Steak at home, but smashing a kebab?
Discussion
I have always enjoyed driving a potentially inferior car daily in a more carefree manner than 'steak' at home.
My daily car is 16 years old, pretty bullet proof old diesel Merc. I love driving it, I cover long drives and for what cost me £4k and now worth half that it's excellent. I still look after it, clean it myself and keep it nice but I have a CLS63 wrapped up in a heated lock up for the winter. The carefree element of buying a car which has already covered 100k in other people's hands so I'm not too fussy with it takes the worry out of driving it.
Another car I had was a Clio 172 which cost me £800. At the time I had (still do) a couple of very low mileage RenaultSport models but getting in a cheap, fast older car was just fun. Admittedly I spent a few quid making it nice, bodywork needed some TLC but mechanically sound and enjoyed a couple of years of real fun driving.
My daily car is 16 years old, pretty bullet proof old diesel Merc. I love driving it, I cover long drives and for what cost me £4k and now worth half that it's excellent. I still look after it, clean it myself and keep it nice but I have a CLS63 wrapped up in a heated lock up for the winter. The carefree element of buying a car which has already covered 100k in other people's hands so I'm not too fussy with it takes the worry out of driving it.
Another car I had was a Clio 172 which cost me £800. At the time I had (still do) a couple of very low mileage RenaultSport models but getting in a cheap, fast older car was just fun. Admittedly I spent a few quid making it nice, bodywork needed some TLC but mechanically sound and enjoyed a couple of years of real fun driving.
My weekend road car toy is my M3, however I rarely do much in it per week, other than take it for a 20 mile loop, to get it up to temperature, keep the battery healthy, and give it a couple of blasts up to "musical" speeds.
I had my daily X5 in for service and MOT a few weeks back, and used the M3 for those days ....... was lovely getting back into the big lazy barge when I got it back
I had my daily X5 in for service and MOT a few weeks back, and used the M3 for those days ....... was lovely getting back into the big lazy barge when I got it back
mat205125 said:
....... was lovely getting back into the big lazy barge when I got it back
How old are you by the way? Reason I ask is that I distinctly changed my daily preference as I went into my 30s haha. I spent my 20s driving hot hatches daily and then got to about 32 and suddenly wanted luxury and waftiness! Easy tireless driving. This appears to be a disease that some of us are infected by. I'm the same:
My steak - Toyota MR2 Turbo ( a nice one) sat in the garage.
E92 3 series with many toys to make motorway wafting nice and comfortable in front of the garage.
Mrs Elesmart's Renault Clio Automatic is always at the top of the driveway and is the one which gets used constantly.
I must say though, when the mood takes me and I finally move all of the cars around and get the steak out of the garage, I remember why I keep it.
My steak - Toyota MR2 Turbo ( a nice one) sat in the garage.
E92 3 series with many toys to make motorway wafting nice and comfortable in front of the garage.
Mrs Elesmart's Renault Clio Automatic is always at the top of the driveway and is the one which gets used constantly.
I must say though, when the mood takes me and I finally move all of the cars around and get the steak out of the garage, I remember why I keep it.
Totally, got a Z4 in the garage that now needs an MOT and a jump start as it's not really been used more than a few times since I got the Merc company car 6 months ago.
I was keeping the Z4 as a weekend car but I just drive the Merc as it has similar power but it's comfy.....lacks the exhaust and engine noise but I get over it!
There's a lot to be said for wafting in comfort.
I was keeping the Z4 as a weekend car but I just drive the Merc as it has similar power but it's comfy.....lacks the exhaust and engine noise but I get over it!
There's a lot to be said for wafting in comfort.
I have a nice Z4 Coupe in the garage - it doesn't get driven in rain, is regularly pampered with the best valeting stuff, and has at least a new oil/filter every year even if I've only done a couple thousand- I love it -but, for the last 6 months, I have, and been driving lots, a £1400 Citroen Berlingo 1.9D (non turbo) van.
I really like diving it (motorways maybe not so much- or uphill) - it just plods on in its own leisurely manner, though its surprisingly good in the bends with little body roll and great brakes. I can chuck lots in the back (and my kayak on the roof rack), and not care too much if it dies and gets battered!
I might be starting to like it a bit too much though, as I treated it to a clay-mitt wipe and a coat of Autosmart Topaz a few weeks back
I really like diving it (motorways maybe not so much- or uphill) - it just plods on in its own leisurely manner, though its surprisingly good in the bends with little body roll and great brakes. I can chuck lots in the back (and my kayak on the roof rack), and not care too much if it dies and gets battered!
I might be starting to like it a bit too much though, as I treated it to a clay-mitt wipe and a coat of Autosmart Topaz a few weeks back
I have driven my SL just over 400 miles this year, spends all its time in the garage.
We either drive the Scenic which has done 115k miles, without breaking down I might add, or my E220 Cdi which is on 314k miles. Don't worry about leaving them anywhere, dog hairs, getting dirty, the odd scratch or parking ding, or the occasional rub against the kerb.
We either drive the Scenic which has done 115k miles, without breaking down I might add, or my E220 Cdi which is on 314k miles. Don't worry about leaving them anywhere, dog hairs, getting dirty, the odd scratch or parking ding, or the occasional rub against the kerb.
Alex_225 said:
How old are you by the way? Reason I ask is that I distinctly changed my daily preference as I went into my 30s haha. I spent my 20s driving hot hatches daily and then got to about 32 and suddenly wanted luxury and waftiness! Easy tireless driving.
While you didn't ask me, I thought I'd jump into the conversation... I'm 27 and have already started to lose interest in driver focused stuff... Currently bumbling about clumsily in a Mustang. A Bently CGT is one of my dream cars these days!
TREMAiNE said:
Alex_225 said:
How old are you by the way? Reason I ask is that I distinctly changed my daily preference as I went into my 30s haha. I spent my 20s driving hot hatches daily and then got to about 32 and suddenly wanted luxury and waftiness! Easy tireless driving.
While you didn't ask me, I thought I'd jump into the conversation... I'm 27 and have already started to lose interest in driver focused stuff... Currently bumbling about clumsily in a Mustang. A Bently CGT is one of my dream cars these days!
You've been hit with the waft bug quite early. I suppose for me commuting by train daily, most of my driving was for pleasure really so no 'need' to drive. So getting in a hot hatch when I pleased was quite nice.
No I have to do around a thousand motorway miles per month so my criteria is reasonable economy, crossed with comfort, automatic gearbox and a relaxing drive. I'll probably change my E320 CDI for an S350 CDI in the future.
A Mustang is a cool choice though, perhaps not B road focused but hardly boring. My CLS63 is similar in that it's got power, all the comfort but a hefty engine and cool noise haha
It's all in how you view it.
I have a runaround shed that does most of the driving, which I have fun in. Like you say, can throw it in anywhere, don't care if it's clean, don't worry about it parked up etc.
I have two fun cars in the garage that I love and care about.
I was musing recently about what I'd do if I won big money on the lottery. Suddenly those loved & cared for cars would be the runarounds and I could fill the garage with rare mint examples that I could mollycoddle.
What I'm saying is the car doesn't matter, it's your attitude to it.
I have a runaround shed that does most of the driving, which I have fun in. Like you say, can throw it in anywhere, don't care if it's clean, don't worry about it parked up etc.
I have two fun cars in the garage that I love and care about.
I was musing recently about what I'd do if I won big money on the lottery. Suddenly those loved & cared for cars would be the runarounds and I could fill the garage with rare mint examples that I could mollycoddle.
What I'm saying is the car doesn't matter, it's your attitude to it.
I don't do many miles but they're split between my wife's Range Rover and my Boxster. Neither of which is remotely sheddy.
However, when I'm just nipping to the station or have to do a short school run or to football practice I kind of wish we had a 10 year old Golf or Volvo V60. It seems a shame to heat cycle the engines on the main cars for two miles, not even up to temperature, having to take care where to park, getting in with unavoidably muddy shoes at kids' football etc.
If I can move on my stalled BMW E12 project that is exactly what I will do. My wife refuses to countenance any sort of tow bar or bicycle rack for the RR and as the children are keen to venture further afield it seems an ideal excuse for a more normal do-it-all cheaply sort of car. Thinking a 1.4 TSI DSG Golf would fit the bill.
However, when I'm just nipping to the station or have to do a short school run or to football practice I kind of wish we had a 10 year old Golf or Volvo V60. It seems a shame to heat cycle the engines on the main cars for two miles, not even up to temperature, having to take care where to park, getting in with unavoidably muddy shoes at kids' football etc.
If I can move on my stalled BMW E12 project that is exactly what I will do. My wife refuses to countenance any sort of tow bar or bicycle rack for the RR and as the children are keen to venture further afield it seems an ideal excuse for a more normal do-it-all cheaply sort of car. Thinking a 1.4 TSI DSG Golf would fit the bill.
Paulm4 said:
I changed jobs and gave back my company car a couple of weeks ago, bought a Mk1 TT as a winter commuter car.
I've used it once, it's stupidly loud, bumpy and thirsty!
Instead I've been using my high mileage Renault Trafic that I previously used for carting about mountain bikes and going to the tip, it's great ??
You are just getting old Murf!!I've used it once, it's stupidly loud, bumpy and thirsty!
Instead I've been using my high mileage Renault Trafic that I previously used for carting about mountain bikes and going to the tip, it's great ??
GM182 said:
I don't do many miles but they're split between my wife's Range Rover and my Boxster. Neither of which is remotely sheddy.
However, when I'm just nipping to the station or have to do a short school run or to football practice I kind of wish we had a 10 year old Golf or Volvo V60. It seems a shame to heat cycle the engines on the main cars for two miles, not even up to temperature, having to take care where to park, getting in with unavoidably muddy shoes at kids' football etc.
If I can move on my stalled BMW E12 project that is exactly what I will do. My wife refuses to countenance any sort of tow bar or bicycle rack for the RR and as the children are keen to venture further afield it seems an ideal excuse for a more normal do-it-all cheaply sort of car. Thinking a 1.4 TSI DSG Golf would fit the bill.
My daily driver is a battered old 180k Mile Honda Accord estate, petrol engine with an auto box. Does all that kid stuff, muddy boots, cycle racks, tow bar with aplomb.However, when I'm just nipping to the station or have to do a short school run or to football practice I kind of wish we had a 10 year old Golf or Volvo V60. It seems a shame to heat cycle the engines on the main cars for two miles, not even up to temperature, having to take care where to park, getting in with unavoidably muddy shoes at kids' football etc.
If I can move on my stalled BMW E12 project that is exactly what I will do. My wife refuses to countenance any sort of tow bar or bicycle rack for the RR and as the children are keen to venture further afield it seems an ideal excuse for a more normal do-it-all cheaply sort of car. Thinking a 1.4 TSI DSG Golf would fit the bill.
Ive had it 6 years (from 50k) and it’s starting to really tire now. No idea why but I’m hell bent on punishing myself and buying a disco 4 as the daily kid/ footy car. Suppose it’ll force me into the toy a bit more when it throws a wobbler.
The 996, much like many on this thread, sits in the garage looking pretty costing tax and insurance and turning 450 miles between the last two MoT’s.
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