Cheap motoring - no going back

[Dirty Frank]

We currently have an Audi A2 diesel, it is a loathsome car but when we bought it we needed something cheap.

Now money isn't too tight and we have a growing pack of Greyhounds so we would like something bigger. But its proving hard, our current costs are £30 tax, £350 for 2 of us FC insurance. £75 service, very close to 70mpg and nothing has gone wrong with it in the 2 years we have owned it.

Looking round at cars its very hard to justify the jump in cost of owning one. Even for a very bland car its going to more than double the running costs and triple at least for something interesting.

If I was moving into a drivers car its easy to justify but moving from one bland box to another its proving painful.

Anyone else in the same boat?

[300bhp/ton]

But the low tax, fuel and to some extend fuel come from the fact that the A2 is only practical if you don't need to carry people or other items.

It's a fair trade off. There are lots of small cheap cars out there. But that's the thing, they are small.

[Cupramax]

300bhp/ton said:

the A2 is only practical if you don't need to carry people or other items.

Eh? Have you ever been in one, there's more leg room in the back than an A4.

[jonnydm]

Interesting, its obviously no Elise or such like but for what it was, I'd understood the A2 to have been quite well received as a car to drive due to its light weight.

[Dirty Frank]

I get my wife, 2 kids with seats and 2 greyhounds in mine, its like a little tardis.

[Dirty Frank]

jonnydm said:

Interesting, its obviously no Elise or such like but for what it was, I'd understood the A2 to have been quite well received as a car to drive due to its light weight.

It suffers huge body roll, even at low speeds it leans like a motorbike They also fitted the windscreen wiper with a 4 billion mega watt motor, so the rocks rocks from side to side when its raining.

It does handle well, but it feels like its going to tip over rather than lose traction so it doesn't fill you with confidence.

[300bhp/ton]

Dirty Frank said:

I get my wife, 2 kids with seats and 2 greyhounds in mine, its like a little tardis.

So which is it?

Dirty Frank said:

Now money isn't too tight and we have a growing pack of Greyhounds so we would like something bigger.

Either it's big enough or it isn't?

BTW - if money isn't tight, some might say why are you being a little tight about not wanting to spend a tad more on fuel in road tax to get a more substantial car?

[Rovinghawk]

Dirty Frank said:

Audi A2 diesel, it is a loathsome car ......Now money isn't too tight .......we would like something bigger.

Loathsome car = cheap. Nice car= more expensive.

Pay or don't change- it's that simple.

If there was something spacious, reliable, fun & cheap to run we'd have all bought one by now.

RH

[Risotto]

I rather like A2s! If I needed a deceptively spacious, cleverly designed, light, frugal, well equipped small car, an A2 would be on my shortlist. They were way ahead of their time - just a shame the high purchase price when new meant they didn't sell well.

[VladD]

[Dirty Frank]

300bhp/ton said:

Either it's big enough or it isn't?

BTW - if money isn't tight, some might say why are you being a little tight about not wanting to spend a tad more on fuel in road tax to get a more substantial car?

Its big enough now but pretty soon we will have more hounds.

There's a guy who goes to Belle Vue with a Fiat Panda and 4 greyhounds so maybe im just having a drama and just need to pack them in tighter

[Egbert Nobacon]

They're Greyhounds FFS, just tie the leads to the wing mirrors and let them run beside ......

[Dog Star]

Damn this iPhone!

[Dog Star]

Egbert Nobacon said:

They're Greyhounds FFS, just tie the leads to the wing mirrors and let them run beside ......

(I used to have a lovebird called Eggbert Nobacon (they all had egg related names (eg Shelldon). We won't talk about the dachshund called Heidi Sausage. I blame the OH)