Being without car
Author
Discussion

croyde

Original Poster:

24,945 posts

247 months

Wednesday 27th August
quotequote all
Well that didn't last long. Sold my Alpine a few weeks ago and for the first time in 45 years I was carless.

I live on the outskirts of London thus buses, tubes and trains everywhere and I like walking. Being in my 60s I have a free Oystercard too.

But, all well and good being that it's been a nice hot and dry summer smile although I feel like part of me is missing. I have always had cars or a car in my possession.

So today I ordered a Dacia Bigster Journey Hybrid auto. I previously had a Duster for 3 years and I loved it. Such a useful and capable car, cheap it was too.

They are not cheap anymore but still less money than the equivalents.

I say ordered, they actually had the grey I liked in stock and I could have had it this week but I'll hold on until next week for the newer reg smile

I had toured many dealers in the past week but this one has actually knocked a grand off and thrown in mats, boot liner and a tank of fuel, as well as some other bits and pieces.

So pictures and first impressions in Sept. I'm 62 and still get as excited as a kid at Christmas when I order a new bike or car biggrin

spoodler

2,242 posts

172 months

Wednesday 27th August
quotequote all
Pretty much the same age as me, and I still believe you should get excited if you're spending your hard earned on a new "whatever".

Personally, I've never owned a new car or bike, but still get excited buying used stuff... especially when bought sight unseen and delivery day is the first time you get to set eyes on it!

Enjoy, and run round the garden squealing with delight to your heart's content... biggrin

Moonpie21

581 posts

109 months

Wednesday 27th August
quotequote all
Couldn't agree more, if the excitement goes you shouldn't be buying it.

The bigster does seem less spare parts Renault though, its like a proper attempt, I'll be interested to know if that spoils it for you. Personally I like the look and I might get upset if it looks great but is built cheap or doesn't do something...

eta, I really wanted the base spec duster just because it seemed so perfect as a vehicle actually doing what you needed it to. I don't need a 360 degree camera on my car but I like it, if it didn't work as well (wrong perspective or something) I'd be disappointed.

Edited by Moonpie21 on Wednesday 27th August 11:33

croyde

Original Poster:

24,945 posts

247 months

Wednesday 27th August
quotequote all
spoodler said:
Pretty much the same age as me, and I still believe you should get excited if you're spending your hard earned on a new "whatever".

Personally, I've never owned a new car or bike, but still get excited buying used stuff... especially when bought sight unseen and delivery day is the first time you get to set eyes on it!

Enjoy, and run round the garden squealing with delight to your heart's content... biggrin
Cheers laugh

I have only ever bought one used car, unseen apart from long chats to the owner on the phone, pics and a talk to a garage that once sold it.

I'm in London and the car was in the Highlands.

Flight then train, owner picked me up and we went back to his village where we had tea and talked cars for 2 hours or more.

Then we finally went out to see the car, a 1999 Mercury Grand Marquis. It was in stunning condition.

I then got to know it really well by touring the Highlands in the pouring rain for a few days before driving it home.

Sorry, your post just reminded me of that brilliant week smile

spoodler

2,242 posts

172 months

Wednesday 27th August
quotequote all
Love that story... have done similar.

croyde

Original Poster:

24,945 posts

247 months

Wednesday 27th August
quotequote all
Moonpie21 said:
Couldn't agree more, if the excitement goes you shouldn't be buying it.

The bigster does seem less spare parts Renault though, its like a proper attempt, I'll be interested to know if that spoils it for you. Personally I like the look and I might get upset if it looks great but is built cheap or doesn't do something...
Thanks, it's more van like (early 2000s) than the competition but I rather like that.

My Alpine had the stalks and the stereo control from both my 2021 Duster and my 1996 Megane. The shift paddles were off a 2013 Clio RS laugh

M28TTR

67 posts

58 months

Wednesday 27th August
quotequote all
Nothing better than new or 'new to you' car/bike day - enjoy!

Skyedriver

20,826 posts

299 months

Wednesday 27th August
quotequote all
M28TTR said:
Nothing better than new or 'new to you' car/bike day - enjoy!
Wonder if this is the reason I keep buying and don't always hang on to many cars?

TV8

3,337 posts

192 months

Wednesday 27th August
quotequote all
Enjoy. From your user name, you might live near me and I have a free Oyster card as well, which I like and use a lot! My car usage is down a fair bit in recent years and traffic is a factor in that. I have two cars that I used over the last weekend and won't use this week and probably only one of them this coming weekend.

croyde

Original Poster:

24,945 posts

247 months

Wednesday 27th August
quotequote all
TV8 said:
Enjoy. From your user name, you might live near me and I have a free Oyster card as well, which I like and use a lot! My car usage is down a fair bit in recent years and traffic is a factor in that. I have two cars that I used over the last weekend and won't use this week and probably only one of them this coming weekend.
How do you manage to use an Oystercard in North Devon laugh

Only kidding, I presume you mean around Croydon, funnily enough I was brought up near there.

2p on the bus to spend the day hanging around the Whitgift Centre, and play with the lifts in Allders biggrin

Mr Tidy

27,355 posts

144 months

Thursday
quotequote all
When I lived in Sutton in the early 80s I used to go to Croydon quite often - at the time that was the nearest McDonalds!

Roll on new car collection day.

ScoobyChris

2,077 posts

219 months

Thursday
quotequote all
I’m the same over any sizeable purchase which is usually the culmination of weeks of research! Massively excited, with a niggly nervous “am I doing the right thing” whispering in my ear.

Always tell it to shut up and enjoy the day and has never let me down yet. biggrin

Enjoy!!!

Chris

swanseaboydan

2,058 posts

180 months

Thursday
quotequote all
I really fancy one of those - please let us know how you get on with it

Screenwash

168 posts

39 months

Thursday
quotequote all
Nice one OP! Just curious (nosey!)… wondering why you went for such a big car? I am guessing that you don’t need the space, coming from an Alpine?! 😁

croyde

Original Poster:

24,945 posts

247 months

Thursday
quotequote all
I did find my old Duster so useful for transporting stuff and carrying stuff on the roof, and I was looking at the new Duster but the Bigster just looked a bit errr butcher biggrin

TV8

3,337 posts

192 months

croyde said:
How do you manage to use an Oystercard in North Devon laugh

Only kidding, I presume you mean around Croydon, funnily enough I was brought up near there.

2p on the bus to spend the day hanging around the Whitgift Centre, and play with the lifts in Allders biggrin
Ha ha! I do like North Devon although I did mean Croydon. Not sure the last time visited? Best to keep the happy memories would be my suggestion smile

Pica-Pica

15,349 posts

101 months

croyde said:
How do you manage to use an Oystercard in North Devon laugh

Only kidding, I presume you mean around Croydon, funnily enough I was brought up near there.

2p on the bus to spend the day hanging around the Whitgift Centre, and play with the lifts in Allders biggrin
We still have goose-down duvets tagged Allders, who were subsequently bought by Debenhams, which, in its own turn, has now gone.

TwigtheWonderkid

46,712 posts

167 months

croyde said:
Well that didn't last long. Sold my Alpine a few weeks ago and for the first time in 45 years I was carless.

I live on the outskirts of London thus buses, tubes and trains everywhere and I like walking. Being in my 60s I have a free Oystercard too.
Exactly the same for me. I've been without a car since i retired in April '21. But unlike you, I don't miss it. I use wife's car maybe once a fortnight but other than that, it's walking, cycling, and my o/60s Oyster card.

I doubt I'll ever have my own car again, unless I were to outlive the wife (unlikely), when I'd keep hers for v. occasional use.

Huzzah

28,124 posts

200 months

Pica-Pica said:
croyde said:
How do you manage to use an Oystercard in North Devon laugh

Only kidding, I presume you mean around Croydon, funnily enough I was brought up near there.

2p on the bus to spend the day hanging around the Whitgift Centre, and play with the lifts in Allders biggrin
We still have goose-down duvets tagged Allders, who were subsequently bought by Debenhams, which, in its own turn, has now gone.
Anyone remember Radio Component Specialists @ Thornton Heath? My weekly mecca.

Mr Tidy

27,355 posts

144 months

Huzzah said:
Pica-Pica said:
croyde said:
How do you manage to use an Oystercard in North Devon laugh

Only kidding, I presume you mean around Croydon, funnily enough I was brought up near there.

2p on the bus to spend the day hanging around the Whitgift Centre, and play with the lifts in Allders biggrin
We still have goose-down duvets tagged Allders, who were subsequently bought by Debenhams, which, in its own turn, has now gone.
Anyone remember Radio Component Specialists @ Thornton Heath? My weekly mecca.
I don't, but I remember Demon Tweaks!

Discovered last week that I still have a couple of towels that I only use when I go swimming, and they've got Allders labels on them.