Newer Diesels...

[Toms306]

Niall, thanks for the essay.

I do agree with you on a lot of points, but there are certain aspects I just cannot do. You say about not relying on a car, and I totally understand that unless you've been in the situation, you wont be able to understand this, but that's something I can't do. If there is any doubt in my mind about something failing and causing a breakdown, it's magnified massively by the OCD, which then becomes a constant intrusive thought while driving...one of them is fine and can be ignored with a bit of effort, but when you get loads, it's just not possible to ignore, just end's up in constant panic and complete lack of concentration (ideal while on the road!) and that panic then triggers the IBS and it all ends in a horrible mess (literally...). May seem ridiculous but that's why I can often do longer journeys immediately after buying a car, but not again a short while later.

Now I KNOW it's my problem rather than the car's, but the only way to work through it is to go out more, which I currently can't afford to do! However unless I can go out more, I'll never be able to get a job to pay for going out more. It's got a lot worse over the last year tbh when I reduced going out to an absolute minimum. I do appear to end up in these stupid rock and hard place situations fairly often lol.

But the rest of your post I do mainly agree with. I suck at viewing cars, as frankly I just want to be out of the situation asap, I also cant test drive private sale cars because the insurers don't allow DOCs at my age which makes things even harder.

I really do need to go to some dealers and find the balls to ask to test drive though if I'm going to be changing car.

i wouldn't be worried about what colour it is or what interior it has.

This is why I drive a purple beemer with grey cloth.

Drives nice.

Lol, I might join you in the purple beemer club...just thinking how cool I'd look in this.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-BMW-Z4-3-...3f38c7768d

Can't anyone off here go to look at cars with you Tom? I would but your a jillion miles away...

Everyones a jillion miles away tbh. And due to home situation I only have a very narrow window where I can go out which is the time most people will be at work anyway.