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.

Yes he’s broad and has very nice but muscular thighs, he could compromise more on his comfort before he developed arthritis.

I loved the old style CRV (in laws had one as unsurprisingly they are very tall too) but the newer versions are bigger and ugly 😢

I think we tried one about 5 years ago and he didn’t fit on it that well, unlike his parents one.

I bought the same car (secondhand) as my daughter has. I had driven hers and liked it. Do you have any friends or family with cars you quite like? You could have a drive and see if they would suit?

I stick with the same model (Toyota Corolla touring sport).
Hybrid automatic., I have dogs in a crate, it is perfect. Two in 12 years (first was an Auris, which was phased out and rebadged Corolla). Dh is 5ft10 so not sure about a taller bloke but I think YouTube would help with that.
Jemca Toyota recommended here for purchase. Good luck.

My bastard piece of shit C4 is the dying car, but off for life with the continual electrical faults.

C3 doesn’t get rave reviews for reliability etc either. Plus the Citroen garage near us closed down years ago and it’s a bloody nightmare trek to the nearest one now and I had issues when they repaired the current piece of shit - £1,500 for the aircon which they refused to do in one go so took 3 trips.

Couldn’t partake in my hobby, couldn’t visit the in-laws, would need an electric bike as it’s very steep hills where we live and it’s also very wet.

This is why I loathe shopping in general, it's just so complicated now.

Once upon a time, if you needed something specific (say a certain tool for DIY), you could just head into town and get it, knowing which shop to go to, and it would be very likely they'd have it. Now, it's a matter of luck whether an actual shop will have what you need: you have to order online.

And yes, websites now make it very difficult to actually look up things that you need. Too many graphics and cookie warnings, not enough information.

The wet belt is a pain in the backside for any model of car which has it. It was the reason DH and I traded our Vauxhall Crossland in as it was due for replacement at the five year service and would cost £1500 to £2000 - we decided we'd rather put the money to a new car.
We now have an MG ZS self charging Hybrid but for the first time ever we have gone with PCP as we are both pensioners and should we need to stop driving can just hand it back or alternatively update to a newer model every three years or so.
I understand what you mean though about space in the front seat as some cars have such big consoles and low roof space that even DH crossed cars off the list just because he hit his head as he got in and out. Some cars look big and spacious from the outside but are so cramped when you get in but you do need to bite the bullet and find a dealer or two with a big selection so you can try them out for space - how they drive is pretty universal - your concerns seem to be about comfort which is understandable.

We bought a year old MG HS. So spacious, plenty of leg and head room. Both sons 6'3" and find it very comfortable. Car also powerful pulling away and uphill. I have back problems and find it easy to get in out the car. Take a look for sure.

We have a 2021 Honda Jazz hybrid. I have arthritis in my knees and is fine getting in and out, so much easier to drive without a clutch pedal, and has adaptive cruise control. It also has a heated steering wheel which has been amazing for my arthritic fingers as well.

My dad is 6 foot 3 and has been a passenger in it several times and finds it very comfortable.

Sounds like you might live near me!

I.had my hand forced didn't want to do it. Mine was costing me far too.much money. Hate doing that sort of thing, especially alone. Needs must

Why don’t you revisit mini? DH is 6ft3 although slim and fits fine in my mini convertible passenger seat without his knees touching anything. I know you said you didn’t love the model you drove on potholes but try a different one. Maybe a countryman? SiL has one and it’s quite smooth.

I imagine he has probably thought about moving the seat back..

I totally feel you OP! I’m collecting my new car tomorrow. Thankfully, a friend was also buying a new car and did a heap of research, online and going to view/sit in them. I bought her number one pick. A Mazda CX5. It’s very boring looking but I did test drive it, I like it and I really hate dealing with cars!

Good news the current car has the electrical fault replaced under warranty apart the new replacement part has been changed 🧐 so it only needed £500 to get through the MOT, and it needs a service so £150ish and the shock absorber is going/nearly gone apparently about £700. Ho hum.

DH has committed to trying out other cars for fit so we at least have a short list of currently newish models that could work.

You say he fits in a 4 year old Skoda Fabia so why don’t you buy one of those ?

So what's on your shortlist at the moment @RandomMess ?

What cars are you looking at that excite you - name three maybe?

I reckon because it's not an SUV and it doesn't shout "I have an active lifestyle and an income to match!"

Actually I had forgotten how long ago we looked it was 2020 and they for some random reason didn’t have cruise control which is one of my very few must haves 😭😭😭😭😭 otherwise we would have got one then - I think you had to get the top of the range one or didn’t have them at all.

I’m looking for a relatively new car, no longer need to accommodate rear passengers and due to my own arthritis now will get an automatic. Of course now I don’t work somewhere that I can benefit from the new car tax benefit scheme 🙄

If someone good sell me a guaranteed good automatic nick Fabia with cruise control that has a large enough engine to accelerate uphill on the motorway from 60 to 70 mph I’d bite their hand off.

However my current car is only 11 years old and has been expensive to maintain for the last 6 years.

My neighbours sold their little Kia last year but we didn’t have the funds to buy and had hoped the current car wouldn’t need anymore expensive work having just done various repairs on it. Not that DH had tried it for size.

I would have had my in laws ancient CRV had I known they were going to sell it for £200, new exactly what faults it had!

Hang on a second.. let's just debunk the myths here.

You want a new or nearly new car. "Relatively new" as you said.

In the last five years, the only "asthmatic" engine Skoda has sold in the Fabia is the 1.0 MPI engine, which is not turbocharged and doesn't do well on hills.

But the VAST majority of them sold have the 1.0 or 1.5 litre TSI, which have a turbo boost and are very nippy.

The 60 to 70mph acceleration on a 1.0 TSI automatic Fabia, is around 3 seconds.

THREE!

That's more than good enough for overtaking.

I'm just trying to say, I don't know what myth we're promoting here about Fabias but they have been fine for years on motorways, long journeys (unless you buy the 1.0 MPI engine...)

Me again @RandomMess

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606263661047

This example above is a 1.0 TSI automatic with cruise control.

Go a few years earlier and same engine, lower price

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607314687152

DH’s roller skate 2016 Fabia does all that. It’s only 1.4 but I have had it on 2 wheels in a corner plenty of times!