Is this unreasonable? Does a dashboard matter that much?

HRV

My OH needs a new company car. We have full choice of market but need something which fits 3 across back seat in car seats/boosters. He drives approx 50k miles a year so obviously spends alot of time in it.

Coz of company car tax etc. the emissions on it drastically effect the amount of tax we pay- we saved £150+ a month swapping from toyota verso to BMW 3 series- as we need to keep emissions low to avoid more tax we are limited.

The C max fits the bill perfectly but he 'hates' the inside and he 'can not' tolerate it. I am really angry as the one he wants is gonna cost £50 a month more- am I being unreasonable to expect him just to live with it- after all I have to make sacrifices to be able to afford the baby we're planning (getting rid of contact phone, not going to hair dressers etc.)

Am I being unreasonable?

jackieglasgow

IT depends. If it is purely cosmetic, then he is unreasonable, if it is because the layout is easier to look at for driving(speedo etc) and use (radio, knobs, fan air con etc.), then I think that as he is in it so much, its not unreasonable. How does the fuel economy compare, is the dearer one more fuel efficient, or are they the same, as this might even out the costs, or tip it?

ATE you are also asking a man to go from driving a BMW to a Ford C-max, there's also the macho factor to count in, and if he is meeting clients etc., he will want it to look as good as poss. What is the other car?

BitterAndTwisted

No, I don't think you are being unreasonable but then cars are a mystery to me but apparently are incredibly important to those who care. Like your husband. How about suggesting that the extra £50 a month comes out of his own personal spends rather than out of the household budget?

whatatwit

Rather than it being the look of the interior....is it more the driving position and layout that he dislikes.
I hate driving my mother's Merc A class, it all feels wrong somehow. It's ok as a passenger, but not to drive.

He does drive a lot of miles, so the feel will be important.
I suppose it's like choosing a pram, some look fantastic yet are awful to use.

mikey72

Does the wallpaper and paint, or the kitchen or bathroom matter to you in your house?
He must live in the car for that amount of miles.

jackieglasgow

No offense meant Mikey, but that was such a man thing to say! :rotfl:

mikey72

Read the posts above me.
It seemed to offer balance.

WASHER

My OH drives similar miles to your OH, when he started at his new company, they gave him a second hand company car with low miles on it as they were trying to save money, he hated the car, my OH is tall and the leg room in the front of the car was making my OH have constant sciatica and lower leg pain, he went to the GP who told him it was probably the car, and the company changed it immediately for one of his choice (a larger car), so it does matter in many ways, I was a bit miffed at the time as the car we have now is costing more in tax, but my OH health and welfare is far more important, much more important than a phone contract or a trip to the hairdressers (they are luxuries).

Ask him for the reason, if he cannot justify a more expensive car then he is being unreasonable.

withabix

What is the car he wants? You haven't answered this question.

I wouldn't want to drive 50k miles per year in a C-Max. It is a shopping car, not a high mileage business vehicle.

I do 30K and take a lot of time choosing my car.

You OH's use is by far the PRIMARY use of the vehicle after all.

You are comparing this to YOU going to the hairdressers? Unbelievable. You are lucky that your OH has a choice of car.

HRV

I get what you've all said about safety and comfort and I agree- I agreed when he wanted the more expensive BMW when he showed me the seats (which were more supportive) etc. I can see the logic on safety etc. but it grieves me that I make alot of sacrifices (he's been declared bankrupt coz of debt his ex left) and the other 2 kids we needs to have room are for his daughters from previous marriage (who I love with all my heart and wouldn't be without) but this means we have very little luxury and therefore I feel £50 a month for knobs in a car is a bit excessive when we're talking what will be my only child and the potential of a holiday or not

HRV

In answer to the question- what he really wants is another BMW but we can not get 2 car seats and a child in the middle in a 3 series. So we have discussed a s max, looked a double cab pick ups (but these are not gonna work for driving the miles he does) we are v limited unless its a MPV which will increase tax alot