AIBU to drive a banger?

[Ruleof72]

I don’t think I’m being unreasonable but I’ve had another comment today about my car and I need a sense check.

I own a 10 year old car outright. It’s a cheap and cheerful Nissan juke and is viewed as a banger by friends/ family/ colleagues. Someone pushed their trolley into the side so it’s scratched and doesn’t look great but mechanically, excellent, I have looked after it.

Quite a few people have made the comment that my car is essentially a banger and they don’t understand why I don’t just buy myself a nice new flashy car. I have no desire to do this, so long as it gets me from
A to B, that’s good enough for me.

YABU - you have the means to drive around in a nice car so ditch the banger!
YANBU - current car is mechanically sound and reliable. You don’t need a Porsche (insert other flashy car brand) on finance!

My 20 year old Ford Focus identified as a Janguar XF

It lost power (like engine shut off) randomly on a mortorway and I never trusted it after that. But for years it was a little workhorse.

I used to feel embarrassed though. Mostly around colleagues but not socially.

@Mumofyellows I thought you were me because I'm the same.
21 year old Polo, horses and dogs.
I don't class my car as a banger, even though it has got a dent.
Had it 8 years, paid £700 for it. I'm old so my insurance is under £150, tax is £35.
Only had usual wear and tear expenses.
I will need to replace it soon with an auto because my left hip is knackered, and I'll be gutted to say goodbye!

A 10 year old car with a few minor dents and scratches but mechanically sound is definitely NOT a banger.
It sounds a pretty typical condition and age for cars where I live.
If it's not costing much to keep running, why spend out when you don't need to?

I am with you. I have no desire to keep up with the Joneses and buy a flashy new car. I almost see it as a badge of honour to avoid the materialism of such things. I keep cars until they give up.

If this is not made up for "i am so great I don't have nice car" then it may just be the look of it.
Our car is older than neigbour''s and her is a banger. I mean did she get t-boned 5x on each sode or what ihappend there🙈 so if so many people are telling you it's a banger, you either need different people around or the car need bit of care.

Mine Nissan is even older - 20 years but had less than 25k on the clock when I bought it. I love it - it drives much more smoothly than my Kia which is only a couple of years old but I hate driving.
They are both automatic but my Kia rolls backwards when my Nissan doesn't, the Bissan accelerates smoothly and doesn't jerk or take a week to adjust to an increase in speed. I will keep that car til it dies!
And so far it's hardly cost me anything - I did replace the battery which I think is fair enough in a 20 ur old car but other than that it's been just service and mot.
My dh used to have an Audi and a BMW as work cars and they were always in the garage - too many electrical things to go wrong!

I'd love a fancy newer car with parking sensors and all the nice stuff my old nisssn doesn't have, but I can't fault it for getting me to work. Don't let other people's opinions sway you - some folk are very good at spending other people's money but why buy a new car just to get to work etc if you don't need to. Unless cars are not your 'thing' and you would be really happy with a newer one, just do what suits you.

Yabu to declare a 10 year old car a banger.

I've jist seen an update. So it is a banger

I’m with you I don’t care about cars. I drive a 12 year old Ford KA. Never had comments on it though. Could say something short and repeat over until people get the idea you don’t want comments on your car. But agree with others 10 year old car isn’t an old banger in my eyes.

I think maybe car people think that’s everyone thinks about cars in the same way as them.

I am with you. Our car is about 13 years old and has a few scratches. Whenever we sell it, it won’t be for a fancy one, it will be for another practical secondhand car that meets our priorities of safety, capacity and fuel economy, and that we can afford to buy outright.

Obviously people have different priorities for cars. I do not see my car as any sort of ‘extension’ of myself, but that is partly because most people who see me with it are family or close friends and so I am not using it to present any sort of image. I cycle/walk/tube the journey to work.

I can see that for some people it would be more important to have a ‘smart’ car if they are driving around to see clients. So I try not to judge what I would otherwise consider a huge waster of money!

Given the cost of living, the expense of running a car and that newer cars face the same risks in car parks and the state of our roads I think having an older car is a pretty sensible idea these days.

Have a 12-year old Dacia here. Never worry if I accidentally leave it unlocked or if it gets a scratch - there are some advantages to having a banger!

You wouldn't believe how many people have nice cars but are leased for a ridiculously high amount.

I wouldn’t consider a 10yo car to be a banger! Mine is 11 years old and on 70k miles and I’m hoping to get at least another 5-10 years of out it.

Bangers have a history. People who make shallow judgements have no depth of character. You drive whatever you want and enjoy not paying extortionate monthly finance on a piece of metal.

I have a ten year old corsa. I love her and will keep her as long as I can, the heated seats are incredible

Why do you care what other people think?

If a car is mechanically sound and doesn’t let me down then I don’t worry about it. Who are these people who comment? No one expresses an opinion on what I should do about me car!

In your opinion it’s a waste of money but it could be a pleasure for them. Just as there’s no reason to judge OP as she’s got an older car - there’s no reason for you to judge your coworker. Some people enjoy cars and so spend their money that way - same as some people enjoy an expensive gym membership and others just go for a run

People really are hooked by the status frenzy engendered by car marketing, aren’t they?

I saw someone on a thread yesterday demonstrating their thrift and frugality by declaring ‘I drive a 9 year old Volvo’ ….er yes, an expensive car built to be a good car for a lot more than 9 years.

As far as I can see most people buy cars bigger and with higher spec than they could ever need. Lured by finance plans and high outlay on cars seen as a normal expense.

Don’t be influenced by views you don’t share.

I used to drive flashy cars until I grew up and applied common sense. I now enjoy my nice sturdy 2020 registered car that's only done 23K miles. It's a poor man's 4x4 but with where I live, flashy numbers just aren't practical. I like the safety of my reliable car instead of the head turning soft tops I used to drive.

But if you do that’s also ok.

these threass are really sneery about people with nice cars, assuming they are in debt or shallow. I love cars, have a few, some are considered flash. I buy them for me, not to impress anyone else.

if someone likes cars and buys nice ones that’s fine, provides of course they can afford it.

The sneering isn't coming from the practical car owners.

If you own your car, then you are already better off than those telling you to get a flash car. They are trying to set you to fail. They probably pay a few hundred a month to drive their cars, whcih they won't own. Having an older car means mechanics already have experience in fixing them and charge you less.

Really?
on this thread we’ve had shallow, materialistic, waste of money, stupid, immature. All about people with nice cars

dont get me wrong I’ve had old cars which were all I could afford, and I’ve loved them. I have an older practical car now, alongside nicer ones.

it can be a choice to like and spend on a nice car , not an indicator someone is stupid shallow and in debt!

All cars do the same thing, they get you from A to B.