Family cars - how involved were you in choosing yours?

[carriemumsnet]

We have this hunch at MN towers that when it comes to choosing the family car - the estates, people carriers (dare we say 4x4's?) family saloons, compacts with a bit of a boot - basically anything other than sports cars - women get quite involved and are the ultimate decision makers.

We also think women should be consulted more when manufacturers design cars (we're thinking wipe clean seat fabrics, fewer holes for crumbs to get in, more drink holders, decent make up mirrors). We can see the launch of the New Mumsnet xxx model now

We just wondered if our hunch was right - what do you think?

do i smell a product test?

arfarfarf

sorry - not here! Dh did loads of online research and sold me the idea of the car he said we needed.

he very kindly let me choose the colour...

and, he was right - great car

definitely - all 50/50 in our house but we would never get one that I did not ratify and my main criteria when getting a new family car last year were:

isofix seats (but need more that 2, grrrr!)
large boot
can get 3 carseats in without major contortions
decent second row seats as opposed to flimsy flip up affairs
storage
DAB radio
something comfortable and, dare I say, stylish that didnt make me feel Like I was driving around in a large dustbin

i just nod along ina "pretending to be interested " way.
If it were MY car I would choose it natch.

The one we have now i asked DPs dad to help us buy as we have no clue when it comes to cars, i had newely passed my test.

When we get a new one i will have the last say, as i'm the only one to drive it.

I decided what I wanted.

I spec'd it all out (based on teh fact I wated DD3 but DP didn't know this at the time )

I told DP what we were having (making sure it would accomodate DD3 )

Dp was allowed to choose the colour

I drove the bargain bartering (and excellent discount if I may say so)

Then I told DP I wanted DC3

We have a Citroen which I ctually think is pretty good as far as nooks and cranies and familability.....so can't comment on that sort of thing

I'd say it's 90% my choice in this house.

100% down to me. DP just nodded along.

I get far more into choosing a car than DH does... mainly because I'm the one driving it, so it has to be right for me... and I love my gadgets So... Xsara picasso beating a VW touran... because there are trays in the back of the seats

I am choosing a new one now actually, so if there is any testing to be done....

well as the only adult in the household I was 100% the decision maker

Well, money stopped me getting the one I really really wanted but yes the ultimate decision was mine. DH chose our last car when I was too ill to care. We kept it all of 6 months before I couldn't bare it any longer and part exchanged it for what we have now

DH totally uninterested in the whole scenario so was all down to me, he just did the bidding at the auction when I told him which one we wanted and signed the cheque

100% down to me

My company car - probably 50/50 ?

Its the only car in the household - and Dh is quite tall - so had to be 'the right' choice...

I do all the research, road testing etc.

NCAP safety ratings come top of my list, other things much further down.

Tourans do have trays in the back, but quite a poor rating for child safety...

...drones on.....

I always have a big say in our family car - dh and I fortunately like the same things so it's never a problem..we go for practical,ie big enough for all our stuff to go in/safety/mileage but a big part is also how it looks -I am a French car snob and only ever buy them !! If I had my way entirely and we didn't need to be practical I'd have a Citroen DS

I chose it, DH paid for it

Yes, but mainly as it was my 'turn'. DH picked an old man's car last time (honda civic, urgh). Once it was run into the ground, we could not afford the new Audi that I actually wanted, so we got my next choice!

Afraid not here, either. My DH did loads of geeky research (that I couldn't be arsed with, to be honest) - websites, auctions etc. He narrowed it down to two models and then I waded in and chose the one I liked best (Honda CRV). I wanted something roomy and with a big boot, but not a Chelsea tractor that was going to guzzle petrol and that we'd struggle to park in London.

We are looking for a new estate car at the moment, I have told DH to narrow it down to 2 and then get me involved. I usually love researching and choosing new stuff but not cars that is his area.

Apparently it's between a Toyata Avensis estate and Vauxhall Vectra estate so any comments on those would be good.

DH is a mechanic and has always chosen our cars (mine included) He generally knows or can find out what the best make/model is as well as the cheapest to run/repair.

Cars don't interest me so i don't care what i drive as long as i can get all my dc/mindees in lol

We looked at all the cars that could fit the children that we wanted.

Then I stamped my feet til I got my choice

I chose the colour!

My DH cannot drive so I choose the cars round here. I narrow it down to 3 usually, then we both do the financial bit (how much will it cost to run, what's the depreciation, how much is the insurance) but he probably does more of that bit (he does like a good spreadsheet ). Then I decide based on both the finances and which one I like best to drive.

Our car was chosen like this: Giving DH a lift to work one morning -
Me: "We should probably get a bigger car before DC2 arrives"
DH: "Get a Mondeo"
Me: "I fancy an estate"
I go home, look in local paper, spot Mondeo estate for sale, test drive it later that morning, negotiate part-x etc.
Salesman: "Doesn't your husband want to see it?"
Me: "I'll ring him and ask"
DH (on phone): "What colour is it? As long as it's not blue, buy it."
Me to salesman: "We have a deal"

Does that confirm your hunch Carrie?

My dh picked my last car (vw passat estate) I just stipulated that it would not be a diesel

My current car was sort of a joint decision he did the research and picked the gadgets, I picked the colour