From 4 cars to 2: Advice please
Discussion
OK I need some inspired and constructive advice form the PH community.....
We currently have 4 cars, each of which was bought for a specific purpose and each of which does their job very well when needed.
However, we have recently decided that 4 cars is a bit excessive and frankly the hassle of remembering to tax, insure, MOT, service etc all 4 is a bit of a drag. Also, because there is only two of us plus a Bongo (a new doggy addition to the TD family) at least 1 of the 4 cars seldom gets used. Now this is not a major issue but we have recently been idly wondering if we might be able to find just 2 cars that do everything that our current 4 do. It's a tall order but worth putting some effort in to I think. All suggestions and advice greatly appreciated
A bit of extra background.
1). We live in rural Scotland at the end of a 1/2 mile dirt track and winter will certainly bring it's challenges. We need at least one car that we can rely on to get us out and about whatever the weather.
2). Cars are not simply modes of transport to us (especially me), they must be really good fun to drive. That does not mean they all have to be mega fast, but each one should ideally have significant grin factor. This is absolutely mandatory if we are only going to have 2 cars.
3). Have recently acquired a Triumph Speed Triple after deciding that not having as motorbike bike was unaceptable, so SOME of the "need for speed" fulfilment may be satisfied by this, at least for me but the wife is also a keen driver.
4). At least one of the 2 cars needs to be Bongo friendly, and must be capable of doing long journeys in comfort. Bongo has a pretty large travel crate so a 4x4 or estate is probably a requirement here.
Current fleet and associated roles:-
1). 2003 Landrover Discovery 2: General workhorse, Bongo-mobile, winter travel tool and used for general big 4x4 high driving position bimbling. It's very agricultural, slow and noisy but somehow we both just love trundling about in it - over short journeys you understand. This is not a car I want to regularly travel the length and breadth of the country in. Good grin factor from the high driving position and the ability to ignore the confines of the road as and when I feel like it.
2). JCW Mini Cooper S (the turbo version rather than the earlier SC one): Wife's car, fast (ish), great fun, good handling go-cart for short journeys, country blasts and tight multi-storey car parks. Great grin factor, especially when you really work it hard but its probably not special enough or versatile to have as the only sporty car in a 2 car fleet. I'm not convinced by the engine TBH, it's a bit characterless.
3). 2009 Ford Mondeo Titanium X Diesel Estate: Excellent if boring commuter workhorse with huge boot capacity, great comfort and impressive economy. I use this to commute to the airport. It all works and has never let us down. Not fast, not sporty, not flashy and does not have any real grin factor but it does do exactly what it is designed for and very well at that too.
4). 2000 TVR Chimaera 500: Fully sorted and in immaculate condition with only 26k on the clock. A very special car that is awesome to drive BUT I don't use it nearly as much as you might think. I refuse to abuse this car since it is too rare (in this spec and condition) and too special to use for pure drudge work. It does its current job perfectly but for the next few years I think I might be better with a more rounded sports car if I am going to use it for everyday driving as well.
So what 2 cars might fit the bill? Feel free to look at my past car history for some idea of what I have liked and disliked.
We had thought about a Range Rover TDV8 and a Porsche 997 911 C4s but just between you and me that's a very serious chunk of cash to chuck at 2 cars whose values will go down faster than Ed Miliband's popularity.
One of the cars needs to be a real driver's car (but does not necessarily have to be an out and out sports car), and realistically it also needs to be capable of being used as a daily driver so the usual Exige, TVR, and classic options are not really there for me just now. BMW 650i, Jag XKR, Fast Audi, SL 500 / 55 type options are of some theoretical interest but I worry that they will be a bit dull. Also never had an auto box and do really worry about ending up with 2 of the things as my only transport options.
Thanks in advance for all the valued suggestions.
TD
We currently have 4 cars, each of which was bought for a specific purpose and each of which does their job very well when needed.
However, we have recently decided that 4 cars is a bit excessive and frankly the hassle of remembering to tax, insure, MOT, service etc all 4 is a bit of a drag. Also, because there is only two of us plus a Bongo (a new doggy addition to the TD family) at least 1 of the 4 cars seldom gets used. Now this is not a major issue but we have recently been idly wondering if we might be able to find just 2 cars that do everything that our current 4 do. It's a tall order but worth putting some effort in to I think. All suggestions and advice greatly appreciated
A bit of extra background.
1). We live in rural Scotland at the end of a 1/2 mile dirt track and winter will certainly bring it's challenges. We need at least one car that we can rely on to get us out and about whatever the weather.
2). Cars are not simply modes of transport to us (especially me), they must be really good fun to drive. That does not mean they all have to be mega fast, but each one should ideally have significant grin factor. This is absolutely mandatory if we are only going to have 2 cars.
3). Have recently acquired a Triumph Speed Triple after deciding that not having as motorbike bike was unaceptable, so SOME of the "need for speed" fulfilment may be satisfied by this, at least for me but the wife is also a keen driver.
4). At least one of the 2 cars needs to be Bongo friendly, and must be capable of doing long journeys in comfort. Bongo has a pretty large travel crate so a 4x4 or estate is probably a requirement here.
Current fleet and associated roles:-
1). 2003 Landrover Discovery 2: General workhorse, Bongo-mobile, winter travel tool and used for general big 4x4 high driving position bimbling. It's very agricultural, slow and noisy but somehow we both just love trundling about in it - over short journeys you understand. This is not a car I want to regularly travel the length and breadth of the country in. Good grin factor from the high driving position and the ability to ignore the confines of the road as and when I feel like it.
2). JCW Mini Cooper S (the turbo version rather than the earlier SC one): Wife's car, fast (ish), great fun, good handling go-cart for short journeys, country blasts and tight multi-storey car parks. Great grin factor, especially when you really work it hard but its probably not special enough or versatile to have as the only sporty car in a 2 car fleet. I'm not convinced by the engine TBH, it's a bit characterless.
3). 2009 Ford Mondeo Titanium X Diesel Estate: Excellent if boring commuter workhorse with huge boot capacity, great comfort and impressive economy. I use this to commute to the airport. It all works and has never let us down. Not fast, not sporty, not flashy and does not have any real grin factor but it does do exactly what it is designed for and very well at that too.
4). 2000 TVR Chimaera 500: Fully sorted and in immaculate condition with only 26k on the clock. A very special car that is awesome to drive BUT I don't use it nearly as much as you might think. I refuse to abuse this car since it is too rare (in this spec and condition) and too special to use for pure drudge work. It does its current job perfectly but for the next few years I think I might be better with a more rounded sports car if I am going to use it for everyday driving as well.
So what 2 cars might fit the bill? Feel free to look at my past car history for some idea of what I have liked and disliked.
We had thought about a Range Rover TDV8 and a Porsche 997 911 C4s but just between you and me that's a very serious chunk of cash to chuck at 2 cars whose values will go down faster than Ed Miliband's popularity.
One of the cars needs to be a real driver's car (but does not necessarily have to be an out and out sports car), and realistically it also needs to be capable of being used as a daily driver so the usual Exige, TVR, and classic options are not really there for me just now. BMW 650i, Jag XKR, Fast Audi, SL 500 / 55 type options are of some theoretical interest but I worry that they will be a bit dull. Also never had an auto box and do really worry about ending up with 2 of the things as my only transport options.
Thanks in advance for all the valued suggestions.
TD
Edited by TorqueDirty on Sunday 26th October 17:10
There's probably nothing except a Range Rover which will fit the estate/4x4 criteria as good as a Range Rover probably can.Which would then leave the choice of best practical value for money fun to drive four door saloon.In which case the VXR8 seems to fit that description as good as any.
AAGALL said:
How about a Mercedes G-Wagen/Class? A later 2000-year onwards long wheelbase model.
It will hold its value way, way better than any Land Rover and is cooler.
And the second car? A Cayman S 3.4?
Hmm, now that's an interesting combination. Time foe a quick shufty at the classifieds!It will hold its value way, way better than any Land Rover and is cooler.
And the second car? A Cayman S 3.4?
andrewparker said:
What on earth is a bongo?
A Bongo is mad 5 month old Saluki / greyhound cross puppy. That is to say that he is a cross between a Saluki and a Greyhound, rather than being a puppy who is cross. He is almost always happy and excited and very seldom cross!
Edited by TorqueDirty on Sunday 26th October 19:39
Dear TD
If one had to boil things down to 2 cars...
I am with your choice... Find a really decent Range Rover Vogue (L322) Petrol or diesel... doesn't matter, must be a Vogue or better... We have travelled allover Europe in ours from -20C to +40C .. on business/ off business it is sublime in every way.. and will be a world away from your Discovery. As they always said 'A car for all reasons A car for all seasons'...or the other way round.. Ideally no garage should be without one of these things..
On the second choice... you have luxury, practiciality, safety in winter sorted with the Range Rover... It has to be a Porsche 911.. if depreciation is an issue.. go classic.. but buy from enthusiasts.. Perhaps get a nice Carrera convertible and get the hard top for those icy Scottish winters..
Is my view...
Cheers
A
If one had to boil things down to 2 cars...
I am with your choice... Find a really decent Range Rover Vogue (L322) Petrol or diesel... doesn't matter, must be a Vogue or better... We have travelled allover Europe in ours from -20C to +40C .. on business/ off business it is sublime in every way.. and will be a world away from your Discovery. As they always said 'A car for all reasons A car for all seasons'...or the other way round.. Ideally no garage should be without one of these things..
On the second choice... you have luxury, practiciality, safety in winter sorted with the Range Rover... It has to be a Porsche 911.. if depreciation is an issue.. go classic.. but buy from enthusiasts.. Perhaps get a nice Carrera convertible and get the hard top for those icy Scottish winters..
Is my view...
Cheers
A
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