Head vs heart, old vs new, safety vs fun - help needed!
Discussion
Hello.
I'm in a bit of dilemma as to what to do with my car situation. I've got a mk1 golf with a mk3 tdi engine, which I've spent a small fortune on this year recomissioning - some welding, new wings, engine mounts, clutch, paint etc. I love it and it's great for my 15 mile commute doing around 60mpg whilst having fun.
Ideal you may think, but, come the new year I'll be picking up and dropping off my little one (firstborn) from childcare, who has got me thinking - a 32 year old car really isn't the safest choice.
So do I sell up (we've only apace for 2 cars) and get something safer, or keep my Golf?! The childcare is only a couple of miles down the road but still my protective parent mindset is strong on this!
I'm in a bit of dilemma as to what to do with my car situation. I've got a mk1 golf with a mk3 tdi engine, which I've spent a small fortune on this year recomissioning - some welding, new wings, engine mounts, clutch, paint etc. I love it and it's great for my 15 mile commute doing around 60mpg whilst having fun.
Ideal you may think, but, come the new year I'll be picking up and dropping off my little one (firstborn) from childcare, who has got me thinking - a 32 year old car really isn't the safest choice.
So do I sell up (we've only apace for 2 cars) and get something safer, or keep my Golf?! The childcare is only a couple of miles down the road but still my protective parent mindset is strong on this!
I'm sympathetic
But
You probably shouldn't be ferrying your children round in a tinfoil box with no safety features when there are a million other options available.
I've had to forgo several old french hatchbacks I really wanted to own for precisely this reason - its a bugger but youll regret squashed children a lot more than not keeping a nice old motor.
Rethink the space issue perhaps? A mk1 golf is quite small so if you got a wee modern hatchback (eg. 1*2), indulged in a bit of clever parking and perhaps uprooted a bush you might get away with it..
But
You probably shouldn't be ferrying your children round in a tinfoil box with no safety features when there are a million other options available.
I've had to forgo several old french hatchbacks I really wanted to own for precisely this reason - its a bugger but youll regret squashed children a lot more than not keeping a nice old motor.
Rethink the space issue perhaps? A mk1 golf is quite small so if you got a wee modern hatchback (eg. 1*2), indulged in a bit of clever parking and perhaps uprooted a bush you might get away with it..
You're right regarding space and the golf - I could probably squeeze it in somewhere, but the money for the safer car would partly come from the mk1, and having had her laid up for a year already, I'm reluctant to do it again!
I do fancy a 4x4 bit more of a toy as I live in the sticks, not so much a the Chelsea tractor - we've a Yeti for the Mrs to tick that box.
It is exactly the tinfoil aspect of my Golf that scares me...
I do fancy a 4x4 bit more of a toy as I live in the sticks, not so much a the Chelsea tractor - we've a Yeti for the Mrs to tick that box.
It is exactly the tinfoil aspect of my Golf that scares me...
. To the OP...You are a Dad - and what you want is of secondary importance.
Find the best (reliable) Euro NCAP rating and biggest estate /MPV ( You will need the space for ferrying buggy, etc etc etc etc stuff that kids need ) - that your budget allows.
It may drive like a sack of rotten spuds - but Junior and wifey won't care. They care about other things.
Just look at PH General Gassing with the threads about "I'm doing 60 in a 30..." "Traffic light Grand Prix"... etc etc.
Then consider - that these t
ts - are coming the opposite way - and your kid in the back of your car.
Make sure your car provides the best protection it possibly can for front, rear and side impact.
There are a lot of driving tossers out there.
Congrats BTW!
Find the best (reliable) Euro NCAP rating and biggest estate /MPV ( You will need the space for ferrying buggy, etc etc etc etc stuff that kids need ) - that your budget allows.
It may drive like a sack of rotten spuds - but Junior and wifey won't care. They care about other things.
Just look at PH General Gassing with the threads about "I'm doing 60 in a 30..." "Traffic light Grand Prix"... etc etc.
Then consider - that these t
ts - are coming the opposite way - and your kid in the back of your car.Make sure your car provides the best protection it possibly can for front, rear and side impact.
There are a lot of driving tossers out there.
Congrats BTW!
What are the chances that you'll be involved in an accident of a severity which would kill the Jr in the Golf, but not in New Car X? What then are the chances that you'll be involved in such an incident with the Jr in the car? What are the chances that you'll be involved in such an accident, with the Jr in the car, while he is still young enough for any accident which kills him in the Golf wouldn't have killed him in New Car X?
The chances, unless you drive like a cock/take the nipper banger racing must be infinitesimally small.
Beyond this, if you're buying a car for safety, it's no good buying one which is merely "safer than a Golf" because that's not how safety works. If you're going to inject yourself with something, you're best off injecting yourself with saline solution. It's no good injecting yourself with Botulism on the basis that it's "better than HIV". It'll still make you bloody sick.
This means you'll have to buy the safest car on the market, which will inevitably either be a Volvo, or a massive 4x4 or, better yet, a large Volvo 4x4. This means your only option is to buy an XC90. Do you want an XC90? Well, if you do, you want a really good one with plenty of toys and a diesel engine. If you'd be happy with XC90 Executive 2.4 TDi, then go for it. If you'd rather eat your own eyeballs, then stick with the Golf and drive carefully for the next few months.
Simon.
The chances, unless you drive like a cock/take the nipper banger racing must be infinitesimally small.
Beyond this, if you're buying a car for safety, it's no good buying one which is merely "safer than a Golf" because that's not how safety works. If you're going to inject yourself with something, you're best off injecting yourself with saline solution. It's no good injecting yourself with Botulism on the basis that it's "better than HIV". It'll still make you bloody sick.
This means you'll have to buy the safest car on the market, which will inevitably either be a Volvo, or a massive 4x4 or, better yet, a large Volvo 4x4. This means your only option is to buy an XC90. Do you want an XC90? Well, if you do, you want a really good one with plenty of toys and a diesel engine. If you'd be happy with XC90 Executive 2.4 TDi, then go for it. If you'd rather eat your own eyeballs, then stick with the Golf and drive carefully for the next few months.
Simon.
ferrariF50lover said:
What are the chances that you'll be involved in an accident of a severity which would kill the Jr in the Golf, but not in New Car X? What then are the chances that you'll be involved in such an incident with the Jr in the car? What are the chances that you'll be involved in such an accident, with the Jr in the car, while he is still young enough for any accident which kills him in the Golf wouldn't have killed him in New Car X?
The chances, unless you drive like a cock/take the nipper banger racing must be infinitesimally small.
Beyond this, if you're buying a car for safety, it's no good buying one which is merely "safer than a Golf" because that's not how safety works. If you're going to inject yourself with something, you're best off injecting yourself with saline solution. It's no good injecting yourself with Botulism on the basis that it's "better than HIV". It'll still make you bloody sick.
This means you'll have to buy the safest car on the market, which will inevitably either be a Volvo, or a massive 4x4 or, better yet, a large Volvo 4x4. This means your only option is to buy an XC90. Do you want an XC90? Well, if you do, you want a really good one with plenty of toys and a diesel engine. If you'd be happy with XC90 Executive 2.4 TDi, then go for it. If you'd rather eat your own eyeballs, then stick with the Golf and drive carefully for the next few months.
Simon.
This IMO. Be sensible and you will be fine. I have done many miles in relatively unsafe cars but if you are aware, drive sensibly and as much as possible forsee others' stupidity, it is fine.The chances, unless you drive like a cock/take the nipper banger racing must be infinitesimally small.
Beyond this, if you're buying a car for safety, it's no good buying one which is merely "safer than a Golf" because that's not how safety works. If you're going to inject yourself with something, you're best off injecting yourself with saline solution. It's no good injecting yourself with Botulism on the basis that it's "better than HIV". It'll still make you bloody sick.
This means you'll have to buy the safest car on the market, which will inevitably either be a Volvo, or a massive 4x4 or, better yet, a large Volvo 4x4. This means your only option is to buy an XC90. Do you want an XC90? Well, if you do, you want a really good one with plenty of toys and a diesel engine. If you'd be happy with XC90 Executive 2.4 TDi, then go for it. If you'd rather eat your own eyeballs, then stick with the Golf and drive carefully for the next few months.
Simon.
And when your kid grows up, more chance of them being a petrol head if you have something interesting...
ferrariF50lover said:
What are the chances that you'll be involved in an accident of a severity which would kill the Jr in the Golf, but not in New Car X? What then are the chances that you'll be involved in such an incident with the Jr in the car? What are the chances that you'll be involved in such an accident, with the Jr in the car, while he is still young enough for any accident which kills him in the Golf wouldn't have killed him in New Car X?
The chances, unless you drive like a cock/take the nipper banger racing must be infinitesimally small.
Beyond this, if you're buying a car for safety, it's no good buying one which is merely "safer than a Golf" because that's not how safety works. If you're going to inject yourself with something, you're best off injecting yourself with saline solution. It's no good injecting yourself with Botulism on the basis that it's "better than HIV". It'll still make you bloody sick.
This means you'll have to buy the safest car on the market, which will inevitably either be a Volvo, or a massive 4x4 or, better yet, a large Volvo 4x4. This means your only option is to buy an XC90. Do you want an XC90? Well, if you do, you want a really good one with plenty of toys and a diesel engine. If you'd be happy with XC90 Executive 2.4 TDi, then go for it. If you'd rather eat your own eyeballs, then stick with the Golf and drive carefully for the next few months.
Simon.
This. Certainly the first two paragraphs, anyway The chances, unless you drive like a cock/take the nipper banger racing must be infinitesimally small.
Beyond this, if you're buying a car for safety, it's no good buying one which is merely "safer than a Golf" because that's not how safety works. If you're going to inject yourself with something, you're best off injecting yourself with saline solution. It's no good injecting yourself with Botulism on the basis that it's "better than HIV". It'll still make you bloody sick.
This means you'll have to buy the safest car on the market, which will inevitably either be a Volvo, or a massive 4x4 or, better yet, a large Volvo 4x4. This means your only option is to buy an XC90. Do you want an XC90? Well, if you do, you want a really good one with plenty of toys and a diesel engine. If you'd be happy with XC90 Executive 2.4 TDi, then go for it. If you'd rather eat your own eyeballs, then stick with the Golf and drive carefully for the next few months.
Simon.
You've got the Yeti for long distances and holidays and so on.
I often see a chap driving his sprogs to school in a Morris Minor. Looks a lot more fun for all concerned than an XC90.
If you're concerned about road safety with your children in the car, the best, most effective thing you can do is to spend some money on some proper "defensive" driving tuition, for both you and your wife. Driving defensively, and safely will massively lower the risk you take, even if you currently don't recognise those risks (most people don't to be fair, as they have never been properly taught to drive)
Indeed, accidents are unlikely.
I drove round with my kids for two years in a tin box with 300+bhp, no airbags, no abs and 20year old safety regs.
In retrospect im quite comfortable saying it was somewhat irresponsible and maybe a tiny bit selfish as well - after it got stolen i compromised and am now driving them round in a tin box with 300+bhp, loads of airbags, abs and class leading safety (ten years ago).
It lacks some of the occasion and retro charm of the last car but when/if that freak accident occurs and the airbags go off and the crumple zones crumple and we all walk away im going to be bloody glad I moved over to something more modern.
I drove round with my kids for two years in a tin box with 300+bhp, no airbags, no abs and 20year old safety regs.
In retrospect im quite comfortable saying it was somewhat irresponsible and maybe a tiny bit selfish as well - after it got stolen i compromised and am now driving them round in a tin box with 300+bhp, loads of airbags, abs and class leading safety (ten years ago).
It lacks some of the occasion and retro charm of the last car but when/if that freak accident occurs and the airbags go off and the crumple zones crumple and we all walk away im going to be bloody glad I moved over to something more modern.
poing said:
I'm not sure why you think you have a say in this, your wife is about to have a child so your opinion is invalid. A new first time mother is the scariest creature on the planet. When your child is older and hates you then you can buy a silly car again.
Actually, yeah, can I please change my original answer to this. Please. Great post, had me chuckling away.Simon.
I used to be ferried around in the back of an Austin Maxi with no seatbelts and I never once remotely died. I even had to get out and push when I was 8 years old and it conked out. I don't get the whole "Must buy a Zafira with 28 airbags" thing as soon as another human being is added to the 7-odd billion we have already.
That said I'm not a parent so I just don't understand!!1!?1!!one!
That said I'm not a parent so I just don't understand!!1!?1!!one!
I find myself driving more defensively in my older car (with no airbags) than I do in my newer cars. The added safety features give me a feeling of invulnerability. I took more liberties when I had a company car, and didn't have to worry about my no claims bonus. A modern car may mean less likelihood of getting hurt in an accident, but, in my case, driving an older car that means more to me, means I'm less likely to have an accident in the first place.
I dont think safety in crash is really that relevant, I mean - it is, but the chances of having a major smash that bad, I dont think you'll see that much benefit from having a newer whatsit just incase. You have to turn airbags off in most cases anyway with little little ones so it's the same as not having them.
The one that'd get me would be reliability, I'm sure it wouldnt be fun stood at the side of the road trying to swap a starter motor with a 6 month old in the back.
The one that'd get me would be reliability, I'm sure it wouldnt be fun stood at the side of the road trying to swap a starter motor with a 6 month old in the back.
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