Justifying a Weekend Car

[OutInTheShed]

There's only one 'justification' and that's 'because it's what you want to do with your cash'

See also: Boats and Motorbikes.

To a lot of PHers, you're really only talking pushbike money. .

[Sporky]

Gosh no. Frightfully frivolous and irresponsible.

(I'm only posting this for balance, and so you have one post to push against).

[Mr Tidy]

You'll never be able to justify it rationally!

But if you want one just buy one - life's too short to miss out.

[rocket_ron]

As a fellow tight arse - my advice budget wise : focus on the bigger issue things (eg anything that involves monthly payments - phones, tax, pensions, sofas....). Spend a few quid on something that brings you pleasure.

Also - IME - deciding to learn maintenance on your own car that you enjoy owning reaps long term benefits. Nowadays I'm adept at things like brakes (started at pads, then discs, calipers, brake lines, abs sensors, abs rings, hubs....). All because I bought a nice car that I wanted to keep ticking over. If I'd stuck with a golf then I'd never have bothered.

[PT1984]

OutInTheShed said:

There's only one 'justification' and that's 'because it's what you want to do with your cash'

See also: Boats and Motorbikes.

To a lot of PHers, you're really only talking pushbike money. .

I was going to say. Have you considered a motorbike?

Edited by PT1984 on Saturday 4th May 00:21

[HiAsAKite]

Lifes too short. Just do it

You can always sell it..


(says the guy who bought a TVR 16 years ago, still has it, and doesnt regret a single penny spent on it...

[Another project]

At the end of the day we work hard to provide for our families, there's food in the fridge and the bills are paid a little toy as a reward is a good thing. At least your choice is a bit sensible I had MR2s for the last 10 years

[clive_candy]

Krhuangbin said:

You'll be food for worms one day soon.

Seize the motor.

(literally, and also not)

Made me laugh.

And yes, we regret the stuff we didn't do much more than the stuff we did.

[fflump]

s-x-i said:

Suffering from a bit of indecisiveness so looking for some advice over the potential purchase of a weekend car.

I have always been a Petrolhead (wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t!), but the head has always ruled the heart when it comes to cars.

Currently I have a company car and my wife has a Mini Cooper which are both nice cars, but I have always loved the idea of having a weekend car for a bit of fun and to ‘tinker’ with.

We are fortunate to be in a stable financial position which means it would be financially viable, but I can’t help feel there would be a guilt that the money could have go towards something else be it home improvements or holidays etc. We are not talking crazy money here, around £6-8k.

I have never been the most spontaneous person, much to my wife’s dismay, and I try and live frugally so it kind of goes against my personality.

For those wondering, I am looking at an Abarth 500/595 Convertible. Not everyone’s cup of tea but it ticks most of the boxes for us. Sporting, fast enough, 4 seats, a bit of brand heritage, small enough to fit in the garage, plus my wife has always wanted a convertible so it’s a nice compromise. I have previously had a Panda 100HP and my wife a standard 500 so we have a bit of history with similar cars.

So, lets hear your stories, good, bad and ugly.

Remember you are not blowing £6-8k, only the cost of upkeep plus whatever depreciation you suffer when coming to sell. So it's not like taking a £6k holiday.

I had a weekend car (a Maserati 4200) which cost me £9k and which I sold for £9k. Very positive experience as driving it was an occasion, but if it needed the odd thing seeing too at the local specialist it did not cause stress like being without a daily would have done.

If anything I'd encourage you to look beyond an Abarth 500/595 Convertible. You might find it rather too much like your wife's Mini Cooper.

A bit leftfield but an Alfa Busso GT would offer you something very different to your current cars.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307099...

A convertible 335i?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404249...

Even an S5 soft top?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404098...

[LeeM135i]

After 20 years of dull diesel company cars and vans I bought a W205 C63S coupe, really wanted a V8 before they disappear. Owned it for around 3 years and love the car.

It doesn’t cover a lot of miles, the first year I got to 8k but one of the directors said I could no longer use it for work (to flashy) so it now does around 3k a year. Must cost near £1 a mile in tax, insurance and servicing but it’s well worth it, it just makes me smile.

My advice would be buy something at the bottom of the depreciation curve and keep it in the garage and hopefully you will only have to pay the maintenance / running costs.

If you can afford it, get on and buy one! You only live once.

[keo]

That’s a shame about your director Lee, iv had comments at work on the rare occasion I have used my second car. But I ignore them.

Justifying a second car op? Just do it! Life is short.

[Sporky]

Our CEO described my Alpine as "chuffing awesome".

[fflump]

LeeM135i said:

After 20 years of dull diesel company cars and vans I bought a W205 C63S coupe, really wanted a V8 before they disappear. Owned it for around 3 years and love the car.

It doesn’t cover a lot of miles, the first year I got to 8k but one of the directors said I could no longer use it for work (to flashy) so it now does around 3k a year. Must cost near £1 a mile in tax, insurance and servicing but it’s well worth it, it just makes me smile.

My advice would be buy something at the bottom of the depreciation curve and keep it in the garage and hopefully you will only have to pay the maintenance / running costs.

If you can afford it, get on and buy one! You only live once.

Debadge your C63S and tell your director you’ve traded down. What could possibly go wrong!

[s-x-i]

Well that's pretty unanimous then, as i thought it would be. Time to get browsing the classifieds i think.

Bill said:

I wouldn't consider that a weekend car particularly. Sell the Mini buy the Fiat IMO.

Bill said:

Also, I'm not sure the Fiat is a 4 seater unless your friends are amputees.

On paper is it very similar to the MINI. Chances are though my wife will probably not have this long term and no doubt she will want something more relaxing to drive. She has gotten too used to my company car and now prefers driving it to the MINI. As for the 4 seats, no need to worry about long legs, it's so the dog can join us!

PT1984 said:

I was going to say. Have you considered a motorbike?

This is a big no no! They scare me and it would result in a divorce!

Edited by s-x-i on Monday 6th May 19:55

Edited by s-x-i on Monday 6th May 19:56

[bearman68]

Bought an aircraft last week on a similar premise. Very little depreciation, maybe even a bit of appreciation, and I just like to fly. I think I can afford it.
Going to be dead soon. Might as well have a bit of nerve tingling fun.
If it doesn't work out, I can sell it.

[Philvrs]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024042490...
Id say get a TT roadster, just try to avoid black/white/silver

Just seen the dog comments, i’d go for a 1 series 120i or something.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024021967...

Saying that you can get a 3.0 6 cyl for your budget, petrol costs don’t need to be considered on low mileage usage

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024042991...

Edited by Philvrs on Monday 6th May 22:54

Edited by Philvrs on Monday 6th May 22:58

[Mr_Megalomaniac]

s-x-i said:

Suffering from a bit of indecisiveness so looking for some advice over the potential purchase of a weekend car.

I have always been a Petrolhead (wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t!), but the head has always ruled the heart when it comes to cars.
.....
So, lets hear your stories, good, bad and ugly.

Do it.
When I was 25 I wanted a 370Z and could afford one. I figured, if there's ever a time for it I'll either be 25, unwed, no kids, and with a good back; or 55, married, kids out the door, and bad back.
Was a fantastic decision.

Ironically I'm nearly 40 and ended up buying a classic Mustang, so sometimes life does have a handful of surprises.

[jeremy996]

Find something radically different from your usual wheels - I'm not sure the Abarth is different enough.

As a household, we have a 2023 Ineos Grenadier, a 2012 Fiat 500 Cabriolet, which get used during the working week and a 2000 Mazda MX5 California and a 1972 Morgan 4/4 as occasion cars. The older two don't depreciate, the insurance is low and the Morgan is old enough for free tax and no MOT.

[Jag_NE]

Jesus man just buy it, these threads are tedious.