Downgrading - a bitter pill to swallow
Discussion
We've had twins, to go with our 4 year old, and for various reasons have had to sell my beloved Discovery 4 (which would have otherwise been the perfect family car). We are also selling my wife's C class (too small) . We have, in their place, bought a 2013 VW Touran. My 31 old BMW 5 series is thankfully staying, and will be getting some much needed attention.
We've been focussed on the house this year, so unfortunately choice of car had to be relatively cheap to buy, and economical to run.
My wife and I are both depressed that we've effectively downgraded from our nice cars to the Touran. It's perfectly inoffensive as a car, it's the 1.6 tdi with DSG, so perfectly inoffensive to drive, but it's just something we never said we'd buy, while some of it is solid, some of it feels ridiculously tinny.
Please make me feel better! I keep telling myself I've done it for the family and in a few years when they are all out of car seats (or certainly in smaller ones than they are now) I can buy a proper car again.
Before anyone says it I did suggest a multimac and a large estate car (530d/E350 or similar)
We've been focussed on the house this year, so unfortunately choice of car had to be relatively cheap to buy, and economical to run.
My wife and I are both depressed that we've effectively downgraded from our nice cars to the Touran. It's perfectly inoffensive as a car, it's the 1.6 tdi with DSG, so perfectly inoffensive to drive, but it's just something we never said we'd buy, while some of it is solid, some of it feels ridiculously tinny.
Please make me feel better! I keep telling myself I've done it for the family and in a few years when they are all out of car seats (or certainly in smaller ones than they are now) I can buy a proper car again.
Before anyone says it I did suggest a multimac and a large estate car (530d/E350 or similar)
2002 Vikingette1 was born. The babyseat wouldn't fit in the 3 door Saab 900 Turbo Coupe, new R50 MINI or the 968 Sport. Everyone was getting EmmPeeVees, so Mrs V. went and bought a 1.8 Zafira automatic in Angry Dad Silver.
I went to collect it and I was more than a little upset. The wallow etc. By the time V2 was born it was literally the best car ever. When I replaced it my Mum asked if she could buy it for the charity she helps out to run old biddies back and forth. I said she could have it and I continue to tax, insure, maintain and clean it for a decade. If it wasn't for the dated styling you would think it was a new car.
I went to collect it and I was more than a little upset. The wallow etc. By the time V2 was born it was literally the best car ever. When I replaced it my Mum asked if she could buy it for the charity she helps out to run old biddies back and forth. I said she could have it and I continue to tax, insure, maintain and clean it for a decade. If it wasn't for the dated styling you would think it was a new car.
vikingaero said:
2002 Vikingette1 was born. The babyseat wouldn't fit in the 3 door Saab 900 Turbo Coupe, new R50 MINI or the 968 Sport. Everyone was getting EmmPeeVees, so Mrs V. went and bought a 1.8 Zafira automatic in Angry Dad Silver.
I went to collect it and I was more than a little upset. The wallow etc. By the time V2 was born it was literally the best car ever. When I replaced it my Mum asked if she could buy it for the charity she helps out to run old biddies back and forth. I said she could have it and I continue to tax, insure, maintain and clean it for a decade. If it wasn't for the dated styling you would think it was a new car.
That does make me feel better that it's not just me! I struggle as a petrolhead with it, but I looked at buying it like I would a washing machine - reasonable brand, good condition, practical. Like I say it drives ok (like a slightly larger Golf).I went to collect it and I was more than a little upset. The wallow etc. By the time V2 was born it was literally the best car ever. When I replaced it my Mum asked if she could buy it for the charity she helps out to run old biddies back and forth. I said she could have it and I continue to tax, insure, maintain and clean it for a decade. If it wasn't for the dated styling you would think it was a new car.
My Wife is really depressed about it and asked how we could make it look better. I answered that we can't... I'm terrified she's going to try and dub scene it....
when I met Mrs M she came with two small children, she moved in with me after a couple of years and I went from Lotus Elise to £250 worth of ebay Mondeo estate for a couple of years........as you I prioritised house and family
20 years later and 3 house moves and we live in a very nice house in a lovely area and I have more then enough toys.........its all good
20 years later and 3 house moves and we live in a very nice house in a lovely area and I have more then enough toys.........its all good
Triumph Man said:
vikingaero said:
2002 Vikingette1 was born. The babyseat wouldn't fit in the 3 door Saab 900 Turbo Coupe, new R50 MINI or the 968 Sport. Everyone was getting EmmPeeVees, so Mrs V. went and bought a 1.8 Zafira automatic in Angry Dad Silver.
I went to collect it and I was more than a little upset. The wallow etc. By the time V2 was born it was literally the best car ever. When I replaced it my Mum asked if she could buy it for the charity she helps out to run old biddies back and forth. I said she could have it and I continue to tax, insure, maintain and clean it for a decade. If it wasn't for the dated styling you would think it was a new car.
That does make me feel better that it's not just me! I struggle as a petrolhead with it, but I looked at buying it like I would a washing machine - reasonable brand, good condition, practical. Like I say it drives ok (like a slightly larger Golf).I went to collect it and I was more than a little upset. The wallow etc. By the time V2 was born it was literally the best car ever. When I replaced it my Mum asked if she could buy it for the charity she helps out to run old biddies back and forth. I said she could have it and I continue to tax, insure, maintain and clean it for a decade. If it wasn't for the dated styling you would think it was a new car.
My Wife is really depressed about it and asked how we could make it look better. I answered that we can't... I'm terrified she's going to try and dub scene it....
Triumph Man said:
We've had twins, to go with our 4 year old, and for various reasons have had to sell my beloved Discovery 4 (which would have otherwise been the perfect family car). We are also selling my wife's C class (too small) . We have, in their place, bought a 2013 VW Touran. My 31 old BMW 5 series is thankfully staying, and will be getting some much needed attention.
We've been focussed on the house this year, so unfortunately choice of car had to be relatively cheap to buy, and economical to run.
My wife and I are both depressed that we've effectively downgraded from our nice cars to the Touran. It's perfectly inoffensive as a car, it's the 1.6 tdi with DSG, so perfectly inoffensive to drive, but it's just something we never said we'd buy, while some of it is solid, some of it feels ridiculously tinny.
Please make me feel better! I keep telling myself I've done it for the family and in a few years when they are all out of car seats (or certainly in smaller ones than they are now) I can buy a proper car again.
Before anyone says it I did suggest a multimac and a large estate car (530d/E350 or similar)
The Tourans are nice enough cars in their own right, things have moved on since you would regularly encounter men in your situation in their Xsara Picassos hating the world and everyone else in itWe've been focussed on the house this year, so unfortunately choice of car had to be relatively cheap to buy, and economical to run.
My wife and I are both depressed that we've effectively downgraded from our nice cars to the Touran. It's perfectly inoffensive as a car, it's the 1.6 tdi with DSG, so perfectly inoffensive to drive, but it's just something we never said we'd buy, while some of it is solid, some of it feels ridiculously tinny.
Please make me feel better! I keep telling myself I've done it for the family and in a few years when they are all out of car seats (or certainly in smaller ones than they are now) I can buy a proper car again.
Before anyone says it I did suggest a multimac and a large estate car (530d/E350 or similar)
Mogsmex said:
when I met Mrs M she came with two small children, she moved in with me after a couple of years and I went from Lotus Elise to £250 worth of ebay Mondeo estate for a couple of years........as you I prioritised house and family
20 years later and 3 house moves and we live in a very nice house in a lovely area and I have more then enough toys.........its all good
This reminds me of the tough years we went through.20 years later and 3 house moves and we live in a very nice house in a lovely area and I have more then enough toys.........its all good
Mrs GT was expecting our first child when made redundant.
I still had an aging Manta so bought a cheap Fiat Uno for child seat use. Sold the Manta and due to limited funds and big mortgage we just ran the Uno as our only car.
My motto always been, 'good things come to those that wait'
Triumph Man said:
We've had twins, to go with our 4 year old, and for various reasons have had to sell my beloved Discovery 4 (which would have otherwise been the perfect family car). We are also selling my wife's C class (too small) . We have, in their place, bought a 2013 VW Touran. My 31 old BMW 5 series is thankfully staying, and will be getting some much needed attention.
We've been focussed on the house this year, so unfortunately choice of car had to be relatively cheap to buy, and economical to run.
My wife and I are both depressed that we've effectively downgraded from our nice cars to the Touran. It's perfectly inoffensive as a car, it's the 1.6 tdi with DSG, so perfectly inoffensive to drive, but it's just something we never said we'd buy, while some of it is solid, some of it feels ridiculously tinny.
Please make me feel better! I keep telling myself I've done it for the family and in a few years when they are all out of car seats (or certainly in smaller ones than they are now) I can buy a proper car again.
Before anyone says it I did suggest a multimac and a large estate car (530d/E350 or similar)
Congratulations on your twins.We've been focussed on the house this year, so unfortunately choice of car had to be relatively cheap to buy, and economical to run.
My wife and I are both depressed that we've effectively downgraded from our nice cars to the Touran. It's perfectly inoffensive as a car, it's the 1.6 tdi with DSG, so perfectly inoffensive to drive, but it's just something we never said we'd buy, while some of it is solid, some of it feels ridiculously tinny.
Please make me feel better! I keep telling myself I've done it for the family and in a few years when they are all out of car seats (or certainly in smaller ones than they are now) I can buy a proper car again.
Before anyone says it I did suggest a multimac and a large estate car (530d/E350 or similar)
You’ve done the right thing now because of those car seat needs.
Better ?
My wife was reasonably keen to have a 4th child but the thought of then having twins and hence having to change cars drastically was in itself quite a decent contraceptive !
We had one of each so why we thought we would go for just one more is lost in the mists of time. As we had twins. I then quickly went to the Doctor for the snip.
I went from a nice Sierra to a 7 seater Montego turbo diesel, which actually was a good car. So good it got stolen and i had to buy another but i was never happy with the look of it.
If it happened now, i would get my present stead, which is a VW Caravelle. Which is great for hauling all the grandkids and their stuff, that the blighters have produced.
I went from a nice Sierra to a 7 seater Montego turbo diesel, which actually was a good car. So good it got stolen and i had to buy another but i was never happy with the look of it.
If it happened now, i would get my present stead, which is a VW Caravelle. Which is great for hauling all the grandkids and their stuff, that the blighters have produced.
vikingaero said:
2002 Vikingette1 was born. The babyseat wouldn't fit in the 3 door Saab 900 Turbo Coupe, new R50 MINI or the 968 Sport. Everyone was getting EmmPeeVees, so Mrs V. went and bought a 1.8 Zafira automatic in Angry Dad Silver.
I went to collect it and I was more than a little upset. The wallow etc. By the time V2 was born it was literally the best car ever. When I replaced it my Mum asked if she could buy it for the charity she helps out to run old biddies back and forth. I said she could have it and I continue to tax, insure, maintain and clean it for a decade. If it wasn't for the dated styling you would think it was a new car.
Similar here. We bought for little money, the inlaws 2003 1.6 Zafira. It started off as shocking, totally shocking. But eventually grew into the car we really needed. It did everything. Settee in the back? No problem. Drive into France? No problem. I went to collect it and I was more than a little upset. The wallow etc. By the time V2 was born it was literally the best car ever. When I replaced it my Mum asked if she could buy it for the charity she helps out to run old biddies back and forth. I said she could have it and I continue to tax, insure, maintain and clean it for a decade. If it wasn't for the dated styling you would think it was a new car.
You simply have to put to one side, the petrolhead tendencies and grow a bit.
There is one plus that you're getting to keep your 5 series at least! haha
For the sake of parenting duties the Touran will do a decent job but I do get you're point, there's always a compromise when you have kids. That said, it's only a few years before their car seats get smaller and the pushchairs go and then really as long as you have four doors and a reasonable boot, for four people you can get by with plenty of cars.
My other half is looking at moving on her ML350cdi which she loves. It's not sporty but it's goes well for it's size, is immensely comfortable and has serviced us well for five years. She's looking for something smaller, petrol but as I've tried to emphasise to her if she goes for something poverty spec just for the sake of it she's going to feel really disappointed, especially if it's also noticeably slower.
She's got her eye on either a Merc GLA250 of a BMW X120i with a decent spec. We have three kids but day to day it's just her and the younger two as she works next to the kids school and during school hours so does 50 miles a week on average!
Don't knock the car OP, map it and that'll definitely perk it up.
For the sake of parenting duties the Touran will do a decent job but I do get you're point, there's always a compromise when you have kids. That said, it's only a few years before their car seats get smaller and the pushchairs go and then really as long as you have four doors and a reasonable boot, for four people you can get by with plenty of cars.
My other half is looking at moving on her ML350cdi which she loves. It's not sporty but it's goes well for it's size, is immensely comfortable and has serviced us well for five years. She's looking for something smaller, petrol but as I've tried to emphasise to her if she goes for something poverty spec just for the sake of it she's going to feel really disappointed, especially if it's also noticeably slower.
She's got her eye on either a Merc GLA250 of a BMW X120i with a decent spec. We have three kids but day to day it's just her and the younger two as she works next to the kids school and during school hours so does 50 miles a week on average!
Don't knock the car OP, map it and that'll definitely perk it up.
Congrats OP. On the kids thing I mean, not the Toursn bit, though I’m sure that’s fine too.
We only had two kids and I think that made clinging onto just a little bit of petrolheadiness possible. Three seems a whole other ball game. But it all comes back again in the end. Life gets much easier once they’re out of car seats. Even high boosters are a doddle in comparison.
We only had two kids and I think that made clinging onto just a little bit of petrolheadiness possible. Three seems a whole other ball game. But it all comes back again in the end. Life gets much easier once they’re out of car seats. Even high boosters are a doddle in comparison.
Gad-Westy said:
Congrats OP. On the kids thing I mean, not the Toursn bit, though I m sure that s fine too.
We only had two kids and I think that made clinging onto just a little bit of petrolheadiness possible. Three seems a whole other ball game. But it all comes back again in the end. Life gets much easier once they re out of car seats. Even high boosters are a doddle in comparison.
Exactly - 2 kids would have been easy seats wise haha! We only had two kids and I think that made clinging onto just a little bit of petrolheadiness possible. Three seems a whole other ball game. But it all comes back again in the end. Life gets much easier once they re out of car seats. Even high boosters are a doddle in comparison.
Thank you for all the comments - it has made me feel better
breamster said:
Triumph Man said:
vikingaero said:
2002 Vikingette1 was born. The babyseat wouldn't fit in the 3 door Saab 900 Turbo Coupe, new R50 MINI or the 968 Sport. Everyone was getting EmmPeeVees, so Mrs V. went and bought a 1.8 Zafira automatic in Angry Dad Silver.
I went to collect it and I was more than a little upset. The wallow etc. By the time V2 was born it was literally the best car ever. When I replaced it my Mum asked if she could buy it for the charity she helps out to run old biddies back and forth. I said she could have it and I continue to tax, insure, maintain and clean it for a decade. If it wasn't for the dated styling you would think it was a new car.
That does make me feel better that it's not just me! I struggle as a petrolhead with it, but I looked at buying it like I would a washing machine - reasonable brand, good condition, practical. Like I say it drives ok (like a slightly larger Golf).I went to collect it and I was more than a little upset. The wallow etc. By the time V2 was born it was literally the best car ever. When I replaced it my Mum asked if she could buy it for the charity she helps out to run old biddies back and forth. I said she could have it and I continue to tax, insure, maintain and clean it for a decade. If it wasn't for the dated styling you would think it was a new car.
My Wife is really depressed about it and asked how we could make it look better. I answered that we can't... I'm terrified she's going to try and dub scene it....
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