having a nice car and it being abused by kids/wives?
having a nice car and it being abused by kids/wives?
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Discussion

pitbull turbo

Original Poster:

663 posts

210 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
quotequote all
after only having my mazda6 mps since november and my son also being born in november i have noticed the contion of my car seams to be taking a turn for the worse!
it was spotless when i picked it up with only 42k on the clock and a carrful previous owner.
now i am a bit anal when it comes to keeping my cars free of imperfections but in the last 5 months it has picked up the following wounds!
- govebox scratched to bit due to other half constently ramming her baby bag down by her legs ( not if i haven't told her enough about it)!
-light scufs/scratches that would polish out but its from car seats being rubbed against it.
- tiny carpark dinks where other mothers aren't as careful!( can't park miles away in the carpark anymore either)
- mark in one of the wheels where i clipped the curb becuase i was being defend by the baby its bloody hard to drive with a baby screaming.
- dirty boot from push chair.

- chocolate in the perefated leather!

now don't get me wrong these are very minor and most people wouldn't know they are there but it seams that its impossible to keep it nice now adays.
the other this that is worrying me is that the other half doesn't drive yet but soon will be and she will want my keys to the mazda as she seams to thinks it hers to even though i bought it lol. now what will be the damage to it when this happens!
im getting a company car on monday with a new job so the mazda is my toy now and not being used until she has passed her test or i want to hoon about but i am thinking this is a very bad idea keeping a 8k car with high running cost which is being paid out of my pocket yet is likely to be abused by someone else!

what do you guys with kids do?
also forgot to mention that we only have room for two cars so il loose my toy forever if i get her a corsa.

Hell27

1,564 posts

220 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
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My cars are always covered in sweet wrappers, little toys, barbies etc. To be frank, you have to learn to live with it. As a minimum ban eating in the back as far as practicable, and always buy cars with leather interiors. Wipe clean is definitely the way forward.

eltax91

10,756 posts

235 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
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Drop the Mazda and get an interesting car for all the hard life stuff. Something hard wearing but with a turn of speed. You will just despair watching the Mazda go down hill. smile

Deerfoot

5,240 posts

213 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
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I accepted a few years ago that decent cars and toddlers just don`t mix, hence the Honda FR-V that is the family car at the moment.

They treat it like a picnic area, temporary dustbin and a hiding place for all sorts and I don`t give a toot.

Once they`re a bit older I`ll get something more interesting but for now, there doesn`t appear to be much point.

davepoth

29,395 posts

228 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
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Replace the mazda with a cheap mondeo estate. Then buy a sports car with two seats. biggrin

PaulB81

883 posts

189 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
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Sounds like a perfect excuse for more cars biggrin

I'm at 3 at the moment

Keep one that only you are allowed to drive and ban the kids from it. Then you can focus all the OCD on 'your' car and not get so worried about whats going on with the family ones.

snuffle

1,587 posts

211 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
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Just drive the car, stop worrying, if it gets dirty clean it.
Or tell wife to take more care.

Deerfoot

5,240 posts

213 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
quotequote all
snuffle said:
Or tell wife to take more care.
laugh Good luck with that one.

mr_tony

6,351 posts

298 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
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I was planning to get a 2+2 later this year, but mrs-t talked me out of it. I am keeping a special 2 seater as my p+j that will remain a kid free zone, and we will have a family car (prob a estate or 4x4) and just have my snotter for the station run.

mrs t is wise. She just said no point getting something special and then rubbing it with sick, wee and chocolate. On reflection I think this is the smart move...

davidjpowell

18,690 posts

213 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
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I gave up, and transferred the family car to her - at least I only have to put up with the mess at the weekends in that way.

HellDiver

5,708 posts

211 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
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Dear help the kid if you're teaching it to spell.

gareth.e

2,071 posts

218 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
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Deerfoot said:
snuffle said:
Or tell wife to take more care.
laugh Good luck with that one.
hehe

I can just imagine the conversation

pitbull turbo

Original Poster:

663 posts

210 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
quotequote all
the problem is that we only have room for two cars and i need my company car for my tools and for work so i don't have the room for a weekend toy :-(
the mazda was ment to be the hard wearing family car but just any car will be ruined.
i think my options is to just give up my one and only thing i have for me and get a family hack or just not care about what the contion the car becomes!
not sure i can do that and it will loose alot of value in the car which i don't want.

p1doc

3,781 posts

213 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
quotequote all
Deerfoot said:
I accepted a few years ago that decent cars and toddlers just don`t mix, hence the Honda FR-V that is the family car at the moment.

They treat it like a picnic area, temporary dustbin and a hiding place for all sorts and I don`t give a toot.

Once they`re a bit older I`ll get something more interesting but for now, there doesn`t appear to be much point.
exactly-forester for wife alfa and kit car and scooby diesel for me,forester is a tip despite atempts to keep clean!
martin

randlemarcus

13,646 posts

260 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
quotequote all
pitbull turbo said:
the mazda was ment to be the hard wearing family car but just any car will be ruined.
i think my options is to just give up my one and only thing i have for me and get a family hack or just not care about what the contion the car becomes!
not sure i can do that and it will loose alot of value in the car which i don't want.
Not caring is the way forward. If you can't do that with a Mazda, sell it and buy some white goods with wheels. As you say, any car will be ruined if the occupants don't give a toss. And people don't. Kids really don't (and it's not limited to toddlers).
It won't lose too much value - most things scrub out if you catch them quickly enough.

As for something just for you, get your bike licence.


snuffle

1,587 posts

211 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
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Sell it then, let your Wife rule your life.

Don't forget to come back in 3 years time and update us with how happy you are.

andi_p

346 posts

273 months

Sunday 27th March 2011
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Get it valeted and give the kids the bill. Mine now keep the back of the Disco clean - harsh but lesson learnt.