Wife wants a new car... we are now in day 3 of arguing!!

[Theoldfm]

The situation is as follows, wifey has decided that she needs a new car to replace her 3 series touring. We have 3 kids all under the age of 10 and there simply isn't enough width on the rear seat to fit them all in comfortably.

She does about 2,000 miles a year and we live off an un-made road which means that when the snow comes for those 5 days a year, she can't get her car out. The rest of the year, she trundles into Tesco's once a week and drives to Derby (30 miles round trip) once a week too. The rest of the time she just uses my car

The budget we have set is £10k - £13k (max) and we both prefer lower mileage cars as I like them to be pampered and to be kept in mint condition.

I quite fancy the idea of a 4x4 as we are a bit 'outdoory' types and love mountain biking / walking etc in out of the way places, but wifey seems to be shying away from a 'proper' off roader like a 110 Defender etc (to be honest, I can understand this) and seems set on a Volvo XC90 (which I think are pig ugly)

So, over to the Pistonhead massive for some sound advice if you please!

Thanks

Edited by Theoldfm on Saturday 1st January 20:29

[LukeSi]

Get her to look at the Kia Sorento. You can probably get a top spec one for about the lower range of your budget. And it is a pretty capable offroader.

Just as an example. http://www.vcars.co.uk/used-cars/cardetails.php?t=... you are looking at inside your price range for a top spec model (if this one is I don't know) The interior is plastic so easy to wipe clean. Have a look at them. Probably about as big as the XC-90. Tell her not to be a brand snob.

Edited by LukeSi on Saturday 1st January 20:30

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

Well, most off road type cars are ugly, the XC90's are probably the best choice though...at least it isn't a vomit inducing BMW!

[Theoldfm]

LukeSi said:

Get her to look at the Kia Sorento. You can probably get a top spec one for about the lower range of your budget. And it is a pretty capable offroader.

Just as an example. http://www.vcars.co.uk/used-cars/cardetails.php?t=... you are looking at inside your price range for a top spec model (if this one is I don't know) The interior is plastic so easy to wipe clean. Have a look at them. Probably about as big as the XC-90.

The other thing that I forgot to add is that she has become a bit of a brand snob, so a Kia wouldn't do it for her. To be honest, we could probably do with 7 seats too.

I am not too worried about the age of the car as long as it is no older than 2004 so this probably opens things up further...

[Somnophore]

If it's mostly your money, tell her to shut up. Personally sounds like you don't need a defender for minimal
milage hardly any off road work, for 2k miles a year just get her a zafira for 7k and keep the rest for a 4x4 plaything for you if you want one.

[Theoldfm]

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

Well, most off road type cars are ugly, the XC90's are probably the best choice though...at least it isn't a vomit inducing BMW!

Yes, neither of us particularly like the X5 - a bit too footballers wives!!

[FeatherZ]

2nd car that does 2k a year that aint a toy and you wanna spend 13k? madness snobbery.

[LukeSi]

Theoldfm said:

LukeSi said:

Get her to look at the Kia Sorento. You can probably get a top spec one for about the lower range of your budget. And it is a pretty capable offroader.

Just as an example. http://www.vcars.co.uk/used-cars/cardetails.php?t=... you are looking at inside your price range for a top spec model (if this one is I don't know) The interior is plastic so easy to wipe clean. Have a look at them. Probably about as big as the XC-90.

The other thing that I forgot to add is that she has become a bit of a brand snob, so a Kia wouldn't do it for her. To be honest, we could probably do with 7 seats too.

I am not too worried about the age of the car as long as it is no older than 2004 so this probably opens things up further...

right this calls for special measures. Find one you like and get the owner / dealer to cover all the Kia badges. Take her to see the car without the badges visible. If she says she likes it reveal the fact it is a Kia. She would soon change her ways. That would probably be worth a try and could be quite fun for your self.

[LMC]

You'll be struggling to get a low mileage xc90 for 13k

[RobM83]

Nissan XTrail?

[LukeSi]

or rather than my carefully planned trickery. Suggest a Kia and when she says no ask her if she has ever actually seen one other than driving past it. When she inevitably says no take her to look at one. She will soon see they are solid bang for your buck cars.

[sharpfocus]

2k a year? That's an hour's walk a day!

Can't she borrow your car for the shopping trips and then you get yourself a nice little sports car for the weekends? ETA: Or the proper 4x4 you covet.

Edited by sharpfocus on Saturday 1st January 20:40

[Theoldfm]

FeatherZ said:

2nd car that does 2k a year that aint a toy and you wanna spend 13k? madness snobbery.

This is why we are arguing...

It is my hard earned cash that we will be burning and unless we can get something that I can enjoy as a 'weekend toy' then my view is that she doesn't need / justify needing a new car... cheaper to use a taxi if her car is stuck!!

The idea of a Defender (or Discovery TD5) appeals to the child in me - 'Lets Off Road!!'

[MC Bodge]

Theoldfm said:

...3 series touring. We have 3 kids all under the age of 10 and there simply isn't enough width on the rear seat to fit them all in comfortably.

There are a lot of cars with more psace than a 3-series.

Theoldfm said:

She does about 2,000 miles a year

Any old shed will do that.

Theoldfm said:

The budget we have set is £10k - £13k (max) and we both prefer lower mileage cars

Hardly important for a hardly-used runabout

Theoldfm said:

I quite fancy the idea of a 4x4 as we are a bit 'outdoory' types and love mountain biking / walking etc in out of the way places

I'm more 'outdoorsy' than most and I and all my mates manage without 4x4.



Get a Mondeo Estate.

Edited by MC Bodge on Saturday 1st January 20:46

[grumbledoak]

FeatherZ said:

2nd car that does 2k a year that aint a toy and you wanna spend 13k? madness snobbery.

^^^ Wot he said. You could rent one each time for less. We do.

[Guvna]

This XC90 looks a steal at £9.995 with 62,000 miles and at only 7 years old.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2289485.htm

Also a silver one same year but with 73K at the same price

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2255958.htm

Cant imagine the depreciation will be too bad on those if your only doing 2k a year in it

I quite like them, and Clarkson has one I believe (not sure if that is a good thing)

Edited by Guvna on Saturday 1st January 20:48

[retrorider]

Keep the money to help pay for the divorce settlement...

[martin mrt]

I learned the hardway letting the OH choose a car, twice. I hated the 1st car she chose (Audi A3) and the 2nd we lost ALOT of money on (1 series)

From now on I let her do what she does best, choosing furniture, wall paint and all that interior decor malarkey, and I stick to what I know best, the cars.

Works for us.

[Theoldfm]

You all seem to be saying the same sorts of things as I have been over the course of the last 3 days... hence the 3 days of arguing

Unless I can see some 'value' (to me) in getting her another car, then I don't see the point in changing.. however, I do quite fancy a Discovery / Defender as a weekend 'toy' and we could do with a bigger family car too as I can't change mine for another 2 years

[pixieporsche]

Whereabouts in Derbyshire are you?

I thought everyone in the county seemed to do lots of miles per year, lol,

Mind you my oh only does about 6k per year, I do something silly like 20k but 2k a year???? Didn't even know that little was possible!

If I did 2k per year I'd be buying and XJR-S 6.0ltr of V12 loveliness Mind you, I might just do anyways

Onto your problem -

LR Disco or a Range Rover float your boat?

Edited by pixieporsche on Saturday 1st January 20:53