What a 'bloody car' week.

Well my car died last Friday. It decided to die on my way to work (NO work - good thing), just before Strensham services (could have died nearer the services and then maybe I could have waited for AA indoors with a coffee - average thing), all the male experts (nod, wink) have proclaimed the car engine-dead (bad thing).

So I've had the stress of considering whether the car is worth saving or to scrap it and spend my meagre savings (at least I have some) on a new one. The problem there is that I don't feel confident negotiating when I'm not in possession of a good sound knowledge of the topic in hand. This is especially true of dealing with mechanics and car sales men because there I am also a woman in a male dominated arena which generally has a bad reputation for being untrustworthy. And I hate the idea that these men might see that I know nothing about cars and think it's because I'm a woman when in actual fact it's because I have never had real cause to know a lot about cars. Having had a mechanic father I've not had to think about it too much. But those days are gone, although he's still very good for advice, and I've got to be big girl on a small budget and try not to get ripped off.

So the weekend was spent in grumpiness and generally feeling sorry for myself. Monday was spent sorting out having a friends car for the week so I could get to work. On Wednesday I spun the car onto a roundabout which made me a bit nervy in the car for the rest of the week. Saturday was spent thinking about buying a new car, finding out about a potentially sound private sale and also finding a nice looking, seemingly sound car from a dealer. Incidentally, after talking to several friends and my Dad and doing a bit of research (thanks to Al for his contributions particularly), I think I've managed to give off an aura of competence and might end up with an ok car.

I'm not out of the woods yet though, I still have to secure a deal before tomorrow or end up worrying about getting to and from work next week!!! Fingers crossed I'll have a new motor before I next post.