my faithful friend. 😢.
My VW T-cross is my new love!

BlackSheepThisYear · 28/03/2026 20:27

ChequerToRed · 28/03/2026 13:58

I don’t drive by my DH is a great lover of a wee car, little Japanese ‘nuggets’ (for any Mighty Car Mods fans). He’s got two and has spent what would normally be uneconomical amounts of time and money keeping them on the road. Both are Daihatsus, one a tiny rollerskate of a convertible and the other a very rare rally spec model that makes a noise like it’d steal your Amazon parcel from your porch if it got the chance. Both are early 2000s so a bit long in the tooth, the convertible is currently SORNed due to killing its third radiator, the other is his daily driver. He would definitely cry if anything happened to his daily driver, he loves that little car so much, but I doubt he’d shed a tear over the big Citroën that’s the family truck.

Ooh, is the rollerskate a cappuccino? I hope so - I had one years ago and called it my rollerskate!

GardeningMummy · 28/03/2026 20:39

What is a wee car?

MsAdoraBelleDearheartVonLipwig · 28/03/2026 21:52

My beautiful car went off on the back of a lorry after it went badly wrong and wasn’t really worth me spending more money on. I cried. Bloody loved that car. I do have a new one now which is just as lovely. Not the same but I’ll probably get just as sentimentally attached to it.

It was my choice to sell the old one though. My dh didn’t really have much of an opinion on it. I certainly wouldn’t have let him sell it against my wishes.