Bit of a dilemma... help please... QUICK!
Discussion
Bit of history. Split with my wife about seven months ago (still love her, fine woman, anyone would be lucky to have her in their life... but that's another story) and in a fit of pique, she emptied and closed my (joint, but only I used it) bank account. I had to sell my SL500 in a real rush as I was moving into my flat in three days time and needed cash.
Bought a Renault Scenic off a mate for £500 - bloody good car: he'd had it for four years and looked after it like a good'un. Being a mechanic employed by Renault obviously helped!
However, times change and the house is now sold and cash back in my (new) bank account. Now, rightly or wrongly, I've bought a MK3 MX5 from the Mazda main dealer - pick it up tomorrow and I'm trading in the Renault, getting £275 for it.
There's only me and I'm not really interested in women at the mo', but, I have two dogs. Quite big dogs at that! I reckon they'll fit in the front seat of the MX and if I cover the seat and floor the car should survive... I hope! Just really worried that they'll struggle to be comfortable in it.
So, I could keep the Renault. Just compared the meerkats and I can insure it for £275 with no no claims (used on the MX) and just use the MX for best.
But, parking round here is not easy, I have no parking spaces allocated to me, and I fear that if I keep the Reggie, I'll hardly use the Mazda!
What the hell would you do? I really am a dithering old fart at the best of times... and this is not the best of times! I really want the MX5 as it feels like a pressie to me after a thoroughly s
te couple of years (broke my back 18 months ago!) and I had a MK1 a couple of years ago (as well as the Merc) and loved it. Only sold it 'cos we got the second dog and it wasn't being used.
So, get the Mazda and struggle a bit with two dogs, or get the Mazda, keep the Renault (cost £550 in insurance and loss of p/x) and carry on abusing the Scenic?
Sorry for the long, rambling post!
Bought a Renault Scenic off a mate for £500 - bloody good car: he'd had it for four years and looked after it like a good'un. Being a mechanic employed by Renault obviously helped!
However, times change and the house is now sold and cash back in my (new) bank account. Now, rightly or wrongly, I've bought a MK3 MX5 from the Mazda main dealer - pick it up tomorrow and I'm trading in the Renault, getting £275 for it.
There's only me and I'm not really interested in women at the mo', but, I have two dogs. Quite big dogs at that! I reckon they'll fit in the front seat of the MX and if I cover the seat and floor the car should survive... I hope! Just really worried that they'll struggle to be comfortable in it.
So, I could keep the Renault. Just compared the meerkats and I can insure it for £275 with no no claims (used on the MX) and just use the MX for best.
But, parking round here is not easy, I have no parking spaces allocated to me, and I fear that if I keep the Reggie, I'll hardly use the Mazda!
What the hell would you do? I really am a dithering old fart at the best of times... and this is not the best of times! I really want the MX5 as it feels like a pressie to me after a thoroughly s
te couple of years (broke my back 18 months ago!) and I had a MK1 a couple of years ago (as well as the Merc) and loved it. Only sold it 'cos we got the second dog and it wasn't being used.So, get the Mazda and struggle a bit with two dogs, or get the Mazda, keep the Renault (cost £550 in insurance and loss of p/x) and carry on abusing the Scenic?
Sorry for the long, rambling post!
Keep the Renault, the MX doesn't have that much room and the layout is such that there will always be a dog bum on the centre console "helping" you change gear. The little covers for the centre console storage are fine but I wouldn't say they are strong enough to cope with the weight of a dog regularly. It's a small extra cost for the 2 cars but worth it.
Dougan1 said:
Wow. The "QUICK" title suggested there was some important issue.
Why is everyone so hard on people on here?... "Quick" as in he needs to have made a decision by tomorrow, I'd have thought. And as for people saying he's bought the wrong car - that really wasn't his question, and why's it for anyone else to say whether he wants a particular car or not...As to the original question, I'd say keep the Renault for now if you can afford to insure, tax it etc. You're not getting a lot of money for it, so you won't lose a lot if you sell it on in a couple of months time.
That way you can figure out how much of a pain it is having 2 cars for parking, etc.
There's a cost and hassle to having 2, but it also means that you can enjoy the special one more as you're using it when it's a pleasure, and not when it's a massive compromise.
Hope you enjoy the new car, and hope all works out well for you whatever you decide.
Monkeylegend said:
Do you think it is safe to carry two big dogs loose in the front of the Mazda?
poing said:
Keep the Renault, the MX doesn't have that much room and the layout is such that there will always be a dog bum on the centre console "helping" you change gear. The little covers for the centre console storage are fine but I wouldn't say they are strong enough to cope with the weight of a dog regularly. It's a small extra cost for the 2 cars but worth it.
Both good posts but one really answers the other IMO. I have had two Golden Retrievers in many Kit cars and sports cars over the years and they are absolutely fine. Never a problem. However Golden Retrievers are a very very mild dog and neither has ever growled let alone become aggressive at anything ever. I currently own far too many cars so my judgment is probably skewed (SWMBO would support that). I think two cars is very sensible indeed I am into multiples (cars) personally. You only live once and I would DEFINITELY go for it. Two cars of the sort you are contemplating are not likely to be really expensive to run. My MX5's
s have been ridiculously cheap to run and the Renault's are easy to fix. I would definitely have two cars and definitely enjoy every form of human activity that you can discover. You can be boring and sensible, two words I positively detest, when you have had some fun and lived a little get our there and grab what life offers to the full. Good luck!
Thanks guys. I was expecting a certain amount of 'grief' - this is PH after all! 
The dogs are; a Basset (sort of) and a Labrador.
They are both really good in the car (out is another matter - well the Basset is!) and if it was just Phoebe (the lab) then it would be no problem. However, got the basset (Chester) back after six months and that was after I'd agreed to buy the Mazda, hence the dilemma!
Ideally, I just want the one car. The Renault has been really great, but just doesn't interest me in the slightest! Not washed it or hoovered it once in the six months I've had it, which is not like me, usually fastideous about upkeep on cars. Was appalled with myself the other day when a mate pointed out the front tyre was nearly flat - 10psi all round!
The Mazda is in itself a compromise between what I want, and what I can afford - what I want is a TVR, but I'm not able to maintain one myself anymore and a nearly new MX will still be fun, but a bit more reliable... I hope!
The dogs are; a Basset (sort of) and a Labrador.
They are both really good in the car (out is another matter - well the Basset is!) and if it was just Phoebe (the lab) then it would be no problem. However, got the basset (Chester) back after six months and that was after I'd agreed to buy the Mazda, hence the dilemma!
Ideally, I just want the one car. The Renault has been really great, but just doesn't interest me in the slightest! Not washed it or hoovered it once in the six months I've had it, which is not like me, usually fastideous about upkeep on cars. Was appalled with myself the other day when a mate pointed out the front tyre was nearly flat - 10psi all round!
The Mazda is in itself a compromise between what I want, and what I can afford - what I want is a TVR, but I'm not able to maintain one myself anymore and a nearly new MX will still be fun, but a bit more reliable... I hope!
Xtriple129 said:
Thanks guys. I was expecting a certain amount of 'grief' - this is PH after all!
The dogs are; a Basset (sort of) and a Labrador.
They are both really good in the car (out is another matter - well the Basset is!) and if it was just Phoebe (the lab) then it would be no problem. However, got the basset (Chester) back after six months and that was after I'd agreed to buy the Mazda, hence the dilemma!
Ideally, I just want the one car. The Renault has been really great, but just doesn't interest me in the slightest! Not washed it or hoovered it once in the six months I've had it, which is not like me, usually fastideous about upkeep on cars. Was appalled with myself the other day when a mate pointed out the front tyre was nearly flat - 10psi all round!
The Mazda is in itself a compromise between what I want, and what I can afford - what I want is a TVR, but I'm not able to maintain one myself anymore and a nearly new MX will still be fun, but a bit more reliable... I hope!
Basset Hounds really are a surprising animal sometimes unexpectedly aggressive and immensely strong dogs but fun and rewarding all the same. I think you will be absolutely fine. The dogs will enjoy being your friend and companion as dogs do and since neither car needs to be pristine wear and tear can be tolerated. I find the various proprietary dog guard covers are most effective. Get that TVR as you progress in life very worthwhile, the V8's are magnificent beasts. Keep it up! We only live once IMO!The dogs are; a Basset (sort of) and a Labrador.
They are both really good in the car (out is another matter - well the Basset is!) and if it was just Phoebe (the lab) then it would be no problem. However, got the basset (Chester) back after six months and that was after I'd agreed to buy the Mazda, hence the dilemma!
Ideally, I just want the one car. The Renault has been really great, but just doesn't interest me in the slightest! Not washed it or hoovered it once in the six months I've had it, which is not like me, usually fastideous about upkeep on cars. Was appalled with myself the other day when a mate pointed out the front tyre was nearly flat - 10psi all round!
The Mazda is in itself a compromise between what I want, and what I can afford - what I want is a TVR, but I'm not able to maintain one myself anymore and a nearly new MX will still be fun, but a bit more reliable... I hope!
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