What would you do?
Discussion
Here is my dilemma.
Since retiring I have become a house sitter, and that takes me all over Europe looking after peoples houses when they are away. I stay for free and often have my flights paid for too. I can use the owners cars as well, so having one at the moment seems a bit unnecessary, as the cars I am lent are usually VERY nice. I currently have a choice of a Merc SL500 or new Merc GL350
I am UK car-less at the moment (although I can use a friends whenever I want) and when I come back to the UK I am hankering after another Chimaera.
However, I am in Portugal now (since 19th January until 3rd May) then back again to a different location (in Portugal) in June, Then Portugal again from October until Christmas, with a week in Kilkenny, Ireland at the end of September for good measure.
At home in the UK I have no garage, just a communal parking space for my flat. Is it just plain crazy buying another Chim (it would be my third) at the moment, until the frequency of this house-sitting malarkey quietens down?
I REALLY want another one but I think it might be too costly to keep driving over here to the Algarve each time, even though I find the weather and the roads very tempting.
I guess, having written this, that I really want someone to talk me out of buying one for the impracticalities of it. Although I had my other 2 Chims as daily drivers, all year round, I'm thinking that 18mpg on a 1500 mile each way trip ( to say nothing of wear and tear and tyres) isn't a sensible course of action.
Any advice would be welcome though, or even advice on something else that might be slightly more practical. Thank you.
Since retiring I have become a house sitter, and that takes me all over Europe looking after peoples houses when they are away. I stay for free and often have my flights paid for too. I can use the owners cars as well, so having one at the moment seems a bit unnecessary, as the cars I am lent are usually VERY nice. I currently have a choice of a Merc SL500 or new Merc GL350
I am UK car-less at the moment (although I can use a friends whenever I want) and when I come back to the UK I am hankering after another Chimaera.
However, I am in Portugal now (since 19th January until 3rd May) then back again to a different location (in Portugal) in June, Then Portugal again from October until Christmas, with a week in Kilkenny, Ireland at the end of September for good measure.
At home in the UK I have no garage, just a communal parking space for my flat. Is it just plain crazy buying another Chim (it would be my third) at the moment, until the frequency of this house-sitting malarkey quietens down?
I REALLY want another one but I think it might be too costly to keep driving over here to the Algarve each time, even though I find the weather and the roads very tempting.
I guess, having written this, that I really want someone to talk me out of buying one for the impracticalities of it. Although I had my other 2 Chims as daily drivers, all year round, I'm thinking that 18mpg on a 1500 mile each way trip ( to say nothing of wear and tear and tyres) isn't a sensible course of action.
Any advice would be welcome though, or even advice on something else that might be slightly more practical. Thank you.
Edited by s5tuart on Monday 8th April 12:34
s5tuart said:
I guess, having written this, that I really want someone to talk me out of buying one for the impracticalities of it.
It's a completely ridiculous idea. It'll probably break down all the time you're there, with no one knowledgeable at hand to help fix it, cost a fortune to get it their and back, and if it breaks down just before you have to go abroad what will you do with it? Rubbish idea, whatever were you thinking?
hope this helps, Chilli
Chilliman said:
It's a completely ridiculous idea. It'll probably break down all the time you're there, with no one knowledgeable at hand to help fix it, cost a fortune to get it their and back, and if it breaks down just before you have to go abroad what will you do with it?
Rubbish idea, whatever were you thinking?
hope this helps, Chilli
Hahahaha! That's exactly what I wanted to hear. Now I need to convince myself!!!Rubbish idea, whatever were you thinking?
hope this helps, Chilli
Chilliman said:
It's a completely ridiculous idea. It'll probably break down all the time you're there, with no one knowledgeable at hand to help fix it, cost a fortune to get it their and back, and if it breaks down just before you have to go abroad what will you do with it?
Rubbish idea, whatever were you thinking?
hope this helps, Chilli
as a counterpointRubbish idea, whatever were you thinking?
hope this helps, Chilli
what a fab idea.
As an example being used regularly it'll probably be totally reliable.
its a range rover engine and a simple design so any garage can work on it.
imagine how fun the journeys will be there an back - an of course as you would be mostly cruising along gently in your Chim it shouldnt use too much fuel (which if they pay for your flights most could be claimed back anyways) - not to mention no queues in airport, no flight surcharges etc
great idea, I like your thinking
hope this helps, Nick. hehehehehe
Edited by BountyHunter on Monday 8th April 22:51
chris1972 said:
What about getting a project, enjoying whilst you're here and then getting loads of work done on it whist you're away? Every time you come back, something new to look forward to and test. In a couple of years, the car will be mint!
That would be a BRILLIANT idea if I didn't already have a very tired MGB GT (the guy I got it from said it had been standing 18 years) that I'm getting converted to a Sebring copy, including a Range Rover V8 lump, when I can find one. Got a set of my old Chim coil-overs for it too!s5tuart said:
That would be a BRILLIANT idea if I didn't already have a very tired MGB GT (the guy I got it from said it had been standing 18 years) that I'm getting converted to a Sebring copy, including a Range Rover V8 lump, when I can find one. Got a set of my old Chim coil-overs for it too!
Treat yourself, get something really wild! I really fancy an Ultima or Noble... 
s5tuart said:
chris1972 said:
What about getting a project, enjoying whilst you're here and then getting loads of work done on it whist you're away? Every time you come back, something new to look forward to and test. In a couple of years, the car will be mint!
That would be a BRILLIANT idea if I didn't already have a very tired MGB GT (the guy I got it from said it had been standing 18 years) that I'm getting converted to a Sebring copy, including a Range Rover V8 lump, when I can find one. Got a set of my old Chim coil-overs for it too!
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