Driving Me Crazy

So my car is a write-off.

That was crux of the phone call I had late Friday afternoon; obviously all the official business has yet to be done - including the solemn ceremony of me tracking down my poor Hummer to retrieve all sundries from the glovebox and boot (including, I suspect, a box of porn leftover from Felafel). Next week sometime I will get an official figure, but it looks like I'm going to paid out roughly $15,000 for the car.

And I think I'm going to need your help.


I always wonder about the nature of making decisions. Sometimes I think I'm great, because I can sum up a situation and know instinctively what to do. Directing is like that for me - I look at a situation and know what needs to happen or what I want to see. Other things are more problematic - like that time a few weeks back when I asked for opinions via Twitter about what smartphone I should look at buying, and got so upset by Apple fanatics baying at me to get an iPhone that I spent the evening wailing in a corner.

Anyhoo. I have no particular desire for certain types of cars - well, certain types of cars within my price range. My ultimate car would be an Aston-Martin, because, well, I want to be James Bond. Simple, really.*

As for everything else? Well, I don't really have much of a clue at all. As far as I can see, I have a number of options:

1. I use the money to buy a new car. This would probably have to be a smaller car than my Toyota Corolla, such as a Suzuki Swift or Hyundai Getz. But a warranty and lower service costs is a plus.

2. I use the money to buy a used car. This could be any number of models. My concern is that I bought my Corolla new, so all of its history was my history. I am wary, I guess, of used cars - or actually, more about the process of making sure a used car is OK. Let's face it, I don't know that much, and I'm kind of gullible. I probably would believe a sleazy car salesman.

3. I get a loan for maybe another $10k, and try to buy something of similar size to my Corolla - like a Ford Fiesta or Focus, a Holden Cruze, a Volkswagen Polo. This would mean I wouldn't be "downgrading" in size, but would leave me with a debt where I previously had none.

In terms of cars, here's what I think I know/like:

• Lots of airbags, security features and thingies. ABS, stability control etc.
• Fuel economy (I'd like to investigate a diesel but might not be able to afford it).
• Low service/insurance costs; and one that holds market value (great qualities with the Corolla, y'see).
• I like hatchbacks, or at least something vaguely sporty/funky looking. Think more Ford Fiesta, and less Honda Jazz.
• Five doors. Reasonably roomy would be good, but I don't want a huge beast.
• I think I'd prefer an automatic; I like driving manuals and would be OK with one, but geez automatics are helpful in traffic. It probably depends on the car.

So. If you've got any ideas, any hints or tips, any good links - please, comment away. I honestly had not even the remotest contemplation of buying a car just over a week ago, and now I've found myself in this situation. All assistance is greatly appreciated!


*Oh, man, if I was James Bond, my life would be fracking sorted. If I was James Bond, I would've totally avoided that crash with my razor sharp driving skills, then I would've punched out the other driver in the face and blown up their car with my dash-mounted bazooka. Then  I would've just got a replacement Aston-Martin  from Q after zinging him with a number of witty bon-mots, then pic up some hot guys in my new wheels and then shag them on a beach. Awesome. Then I'd take down some crime kingpin or some local terrorists or maybe some graffiti artists, light a cigar, pose for Vogue, get some fracking awesome Omega watches and sit back in a high-backed leather chair in the sweetest Mycroft Holmes-ian club in London with a vodka martini and watch all the boys in the yard come shake their money-makers in front of me. All of which is a sideways way of saying I think I'm a little stressed and feeling under-empowered and nervous about turning 30 and could really do with learning a martial art or at least have a hot bath.