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

[sjc]

ash73 said:

I've run 2 cars plus a bike for years; normally a hack plus a couple of toys.

Too many careless people about to use a nice car for shopping etc.

I'm going more and more basic with the runabout, but at least try to get something interesting.

@sjc... snap!

The green runabout was £1175 for a 90k miler,V6 full history, and a few toys... perfect!

[Composite Guru]

One for everyday and one for fun.

I don't like dragging unnecessary weight around for no reason when I go for a proper drive.

[300bhp/ton]

cerb4.5lee said:

I was thinking about the 911 Turbo S article and do you prefer a do it all car like that, or do you prefer running more than one car that does a more specific job?

I personally prefer having cars to do different jobs...for example a comfortable daily and then something fun for the weekend. I tried a E92 M3 as a do it all car and I ended up preferring the more than one car approach, because the M3 ended up feeling less special for me because I was using it everyday.

What do you prefer to do?

I think I would be content with a do it all car. But I'm yet to see evidence of any such thing existing!!

The world of motoring is far to vast and diverse for a single car to be able to cater for all needs and wants.

[anonymous-user]

One of the basic needs for my "kids and other drudgery" car is to have lots of space, meaning a longand wide car, which irrespective of power output or handling prowess means the car is no fun at all (or actively miserable) on the brilliant B roads I like to go driving on. For this reason alone, I'm in the two or more cars camp. I like my drudgery car to be quiet, smooth, reasonably powerful, and removing any need for it to be dynamically engaging means I'm not compromising these things in an impossible attempt to make a 5 metre long and 2 metre wide car "sporty".

You only need to see the trepidation with which people steer their wheeled hippos to see how the girth of the car ruins any chance at having fun; a recent spell stuck behind a straight line hero in a BMW M6 on one of the finest and best sighted B roads I know of showed how useless very wide cars are for driving on good British roads.

[AC43]

donkmeister said:

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

"Getting past the mincers when joining a motorway". LOL, Very true.

That bit about spontaneously picking up something random from the garden centre - very true.

I've also used mine to bring a very large mirror back from France to London and two antique chairs from Warminster when already kitted out with four people and luggage. And numerous other things my wife has spotted when driving by an antiques shop or whetever when we're many hours from home. Now I thing about it, another sodding great mirror in Suffolk......

It's a bit juicy round town, though, and picks up parking dings so I do like to have one more car to soak up that abuse.

[GrizzlyBear]

Like many others, I would rather have one "do it all" car, but I doubt it would ever exist, although I tend to line smaller cars, so would struggle with something as a load carrier, but plenty of choice for rapid fun, which then causes a conflict on the long journeys... oh sod it just give me a Korean car with a 7 year warranty. This is too hard for my brain

[300bhp/ton]

stickleback123 said:

One of the basic needs for my "kids and other drudgery" car is to have lots of space, meaning a longand wide car, which irrespective of power output or handling prowess means the car is no fun at all (or actively miserable) on the brilliant B roads I like to go driving on. For this reason alone, I'm in the two or more cars camp. I like my drudgery car to be quiet, smooth, reasonably powerful, and removing any need for it to be dynamically engaging means I'm not compromising these things in an impossible attempt to make a 5 metre long and 2 metre wide car "sporty".

You only need to see the trepidation with which people steer their wheeled hippos to see how the girth of the car ruins any chance at having fun; a recent spell stuck behind a straight line hero in a BMW M6 on one of the finest and best sighted B roads I know of showed how useless very wide cars are for driving on good British roads.

Big and bigger vehicles can still be fun to drive

[otolith]

stickleback123 said:

One of the basic needs for my "kids and other drudgery" car is to have lots of space, meaning a longand wide car, which irrespective of power output or handling prowess means the car is no fun at all (or actively miserable) on the brilliant B roads I like to go driving on. For this reason alone, I'm in the two or more cars camp. I like my drudgery car to be quiet, smooth, reasonably powerful, and removing any need for it to be dynamically engaging means I'm not compromising these things in an impossible attempt to make a 5 metre long and 2 metre wide car "sporty".

You only need to see the trepidation with which people steer their wheeled hippos to see how the girth of the car ruins any chance at having fun; a recent spell stuck behind a straight line hero in a BMW M6 on one of the finest and best sighted B roads I know of showed how useless very wide cars are for driving on good British roads.

This is my attitude too. I have a remapped E320cdi estate for that purpose, which is basically an accelerative sofa.

[anonymous-user]

300bhp/ton said:

stickleback123 said:

One of the basic needs for my "kids and other drudgery" car is to have lots of space, meaning a longand wide car, which irrespective of power output or handling prowess means the car is no fun at all (or actively miserable) on the brilliant B roads I like to go driving on. For this reason alone, I'm in the two or more cars camp. I like my drudgery car to be quiet, smooth, reasonably powerful, and removing any need for it to be dynamically engaging means I'm not compromising these things in an impossible attempt to make a 5 metre long and 2 metre wide car "sporty".

You only need to see the trepidation with which people steer their wheeled hippos to see how the girth of the car ruins any chance at having fun; a recent spell stuck behind a straight line hero in a BMW M6 on one of the finest and best sighted B roads I know of showed how useless very wide cars are for driving on good British roads.

Big and bigger vehicles can still be fun to drive

Driving a big uber barge on sweeping A roads at indecent speeds can indeed be enormous fun, as can "making progress" in a van or truck, or even making some dopey lard arse 4x4 do things it shouldn't, but I do not find them fun on the roads I particularly enjoy and certainly not in the way I enjoy driving on them. As I know from experience piloting some 2 metre wide hippo down here is nothing but a chore (and you get in the way of people like me).



Some people may enjoy that experience, I do not. Fortunately I can have different cars for different jobs.

otolith said:

This is my attitude too. I have a remapped E320cdi estate for that purpose, which is basically an accelerative sofa.

Excellent description and I always like to have one car like that available. Best thing is they cost two and tuppence once they're a few years old too!

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 6th July 15:22

[stedaley]

Im currently in that predicament, although i have my fun car (In storage) and a Daily runaround, I do love the thought of trying to do those tasks with one/two cars but alas... after searching i really dont think its possible. Maybe possible in two cars more comfortably three,

Current
Audi TT mk1 for fun/tinkering
Suzuki Swift Sport for Daily duties (Thinking of changing this to a Toyota Aristo for space and more power)

In a perfect world id have three,
XC40 - Daily/Comfy/Big enough
TT (First car i bought so cant get rid/most reliable too!)
Aristo (Fast/comfy/Travel/2jz )

[donkmeister]

AC43 said:

donkmeister said:

A big, fast, estate is the key

"Getting past the mincers when joining a motorway". LOL, Very true.

That bit about spontaneously picking up something random from the garden centre - very true.

I've also used mine to bring a very large mirror back from France to London and two antique chairs from Warminster when already kitted out with four people and luggage. And numerous other things my wife has spotted when driving by an antiques shop or whetever when we're many hours from home. Now I thing about it, another sodding great mirror in Suffolk......

It's a bit juicy round town, though, and picks up parking dings so I do like to have one more car to soak up that abuse.

Nice! The E500 wagon really is the holy grail of the "do everything car". Carrying big heavy stuff? Set suspension to maximum waft. Found an interesting road? Set gearbox and suspension to Max Attack. Picking up an antique mirror from France, from an old farmhouse across a potholed track? Simply push the "raise suspension" button, Citroen style!
Does yours have the 7 seat option for maximum child vomit?

[CABC]

donkmeister said:

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

excellent choice.
and what would the other cars be?

[otolith]

stickleback123 said:

otolith said:

This is my attitude too. I have a remapped E320cdi estate for that purpose, which is basically an accelerative sofa.

Excellent description and I always like to have one car like that available. Best thing is they cost two and tuppence once they're a few years old too!

Indeed! As long as you can afford to chuck a few quid at them when something breaks, they're great value.

[ian2144]

A three car household here.

daily hack - Fiat Panda 1.2

The other half has a Polo Gti 1.8T which is comfy and quick when required.

weekend / holiday car - Mustang GT 5.0 superb on a trip to the Picos mountains in Spain last year. But considering going back to classic car or Caterham.

[CABC]

ian2144 said:

weekend / holiday car - Mustang GT 5.0 superb on a trip to the Picos mountains in Spain last year. But considering going back to classic car or Caterham.

interesting, why? is it the v8 itch scratched?
i'm tempted myself. it has the engine and touring comfort. lacks 'sports' appeal.
still, your blue one looks lovely.

[cerb4.5lee]

CABC said:

ian2144 said:

weekend / holiday car - Mustang GT 5.0 superb on a trip to the Picos mountains in Spain last year. But considering going back to classic car or Caterham.

interesting, why? is it the v8 itch scratched?
i'm tempted myself. it has the engine and touring comfort. lacks 'sports' appeal.
still, your blue one looks lovely.

I've always wanted a Mustang GT 5.0 too.

A Caterham or similar has always been a box I'd love to tick one day as well though.

I'm really enjoying reading all of the replies on the thread thanks!

[300bhp/ton]

stickleback123 said:

Driving a big uber barge on sweeping A roads at indecent speeds can indeed be enormous fun, as can "making progress" in a van or truck, or even making some dopey lard arse 4x4 do things it shouldn't, but I do not find them fun on the roads I particularly enjoy and certainly not in the way I enjoy driving on them. As I know from experience piloting some 2 metre wide hippo down here is nothing but a chore (and you get in the way of people like me).

Not sure I follow completely. That is a very narrow single track road. But not narrow enough that you are brushing each side of the verge/bank. Are you really saying you'd fly down such a road like a maniac in an MX-5, but not want to in something like a Jag? I get the MX-5 is a bit narrower and more nimble. But the road is still too narrow to be getting the back out on, with any degree of sanity that is. The MX-5 is undeniably more fun than a barge. But this is due to a barge being a barge, rather than just being bigger.

Maybe you need something with more sense of occasion. I reckon driving a Wrangler Unlimited down such roads would always be rewarding, it would just be a different kind of fun. And not something a Volvo XC could offer.

[anonymous-user]

Driving anything can be fun with the right attitude, I've had a brilliant laugh driving an absolutely AWFUL to drive black cab across Europe for example, but I'm not engaging in a discussion as to why I enjoy driving a 1000KG sports car with sophisticated suspension down B roads a lot more than driving a 2 ton truck on live axles down the same. Maybe you do too, maybe you don't, but if you can't see why I have that preference then you're either being wilfully obstinante or you've been dropped on your head.

[otolith]

300bhp/ton said:

I reckon driving a Wrangler Unlimited down such roads would always be rewarding, it would just be a different kind of fun.

I'm afraid I reckon that's probably mostly just you.

[Timberwolf]

otolith said:

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?

Veering slightly off on a tangent, this is one of the problems with the "do-it-all" car. On a group trip, you will have a certain number of people who are happy with a bit of speed and some who are reaching for the sick bags at the first big suspension compression.

Those in the latter group will know to avoid the two-seater car festooned with air ducts and spoilers. But you will find them queuing up by the doors of the sensible-looking saloon or estate car, leaving the driver stuck in chauffeur mode unless some advance negotiation about desired driving styles and the optimal choice of driver is performed.

Regarding the original question, I find that you can be faster for the same levels of pitch and sway in a well set up car. Unless of course the cargo is two gently swaying greyhounds with a nervous expression and a refusal to lie down, in which case anything more than parking speed is too fast.