Future proofing
Discussion
With the ever more complex nature of modern cars and their increasingly main dealer/computerised maintenance requirements, could you draw a line in the sand?
Here's the task: Buy two cars, total price not exceeding £20k, which will meet all the significant eventualities you can conceive and last you the rest of your life.
As part of the deal, you get some 'free' stuff: ten sets of consumables.
So... tyres, discs/drums/pads (as applicable), spark plugs/points/leads (as applicable, but only 3 sets of injectors if you choose a diesel), bulbs, wiper blades, lubricants, YKWIM. If anything more major breaks, you'll need to consider the likely aftermarket support for parts relevant to the type of cars you have chosen; now, and for the number of remaining years you're likely to be alive.
What you don't get, is any kind of technical support (posting 'how do I bleed my brakes?' on PH is allowed though!
)
I guess your age will make this more or less of a painful exercise.
What would you go for?
Here's the task: Buy two cars, total price not exceeding £20k, which will meet all the significant eventualities you can conceive and last you the rest of your life.
As part of the deal, you get some 'free' stuff: ten sets of consumables.
So... tyres, discs/drums/pads (as applicable), spark plugs/points/leads (as applicable, but only 3 sets of injectors if you choose a diesel), bulbs, wiper blades, lubricants, YKWIM. If anything more major breaks, you'll need to consider the likely aftermarket support for parts relevant to the type of cars you have chosen; now, and for the number of remaining years you're likely to be alive.
What you don't get, is any kind of technical support (posting 'how do I bleed my brakes?' on PH is allowed though!
)I guess your age will make this more or less of a painful exercise.
What would you go for?
http://www.markkey.co.uk/
Lada Niva, £10794 for the van including VAT.
Since that will never break down ever, and even if it does can be fixed with a rock, I'll spend the remaining £9k on a Ferrari Mondial for Sundays.
Lada Niva, £10794 for the van including VAT.
Since that will never break down ever, and even if it does can be fixed with a rock, I'll spend the remaining £9k on a Ferrari Mondial for Sundays.
V8mate said:
So that's three respondents so far who don't feel they'll ever need to be a 'daily' two-car family.
You said "you". If I had to include "The Wife" I would of course add a 1998 Ford Ka. Since those can be had for £50 these days I would also buy her a MIG welder and some welding lessons. Teach a man to fish and all that...
davepoth said:
V8mate said:
So that's three respondents so far who don't feel they'll ever need to be a 'daily' two-car family.
You said "you". If I had to include "The Wife" I would of course add a 1998 Ford Ka. Since those can be had for £50 these days I would also buy her a MIG welder and some welding lessons. Teach a man to fish and all that...
V8mate said:
... which will meet all the significant eventualities you can conceive and last you the rest of your life.
I meant such eventualities as families and stuff.Else this would simply be another 'daily driver plus car for the weekend' thread.
I'm interested which cars people would target for long-term utility as well as doing everything from going shopping to turning up for an interview to R&R time. All of which will matter to a lesser or greater extent depending on what kind of person you are and your age, I guess.
An interesting proposition. This gets tricky because these for me they would need to last a good 50-60 years, which could mean a Honda FCX Clarity is the only choice. No current electric or hybrid car will be good enough IMO, the batteries will require multiple outrageously expensive replacements over that sort of time frame. So let's assume petrol and diesel will still be available and affordable.
Sensible scenario considering all running costs (fuel/insurance/tax) are roughly as they are now:
Mk4 Ford Mondeo Titanium X Sport (diesel auto) and a Lotus Elise.
The Mondeo can be found from 6-10k depending on mileage. Saloon as I can't find an auto estate for ultimate practicality - but if doesn't fit in the saloon you probably need a van anyway. Spend the remainder on the best available Lotus Elise - might even stretch to an S2. Getting a Toyota-engined one might be key to keeping it going long enough but will be challenging in budget. No idea how these will age long-term.
Completely ignoring fuel costs:
Subaru Legacy Wagon 3.0R Spec B (about 5k) for all weathers, family and load-lugging needs, with enough performance to ward off the boredom of long-term ownership. Super reliable. The rest on a 2006 Porsche Cayman (just about nearing 15k now), which as a weekend car/track day toy should do very well as a long-term proposition, if the Porches of the last 50 years are a good reference point.
Sensible scenario considering all running costs (fuel/insurance/tax) are roughly as they are now:
Mk4 Ford Mondeo Titanium X Sport (diesel auto) and a Lotus Elise.
The Mondeo can be found from 6-10k depending on mileage. Saloon as I can't find an auto estate for ultimate practicality - but if doesn't fit in the saloon you probably need a van anyway. Spend the remainder on the best available Lotus Elise - might even stretch to an S2. Getting a Toyota-engined one might be key to keeping it going long enough but will be challenging in budget. No idea how these will age long-term.
Completely ignoring fuel costs:
Subaru Legacy Wagon 3.0R Spec B (about 5k) for all weathers, family and load-lugging needs, with enough performance to ward off the boredom of long-term ownership. Super reliable. The rest on a 2006 Porsche Cayman (just about nearing 15k now), which as a weekend car/track day toy should do very well as a long-term proposition, if the Porches of the last 50 years are a good reference point.
V8mate said:
So that's three respondents so far who don't feel they'll ever need to be a 'daily' two-car family.
Who said the NSX wouldn't be my "daily"? 
O/T....
Besides, I don't think it likely that a couple will use two cars to commute for the next 40 years.
Working from home a few days a week and taking trains to cities with clients because parking is such a pain is my "norm" now, and typical of quite a few people I know. Obviously never going to be the case with lots of people but the whole "two commuting car" idea as the norm is nearing extinction. Interesting as to what impact that'll have on car buying behaviour.
Edited by CliveM on Monday 17th December 03:14
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