Is this unreasonable? Does a dashboard matter that much?

gratefulforhelp_2

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

How about suggesting that the extra £50 a month comes out of his own personal spends rather than out of the household budget?

Seems fair, or that you have your own £50 to spend as you wish?

gratefulforhelp_2

Dippychick wrote: »

When you are married and have kids, you don't have a personal budget - unless its the same one used for entertaining mistresses

DH and I do, its £100 a month and mine covers mobile contract, union insurance, contact lenses and clothes/shoes/haircuts/makeup et.c. His covers newspapers and books.

Poor DH doesn't have time for a mistress, and I don't catch that particular bus!

SingleSue

We managed to get 2 full car seats plus an older child in the middle into a VW Passat, Audi A4, Ford Sierra, Vauxhall Cavalier and a Vauxhall Astra!

The Passat was the easiest one, the Audi A4 the most squeeze...suppose it helped having a slender eldest son though....

HRV

The a4 audi is a poss- we went to look at the new one the otehr day and its emmission are lower so a possibility. We now trapse in with 2 car seats in tow and get some odd looks- incidentally you cant get them in a 5 series bmw (although we cant afford one anyway)
We looked at the current passat but didnt try them so need to do that but emmissions are no where near the bmw. Looked at an alpha romeo- can fit seats in that but the boot opeing is too narrow to get the machine in and out.
We do have whole of market but limit of about 21k- can be slightly second hand- upto about 7k miles on clock (thats how we got the current bmw)
We are panning baby for next year this car will need to last 2 years or 100k miles ish.
He refuses a mondeo and company directors wont allow citroen, renault or peageout coz of reliability.
Also looked at volvo- need a v70 to fit seats in and emmissions and carp.

jackieglasgow

Well, I don't know about the relaibilty thing. Our Citroen is 8 years old, and has only cost about £600 in repairs in total in its lifetime. Before that we had a peugot which never broke down in the four years we had it! Just shows you how different people's perceptions can be. The A4 is a very nice car.

HRV

I dont mean to be rude but there is a vast difference in driving a car 10k miles a year for 8 years than driving it 100k + over 2. French cars and alpha romeos are notoriously inrelaiable and he has been told be the directors that they dont want these makes because of reliability- the toyota died at 110k at less than 2 years old- I personally have not prob with these makes but i see their point. The car goes in 4 times a year for servicing due to the mileage!

jackieglasgow

My car has done 290k miles! But I take your point. (and I do agree about Alpha Romeos although they are very nice cars.)

Sneezy

How about Kia Sedona - whilsts not a car (MPV) it feels luxurious and is suitable for people who are tall and do large amounts of mileage?

Dinah93

whatatwit wrote: »

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.

HRV wrote: »

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

jackieglasgow wrote: »

My car has done 290k miles! But I take your point. (and I do agree about Alpha Romeos although they are very nice cars.)

If it's the driving position then on that kind of milage I'd be paying £200 more just for something comfy. I may have to up my monthly milage from 1500 to around 5000 in the near future, and if that happens I will definately be swapping my Alfa 147 for a 3 series. (Side note, had mine 5 years and got her at 2 years old, never needed more than new tyres, wipers etc - new Alfas really aren't like the old Alfa Sud cars!) I've never driven anything as comfy as a 3 series, my dad swears by BMWs as being the most reliable cars he's ever owned, and they're absolute work horses - they just go on and on, the kids can't pull off all the trim in the 2 mins it takes you to pop in to the corner shop for milk, and if £50 a month is what it takes to keep him happy in his job rather than dreading those miles on the road then so be it.

I may be way off the mark here, but have you ever considered that his sacrifice for the family is doing a job that involves long trips and being away from home, when he might rather be at home with you and the kids? For my part I'd rather be home more and have fewer luxuries, but we all do what needs doing.

floss2

HRV wrote: »

....We looked at the current passat but didnt try them so need to do that but emmissions are no where near the bmw.....

What about the Passat Bluemotion? Or Vauxhall Insignia?

Dinah93 wrote: »

..... if £50 a month is what it takes to keep him happy in his job rather than dreading those miles on the road then so be it.

I may be way off the mark here, but have you ever considered that his sacrifice for the family is doing a job that involves long trips and being away from home, when he might rather be at home with you and the kids? For my part I'd rather be home more and have fewer luxuries, but we all do what needs doing.

My OH drives a similar level of mileage & has just gone through this exercise, I am happy for us to pay more if it means he has a comfortable working environment - which it is when it's a company car -and is happy with his choice. After all, he conceded when we recently bought a new car for me - I fell in love with an Alfa Romeo MiTo which bust the budget and he preferred the much more practical Seat Ibiza Sport but as he has only driven the Alfa 3 times in 5 months and I drive it every day, we bought my choice.