Boring car + weekend car or just one car?

[vrsmxtb]

I will probably be looking at changing my main car next year as my current car finance ends, plus I geta sharesave payout next year and just weighing up what I want to do.

I currently have a Fabia VRS as my main car, with a Mk1 MX5 down a lock-up for something a bit different, unfortunately it seems I bought a bit of a lemon and it has costed me far more than I expected and wanted this year. I'm fortunate financially as I don't earn a huge amount but still live at home, paying rent but less than if I was out on my own, so outgoings are inevitably a bit lower.

I can see three or four alternatives next year:

1. Trade-in or sell the Fabia once the finance runs out for something fairly dull and boring for the daily commute. At the moment my commute is under 20 miles a day but this *may* change to many more if I get a new job role at work, which is possible. If I stay where I am I wouldn't get another diesel as I only see 45-47mpg on the Fabia due to the short journeys and with modern diesels having DPFs, they could cause hassle. So chop it in for a cheap old 1.6ish hatchback without finance or even dare I say it a super-cheap car such as an Aygo.
Definitely keep the MX5, maybe even spend some of the saved money on a few mods.

2. Trade-in or sell the Fabia, but take out finance on another decent nearly new car, thinking of a 2-3 year old Octavia VRS TFSI or if I am doing more miles a Mazda 3 2.2D sport. Possibly sell the MX-5 if car running costs become a problem.

3. Sell both cars, and really stretch finances with a properly quick, but practical and reliable car - a Mazda 3 MPS (probably the old shape) is very attractive. You only live once and I'd like a 200bhp + car at least once.

4. Run the Fabia into the ground for a few more years and focus finances away from cars on boring, but necessary stuff like moving out, saving for property deposit etc etc.

Any opinions?

[STW2010]

vrsmxtb said:

4. Run the Fabia into the ground for a few more years and focus finances away from cars on boring, but necessary stuff like moving out, saving for property deposit etc etc.

Any opinions?

This.

Fabia won't be too boring. Move out and start bringing girls (and hookers) home

[bennyboysvuk]

STW2010 said:

This.

Fabia won't be too boring. Move out and start bringing girls (and hookers) home

What? This is PH, that option is far too sensible...sort of.

Sell the VRS and keep the MX5 and commute in that. It'll be hell on some days, but great on others.

[RizzoTheRat]

How far is your commute? If you're only doing short journies then an economical diesel won't be much cheaper to run that something more fun, if you're spending 100 miles a fay on the motorway than a diesel snotter for the commute and a topy for the weekends makes more sense.

I went for a reasonably interesting diesel for the commute and a bike for fun.

[bicycleshorts]

Have you now fixed the problems with the 5? There are so many on the market atm that I doubt you'd get the money you'd want for it. Depending on milage etc. you could be looking at less than a grand for a private sale.

But another vote for moving out; this could seriously affect your car ownership (i.e. no garage/private parking/soft-top damage from tts).

My second vote goes to:

bennyboysvuk said:

Sell the VRS and keep the MX5 and commute in that. It'll be hell on some days, but great on others.

[300bhp/ton]

vrsmxtb said:

I will probably be looking at changing my main car next year as my current car finance ends, plus I geta sharesave payout next year and just weighing up what I want to do.

I currently have a Fabia VRS as my main car, with a Mk1 MX5 down a lock-up for something a bit different, unfortunately it seems I bought a bit of a lemon and it has costed me far more than I expected and wanted this year. I'm fortunate financially as I don't earn a huge amount but still live at home, paying rent but less than if I was out on my own, so outgoings are inevitably a bit lower.

I can see three or four alternatives next year:

1. Trade-in or sell the Fabia once the finance runs out for something fairly dull and boring for the daily commute. At the moment my commute is under 20 miles a day but this *may* change to many more if I get a new job role at work, which is possible. If I stay where I am I wouldn't get another diesel as I only see 45-47mpg on the Fabia due to the short journeys and with modern diesels having DPFs, they could cause hassle. So chop it in for a cheap old 1.6ish hatchback without finance or even dare I say it a super-cheap car such as an Aygo.
Definitely keep the MX5, maybe even spend some of the saved money on a few mods.

2. Trade-in or sell the Fabia, but take out finance on another decent nearly new car, thinking of a 2-3 year old Octavia VRS TFSI or if I am doing more miles a Mazda 3 2.2D sport. Possibly sell the MX-5 if car running costs become a problem.

3. Sell both cars, and really stretch finances with a properly quick, but practical and reliable car - a Mazda 3 MPS (probably the old shape) is very attractive. You only live once and I'd like a 200bhp + car at least once.

4. Run the Fabia into the ground for a few more years and focus finances away from cars on boring, but necessary stuff like moving out, saving for property deposit etc etc.

Any opinions?

What sort of budget?

Personally I think you should be an individual and not follow the masses.

Living at home means high security and generally a high percentage disposable income compare to your net earnings.

20 miles a day is nothing.

So I say jack in the Skoda and the MX and get something silly while you still can.

Silly could be:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3186338.htm


Or:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3199229.htm


In either case both will hold their money well, so should things change you could sell them and start over for almost no loss in the value of the car. In fact with something like the Stang, prices are more likely to go up than down.

[vrsmxtb]

A Mustang thrown in the mix, god I love PH!!

I have just today had some news on my MX5 that I need to make a decision about, looking at getting rid is my gut feeling.

Also to the votes diverting money for moving out etc. this I feel is possibly the wisest answer. I've had a long time at home with disposable income (spent on cars, making music, new bikes etc) moving on to real living may be the healthiest thing now.

[theironduke]

I've always, well apart from the initial couple of years driving, had two cars.

A hack and weekend car. Currently got a van for work (self employed) and a Chimaera.

My advice is if you go down this route make sure the weekend hack is special and that you love it! I've had a couple of things in the past which just sat in the garage far to much and became a waste of time and money

Oh and two weekend cars is the future i think! A fine and foul weather stead...i'm looking at a W126 Merc as the latter

[vrsmxtb]

theironduke said:

I've always, well apart from the initial couple of years driving, had two cars.

A hack and weekend car. Currently got a van for work (self employed) and a Chimaera.

My advice is if you go down this route make sure the weekend hack is special and that you love it! I've had a couple of things in the past which just sat in the garage far to much and became a waste of time and money

Oh and two weekend cars is the future i think! A fine and foul weather stead...i'm looking at a W126 Merc as the latter

Very true! My first second car was a modded Suzuki Samurai but just as I got it the local offroadplay site closed and I never took it off-road properly, just a few local by-ways. It was a pig on-road and just sat in the lock-up, although it did play a part in the bad snow, but even then I broke something on it each time!!