One car or two
Discussion
Here's one I have been wrestling with for years!
Is it better to take the plunge and run a Porsche every day - probably a modern driving one or drive a less involving car in the week and get up early on a Saturday just to have a full weekned driving the Porsche.
I've always chosen the latter - mainly because I have a London commute and it keeps the Porsche feeling more special and fun, but would be interested if others win strongly the other way.
Is it better to take the plunge and run a Porsche every day - probably a modern driving one or drive a less involving car in the week and get up early on a Saturday just to have a full weekned driving the Porsche.
I've always chosen the latter - mainly because I have a London commute and it keeps the Porsche feeling more special and fun, but would be interested if others win strongly the other way.
The beauty of Porsche is that you can use it every day. The downside is that the "normal" ones are fairly sanitised and not that involving.
I have a C2 and find it very soft and boring to drive with too little traction at the front.
If you are going to have 2 cars, make the weekend one something a bit sharper. Possibly a Noble.
Perhaps a GT£ woudl be a good choice, but as I have not driven one, I can not be sure
I have a C2 and find it very soft and boring to drive with too little traction at the front.
If you are going to have 2 cars, make the weekend one something a bit sharper. Possibly a Noble.
Perhaps a GT£ woudl be a good choice, but as I have not driven one, I can not be sure
Well im no good at buying something fast for the weekend as i want to drive it all the time and end up selling the supposed sencible option. I have a boxster s at the moment but feel although its a great car it doesnt have the wow factor for me and i need something a little more out there. trouble is things like ferraris are too costly to service when in constant use and a worry to park any where. im just going to have to build up a collection of quick fun cars that i dont mind swopping in between. i have bought a subaru impreza to try and keep me entertained but i can see myself selling it soon and trying something else.Thinking lotus elise at the mo, but all may change.
I think if you have the will power too leave something at home then 2 cars is great. On the other hand if you cant be without a flash car then make sure its a usable supercar! good luck with what ever you decide and keep us posted...
I think if you have the will power too leave something at home then 2 cars is great. On the other hand if you cant be without a flash car then make sure its a usable supercar! good luck with what ever you decide and keep us posted...
I think the answer all depends on what your daily driving involves. Where it is, what it's for and how much mileage you cover.
For me, as my drive to the office is a 30 mile stop-start crawl, and I do a lot of business miles on top of that, I think I agree with james s' point, i.e. it's nice to have something lazy/comfy for everyday. Plus, I need to turn up at customer meetings in something reasonably sensible. Also, my everyday car can serve as dog/sports equipment/general rubbish transporter that I don't mind leaving in not very salubrious places!
Then the fun car remains "special" and gets used in the evenings/weekends. Or on the right day I have the option of getting out of bed early to beat the traffic and giving it a good thrash in to work.
If I just drove a few easy miles to work each day I'd probably stick with a single car, which could be something fairly daft.
For me, as my drive to the office is a 30 mile stop-start crawl, and I do a lot of business miles on top of that, I think I agree with james s' point, i.e. it's nice to have something lazy/comfy for everyday. Plus, I need to turn up at customer meetings in something reasonably sensible. Also, my everyday car can serve as dog/sports equipment/general rubbish transporter that I don't mind leaving in not very salubrious places!
Then the fun car remains "special" and gets used in the evenings/weekends. Or on the right day I have the option of getting out of bed early to beat the traffic and giving it a good thrash in to work.
If I just drove a few easy miles to work each day I'd probably stick with a single car, which could be something fairly daft.
I would go for the every day option every time (especially as your profile says you have a 944). I've just gone back to using mine every day after a year of running a cheap runaround for the 20,000 mile a year commute.
The cheap car did not save me any money (extra insurance, tax, MOT negated any fuel savings) and I admit the 944 started feel unfamiliar every time I got in it.
Porsches can be used every day with no qualms.
The cheap car did not save me any money (extra insurance, tax, MOT negated any fuel savings) and I admit the 944 started feel unfamiliar every time I got in it.
Porsches can be used every day with no qualms.
My hand has been forced on this issue. I live in town and I have only one parking space. I used to have 2 cars (comfy-ish standard E30 M3) and a track car / weekend fun car (tricked up E30 M3 Sport Evo....rock hard, very fast). I had to sell them both and get just one car, so I chose the Boxster S.
The Boxster S is very civilised compared to the old M3's. It's too quiet. But it is a brilliant all-rounder.
I agree that running 2 cars has hidden costs....2 tax discs, 2 insurance bills, 2 MOT's, 2 lots of servicing, 2 lots of "niggle sorting". In my case I would need to hire a garage as well.....not cheap.
So I stuck to the 1 car option.
My next move will be in a year or 2 when I think I will go for a 996 Turbo, the ultimate all-rounder. It would be nice to buy a 993 RS LHD to complement the Boxster S instead, but althought the combined price would be similar to the Turbo, the overall costs would be higher.
And I also love the idea of driving your finest wheels every day!
The Boxster S is very civilised compared to the old M3's. It's too quiet. But it is a brilliant all-rounder.
I agree that running 2 cars has hidden costs....2 tax discs, 2 insurance bills, 2 MOT's, 2 lots of servicing, 2 lots of "niggle sorting". In my case I would need to hire a garage as well.....not cheap.
So I stuck to the 1 car option.
My next move will be in a year or 2 when I think I will go for a 996 Turbo, the ultimate all-rounder. It would be nice to buy a 993 RS LHD to complement the Boxster S instead, but althought the combined price would be similar to the Turbo, the overall costs would be higher.
And I also love the idea of driving your finest wheels every day!
Get two cars.
The wife and I have two cars. Her a Chimaera..me a Boxster S. We have these cars because for both of us when the sun in shining we have to drive a sports car - nothing less will do - and since on sunny work days we need to go in different directions that means two sports cars.
However. Having these cars compromises the lifestyle somewhat. There are a surprising number of places you are not willing to leave the car, occasions when turning up in something ostentatious isn't the best plan and times when we'd like to give a third person a lift to the pub and so on.
So I'm after a runner (now thinking two year old Vectra or similar) to soak up shitty winter miles and trips to the dump and running rellies around.
I used to hire a car for these occasions. But the times we need to do these sorts of trips are getting more often and the Chimaera less reliable so...
Get two cars. Definitely.
The wife and I have two cars. Her a Chimaera..me a Boxster S. We have these cars because for both of us when the sun in shining we have to drive a sports car - nothing less will do - and since on sunny work days we need to go in different directions that means two sports cars.
However. Having these cars compromises the lifestyle somewhat. There are a surprising number of places you are not willing to leave the car, occasions when turning up in something ostentatious isn't the best plan and times when we'd like to give a third person a lift to the pub and so on.
So I'm after a runner (now thinking two year old Vectra or similar) to soak up shitty winter miles and trips to the dump and running rellies around.
I used to hire a car for these occasions. But the times we need to do these sorts of trips are getting more often and the Chimaera less reliable so...
Get two cars. Definitely.
I ran a Boxster S for a year and 20,000 miles but decided to go for 2 cars - I've now got a 964RS and a Smart for the Ascot to Clapham commute, so I think I've got the best of both worlds.
Oh, and over 3 years I'll save £500 a month too - add up pricey servicing, tyres, depreciation, petrol. Running a new-ish Porsche will cost a minimum 50p a mile, more likely almost £1 a mile. If all you do is sit in traffic jams, is it really worth it?
Oh, and over 3 years I'll save £500 a month too - add up pricey servicing, tyres, depreciation, petrol. Running a new-ish Porsche will cost a minimum 50p a mile, more likely almost £1 a mile. If all you do is sit in traffic jams, is it really worth it?
I have actually gone from one car to two. Drove three different 911 turbo's for about 4 years, then swapped the last one for a sensible estate and a TVR. All I can tell you is that I still pine for the 911 - if it wasn't for the dog/baby, I would definitely have the one car, but make sure it was the best I could get my hands on!!!
clarkey said:
Oh, and over 3 years I'll save £500 a month too - add up pricey servicing, tyres, depreciation, petrol. Running a new-ish Porsche will cost a minimum 50p a mile, more likely almost £1 a mile. If all you do is sit in traffic jams, is it really worth it?
I like sitting in traffic jams in my Porsche though. Like a TVR, the low speed pleasures of a Porsche are pretty good. I like just sitting in it!!
I take your point about deprciation though. That's why I bought a 2 1/2 year old Boxster S. It has lost 15 grand from its new price, it won't lose much now. Servicing is cheap enough. I think tyres might be a few quid, but it's a small price to pay to drive a Porsche every day rather than say a Corsa or whatever.
Beat the lot of ya!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3 Cars
944S2 dayley driver, just got the car yesterday £531 Classic ins for the year, usd to pay £1200 for a desiel 320 BMW :-(, carn't waite to go out for a spin in the dry.
Audi 100 estate Tow car (£500 ins).
Westfield SEiW 250bhp & just over 500kg now(£400 ins) that's 'kin fast, makes all the other cars I've driven 911's, 328's, TVR's, Maserati's (dyslexia got the better of me there) feel like tanks, well proberbly not the 911(that was my 'Best of the rest & if i had to only have one car it would be a 911...................but whch one??????????).
Good thing about all my cars is lack of depreciation, Bad thing is running costs...................
But hey you only live once................;-)
>> Edited by Bananaman on Wednesday 4th February 16:25
3 Cars
944S2 dayley driver, just got the car yesterday £531 Classic ins for the year, usd to pay £1200 for a desiel 320 BMW :-(, carn't waite to go out for a spin in the dry.
Audi 100 estate Tow car (£500 ins).
Westfield SEiW 250bhp & just over 500kg now(£400 ins) that's 'kin fast, makes all the other cars I've driven 911's, 328's, TVR's, Maserati's (dyslexia got the better of me there) feel like tanks, well proberbly not the 911(that was my 'Best of the rest & if i had to only have one car it would be a 911...................but whch one??????????).
Good thing about all my cars is lack of depreciation, Bad thing is running costs...................
But hey you only live once................;-)
>> Edited by Bananaman on Wednesday 4th February 16:25
james s said:
Here's one I have been wrestling with for years!
Is it better to take the plunge and run a Porsche every day - probably a modern driving one or drive a less involving car in the week and get up early on a Saturday just to have a full weekned driving the Porsche.
I've always chosen the latter - mainly because I have a London commute and it keeps the Porsche feeling more special and fun, but would be interested if others win strongly the other way.
I was in a similar boat with the TVR. I bought a Ford Escort as a cheap daily hack, and an S series for weekends and the summer.
Now, I love driving the S and I smile everytime I get in it, but Monday to Thursday IS a chore. It's nice to save the S for "special occasions" but I really want to use it all the time... and to be honest I do regret not just buying a Chimaera as an everyday car... except for when it snowed recently...
Two cars (or more!), without question.
1) Cars are horses for courses. I went from a Caterham to a Lotus Carlton thinking I was just adding two seats, air con and a boot. Wrong. It handled like a piece of sh1t in comparison. If you want a practical long distance cruiser that costs a small amount to run, get a diesel estate. You can park it up anywhere, fill it with DIY crud, put the dog in it without worrying - and generally do the things supercars can't (like return 50mpg). If you want a sportscar, get a sportscar. Two seats, wind in your hair, 8mpg, thief magnet etc. It will be the real deal. Even Ferraris are compromised because of their road suitability. The closest thing to a race car that is road legal that I've ever driven is the Caterham, followed by the 964RS, tweaked Schnitzer BMWs, and Lotus Elise. They can be a bugger around town because they can be brilliant on track.
2) At least one or all of my cars are broken at any one time, so alternative transport is a good thing. Having one car means taking a bus when the car is serviced/repaired unless you blag the courtesy car or borrow the mrs's car.
3) You are one car closer to the Sultan of Brunei
1) Cars are horses for courses. I went from a Caterham to a Lotus Carlton thinking I was just adding two seats, air con and a boot. Wrong. It handled like a piece of sh1t in comparison. If you want a practical long distance cruiser that costs a small amount to run, get a diesel estate. You can park it up anywhere, fill it with DIY crud, put the dog in it without worrying - and generally do the things supercars can't (like return 50mpg). If you want a sportscar, get a sportscar. Two seats, wind in your hair, 8mpg, thief magnet etc. It will be the real deal. Even Ferraris are compromised because of their road suitability. The closest thing to a race car that is road legal that I've ever driven is the Caterham, followed by the 964RS, tweaked Schnitzer BMWs, and Lotus Elise. They can be a bugger around town because they can be brilliant on track.
2) At least one or all of my cars are broken at any one time, so alternative transport is a good thing. Having one car means taking a bus when the car is serviced/repaired unless you blag the courtesy car or borrow the mrs's car.
3) You are one car closer to the Sultan of Brunei
domster said:
If you want a practical long distance cruiser that costs a small amount to run, get a diesel estate. You can park it up anywhere, fill it with DIY crud, put the dog in it without worrying - and generally do the things supercars can't (like return 50mpg).
You been looking in my garage Dom? (It's 48 mpg actually)
Two, for me. A peugeot 405 diesel estate for the daily trip to work, all my fishing stuff and the crap weather. I can park it anyware, anytime and know nobodys going to want to nick it. Its parked out in the road and i could not of cared less when the local youths decided to play football with its wingmirror. Whilst the boxster S comes out for the cornish sunshine and always looks gorgeous. I ran firstly a 944 and then a 3.2 for 8 years as only cars at the time and i found i just took them for granted.Its true at this time of year im desparate to take the porsche for a spin, but i know that i will enjoy it so much more when it decides to stop raining.
I've done things the wrong way round really. Two years ago brought a beautiful Cerbera Speed Six and used it as my everyday car coz I could not bear to leave it in my garage. After literally months in the workshop being repaired (thank christ for warranties) part exed it in desperation for a Focus ST170 6 months ago (i know!
)Got as sick of the Focus as I did of the TVR so have just brought a 996 C2 and blagged my father in laws old 205 diesel to tat about in. With hindsight had I had a runabout when I had the Cerbie it would never have gone, it was awesome, but I reckon if I wanted to use the 996 everyday I probably could
)Got as sick of the Focus as I did of the TVR so have just brought a 996 C2 and blagged my father in laws old 205 diesel to tat about in. With hindsight had I had a runabout when I had the Cerbie it would never have gone, it was awesome, but I reckon if I wanted to use the 996 everyday I probably could Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff