Need a psychiatrist I just cant buy a car
Discussion
Part rant part frustration part wtf is wrong with me. I just cant buy a car ??
The wife looks up from her ipad and glares at me then disdainfully & with a weary tone says "find a car and say to yourself that will do and just buy it".
I search and search and favourite so many cars which I think fit the description of what I want but yet I do nothing. I honestly dont know whats wrong with me. Its not like its the main family car its just a spare for work and to thrash about. Im not spending a lot of money but I think even if I had a huge budget I would struggle.
WTF is going on anybody else experienced this ?
The wife looks up from her ipad and glares at me then disdainfully & with a weary tone says "find a car and say to yourself that will do and just buy it".
I search and search and favourite so many cars which I think fit the description of what I want but yet I do nothing. I honestly dont know whats wrong with me. Its not like its the main family car its just a spare for work and to thrash about. Im not spending a lot of money but I think even if I had a huge budget I would struggle.
WTF is going on anybody else experienced this ?
Scootersp said:
Narrow your criteria, ie be more particular on spec or colour etc. Basically increase your 'not good enough' range and you'll automatically end up with less targets?
Do you actually view any of them?
Thanks for the reply.Do you actually view any of them?
I cant even get off my ass to go and look. I think partly from a lack of enthusiasm and partly because a lot are private sales and I know im a fussy bugger and dont like confrontation when I turn it down.
Its not looking good for me is it.
. You are not alone. When I was working I had an E36 2.5 straight 6 - loved it. After retiring, and I knew it needed replacing, I looked around for two years or more. I ran the whole gamut of cars, GT86, Golf GTi, Subaru Forester. Yes, I too got to a point where my wife said, ‘don’t keep asking me, just buy one’. So I went for a F30 335d in Jan 2017. I am already thinking, hmm what next? Subaru Forester Hybrid? Golf? I was happy with the E36 for 19 years, but now I feel I need to try a few different cars, before driving becomes so restricted and unpleasurable.
Its bloody frustrating I mean I can only think of two times I have bought a car I regretted and that was because I disliked what I bought not that it was a dog. I can sniff out a decent car I have enough mechanical knowledge to steer clear of the nasty stuff. The only car I went to look at about a month ago was BMW compact sport with a supposedly very low mileage from a trader. I walked away because I was sure it had done far more than was stated and the replacement stereo was wired so it was permanently switched on. That was it but I still walked away even though it drove ok.
Pica-Pica said:
You are not alone. When I was working I had an E36 2.5 straight 6 - loved it. After retiring, and I knew it needed replacing, I looked around for two years or more. I ran the whole gamut of cars, GT86, Golf GTi, Subaru Forester. Yes, I too got to a point where my wife said, ‘don’t keep asking me, just buy one’. So I went for a F30 335d in Jan 2017. I am already thinking, hmm what next? Subaru Forester Hybrid? Golf? I was happy with the E36 for 19 years, but now I feel I need to try a few different cars, before driving becomes so restricted and unpleasurable.
I just sold my old Polo 1.2S which was bloody reliable but had 170k under its wheels and would need work for the MOT. I dont regret selling it but it was such a good car and I guess I just want something just like it but I also fancy something different too 
This is not a thinly disguised 'what car' thread by the way.
macp said:
Its not like its the main family car its just a spare for work and to thrash about.
I guess as there's no necessity to get it sorted you're taking it easy.I'm the same with my car - it's so old it's beyond a joke now, but it still more or less works and nothing new grabs me enough to want to buy it. Every now and then I wander into dealers and within 5 mins something they do pisses me off.
OTOH when daughter's car was written off recently the pressure seemed immense - we had 4 days to sort out a replacement.
Is part of the problem that no car really works well in all situations so its hard to get to a "right" car due to all the compromises. That means the search can be irritating.
I always end up with short lists that are actually very long and diverse, get a bit frustrated, and just go and buy one.
I always end up with short lists that are actually very long and diverse, get a bit frustrated, and just go and buy one.
Sheepshanks said:
I guess as there's no necessity to get it sorted you're taking it easy.
I'm the same with my car - it's so old it's beyond a joke now, but it still more or less works and nothing new grabs me enough to want to buy it. Every now and then I wander into dealers and within 5 mins something they do pisses me off.
OTOH when daughter's car was written off recently the pressure seemed immense - we had 4 days to sort out a replacement.
ThanksI'm the same with my car - it's so old it's beyond a joke now, but it still more or less works and nothing new grabs me enough to want to buy it. Every now and then I wander into dealers and within 5 mins something they do pisses me off.
OTOH when daughter's car was written off recently the pressure seemed immense - we had 4 days to sort out a replacement.
Yes your right its not urgent I cycle quite a lot so it really is a spare car for whatever. Really envy those who go with the attitude of yep its got 4 wheels and an engine that will do.
Hungrymc said:
Is part of the problem that no car really works well in all situations so its hard to get to a "right" car due to all the compromises. That means the search can be irritating.
I always end up with short lists that are actually very long and diverse, get a bit frustrated, and just go and buy one.
I think you have something there. I like wafty and luxurious and I like small & sporty and I like practicality. But how does a person look at one out of 20 cars and say yes thats the one I want. I always end up with short lists that are actually very long and diverse, get a bit frustrated, and just go and buy one.
V8RX7 said:
I'm quite the opposite I have at least 10 cars and I breathed a sigh of relief when I sold one yesterday and then immediately started looking for it's replacement !
How the hell do you keep up with what needs MOT'ing when, insurance renewals, tax etc?! I love the idea of a 6 car fleet or so but the admin, running repairs etc all make me think it would ruin the idea of having each lined up with just the keys to select for that particular day of the week!Shnozz said:
How the hell do you keep up with what needs MOT'ing when, insurance renewals, tax etc?! I love the idea of a 6 car fleet or so but the admin, running repairs etc all make me think it would ruin the idea of having each lined up with just the keys to select for that particular day of the week!
Brilliant !I cant even buy one damn car.
I have a similar issue to the OP, along with a hefty dose of buyers remorse whenever I do get around to buying something. It's not even just cars or relatively expensive things, I can run through this with all sorts of inconsequential stuff, just knowing that once I've bought it, it'll be sitting there whispering in my head about how much money I wasted on it. My current daily driver has been mine for 16 or 17 years, the one before that for 15 years (and I've still got that, it's my current restoration project - I'm keeping it in case I can't get used to my "new" car).
Not crazy. Definitely not.
Not crazy. Definitely not.
macp said:
I just sold my old Polo 1.2S which was bloody reliable but had 170k under its wheels and would need work for the MOT. I dont regret selling it but it was such a good car and I guess I just want something just like it but I also fancy something different too
This is not a thinly disguised 'what car' thread by the way.
Ah that's easy - Suzuki Swift - Preferably the SportThis is not a thinly disguised 'what car' thread by the way.
The times I’ve bought with my head - I wished I’d bought with my heart.
I always go for the perceived sensible option (cheaper tax, cheaper tyres, more practical).
Even got it wrong with my current car lol.
Ended up with a 3dr 1.6tdi Golf.
Impractical and not even fast!
Overall it was a good buy, but kinda wish I’d gone for the sportier red one 😆
I always go for the perceived sensible option (cheaper tax, cheaper tyres, more practical).
Even got it wrong with my current car lol.
Ended up with a 3dr 1.6tdi Golf.
Impractical and not even fast!
Overall it was a good buy, but kinda wish I’d gone for the sportier red one 😆
macp said:
I think you have something there. I like wafty and luxurious and I like small & sporty and I like practicality. But how does a person look at one out of 20 cars and say yes thats the one I want.
This is not a recommendation.... But I keep an eye on the market for all the ones I'm interested in. Go and see ones that look most promising but there is often something that puts me off. Soon enough you see something that you want to own (having seen a few that you're in two minds over)..... Haven't got to own it forever.macp said:
Thanks
Yes your right its not urgent I cycle quite a lot so it really is a spare car for whatever. .
List the current cars available to you, this may help advice.Yes your right its not urgent I cycle quite a lot so it really is a spare car for whatever. .
So many options when it's a spare car, old/high mileage/gas guzzling can all come into play and these generally equate to cheap (purchase prices anyway).
Do you want smiles/fun, dependability, practicality? If you can't narrow these down it's no wonder you are struggling!!
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