AIBU to be really upset, almost in mourning for the loss of my car, or just ridiculous

I’m sure you’ve made the right decision MOnica but I understand. We have a Berlingo, it was mine, now MrJ’s, it’s fifteen years old and was thrust upon me in a panic buy seven years ago. Two weeks after purchase, I drove her 600 miles to the Dordogne, she happily did that trip for a further three years, many trips around France and Spain, flies through the yearly MOT and is not a bother. But I know, at some point, the time will come, so many adventures and memories.
I hope you enjoy your new car as much as your old one.

Dear M0nica
I owe you an apology.
Despite dismissing any emotional attachment to a vehicle, maintaining it’s only “bent metal” I am now feeling very sad and actually ??? as the RAC man is at this moment loading my car onto their transporter to take to the garage.
It’s been a good workhorse and is the last car DH and I bought together just a couple of years before he died. So that’s another link gone
It may be repairable- at a price- or this may be the end of its road.
So much humble pie here - I just hope you have found a happy resolution to your own car woes

I have been away for a few days and distance (time and mileage) is doing me good.

Head has won over heart. If I bought the car in, I think it's maximum value is about £1,000. I would then face £2-3,000 of repairs, with the worry, that the car could be incubating an other expensive repair that isn't yet visible. The MOT is only 2 months ahead.

The current car will be replaced by another bright blue Yaris, same spec, but a bit more up to date. My budget will be quite small, so even if I wanted an electric car, I couldn't afford one. I bought the Yaris originally because it has low emisssions, so I have no problems on that score.

When I get home I will ring the salvage company and they will take her away. I will then contact the car hire company for my courtesy car and scan the adds for suitable cars within a 100 mile radius, while I work out how much I can afford to pay on top of the salvage money for my next car.

Yes.

As someone else has mentioned, ou can buy it back off the insurers once you have had your pay out and then get it mended yourself.

Things can mean a lot to us but maybe this is telling you that a smart new low emission car is what is needed just now so that you can make happy, new, conscience-free memories - happy days to you!

No, you are not being unreasonable for, as many others have said, we can take car ownership to a new dimension!

I had a much cherished Yaris (named Yetta Yaris) which ran perfectly for eight years until I foolishly thought she was getting on a bit and I should change her. She had run perfectly, never failed an MOT and I must have been mad. I still really regret my stupid decision and I shed a tear when she was cranked on to the low-loader and driven away. I understand how you feel.

Perhaps check out the possibility of buying your beloved back from your insurance company?

I like Toyotas, I have a white IQ, called Coco. Not being interested in cars really, when I changed to this car, I told people I had a Yaris IQ!
To get some perspective on this, think how you would feel if you had your keys rudely snatched off you and told never to drive again, as happened to my late DH at the surgery. Correct decision as he had early dementia and epilepsy (under control)
But so thoughtless and uncaring. He absolutely loved his Saab and it just stayed in the garage. After he died, I had to disappear when it was taken away…
You can carry on driving and no one died, that’s the main thing.

Had my last car for 13 years then the engine failed.
Sad but looking forward to getting another now

Oh I get it. Mine was bizarrely over a washing machine though.

I had my Zannuzzi for 21 years. Bought her in 1987.

She had been through so much, never cost us a penny. Washing, etc for our daily including 4 children, loads of moves, a period in storage when we left the ex.

I was devastated when she went to the scrap metal heaven. I couldn't even go outside when the scrapmen came for her.

I had to send my 2nd husband out to deal with it. Mad I know. Just sharing that so it's not just cars you can get emotionally attached too

My daughter had her car written off but she later saw it being driven around after repair. Personalised number plate. Apparently this is an option you can discuss with the insurance company

I love cars and one year DH bought me, as a surprise, the car of my dreams (4th hand) for Christmas. I drove it for years and it cost a fortune in repairs, servicing and petrol - but I didn’t care - my car was so rare that if ever another was seen, we drivers would wave frantically, or give a thumbs up sign. Then one day, I let my head rule my heart and knew it had to go. I sold privately and shed a few tears as the chap drove it away, especially as he said he wouldn’t be driving it over 50mph - what a waste!
I then lashed out on a two seater convertible from the same manufacturer to console myself. Shallow? Moi?

My hubby wrote mine off in 2020. I was very stressed at the time and just used the insurance money to buy the same type of car but with a lesser spec ... and I hate it!
If I had the choice now (my life is in better order now!) I would either have had my car repaired (it was a financial write off and is now back on the road!) or I should have gone for the same spec in a different make/model (as they no longer make Cascadas) and paid the extra to get it! Please make sure you make the right decision for you!

I've just had a similar experience. I gave my daughter my 11 year old car when I got a new Micra. Unfortunately she skidded on ice before Christmas and the car was a write off. I then lent her my new car as she needs a car to get the children to school. As luck would have it she hit a post in a car park and the bonnet is badly damaged. I'm leaving it into a repair shop tomorrow. It could cost up to £900. I feel I'd have been better keeping my old car!

If the car is fixable but the insurers have written it off (because they feel it will be too expensive for them) I think I'm right in saying that you can buy the car from them and have it fixed yourself.

Having said that I'm of the 'a car's a car' school of thought and would relish the thought of a new one!

So sorry to hear of this, completely understand, and glad nobody was hurt. You can keep the car though, it is just insurance companies compare the cost of repairs to value of car. We had the same when my late Mother had a very minor knock, and her insurers wanted to write it off. Her local garage fixed it, replaced damaged bumper and the car continued on its happy way.

So sorry tictacnana, but what a lovely memory of buying that car.?

I don’t drive so I’m not a petrol- head but I was VERY upset when someone wrote off our Mini Cooper S last May. I bought it for my OH when his manager at work said that he could no longer keep his company vehicle st weekends. I can still see the man’s face when he came with his son to pick up the company car and he saw the beautiful Mini parked in our drive. When my chap explained that I’d bought it for him he couldn’t speak, just growled . I’m still upset about the idiot who smashed into it even though we were paid out and got another nice car. That car was a lovely memory of something I was able to do for the man I loved who, tragically, died in January.

Toyotas are good. I’d be tempted to get some repair quotes, take the insurance money and run. The write off money will barely scratch the surface of the repair, but it would probably be hugely expensive to replace like for like. Years ago we wrote off a yellow Fiesta. Saw it driving around a few years later. Grrrh.

I've been in mourning for my Yaris for a year. It failed its MoT very comprehensively and had to go the the big scrap merchant in the sky. My Kia Picanto is a great little car but it's not a Yaris!

I still miss 'Mitsy' the Mitsubishi after 28 years. I had bought her new years before and she moved to Portugal with us.
3 years later she was stolen and never seen again, a limited edition car and sadly missed.

You're not being silly at all. My old Shogun is 20 years old and has done 20020 miles now. I part exchanged it for a much newer shinier one last year at our local village garage. When I saw him driving around in it I felt really sad and bought it back! It's tatty and a bit battered but I love it. Will be very upset when it eventually goes to the scrapyard in the sky.

When someone wrote off my Honda I was able to take the insurance payment and buy it back for scrap for £50 and as it was perfectly drivable I just lived with a large dent for the next few years.

I had to scrap my ten years old push bike recently and was talking to it all the way on the walk down to the dump. It was like a trusted friend ?

I feel your pain M0nica.
I always get attached to my car's, and feel sad when they have to go. My current car belonged to my late Mum before I inherited it,so I am doubly attached to it and dread the day it has to go. YANBU.