Do you use your toy?
Discussion
the hack does around 15k miles a year plus business.
no car but the Harley doesn't come out until its 10deg C and dry, working shifts limits my ability to ride weekdays, being on standby stops me from riding 1 in 3 weekends.
1-1.5k miles a year to the coast or to Rallys but its going nowhere! Its worth keeping for those few moments when I can actually go ride it.
no car but the Harley doesn't come out until its 10deg C and dry, working shifts limits my ability to ride weekdays, being on standby stops me from riding 1 in 3 weekends.
1-1.5k miles a year to the coast or to Rallys but its going nowhere! Its worth keeping for those few moments when I can actually go ride it.
I went from 8 miles a day to something like 100 a few years back and lost all interest in mine (Monaro), so I stuck it in the garage whilst I Diesel'd it everyday. I'm back to low miles but work still keeps me away from home, so the Monaro and bike sit for months on end. I intend to change that, but the last couple of years the Monaro has been to service/MOT and back and nothing else (120 miles tops). Sadface.
Yes. We have three cars in total : Mercedes 190e, Mazda mx5 and XK120 OTS. The latter gets used more if the weather is reasonable as it's a pretty Spartan device but great fun. I'm not a great fan of polishing it up and going to shows to let the riff-raff gawp, but maybe do a couple of smaller shows and lots of trips around local countryside (NE Scotland) The other two are in regular use and have to live outside the garage. They get inside for things like gearbox oil change where the pit is a godsend.
I use my MX-5 quite a bit these days(5k limited policy though anyway) I think a lot comes down to how affordable a car it is. It means I'm not worried about the next lot of TAX, insurance, maintenance etc... so I can afford to just drive it for fun. I'm also not worried about bending it (as much as I'd prefer not to) as it didn't cost much and neither would replacing it 
Back when I had my Elise, these things were all a much bigger worry.
Back when I had my Elise, these things were all a much bigger worry.
This thread makes me sad...
TVR not doing many miles these days due to work commitments, unsuitability as a daily and not enough seats. Not been out since new years day and will probably sell this year.
Saab T16S is a keeper but not turned a wheel in 18 months and needs recommissioning but blocked in garage by 3 other cars and I have no time.
Miles shared between 2 other cars, BMW e36 cab and increasingly tired Saab 9000.
Plan is to sell TVR, buy a z4 which will be more useful, sell e36 and scrap/sell/part out 9000 and buy an e39 for daily...
TVR not doing many miles these days due to work commitments, unsuitability as a daily and not enough seats. Not been out since new years day and will probably sell this year.
Saab T16S is a keeper but not turned a wheel in 18 months and needs recommissioning but blocked in garage by 3 other cars and I have no time.
Miles shared between 2 other cars, BMW e36 cab and increasingly tired Saab 9000.
Plan is to sell TVR, buy a z4 which will be more useful, sell e36 and scrap/sell/part out 9000 and buy an e39 for daily...
wormus said:
Claudia Skies said:
Yup, IMO a car that's not being used is a car that should be sold.
Except when you know you will regret selling?I have almost regretted selling it several times in the last two years ... only thing that offset that was a) I sold it to a really great bloke and we're still in touch and b) I've found another passion to replace it ... which Mrs EL shares.
MC Bodge said:
My bike now only gets used for (decent, rural) commuting 2-3 days a week (other than Jan-Feb)and too occasional mornings and days out in the summer,
A lot of bikes and sports cars are probably treated similarly, though.
Used to use it a lot more, other things have been getting in the way recently. Determined to use it more this year. Maybe.sjj84 said:
My R1 has done about 100 miles a year for the last 3 or so years. Gets taken for an mot, which is about a 5 mile round trip and probably one other ride a week later, then it just sits.
Not worth enough to sell though. My cost per mile must be horrendous. Even bought new leathers and helmet last year.
??????Not worth enough to sell though. My cost per mile must be horrendous. Even bought new leathers and helmet last year.
A lot of bikes and sports cars are probably treated similarly, though.
I owned a TVR Chimaera as a toy which I owned for 7 blissful years, I bought when I was single and was using it regularly, the following year I met my wife to be who didn't like it, so mileage dropped. 1st son was born 2 years later, mileage dropped further, at this point the car was not used for weeks at a time. Started thinking I should sell it, after a lot of soul searching decided not to. Another 2 years on 2nd son born. Car now virtually a static exhibit in the garage, car started to cost money. Sold last summer with a heavy heart. Still miss it. 😥
Depends on the value of the toy for me.
I picked up an Ibiza 2.0 GTI for £350 as a track-hack, to be driven until dead.
After actively trying to kill the thing (routinely did way more consecutive laps than it should've done without coming in, brake fade regularly ignored, generally treated like a wh*re) it became clear that it was a sort of genetic freak.
I therefore started taking the thing everywhere, my DD mkiv Supra suddenly became the 'toy'. After enjoying the sweet FWD handling and ample power (and even passing a bloody MOT!) for 9 months or so, I sold the thing for a profit. I can imagine this happening again were I to purchase another cheap toy, however impractical.
Different story for those of us who have proper toys ofcourse. Were I to have a nice TVR wrapped up in the garage, it may be a different story. I'd like to think I'd manage afew thousand miles a year minimum, regardless of what the toy was.
Also depends on what type of use you require of your car. If the toy isn't a realistic proposition for any kind of daily drive, you really have to make time for it or its pointless.
I picked up an Ibiza 2.0 GTI for £350 as a track-hack, to be driven until dead.
After actively trying to kill the thing (routinely did way more consecutive laps than it should've done without coming in, brake fade regularly ignored, generally treated like a wh*re) it became clear that it was a sort of genetic freak.
I therefore started taking the thing everywhere, my DD mkiv Supra suddenly became the 'toy'. After enjoying the sweet FWD handling and ample power (and even passing a bloody MOT!) for 9 months or so, I sold the thing for a profit. I can imagine this happening again were I to purchase another cheap toy, however impractical.
Different story for those of us who have proper toys ofcourse. Were I to have a nice TVR wrapped up in the garage, it may be a different story. I'd like to think I'd manage afew thousand miles a year minimum, regardless of what the toy was.
Also depends on what type of use you require of your car. If the toy isn't a realistic proposition for any kind of daily drive, you really have to make time for it or its pointless.
I had very little use of my Cerbera last year. I just didn't feel the desire to drive it. I've actually just SORNed it since the tax and insurance were due and I've got no intention of driving it any time soon. Local roads have too much wet mud on them from vehicles running up verges due to no passing places. It just makes for a crap drive pussy footing around and bringing the car back caked in crap.
Very little use of my Westfield SEiGHT - so much so that it's going on the market
My E21 has been in storage since October. I took it out for a run a few weeks ago and damaged the sump on a lump of brick - it's been at the specialist since waiting for parts
My T5 Camper saw very little use last year due to travel taking a back seat to a wedding. It's on probation this year. As my most expensive vehicle asset, I can't afford to have it sitting on the drive doing nothing when the money could be invested elsewhere
My E21 has been in storage since October. I took it out for a run a few weeks ago and damaged the sump on a lump of brick - it's been at the specialist since waiting for parts
My T5 Camper saw very little use last year due to travel taking a back seat to a wedding. It's on probation this year. As my most expensive vehicle asset, I can't afford to have it sitting on the drive doing nothing when the money could be invested elsewhere
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