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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To say DP can't spend our savings on his car AGAIN

9 replies

shinyshoes · 01/05/2009 14:16

Breif hoistory.

I drive and DP drives. We both have cars. I don't need one bit it comes in handy for running the children around, doing large amounts of shopping and coming home from work late at night. He has to have a car for his job.

He got this job about 3 years ago. He was told he had to have a reliable car as part of that job as he would have to go on callouts to the elderly. We borrowed some money of his mum and dad to buy him a decent car, it was 2500.00 and last month we paid them off. I have never had a 'nice' car , i'm always bottom of the pile so i've had cars 10 years or older. The car I have at the moment is a bucket of crap, but it's reliable it gets me to where I need to go so i'm not that bothered.

I've not really paid out on repairs for my car, I must drive over glass alot as I pay out for tyres quite often but other than that it goes through the MOT.I'm not sure how much DP has paid out, it comes out of his 'pocket money' but I know that we had to pay (out of the savings) £160.00 recently for something on his car.

Our close friend is a mechanic and he's said that the car needs a new head gasket. He's given us a quote for £850. Now I know what's going to happen, DP will either 1) take cash off the credit card OR 2) want to use some of our savings to pay for it.

Now £850.00 is alot, infact I pointed out to the mechanic that's it's more than what i've paid for my cars. I think the most expensive one was £650.00

At the moment he is using my car but hates it. The heater dosent work, it isn't power sterering and the seat is too low down I don't care if he hates it , it's a car and it's more than what he's got at the moment. It's mine and I manage. We have tried to use just one car but it proved too difficult in the past, it restricts the freedom I have with the children but I am willing to give it another go as we both work and most of the time I am within walking distance.

AIBU to say he is not using our savings on a new head gasket that even the mechanic has said might not even solve the problem.

He also said if the head gasket is cracked the car will have to be thrown as it isn't worth paying out for.

TIA

OP posts:
LibrasBiscuitsOfFortune · 01/05/2009 21:47

If it was £2,500 3 years ago is the car even worth £850 now?

thisisyesterday · 01/05/2009 21:50

£850 seems a lot for a head gasket. and like libras said, I would really question whether the car is even worth that now.

why not scrap it and get 2k off a new one??? :D

wrinklytum · 01/05/2009 21:55

i MAY BE WRONG BUT i THINK THE GOV HAS RECENTLY INTRODUCED A SCHEME SO IF YOU OWN A CAR 10 YO PLUS YOU CAN GET 2K TOWARDS A NEW ONE. 9sorry caps)

trixymalixy · 01/05/2009 21:59

He has to have a reliable car for his job, so it sounds like you are going to have to spend some money somewhere. Does he not get some kind of allowance from his job if it is a necessity?

I would also be wondering whether it was worth spending £850 on a car that was worth £2500 3 years ago though.

LibrasBiscuitsOfFortune · 02/05/2009 08:00

I want to know where all these people are who have 10 year old cars are that can afford a new one. A new car would depreciate by more than £2K in a year. Anyway.

I'm on your side with this one no new gasket.

Dior · 02/05/2009 08:05

I disagree re savings. If he needs a new part, he needs a new part. Mind you, it sounds like it would be better value to buy another car tbh.

I don't get the whole, 'my money, your money' thing. A car is a joint asset, so it should come out of joint money, not 'pocket money'. Pocket money is for frivolous things.

sagacious · 02/05/2009 08:23

I don't think the £2k for a new car thing has come in yet.

SirSupportman · 02/05/2009 21:36

You don't need to spend a fortune to get a reliable car and would strongly recommend buying Japanese. Two months ago I brought a Lexus LS400 off ebay for £350 with 9 months MOT. It had 259K miles when I got it and I have since put another 5K miles on it. Perhaps not the best choice of car if fuel consumption is an issue, but they are one of the most reliable cars ever made.

kylesmyloveheart · 02/05/2009 21:49

the 2k for a new car doesnt go far - you lose nearly that in VAT when you drive it off the forecourt!

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