Pondering my car future. Your thoughts?
Discussion
Hey everyone,
I'm at a bit of a crossroads with my car situation and could really use some opinions on what to do next.
Here's the deal: A few months ago, I decided to switch things up from my MX5 and bought a Boxster S. Long story short, it turned out to be a bad decision. Despite doing my research beforehand, the car ended up having a serious engine issue and other problems. So now I'm looking to cut my losses and sell it, even though it means taking a significant financial hit.
My wife and I talked it over, and we've decided that I'll sell the Porsche for whatever I can get and use the money to buy her the Mini Cooper she's always wanted. I'll contribute a bit of cash towards it as well.
I still have my MX5, but honestly, there are some things I want to do to it to make it more enjoyable, like upgrading the exhaust, getting coilovers, and fixing the rust. The problem is, all these modifications will cost quite a bit of money, which I don't really have anymore.
That's why I'm seriously considering selling the MX5 too. By selling both cars, I can pay off a loan and be completely debt-free.
Now, here are some facts I need to face when deciding what to do next. First of all, I work from home permanently, so I don't need a car for commuting. Essentially, the car would just be a runabout for me. Plus, I can use my wife's car as long as she's not already using it, which is usually only on Saturdays during the day.
When I think about it, Saturdays are typically the days I'd take my car out for a spin when she's out and about.
Here's the thing, though. Lately, I've been feeling a bit bored with it all. The roads around here are great, but I've done all the driving I wanted to do. If I'm being totally honest with myself, I sometimes take the car out not because I really want to, but just to justify owning it and prevent it from sitting idle for too long.
The only other times I use it are for grocery shopping or visiting friends, but these aren't regular occurrences.
Having a car would be nice, but I'm not entirely convinced I actually NEED one. On top of that, I'm just not interested in dealing with old cars and their issues anymore.
I was checking out hot hatches online last night, but anything new enough to avoid major problems costs at least £10k. Yet, it seems crazy to invest a lot of money in a car that I have to make excuses to drive just to justify the expense.
So, here are the options I'm considering:
1. Should I spend £10-15k on a newer hot hatch, which would be nice to have but could potentially come with unexpected costly repairs? I can afford the monthlies but I know if I have problems I will resent it again.
2. Should I buy another old car and risk discovering why the previous owner was selling it, losing more money in the process?
3. Should I go for a cheap and reliable beater car, or simply use my wife's Aygo as a runabout? It's cost-effective and doesn't require road tax, but then I wouldn't be able to pay off my debts.
4. Should I admit that I'm tired of it all and go without a car, saving myself the stress? I've been thinking that maybe I should just buy an e-bike or something to improve my health and fitness whenever I want to get out.
I'd really appreciate hearing your thoughts on this, folks. Let me know what you think!
I'm at a bit of a crossroads with my car situation and could really use some opinions on what to do next.
Here's the deal: A few months ago, I decided to switch things up from my MX5 and bought a Boxster S. Long story short, it turned out to be a bad decision. Despite doing my research beforehand, the car ended up having a serious engine issue and other problems. So now I'm looking to cut my losses and sell it, even though it means taking a significant financial hit.
My wife and I talked it over, and we've decided that I'll sell the Porsche for whatever I can get and use the money to buy her the Mini Cooper she's always wanted. I'll contribute a bit of cash towards it as well.
I still have my MX5, but honestly, there are some things I want to do to it to make it more enjoyable, like upgrading the exhaust, getting coilovers, and fixing the rust. The problem is, all these modifications will cost quite a bit of money, which I don't really have anymore.
That's why I'm seriously considering selling the MX5 too. By selling both cars, I can pay off a loan and be completely debt-free.
Now, here are some facts I need to face when deciding what to do next. First of all, I work from home permanently, so I don't need a car for commuting. Essentially, the car would just be a runabout for me. Plus, I can use my wife's car as long as she's not already using it, which is usually only on Saturdays during the day.
When I think about it, Saturdays are typically the days I'd take my car out for a spin when she's out and about.
Here's the thing, though. Lately, I've been feeling a bit bored with it all. The roads around here are great, but I've done all the driving I wanted to do. If I'm being totally honest with myself, I sometimes take the car out not because I really want to, but just to justify owning it and prevent it from sitting idle for too long.
The only other times I use it are for grocery shopping or visiting friends, but these aren't regular occurrences.
Having a car would be nice, but I'm not entirely convinced I actually NEED one. On top of that, I'm just not interested in dealing with old cars and their issues anymore.
I was checking out hot hatches online last night, but anything new enough to avoid major problems costs at least £10k. Yet, it seems crazy to invest a lot of money in a car that I have to make excuses to drive just to justify the expense.
So, here are the options I'm considering:
1. Should I spend £10-15k on a newer hot hatch, which would be nice to have but could potentially come with unexpected costly repairs? I can afford the monthlies but I know if I have problems I will resent it again.
2. Should I buy another old car and risk discovering why the previous owner was selling it, losing more money in the process?
3. Should I go for a cheap and reliable beater car, or simply use my wife's Aygo as a runabout? It's cost-effective and doesn't require road tax, but then I wouldn't be able to pay off my debts.
4. Should I admit that I'm tired of it all and go without a car, saving myself the stress? I've been thinking that maybe I should just buy an e-bike or something to improve my health and fitness whenever I want to get out.
I'd really appreciate hearing your thoughts on this, folks. Let me know what you think!
Debt free sounds good.
When you get the itch - if you actually do - book a rally or td experience.
I rarely use my toy car as MTB is a lot more fun. Fast or as slow as you want. Easier to work on. Can be done on a budget... If you have restraint.
Start saving for another toy should you get the itch in the future.
When you get the itch - if you actually do - book a rally or td experience.
I rarely use my toy car as MTB is a lot more fun. Fast or as slow as you want. Easier to work on. Can be done on a budget... If you have restraint.
Start saving for another toy should you get the itch in the future.
If your Aygo is a reliable car, then I'd use that in the short term. I've been where you are, bought a car that turned our to be a mistake and didn't know what to replace it with, and feeling bored of cars. My recommendation would be to wait - use the Aygo for a while (and use the money you would have paid the monthlies on a new car to either pay down your debt or build up a deposit fund). Once you get the feeling of wanting something again, you'll have either a decent deposit (which might mean you could look at better / more expensive cars than you currently are) or more capacity for higher monthlies. TBH, if you're going to buy a Mini Cooper for your wife then see if you can snaffle the keys for that as they are great fun.
My top priority would be going debt free. I don't think any car is worth suffering financially if you can't afford it. I know some highly successful business owners might buy a Huracan with borrowed money because instead of buying it in cash, they can use that £200k in their business to make £800k but for mere mortals, I stand by my point.
Anyway, if you enjoy driving what I've found is that ultimately, it really doesn't matter what you drive. My £1k Merc is a lot of fun down country roads. Sure, my Porsche is fun-ner but I enjoy driving so the Merc is still fun to drive.
So in your shoes, I'd probably enjoy driving the Aygo for a bit and take your time to make any decision about prices.
Also note that a newer hot hatch will be very good in many ways, and ridiculously quick, but I find that modern cars tend to feel less involving.
I realised that I actually enjoy the involvement you get with cars if you're driving one for fun rather than commuting.
It can even turn a dull trip to Tesco into a fun event.
Anyway, if you enjoy driving what I've found is that ultimately, it really doesn't matter what you drive. My £1k Merc is a lot of fun down country roads. Sure, my Porsche is fun-ner but I enjoy driving so the Merc is still fun to drive.
So in your shoes, I'd probably enjoy driving the Aygo for a bit and take your time to make any decision about prices.
Also note that a newer hot hatch will be very good in many ways, and ridiculously quick, but I find that modern cars tend to feel less involving.
I realised that I actually enjoy the involvement you get with cars if you're driving one for fun rather than commuting.
It can even turn a dull trip to Tesco into a fun event.
So you don't need a car day to day as you work from home, and by your own admission you often take the car out at the weekend not because you want to, but because you feel you should.
If you get rid of the Porsche, it sounds like you are going to spend a load of money on the MX5, a car which you only really use because you feel like you should.
The sensible answer would be to sell the Porsche and the MX5, drive the Aygo and be debt free. If you are anything like me you will enjoy being debt free so much that you won't want to take out car finance ever again.
I think buying another interesting car is a massive gamble and you may well end up replacing one knackered money pit with another one.
If you get rid of the Porsche, it sounds like you are going to spend a load of money on the MX5, a car which you only really use because you feel like you should.
The sensible answer would be to sell the Porsche and the MX5, drive the Aygo and be debt free. If you are anything like me you will enjoy being debt free so much that you won't want to take out car finance ever again.
I think buying another interesting car is a massive gamble and you may well end up replacing one knackered money pit with another one.
My recommendation would be this - buy sell the MX-5, cut your losses on the Boxster, and have a think for a few weeks.
If you want a little runabout that could be fun think about a 1st-gen C1/Aygo/107, they're getting very cheap now and an absolute joy to drive - little 3-pot, fun handling, light as a feather. You can drive it flat out at ordinary speeds and have a hoot.
If you still hanker for something fun to use then consider a motorbike - even cheap and slow ones are extremely good fun.
If you want a little runabout that could be fun think about a 1st-gen C1/Aygo/107, they're getting very cheap now and an absolute joy to drive - little 3-pot, fun handling, light as a feather. You can drive it flat out at ordinary speeds and have a hoot.
If you still hanker for something fun to use then consider a motorbike - even cheap and slow ones are extremely good fun.
I sold my Alfa because for two years in a row, it had done less than 1500 miles. It had also lost about £5-6k in value over the same time, which means it was costing me something like £2 a mile just in depreciation, let alone insurance, tax, fuel, servicing, etc.
We went down to one car plus my motorbike, and have been like that for about 6 years now. I was fully expecting to be really annoyed with myself for letting the car go, as the bike is very good at moving me around but not so much other people or 'stuff', but in reality those situations have been vanishingly rare.
Try it. You'll be debt free, either permanently or until you find out that you really do need a second one.
We went down to one car plus my motorbike, and have been like that for about 6 years now. I was fully expecting to be really annoyed with myself for letting the car go, as the bike is very good at moving me around but not so much other people or 'stuff', but in reality those situations have been vanishingly rare.
Try it. You'll be debt free, either permanently or until you find out that you really do need a second one.
I get far, far more enjoyment from riding my MTB these days or walking the dogs and watching nature, and I have and Elise and an Elan to choose from.
Not sure of your age OP but I think you reach a certain stage in life where cars are just 'stuff' and there are more meaningful pursuits which yield far greater satisfaction. Being debt free is also very liberating.
That and the fact that we now live in a world where the motorist is cast as some sort of Bond villain and vilified from every angle
I still enjoy restoration, fettling and building but driving? - nah not really if I'm honest and I live among some of the best driving roads in the UK and certainly the very best in England.
Not sure of your age OP but I think you reach a certain stage in life where cars are just 'stuff' and there are more meaningful pursuits which yield far greater satisfaction. Being debt free is also very liberating.
That and the fact that we now live in a world where the motorist is cast as some sort of Bond villain and vilified from every angle
I still enjoy restoration, fettling and building but driving? - nah not really if I'm honest and I live among some of the best driving roads in the UK and certainly the very best in England.
Lotobear said:
Not sure of your age OP but I think you reach a certain stage in life where cars are just 'stuff' and there are more meaningful pursuits which yield far greater satisfaction. Being debt free is also very liberating.
very true. When I was young and poor I was always saving for the next car / motorbike. I had loads in my first 10-15 years of driving. Now I'm in a much better place financially but reluctant to spend lots of money on shiny toys. I've had my current cars for 8 years and 10 years and don't see me changing either any time soon. I now prefer to spend disposable income on holidays, meals out with my partner, or even topping up my pension - all very boring stuff I know but the desire to have the next really exciting car / money pit is no longer there. I'm content with what I've got.Thanks for the replies so far. I think the opinion is overwhelmingly to cut my losses and have a break, and I'm certain that's what I'll do in the end.
Someone asked about age, I'm now 44 so I've had a good 20 years of owning some quite interesting metal, albeit nothing hugely exotic, but I have to admit that the novelty has well and truly worn off.
Someone asked about age, I'm now 44 so I've had a good 20 years of owning some quite interesting metal, albeit nothing hugely exotic, but I have to admit that the novelty has well and truly worn off.
Sorry to hear the Boxster didn’t work out.
If I were you I’d sell both the Porsche and the MX5. Now is the right time to be selling open top roadsters with Summer around the corner.
Buy the Mini Cooper (which one by the way?). Maybe even consider an S?
Use the Aygo.
See how things go for a bit. If you’re going to get a Mini anyway it seems pointless to buy another similar hot hatch for very occasional use. There’s a chance you’ll miss having a 2 seat soft top in which case you could pick one up cheaper in the winter. Being debt free might even give you the opportunity to save a bit more towards an even better one.
Buy a decent mountain bike for a few hundred quid. Mine hasn’t come out of the shed yet this year so I feel it’s about time to spruce it up and start enjoying it!
If I were you I’d sell both the Porsche and the MX5. Now is the right time to be selling open top roadsters with Summer around the corner.
Buy the Mini Cooper (which one by the way?). Maybe even consider an S?
Use the Aygo.
See how things go for a bit. If you’re going to get a Mini anyway it seems pointless to buy another similar hot hatch for very occasional use. There’s a chance you’ll miss having a 2 seat soft top in which case you could pick one up cheaper in the winter. Being debt free might even give you the opportunity to save a bit more towards an even better one.
Buy a decent mountain bike for a few hundred quid. Mine hasn’t come out of the shed yet this year so I feel it’s about time to spruce it up and start enjoying it!
OP, I know how you feel.
My E36 328i Touring hasn't moved in 3 weeks.
I've cleaned it and that's about it.
I love the engine and how it looks but it's not exactly enjoyable to drive.
I run/cycle more miles than I drive it.
I have a hankering over another MK2 GTI but good ones are silly money.
I think I need another hot hatch (Cooper S, Clio RS etc..) but will I get bored?
OP, go debt free, buy an E bike/MTB and get out into the countryside.
My E36 328i Touring hasn't moved in 3 weeks.
I've cleaned it and that's about it.
I love the engine and how it looks but it's not exactly enjoyable to drive.
I run/cycle more miles than I drive it.
I have a hankering over another MK2 GTI but good ones are silly money.
I think I need another hot hatch (Cooper S, Clio RS etc..) but will I get bored?
OP, go debt free, buy an E bike/MTB and get out into the countryside.
Agree with Chris above, buy the missus her MINI but get a Cooper S (or JCW) and therefore a fun hot hatch blast awaits you at the weekend 
As for losing interest, have you ever done any track time? I have great fun taking my modified Cooper S on track! Can't do it so much more with small children to look after.
I've gone through several 6 months-ish periods without driving, because I didn't need to. In the end I firstly got sick of the bus, lol, but also just wanted another project! Worked out pretty well for me actually, as I enjoyed getting my hands dirty without the pressure of having to use the car all the time.
That's another idea actually, you say you don't really want to deal with older cars and problems, but what if you bought yourself a little project to do up?
As for losing interest, have you ever done any track time? I have great fun taking my modified Cooper S on track! Can't do it so much more with small children to look after.
I've gone through several 6 months-ish periods without driving, because I didn't need to. In the end I firstly got sick of the bus, lol, but also just wanted another project! Worked out pretty well for me actually, as I enjoyed getting my hands dirty without the pressure of having to use the car all the time.
That's another idea actually, you say you don't really want to deal with older cars and problems, but what if you bought yourself a little project to do up?
Certainly seems like we're on the same wavelength here.
Track days, I guess they could be fun but I don't have any tracks very nearby and to be honest they've never appealed to me in the past.
I'm not wanting a project to do up either. I don't enjoy all that and don't have space anyway.
Quite honestly tootling about the countryside on an ebike, chatting to the locals in the pubs sounds awesome to me right now and I could do with increasing my fitness anyway.
Track days, I guess they could be fun but I don't have any tracks very nearby and to be honest they've never appealed to me in the past.
I'm not wanting a project to do up either. I don't enjoy all that and don't have space anyway.
Quite honestly tootling about the countryside on an ebike, chatting to the locals in the pubs sounds awesome to me right now and I could do with increasing my fitness anyway.
TameRacingDriver said:
Thanks for the replies so far. I think the opinion is overwhelmingly to cut my losses and have a break, and I'm certain that's what I'll do in the end.
Someone asked about age, I'm now 44 so I've had a good 20 years of owning some quite interesting metal, albeit nothing hugely exotic, but I have to admit that the novelty has well and truly worn off.
Like others have said...if I was you I would be tempted to have a break from cars as well. They have given you a really rough ride recently, and I think a break from them could help you decide how you ultimately feel about them. Someone asked about age, I'm now 44 so I've had a good 20 years of owning some quite interesting metal, albeit nothing hugely exotic, but I have to admit that the novelty has well and truly worn off.
You may miss them loads, or you may find that you don't. Only time will tell I think. I think that I'd personally really struggle to have a break from them, but then I haven't gone through the upset/frustration etc that you have recently though.
raspy said:
Get another loan and buy a recent Porsche 911.
cerb4.5lee said:
Like others have said...if I was you I would be tempted to have a break from cars as well. They have given you a really rough ride recently, and I think a break from them could help you decide how you ultimately feel about them.
You may miss them loads, or you may find that you don't. Only time will tell I think. I think that I'd personally really struggle to have a break from them, but then I haven't gone through the upset/frustration etc that you have recently though.
I'm not a stranger to this actually Lee. Back in 2018 I sold my MR2 Roadster as I wasn't really using it and didn't want the expense of it (not that it was a very expensive car but still).You may miss them loads, or you may find that you don't. Only time will tell I think. I think that I'd personally really struggle to have a break from them, but then I haven't gone through the upset/frustration etc that you have recently though.
I didn't really miss it at all until I moved into the countryside while the country simultaneously went into lockdown. I did miss it then, because I had the roads on my doorstep and my social life had been obliterated. That was when I got the mini (which you probably remember).
However I can honestly say even then, I didn't quite find the joy that I used to in my younger days. I tried to "fix" that by buying more cars, which leads us to where we are today.
I think it's a combination of factors. My age (novelty worn off), familiarity (with the roads), increasing expense, pot holes everywhere, speed limits getting lowered, the general anti car sentiment that seems to be gathering pace and so on.
I'm not complaining, I've had a good innings, but as you say the amount of grief I've had recently has been the straw that's broken the camels back to honest with you. If it's not fun anymore (in fact quite the opposite) then it's time to call it a day I'd say.
I'll still always have an interest in cars - well - I'm struggling to find anything interesting about EVs personally, but other than that, I'll always enjoy discussing them.
I actually love PH, and have no intention of going anywhere no matter what I do. I love window shopping (that's almost more fun than driving now for me), I love watching car videos, and of course I can always buy another if I ever feel the need.
I'll just make sure I can buy it outright, and have a large pot of money for repairs so I'm not leaving myself short. The problem with me is the size of my passion outweighs the size of my wallet, and always has done, but despite that I don't regret anything... Well ok maybe that boxster
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