The Biggest Mistake of My Life - Not Test Driving a Car
Discussion
So as I write this folks, I feel pretty gutted. What follows is the result of my own stupidity and hopefully it will be a warning to those who are tempted to act on impulse!
Over the years I've had a nice selection of cars, trading up as funds have allowed and about a year ago I treated myself to an M135i - great car but I just didn't really enjoy driving it that much - it was almost too competent. Fast forward to this summer and I got a new job (2 year secondment) in Glasgow city centre which means that commuting by train is by far the fastest, cheapest and most convenient option.
After talking things over with my wife, we decided that with the bmw sitting in the local train station's car park each day, it would make sense to trade in the car for something cheaper (but still sporty enough for me to actually enjoy driving) for a couple of years. As much as I'm a petrolhead I just couldn't justify spending £400 per month on a car that won't do more than 20 miles per week.
In terms of a cheaper but sporty replacement, I really liked the look of the Abarth 595 - a chap further up my street has one and I always thought they looked and sounded great. Nothing else has really caught my eye so I set my heart on a 595 comeptizione. I sat in one at my local Arnold Clark and thought that it felt pretty good but unfortunately, I didn't take it for a test drive, assuming that it would feel as good on the move as it did at a standstill.
I negotiated a really good deal with an Abarth dealer in Portsmouth and set off in the bmw last week to do the deal. 7 hours later I was in the Abarth and to my horror, I realised that my 6 foot 3 frame was far from comfortable. Unable to adjust the steering wheel for reach and with the seat too high, I'd go as far as to say that I hate the car. It sounds great and looks the part but I'm just so uncomfortable in it that it's just no fun to drive at all.
And to rub salt in the wound, I've just found my BMW for sale. The grass isn't always greener as they say!
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
Over the years I've had a nice selection of cars, trading up as funds have allowed and about a year ago I treated myself to an M135i - great car but I just didn't really enjoy driving it that much - it was almost too competent. Fast forward to this summer and I got a new job (2 year secondment) in Glasgow city centre which means that commuting by train is by far the fastest, cheapest and most convenient option.
After talking things over with my wife, we decided that with the bmw sitting in the local train station's car park each day, it would make sense to trade in the car for something cheaper (but still sporty enough for me to actually enjoy driving) for a couple of years. As much as I'm a petrolhead I just couldn't justify spending £400 per month on a car that won't do more than 20 miles per week.
In terms of a cheaper but sporty replacement, I really liked the look of the Abarth 595 - a chap further up my street has one and I always thought they looked and sounded great. Nothing else has really caught my eye so I set my heart on a 595 comeptizione. I sat in one at my local Arnold Clark and thought that it felt pretty good but unfortunately, I didn't take it for a test drive, assuming that it would feel as good on the move as it did at a standstill.
I negotiated a really good deal with an Abarth dealer in Portsmouth and set off in the bmw last week to do the deal. 7 hours later I was in the Abarth and to my horror, I realised that my 6 foot 3 frame was far from comfortable. Unable to adjust the steering wheel for reach and with the seat too high, I'd go as far as to say that I hate the car. It sounds great and looks the part but I'm just so uncomfortable in it that it's just no fun to drive at all.
And to rub salt in the wound, I've just found my BMW for sale. The grass isn't always greener as they say!
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
You say you didn't test drive it before you bought it. Did you even sit in it?
Driving position is one of the most important things in a car for me. I'm slightly taller than you and I like to sit low down so I can quite easily rule out many cars after just 5 minutes of seat adjustment. Some cars I just don't fit it.
That's all through experience...like you I learned the hard way by buying a new VW Golf m4 v5 170 although it took more than the first drive for me to hate it.
Driving position is one of the most important things in a car for me. I'm slightly taller than you and I like to sit low down so I can quite easily rule out many cars after just 5 minutes of seat adjustment. Some cars I just don't fit it.
That's all through experience...like you I learned the hard way by buying a new VW Golf m4 v5 170 although it took more than the first drive for me to hate it.
You went from a highly refined 6 cylinder turbo BMW to a barry'd up italian baked bean tin and have remorse just about the seat position?!? 
But seriously, just part ex for another car. If you got a deal what's the issue?
Get a nice TT mk2 that will keep you happy-not too expensive second hand and won't break the bank. Snazzy interior but more bmw'ish than the fiat
But seriously, just part ex for another car. If you got a deal what's the issue?
Get a nice TT mk2 that will keep you happy-not too expensive second hand and won't break the bank. Snazzy interior but more bmw'ish than the fiat
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