Commuter/Toy

[BA1DY10CK5]

Hi all,
I am looking at getting 2 cars, 1 as an evening/weekend toy and one as a commuter (short town drive).
Is anyone else doing this and if so, what cars do you have?
I was thinking something like a SMART car for commutes and M3 for toy but think the M3 would be too much car to be only used here and there.
The commuter only needs to be say a 1litre and Toy up to 3.5ltr.

Any suggestions or advice appreciated as I currently just borrow the wives' car here and there but life changes, means I need a car myself.
I'm 46 with several NCB's so insurance is not too much of a problem.

I just want the best of both worlds but have to consider the lack of commuting miles means 1 nice car would not suffie unless there's one that you know will.

Cheers.

[Saudade]

For a short drive I would just buy one nice car I think.

Currently have a diesel fiesta mk7 for daily duties (I drive 20k a year in it) and a fun car I'd rather not disclose.

The only reason I would run 2 cars in your situation is because you don't want to leave your nice car in town somewhere - which is why I've kept the fiesta so long as it's already covered in marks, dents and scrapes so I don't care about it. I've left the fun car in some car parks for a few hours and been really nervous about it - so much so that it takes some of the enjoyment out of it. My fun car isn't really valuable, but they are often stolen unfortunately as there is a big market for used parts.

It's also not just insurance, but 2 lots of servicing, MOTs, tax, maintenance etc. On the plus side it does mean if one car breaks you have a backup.

In terms of car suggestions - what's your budget?

[BA1DY10CK5]

£20k-£25k for both (all in).
I was looking at BMW, Audi, Mercs but a lot of car for short journeys and a lot of car to be used known again.
Its a conundrum, I want something otherwise that looks good, moves good and can deal with short journeys (sometimes only 10 minutes).

[ZX10R NIN]

A C63 can handle a short commute with ease the RS4 less so as they coke their heads up, so would be less suited the M3 can also do the short commute.

I'd go for one car as they can all handle the type of journey you're talking about, why the 3500cc limit as you can get 3.0 that produce the same amount of power as a 5.0.

Now if you're trying to temper the running costs there is a very good car that covers the bases:

Lexus IS-F

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

You'll also be happy because you're using the car everyday listening to a V8 start in the morning will put a smile on your face.

The M3 is more expensive to run as is the RS4/5 the C63's are somewhere between the Lexus & M3.

Other options to the Lexus:

RS5

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

RS4

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

M3 Saloon

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I prefer the saloon as I think it looks better proportion wise & they're rarer which helps with the value.

If you don't need four seats I'd look at the 370Z Nismo it's a cracking drive & not a car you see everyday.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Lotus Evora

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Now I will admit to having a multi car garage but that's due to the big miles I do but any chance I get I jump into the toys, now if I was doing short low mile journeys then I use the toys everytime because that's what I bought them for.

So as I said I'd go for one car.

[BA1DY10CK5]

Thanks mate, you did go to town there!

Any size engine really but went straight to 3-3.5 ltr cars, not sure why as obviously there are some quick fast 2.0 ltrs also.

Appreciate your input mate, will have proper look through them.

cheers.

[keo]

How about a cheap petrol 3 series and a Caterham or lotus as a toy? Depends how practical the toy needs to be?

[Saudade]

Can't beat ZX10R NIN recommendations but do let us know what you end up with in the end! Nothing worse than no conclusion.

[Liggle]

Another recommendation for the IS-F here. I've just bought one and even around town/hooning its my first tank was 19.6MPG. It'll do 28-30 MPG on a motorway commute at legal speeds.

[nunpuncher]

Depends on your idea of fun and what the roads around you are like.

Tanking it away from traffic lights and doing speeds that will see your license disappear in a cloud of points gets old pretty quick.