Hi everyone, I am looking for advice on what my next step should be re: my car.
Disclaimer: I understand the most cheapest and sustainable option is to keep my car until it dies. My issue is that I have anxiety when it comes to driving, I have been driving fine but since my car is slowly breaking down, it's started my anxiety again in regards to driving. I am engaged with mental health support, I just wanted advice on what I should do which could ease my anxiety as well (it's hard to know what's right or wrong when it comes with car things - I really hate car related stuff, I didn't grow up with much help so I tend to sink money into it instead). Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that I know my thoughts and actions aren't rational but they're worth it to me to ease anxiety and increase confidence in driving.
I get my car serviced every year and I have comprehensive insurance. In the last couple of years my car has started to wear down. I scratched my car last year for the first time which was really disappointing. I moved to a new place and I scraped it on a pillar when turning out of the basement. I scraped it again really bad on a brick wall this year after moving to another place. Big sigh and big regrets. The scratches give me social anxiety as I feel embarrassed and ashamed. I tried asking for a quote to get it fixed but have been finding it hard as the places I've enquired with don't stock Mazda Soul Red. Also in the first year I got my car there was a big hail storm in Sydney and my car has multiple little dents - I learned to accept them. I did go to get my car assessed to be repaired but it was too overwhelming at the time and I never went back to fix it (I was with Bingle and I had to go to their repair centre which was far away and hard to get to). In the last two years my aircon has failed, needing to regas it twice ($200 each regas). Repair person said to fix it for good would cost about $1k. The tank for my wiper fluid also leaks until empty. Slight display issues in the dash as well. So I don't expect my car to have a good resell value and I am happy to write it off when considering a new car. Or should I just get everything fixed and this would be cheaper than getting a new car. But it would still lack features I could get with a new car.
I have a Mazda 2 Genki (top spec I believe) 2015 which I got second hand in 2017 for $15,000 on carsales. I was really proud of getting this car as I used my own money and no favours (my mum never had enough to help with cars, my first car was given to me by my sister in exchange for $4k. The Mazda is my second car). It seems impossible to get a 2 year old top spec car for anything close to this figure these days. I would be comfortable spending about $30,000 to change my car. I would really like a car that is about the same size and shape (hatch) with blind spot and front and back parking sensors (back camera as a min) and android auto. I don't drive passengers often, mostly my two small dogs.
I think a new corolla would be perfect (Yaris seems a bit too small) but for a ZR it's from $43k driveway. For second hand models within the last 2 years the price seems to be high $30k. I think a Honda Jazz could be perfect but they don't sell those anymore and from an OzB post I saw, Honda may be leaving Aus in the future?
I drive about 7,000km in a year - currently drive to the office two days a week. I think I'm a good driver - never been fined, not even a parking ticket. No accidents or claims. In terms of affordability, most of my savings is in an offset account for our mortgage. Any money I use for a new car would take away from deposit for a new place. But we haven't made plans to when/if we would get another place. Also the interest on our mortgage would increase if I take a chunk out. I would rather pay for a car outright than have more debt. I do have an option for novated leasing but my income isn't that high. I also thought maybe I should have a grown up car now that I'm in my 30s? (Excuse my social anxiety).
What would you do? Can you think of better alternatives? I live in an apartment with a garage so I could get an electric but I don't know if it's feasible or necessary for me? Thank you for any advice! Very sorry for the long post but I appreciate if you made it to the end. I think I'm looking for advice a Dad would give his daughter :')
—
EDIT/THANK YOU: Thanks everyone for your individual comments, especially those who took the time to provide me with advice.
Re anxiety, most of you are absolutely right. My mental health is an ongoing journey since my early 20s. At the moment I am prioritising understand my childhood trauma (which probably is a source of my anxiety and depression). I know getting a new car won't fix my anxiety but it'll give me some kind of relief. I know it's a band-aid fix. I've done really well in other parts of my life but car stuff is just a real sticking point for me! I wish I could approach things like how you guys do - maybe I'll learn to in the future but I don't have the capacity at the moment.
I appreciate those emphasising I shouldn't care what other people think - I do need to tell myself this more so reading it is a reminder for me. I actually don't care as much about what other people in many other contexts. However with cars, again, it's a sticking point unfortunately.
Car related contexts is something I haven't actively practiced hence I am still affected by it. I've been able to work through/make progress with other things like work, friendships, relationships, ordering food, shopping, travelling etc. so I definitely need to address car related anxiety. Hopefully one day, when I've sorted through deeper stuff.
Also I am no expert whatsoever on cars and totally understand why you'd be like "wtf why u need a corolla ZR". So pls send me alternatives if any!
—
Edit 2
Oh god, this post has made its way to the front page and I'm going to expect more troll/unhelpful comments. I'm going to unsubscribe from this post now as I've already received more than enough advice. Thank you so much everyone!
Uber everywhere? (Didn't read thread at all)