downgrading car lifestyle
Discussion
I have had many performance cars and still have a number of them.
However, there is a reality of age and capability.
In the next few years I will dispose of the majority of them purely due to the fact of being 75. I would expect that I will get rid of every track-focused car and a number of autobahnstormers, and my final period will be a good and comfortable SUV and a city runabout. Not a financial decision but it would be a shame for great cars to sit unused.
No regrets.
However, there is a reality of age and capability.
In the next few years I will dispose of the majority of them purely due to the fact of being 75. I would expect that I will get rid of every track-focused car and a number of autobahnstormers, and my final period will be a good and comfortable SUV and a city runabout. Not a financial decision but it would be a shame for great cars to sit unused.
No regrets.
Surprised no one has brought this up:
‘
"Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford."
— Samuel Johnson
Boswell and Johnson were discussing whether or not Boswell's affection for London would wear thin should he choose to live there, as opposed to the zest he felt on his occasional visits. (Boswell lived in Scotland, and visited only periodically. Some people are surprised to learn that Boswell and Johnson were far from inseparable over the last twenty years of Johnson's life, the period Boswell knew him.)
This discussion happened on September 20, 1777, and Johnson, someone who hated to spend time alone, was always going out and enjoying what London had to offer.’
Substitute cars for London
I’m going in the opposite direction, too many great cars to try, too little time!
(However I totally get the appeal if something small simple and not too expensive, every holiday hire car reminds me that ‘ordinary’ csrs are staggeringly good these days.)
‘
"Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford."
— Samuel Johnson
Boswell and Johnson were discussing whether or not Boswell's affection for London would wear thin should he choose to live there, as opposed to the zest he felt on his occasional visits. (Boswell lived in Scotland, and visited only periodically. Some people are surprised to learn that Boswell and Johnson were far from inseparable over the last twenty years of Johnson's life, the period Boswell knew him.)
This discussion happened on September 20, 1777, and Johnson, someone who hated to spend time alone, was always going out and enjoying what London had to offer.’
Substitute cars for London
I’m going in the opposite direction, too many great cars to try, too little time!
(However I totally get the appeal if something small simple and not too expensive, every holiday hire car reminds me that ‘ordinary’ csrs are staggeringly good these days.)
Gericho said:
No. I am going in the opposite direction because time is running out and the future looks terrible. What is there to look forward to? Super expensive cars, barren interiors, and more technology that restricts your freedoms.
I hope to look back when I'm almost dead and be thankful for all the cars I enjoyed before it was all taken away or destroyed.
Sort of the same for me. I hope to look back when I'm almost dead and be thankful for all the cars I enjoyed before it was all taken away or destroyed.
I got rid of an F-Pace SVR last summer (that I’d had for 18 months from brand new - a treat to me for working hard) and switched to a 2014 Freelander 2. It was the multiple attempted thefts that broke the camel’s back but, prior to that, car park dings, my wife pranging it in a car park and then someone crashing into it all just made it a very stressful ownership.
It was a joy and a relief to be driving around in something I didn’t need to worry about but that also had enough character to make it interesting to someone enthusiastic about cars.
That being said, life is also too short and they’re going to make ownership more difficult in the future, so I’m currently after ticking the V12 box and forever on Autotrader looking at DB11s and Vanquishes.
When my Tuscan went up in literal smoke, I bought a 2003 Z4 to replace it temporarily. I don't like it as a car at all - but I _do_ like it not costing money, and not caring about it at all.
Need to replace it with something that sits somewhere in the middle. Currently considering a Monaro...
Need to replace it with something that sits somewhere in the middle. Currently considering a Monaro...
I’ve not really downgraded but hedged my bets. 911 is sitting in the garage blocked in by our little Citigo runaround. Most days I wake up depressed with the state of the country, read stories about nice cars being nicked or vandalised and decide to drive the Skoda, But occasionally, the sun is out, Doris and Mildred have decided to not clog the roads with their Hyundai i10s and out the 911 comes. A few hours later, life seems good……..
Yep, went from various modified hot hatches, and now pootle round in a Citroen C1, I do no mileage these days, so it's not so much of a compromise.
Hard to imagine overall lower running costs. I've been saving for a house move, but I might treat myself to something slightly more PH once that has gone through.
I never lock it, and care not if anyone bashes it in a car park, pot holes etc. The roads around here really are bad these days, so it's one less thing to get stressed about.
Hard to imagine overall lower running costs. I've been saving for a house move, but I might treat myself to something slightly more PH once that has gone through.
I never lock it, and care not if anyone bashes it in a car park, pot holes etc. The roads around here really are bad these days, so it's one less thing to get stressed about.
Gericho said:
No. I am going in the opposite direction because time is running out and the future looks terrible. What is there to look forward to? Super expensive cars, barren interiors, and more technology that restricts your freedoms.
I hope to look back when I'm almost dead and be thankful for all the cars I enjoyed before it was all taken away or destroyed.
How will you know when you're 'almost dead'? Asking for a friend - and the rest of humanity.I hope to look back when I'm almost dead and be thankful for all the cars I enjoyed before it was all taken away or destroyed.
Jaguar iPace, to an Alfa Giuletta QV
And I was very pleased to see the bask of the Jag, the most unreliable car I've ever owned, and whilst I loved the power and the convenience of home charging with it, charging away from home was just to much of a faff/worry.
It's quite liberating being back in something I can just put petrol in! Also something smaller, the iPace was just too wide.
And I was very pleased to see the bask of the Jag, the most unreliable car I've ever owned, and whilst I loved the power and the convenience of home charging with it, charging away from home was just to much of a faff/worry.
It's quite liberating being back in something I can just put petrol in! Also something smaller, the iPace was just too wide.
Not downgraded, more expanded. For a long time I had fun cars then when mortgages came along I had boring cars. When the mortgage went away and we had garage space I went back to fun cars alongside a cheap daily car (that is still fun to drive).
There is a lot to be said for an underpowered, light, compact hatch with a low powered engine. Still plenty of fun to be had driving down twisty roads, keeping momentum (and the revs) up to aid progress. It also means that it keeps the wear and tear down on the nicer fun cars for those couple of days a year when the sun comes out.
If I were only to have one car to do it all though it would have to be a sensible hatchback like a GR Yaris.
There is a lot to be said for an underpowered, light, compact hatch with a low powered engine. Still plenty of fun to be had driving down twisty roads, keeping momentum (and the revs) up to aid progress. It also means that it keeps the wear and tear down on the nicer fun cars for those couple of days a year when the sun comes out.
If I were only to have one car to do it all though it would have to be a sensible hatchback like a GR Yaris.
I've gone from having a car to not having one at all! WFH so don't need one and just drive the mrs' mini when required.
The £500 pm I'm 'saving' is going into clearing my debts and I should be debt free in a couple of months (aside from the mortgage).
Then I'll be on the lookout for a nice weekend car like an MX5
The £500 pm I'm 'saving' is going into clearing my debts and I should be debt free in a couple of months (aside from the mortgage).
Then I'll be on the lookout for a nice weekend car like an MX5
I went through 5 or so years of driving older cars and as per a lot of the comments on here - theres no reason driving a cheap car needs to be dull or boring.
I had stuff like a 2006 6 series, 2006 330i, 2003 R32, 2006 Z4 Coupe, Volvo S40 T5, MG ZT 2.5 v6, Focus ST, Mercedes C350 Coupe, Mercedes C320, Clio 182, Clio 197, Clio 200, etc. Most of that stuff was circa £5K or sub £5K.
I've a up the money M2 now, but i'd have no qualms about "downgrading". To be honest its easier to swap about at older cars too, whereas changing a new er car requires more thought and commitment.
I had stuff like a 2006 6 series, 2006 330i, 2003 R32, 2006 Z4 Coupe, Volvo S40 T5, MG ZT 2.5 v6, Focus ST, Mercedes C350 Coupe, Mercedes C320, Clio 182, Clio 197, Clio 200, etc. Most of that stuff was circa £5K or sub £5K.
I've a up the money M2 now, but i'd have no qualms about "downgrading". To be honest its easier to swap about at older cars too, whereas changing a new er car requires more thought and commitment.
stanlow45 said:
Would’ve expected a lot of downgrading for PCPers after the recent interest rate hikes. Coming to the end of their contract with a fat balloon payment on the cards which would usually would be refinanced with a new contract except rates are vastly more as are monthly repayments. Has anybody dropped off the treadmill? Odd that we haven’t had more of these examples, I guess you don’t post in that situation?
I had a Mk7.5 GTI on PCP. I paid the balloon as nothing new tickled my pickle. I'm sort of looking to change now, but I'd have a real hard time starting a new PCP deal with the choices on the market. Much rather just get a bank loan for the extra, and go for something older. s94wht said:
stanlow45 said:
Would’ve expected a lot of downgrading for PCPers after the recent interest rate hikes. Coming to the end of their contract with a fat balloon payment on the cards which would usually would be refinanced with a new contract except rates are vastly more as are monthly repayments. Has anybody dropped off the treadmill? Odd that we haven’t had more of these examples, I guess you don’t post in that situation?
I had a Mk7.5 GTI on PCP. I paid the balloon as nothing new tickled my pickle. I'm sort of looking to change now, but I'd have a real hard time starting a new PCP deal with the choices on the market. Much rather just get a bank loan for the extra, and go for something older. The Residual - because its been set historically - was relatively low, so a bit of a no brainer.
Exception might be my mechanic who had a new X5 M50d (or some high end moniker like that), which i "think" was on PCP. At what would have been the end of term he bought a 3 year old X7 but i think that was more about space requirements for the family rather than not being able to buy the X5 outright.
Gericho said:
No. I am going in the opposite direction because time is running out and the future looks terrible. What is there to look forward to? Super expensive cars, barren interiors, and more technology that restricts your freedoms.
I hope to look back when I'm almost dead and be thankful for all the cars I enjoyed before it was all taken away or destroyed.
this is right - modern cars interest me less and less - if you want something that isnt a SUV, crossover or a 4cyl turbocharged hatchback you have to spend a lot of money, and buy a Porsche GT3. cos thats about the only manual, 6cyl+ car available now.I hope to look back when I'm almost dead and be thankful for all the cars I enjoyed before it was all taken away or destroyed.
however, looking through the back catalogue, and there are plenty of cars to experience - i've already had an MX5, Nissan 350Z, BMW Z4, and 986 and 987 boxsters... therefore things still to try are an S2000, Mazda RX8, TVR griff/cerb/chim, lotus elise/exige, porsche 997 911, maybe an early Audi R8.
life is too short to settle for a boring car. at least it is if you consider yourself a pistonhead.
SS427 Camaro said:
Crippo said:
After 15 years of Perfromance cars, early morning drives around Wales, countless track days and 2 trips to the North West of Scotland,I have well and truly scratched that itch. Cars keep you poor and they give you stress when they break. I sold my car. Banked the money, got my garage back and now do loads of cycling.
I have no money stress, I’m not going to kill myself or anyone else and my license is no longer in danger. I really dont miss it at all. I look at nice Sports cars and they don’t get my heart rate pounding at all. I have almost zero interest in cars now and I count that as a blessing.
Please tell us about your VX220 Turbo, always loved & still want one of these !I have no money stress, I’m not going to kill myself or anyone else and my license is no longer in danger. I really dont miss it at all. I look at nice Sports cars and they don’t get my heart rate pounding at all. I have almost zero interest in cars now and I count that as a blessing.
I also liked driving with the roof off, in fact I kept the roof off and on,y really drove it when the weather was goo. Not an easy car to drive quickly in bad weather but does keep you engaged.
Not now, if anything going the opposite direction.
But finances have dictated it in years past though, going from a dream supra and ending up in a rover 200 wasnt the dream - but I honestly had so much fun, cheap, easy motoring in that 200 that I actually look back on it pretty fondly. Only cost 300 quid too!
But finances have dictated it in years past though, going from a dream supra and ending up in a rover 200 wasnt the dream - but I honestly had so much fun, cheap, easy motoring in that 200 that I actually look back on it pretty fondly. Only cost 300 quid too!
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