Can I ask how bad your prior car was? When I was driving a shitbox, not only did it look like hell (giving me anxiety about dating), but it was very unreliable. I had the ability to fix most things, but it meant unplanned use of time and expense for tools and parts. It was a constant source of anxiety whether the car would start and I’d make it to work on time or have to pivot to make sure I could take care of adult responsibilities. Forget about road trips. Thats just asking for trouble. So when I finally got a decent car in both appearance and function, it was a huge point of pride and relief.

If your prior car was decent enough, then not having a large reaction to a slightly better car is perfectly normal, I would think.