What would PH do? (not a what car!)

[Rich n Em]

Just curious really, as I'm genuinely torn between 3 options...

I'll try and keep this short!

Myself and the wife used to commute together into work, 5 miles a day, so we had a daily slogger and a weekend car (and yes, when the weather was good we walked to work!).

We've both changed jobs, she walks to work and I have a 50 mile commute. So I use the slogger (a Seat Altea) and she walks in and uses the weekend car if necesary (an old but reliable 1998 Porsche Boxster).

Anyway, we've had the lovely news that she's pregnant and this change of circumstances will likely warrant a new car. the problem is, I love my Porsche!

So, do I:

1. Be a man, let the wife use the Altea and commute 50 miles a day in the Porsche.

2. Be a true PH'er, keep the Porsche in the garage, let the wife use the Altea and buy a cheap 2k snotter for motorway wafting (thinking an early S60 D5, Mondeo TDCI etc)

3. Give up the Porsche and buy a nice 7-8k PH friendly motorway cruiser, like a 330d, a newer S60 D5 or an ST220 etc

All the options have pro's and con's!

So, what would you lovely people do in such circumstances?

SWMBO is firmly option 3 and is of the mindset that 3 cars is too expensive and that the Boxster is not practical as a 2nd car as the 3 of us can't fit in it...

I'm a n00b but a long time reader, so please don't throw red bull at me, suggest an MX5 will cure all my woes, tell me that I need more Imagine or suggest anything that might require an Ambwilans...

[randlemarcus]

1) You've got a while before she's too heffalump to fit in the Boxster. Bear in mind that convertibles don't sell well in the winter, and Spring is when you'd need to be selling it. This delays things till then.
2) 911's have back seats for a reason, and 996 Turbos are looking very good value right now.
3) YOU DO NOT NEED A MINIBUS FOR ONE SMALL CHILD AND THE ASSOCIATED STUFF.

[simonrockman]

randlemarcus said:

3) YOU DO NOT NEED A MINIBUS FOR ONE SMALL CHILD AND THE ASSOCIATED STUFF.

Disagree completely.

I went for an Imprezza turbo. But that was 14 years ago.

Simon.

[randlemarcus]

simonrockman said:

randlemarcus said:

3) YOU DO NOT NEED A MINIBUS FOR ONE SMALL CHILD AND THE ASSOCIATED STUFF.

Disagree completely.

Seriously? You'd recommend a Scenic (and the associated emasculation of the OP) for one child?

Funny how I seemed to manage just fine with a Cinquecento Sporting until we went beyond two children.

[Rich n Em]

We have the Altea for general child related duties, that thing is cavernous!

But if say the Seat was in for reapir, we couldn't use the Boxster with only having 2 seats and there being 3 of us... That's her worry.

Agreed, spring is better for selling the soft-top and she's comfy in the Porsche for now - no rush at all.

[fezzafoo]

My brother and sister in law had there first child 6 months ago and the 3 of them, as well as me and the missus, fit in his ford focus (including all associated things in the boot). Agreed completely, definately do not need a minibus, just a bit of organisation maybe?

Back on topic, seems that the only reason the wife cannot use the porsche is due to slightly larger belly area (which only lasts about 6 months), baby seat will go in the back of the boxster so just carry on as normal, you do the good thing and commute in the porsche for 6 months?

Just my 2p.

[chopperR]

Wait til Spring then Option 3. But as mentioned DON'T LET HER MAKE YOU BUY A MINIBUS!

Then wait further til kid is 17, get it driving soonest, get them a car with a few more seats then buy another 2-seater for you (and the Mrs).

Or Option 3 with a 2+2 of some sort...

[chopperR]

fezzafoo said:

baby seat will go in the back of the boxster

Really..?



Where..?

Edited by chopperR on Wednesday 13th October 11:57

[Hitch78]

Rich n Em said:

But if say the Seat was in for reapir, we couldn't use the Boxster with only having 2 seats and there being 3 of us... That's her worry.

.

How often does this happen? Seriously? If it does just hire a car for a couple of days.

Easy decision; keep your balls by keeping the Porsche.

[Rich n Em]

Hitch78 said:

Rich n Em said:

But if say the Seat was in for reapir, we couldn't use the Boxster with only having 2 seats and there being 3 of us... That's her worry.

.

How often does this happen? Seriously? If it does just hire a car for a couple of days.

Easy decision; keep your balls by keeping the Porsche.

Agreed - that's my preferred option, but my only small worry is that it's an old (ish) car that's done maybe 2k this year, would pummelling it down the motorway everyday going to lead to higher repair bills?

[Gruber]

Given that this is PH... How about you sell the Boxster and buy a 968?

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2059349.htm

It's got back seats and a boot, reliable if properly serviced, will cope with the miles just fine, and be a lot more fun than a diesel wagon.

[simonrockman]

randlemarcus said:

simonrockman said:

randlemarcus said:

3) YOU DO NOT NEED A MINIBUS FOR ONE SMALL CHILD AND THE ASSOCIATED STUFF.

Disagree completely.

Seriously? You'd recommend a Scenic (and the associated emasculation of the OP) for one child?

Funny how I seemed to manage just fine with a Cinquecento Sporting until we went beyond two children.

I would NEVER recommend a Scenic. We've got one and it's the most unreliable thing I've ever owned (so says the man who has had two Lancias and an Alfa). The garage takes the p on prices. A 3 year old car has had about £5k of stuff go wrong with it some of it major mechanical like the gearbox casing and suspension. A resistor for the fan heater was an £800+ job. It can't sniff the garage without costing £800.

It seems that I'm not the only person who knows it, it's depreciation has been spectacular, and it's dynamically horrid.

To the OP, I'd really recommend something with back doors. Getting a small child in an out of a stage 2 car seat is a pain without. A friend is selling his 997 Turbo and Mini JCW (looking for offers BTW) for a Golf R32 as they have a six-month old.

Simon

[tim-b]

Rich n Em said:

But if say the Seat was in for reapir, we couldn't use the Boxster with only having 2 seats and there being 3 of us...

How big is the boot of a Boxster?

[Rich n Em]

tim-b said:

Rich n Em said:

But if say the Seat was in for reapir, we couldn't use the Boxster with only having 2 seats and there being 3 of us...

How big is the boot of a Boxster?

Being a budding family man, I surely couldn't put the baby in the boot, so it'd have to be the wife, and skinny as she is, I don't think I'd get her and a pram in the Boxster's boot!

I like your "out of the box" thinking though

[anonymous-user]

Sell the boxster and get a Mazda 6 MPS?

[Stablelad]

Gruber said:

Given that this is PH... How about you sell the Boxster and buy a 968?

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2059349.htm

It's got back seats and a boot, reliable if properly serviced, will cope with the miles just fine, and be a lot more fun than a diesel wagon.

This is incredibly good advice. Follow it!

[Rich n Em]

Stablelad said:

Gruber said:

Given that this is PH... How about you sell the Boxster and buy a 968?

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2059349.htm

It's got back seats and a boot, reliable if properly serviced, will cope with the miles just fine, and be a lot more fun than a diesel wagon.

This is incredibly good advice. Follow it!

Much as I like Porsche as a marque, if I were to sell the Boxster I think I'd prefer a newer loaded cruiser, I know a 50 mile commute isn't massive, but I'd prefer to do it in an e39 5 series, or a nice Saab 93, Mondeo ST, something wafty but PH'ey fun rather than an older Porsche - I'd be too worried about reliabilty...

I'm a worrier!

[anonymous-user]

Rich n Em said:

Stablelad said:

Gruber said:

Given that this is PH... How about you sell the Boxster and buy a 968?

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2059349.htm

It's got back seats and a boot, reliable if properly serviced, will cope with the miles just fine, and be a lot more fun than a diesel wagon.

This is incredibly good advice. Follow it!

Much as I like Porsche as a marque, if I were to sell the Boxster I think I'd prefer a newer loaded cruiser, I know a 50 mile commute isn't massive, but I'd prefer to do it in an e39 5 series, or a nice Saab 93, Mondeo ST, something wafty but PH'ey fun rather than an older Porsche - I'd be too worried about reliabilty...

I'm a worrier!

See my post above

[Rich n Em]

Duly noted, and I do love Mazda's!

[Stablelad]

Rich n Em said:

Stablelad said:

Gruber said:

Given that this is PH... How about you sell the Boxster and buy a 968?

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2059349.htm

It's got back seats and a boot, reliable if properly serviced, will cope with the miles just fine, and be a lot more fun than a diesel wagon.

This is incredibly good advice. Follow it!

Much as I like Porsche as a marque, if I were to sell the Boxster I think I'd prefer a newer loaded cruiser, I know a 50 mile commute isn't massive, but I'd prefer to do it in an e39 5 series, or a nice Saab 93, Mondeo ST, something wafty but PH'ey fun rather than an older Porsche - I'd be too worried about reliabilty...

I'm a worrier!

Know what you mean however...my E39 535i Sport has been a royal pain in the wallet since I got it (all largely fixed now) proving that newer stuff can be just as expensive as an older Porker serviced at an independant!