Is there anything more exciting than new-car day? Or new-to-you car day, that’s fine too, you’re still getting the thrill of a fresh four-wheeled ownership adventure. Unless you’re not thrilled with the new car in question, as it may well not be if the car is new to the family but not personally yours.
For yesterday’s Ask, The Bishop inquired, “What Car Does Your Partner Want To Buy That You Dread Getting?” and some of your answers were surprising – aren’t those supposed to be the fun cars? Looking at you, Wrangler.
To the replies (and as usual, there were far too many great responses for me to include here):
Church
I don’t care what she wants. She’s the one who is stuck with it. I think she dreads me getting a Miata, though. I’m a middle-aged guy and she rightfully thinks a Miata is too much a trope for a mid-life crisis. But I’m not in crisis! I just think they’re cool!
MyMustangBestMustang
It’s not a crisis if the decision was thoughtful and intentional. Live your life man, hopefully she can enjoy it too
Mighty Bagel
I resemble that remark.
986istheanswer
It’s not a “mid life crisis car”. I call my Boxster “My kids are gone and I not paying 2 college tuitions anymore car.”
Aracan
Lotus Elise. She really wants one, and I already have an MGF, which already causes all the trouble you would expect from a midship-mounted Rover K series engine without the additional chance of totalling the car with a ding anywhere forward of the steering wheel.
Noahwayout
(Not her real name)
Dave Larkman
Has she tried getting in and out of one? It puts a lot of people off.
… As Alanis will tell you, LOL.
Geekycop
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. She doesn’t do offroad, she just thinks they’re cute so she wants one as a long distance commuter car.
Hangover Grenade
She wants a Jeep Wrangler.
But she is zero percent into off-roading and 100% into just having a rugged-looking convertible.
Drive By Commenter
Jeep Wrangler or Gladiator. Because doors off convertible, somewhat practical and easy to get into. It’ll be a heck of a shock coming from a perfectly cromulent and stone axe-reliable RAV4. At least the dealer is just down the road a few miles. I’m sure we’ll be on a first-name basis with the service advisors before too long. If they wear me down with getting one, we’re finding a way to keep the RAV4. It’ll make a great backup car when the dealer refuses to give a loaner.
RidesBicyclesButLovesCars
I’m just happy I broke my wife of her serial Jeep habit. Two WJs followed by a WK2. The WJs weren’t bad, but the WK2 cost me $1k in parts every year for the six years we had it! Now, that includes wear/tear items like tires and brakes but it also includes driveshafts (non-serviceable u-joints failed), wheel bearings, cruse control switches and door hinges that should have lasted longer than they did. I’m just happy that we unloaded that thing before a lifter failed and I needed to replace the camshaft. Keeping that Grand Cherokee on the road in top condition was time consuming, and we only had it from 60k to 100k miles!
Andrea Petersen
I’m in a car-based marriage, so this is definitely A Thing. Our rule is “if you have the money for it and a space to put it, go ahead.” We end up roughly taking turns on purchases but I’m kinda in a happy with what I have phase. He wants a Stagea though and I am deeply whelmed by it. I think it’s the Nissan factor, I just don’t have them in my heart at all. He’s also interested in anything with an Alfa Busso in it which I find a bit more tempting as that’s a good excuse for a certain Lancia Thema. God bless the Italian parts bin!
Panzycake
I think I’m in the opposite camp. I drive an Avalon, but my wife wants an Audi…
Dodsworth
Keep that Avalon.
That’s all for now. Have you hopped on today’s ask yet? Go here: What Must-Have Car Could You Afford To Buy But Maybe Not Afford To Keep Running?
Top graphic image: Stellantis
Man, I remember sitting in an Elise years ago when I was much younger/skinnier and I still struggled for a good 5 minutes getting out of it. I wouldn’t want to do it again.
My dad bought an Elise when they first came out and used it for his daily driver for over 10 years–he was 65 when he bought it.
How??
My sister married a Jeep guy. At the time of their nuptials he was driving a Wrangler with the 392 V8. I don’t know what was wrong with it but I did hear for 3-4 months about how it was almost fixed, the dealership was just waiting on a few parts. Once it was finally repaired and running they traded it in for a Gladiator, because they needed ‘more space’. Which of course is the Gladiator’s speciality. Now bear in mind her new husband has mobility issues and requires either a walker or a small, lightweight electric wheelchair. When I say lightweight I mean around 70lbs. They travel nearly every weekend to attend softball tournaments as he is a private coach and carry softball equipment as well. Sounds like a task for which the Gladiator was purpose built, right?
Fast forward, they now have a hybrid Sienna and he loves it.
The Jeep stuff is funny to me because I actually had a dream where my wife bought a 4-door Wrangler Rubicon with bigger tires and tricked out a bit. This is about as far from what she would buy as possible being both a Sport Futility Vehicle and a Chrysler product.
I don’t mind the idea of one, but am pretty sure I would hate the day-to-day of one.
I think she’s scared I’ll buy another used BMW #ifyouknowyouknow.
The picture of Alanis getting out of the Elise reminds me of a C/D review of the Vector W2, which had very wide Sills one had to come over to get out of the car, (paraphrasing here) “the only way woman could be less embarrassed getting out this car, would be if she stripped completely naked before doing so”
I can’t remember what car it was, but one magazine said “Victoria’s Secret won’t remain secret for long.”
Wife wanted a Jeep… over an 18 month period, I subversively, through death wobble stories and high repair costs, got her to pivot to the Bronco.
Same story here. I regaled her with second hand tales of Jeep woe from this very site.
Now she has her eye on a MachE. I’m building up a list of negatives on it, but the primary argument is I cannot fit comfortably in it.
We both like the Mazda CX-70 so that likely what we will end up with.
My wife wants a Bronco or Raptor so bad.
I told her to look up the fuel consumption.
We’re seeing 23 MPG average in the TT V6 and she doesn’t have a commute. Its stablemate is a Mustang GT, which, hilariously, gets better gas mileage (but takes premium).
Had a jeep gladiator for only 18 months. Experienced death wobble and knew that if my wife experienced it with me she would’ve probably walked home. I still think it’s a cool vehicle though.
No jeep products. I don’t wanna spend my spare time, shuffling her back-and-forth to her mechanic.
Two mentions this week? I’m flattered!
I am offended by the amount of people that do not understand the appeal of a Jeep.
I’m sure I’m wrong, but I’m offended nonetheless.
I love off roading and modifying trucks for such, and have never, ever has the desire to own a jeep. They’re fine I guess, there’s something about them (especially with modern jeep culture) that really turns me off
I get the appeal. It’s the same appeal as a recreational boat. Except one won’t break down on the way to work.
It’s a terrible car. It’s appealing looking, and super useful if you enjoy off-roading, but as a daily driver, I’d genuinely prefer a, I dunno, 1994 Ford Taurus. Drives better, more comfortable, more reliable, and my eyes aren’t at roll bar level.
It’s like they have never even seen r/heep !
Ok, but hear me out, is I get multiple unreliable cars, one of them should work at some point, right?
With the number of Jeep mentions I guess I should be happy to be married to a Subaru cultist.
My wife always tries to put her sensible hat on. And was like “there’s nothing wrong with a Mitsubishi outlander or an ASX” or “I’d be happy with a Kia Seltos” I wanted her to get a Countryman JCW as we’d almost bought a Cooper S hatch, but on the second test drive it wrecked her back. However we landed on a much newer very low mileage Volvo XC40, which isn’t exactly the worlds most exciting car, but it’s lovely and actually suits her. I also love the way they look.
Volvos look decidedly stylish in nearly any scene.