How long after a buying a car do you lose your anxiety?
Discussion
This mostly relates to private sales which are risky, for some reason no matter how cheap the car i get post sale anxiety.
For around 3 days i check the oil filler cap for junk.
I check the exhaust every 10 seconds while driving for white smoke.
Every bump i go over i listen for the suspension.
If the car struggles on a hill i think is gearbox replacement time.
If i see water droplets coming out the exhaust i assume it is time to get the headgasket done.
My eyes are fixated on the temp gauge.
It takes me around 2 weeks to feel comfortable and after 4 weeks i am usually settled and any major issue would have cropped up.
My wife on the other hand will drive a car for weeks with smoke bellowing out of the exhaust, ah the bliss.
For around 3 days i check the oil filler cap for junk.
I check the exhaust every 10 seconds while driving for white smoke.
Every bump i go over i listen for the suspension.
If the car struggles on a hill i think is gearbox replacement time.
If i see water droplets coming out the exhaust i assume it is time to get the headgasket done.
My eyes are fixated on the temp gauge.
It takes me around 2 weeks to feel comfortable and after 4 weeks i am usually settled and any major issue would have cropped up.
My wife on the other hand will drive a car for weeks with smoke bellowing out of the exhaust, ah the bliss.
About a month all in all - and of course after a couple of washes and a good polish to see the real state of the paint (if someone has put some colour-charged wax or something on it to hide the stone chips, scratches, etc)
Gives enough time for any strange behaviour, dashboard lights, etc. to surface up.
Gives enough time for any strange behaviour, dashboard lights, etc. to surface up.
I tend to not get anxiety when it comes to if the car is mechanically sound as typically I buy very low mileage from a main dealer but I am anxious about damaging the car or it being dinged usually for months before I start to not care so much. My Mustang felt huge when I got it, but now, 5 months in, it's not so bad - though I never use it for Tescos unless it's very early/late and the car park will definitely be empty.
I had a £500 shed as a stop-gap late last year and after a few days I had no worry about it breaking down - not that I didn't think it might, I just didn't care.
I had a £500 shed as a stop-gap late last year and after a few days I had no worry about it breaking down - not that I didn't think it might, I just didn't care.
I have mechanical anxiety but try and wait a while and buy a, admittedly rare, decent example in the lower price area. Also I research the known issues (a benefit to purchasing an older car) so armed with both I can get an immediate cash buffer from the lower purchase price and be prepared for the likely hidden issues. It doesn't always work out but I at least feel comfortable.
It's counter intuitive and probably wrong, but I don't have much more confidence in newer cars or certainly not for the amount of extra cost.
I think the first long drive settles me some, we rarely drive far enough before purchasingdo we!?
Then there is the next few days, where slow punctures, battery drain, intermittent issues can show their faces, then there can be the unobservant, blinkered or seasonal slip ups ie not checking the heater is working when buying in June, or the aircon is cold in the winter.
It's counter intuitive and probably wrong, but I don't have much more confidence in newer cars or certainly not for the amount of extra cost.
I think the first long drive settles me some, we rarely drive far enough before purchasingdo we!?
Then there is the next few days, where slow punctures, battery drain, intermittent issues can show their faces, then there can be the unobservant, blinkered or seasonal slip ups ie not checking the heater is working when buying in June, or the aircon is cold in the winter.
So far it has taken me 3 months!
Got the coil-overs wound back up to a sensible ride height, removed the spacers and can hopefully save the worn wheel-arch liners!
Had a leaking headlight washer fixed so now the reservoir holds fluid, and got a hanger fitted to one of the exhaust back-boxes.
Now I have a major service booked for next month, but until then I'll just enjoy it!
Got the coil-overs wound back up to a sensible ride height, removed the spacers and can hopefully save the worn wheel-arch liners!
Had a leaking headlight washer fixed so now the reservoir holds fluid, and got a hanger fitted to one of the exhaust back-boxes.
Now I have a major service booked for next month, but until then I'll just enjoy it!
I usually buy them sight unseen and then check out my purchase on a 1200 mile drive back home.
My recent 22 year old RAV4 that we saved from the scrap yard has turned out to be an absolute gem.
My shakedown method is excellent in the way that by the time i get halfway through Germany I can have a mechanics appointment booked and any necessary parts on order for within a day or 2 of arriving home. In this case rear drum backing plates and 2 front shocks.
In answer to your question any anxiety has generally gone by the time I get to the ferry. If it hasn't overheated on the M25 it isn't going to.
I've used this method on about 7 cars to date with only a BMW 318ci going into limp home mode at the german/Polish border. Lambda sensor.
My recent 22 year old RAV4 that we saved from the scrap yard has turned out to be an absolute gem.
My shakedown method is excellent in the way that by the time i get halfway through Germany I can have a mechanics appointment booked and any necessary parts on order for within a day or 2 of arriving home. In this case rear drum backing plates and 2 front shocks.
In answer to your question any anxiety has generally gone by the time I get to the ferry. If it hasn't overheated on the M25 it isn't going to.
I've used this method on about 7 cars to date with only a BMW 318ci going into limp home mode at the german/Polish border. Lambda sensor.
Stick Legs said:
First dent. Then 'something' has happened and it's now just a car again as opposed to the shiny new thing!
Yup. Mine got a very tiny ding from someone opening against it in a supermarket (despite parking at the furthest, emptiest place). I scraped their blue paint off with a finger nail, leaving just a war wound as a badge of honour.CDB1983 said:
I usually buy them sight unseen and then check out my purchase on a 1200 mile drive back home.
My recent 22 year old RAV4 that we saved from the scrap yard has turned out to be an absolute gem.
My shakedown method is excellent in the way that by the time i get halfway through Germany I can have a mechanics appointment booked and any necessary parts on order for within a day or 2 of arriving home. In this case rear drum backing plates and 2 front shocks.
In answer to your question any anxiety has generally gone by the time I get to the ferry. If it hasn't overheated on the M25 it isn't going to.
I've used this method on about 7 cars to date with only a BMW 318ci going into limp home mode at the german/Polish border. Lambda sensor.
How good are those Rav4's! A family I know drove a 4 door version of that around Australia!My recent 22 year old RAV4 that we saved from the scrap yard has turned out to be an absolute gem.
My shakedown method is excellent in the way that by the time i get halfway through Germany I can have a mechanics appointment booked and any necessary parts on order for within a day or 2 of arriving home. In this case rear drum backing plates and 2 front shocks.
In answer to your question any anxiety has generally gone by the time I get to the ferry. If it hasn't overheated on the M25 it isn't going to.
I've used this method on about 7 cars to date with only a BMW 318ci going into limp home mode at the german/Polish border. Lambda sensor.
Edited by Thick_Troll on Friday 20th March 00:07
CDB1983 said:
I usually buy them sight unseen and then check out my purchase on a 1200 mile drive back home.
My recent 22 year old RAV4 that we saved from the scrap yard has turned out to be an absolute gem.
My shakedown method is excellent in the way that by the time i get halfway through Germany I can have a mechanics appointment booked and any necessary parts on order for within a day or 2 of arriving home. In this case rear drum backing plates and 2 front shocks.
In answer to your question any anxiety has generally gone by the time I get to the ferry. If it hasn't overheated on the M25 it isn't going to.
I've used this method on about 7 cars to date with only a BMW 318ci going into limp home mode at the german/Polish border. Lambda sensor.
Great pics, do where do you get your cars from? Can you go into detail about your method, sounds interesting. My recent 22 year old RAV4 that we saved from the scrap yard has turned out to be an absolute gem.
My shakedown method is excellent in the way that by the time i get halfway through Germany I can have a mechanics appointment booked and any necessary parts on order for within a day or 2 of arriving home. In this case rear drum backing plates and 2 front shocks.
In answer to your question any anxiety has generally gone by the time I get to the ferry. If it hasn't overheated on the M25 it isn't going to.
I've used this method on about 7 cars to date with only a BMW 318ci going into limp home mode at the german/Polish border. Lambda sensor.
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