How many cars is enough?

[billzeebub]

37

[rehab71]

My FIL has 9 cars (I think) 6 of which are all at home and 4 of those 6 are two seaters and one 2+2 and an estate. That's the way to do it. 3 are V8s!

[DonkeyApple]

jamieduff1981 said:

Riley Blue said:

jamieduff1981 said:

I don't, but I can. Plus, hardly anyone wants to drive to some remote locked garage to get another car out to go for a drive.

I know loads of people who do just that! I walk twenty five minutes to my lock up.

There are loads of people who don't find time to drive a toy car sat a few paces away due to work and family commitments etc. An hour's round trip on foot just to get to the car and back would absolutely garuntee many such cars including my own toy cars would never see light of day until sold again.

I'm certainly envious of RB for having enough time to walk 25 mins each way and also for being able to do it on his own.

I bought one car in 2010 and put it in storage then a child came along and it's been there ever since, only ever driven it once. In 2011 I bought another car, by then another child was on its way, used that car for 6 months once it had been restored and then put it in storage back in 2012 and haven't driven that since!

Definitely, in some scenarios, a car is only used if you can keep it at home.

Bloody children.

[ShaunTheSheep]

I'm going to try 1 all rounder (due the Golf R deal arrival in August).

I was at 5 but got seriously hacked off with it

• road tax renewals, why the hell isn't this automatic in this day and age
• washing 5 cars takes the best part of a day. Forget polishing you don't have time. Ever!
• losing the will to live with insurance changes, administering a 5 car policy is cruel and unusual punishment

But the biggest problem? Shuffling cars on the driveway. All the other problems, there were many more than I can be bothered listing, weren't as bad as this one.

Never again

[B.J.W]

My garage

Nissan Navarra for work/shooting/load lugging

Fiat 500 (Lady B's) for city driving and weekends away when parking is at a premium and we want to save on fuel

VW camper van for long weekends/adventures

Westfield V8 (soon to be arriving) for drives out/hooning and making lots of noise. I also need a V8 in my life due to a pre-diagnosed medical condition.

[Ecosseven]

ShaunTheSheep said:

I'm going to try 1 all rounder (due the Golf R deal arrival in August).

I was at 5 but got seriously hacked off with it

• road tax renewals, why the hell isn't this automatic in this day and age
• washing 5 cars takes the best part of a day. Forget polishing you don't have time. Ever!
• losing the will to live with insurance changes, administering a 5 car policy is cruel and unusual punishment

But the biggest problem? Shuffling cars on the driveway. All the other problems, there were many more than I can be bothered listing, weren't as bad as this one.

Never again

for me 2 cars is best - one sensible daily driver and one toy. I have enough space for more cars on the drive but the previous poster is right. The amount of time and money it takes to run 2 cars in significant. Having 3 or more on the road at the same time would really annoy me after a short time. I often think about buying a classic for occasional use but, and I'm sure I'll get flamed for this on here, there is more to life that owning and running cars!

Edited by Ecosseven on Friday 20th June 21:48

[MichalPH]

Ecosseven & ShaunTheSheep - You have a point.

Thats what I'm worried about - that while trying do earn enough to fuel/tax/insure 4 cars I'll only have time to drive one... We also plan to have children soon so it won't get any better. Decisions, decisions.

Michal

Edited by MichalPH on Friday 20th June 19:36

[E24man]

I am trying to get my perfect set-up;

1. Classic car, BMW M635 CSi
2. Estate car, Alpina B10 4.6 Touring
3. Limousine, Alpina B12 5.0, 5.7 or 6.0
4. Convertible, wifes Audi S4 cab
5. Winter beater for me while my other three cower in the garage.

Edited by E24man on Saturday 21st June 07:16

[GT03ROB]

slipstream 1985 said:

GT03ROB said:

1 per driver in the house!

you have a ten bedroom house right?

Not quite!!

But the question about how many is enough if asked seriously, leads to only 1 real answer which is how many can you drive at the same time? Given that I work away the whole time, my wife has the choice of six. Which does she use the most? A 2002 rust bucket, scratched, scuffed grubby Ford Ka with a wonky steering wheel.

The Ka needs a service, the A3 is OK but needs the turbo replacing as it's on the way out, the RRS a/c is on the blink so like a furnace in the summer. The GT3 & Lotus are SORN'd at present. She's off on a longish drive to her dads this weekend & this means the only car she has is the Boxster, which had a flat battery yesterday!

So when I get back in the UK for a week, in 10 days my main job seems to be getting the cars sorted. Insurance is easy (1 policy); road tax (5 mins online); its the servicing, maintenance & MOT'ing that just eats your time and ultimately sets the limit. This sometimes feels like a full time job in itself. If I could have someone just take care of that it would be great!!

[shanes2k]

little collection i had about two years ago
honda civic type r ep3
honda prelude 2.0
honda crx
honda civic type r fn2

[Matt UK]

Prizam said:

Never have more cars than you can keep on your drive / garage.

I was going to answer "how big is your barn?", but in the real world this I think is a good answer.

[GG89]

1 is enough for me, and a van for work.

I find it a pain in the arse taxing, MOT and insuring them as it is a lot of cars would be more a hindrance than a pleasure for me.

[Mr Tidy]

I only have 2 parking spaces, so I have 2 cars.
One daily driver and a toy, and to be fair I would get fed up keeping any more taxed, insured and maintained.
I did have 2 cars and 3 bikes for a while before I got married and it was a real pain.
No bikes now - when the missus went the house (and therefore garage) went so the bikes had to go the same way.

[slipstream 1985]

Stu R said:

N+1,

Where N = current number of cars.

Is the only correct answer to this thread.

[donnydave]

The most I've had is 4 when overlapping from selling/buying. I think 4 is the optimum. Daily shed, premium barge, fast road/track toy and then some sort of estate or similarly large car for tip runs or generally carting big stuff around. Currently have 2, daily shed and weekend fast thing.

[Blib]

A friend of mine owns 15 Alfas of various vintages & a classic mini.

[E24man]

E24man said:

I am trying to get my perfect set-up;

1. Classic car, BMW M635 CSi
2. Estate car, Alpina B10 4.6 Touring
3. Limousine, Alpina B12 5.0, 5.7 or 6.0
4. Convertible, wifes Audi S4 cab
5. Winter beater for me while my other three cower in the garage.

Edited by E24man on Saturday 21st June 07:16

Well done for the thread revival - since I posted the above I have completed number 3. (above) by purchasing a 1997 Alpina B12 5.7 L.

My winter beater is currently an Alpina B10 V8 Touring.

[RDMcG]

No good answer,as it depends on your usage and whether you have more than one home. At a functional level,enough is one per frequent driver,excluding pure business use ( say a delivery van).

Add a fun factor and it can grow to the limit of your wallet.

[B'stard Child]

Matt UK said:

Prizam said:

Never have more cars than you can keep on your drive / garage.

I was going to answer "how big is your barn?", but in the real world this I think is a good answer.

Definately this for me, space for 2 motorcycles and two cars in the garage and 4 comfortably on the drive although 3 on the drive looks less 3.142key and I have squeezed 5 on there but that did mean only one had instant access to be used

[Klippie]

I'am quite happy with two cars plus one motorcycle, I used to have two bikes but this tipped the balance of having enough time to look after them properly, I found I was always cleaning / fettling one or them instead of out playing on the roads.