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 OH and I have 5 cars between us, the NEWEST one is 17 years old 🤷‍♀️ don't see the point in buying a brand new car that will depreciate 25% the second it goes on the road. Also don't see the point leasing or financing - if I need credit to buy it, I can't afford it

My beautiful BMW lost me £11,000 in depreciation in less than three years but my old 13 year old banger has only lost me about £5,000 in TEN years ! 😅 the best car I’ve ever had

When mine regularly had three inches of water sloshing around in the foot well after rain and I couldn't work out where it was coming from or how to stop it, I ripped up the carpet in the foot well and binned it, then drilled a few holes in the floor. Problem solved.

The most important thing is that the car is safe and reliable.

Since when was a 10 year old car a banger?? What pretentious snobs these “friends” are.

i hope they’re not in your car when they say that. And calling someone’s car a banger isn’t a joke, it’s bloody rude!!

I too have an older car, and I genuinely feel sorry when I see some friends in their flash cars. I know they are stretched for cash and are paying god knows how much a month just because they care what people say about them. But other friends have new cars because they are lovely to drive not because of an image.

But ultimately I don’t care what other people spend their money on, I’m sure people think I’m foolish for all the money I spend travelling abroad.

I've had Audis, Mercedes, Hondas, Kias and everything in between. Don't do anything to put yourself in debt. Let those people do what they do and you do what you do. Cars can be a loss leader eg they are good if they have a ROI by helping you fit in with your peers, get promoted etc. Yes, that's a thing. But, if you aren't going to move up the ladder with your car and it gets you efficiently and safely, from point A to B, then ignore the comments.

Often a company car or lease hire, not always obviously but usually. They deplete in value as soon as they leave the forecourt so it doesn’t even make sense to buy outright. My DH just got a top spec Merc CLA EV so we have that in the driveway and look fancy, but it’s just a company car.

I don’t mind a banger OP. Our family car is a bit of a banger too but it’s safe and reliable, gets us out on family trips and is pretty disgusting inside most of the time thanks to DC!

I love a thread like this. While nothing wrong with the OP it brings out all the car hating responses who ironically judge everyone who choose to spend money on cars.

All it concludes is each to their own.

Nothing is a waste of money if those who are spending it are enjoying themselves