Did I do wrong? Opinions welcome!

December 20, 2010 9:46am CST
So today my sister's boyfriend was driving home from work and their car broke down, they managed to get it up the garage but they didnt know if it would be done by tonight for him to go to work. So she phoned and said to my mother that she was going to ask me to lend him my car. I said no, now there are a pile of reasons why so I'll explain them: - He drives like a maniac, seriously he doesnt really care about speed limits, he always seems to be in a race. Right now it is also snowing and there is a lot of ice around so its dangerous driving conditions anyway but he doesnt change his driving for the conditions, so its even more dangerous, but he thinks driving in the snow and ice is fun! I dont want my car getting damaged. - He doesnt look after the car. Their car is full of rubbish from his takeaways. He works on a security site and instead of sitting in the small office he prefers to take a blanket and sit in the car. So he is also eating and drinking in the car as well, Im not the type of person who goes crazy about crumbs in cars but I dont want to be finding bits of burgers and left over chips in my car as I do like it looking clean. - The site he works on is full of stones and mud, sounds silly I know but he drives fast on the site and then stones get flicked up by the wheels and hit the car, and it also gets filthy. Im not being petty, although if you read my discussion on mud then you might think Im getting obsessed. I know cars get dirty but if I have to drive through a muddy field then I would go slow and not drive like an idiot to get the car covered in mud. I said to my sister that if she needed my car to go shopping or if she needed to take the baby somewhere then she could have it, but not him with the way he drives. I dont even talk to him anyway because of his disgusting behaviour at a family party a while ago, but I am civil to him for my sisters sake. This probably did influence me when saying no but I really dont trust him driving my car. He might not feel the need to look after their car because they havent paid for it all yet. My mother paid for the car as they needed one when my sister had her baby, they are paying back a little every month and still owe her money from it. Whereas I paid for my car and worked in a job I hated to save the money up to pay for it. Which is why I look after it. Its not like I was his only option to ask anyway, Im not the only one who can help them and they sorted something else out, but my sister was annoyed that I wouldnt help. Im now thinking that I should have gone against my instincts and said yes, as I dont want my sister to think she cannot ask for help, and had it been her that needed the car I would have said yes. What do you think? All opinions welcome!
1 person likes this
7 responses
@deedee328 (1122)
• United States
20 Dec 10
I dont think that refusing to lend anyone your car is wrong. In this case, it was a very wise decision. You already know that the sister's boyfriend is not going to take care of your car if he borrowed it. It shows a lack of respect when people dont take care of the things they borrow. Especially since he does have another way to get to work, I would not feel quilty at all for saying no. I think your sister, of all people, should understand your reasoning in refusing to lend out your car. If you told your sister that she could use your car, then she knows that she can ask you for help. Never second guess your instincts friend. People almost always find that they did the wrong thing when they go against their "gut feeling" or instincts.
@deedee328 (1122)
• United States
21 Dec 10
You are welcome, Auntiescarf. I still don't think you should feel bad. Your sister should understand your point of view. She knows her boyfriend and how he treats other people's possessions..... I doubt this will teach the boyfriend anything or make him change. People like that, in my experience at least, just tend to get angry that they didn't get their way and blame everyone but themselves. They rarely see their own part of things.
20 Dec 10
Thank you, I do always try to trust my instincts but then I feel bad that I didnt do what my sister wanted. Thank you for your response!
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
20 Dec 10
I seriously think you did the right thing and I would have done the same thing and said no. Speeding around expecially in the snow is so dangerous plus I just wouldn't want anything to happen to my car. I also think that lending out a car you will be looking for trouble. Things happen even to the best driver that is why I wouldn't lend it out. Especially nine times out of ten the people who want to borrow a car don't have the money to repair it if they do something to damage the car. So its just not wise to lend it out to anyone at anytime in my opinion.
1 person likes this
20 Dec 10
Thank you, I know that they wouldnt have the money right now to sort out any accidents, and because he is with my sister I would feel bad telling them that they had to pay as they have a little baby as well and I wouldnt want to do anything that would take anything away from that little girl. So at least this way I wont have to deal with that.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
21 Dec 10
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
20 Dec 10
Auntiescarf, No offense here, but he can take the bus or walk to his workplace for all I care. Coming from how he treats his family car where food leftovers and trash could be found in the car just speaks volume about the garb he is. So, I really have to stand on your side of the fence here. I mean he's really turning his car into a mobile bio hazard besides the obnoxious odor that is coming from the car, it will be an ideal site for pests manifestation. I just hate the feeling of even being a passenger in that car, especially after a recent ride on a taxi in India where there were cockroaches in it. So, you are spot on to refuse him your car. Come to think of it, he does not need a car but a garbage truck...tell him I said this! Take care and compliments of the season.
20 Dec 10
Hahaha, thanks for that response it made me laugh. To be honest I know I could clean the car if he left it in a mess (or just scream and shout until he does) but its the way he drives that was really worrying me, especially with the snow and ice right now. Thank you for making me laugh, I can imagine he would be quite happy in a garbage truck!
@kodukodu84 (1569)
• Malaysia
21 Dec 10
Well if I was you then I would definitely not agree to let him borrow it until his car is fixed. Just the way he drives is already horrible. Sounds exactly like my elder brother who is always trying to race other unknown people on the road. It is not wise and not safe to do that. It is your car and you have a right to say no, you have it because you need it too. Otherwise you would have not worked hard for it. Thanks for sharing and have a nice day
1 person likes this
21 Dec 10
Thank you, it seems like there are a lot of people who like to race unknown people on the road, I dont drive like this so wouldnt want anyone driving my car like that either. Thank you very much for your response!
• India
21 Dec 10
You are justified with your action. The people who respects other people belongings are the one will have to pay for it. Most of the time I have experienced people taking advantages of it. They are too careless while handling other belongings. For them "Who cares! After all its not mine". So how can we help someone who has been so careless about his own belongings and would care for other one.
1 person likes this
21 Dec 10
Exactly, some people dont care if it does not belong to them, however I would look after someone else's property like it was my own, but some people dont see it this way. Thank you very much for your reponse!
• Mexico
21 Dec 10
You did absolutely right, even if you handt hadn't had some would call a "good reason" not to lend him your car, wich you actually did, and very good ones... it still is YOUR car, and its totally up to you wether you lend it or not, or who or why you lend it. The thing is you dont need a reason to say NO, you paid for the car, and you are the one paying all its bills.. that along with him not being disabled or anything. Im sure he managed just fine to get to work on time, so asking for your car probably had more to do with lazziness than actually needing the car. If you ask me, you had every reason not to allow a guy like that take your car. Hope i helped! Greetings!
1 person likes this
21 Dec 10
Thank you, I did forget that I could just say no without a reason, I always feel better if I have reasons to justify my decision as I dont like to just say no without reasons. Thank you very much for your response.
@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
21 Dec 10
Oh my heavens, Auntiescarf, I'm sure glad you DIDN'T loan your car to that guy! What if he gets it smashed up! And does the insurance even cover a secondary driver? For a man who's very irresponsible, you did exactly the right thing by refusing to loan your car, as you might not even HAVE a car after he's done with it, especially in the icy conditions. Please don't be hard on yourself, okay? It's okay to say "no" sometimes.