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MNHQ

Do you choose the family car - or does he?

134 replies

HelenMumsnet · 03/02/2010 14:56

Hello.

We've had a hunch for a time that women play a huge part in choosing what make and model of family car to buy. But advertisers keep telling us that's not true - it's the men who make car decisions, they say.

So, we thought we'd ask you what you think...

What part do you play in the decision to buy your family car (and we do mean family car, not the sporty two-seater your other half might have his mid-life-crisis eye on)?

Do you choose it by yourself? Or does he? Or perhaps you do all the research but it's a joint decision in the end?

Do tell...

OP posts:
Sazisi · 03/02/2010 15:36

I chose our car.
DD2 chose the colour.
DH did all the donkey work

Bella32 · 03/02/2010 15:37

Me all the way.

Salesmen often comment on my extensive knowledge of the range, models, mpg, NCAP stats etc. I often know more than them! I'm not a petrol head, but I do like to research my purchases

myfirstbump · 03/02/2010 15:37

I pick the one I like, then we test drive it, then I convince DH it's the one we both want

Although while I say I choose, he probably says he chooses. I guess in that case it depends on whether the advertisers listen to me or him...

southeastastra · 03/02/2010 15:37

i did it all by myself

2010aQuintessentialOdyssey · 03/02/2010 15:37

LOL!

I bought and paid for the family car while dh was away on business. I was very pleased to pick him up in our new car! He had to guess which car was ours....

BethNoireNewNameForPeachy · 03/02/2010 15:39

I narow it right down then giveDh flexibility within that

Not that there is much LOL

ATM I adore our Mitsibushi (old space wagonenot 4X4) and really its going to have to be something similar, can'tabide Galaxy type cars formyself so they are out.

I think my criteria narrowed it down to three LOL buyt I drive it themost,he has acommuter car and he chose a SMART and rankly he is welcome to it

OtterInaSkoda · 03/02/2010 15:39

Eleanora - I am extraordinarily sexy, as is my dp

If we had lots (and I mean lots) of money we'd be a bit more bothered. But we're not prepared to spend the equivalent of a year's salary on a new car so whatever looks OK (or rather we're told is OK by bil/friends in the know) when it's time to buy is what we get. Beggars can't be choosers and all that.

cakeywakey - I would love a bright orange Volvo! Although I doubt I'd be able to park it...

BethNoireNewNameForPeachy · 03/02/2010 15:40

'Oh, and it is more likely to be me, not DH, who hankers after the sporter two seater '

that would be DH,I am more of a pick up / dodge girl

alarkaspree · 03/02/2010 15:47

Dh cares about cars, I don't. The last time we bought a car he came up with a list of cars he wanted, I said 'No dh, I am pregnant. We need a car with five doors. No dh, that Mazda RX8 does technically have five doors but it still will not do.' Eventually he found an estate car he liked and bought it.

Now we live somewhere where car ownership is, in my opinion, ludicrous. So he says 'cars are very cheap here you know', and I say 'Parking isn't'.

So in summary, the advertisers are right in our case. However we have never lived anywhere where driving the car was a part of our everyday lives.

weblette · 03/02/2010 15:48

Me- I make all the 'technology' decisions, from cars to pcs to tvs even to which mobile phones we have. Luddite doesn't even begin to describe him....

wubblybubbly · 03/02/2010 15:50

With his car, I tend to do the research on a shortlist we've come up with together, he test drives them and, assuming they've driven okay etc, I can persuade him to get the one I think is the most practical.

When it comes to my car, it's exactly the same process.

sweetkitty · 03/02/2010 15:50

Joint decision but more mine IYSWIM as I drive it 5 days a week, he only drives it at the weekend. We are currently in the process of buying a 7 seater

He chose his own car

LeninGrad · 03/02/2010 15:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LadyPeterWimsey · 03/02/2010 15:55

He cares, I don't so he does it all and I have a veto if I don't like it. He does consult me but I care so little I have to feign an interest (once I've expressed my preference for size, manual/automatic, etc). I do insist on airconditioning, though.

Our options are so limited anyway (by finance and family size) so it's not like there is an enormous choice. Not that you would know that by the amount of time he spends making the decision.

posieparker · 03/02/2010 15:55

We decided, my choice!, we both test drive(I do the long test drive) and I negotiated, DH paid.

LIZS · 03/02/2010 16:03

both . We currently have 2 but need to be able to drive either.

IsItMeOr · 03/02/2010 16:06

Car decision made same as all other decisions in our household.

We both propose options, whoever can be bothered/has time does the research (would be DH at the mo!) and we go and look at a short list. This will usually include at least one car each that only one of us is really interested in, as well as some that we are both interested in.

So last time we went to sit in an Audi TT (to humour me, not DH, btw) and then in some other car (Honda Jazz maybe? I forget) to humour DH. We eventually chose the car that we both thought suited our needs best, although secretly we both hankered for another one that was gorgeous but a lot less practical/safe.

DH would not be buying a car unless I was happy with it. And it's usually me who suggests we make this and any other big purchase. Except possibly TVs.

ApuskiDusky · 03/02/2010 16:08

DH has worked in car design so has very dearly-held views, and his Autocar browsing habit is not dissimilar to my MN habit... but I have acquired car knowledge over the years by osmosis / boring pub conversations, so will have my say and get to veto. And I have the most influence on when we can afford to buy a new car (so not now!).

2010aQuintessentialOdyssey · 03/02/2010 16:11

dh chose his own motorbike though. And the family campervan.

GothDetective · 03/02/2010 16:14

I chose our last family car earlier this year by myself. I know more about cars than DH does. He wanted a Vectra to replace his ancient Cavalier and I sniggered and said no way. Nothing French and not a Vectra.

I wanted to get a Passat but he gave me a budget of 7k which put a Passat out of range for the age/milage we wanted.

So then I thought ok, Skoda or Ford. I researched what was available online and locally. Found a nice Ford and went to see it by myself, booked a test drive for the next day for DH. We both went and he drove it and we bought it.

I buy my own cars without asking his opinion or even taking him with me.

NorbertDentressangle · 03/02/2010 16:16

I choose but do so in such a way that he ends up thinking he's chosen it

If he likes a car and I don't its guaranteed that we won't end up with the car. If its the other way round its different.

GothDetective · 03/02/2010 16:18

I do think women are better at shopping than men and it doesn't really matter what the product is. If I'm given a mission of something to buy then I can research whatever it is. Google is your friend.

I am a bit of a petrolhead but you don't have to be. Just approach it like buying a holiday. Pros and cons of different destinations/car models. Read opinions//reviews. Narrow your model choice down and then start shopping to see what the best deal you can find is.

If dh Was to buy a car he'd probably just go down to the local garage and say he wanted something diesel and big in his price range and then buy anything that drove ok.

fruitshootsandheaves · 03/02/2010 16:19

I wanted one with sliding doors. Dh did the research and came up with 3 models which were all basically the same car but the best set up for us. (Citroen synergie, Peugeot 806 and ....er......the other one!)

I then bought one......

on Ebay....

without seeing it first.......

mosschops30 · 03/02/2010 16:24

I choose my car, DH chooses the family car as its what he has to drive the most to work and back.
We currently have an Audi A4 and he just went and bought it without me even seeing it!
However at the moment he wants a surfy van so we have compromised in that he can sell expensive audi and buy cheaper family car (Golf or similar) and have a van of his choice too.

As we pay for our cars individually i think its only fair that we choose what we want, within reason

franke · 03/02/2010 16:28

Joint decision. We recently looked at 7-seaters. I did all the research, narrowed donw the options and we test drove a few together. Then I decided they weren't all that and we've decided to stick with what we've got.