Come On Fellow Petrolheads, Back Me Up...

Come On Fellow Petrolheads, Back Me Up...

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Discussion

71notout

Original Poster:

3,674 posts

238 months

Sunday 9th January 2011
quotequote all
Once again, it is car changing time for me.

I currently have a Mk2.5 MX5 which I love, but on it's own does not fit my needs.

We also have my Mrs' Suzuki Ignis 4WD.

I have just put the following proposal to her, she thinks it is silly, and there is really no need but I think I can justify the need for 3 cars of my own.

The reasoning behind it:

I have around £500 put aside for a cheap as chips daily snotter - my mate is hopefully selling a 406 Diesel saloon soon which will fill this gap.

We regularly have to take both my Mrs' parents away on holiday, they are both OAPs and neither drive - which means there are 5 of us plus the dog - her car is too small, so I propose a £2K Volvo estate of some kind to satisfy this requirement.

This would hopefully leave me around £3.5k for my third motor - i.e. the weekend/summer fun car so i'd be looking at a Mk1 MX5/Miata of some kind, FI if achievable with that money.

So...what do you think, are these valid arguments for me owning 3 cars of my own, plus a fourth for her?

I certainly think so, but then I am a bit blinkered when it comes to motors, and can justify pretty much almost anything.

Her main argument is the combined costs of road tax/insurance/mot/upkeep, etc. which I can kinda see.

carmadgaz

3,201 posts

184 months

Sunday 9th January 2011
quotequote all
The running costs are the major point frown. Could you combine the snotter/estate so you are down to two?

71notout

Original Poster:

3,674 posts

238 months

Sunday 9th January 2011
quotequote all
carmadgaz said:
The running costs are the major point frown. Could you combine the snotter/estate so you are down to two?
Ideally i'm looking at an 850/V70 T5 and do a fair bit of town driving hence why the diesel snotter would work out more economical in the long run.

Harry Monk

5,187 posts

238 months

Sunday 9th January 2011
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Sell her Ignis and buy an E39 530d Touring. Job done.

WeirdNeville

5,969 posts

216 months

Sunday 9th January 2011
quotequote all
Do the mathematics on what you'll actually be spending.
4 lots of MOTs, tax and the insurance premiums (some kind of multiple car deal would be in order).
To be honest, I think that the £500 snotter is surplus to requirements.

Why not get a Diesel volvo estate for her to use daily, you can use the MX-5 day to day, it's perfectly practical, and then you'll have 2 nicer cars rather than 4 ropey ones. UNless she's set on keeping the 4x4....

My mate has an MX-5 and a Jag, and bought a 105 1.5 diesel to try and bring his overall running costs down, but the cost of running the third car actually made his worse off, despite 70Mpg and bugger all insurance!

Work out what 2 cars can fulfill your needs and get the best example of each you can find. We all like having cars, but we all also hate having no money.

NiceCupOfTea

25,298 posts

252 months

Sunday 9th January 2011
quotequote all
It's a great idea but I agree that the snotter will cost more than it saves. Yes, it will be nice to have a "leave anywhere" car, but what does a TD 406 get? 45-50mpg? How many miles would you have to do to offset the the 30-35 you do in the T5? And that's before you look at another lot of tax & insurance.

I've tried to justify it myself (I have Saab c900 and MX5, Mrs. has a Puma, would be nice to combine snotter/reliable modern car (something like an old Legacy) but a grand on a car plus tax & insurance is a lot of petrol for the other cars...

If only the powers that be would get rid of road tax and put it on petrol...

71notout

Original Poster:

3,674 posts

238 months

Sunday 9th January 2011
quotequote all
Selling her Ignis ain't gonna happen - she loves it!

I agree maybe 2 cars is probably more sensible, just can't keep my inner petrolhead from popping out biggrin

icepop

1,177 posts

208 months

Sunday 9th January 2011
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Got to admit that, as said, those 4 x ins/tax/mot + inevitable and un avoidable bills on essentially old cars, might make the whole idea a no goer. Plus you ain't gonna get anywhere near 30 mpg from a worn out T5. And sorry to pile it on, but a pug diesel around town will be in the 30's, not the 50's, that sort of mpg is the preserve of your tiny and newer diesel motors in a town environment. I think the two car option is gonna be a better bet.

carmadgaz

3,201 posts

184 months

Sunday 9th January 2011
quotequote all
icepop said:
A pug diesel around town will be in the 30's, not the 50's.
I used to thrash my 106 around and couldn't get it below 46mpg (and I used to really thrash the old girl!).

MX-5 is a perfectly practical daily (use mine as my daily) so the snotter is surplus to requirements.

icepop

1,177 posts

208 months

Sunday 9th January 2011
quotequote all
Aye, your 106 might not have dipped below 46 mpg but the OP is talking about a lardy old 406.

carmadgaz

3,201 posts

184 months

Sunday 9th January 2011
quotequote all
icepop said:
Aye, your 106 might not have dipped below 46 mpg but the OP is talking about a lardy old 406.
Oh aye apologies, read 106 at somepoint in the thread and I'm easily confused silly. On the larger note I'll agree my mum has a 2003 TDCi Mondeo that won't break 40mpg on her town commute.