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 15 year old car has just sailed through its MOT and I couldn't be happier!

I think if somebody scraped their trolley alongside it, I wouldn't be bothered.
If I had a new BMW? I'd be crying 🤪

That probably means that you have other things that give you ‘status’. I am proud of the job I do, for example, and I get quite a lot of self worth from that. For some people, that is what a car can represent.

My car is 10 years old. Bought it second hand from dealership when it was 3 years old. 65k miles. Never given me any bother. Teen dd does sometimes say it’s a bit crap compared to her friends parents cars. But I don’t really care. I think I’d get joy out of a flashy car for about a week then it would turn into dumping ground my current car is. I’d rather spend my disposable income on several holidays a year.

People are daft about cars, just don’t understand it. Mine is a 14 year old VW golf, it’s in good condition and very reliable. I pay nothing for it apart from tax and insurance- I will keep it until it has an issue that’s not economically viable to fix

I find your friends attitudes utterly baffling.

I have a 13 year old Qashquai, it's scratched all over and a bit dinged up where I backed into a Range Rover with a spare tyre on the back (don't ask) but it drives fine, and that's what it's for! I don't have a car because I love them, I have one because it gets me from A to B safely and conveniently.

My friend on the other hand has a Lexus on some sort of leaseplan and constantly bitches about money and affording nursery. I do understand the desire for nice new things, but there is a very broad range between 13 year old car and a flippin' Lexus!

Mine is 11. I love not worrying about scratces etc (though I'm still careful obviously).
I'm perfectly happy taking DP's cast offs. The cars are joint owned,and I can drive both.
Even DP has stopped buying brand new.
We used to take turns getting a new car in alternate years.
I don't even notice other people's cars - just the colour!

People are so stupid about cars. New cars are the biggest waste of money, even (especially) on finance. My 19 year old car costs £20 tax and is so cheap to insure and repair. Like you, I care not a jot if it gets dented / scratched.

NDNs’ teenagers, learning to drive (often mounting the pavement lol) have an 11 year old car which is a year younger than my Yaris. Until last year I paid no road tax on its tiny engine but it flies like a bird and never lets me down. With 29,000 on the clock, this sole owner only drives it when dark to keep her safe.
Jimmy cracks corn and I don’t care.

In your opinion they’re a waste

Sone people get enjoyment from cars - same as some people enjoy expensive pastimes such as skiing or spa breaks or all inclusive 5 start holidays

Carry on doing what you're doing. My cars are 22 and 24 years old. Well maintained so they can be relied upon. I drove the 22yo Toyota Yaris to Scotland a few months ago, it didn't miss a beat. Friends of my DC who work in the motor industry were in complete disbelief a car of that age could make such a long journey (we live on south coast) and survive it.

if your image matters to you then I suppose you need to get something "better " whatever that means, but it's the quality of the person driving the car that matters, not the actual car.

Yes obviously in my opinion. I'm the one who said it!

It is also my opinion that the waste of money is obscene, however, money makes the world go round, such is life, you do you, etc...

I drive a 12 year old Kuga..I wouldn’t class it as a banger just yet. It’s done 80k and I intend it to stay with me for years yet.

But the new vs old car conversation came up recently in our office as my colleague was scrabbling to replace her lease car that was coming to an end. She has a new car because she knows nothing about car maintenance and doesn’t know anyone who does. Whereas my DH is a hobby mechanic so can do 90% of the work on mine. She is the sort to panic at a Tyre pressure monitoring light. I’m the sort of person who says well just check your wheels before you get in 🤣.

That is why some people go new and some people are happy with old.

I have a 20 year old Freelander I bought from new. It’s been super reliable and I just don’t understand why I’d get rid of a car that works perfectly. It’s that old it’s actually got a nice retro vibe to it now 🤣

YANBU. I've a 18 year old car that I've owned since new. I keep it immaculate, inside and out. Never failed an MOT. Get it serviced to schedule yearly and all it's ever needed are the normal consumables, never broken down, never needed anything big/expensive, other than the timing belt which is a service schedule item. I've looked after it, driven it carefully, no banging up/down kerbs and no "heavy" right foot, so suspension etc is fine. I've no intention of getting rid of it as there's literally nothing wrong with it. Yes, it "looks" old because it's a pretty unique shape/design which dates it to the mid noughties, but there's not a mark/scratch on it (inside or out). Certainly not getting rid "just because" it's old.

I've got a ten year old Qashquai that's covered in scratches. I had it on finance when It was 3 years old and it kept its value really well over lockdown so that when it came to the final settlement I paid quite a lot less than it was worth. I'd never get a car on finance again especially as my financial situation changed and I wanted to give it back but couldn't.

I can think of one family member who'd no doubt make fun of it, but I don't see her because she's an arsehole....

I drive a ten years old Ford C-Max which I bought when it was two and a half. Low mileage as it was a Motability car, no scratches or dents. Mechanically sound and being a Ford it's cheap to have anything done. I'll keep it as long as possible.

Just think, if instead of wasting hundreds of pounds on car finance deals, you saved that money, maybe in a pension,then you could retire early.. I also like good food more than expensive cars and I can't eat a car. The car as a status symbol doesn't really work, as we all know the drivers don't actually own them

Come join me in the old bangers club! I have 23 year old with 259,000 on the clock, peeling top coat and serious water issues! But do you know what it just passed it’s MOT and I love driving it! I think I may be buried in it!!

I bought my first brand new car this year. For the last 30 odd years I have driven bangers, which was not so bad when I lived close to work. Now I have to travel a bit more, I wanted reliability and peace of mind.
I worked out what I could afford and got the best I could for my money. I will probably keep it for absolutely ages though so will eventually be back in banger territory!!!

I wouldn't call that a banger!

I have a tiny 13 year old "banger" which I'm entirely happy with as its really cheap to run, reliable and great for nipping around and parking in small spaces. I'm also happy for my 21 year old son to borrow it as it doesn't cost a lot to add on a day of insurance and I'm not too worried if it gets the odd ding. Ulez exempt so handy for dropping people off at Heathrow too.

I've had people ask me about our mortgage and when they find out it's paid off the next question is usually "why don't you get a decent car then?" But a status symbol car means nothing to me. I get that we aren't all the same but some people really struggle with the concept!

I’m on a decent wage and get a car allowance but I drive an old banger, I plan to run it into the ground before getting a newer one a car is just a to b for me and I’m currently saving my allowance towards a newer one so it’s a win win atm.

Entirely legit not to bother respraying it. I have been lucky that mine hasn't got scratched really but I made a decision I wasn't going to worry about it if it did and it had made my life a lot more chilled out.

My friends keep telling me to get a car on finance and I keep pointing out that my car has lost £1800 or so in value over 8 years, so has cost about £20 per month. Maybe £60 if you include tyres and services. So no, I won't be getting a car on finance for £400 a month thanks!

I’m not sure a 10 year old car qualifies as a ‘banger’. Our car is 7 years old and we’ve had it 3 years and I still think of it as nearly new 😳

I make absolutely no judgement against anyone who wants to spend their hard earned money on a beautiful car. I can absolutely appreciate how a new car is more convenient (they have all the mod cons) and may be more reliable especially if they are on a 3 year PCP deal so you always have a very new car.

I choose to invest my money because I’m 30 and the thought of doing this job in my late 60s/70s feels impossible!

Just to make it clear, family/friends/ colleagues are absolutely not being malicious. It’s all said in jest and I’m not offended by it!

I don’t think my 10 year old car is a banger. Rough around the edges, cheaper make, etc but parked next to luxury cars, it absolutely does look like a banger 😂

We are high earners and there are incentives to having a company car so my colleagues are bewildered and I think my family think the same way.

I simply do not value cars in the same way others do. I travel, invest and spend money on experiences/ food. People would be in shock at how much I would spend on a meal. A car lasts longer than a meal but I’d easily spend a car payment on one. So there really is no judgement from me!