Weekend toy or all rounder?

[AAD44H]

I currently have an M135i 3dr as a daily driver and the Mrs has an A3 TDI Sportback for practicality. I am starting to think that it would make more sense for me to have a toy such as a caterham for weekends and drive a "normal" car for everyday. I cannot afford to run a performance daily driver and also a toy however i really do love my M135i and feel as though it is a good allrounder. The lease finishes in a years time and i am wondering if i should run a boring daily and get a toy or keep the fun daily? Thoughts?

Thanks

[shoestring7]

You're correct. Keep the sensible, boring looking ,daily-driving, mass-manufactured, hatchback, and swop the uber-tedious diesel stbox for something you enjoy driving.

A nice Porsche Boxster should do the trick.

SS7

[Steve vRS]

Depends if you'd get bored running around in a 'normal' car. Also, would the novelty of a weekend car wear off after a few weeks especially when you add up the costs of paying for two cars.

On the other hand, running around in a 1.6L diesel would be worth it if there was a R500 in the garage

Steve

[vexed]

Variety is the spice of life. If you can be bothered with taxing, insuring and servicing two cars then I would definitely recommend a second car. You notice the positives of your fun car much more, whilst I think if you drive an all rounder you become used to the performance and don't derive as much pleasure from it.
It is also very liberating having a car you don't really give a st about with respect to paintwork, interior etc.

[AAD44H]

vexed said:

Variety is the spice of life. If you can be bothered with taxing, insuring and servicing two cars then I would definitely recommend a second car. You notice the positives of your fun car much more, whilst I think if you drive an all rounder you become used to the performance and don't derive as much pleasure from it.
It is also very liberating having a car you don't really give a st about with respect to paintwork, interior etc.

Hmmm good point Vexed!

[james_gt3rs]

Why not have a 2 seater fun car for commuting... and a practical shed for weekend chores?

[Robert Elise]

AAD44H said:

vexed said:

Variety is the spice of life. If you can be bothered with taxing, insuring and servicing two cars then I would definitely recommend a second car. You notice the positives of your fun car much more, whilst I think if you drive an all rounder you become used to the performance and don't derive as much pleasure from it.
It is also very liberating having a car you don't really give a st about with respect to paintwork, interior etc.

Hmmm good point Vexed!

YES. There is no single car solution.
And having a shed in the fleet is liberating.
Make sure the fun car is light and (reasonably) raw.
supposed to be petrol heads 'round here!

[toon10]

If I was in that position I think running a daily bore box would be sole destroying knowing I had a fun, nicer machine sitting at home in the garage waiting for me to take out on weekends. I'd probably end up leaving the commuter box at home and driving the fun car all of the time which defeats the object. Each to their own but I'd personally have a good all rounder that is fun but can handle the daily stuff.

If money wasn't a problem then it would be nice to have a good everyday car and a more focused toy but in my world, an all rounder is the way to go.

[Robert Elise]

toon10 said:

If I was in that position I think running a daily bore box would be sole destroying knowing I had a fun, nicer machine sitting at home in the garage waiting for me to take out on weekends. I'd probably end up leaving the commuter box at home and driving the fun car all of the time which defeats the object. Each to their own but I'd personally have a good all rounder that is fun but can handle the daily stuff.

If money wasn't a problem then it would be nice to have a good everyday car and a more focused toy but in my world, an all rounder is the way to go.

most interesting cars don't do commuting very well, that can be soul destroying too.

[Magic919]

toon10 said:

If I was in that position I think running a daily bore box would be sole destroying

No, that's walking.

[AAD44H]

toon10 said:

If I was in that position I think running a daily bore box would be sole destroying knowing I had a fun, nicer machine sitting at home in the garage waiting for me to take out on weekends. I'd probably end up leaving the commuter box at home and driving the fun car all of the time which defeats the object. Each to their own but I'd personally have a good all rounder that is fun but can handle the daily stuff.

If money wasn't a problem then it would be nice to have a good everyday car and a more focused toy but in my world, an all rounder is the way to go.

Its such a hard decision as it feels amazing walking out of work and getting in a nice car but as others have said i am used to that power and don't really see it as fun anymore. I suppose the ideal solution would be an average daily such as a BMW or Audi and then something really hardcore for a track/weekend car?

[Matt UK]

Magic919 said:

toon10 said:

If I was in that position I think running a daily bore box would be sole destroying

No, that's walking.

I like what you did there

[StangGT]

Robert Elise said:

Make sure the fun car is light and (reasonably) raw.

Or has a thumping great engine that makes a fab noise

[savvy]

Variety is indeed what it's about and if you like your cars, something chalk and cheese is what makes driving either car much an experience you appreciate.

For example, I have a C250 CDI as my family and work commuter car, nice car but I wanted something opposing that didn't cost me the earth either and I could have fun in.

So I also have a MK1 1.8 Eunos. OK so it's not a performance car but still good fun to drive and something totally different from the Merc.

[jamieduff1981]

I need variety.

I don't like knackered old sheds though, so I split the money between something in good nick, comfortable, smooth and competent at cruising then have something more raw and visceral to play with.

I don't get fed up knowing the fun car is sat there waiting, because I am comfortable and relaxed.

[Matt UK]

AAD44H said:

Its such a hard decision as it feels amazing walking out of work and getting in a nice car but as others have said i am used to that power and don't really see it as fun anymore. I suppose the ideal solution would be an average daily such as a BMW or Audi and then something really hardcore for a track/weekend car?

Thing is, you can get still have a pretty nice car to get into after work which is cheap - so long as you don't mind it being older. Until recently I've been using a Jag XJ for the commute - a very special feeling car to waft to work and back in, yet worth less than £8k. Hell, you can go commuter car shopping for a couple of grand and get a very decent bargain barge.

I'm in the 2-car camp.
The Caterham in the garage is rarely used I admit, but for me that is half the fun.
It means I can work on it over a series of weekends and not worry if I don't finish it.
I track it and it's fantastic - a friend has an RS4 and joined me on a track day. Although we both admitted it's a great place to unleash the full power, it got a bit boring quickly. It's obvioulsy a car not designed for track work and didn't seem to relish a 10/10th attack. So after the initial acceleration giggles, it becomes an exercise in managing tyres, brakes and heat whilst silently cursing the damn thing for weighing so much when you are really leaning on it. We didn't take it out at all in the afternoon sessions.
Finally I love how absence makes the heart grow fonder. When I do use it, it takes me a while to adjust to it again. It still initially scares me when I give it full beans in second. And I love how going on a long journing in it to Wales or the 'ring is a proper adventre and feels absolutely nothing like the daily.

To top it all off with a cherry, the toy is cheap to own and it's deprecitating anymore.

If you have a garage, clear out the junk and put a toy in it!

[OllyHill]

I went from a nearly new Boxster to a BMW 3 series convertible to do the daily stuff in with a TVR Chimaera for fun driving. I enjoyed the TVR so much the BMW got sold as I always ended up leaving it and driving the TVR...
Having said that the next thing I'd like to try is a good all rounder like a hot hatch and something more extreme as a second car, like a Caterham

[BugLebowski]

I'm a big fan of having a weekend toy. I like to compare it to the effect of going go-karting; ie. how everything you drive after driving a go-kart feels really heavy and slow!

I have a comfortable, wafty slow daily and then a focused, light toy for the weekends. It's the contrast between them that makes it worthwhile IMHO.

[wemorgan]

Lotus Elise for a week-end toy that can still be used almost everyday should you wish.
Caterhams etc are very niche and mostly live in the garage, which is all very fine if you can live with seldom driving it.

[Al U]

Interesting topic. I've got an S2000 recently and I feel like it strikes a balance between the 2. It's not special enough to be solely used as a weekend car, but it is a more exciting daily than the golf tdi I had before.