One car fits all, or comfy cruiser and sunny day weapon?
Discussion
I have just been talking via Skype to some friends in California and one was mentioning a thread on an American forum he saw this week.
Essentially, would you prefer a great car that can do everything, maybe the new M5 or M3, perhaps an XFR or maybe even a 911 or Cayman, depending on the amount of flexibility you need; or would you rather go for something like a Golf/Mondeo/CRV and have an Exige/Caterham/TVR/etc for the fun side of motoring?
My pal Glenn has a base model Corvette in San Diego, a 460bhp/460lbft n/a 6.2 litre V8 and he uses that as his daily, so is his choice for one size fits all. 30+ mpg on a run, big enough trunk, a 180 mph car which he paid about £26,000 for new last year. Cheap to service and that engine will do 200,000 miles comfortably without issues as a rule.
But his friends have gone down the route of a 5 or 10 year old V8, eg, and a sports car for the weekends.
Which way would, or do, you do it?
Essentially, would you prefer a great car that can do everything, maybe the new M5 or M3, perhaps an XFR or maybe even a 911 or Cayman, depending on the amount of flexibility you need; or would you rather go for something like a Golf/Mondeo/CRV and have an Exige/Caterham/TVR/etc for the fun side of motoring?
My pal Glenn has a base model Corvette in San Diego, a 460bhp/460lbft n/a 6.2 litre V8 and he uses that as his daily, so is his choice for one size fits all. 30+ mpg on a run, big enough trunk, a 180 mph car which he paid about £26,000 for new last year. Cheap to service and that engine will do 200,000 miles comfortably without issues as a rule.
But his friends have gone down the route of a 5 or 10 year old V8, eg, and a sports car for the weekends.
Which way would, or do, you do it?
t cars. Running two cars is expensive, too, if you don't drive many miles. Ultimately it depends on the roads you drive and the level of traffic.
For me I need something comfortable and refined for my daily drive, driving pleasure takes a back seat because there is very little opportunity to actually enjoy the car. At the weekends and for track days I want something involving and exciting so I'll happily trade refinement and comfort for that in a way that wouldn't be tolerable in my daily drive.
For me I need something comfortable and refined for my daily drive, driving pleasure takes a back seat because there is very little opportunity to actually enjoy the car. At the weekends and for track days I want something involving and exciting so I'll happily trade refinement and comfort for that in a way that wouldn't be tolerable in my daily drive.
Of course not. But no two cars will cover all bases, either, so everything is a compromise. I just can't imagine owning a good car and leaving it sitting there while I drive a shed or dull repmobile. I wouldn't want to drive my car at £20 per mile in depreciation, which is what a lot of people tend to do.
Tried one car to do it all (e90 M3), it couldn't.
Too big, too expensive to leave on the street, too costly to do loads of miles in and too fast/competent to enjoy properly on the road.
Lucky in that I have the space to keep a small fleet and pleased that they cost less than the M3 to buy and to run. Between them they are also infinitely better suited to my needs than the M3.
Too big, too expensive to leave on the street, too costly to do loads of miles in and too fast/competent to enjoy properly on the road.
Lucky in that I have the space to keep a small fleet and pleased that they cost less than the M3 to buy and to run. Between them they are also infinitely better suited to my needs than the M3.
swerni said:
ORD said:
Of course not. But no two cars will cover all bases, either, so everything is a compromise. I just can't imagine owning a good car and leaving it sitting there while I drive a shed or dull repmobile. I wouldn't want to drive my car at £20 per mile in depreciation, which is what a lot of people tend to do.
depending on circumstance, one car is never going to cover all the basis and in your logic, be an even bigger compromise than having two. Personally I'd opt for 3 (or maybe 4)
I go for daily snotter and interesting spare car, every time. The snotter does the hard miles, the salt, the rain, the getting reversed into a rock (oops, I should have known that was there, I know the car park), the nice car gets used when I want.
The only danger with this approach is that you can discover that your nice car got used twice last year and covered 300 miles. Then you have a debate.
The only danger with this approach is that you can discover that your nice car got used twice last year and covered 300 miles. Then you have a debate.
Two cars, why make so many compromises on one car which does everything moderately well when you can have two entirely disparate driving experiences to pick and choose between as the feeling takes you.
Can't think of anything worse than driving on track fretting about the damage to the paintwork and the £300 a piece tyres and £1000 brakes.
Can't think of anything worse than driving on track fretting about the damage to the paintwork and the £300 a piece tyres and £1000 brakes.
Why only 2?? Currently on the drive I have 4 cars and a motorbike, all of which have different skill sets.
MX-5 - Daily toy as it's only me in the car mostly and I wanted a convertible.
Range Rover Classic - 5 seats, big boot, tows and I actually use it off road occasionally
Landrover IIA 109 - Used as my towing/ offroader before the RRC arrived and works as a camper while I'm out on shows.
Transit Motorhome - Project to replace the IIA as a camper.
Suzuki GS500E - I wanted a motorbike!
The IIA is being swapped from a Van to a pickup as the RRC and Transit have covered its roles but I don't want to get rid of the old girl and a pickup would bring a different use to the fleet.
Grand total of purchase wouldn't buy you a decent spec new Golf and the the insurance in total is only slightly higher than what I was paying a few years ago for a 106 1.5D on its own.
MX-5 - Daily toy as it's only me in the car mostly and I wanted a convertible.
Range Rover Classic - 5 seats, big boot, tows and I actually use it off road occasionally
Landrover IIA 109 - Used as my towing/ offroader before the RRC arrived and works as a camper while I'm out on shows.
Transit Motorhome - Project to replace the IIA as a camper.
Suzuki GS500E - I wanted a motorbike!
The IIA is being swapped from a Van to a pickup as the RRC and Transit have covered its roles but I don't want to get rid of the old girl and a pickup would bring a different use to the fleet.
Grand total of purchase wouldn't buy you a decent spec new Golf and the the insurance in total is only slightly higher than what I was paying a few years ago for a 106 1.5D on its own.
Since I've been able to afford it and have the space i go for 2 cars. Before that it was a one size fits all hot hatch. I like the flexibility to go anywhere and leave anywhere my cars and go away with them so haven't had much interest in the Caterham style car. I have a Boxster which I used to run alongside various saloon and diesel hatches for the last few years. Now I don't commute by car but still have a need to move more than 2 people on occasion and like the extra comfort when needed so run a C55 Merc and a moped for going to the station. I prefer to buy old enough and cars of the type that the car isn't falling apart but equally doesn't lose any money on the purchase price as well.
swerni said:
ORD said:
Of course not. But no two cars will cover all bases, either, so everything is a compromise. I just can't imagine owning a good car and leaving it sitting there while I drive a shed or dull repmobile. I wouldn't want to drive my car at £20 per mile in depreciation, which is what a lot of people tend to do.
depending on circumstance, one car is never going to cover all the basis and in your logic, be an even bigger compromise than having two. Personally I'd opt for 3 (or maybe 4)
At present i have a very fast 414 bhp German V8 coupe with a great, good fun screaming engine, a huge 566 bhp 7,000rpm Yank V8 in a 2-seat sports car, a 2015 Mondeo 240 bhp petrol for holidays and shopping and load carrying and a 210 bhp Ducati for sunny days and trips to bike Grand Prix, etc..
I simply couldn't find one car to do all i want, but i guess the newest Corvette would come closest for me. The base 6.2 litre version. it's a fine car with 460 bhp, a decent boot and great handling.
Because the man is apparently debating the best way to spend his money when he clearly has enough of it and the space to do what the bloody hell he likes.
It would be like a child "debating" whether to buy chocolate *or* fruit gums *or* crisps (or all 3) when Granny has just given him a fiver and he already has all 3 back at the house.
It would be like a child "debating" whether to buy chocolate *or* fruit gums *or* crisps (or all 3) when Granny has just given him a fiver and he already has all 3 back at the house.
Of course not. You can ask about anything. However it's at best disingenuous to ask an "either-or" question when you have the funds to buy both or indeed do anything you please.
Cue Mrs heir-to-the-throne debating whether to buy that silk blouse in cream or pale blue. Which one is better? Answer - it doesn't bloody matter love, get them both and save us all a load of time.
Cue Mrs heir-to-the-throne debating whether to buy that silk blouse in cream or pale blue. Which one is better? Answer - it doesn't bloody matter love, get them both and save us all a load of time.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff