Do you prefer a do it all car or more than one car?

[mat205125]

A swiss army knife car is good, however ultimately it'll always be compromised for different specific duties

M3, rS4 and wrx STi are the typical type of candidate for nomination

If you can run different horse for different courses, that's ideal

[Gad-Westy]

One thing in favour of having an additional 'weekend' car is that it does mean it tends to still feel special when you do get to drive it. I haven't dailied anything truly exotic but using an Elise everyday or more latterly my B10 Alpina, neither really felt all that special after a while and sometimes little flaws that would pass as character in a more occasional car, can become real annoyances on a daily basis. Depends on the car/s of course but it's certainly something I've experienced.

[Jakg]

Doesn't it depend on what you want to use it for, and how the driving is split?

I want to be able to 2 large dogs in the back, but I also want a convertible.
I don't think such a thing exists, but if it did - I don't think a 911 Turbo would be it.

[Jonny TVR]

In my experience one car won't fit all my needs. I run 7 cars which is too many. 5 of these cars are very "needy", so there are regular trips to "specialists" that are never located nearby. Its takes quite a bit of organising.

[iphonedyou]

One do everything car, for sure. Saves time and money and just fits my needs better.

Mileage will obviously vary, but that's just me.

[CABC]

reduced from 7 to 6 last year, may have been a mistake...

a well managed fleet can suffer less depreciation than than a single new expensive barge every 2/3 years.
other costs mount up, but i prefer lightweights which tend to avoid big bills. i'll reduce to one car when i need a zimmer frame. maybe.

[Pedal_Loud]

My current sub 20k fleet consists of:

Audi A4 Avant Quattro S-Line 2.0L TFSI - Practical
Nissan Elgrand rear camper conversion - Family
Mk2 Audi TT 3.2 DSG - Fun

There have been other 3 x car combos (inc. E93 M3, 996 Cab, WRX wagon, XC90 etc).

So far though, this is my fave in terms of versatility and value for money. Not that it matters but they're all black too which is kind of cool.

Edited by Pedal_Loud on Monday 6th July 12:47

[heisthegaffer]

In a realistic world given the cost of living and how busy the roads are, I'd have a 500 Abarth for the station and a bit of fun but also an XC60 for longer journeys etc and those times where a bigger family car is needed.

I'd be more than happy with those two.

[aaron_2000]

I'm very happy with my S Class, despite missing a focused sports car. In an ideal world I'd have an S Class saloon for daily driving, an SDV8 Range Rover for weekend duties and an Impreza 22B/Sierra Cosworth as a toy.

[trails]

I don't believe you can have one car that really does it all; anything that is 'designed to be driven, not used' is inevitably more fun to drive than even the quickest saloon...not really sure any 911 would be any good for skip\bike carrying duties though either

[GroundEffect]

I tried the one-car-fits-all and you always leave something on the table.

I now have a boring diesel Focus for every day/tip runs.

And an Elise for me.

[Timberwolf]

One wildcard option: what about having a daily that covers your most common needs (which may end up being the inevitable do-it-all fast 4WD dog hauler) but renting the fun or absurdly luxurious stuff as an when you fancy it?

I preferred having multiple cars when I had the space for it. But there was one big problem I (and friends who've also done the "one for everyday, one for fun" approach) had: the time you really want the fun car is on holiday or a weekend away... but said weekend away is a 300 mile motorway drive away, you want to take a bunch of hiking gear and a mountain bike, and then for some there's the inevitable "I'm not spending five bloody hours in an Exige at 4000RPM" from a significant other added into the mix. So you end up driving round empty moorland roads in a big wallowing barge, because it's that or leave the dogs/kids/wife at home.

[BobSaunders]

T6.1
M4.

Done.

[AC43]

heisthegaffer said:

In a realistic world given the cost of living and how busy the roads are, I'd have a 500 Abarth for the station and a bit of fun but also an XC60 for longer journeys etc and those times where a bigger family car is needed.

I'd be more than happy with those two.

Similar to me then; some sort of 500 is going to replace the dying Clio. Probably not an Abath as it's overkill for local duties only.

I have an E500 estate for family trips/bikes/ectc.

[TameRacingDriver]

One car, for 2 reasons.

1. Skint
2. No room

[Trikster]

Been a multi car person for many years, and it started getting out of hand, still prefer a couple of cars but currently have (with their weak justifications)...

2017 Astra diesel Estate - dog car/4 drs when we need to take the older generation anywhere
2002 BMW 318Ci Convertible - no secure parking at my new work; car left in a car park for 3 days on the trot so something not to worry about but still a nice roof down if the weather permits
2010 Boxster Spyder - effectively had since new; opened my eyes to track days; was our wedding car
2017 Ariel Nomad - this was my 3rd or 4th midlife crisis;

Oh, and the missus had a Mini Cooper S cab

Can't justify 2 toys in the garage now - being away 3 days a week and no secure parking counts out using them for weekdays - so the Nomad is off at the end of the week

Be interesting what happens post Covid re working/driving habits... am liking the Turbo S as a 'daily' - but would still need something raw in the garage - that said Mrs Trikster & I are thinking of getting our licenses and going competitive.....

[donkmeister]

I like do-all cars. Having a car fit a specific role falls apart when you throw real-life into the equation.

"I want a brilliant sportscar to drive around the mountain roads of Italy" - that'll be fun... once you've 800 miles to get there. And you've dropped off the luggage. Assuming your hotel is in the vicinity.

"I will have an economical luxury barge for commuting, and a fast car for weekends" - that time when some bell-end is playing "none shall drive faster than 40 and I shall prevent all overtaking" you will wish you had your fast car. Or just getting past the mincers when joining a motorway.

"I will have a van for load-lugging and a nice car for driving the family around" - then you go to a garden centre and spot that the big thing you'd been looking out for is on an amazing offer and they only have one left. But you don't have the van with you.

A big, fast, estate is the key

[Skrambles]

I've tried a few different scenarios:
- a 'do it all' hot hatch (Golf Vr6)
- a hot hatch and family saloon for the wife & daughter (Golf and 325i)
- a sporty saloon (e60 m5) and sensible family car for long distance (x5)
- a sports car for weekends (911 turbo), eco car for the commute (Prius) and family wagon (x5)
- a sportier car for weekends (gt3), sporty saloon for the commute and occasional family outing (m5) and family wagon (x5).

Part of the fun is changing my mind about the cars and finding a justification for new toys. Part of me hopes that I'll lose interest in trying new cars at some point, but it's only a small part ... smaller than a grain of sand.

[hu8742]

I've often thought would car I would choose (money no object) if I could only have 1 for the rest of my life (and it has to do everything from run to the shops, carry the dogs, commute & family holidays).

As much as i'd love a 250 GTO or Chiron, it'd have to be a fast estate (e63 or RS6) or a decent SUV like a Range Rover SVR.

Just something to chew on for a Monday....

[otolith]

Timberwolf said:

So you end up driving round empty moorland roads in a big wallowing barge, because it's that or leave the dogs/kids/wife at home.

Is that, though, any worse than driving round empty moorland roads in something less comfortable but more capable at exactly the same speed because otherwise the whingeing / vomiting intercedes?