AIBU to loath needing to research and buy a "new" car

[RandomMess]

As in new to us car, I have comprehensive reasons so surely everyone should I agree I am not being unreasonable to loath the whole process?

1. Nearly new 2nd hand car prices appear to have doubled in the last 11 years (our salaries have not)
2. I don't want a new car but the current one seems to have reached the point of beyond economic repair so it no longer a choice, we've been putting it off for 5/6 years
3. All the major car groups/brands websites seem to have flashing/moving graphics that quite frankly give me a headache as soon as I open them so can't bear to explore them for the information I want
4. The fancy pants websites don't seem to have the information I want on them
5. The basic information I want is not easily found so I ending up resorting to AI to find eg. outer dimensions of the vehicle
6. Far too much choice it's utterly overwhelming
7. Choosing between part hybrid, full hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric, petrol, diesel - just too overwhelming
8. There is no information on "can my 6'4" husband with arthritic knees fit COMFORTABLY in the passenger seat without something digging into said knees
9. I can't go browsing without DH due said knees
10. Most cars don't tick the comfortable for DH box so it's an exhausting waste of time ruling out 95% of cars
11. When I do find a car that I think ticks the boxes I read various reviews and they score badly so no longer have them as an option
12. About 4/5 cars that I have really wanted over the years have been discontinued or they've changed the shape and/or size so I no longer like them or can't buy one only a few years old
13. Most of the dealers have closed near us so it's all a bloody trek to even sit in any.
14. The purchase options, sadly don't have the cash to buy outright so another then to read and digest and make a choice on
15. My absolute go to Car Review website "Honest John" has been shut down and you can no longer even view the historic reviews they did - seriously disheartened by this discovery.

I've probably listed a fair few rants so need to stop.

We are a family of knee replacements. Hip replacement. Disc problems. You name it.
Ford Eco Sport has been a dream for all out of 5 vehicles!

They have these new fangled things called websites, dear.

Pretty sure that has a wet belt through. Can be expensive when that goes.

(had one as a hire car a few months back. Utterly soulless.)

Would you try a Ford c max? Or galaxy. I know they are big.

www.parkers.co.uk/car-news/ford/ford-wet-belt-issues/

It may have been the Karoq I test drove but it was £30k!!

Is it less the car and more he likes to sit legs spread rather than closer together. Like men on trains.

Would definitely recommend you try the Skoda Karoq. Roomy without being massive and you have lots of ages and models to choose from. Quite a lot of people have them as mobility cars so there are lots of 3 year old models with low mileage that have been well maintained available.

No need to spend that much. My neighbour got one a few months on a 20 plate for about £18k

Has lots of bells and whistles on it.

If your DH doesn't fit in a Skoda Superb then you might as well give up going anywhere by car, or perhaps start to get real. It has one of the biggest, roomiest cabins in the business.

Erm not once you start getting electrical faults 😭 I’ve been doing this for the last 4 years. I even considered getting a small electric for about town in the hope the shitty thing will carry on a few more years without major work.

Have you looked at the kia sportage, we've had 2 and loved them but were out of our price range this time so settled for an mg but really wish we'd stretched ourselves for the sportage!

I loathe buying cars, mine is ten this year so feel I ought to start looking. Also feel I ought to consider a hybrid now.

But I just CBA.

Plus, mine has a CD player and I'm not sure I can cope without one now!

I would put your requirements into ChatGPT and ask what the best option is

The Skoda superb - that dreadful saloon thing, absolutely no way, far too big/long and low.

Start from your requirements.
What do you use the car for? Local trips or motorway.
How many people need to be transported?
How much luggage will they have? By luggage I mean prams, pushchairs, shopping, sports equipment etc.
What is your driving style? Sporty or sedate?
Parkability? Are you a competent parker or do you prefer more space?
How much are you prepared to pay and how long do you expect the car to meet your needs?
What about servicing and maintenance? What is the budget there?
Insurance costs.
Who else will drive the vehicule?
Will you want to take it to Europe, for example?
Are you keen on an electric car, do you have domestic charging capabilites, a hybrid - is a self-charging one an option, or petrol/diesel?
Sorry for all the noise, but do you havea favourite colour and look?

Thing is op you might not be able to find your unicorn.

Under 30k more space than most cars have in their cockpit but you also don’t want a big suv sized car. Something has to give and you need the space.

Agreed op. That’s why we put it off for so long the last time we bought a new ish used car! The only tip I can think of right now is don’t buy one with a wet belt!

Just to throw my 2p in re plug in hybrids - remember they are coming under the EV charging per mile in 2028. 1.5p on your total annual milage regardless of whether that mileage is done using petrol or electric.
If you buy one make sure it has some decent EV miles in the battery (in the hope you can run alot on electric) or else you could financially worse off!

Have you looked at the Lexus mild hybrid - eg ux250. I had one as a hire car and loved it. Small SUV, easy to drive and the second hand ones are surprisingly not too dear. I think I’ll get one as my next car.

🙄

We're a toyota/lexus family. I had to replace my 20 year old lexus and test drove the NX, UX and LBX. Loved the UX, drive it like I had been driving it all my life. It is self charging hybrid, so automatic. All my other cars are manual. It suits me for both town and .motorway driving, gets 50 mpg. My elderly mother in her 90s, bad back and knees can get into it, my 6ft 2in tall son is comfortable as a passenger and driver. Smaller boot than I wanted. I wanted a sunroof, so that drove the spec. I finally found a 4 year old car. Had it now about 18 months. No regrets at all. Whereas I do regret my MX5.

Snap!!

I've got one of those DHs. He's very comfortable in his Volvo V90, but I'm not sure you want to go that big. Definitely wouldn't recommend a hybrid V90, we briefly had 2 of those from main dealers, but couldn't keep either. Now have a petrol one.