Have you ever bought style over substance?
Discussion
As many of you may know, we recently purchased another Volvo XC60 to replace MrsB's Jeep Grand Cherokee in our quest to financially dumb down with our impending parenthood almost upon us. We've had the car just over a week now, and it was, as she said, like putting on a pair of old comfy shoes. It just felt "right". A solo trip for me to Scotland over this past weekend cemented the fact that we had indeed done the right thing in getting the Volvo.
But now me. I sold the Grand Cherokee, but traded my BMW X3 in for the Volvo, and so I now need a car. I've looked at so many I'm almost getting sick of it. I'll be doing the school run, and mostly just local running, so my needs aren't that particular, as long as it has 4 seats with ISOFIX. I've pretty much settled on going back to another SAAB (I've had 4 of them now) and therefore my question in the title. I don't NEED an estate, but I can't seem to decide between a 9-5 Aero Saloon or a similarly priced Aero Estate. I've had a 95 Aero Saloon before, and I've always thought that the wagon looked that little bit "cooler". Both have similar miles, both are similar ages, and both are around the same price. Arguably the saloon is the car with slightly better history, but its marginal. The Estate needs a little more spending on it, but nothing that is disconcerting, or indeed, essential at this point.
So, have you ever bought a car that you don't really need, but you just thought it was bit cooler than the other option? Did you regret it?
But now me. I sold the Grand Cherokee, but traded my BMW X3 in for the Volvo, and so I now need a car. I've looked at so many I'm almost getting sick of it. I'll be doing the school run, and mostly just local running, so my needs aren't that particular, as long as it has 4 seats with ISOFIX. I've pretty much settled on going back to another SAAB (I've had 4 of them now) and therefore my question in the title. I don't NEED an estate, but I can't seem to decide between a 9-5 Aero Saloon or a similarly priced Aero Estate. I've had a 95 Aero Saloon before, and I've always thought that the wagon looked that little bit "cooler". Both have similar miles, both are similar ages, and both are around the same price. Arguably the saloon is the car with slightly better history, but its marginal. The Estate needs a little more spending on it, but nothing that is disconcerting, or indeed, essential at this point.
So, have you ever bought a car that you don't really need, but you just thought it was bit cooler than the other option? Did you regret it?
Have I ever bought a car that I didn't need?
Yes. For the last 5 years I'm sure my wife would argue that I've not really needed a car at all yet I've had 6 cars in that time. 2 of which were MX5s... the ideal car for a man with 2 kids. I also had an estate purely because it looked better than the other shape of that car.
Have I ever regretted it?
No. I tried being practical and sensible and it's boring.
Yes. For the last 5 years I'm sure my wife would argue that I've not really needed a car at all yet I've had 6 cars in that time. 2 of which were MX5s... the ideal car for a man with 2 kids. I also had an estate purely because it looked better than the other shape of that car.
Have I ever regretted it?
No. I tried being practical and sensible and it's boring.
Yes, I bought a new Jaguar XF 3.0d Portfolio when they first came out in 2009, because they looked so gorgeous. It cost £42k, way out of my comfort zone. I was scared to park it anywhere in case it got clipped or vandalised , was disappointed with the ride, the handling and the lack of support in the seats, which was a deterrent to quick cornering. It also felt like an ostentatious thing to drive around in (not any more, they are everywhere). I sold it back to the dealer within weeks, but did OK , luckily, because they were in short supply and the dealer had a buyer waiting
Yeah, I bought a V8 Vantage without seeing it whilst I was in Borneo dealing solely over the dodgy Wifi to send over the purchase price.
Is it the fastest, no; most economical, no; cheapest to run, no; did I need it, no; was it kept in a different country to where I lived, yes; did I buy it, yes!
Sometimes you just have to do things and forget about the rational, get what you want, not what you need
Is it the fastest, no; most economical, no; cheapest to run, no; did I need it, no; was it kept in a different country to where I lived, yes; did I buy it, yes!
Sometimes you just have to do things and forget about the rational, get what you want, not what you need
Yesterday at work I overheard a woman talking about how her husband had been talking about getting a particular car for ages and that by the end, even she was excited by it so gave in.
The car? a white 2014 Peugeot RCZ....
I literally had to bite my tongue to stop myself saying "Aldi TT" and asking why they didn't just get a TT.
The car? a white 2014 Peugeot RCZ....
I literally had to bite my tongue to stop myself saying "Aldi TT" and asking why they didn't just get a TT.
Joey Deacon said:
Yesterday at work I overheard a woman talking about how her husband had been talking about getting a particular car for ages and that by the end, even she was excited by it so gave in.
The car? a white 2014 Peugeot RCZ....
I literally had to bite my tongue to stop myself saying "Aldi TT" and asking why they didn't just get a TT.
I'd rather an RCZ than a TT. The car? a white 2014 Peugeot RCZ....
I literally had to bite my tongue to stop myself saying "Aldi TT" and asking why they didn't just get a TT.
I like estates - carrying bikes/family etc.
So I bought a V12 Jag because it was awesome. After a few years of fuel/bork/rust/couldn't get bike in it etc, I got an estate.
More recently I bought an XJ8, rinse and repeat. Sold it for the same reasons as before, (it was nice though), and now have a Saab 9-3 hatch which I can fit a bike in and at least it's fast, however the jag itch is returning......There's obviously something wrong with me.
So I bought a V12 Jag because it was awesome. After a few years of fuel/bork/rust/couldn't get bike in it etc, I got an estate.
More recently I bought an XJ8, rinse and repeat. Sold it for the same reasons as before, (it was nice though), and now have a Saab 9-3 hatch which I can fit a bike in and at least it's fast, however the jag itch is returning......There's obviously something wrong with me.
Integroo said:
Joey Deacon said:
Yesterday at work I overheard a woman talking about how her husband had been talking about getting a particular car for ages and that by the end, even she was excited by it so gave in.
The car? a white 2014 Peugeot RCZ....
I literally had to bite my tongue to stop myself saying "Aldi TT" and asking why they didn't just get a TT.
I'd rather an RCZ than a TT. The car? a white 2014 Peugeot RCZ....
I literally had to bite my tongue to stop myself saying "Aldi TT" and asking why they didn't just get a TT.
Furthermore, your prejudice against Aldi indicates that you're a snob.
I'm not saying that you are a snob; that's just how your post reads.
I think the RCZ looks better than the TT - from what I've read it drives well too.
Back in 2014 I'd separated from the OH, had a lump sum from an early pension and was no longer doing business miles - so I sold my 123d and bought a BMW Z4 Coupe. Just because I'd always thought they looked fantastic. Yet I've never bought a car based on how it looks before, it was always about how it drove!
Still it turned out the substance was pretty good too, so I've still got one nearly 5 years on.
But I needed a daily too. I had a 325ti Compact for 3 years, but when I changed that last year I bought an E91 rather than an E90. Mostly because they look better, but partly because very few E90s seem to have the split-fold rear seat option (which was standard on my 1991 Sierra Sapphire)!
Back in 2014 I'd separated from the OH, had a lump sum from an early pension and was no longer doing business miles - so I sold my 123d and bought a BMW Z4 Coupe. Just because I'd always thought they looked fantastic. Yet I've never bought a car based on how it looks before, it was always about how it drove!
Still it turned out the substance was pretty good too, so I've still got one nearly 5 years on.
But I needed a daily too. I had a 325ti Compact for 3 years, but when I changed that last year I bought an E91 rather than an E90. Mostly because they look better, but partly because very few E90s seem to have the split-fold rear seat option (which was standard on my 1991 Sierra Sapphire)!
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