Downgrade or give up?

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TameRacingDriver

Original Poster:

18,048 posts

271 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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Hi guys. I'm in a bit of a quandary at the moment. Long story short, I'm currently driving a Z4 Coupe which I do like, but I am having numerous and potentially ruinous issues with it. I am also in the midst of moving out from a flat to a house, so I am going to have less money to spend on cars, and I still have a few debts I need to get paid off.

I am thinking of just chopping the car in and getting something else, but sometimes I dunno whether to bother getting anything "PH" now. I find that the opportunities I get to go on a hoon now are getting rarer, the girlfriend hates me driving fast, and I find roads and traffic generally more frustrating.

Part of me feels like I still want a car and don't want to give up completely, but the other part of me thinks what's the point? I mean I will still need a car but I just dunno what to do.

Has anyone been here before? Any advice? Cheers.

Shnozz

27,423 posts

270 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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Not worth getting in financial difficulties for IMO.

I would be minded to get rid. You could always pick up a cheap 3 litre Z4 roadster as a halfway house?

TameRacingDriver

Original Poster:

18,048 posts

271 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
quotequote all
Shnozz said:
Not worth getting in financial difficulties for IMO.

I would be minded to get rid. You could always pick up a cheap 3 litre Z4 roadster as a halfway house?
If I did get another car, I've been thinking of something different. But it would have to be something that wasn't going to ruin me.

Been having thoughts about a Celica T-Sport, MR2 Roadster or Swift Sport. I reckon these would be OK?

ambuletz

10,691 posts

180 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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it's only a car at the end of the day. sell car that's potentially going to cause money problems. buy a cheap reliable runaround and save up until you can afford something nice again. you'll either end up going fond of the new car or feel great when it comes to buying something 'nice.

Rich_W

12,548 posts

211 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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NO car is worth more than the roof over your head!

And tbf. It won't always be like this, so in the future you may find the money to get a nice car again.

dema

358 posts

174 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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I have been in a similar situation in the past. Sold my 3.5 litre V6 for a cheaper car, went through 3 cars in one year (thankfully all were sold for what I paid for), settled on a 1.4 turbo, spent money modifying it, good little car 200hp returning a minimum of 30mpg, but, I find myself keep looking at the classified wanting to change.
Same as you, the wife moans when on a spirited drive plus, the arrival of the first child means that I o my went to a couple of small meetings last year.
I would suggest to keep the Z4 a little bit longer, move, work out exactly how much you can spend and go from there.
Sadly, it is right to say that it is not worth getting into financial difficulties for a car.
I'm hoping to rejoin the fold once we have bought a house and the little one is a bit older

Good luck

Shnozz

27,423 posts

270 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
quotequote all
TameRacingDriver said:
If I did get another car, I've been thinking of something different. But it would have to be something that wasn't going to ruin me.

Been having thoughts about a Celica T-Sport, MR2 Roadster or Swift Sport. I reckon these would be OK?
I think you could do far worse than a Toyota. I had an old celica as a daily shed a few years back. Bought it for about £1k to do daily duties for 12 months. 3 years later it was still going despite having moon mileage, no real servicing other than a quick oil change now and again. It had been danced on at a house party, used and abused and just would not die. Great bit of kit. Big enough hatch to fit enormous loads in, especially with the rear seats down. Could squeeze 4 adults in at a push, happy enough to be thrown around or ambling along a dual carriageway. Only gave it up as the clutch started to go.

andyxxx

1,164 posts

226 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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I think you are also missing the point. You can be mad keen about cars and own a jalopy or even no car at all.

PH is about the love of cars – not just fast and/or exotic ones.

TameRacingDriver

Original Poster:

18,048 posts

271 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
quotequote all
I think you may be a right, I think I need to chop it in. I personally reckon it needs a very minimum of £1K spending and that's probably cutting corners as it is. Double it and perhaps then some if not. I'd need to get another bank loan to afford this, which doesn't strike me as a great idea on a 10 year old BMW!

TameRacingDriver

Original Poster:

18,048 posts

271 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
quotequote all
andyxxx said:
I think you are also missing the point. You can be mad keen about cars and own a jalopy or even no car at all.

PH is about the love of cars – not just fast and/or exotic ones.
To be honest, what I like most is simply driving. It's lovely to own some nice cars, and I have had some pretty nice ones in the past, but I've learned I just like driving in its own right. Therefore, I don't really need anything massively fast, in fact, I'm starting to think on the road too much power is hardly ever usable and rarely makes it more fun. As long as you've enough to get past dawdlers that's enough. smile

Rich_W

12,548 posts

211 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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And if your moving into a house. You'll need an estate car anyway right now biggrin


TameRacingDriver

Original Poster:

18,048 posts

271 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
quotequote all
Rich_W said:
And if your moving into a house. You'll need an estate car anyway right now biggrin
Haha, I thought about a Forester STI but I don't think that will save me money biggrin

Cold

15,207 posts

89 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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Rich_W said:
And if your moving into a house. You'll need an estate car anyway right now biggrin
I'm not convinced the OP's budget will stretch to an RS6 but I like your thinking. thumbup


OP, go cheaper/less ruinous than your current car but move sideways into something more comfy and relaxing. You'll still be able to glean pleasure from driving it's just that it'll be a different kind of joy.

TameRacingDriver

Original Poster:

18,048 posts

271 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
quotequote all
Cold said:
OP, go cheaper/less ruinous than your current car but move sideways into something more comfy and relaxing. You'll still be able to glean pleasure from driving it's just that it'll be a different kind of joy.
ears

Shnozz

27,423 posts

270 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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Cold said:
I'm not convinced the OP's budget will stretch to an RS6 but I like your thinking. thumbup
I got 8 mpg around town. I did get around town very quickly mind.

Rsdop

458 posts

116 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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TameRacingDriver said:
To be honest, what I like most is simply driving. It's lovely to own some nice cars, and I have had some pretty nice ones in the past, but I've learned I just like driving in its own right. Therefore, I don't really need anything massively fast, in fact, I'm starting to think on the road too much power is hardly ever usable and rarely makes it more fun. As long as you've enough to get past dawdlers that's enough. smile
Think it depends where you live but I agree, with traffic in this country too much power is a waste and you can have as much fun in low powered cars. I would spend 2-3k on something like you suggested such as a Swift, MR2 or even a Panda 100HP. Much less likely to throw a big bill at you and also cheaper to run in general.

TameRacingDriver

Original Poster:

18,048 posts

271 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
quotequote all
Rsdop said:
Think it depends where you live but I agree, with traffic in this country too much power is a waste and you can have as much fun in low powered cars. I would spend 2-3k on something like you suggested such as a Swift, MR2 or even a Panda 100HP. Much less likely to throw a big bill at you and also cheaper to run in general.
Exactly, I live in Newcastle. The traffic here is horrendous, and you've got to get out into the countryside to enjoy yourself, but you really don't need loads of power on most roads. The Panda always looks a giggle but that crashy ride is a slight worry for me as its one thing thats jarring a little with the Z4!

It'd also be nice to have a car I didn't worry about so much, I park my Z in a car park that, although nothing has happened yet, feels a little "dodgy" - although it will probably be quite safe given its used by doggers! biggrin

Mastodon2

13,818 posts

164 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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TameRacingDriver said:
Exactly, I live in Newcastle. The traffic here is horrendous, and you've got to get out into the countryside to enjoy yourself, but you really don't need loads of power on most roads. The Panda always looks a giggle but that crashy ride is a slight worry for me as its one thing thats jarring a little with the Z4!

It'd also be nice to have a car I didn't worry about so much, I park my Z in a car park that, although nothing has happened yet, feels a little "dodgy" - although it will probably be quite safe given its used by doggers! biggrin
Horrendous? It's irritating at times but we should be grateful for how lucky we've got it up north. Anyway, buy a cheap, comfy car and a bike. Save money, have more fun.

TameRacingDriver

Original Poster:

18,048 posts

271 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
quotequote all
Mastodon2 said:
Horrendous? It's irritating at times but we should be grateful for how lucky we've got it up north. Anyway, buy a cheap, comfy car and a bike. Save money, have more fun.
Yes, to be fair actually, Edinburgh and Glasgow where I also work are worse - so yeah irritating rather than horrendous!

I'm still waiting for the cheap comfy car suggestions wink

caelite

4,273 posts

111 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
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Surely you could just sleep in the car? Pfft, casuals.