That feeling

[dfen5]

You get when you've bought a car and every noise/judder/bump gets your brain picturing your wallet being hoovered out by a mechanic's sharp intake of breath. Even the wife's brand new Ford Ka had me watching the gauges, checking for smoke and listening out for weird noises.

I was left mentally scarred by a Range Rover 4.2 LSE that packed up in the middle of Warwick and caused traffic mayhem, even though it started after 5 minutes (happened again, traced to faulty fuel solenoid). Couldn't shove the bugger to the side of the road (auto, way too big). Result is I've steered clear of auto's ever since. When I did get another (Laguna V6 it died on the M5, again until it had cooled off.

I want a barge but need therapy to get my brain to relax and enjoy. Does that ever happen in any car that isn't company owned? The nightmares of the temp' gauge heading north, the gearbox going into safe, the warning lights..

[AngelNorthOfThe]

Try buying something with a reputation for reliability? both of your nominations aren't exactly renowned for that...

I don't feel any more anxious in a new car - in fact probably less so as I'll have a warranty if anything major did go wrong.

[Zordrak]

Well what do you expect from an old Range Rover and a Renault?

You sir, need a Lexus.