What's Cheaper to Run?

[smith94]

So, currently have a Z4 Coupe 3.0si, which I do roughly 15,000 miles in a year.

My question is, is it more of a sensible idea to run an economical car for the boring A road commutes that are the large proportion of my annual mileage, and keep a nicer car (Z4 or equivalent) to do social mileage when i fancy it. This also gives me the flexibility to change my 'fun' car more often and perhaps experience a few different things.

These are the costs as I see it:

Currently:

Z4 Coupe: 15000 miles PA

Fuel £2600pa

Servicing + Consumables circa £650 pa

Tax £265

Insurance £700 (SDP&C, 15,000 miles)

Depreciation: £800pa

Proposed:

Audi A2 1.4 TDi (for example - £2750 purchase, 80-100k miles) + E46 M3 (for example - £12500 purchase, 60k miles)

12000 Miles fuel in A2 £1150pa

Servicing + Consumables A2: £300-350pa

Tax: £30

Insurance: £400 (SDP&C, 12,000 miles)

Depreciation: Negligible?

BMW E46 M3

3000 miles fuel in M3: £625

Servicing + Consumables: Average £500pa (e.g. Buy just after Insp2)

Tax: £265

Insurance: £500 (Social, Limited Mileage Policy)

M3 could perhaps even appreciate in value? I'd buy a very nice one if I did.

TOTALS:

Z4 for 15000 miles: £5065pa

Commuter for 12000 miles + M3 for 3000 miles : £3820pa

Am I living in a dream land or does this make sense to anyone?

Does anyone actually have a similar set up to this?

Cheers,

Will

[Roundozo]

Just keep driving the Z4. I use my Z4C to commute daily to work and also for fun. Yes its slightly more expensive in fuel but the offset of fun is worth it.

[LordHaveMurci]

I use my Clio 172 Cup as my daily, good to chuck the dogs & kids in, can leave it in car parks etc + it's economical and general running costs are low.

I then use my 996 as a weekend car, I find the 996 feels more special as I drive it less meaning I get more from it.

Cost wise it probably evens out to be honest but I bought the Clio to hillclimb not to replace the 996 as my daily anyway.

[RGambo]

Sorry just re read your post! my reply didn't make sense :-0

[Claudia Skies]

Roundozo said:

Just keep driving the Z4.

^^^ This. Low mileage makes very little difference to the depreciation on most cars. Certainly you'll never run a second car on the saving and will spend your life in an inferior car anyway.

[ferrariF50lover]

I really don't want this to come across like a typical PHer post, but I fear it will.

We're talking about a few hundred quid a year. You're not asking whether to sell your worldly possessions and blow the lot on a classic Ferrari, you're asking whether you should spend a few quid a week on a second car. If you were that stretched financially, you'd not even be considering it. The worst that'll happen is you'll give it a go and realise that you hate driving a boring car on your commute. In which case, you flog the snooze-a-minute Audi at a small loss and use the M3 every day until you find something better. Maybe buy something cheap, but less dull for the commute. I know this really is ticking all the PH Bingo boxes, but an MX-5 for work? Cheap as chips to buy and run, good for sliding about on wet roundabouts if the mood takes you and probably not going to cost you much come resale time.