Money burning a hole in my pocket.... help me spend it
Discussion
Hi,
I currently drive a 2012 VW Caddy. It’s my car and is used for everything from commuting to weekend trips out with the bicycles and walks/picnics.
I have been saving up and now have a reasonable chunk of cash to spend. I don’t have to spend it all and I don’t want any additional finance or loan.
Including the trade in price of the van I have £24k - £19k cash and £5k trade in.
I am looking at the following options:
1. Keep van and buy an R53 Mini Cooper S circa £3k toy - two cars, two lots of running costs, some money for bolt ons and a fair chunk of money left over for a rainy day.
2. Keep van and buy an R56 Cooper S N18 circa £9k 2011-2013 toy - same as above just less money left
3. Keep van and buy an NC MX5 2009-2015 with a power hard top toy circa £13k - same as above and minimal money left over
4. Trade in van and get a 6 month old fully loaded VW Caddy - some money left over but only one lot of running costs
5. Trade in van and get a VW Transporter T6 Highline - this will take pretty much all of it inc the conversion items such as side windows, seats, table etc.
An eclectic mix of options as you can see - I’ve been hankering after a weekend toy to tinker with and upgrade and the mini and mx5 both fit into this category nicely. Although, I also get frustrated when I have more than one vehicle as I have done in the past.
Thoughts appreciated
I currently drive a 2012 VW Caddy. It’s my car and is used for everything from commuting to weekend trips out with the bicycles and walks/picnics.
I have been saving up and now have a reasonable chunk of cash to spend. I don’t have to spend it all and I don’t want any additional finance or loan.
Including the trade in price of the van I have £24k - £19k cash and £5k trade in.
I am looking at the following options:
1. Keep van and buy an R53 Mini Cooper S circa £3k toy - two cars, two lots of running costs, some money for bolt ons and a fair chunk of money left over for a rainy day.
2. Keep van and buy an R56 Cooper S N18 circa £9k 2011-2013 toy - same as above just less money left
3. Keep van and buy an NC MX5 2009-2015 with a power hard top toy circa £13k - same as above and minimal money left over
4. Trade in van and get a 6 month old fully loaded VW Caddy - some money left over but only one lot of running costs
5. Trade in van and get a VW Transporter T6 Highline - this will take pretty much all of it inc the conversion items such as side windows, seats, table etc.
An eclectic mix of options as you can see - I’ve been hankering after a weekend toy to tinker with and upgrade and the mini and mx5 both fit into this category nicely. Although, I also get frustrated when I have more than one vehicle as I have done in the past.
Thoughts appreciated
I did the two car thing for a while with my 640d and mx5. Last year I sold the mx5 (nc power hardtop) as it barely got used and when it did I just got frustrated by poor driving.
I accepted a below market offer as I just wanted it gone. I loved the car but just could not justify the costs any longer.
I always found I was in the wrong car at the wrong time which is ironic.
I eventually when moved in to our new house effectively traded it in for a new garage door and doing the garage out. Which is much better!
I miss the mx5 some days other days I remember exactly why I sold it as well. But for me the moments where it was good will live with me, it is just unfortunate that those moments are smaller in quantity than the positives.
Not really an answer I know and mine was not driven by money as such it is just my frustration at those moments when I did have time I inevitably came across clowns. I have in recent times found only fleeting glimpses of enjoyment but most of it is misery at crap driving so auto box, a laziness with comfort is better imo.
I accepted a below market offer as I just wanted it gone. I loved the car but just could not justify the costs any longer.
I always found I was in the wrong car at the wrong time which is ironic.
I eventually when moved in to our new house effectively traded it in for a new garage door and doing the garage out. Which is much better!
I miss the mx5 some days other days I remember exactly why I sold it as well. But for me the moments where it was good will live with me, it is just unfortunate that those moments are smaller in quantity than the positives.
Not really an answer I know and mine was not driven by money as such it is just my frustration at those moments when I did have time I inevitably came across clowns. I have in recent times found only fleeting glimpses of enjoyment but most of it is misery at crap driving so auto box, a laziness with comfort is better imo.
I’m a fully paid up member of the “multiple cars” club, so #2 or #3 depending on which mode of fun you prefer on a b-road.
But, since this is PH, swap the mini for a clio 1x2 & the mx5 for (an older) mx-5 (actually, it’d be a mk3 mr-2 if it were me) and thus keep some money back for a belt/suspension, (etc) refresh.
But, since this is PH, swap the mini for a clio 1x2 & the mx5 for (an older) mx-5 (actually, it’d be a mk3 mr-2 if it were me) and thus keep some money back for a belt/suspension, (etc) refresh.
I had a few months with a Caddy.
Typing that made me feel like I was typing “I had nine months solitary confinement in a Turkish jail”. I wasn’t exactly crying myself to sleep each night, but it was pretty depressing.
Bearing that in mind, with 24k in my pocket, I’d blow the lot and go sensible estate car for 8 grand eg e91 3 series, a nice low miles 330, diesel or petrol depending on what miles you do, and a v8 TVR, probably a body-off’d Chimaera, maybe a Griff if a decent one comes in under budget. No Caddy.
Typing that made me feel like I was typing “I had nine months solitary confinement in a Turkish jail”. I wasn’t exactly crying myself to sleep each night, but it was pretty depressing.
Bearing that in mind, with 24k in my pocket, I’d blow the lot and go sensible estate car for 8 grand eg e91 3 series, a nice low miles 330, diesel or petrol depending on what miles you do, and a v8 TVR, probably a body-off’d Chimaera, maybe a Griff if a decent one comes in under budget. No Caddy.
Keep the caddy and get a decent low miles R53 Cooper S.treat it to a -15 % pulley,decent coilovers,uprated intercooler,R56 S brakes,induction kit and exhaust and some decent sticky tyres!!
You’ll have plenty of cash leftover and a proper little pocket rocket that puts a smile on your face every time you drive it!!
You’ll have plenty of cash leftover and a proper little pocket rocket that puts a smile on your face every time you drive it!!
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