A prius + porsche spyder - should i?

[bp1000]

Not a very likely combination but i'm realising more that my circumstances are pushing me to buy cars that try to fit all needs. I'm a petrol head but i'm also a working daddy who needs to travel north of around 13k per year.

My latest and probably one of my favs is my XFR, fully loaded i love the thing. I don't need to reduce my motoring costs as such but 2 things are now apparent

1) My youngest is now car sick so i can't drive the thing how i'd like on family outings at the weekend (making it almost pointless taking it)

2) I've got a hankering for a lighter, nimbler dedicated toy. The XFR hides it weight well but at the same time you know it's a big heavy car. Plus it has so much power it isn't really a perfect hustle toy for our A/B roads.


The most important choice is choosing a toy. I love the look of the porsche boxster spyder and i have also considered a Lotus Exige with PP. Both seem to have reasonable running costs i.e. not looking to spend more than i do on my XFR.

The next choice i need a daily driver. I'm not looking to buy on lease or new either so i want a good "white goods" reliable motor that just does the job without thinking about it. I thought about a golf, A4 etc, something that is good on fuel and i thought about the prius too. My mrs works for toyota so i've had a few on the drive and i think as my only car it isn't for me. But thinking about it kinda makes sense. You can pick one up with leather and stuff for about 12k, feels like pennies to run compared to my XFR. My commute is mostly A-Road and a bit of town either end.

Should i consider anything else for my daily, but has to be equally cheap to run.

Any other suggestions for the toy, i don't do bikes!

[bp1000]

p.s. this isn't a cost saving exercise, i'm not bothered about cost to change, depreciation etc

although i'm fully aware both the spyder and the Exige PP are pretty stable on values.

The daily on the other hand will be brought at 3+ years old and is likely to keep falling like a stone.

This is simply to get my into a wonderful fairly light, enjoyable evening and weekend drive with something to get me to and from work, liberating me from car park dent threats, curbing 20" alloys and rubbing splitters on sleeping policemen!

[Zyp]

Hmmm..... I had an Exige 240S, now have a Spyder. (It seems a few of us Spyder owners once had an Exige)

As good as the Spyder is, I think I'd like an Exige again instead.

Sorry, doesn't answer your question re the Prius...

[Hitch78]

Understand your plan and both are a good choice of toys but I'm not sure why anyone would choose a Prius as daily over any other 'white goods' car without a significant economic benefit such as exeption from the congestion charge. I'd rather a diesel Mondeo for 12k or a low spec 3 series or a range of other three or four year old cars.

If your wife gets a significant discount or preferential leasing it might make sense but if its all your cash you can do better.

[Fittster]

What does a porsche spyder offer that a normal boxster doesn't?

[bp1000]

thanks that is good to know. The Exige is quite a bit cheaper, still looks pretty special, lighter and probably more hardcore i assume?

Is that why you get back into one?

[Hitch78]

Fittster said:

What does a porsche spyder offer that a normal boxster doesn't?

Minimal depreciation

[bp1000]

Fittster said:

What does a porsche spyder offer that a normal boxster doesn't?

Probably as close to a GT3 as my wife will allow I know the Boxster S with chrono pack might come closer. I just love the spyder look, also thinking it might be a future classic porsche and have good values. Fully aware however that my habit of changing and also funding it into older age will cost a lot. But in the short term it should loose very little cash.

[bp1000]

Hitch78 said:

Understand your plan and both are a good choice of toys but I'm not sure why anyone would choose a Prius as daily over any other 'white goods' car without a significant economic benefit such as exeption from the congestion charge. I'd rather a diesel Mondeo for 12k or a low spec 3 series or a range of other three or four year old cars.

If your wife gets a significant discount or preferential leasing it might make sense but if its all your cash you can do better.

I agree about the daily driver. I'm just trying to weight up in my head. I just want something that is peanuts to run so i don't have to care much about it. I'm certain on a spreadsheet the best possible choice for me is a VW 1.9 tdi, golf, audi a4 avant something like that from around 2004-2006. Minimal depreciation and reasonable running costs. Does put me in a 10 year old diesel car, higher service costs and repair bills i assume.

[Zyp]

Hitch78 said:

Fittster said:

What does a porsche spyder offer that a normal boxster doesn't?

Minimal depreciation

More power, unique bodywork, wider track, aluminium doors / bonnet, lightweight wheels, LSD, unique roof, unique window glass, better to drive, rare (230 registered in the UK).

[Zyp]

bp1000 said:

thanks that is good to know. The Exige is quite a bit cheaper, still looks pretty special, lighter and probably more hardcore i assume?

Is that why you get back into one?

I have unfinished business with the Exige - my time was cut short.

However, I'm 3 years older and not as supple as I once was.....
They are really two quite different propositions.

[bp1000]

Zyp said:

I have unfinished business with the Exige - my time was cut short.

However, I'm 3 years older and not as supple as I once was.....
They are really two quite different propositions.

The more i read about the exige the more i'm leaning to it. Flippin rapid, extremely performance orientated, like the stripped down nature and supposed simplicity.

Its reasonably priced, assume it is reliable enough mechanically. Engine being a toyota, assume clutch and minimal electronics are easy to deal with. When i think lotus i don't have the best visions of reliability and practicality. I don't want a temperamental, leaky roof, problematic dedicated sports car. I know the spyder will typically be fairly solid porsche build quality. Ironically with a leaky roof

I don't know much at all about the lotus.

Thinking aloud...

[Zyp]

In 3 years of ownership, including driving through torrential rain, my roof has never leaked.
it's a fallacy that it does.

[bp1000]

This is going to be a tough decision. I love the xfr

Would be silly to keep it and a run around. May as well have a toy for the weekend and a daily driver if I think logically but the heart still wants to keep it yet lusting after a more hardcore lightweight toy.

[moffat]

I will never understand why somoeone would buy a Prius over a 118/120ed or 318/320ed... complete waste of money.

[HereBeMonsters]

Have a look at the Insight as well as the Prius. I found it to be a far better car.

[bp1000]

Just bought dullest most unengaging car of my life. A 4 year old white t-spirit prius. It is certainly not a heart car, the polar opposite in fact. This one turned out better than I expected. Big chunk off the sale price, low mileage (for a prius), service mot done and new ish tyres.

Man maths aside i have confirmed it will be cheaper to commute in it over my 10-15k annual miles than putting them on the xfr or going on the train. I appreciate it won't be everyone's cup of tea, I'm still not sure I made the right decision but I'm happy that I'm not going to rack up big mileage on the xfr because values plummet for high milers plus it paves the way now for a porsche spider which I'm really excited about.

The mrs works for toyota so servicing and mot and any repairs will be cheaper too, this is the reason I went towards a prius and not some logical like a golf bluemotion.

[Leins]

Best if luck with it. Another big advantage of this approach is how much you'll appreciate your fun car when you get back into it

[clarkey]

I currently use a 2001 Honda Insight as a daily car - business miles only, 20,000 miles a year. I have a Disco 3 for the family car, and will probably add a Spyder next winter. Having the right car for the job works out a lot cheaper (and better) in the end.

[Shurv]

Prius and a Porsche Spyder is genius thinking. Good luck with the search for a good Spyder.For daily commuting, a Prius is spot on, really cheap to run and own, and the Spyder will hold it's money AND be an amazing weekend toy.