Two cars or one nicer one?
Discussion
Long story short. Changed jobs, company car gone, just got my "weekend roadster" 2007 MK3 MX5.
New job requires potentially doing a few miles, possibly occasionally ferrying customers from airport.
Love MX5 but no good for either of above, too small, too noisy on motorway, too cramped.
Decided would need to swap it for more practical 4 seater convertible.
Nearly bought 2007 Saab 93 Aero Convertible 1.9TiD automatic, got everything I want, leather, heated seats, centre armrest, cruise control etc, cost about £3.5K to change. Got put off by concerns about reliability and steep depreciation.
Really wanted an Audi A4 Cabrio anyway, although initially put off by high cost, similar age/mile car (07/40,000) to the spec I want (leather, heated seats, Bose, 2.0 TFSi) would be more like £7.5K to change. But went to have a look at one that was almost perfect spec and love the car.
Trouble is, it's not going to be as economical as a diesel, and with myself and my girlfriend aboard (both over 6ft tall) it's effectively a 2 seater, there's no room in the back (which isn't essential, but would be very useful for family duties).
Anyway, just as I'm convincing myself it's the way forward I suddenly think, hang on, £7K is going to buy a decent car in it's own right. Why not keep the MX5 and buy a similar aged Astra or Vectra diesel then I've still got my rag top sports car, but I've also got an economical (hopefully) reliable but above all roomy and comfortable family car/work car/cruiser. Something like this (taken at random from the classifieds).
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2165783.htm
In fact if I go with a top spec Vectra it'll even have cruise and centre armrest. Plus I'll lose about £3K on the Mazda if I sell it right now, and I've only had it a few months (no intention of changing jobs when I bought it).
The trouble is though, then I'll have circa £15K worth of cars but will only ever drive a car worth half that, whereas if I sink it all into the Audi I'll at least be driving a £15K car all the time.
Also, will the costs associated with running two cars (tax, insurance, servicing) outweigh the savings of having a nice economical diesel for long trips. In other words is buying the Audi going to give me both a nicer environment and cheaper overall running costs, albeit without the benefits of a roomy car on tap (which, although desirable, isn't essential).
Truth is I can see real merit (And real drawbacks) in both.
So has anyone done it, either chosen two cheaper cars instead of one dearer one in order to fulfil a wider brief with the budget or just to keep one as a fun car, or had two cars and swapped them for one much better car?
Really struggling to know which way to go with this one, so any input gratefully received.
New job requires potentially doing a few miles, possibly occasionally ferrying customers from airport.
Love MX5 but no good for either of above, too small, too noisy on motorway, too cramped.
Decided would need to swap it for more practical 4 seater convertible.
Nearly bought 2007 Saab 93 Aero Convertible 1.9TiD automatic, got everything I want, leather, heated seats, centre armrest, cruise control etc, cost about £3.5K to change. Got put off by concerns about reliability and steep depreciation.
Really wanted an Audi A4 Cabrio anyway, although initially put off by high cost, similar age/mile car (07/40,000) to the spec I want (leather, heated seats, Bose, 2.0 TFSi) would be more like £7.5K to change. But went to have a look at one that was almost perfect spec and love the car.
Trouble is, it's not going to be as economical as a diesel, and with myself and my girlfriend aboard (both over 6ft tall) it's effectively a 2 seater, there's no room in the back (which isn't essential, but would be very useful for family duties).
Anyway, just as I'm convincing myself it's the way forward I suddenly think, hang on, £7K is going to buy a decent car in it's own right. Why not keep the MX5 and buy a similar aged Astra or Vectra diesel then I've still got my rag top sports car, but I've also got an economical (hopefully) reliable but above all roomy and comfortable family car/work car/cruiser. Something like this (taken at random from the classifieds).
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2165783.htm
In fact if I go with a top spec Vectra it'll even have cruise and centre armrest. Plus I'll lose about £3K on the Mazda if I sell it right now, and I've only had it a few months (no intention of changing jobs when I bought it).
The trouble is though, then I'll have circa £15K worth of cars but will only ever drive a car worth half that, whereas if I sink it all into the Audi I'll at least be driving a £15K car all the time.
Also, will the costs associated with running two cars (tax, insurance, servicing) outweigh the savings of having a nice economical diesel for long trips. In other words is buying the Audi going to give me both a nicer environment and cheaper overall running costs, albeit without the benefits of a roomy car on tap (which, although desirable, isn't essential).
Truth is I can see real merit (And real drawbacks) in both.
So has anyone done it, either chosen two cheaper cars instead of one dearer one in order to fulfil a wider brief with the budget or just to keep one as a fun car, or had two cars and swapped them for one much better car?
Really struggling to know which way to go with this one, so any input gratefully received.
Buy an older Skoda Superb. Long wheelbase version of the old Passat, unburstable diesel engines, VERY good on the motorway even in 105hp form. Personally I'd go for the 115hp one, though, or if you can get one the 2.0TDI 140hp is the best of the bunch. The 2.5V6TDI is OK but not terribly economical, and very difficult to find.
I'd imagine that one newer expensive car would depreciate more than two older cheaper ones.
Have you thought about a couple of £k on an LS400 or similar. Plenty of room and very refined/shouldn't squeak possibly giving a good impression to customers and keeping everyone relaxed when at their destination.
Then re evaluate the MX5 in summer when its value will have gone up somewhat.
Have you thought about a couple of £k on an LS400 or similar. Plenty of room and very refined/shouldn't squeak possibly giving a good impression to customers and keeping everyone relaxed when at their destination.
Then re evaluate the MX5 in summer when its value will have gone up somewhat.
HellDiver said:
Buy an older Skoda Superb. Long wheelbase version of the old Passat, unburstable diesel engines, VERY good on the motorway even in 105hp form. Personally I'd go for the 115hp one, though, or if you can get one the 2.0TDI 140hp is the best of the bunch. The 2.5V6TDI is OK but not terribly economical, and very difficult to find.
Good suggestion! Octavias look good too.I'm in a similar situation; I've had a Merc SLK AMG for a few years and also a 'run-around' and it occasionally occurs to me that I could do as you suggest and consolidate them both into something more expensive than either individually and be driving a more expensive car all of the time. However, for me I really enjoy keeping the Merc for high days and holidays and the other car (currently an 01 V8 Discovery on LPG) I enjoy being able to care less about if that makes sense - I can park it without worrying about it and chuck stuff in the back to take to the tip etc and yet I still have the nice car for 'best'. I think that, for me, just having the one car would mean I would actually end up enjoying it less as I tend to get a bit ‘precious’ about nice cars so at least now I only worry about where I’m taking or parking the car 50% of the time - it's also quite nice to travel in something a bit more anonymous some of the time.
BlueMR2 said:
I'd imagine that one newer expensive car would depreciate more than two older cheaper ones.
Have you thought about a couple of £k on an LS400 or similar. Plenty of room and very refined/shouldn't squeak possibly giving a good impression to customers and keeping everyone relaxed when at their destination.
Then re evaluate the MX5 in summer when its value will have gone up somewhat.
I love that idea! Have you thought about a couple of £k on an LS400 or similar. Plenty of room and very refined/shouldn't squeak possibly giving a good impression to customers and keeping everyone relaxed when at their destination.
Then re evaluate the MX5 in summer when its value will have gone up somewhat.
But 100,000 mile decade old models seem to be twice that and I'd be living in fear of something expensive going wrong, not to mention fuel costs.
What attracts me to the Vauxhalls is cheap to buy/fix/run yet still look reasonably current and presentable.
But wouldn't be like driving an Audi, and can't decide whether the benefit of an MX5 on the drive for fun makes up for that.
Rotaree said:
I'm in a similar situation; I've had a Merc SLK AMG for a few years and also a 'run-around' and it occasionally occurs to me that I could do as you suggest and consolidate them both into something more expensive than either individually and be driving a more expensive car all of the time. However, for me I really enjoy keeping the Merc for high days and holidays and the other car (currently an 01 V8 Discovery on LPG) I enjoy being able to care less about if that makes sense - I can park it without worrying about it and chuck stuff in the back to take to the tip etc and yet I still have the nice car for 'best'. I think that, for me, just having the one car would mean I would actually end up enjoying it less as I tend to get a bit ‘precious’ about nice cars so at least now I only worry about where I’m taking or parking the car 50% of the time - it's also quite nice to travel in something a bit more anonymous some of the time.
Thanks for that input, that's pretty much my sort of thinking, although you've got a better split between the two (ie one very high end and one very low end, rather than two different but "middling" cars).Of course it makes most sence to have two cars. the roadster won't get worn out as fast, will be serviced less often etc etc. It also gives you further flexibility, you won't be reliant on the mx when it is in for service or if you had an accident.
I have three cars now, because having seen the light with 2, 3 makes even more sence as the vx can spend the winter off the road hibernating.
I have three cars now, because having seen the light with 2, 3 makes even more sence as the vx can spend the winter off the road hibernating.
Edited by Jimbo_vx on Tuesday 4th January 15:36
I've run two cars for a while now and I wouldn't go back.
I started with an Audi RS2 and a 190E 2.0, now on a TVR Chimaera and a Merc E220 estate (about to be replaced with a Lexus LS400).
OK, so you have two cars to tax, insure, MOT and tyre but costs can be low with the right cars. The Merc has cost me nothing other than a tax disc and an MOT, and the TVR about £600 for a service and MOT in 2010.
Good luck.
I started with an Audi RS2 and a 190E 2.0, now on a TVR Chimaera and a Merc E220 estate (about to be replaced with a Lexus LS400).
OK, so you have two cars to tax, insure, MOT and tyre but costs can be low with the right cars. The Merc has cost me nothing other than a tax disc and an MOT, and the TVR about £600 for a service and MOT in 2010.
Good luck.
Two cars means as long as you can afford the running cost on them both you have less drawbacks 
I have the little 2-seater for daily driving (MX-5 of course
) and a tax exempt (only way I could justify 2 cars) LWB Landie for when I need to carry things / want to go offroading. Best of both 
I have the little 2-seater for daily driving (MX-5 of course
) and a tax exempt (only way I could justify 2 cars) LWB Landie for when I need to carry things / want to go offroading. Best of both scottdav said:
Ari said:
The trouble is though, then I'll have circa £15K worth of cars but will only ever drive a car worth half that, whereas if I sink it all into the Audi I'll at least be driving a £15K car all the time.
Ari said:
That's really useful, thanks for that.
Anyone else doing it/done it, didn't like it/gone the other way (two to one)/done the maths/got any other suggestions other than Vx Vectra or Skoda Superb?
We have had 2-3 cars for years and years now. At one point we had just two two seater convertibles (Chimaera and MR2 T-Bar)... But then pets came along and so did the estate cars... So now run a diesel estate and a TVR. Anyone else doing it/done it, didn't like it/gone the other way (two to one)/done the maths/got any other suggestions other than Vx Vectra or Skoda Superb?
Always prefer the idea of keeping a nice two seater in the garage just to be used for nice weather and enjoyable runs, whilst having a diesel workhorse for most of the motorway running etc... That way the nicer car also doesn't get used for the higher mileage trips etc
So in your shoes I'd get a nice Passat Tdi...
Two-car strategy is always the way to go. To be honest, I'm starting to contemplate a three-car strategy so I'm not kept awake at night working through optimum permutations:
- nice, clean (preferably quick), weekend and sunny day, garage queen
- roomy, practical 4x4, able to transport friends and family to ski resort as well as keep up with the traffic (X5 or similar)
- diesel/lpg ready 'hypermiler' for business and chores, roomy, comfortable and fault-immune, something like a black 1.8/2.0 MK3 Mondeo TDCi
- nice, clean (preferably quick), weekend and sunny day, garage queen
- roomy, practical 4x4, able to transport friends and family to ski resort as well as keep up with the traffic (X5 or similar)
- diesel/lpg ready 'hypermiler' for business and chores, roomy, comfortable and fault-immune, something like a black 1.8/2.0 MK3 Mondeo TDCi
tigerkoi said:
Two-car strategy is always the way to go. To be honest, I'm starting to contemplate a three-car strategy
Me too. I currently have a Mondeo for carrying stuff (which also gets used daily) and a kit car for fun. I'll soon add an MX-5 to the fleet for daily use so that I don't have to lug a boring estate car everywhere I go.It's funny, but I've been banging on about 'two-car strategy' for ages, and glad you brought it up. Confirms that I'm not mad.
The Audi is a very nice car, but relax, I think you have choice in that area. Either way, you'll have fun working out the configurations suitable for what should be outside your front door.
The Audi is a very nice car, but relax, I think you have choice in that area. Either way, you'll have fun working out the configurations suitable for what should be outside your front door.
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