I am paranoid about my stuff so buying a shed, not a whatcar
Discussion
I'm a firm believer in always having a shed.
The present incumbent is a £1000 Focus diesel estate.
It's done 135000 miles, has a few dings, scuffed wheels and some peeling lacquer.
It gets used for taking crap to the tip, towing the bike trailer, leaving in scabby parts of Liverpool and keeping the miles down on the decent car.
Yet it's comfortable, steers and handles nicely, has power steering, aircon and leccy windows and will do over 50mpg on a run.
I don't suppose it is likely to impress the Rolex and Range Rover brigade, but who gives a stuff about that?
The present incumbent is a £1000 Focus diesel estate.
It's done 135000 miles, has a few dings, scuffed wheels and some peeling lacquer.
It gets used for taking crap to the tip, towing the bike trailer, leaving in scabby parts of Liverpool and keeping the miles down on the decent car.
Yet it's comfortable, steers and handles nicely, has power steering, aircon and leccy windows and will do over 50mpg on a run.
I don't suppose it is likely to impress the Rolex and Range Rover brigade, but who gives a stuff about that?
I love running a shed. I don't have a lengthy commute so I don't miss out on the experience of having a nice car for that. As others have said, tip runs, supermarket car parks, taking the dog out etc etc are all worry free with a shed. Mine was £200n to buy with around 7 months ticket, costs less than £200 a year to insure and passed the last MOT for £70. I save money by driving a shed as the running costs and depreciation on my good car would be far more than that.
It's also best to use your nice car for leisure, not as a daily workhorse. The shine goes from things for me once used to them and then I want to move on, having a shed helps stop that effect. Although I can see the benefit of running a nicer car for longer commutes.
It's also best to use your nice car for leisure, not as a daily workhorse. The shine goes from things for me once used to them and then I want to move on, having a shed helps stop that effect. Although I can see the benefit of running a nicer car for longer commutes.
I have a Mini Cooper S and a LR Freelander (wife's shed) to perform any shed duties, I did try using my V8 Vantage everyday but it just became a chore, 14 MPG, worrying about parking it, car park dints, etc, now I use it on the weekend for trips / days out rather than a mundane repetitive commute, it keeps it feeling special.
Sheds are awesome, wouldn't't be without one again.
Sheds are awesome, wouldn't't be without one again.
Pat H said:
I'm a firm believer in always having a shed.
The present incumbent is a £1000 Focus diesel estate.
It's done 135000 miles, has a few dings, scuffed wheels and some peeling lacquer.
It gets used for taking crap to the tip, towing the bike trailer, leaving in scabby parts of Liverpool and keeping the miles down on the decent car.
Yet it's comfortable, steers and handles nicely, has power steering, aircon and leccy windows and will do over 50mpg on a run.
I don't suppose it is likely to impress the Rolex and Range Rover brigade, but who gives a stuff about that?
Did you hit a very low bridge? The present incumbent is a £1000 Focus diesel estate.
It's done 135000 miles, has a few dings, scuffed wheels and some peeling lacquer.
It gets used for taking crap to the tip, towing the bike trailer, leaving in scabby parts of Liverpool and keeping the miles down on the decent car.
Yet it's comfortable, steers and handles nicely, has power steering, aircon and leccy windows and will do over 50mpg on a run.
I don't suppose it is likely to impress the Rolex and Range Rover brigade, but who gives a stuff about that?
Pat H said:
I'm a firm believer in always having a shed.
The present incumbent is a £1000 Focus diesel estate.
It's done 135000 miles, has a few dings, scuffed wheels and some peeling lacquer.
It gets used for taking crap to the tip, towing the bike trailer, leaving in scabby parts of Liverpool and keeping the miles down on the decent car.
Yet it's comfortable, steers and handles nicely, has power steering, aircon and leccy windows and will do over 50mpg on a run.
I don't suppose it is likely to impress the Rolex and Range Rover brigade, but who gives a stuff about that?
Thats not a shed! Thats a new car!The present incumbent is a £1000 Focus diesel estate.
It's done 135000 miles, has a few dings, scuffed wheels and some peeling lacquer.
It gets used for taking crap to the tip, towing the bike trailer, leaving in scabby parts of Liverpool and keeping the miles down on the decent car.
Yet it's comfortable, steers and handles nicely, has power steering, aircon and leccy windows and will do over 50mpg on a run.
I don't suppose it is likely to impress the Rolex and Range Rover brigade, but who gives a stuff about that?
The Selfish Gene said:
so, in the last year I've had the car damaged when parked (now sorted)
the bike stolen when parked
and so I'm paranoid.
I daren't leave either cars or the bike anywhere so I'm going to buy a car I don't care about to drive to events and places where it has to be out of my sight.
(airports, Goodwood events, London for dinners etc)
So, am I a paranoid lunatic?
Should I just not have nice things ?
or is this the world for a car fan now?
I had my cars broken into several times in England. Got seriously pissed off, so moved to Highland Scotland 12 years ago and have never locked my car since, with no issue. It's not a UK problem, it's an area specific problem.the bike stolen when parked
and so I'm paranoid.
I daren't leave either cars or the bike anywhere so I'm going to buy a car I don't care about to drive to events and places where it has to be out of my sight.
(airports, Goodwood events, London for dinners etc)
So, am I a paranoid lunatic?
Should I just not have nice things ?
or is this the world for a car fan now?
Operating a piece of crap is very liberating. I can't get my head around people who are out every weekend detailing their Astra. All it takes is one slip or stretch of dodgy road and it's all over.
Considering you're chucking your ton of metal at thousands of miles of weather and filth, owning a chunk of metal that you're going to squeal about if it reflects that seems illogical.
In future when looking for something with serious grunt I'll be commissioning a full Q car. Structural soundness is important. Cosmetics and image will be actively eschewed.
Considering you're chucking your ton of metal at thousands of miles of weather and filth, owning a chunk of metal that you're going to squeal about if it reflects that seems illogical.
In future when looking for something with serious grunt I'll be commissioning a full Q car. Structural soundness is important. Cosmetics and image will be actively eschewed.
Northern.N said:
The car in question was a 1.9tdi 130 passat. I maintained it well but didn't care if it got scratched. Never let me down.
I bought a second shed as I liked the main shed too much. I got lucky and found a decent E46 330d for around a grand.
The perfect car for commuting 35 motorway miles to avonmouth every day, 50+ mpg and pretty nippy for an oil burner, pre swirl flap so lower power but sturdier. Then it's bright red paintwork, standard sporty looking stance, old school feeling leather sports seats and the size of it charmed me and got under the skin.
Then I stopped commuting so far and lost the use of a secure private car park and have to park in the city.
Naturally a £400 completely stripped out Honda Prelude Mk5 with the rubbish engine, loud exhaust, some tidy nankang track day special tyres, noise limit pass stickers, battle scars and all fitted the bill perfectly.
11 months MOT, a box of spares and I get to drive something a bit different with battered but amazingly 99% rust free bodywork.
I drive it more than the BMW, I think another shed is getting under my skin... I gave it a service and even waxed the b
d 
The perfect car for commuting 35 motorway miles to avonmouth every day, 50+ mpg and pretty nippy for an oil burner, pre swirl flap so lower power but sturdier. Then it's bright red paintwork, standard sporty looking stance, old school feeling leather sports seats and the size of it charmed me and got under the skin.
Then I stopped commuting so far and lost the use of a secure private car park and have to park in the city.
Naturally a £400 completely stripped out Honda Prelude Mk5 with the rubbish engine, loud exhaust, some tidy nankang track day special tyres, noise limit pass stickers, battle scars and all fitted the bill perfectly.
11 months MOT, a box of spares and I get to drive something a bit different with battered but amazingly 99% rust free bodywork.
I drive it more than the BMW, I think another shed is getting under my skin... I gave it a service and even waxed the b
d bloomen said:
Operating a piece of crap is very liberating. I can't get my head around people who are out every weekend detailing their Astra. All it takes is one slip or stretch of dodgy road and it's all over.
Considering you're chucking your ton of metal at thousands of miles of weather and filth, owning a chunk of metal that you're going to squeal about if it reflects that seems illogical.
In future when looking for something with serious grunt I'll be commissioning a full Q car. Structural soundness is important. Cosmetics and image will be actively eschewed.
Nice, though for the next buyer of the Astra.Considering you're chucking your ton of metal at thousands of miles of weather and filth, owning a chunk of metal that you're going to squeal about if it reflects that seems illogical.
In future when looking for something with serious grunt I'll be commissioning a full Q car. Structural soundness is important. Cosmetics and image will be actively eschewed.
Bennyjames28 said:
Just buy a shed and be done with it. Go Japanese is my only suggestion.
Had this very conversation today. Friend has Cayenne. Fine, I have no 4x4 paranoia, I had a Land Cruiser. However, dare you park the Porsche in a dodgy area? If you go down the banger as second car route, not sure about cost effectiveness as you have to tax and insure it and indeed it will also throw up bills. All very interesting with a sad conclusion that unless you are a footballer with money no object, the answer seems to involve compromise: buy mainstream just above banger level.0hyphen said:
It isn't just a choice between a shed (i.e. £1k car) or a nice car (i.e. £20k plus) though.
Loads of cars at £7k or so that have taken most of their depreciation, and you don't really care as much about the car as you would a shiny new one as resale will be low when you do move on.
There's a mindset prevalent on PH and i the real world that says everybody always has the most expensive car they can afford but Shedding isn't always about money, it's more about freedom from worry and acquiring peace of mind.Loads of cars at £7k or so that have taken most of their depreciation, and you don't really care as much about the car as you would a shiny new one as resale will be low when you do move on.
Quite intentionally choosing to run a car that makes little or no demand on your finances or your time and that never keeps you awake at night rather than one that does is incredibly liberating.
I'm not about keeping my car pristine for the next owner. I take reasonable precautions such as parking far from the door in an end space and beyond servicing and washing, that's about it.
You see it a lot in bike circles, people don't use them on wet days etc. and when they come to sell someone else gets a great bike that the first owner was frightened to enjoy. It's like dating a supermodel and not having sex so she's pure for the next guy. I don't get it.
We use our Model X as a van for tip runs and the like. It'll clean. My bike gets used in all weather. The cars might be worth £1000 less at trade in but I've saved that by not buying and running a shed!
You see it a lot in bike circles, people don't use them on wet days etc. and when they come to sell someone else gets a great bike that the first owner was frightened to enjoy. It's like dating a supermodel and not having sex so she's pure for the next guy. I don't get it.
We use our Model X as a van for tip runs and the like. It'll clean. My bike gets used in all weather. The cars might be worth £1000 less at trade in but I've saved that by not buying and running a shed!
Another reason for driving a shed is that I would not want to drive around in a car that was not 100% paid for. I don't like the idea of having to pay a loan payment or lease payment each month. Now obviously being Pistonheads I could afford to pay for a car cash, but do I really want to hand over £20k+ for a car?
For me, having a nice car is just a self inflicted problem that I could well do without. Personally the month novelty of owning something nice is far out weighed by the paying for it each month and having to constantly worry about it. I am one of those people that would get annoyed by it being dirty so would want it looking brand new at all times.
I also hate having to have the hassle and expensive of taking a car to a main dealer for servicing, I would much rather buy the oil and filters for £30 on eBay and spend an hour or two on a Sunday afternoon doing it myself.
Owning a shed is liberating, you can leave it anywhere and nothing will ever happen to it. If you get bored of it, sell it and buy another one that day with minimal depreciation. Someone drives into it? Instead of never being 100% happy with the repair it will be written off and you can buy something else. Cambelt snaps? you don't have to pay thousands in repairs just scrap it and buy something else.
Personally my dream scenario is a four door, diesel shed as my everyday car and something like a £4k BMW z4 3.0 as my weekend/sunny day car.
One other advantage for the divorced guys is when your ex-wife asks for money to pay for something you can just say "Sorry, I don't have any money, if I did I wouldn't be driving this car"
For me, having a nice car is just a self inflicted problem that I could well do without. Personally the month novelty of owning something nice is far out weighed by the paying for it each month and having to constantly worry about it. I am one of those people that would get annoyed by it being dirty so would want it looking brand new at all times.
I also hate having to have the hassle and expensive of taking a car to a main dealer for servicing, I would much rather buy the oil and filters for £30 on eBay and spend an hour or two on a Sunday afternoon doing it myself.
Owning a shed is liberating, you can leave it anywhere and nothing will ever happen to it. If you get bored of it, sell it and buy another one that day with minimal depreciation. Someone drives into it? Instead of never being 100% happy with the repair it will be written off and you can buy something else. Cambelt snaps? you don't have to pay thousands in repairs just scrap it and buy something else.
Personally my dream scenario is a four door, diesel shed as my everyday car and something like a £4k BMW z4 3.0 as my weekend/sunny day car.
One other advantage for the divorced guys is when your ex-wife asks for money to pay for something you can just say "Sorry, I don't have any money, if I did I wouldn't be driving this car"
Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 21st June 09:47
Entirely agree with OP's sentiment.
I had a mint (and parked) Fabia vRS totalled outside my house by a drunken Polish teenager who was being pursued by the police. Wife's car has two doors and a front wing creased from her work car park, along with bumper damage. I've had numerous aerials stolen, and two cars broken into, and you never get all of the glass out of the rear hatch (in fact with one then jammed the hatch lock mechanism which had to be replaced).
The wife's car is 11 years old and will not be replaced until it dies, or a diesel ban/charge forces a sale. It will be replaced by another old car we don't have to care about.
My car is a mandatory company car that I have never washed in 3.5 years.
I like cars but it isn't worth the hassle of owning a decent one, or putting decent money into one. As long as it runs, that's fine.
I had a mint (and parked) Fabia vRS totalled outside my house by a drunken Polish teenager who was being pursued by the police. Wife's car has two doors and a front wing creased from her work car park, along with bumper damage. I've had numerous aerials stolen, and two cars broken into, and you never get all of the glass out of the rear hatch (in fact with one then jammed the hatch lock mechanism which had to be replaced).
The wife's car is 11 years old and will not be replaced until it dies, or a diesel ban/charge forces a sale. It will be replaced by another old car we don't have to care about.
My car is a mandatory company car that I have never washed in 3.5 years.
I like cars but it isn't worth the hassle of owning a decent one, or putting decent money into one. As long as it runs, that's fine.
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