Cheap daily and expensive toy or cheap toy and expensive dai
Discussion
If I was a rich man biddy biddy biddy biddy biddy bum not only would I biddy biddy bum but I'd have both an expensive daily and weekend bald head tanner.
I could replace my old MGTF with a fairly new MX5, 124 Spider, Boxter, Z4 or SLK but if I do I'll be in something cheap and nasty slogging to work and back each day.
Alternatively I would be wafting to work in a nice fresh or even new E Class or 5 Series Estate.
I can't have both.
Would you spend the money on something you are in all the time or give your weekends a sense of occasion?
I could replace my old MGTF with a fairly new MX5, 124 Spider, Boxter, Z4 or SLK but if I do I'll be in something cheap and nasty slogging to work and back each day.
Alternatively I would be wafting to work in a nice fresh or even new E Class or 5 Series Estate.
I can't have both.
Would you spend the money on something you are in all the time or give your weekends a sense of occasion?
I've always gone with the daily, and the more expensive toy.
There's no way I want to leave a toy anywhere that someone can park next to it.
Works if you have the parking space at home.
And you mentioned the 124 spider.
For a relatively cheap car, the Abarth version puts a big smile on your face.
There's no way I want to leave a toy anywhere that someone can park next to it.
Works if you have the parking space at home.
And you mentioned the 124 spider.
For a relatively cheap car, the Abarth version puts a big smile on your face.
Edited by Trevor555 on Saturday 21st November 19:47
Depends how much time and how many miles you spend in each, how much you value daily comfort and convenience etc IMHO.
I used to have a banger as a daily and something worth ten times as much in the garage to work on, do the odd track day and take out now again for fun. We’re talking modest budgets here by some standards. But then I realised I was driving the daily - well - daily for 50 miles and would be lucky to do 50 miles in the toy in a month. And those were only the months it wasn’t SORN.
Hi
A year or so ago I switched things around (value is now about 2:1 daily:toy) and I am much more comfortable with that. I have just as much fun with the toy and enjoy the daily a lot more (even though I now WfH...).
I used to have a banger as a daily and something worth ten times as much in the garage to work on, do the odd track day and take out now again for fun. We’re talking modest budgets here by some standards. But then I realised I was driving the daily - well - daily for 50 miles and would be lucky to do 50 miles in the toy in a month. And those were only the months it wasn’t SORN.
Hi
A year or so ago I switched things around (value is now about 2:1 daily:toy) and I am much more comfortable with that. I have just as much fun with the toy and enjoy the daily a lot more (even though I now WfH...).
I drive a cheap daily and its really refreshing. Supermarket carparks, tip runs, kids, no worries.
I also have a Westfield, not expensive but probably worth 4 times as much as the daily. It doesn't get used a lot but the man maths determined that this was the sensible way to buy cars.
Neither car will depreciate much.
I also have a Westfield, not expensive but probably worth 4 times as much as the daily. It doesn't get used a lot but the man maths determined that this was the sensible way to buy cars.
Neither car will depreciate much.
Cheap daily. Expensive toy.
The amount of perfectly serviceable mega cheap older executive waft wagons for sale is enough proof that putting money into a new e class, 5 series etc is a mugs game. There's zero joy in stressing about such a car being devalued by every stonechip, mile and parking ding then one day realising it's not even that great to drive.
A toys got to be a bit special as well. I've had fun skidding about in cheap mx5s but they've never been life defining moments. Buy the right toy as well and it's as good as money in the bank.
The amount of perfectly serviceable mega cheap older executive waft wagons for sale is enough proof that putting money into a new e class, 5 series etc is a mugs game. There's zero joy in stressing about such a car being devalued by every stonechip, mile and parking ding then one day realising it's not even that great to drive.
A toys got to be a bit special as well. I've had fun skidding about in cheap mx5s but they've never been life defining moments. Buy the right toy as well and it's as good as money in the bank.
Strange that the OP has gone missing. 
Cheap daily and dearer toy works pretty well IMHO.
A dear daily is only going to depreciate and as "nunpuncher" said the right toy may well hold it's value which is a bonus.
Plus the daily is probably going to be more practical so you don't want to be using the expensive car for going to supermarkets, tip runs, DIY shopping, etc.
Cheap daily and dearer toy works pretty well IMHO.
A dear daily is only going to depreciate and as "nunpuncher" said the right toy may well hold it's value which is a bonus.
Plus the daily is probably going to be more practical so you don't want to be using the expensive car for going to supermarkets, tip runs, DIY shopping, etc.
Jamescrs said:
It can work either way but for me when the cheap daily starts having reliability issues it really grates I have an expensive car in the garage which is why I'm in the position I am now.
true. i'd still go cheap daily with a Lexus/Toyota/Hyundai rather than a 'nice' daily that's not so reliable either.
you can affect the balance with engine size too. it won't suit everyone here, but i'd rather lose a few motorway ramp sprints for extra investment in a fun car. there's something relaxing about not trying because you can't 'compete'.
CABC said:
true. i'd still go cheap daily with a Lexus/Toyota/Hyundai rather than a 'nice' daily that's not so reliable either.
Everyone equates reliability with how new a car is.Back when I was commuting 20k pa the least reliable car I had for the task was a brand new BMW 320d. I eventually cut my losses, got rid of it, bought a "weekender" and spent £1500 on a 12 year old Citroen diesel with 120k on the clock. Ran it for 2 years without ever getting stranded (unlike the BMW which did it twice). Had 1 issue of a failed vacuum pipe which cost less than £100 to fix. It was slow and wasn't ever going to improve my social standing but it was more economical, more reliable and more comfortable than the BMW. I miss it.
My 'commute' is just 10 miles each way so a ten year old iQ is sufficient. Zero tax and 50mpg.
My boxster is now four years old and only take it to work on rare warm & sunny days, otherwise it sits on my drive furiously depreciating.
Next time I'll stick to one decent car, and maybe a cheap toy.
My boxster is now four years old and only take it to work on rare warm & sunny days, otherwise it sits on my drive furiously depreciating.
Next time I'll stick to one decent car, and maybe a cheap toy.
ZX10R NIN said:
No point carrying on tho OP has gone so with no more info this is a dead thread.
I'm back. Sorry for the hit and run post last year. Believe it or not I'm still in the same boat. Handed back a PCPed 208GTI in March 2020 and am making do with company pool cars, company vans and a horrible 11 year old Chevrolet Captiva my partner bought from a family member as is was cheap and handy to have a big car in the household. She hated it so much she then went out and bought a new Kia Picanto and left me the Chevy to knock about in. I have £18-£20k combined.
Have a hankering for a 12-14 plate SLK and have £4-6k left over for an old diesel estate for a 60 mile a day round commute.
Then again why have an expensive toy sitting in the garage all week while I slog it day in day out in a shed? I could keep my little MGTF and £14-16k would put me in a nice comfy well equipped 5 Series or E Class Estate where, to be fair, I'd spend a lot more time in.
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