running two cars, is it worth it?
Discussion
Can't argue the maths on that Rob.
I guess my thinking is that a CLS63 is in effect a thirstier version of my E-Class. For the £4k that E-Class cost me as well as associated costs, I could effectively have just put that money into the petrol tank of my CLS and used that for the same amount of driving I do week to week. My E-Class as a daily car over the CLS is overkill really probably down to minimal mileage (10k at most) but as mentioned by the chap with the Clio 172, I'd rather park my 100k+ mileage E Class in the multi storey day to day over my mint sub-20k CLS.
I will put my hands up and say that for me, owning those two cars side by side probably doesn't save me money. Let alone the other two RenaultSports I have sitting at home haha.
I guess my thinking is that a CLS63 is in effect a thirstier version of my E-Class. For the £4k that E-Class cost me as well as associated costs, I could effectively have just put that money into the petrol tank of my CLS and used that for the same amount of driving I do week to week. My E-Class as a daily car over the CLS is overkill really probably down to minimal mileage (10k at most) but as mentioned by the chap with the Clio 172, I'd rather park my 100k+ mileage E Class in the multi storey day to day over my mint sub-20k CLS.
I will put my hands up and say that for me, owning those two cars side by side probably doesn't save me money. Let alone the other two RenaultSports I have sitting at home haha.
What running two cars does, is it makes you consider a frugal and relative shed (some just can't put up with this) to preserve condition mileage etc of another car. It usually comes when the nicer car is a keeper or passion, essentially a car that often without you realising stops you looking at/or at least purchasing anything else for a few years or even a decade or so.
That's where it can save you money, you work through a few depreciation proof sheds (to be fair when you are older you can insure some decent spec'd old bangers with lots of creature comforts) whilst keeping your now pride and joy. Before you know it you are happy with the mix and in a no finance payments situation. Two cars can make it easier to start DIY servicing as there is no pressure to always fix the car quickly so you can make mistakes and it won't give you hassle. This is turn can lead to almost zero reliance on garages which can save you loads (albeit at the expense of your time - although most who get to this stage don't begrudge it)
Let's face it cars are costly whatever route you take, I think it's worth having more than one!
That's where it can save you money, you work through a few depreciation proof sheds (to be fair when you are older you can insure some decent spec'd old bangers with lots of creature comforts) whilst keeping your now pride and joy. Before you know it you are happy with the mix and in a no finance payments situation. Two cars can make it easier to start DIY servicing as there is no pressure to always fix the car quickly so you can make mistakes and it won't give you hassle. This is turn can lead to almost zero reliance on garages which can save you loads (albeit at the expense of your time - although most who get to this stage don't begrudge it)
Let's face it cars are costly whatever route you take, I think it's worth having more than one!
zebra said:
Running two cars is a waste.
That's why you have to run three....
I run a hatchback for day to day travel, an Elise for weekends and an Exige V6 Cup when only track time will do.
This man speaks much sense.That's why you have to run three....
I run a hatchback for day to day travel, an Elise for weekends and an Exige V6 Cup when only track time will do.
I also run three for similar reasons to those stated above. Shed for day to day, VX220 for weekends/track, race car for pretending I know what I'm doing and pouring money into.
last few threads above have demonstrated sense.
biggest waste in my life was getting new uber german/swede/brit/jap stuff and suffering outrageous depreciation.
buying fun cars often means zero depreciation, just leaving running costs. for my hobby thats a (smallish price worth paying.
buy the right car and keep it for several years and it's a very small cost overall.
currently running 7 cars and enjoying it, despite obvious costs and hassles.
biggest waste in my life was getting new uber german/swede/brit/jap stuff and suffering outrageous depreciation.
buying fun cars often means zero depreciation, just leaving running costs. for my hobby thats a (smallish price worth paying.
buy the right car and keep it for several years and it's a very small cost overall.
currently running 7 cars and enjoying it, despite obvious costs and hassles.
Not gonna comment on the money side but ....
Driving a "Boring" car all week then getting in the Sports car on the Weekend is so rewarding!
I have a PT Cruiser and a MK2 MR2
Getting in the MR2 after a week of driving the PT feels like getting out of a 4 Engined Bomber into a Fighter Plane!
Driving a "Boring" car all week then getting in the Sports car on the Weekend is so rewarding!
I have a PT Cruiser and a MK2 MR2
Getting in the MR2 after a week of driving the PT feels like getting out of a 4 Engined Bomber into a Fighter Plane!
Ozzie Osmond said:
Equally, driving an "interesting" car for an hour a week while driving a "dull" car for 8 hours a week seems completely back-to-front.
I guess it depends what roads you drive on in the week. I'm mainly motorway, where I'd genuinely rather be in my 3 series than in an Elise, and furthermore I'd genuinely rather be in a quieter base spec 3 series than an M3 on wide noisy 19s. When I had a B road commute though I did indeed flip things on its head: I had an Elise as a daily driver for the lovely twisty commute, and eventually got a 3 series for mundane duties.This topic also depends on your definition of dull and what you enjoy about driving: my daily drivers or 'dull' cars have always been rear drive with a manual gearbox - there's no way on this earth I'd ever want an auto or something front wheel drive, even if I had ten other cars. With something balanced like a 3 series I do still enjoy driving through twisties, just not as much as in a sports car.
What remains true though for me is that all cars are a compromise, and life is too diverse to get by with one car, for me at least. I'd be genuinely miserable after a while if I only had an M5 or an M3.
Edited by RobM77 on Tuesday 27th September 18:08
It works out for me running two vehicles - but staggered so that only one is 'in use' at any given time, while the other is kept under cover but ready to use if the daily goes pop. In the highly unlikely event of them popping at the same time - I may have to get a third fun motor as backup (man-maths in full swing here).
The MG is for a couple of months during the summer when the fun roads are in good condition and the Discovery is for the rest of the year when the same roads are covered in flints and mud. The MG is currently being used as a daily while the Disco has some welding done (yep - MOT tester found something I hadn't) and then gets mothballed next week until the spring.
The two are roughly interchangeable (kind of) in terms of running costs. Both do 25 MPG, both cost virtually the same in insurance and fall into the same VED bracket. Both have towbars for the occasional trailer-pulling duties, both can be used practically everyday. I just swap my insurance over on-line from the Disco to MG or visa versa (costs nothing but the difference in premium) - and refund the tax on one at the very end of the month and tax the other on the first of the following month. The additional expenses are two MOTs and Services per year - the latter of which I DIY together in a job lot.
Not the most cost-effective or elegant solution - but it enables me to have fun with two vehicles at completely opposite ends of the motoring spectrum!
The MG is for a couple of months during the summer when the fun roads are in good condition and the Discovery is for the rest of the year when the same roads are covered in flints and mud. The MG is currently being used as a daily while the Disco has some welding done (yep - MOT tester found something I hadn't) and then gets mothballed next week until the spring.
The two are roughly interchangeable (kind of) in terms of running costs. Both do 25 MPG, both cost virtually the same in insurance and fall into the same VED bracket. Both have towbars for the occasional trailer-pulling duties, both can be used practically everyday. I just swap my insurance over on-line from the Disco to MG or visa versa (costs nothing but the difference in premium) - and refund the tax on one at the very end of the month and tax the other on the first of the following month. The additional expenses are two MOTs and Services per year - the latter of which I DIY together in a job lot.
Not the most cost-effective or elegant solution - but it enables me to have fun with two vehicles at completely opposite ends of the motoring spectrum!
In my experience it is worth it if you:
a) can afford two very good very different cars
b) like running two very different very cheap cars
Anything in between and you might as well just drive one very good car as either the expense or the lack of use stops it being worth it. Some people just like owning two cars so fair play to them.
a) can afford two very good very different cars
b) like running two very different very cheap cars
Anything in between and you might as well just drive one very good car as either the expense or the lack of use stops it being worth it. Some people just like owning two cars so fair play to them.
Ozzie Osmond said:
Equally, driving an "interesting" car for an hour a week while driving a "dull" car for 8 hours a week seems completely back-to-front.
Nicely put! I bought a BMW Z4 Coupe 2 years ago because I had always wanted one, and I had a pension lump sum to spend!
But I knew my nonagenarian mother couldn't get in and out of it (and I visit her once or twice a week, with medical appointments every couple of weeks) so I bought a cheap Mazda 323f for that.
6 months on I realised I was doing 75% of my driving in the Mazda, and it was miserable! So I sold it and bought an E46 325ti Compact - much better!
Makes no economic sense at all with 2 x Band K RFL and 2 x insurance, but I'm much happier!
Jimmy Recard said:
OP - what is this 'older petrol turbo car'? Just out of interest. You may be able to get some advice on how to save money running it.
If you just fancy a new car, ignore me and use the excuse
I could buy a new car I guess for the price of my 2 oldest ( combined total of over 40 years old )If you just fancy a new car, ignore me and use the excuse
I prefer driving my old cronks though
RDMcG said:
Economic madness,,,,I still run 6.
Me too,MX5 for fun.
Ford Ranger pickup for carrying, towing, bad weather.
Triumph Tiger for more fun.
Type 2 VW Camper for holiday trips (more fun).
Diesel Fiesta for every day cheap transport.
Series 2a landrover for off-roading (even more fun).
At least three of them are appreciating more than they cost me to run each year so they don't really count though.
OP, run one car based on economics alone and get something that you'll enjoy that will hopefully also appreciate in value.
Just do your bike test if not already. Buy a diesel estate and then fill up the garage with bikes, you'll need:
A commuter bike - CBF500
Tourer - Sprint ST
Supersports - Daytona 675
Super-naked - Aprilia Tuono
Off Road - CRF250
One to polish - Ducati Panigale 1299
One to ride when growing a beard - Street Twin
Plus spare
Street Triple R
A commuter bike - CBF500
Tourer - Sprint ST
Supersports - Daytona 675
Super-naked - Aprilia Tuono
Off Road - CRF250
One to polish - Ducati Panigale 1299
One to ride when growing a beard - Street Twin
Plus spare
Street Triple R
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