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

[CABC]

stickleback123 said:

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.

agree totally.
driving anything can be fun, adopting a style that fits the car best is a good challenge too.
and enjoying a variety helps appreciate individual cars more.

[mike9009]

CABC said:

stickleback123 said:

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.

agree totally.
driving anything can be fun, adopting a style that fits the car best is a good challenge too.
and enjoying a variety helps appreciate individual cars more.

This is my philosophy too. None of my cars are the pinnacle of anything, but each are different experiences which I enjoy.

Smart Roadster - open top, grippy, low speed, challenging gear box, noisy, fun.
BMW 330i Coupe - quiet, quick, competent mile muncher.
VW air-cooled camper (T25) - slow, high driving position, smelly, noisy, characterful, scabby, great for beach and holidays away...
Nissan Note - oh dear, competent, cheap, reliable, comfy, family/ shopping mobile.

I usually drive each at least once a week. All have completed their depreciation and I am at an age of cheap insurance. The VW will soon be tax and MOT exempt. I have enough room to store them all and also have a garage which is not used to store them (yet).

Mike

[GetCarter]

Thunderbird 1 for quick and Thunderbird 2 for holidays.

:0)

[anonymous-user]

CABC said:

stickleback123 said:

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.

agree totally.
driving anything can be fun, adopting a style that fits the car best is a good challenge too.
and enjoying a variety helps appreciate individual cars more.

I think that genuinely the most fun I’ve ever had behind the wheel was in a rental 1.0 poverty spec Fabia with 60 bhp. Foot flat to the floor absolutely everywhere, including roundabouts and I doubt I broke the speed limit once.

It’s what prompted me to buy a Citigo MC with the same engine. Was never quite the same though, probably because in the looks department it had sporting pretensions it could never meet, and it was mine and not a rental.

Though I’ve never owned anything that could be described as a proper petrolheads car.

[Bagzie88]

Timberwolf said:

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.

Isn't that where some like a focus ST or Golf GTI come in?

It's gonna be boring compared to an exige but still fun to drive on a nice road and comfy enough for the Mrs with enough room for your kit.

[SidewaysSi]

There are plenty of practical fun cars out there so get one of them if you need to.

They won't hit the highs of a proper sports car but will still be a fun steer.

I don't get people who assume practical needs to be dull.

[sunbeam alpine]

I'm an exponent of the "many cars" approach - there's always a reasonable chance that at least one will -

- start
- have enough fuel
- be reasonably appropriate and clean(ish)



P.S. Did we meet at the Rally des Jonquilles a few years back?

[Prohibiting]

I've tried a couple of times with a "do it all car." It's just not the same as running 2 or more cars.

At the moment I have a 2006 £1k Focus as my regular car and a mint ClioSport 172 Cup for my fun car.

At some point I may upgrade the Focus to something slightly better and in Estate form (had a couple of fast estates and miss the huge boot).

Plus running 2 cheap cars doesn't even cost that much extra in fuel, tax, insurance etc compared to having 1 expensive "do it all car."

[anonymous-user]

otolith said:

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.

Here we go...another argumentative 300bhp/ton thread. Surprise surprise.

[braddo]

Powerfully Built Company Director said:

... They say a camel is a racehorse designed by committee;
...

I like this.

[300bhp/ton]

otolith said:

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

I’m willing to bet about 200,000 new owners each year would probably agree with me

[300bhp/ton]

stickleback123 said:

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.

No need for the insult is there? And isn’t this meant to be a discussion forum. Not being prepared to discuss something, goes against the very existence of a forum, surely?

So are you saying you’d drive very quickly in a sporting manner on single track roads like the one you cited?

[braddo]

300bhp/ton said:

otolith said:

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

I’m willing to bet about 200,000 new owners each year would probably agree with me

You think 200,000 buyers of new Wranglers each year enjoy threading their car down a narrow twisty English B-road.

Are you sure?

[rustfalia]

We're selling our old campervan and my car to get a t5.1 van and converting it.

Getting the highest spec engine wise to keep me happy and I've got two motorbikes which keep me happy also.

[anonymous-user]

300bhp/ton said:

No need for the insult is there? And isn’t this meant to be a discussion forum. Not being prepared to discuss something, goes against the very existence of a forum, surely?

So are you saying you’d drive very quickly in a sporting manner on single track roads like the one you cited?

Everyone on this forum is well aware of the futility of “discussing” anything with you; it’s akin to playing chess with a pigeon in that no matter what is said you strut around knocking things over and covering everything in st.

So please, don’t ruin yet another thread with your quarrelsome, rude, obstinate, pompous nonsense.

[SidewaysSi]

braddo said:

300bhp/ton said:

otolith said:

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

I’m willing to bet about 200,000 new owners each year would probably agree with me

You think 200,000 buyers of new Wranglers each year enjoy threading their car down a narrow twisty English B-road.

Are you sure?

To be fair, I think it would be decent fun in a Landrover way. A 2CV or R4 likewise are decent steers.

Cars with character tend to be enjoyable, even if they are not best suited to that particular road/environment.

[Chubbyross]

My 997.2 turbo cab nearly satisfies my need for sheer exhilaration at the weekend, but there’s a nagging hole for a smaller roadster that the 911 doesn’t quite fill. A Boxster Spyder would be my choice but I’m not willing to park it on the street. I park my Octavia vrs outside the house and it’s been vandalised a couple of times (the 911’s parked in a secure rented space around the corner). I’m not sure there’s a do-it-all car for me. I like the idea of specific cars for specific needs. I think a good all-rounder would get boring too quickly.

[Speed_Demon]

Currently have one car, a 182 Clio. Quite extensively modified toward track (despite not having been on one yet ) with black bushes, springs, uprated pads and discs yada yada etc etc. It's not exactly NVH heaven but that doesn't bother me. it does 41MPG the way I drive it most the time and when I open it up on a B road it's hilarious... but I do find myself starting to lean towards another car as funds open up to me. Just feel like it would be nice to have something like an E90 M3 when I want a slightly more relaxed drive...

... and then a Lotus Exige when I want to scratch the traditional sports car itch

[V8 Stang]

The Mustang is a "all in one" fun car

Good for the commute, comfortable, fun, fast enough, looks good, fit the mountain bike in the boot, leave in auto when stuck in traffic/ sport plus on the paddles when want to hoon, and reasonably cheap to run.


I don't see the point in owning a fun car you rarely drive....

[StuntmanMike]

I run a BMW E60 550i. It’s my everyday car. I’m getting on and don’t need a pure drivers car. The 550 has a Magnaflow exhaust and sounds epic. It’s comfortable, roomy, a fantastic cruiser and you can hustle it down A roads.
For me now, at this point in life it’s the perfect everyday car.
When it breaks down ( and it will ) I will no doubt change my mind.

I have a Honda Jazz as well, my wife mainly uses it. During lockdown I sorned the Jazz and used the 550.