My Parents’ Car Replacement Story

My parents have been thinking about changing their car since around last year. Since they’re quite elderly now, they said, “the next car will be the last one. After that, I’ll surrender my license.” So they want a car they can truly be satisfied with, more than ever before.

Actually, my older brother is also a car enthusiast, so Dad consulted him recently and seems to have roughly decided on some candidate cars.

Dad has been loyal to Toyota ever since he started owning cars, and he’s currently driving a Prius. He doesn’t seem to be considering anything other than Toyota going forward, but he said, “if I’m going to get a car, I want something a bit bigger and cooler than the Prius. It can be used, maybe a C-HR would be nice.”

*Image source: Toyota C-HR “Gallery”

Later, when my parents came over to our house to babysit, my husband happened to be working from home and had some time to chat. Dad took the chance to ask him all sorts of questions about cars.

Listening to their conversation, I once again thought, “it’s really important to consult someone knowledgeable when buying a car.”

Whether it’s cars, home appliances, or watches—anything that costs a decent amount—buying without knowing much carries the risk of “Oh no, this isn’t what I expected…!”

And in such cases, you usually can’t just say “I’ll return it because it’s not what I wanted” or “I’ll sell it on Mercari and buy a new one,” so I realized it’s crucial to have someone objective and knowledgeable guide you on “what points to look for” and “which cars suit your current situation.”

For example, while browsing used car sites, Dad asked, “This one’s super cheap and looks good! Why is it so cheap?” and my husband replied,

That’s because the wheels are stock and not very stylish. Also, the tire tread isn’t very deep, so you might have to replace the tires soon after buying it.

When Dad asked, “This one has low mileage and is cheap, why is that?” my husband answered,

The interior and exterior ratings aren’t great. You can’t see much in the photos, but it seems to have various scratches. If you don’t mind those kinds of scratches, it’s fine, but if you wash the car yourself, you’ll notice things like “this scratch is pretty deep” or “this one really stands out.” Also, I like to check the smell. I’m concerned about pet odors or perfume smells lingering, so whenever I buy a car, even if it’s far away, I always go see it in person first.

and so on.

My husband also shared lots of info about the C-HR and RAV4 with Dad, and I was really impressed, thinking, “he really knows his cars…” He’s familiar with almost all the latest cars from both domestic and international makers and often knows quite a lot in detail.

Sometimes I wonder, “when does he find time to gather all this info… is he really working during the day…? (-_-)” (laughs)

As Dad listened, he said, “I thought it might be okay to buy a used car without seeing it in person if I liked it on the site, but it’s better to actually go see it. If it’s too far, I can’t go, so I’ll look around the Kansai area…” He found one that looked good and said, “I’m going to check it out now!” and headed out.

Such decisiveness… lol

A few hours later, Dad came back and said,

Seeing it in person really makes a difference. The interior was cleaner than I expected. The smell wasn’t an issue, and I got to talk with the salesperson, which was good. I think some good used cars will still come up, so I’ll wait a bit longer.

Come to think of it, when I bought my very first car, a BMW 320i, it was the same—my husband’s advice helped me find a great car.

I was only looking at mileage and price on used car sites, but my husband pointed out things like,

“This one’s modified, so I’d avoid it” and “This one’s cheap and good, but it’s not a certified used car.”

That said, it’s hard to find a car in good condition within budget… and my husband said,

Buying a car is about timing and connection. If you feel a spark, go for it. If it doesn’t feel right, wait until the car you want comes along.

Since I was a complete novice at buying cars, having someone knowledgeable by my side was very reassuring.

A Car Consultation Service?

After my parents left, I joked, “Dad seemed glad to have someone to consult with. Come to think of it, I get purchase inquiries from all sorts of brands in blog comments and messages. Maybe you could have a job consulting people on car purchases,” and my husband laughed and said,

Yeah, maybe I could do a “Car Consultation Desk” instead of “Insurance Consultation Desk” (laughs). Like, we’d help you find the perfect car from all the brands and models out there, tailored just for you (lol).

People buy cars for all kinds of reasons, and what they want varies a lot. Some care about performance, others prioritize fuel efficiency.

Also, there’s so much information out there, and it varies wildly depending on who’s sharing it, so it’s easy to get lost and not know what’s best for you.

Having someone close to consult with helps you organize your thoughts during the car selection process, get the info you need, and make a decision you’re happy with.

I wonder what Dad will choose for his last car… If he ends up buying a C-HR, I hope he lets me drive it!