Advice on a 'run around'

[UTH]

Hopefully moving house and so the Mrs is going to need a car as we're moving further out of London so getting around isn't going to be as easy.
I currently own an Evo 6 and a C7 Corvette.....neither is exactly a daily driver, and certainly not one I really want her using to get around! I use the Evo as my 'daily' (not that I need to drive anywhere daily) so I do have a car I use if I do need to go anywhere.

No kids at the moment, but sadly she insists we are going to have on at some point!

So, I/we think a MINI Countryman should fit the bill. (From what I understand a Countryman is probably a better bet than Clubman)

The main questions is which one. Part of me wants to chuck a fair bit of cash at it and get a JCW, as I'm sure I'll also end up driving it a bit so I'd like the best possible! Then the other part of me thinks we should just chuck £5k at a pretty basic one, as after all it'll mainly be for her to use and as long as it fits the bill in terms of size, what's the difference.

Any thoughts? We're borrowing a fair chunk of cash from the mortgage to do up the house we're buying, so chucking £20k at a car could be done, but maybe that really would be silly and £5k would get us what we need without being stupid going for JCW?

[Captain_Morgan]

In the current unknown climate I’d find it hard to justify more than runaround money especially with two other good cars to use and funding it via mortgage, renovations have that nasty habit of running over time and budget

[UTH]

Captain_Morgan said:

In the current unknown climate I’d find it hard to justify more than runaround money especially with two other good cars to use and funding it via mortgage, renovations have that nasty habit of running over time and budget

Yeah I think you're probably right. £25k more than needs be into a 3rd car is pretty unwise really isn't it. Like you say I have two very fun cars of my own, so sadly I shouldn't really try and justify going for top spec on the third one.

£5k should get a perfectly acceptable (albeit basic) Countryman, right?

[fastraxx]

UTH said:

Yeah I think you're probably right. £25k more than needs be into a 3rd car is pretty unwise really isn't it. Like you say I have two very fun cars of my own, so sadly I shouldn't really try and justify going for top spec on the third one.

£5k should get a perfectly acceptable (albeit basic) Countryman, right?

What have you found on your search?

[A500leroy]

If your going to be going back into london id just get something like a 2k Yaris tbh.

[UTH]

fastraxx said:

What have you found on your search?

To be honest it would seem £5k is pretty low for a countryman having had a look.

£7k gets me this which is starting to look more realistic?
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10744700?c...

[UTH]

A500leroy said:

If your going to be going back into london id just get something like a 2k Yaris tbh.

Well bear in mind it will at some point need to have a bit of space for a kid and some luggage and for the mrs to consider it safe blah blah blah

Can't help thinking a £2k car won't tick those boxes?

[fastraxx]

UTH said:

To be honest it would seem £5k is pretty low for a countryman having had a look.

£7k gets me this which is starting to look more realistic?
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10744700?c...

That’s the stealer price so you might manage one like that closer to 6

[UTH]

fastraxx said:

UTH said:

To be honest it would seem £5k is pretty low for a countryman having had a look.

£7k gets me this which is starting to look more realistic?
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10744700?c...

That’s the stealer price so you might manage one like that closer to 6

Ok good to know, gives me a rough idea of what to expect. I've never actually bought a 'normal' car like this myself (2 evos and a corvette so far!) so weirdly this is more unknown territory than buying niche/sports cars!

[fastraxx]

UTH said:

Ok good to know, gives me a rough idea of what to expect. I've never actually bought a 'normal' car like this myself (2 evos and a corvette so far!) so weirdly this is more unknown territory than buying niche/sports cars!

Looks a decent spec for the price although that one doesn’t look great as they’re so big - I think I’d rather have a 130

[UTH]

fastraxx said:

Looks a decent spec for the price although that one doesn’t look great as they’re so big - I think I’d rather have a 130

Forgive my ignorance, when you say 130 you referring to engine size? Does that make the overall car smaller? Wasn't aware the car came in different sizes, physically, although I probably need the biggest they do if it will end up being a bit of a family wagon one day - don't imagine the Evo will be very suitable!

[A500leroy]

UTH said:

A500leroy said:

If your going to be going back into london id just get something like a 2k Yaris tbh.

Well bear in mind it will at some point need to have a bit of space for a kid and some luggage and for the mrs to consider it safe blah blah blah

Can't help thinking a £2k car won't tick those boxes?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006120070298?advertising-location=at_cars&make=TOYOTA&price-to=2500&radius=1500&sort=relevance&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&postcode=de139le&page=1

Think this may tick boxes as a safe kid friendly able to take luggage doesnt matter if it gets battered in London runaround?

[UTH]

A500leroy said:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006120...

Think this may tick boxes as a safe kid friendly able to take luggage doesnt matter if it gets battered in London runaround?

Hmmmm yeah maybe you're right, if it really is just to keep the Mrs quiet maybe something like that makes sense. I assume that sort of mileage in a 'normal' car like that isn't really a problem? Can't imagine we'll be doing many miles per year in it realistically.

[A500leroy]

UTH said:

A500leroy said:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006120...

Think this may tick boxes as a safe kid friendly able to take luggage doesnt matter if it gets battered in London runaround?

Hmmmm yeah maybe you're right, if it really is just to keep the Mrs quiet maybe something like that makes sense. I assume that sort of mileage in a 'normal' car like that isn't really a problem? Can't imagine we'll be doing many miles per year in it realistically.

Why do you think taxi drivers buy toyotas or hondas! That will go to 200k with very little bother, and if your having kids in it at some point the inside will get destroyed!!

[UTH]

A500leroy said:

UTH said:

A500leroy said:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006120...

Think this may tick boxes as a safe kid friendly able to take luggage doesnt matter if it gets battered in London runaround?

Hmmmm yeah maybe you're right, if it really is just to keep the Mrs quiet maybe something like that makes sense. I assume that sort of mileage in a 'normal' car like that isn't really a problem? Can't imagine we'll be doing many miles per year in it realistically.

Why do you think taxi drivers buy toyotas or hondas! That will go to 200k with very little bother, and if your having kids in it at some point the inside will get destroyed!!

Both good points! Think I need to just get over myself and accept the fact a car for this purpose does not need to be remotely sexy or fun!

[A500leroy]

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

may i point you to this thread.

[UTH]

A500leroy said:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

may i point you to this thread.

Haha, yes a thread I'm aware of but admittedly have always said "that's not relevant to me". I guess now it is! Time for a read.

[A500leroy]

UTH said:

A500leroy said:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

may i point you to this thread.

Haha, yes a thread I'm aware of but admittedly have always said "that's not relevant to me". I guess now it is! Time for a read.

For a car thats gonna be in the city, get scraped at the supermarket, have children and dogs throw up in it, this way would be very suitable to you!
And on the plus side you can fetch anything from ikea, and go to the tip without giving a monkeys what happens the car!

[UTH]

A500leroy said:

UTH said:

A500leroy said:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

may i point you to this thread.

Haha, yes a thread I'm aware of but admittedly have always said "that's not relevant to me". I guess now it is! Time for a read.

For a car thats gonna be in the city, get scraped at the supermarket, have children and dogs throw up in it, this way would be very suitable to you!
And on the plus side you can fetch anything from ikea, and go to the tip without giving a monkeys what happens the car!

You make a very strong case.....didn't actually think about how nice it would be to have a car to chuck crap in the back for tip runs! And given the amount of work I'm aiming to do to this new place, I'll certainly need it, thanks mate, very handy advice. A £35k JCW Countryman would NOT have been a good choice for any of this HAHAHA

[A500leroy]

UTH said:

A500leroy said:

UTH said:

A500leroy said:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

may i point you to this thread.

Haha, yes a thread I'm aware of but admittedly have always said "that's not relevant to me". I guess now it is! Time for a read.

For a car thats gonna be in the city, get scraped at the supermarket, have children and dogs throw up in it, this way would be very suitable to you!
And on the plus side you can fetch anything from ikea, and go to the tip without giving a monkeys what happens the car!

You make a very strong case.....didn't actually think about how nice it would be to have a car to chuck crap in the back for tip runs! And given the amount of work I'm aiming to do to this new place, I'll certainly need it, thanks mate, very handy advice. A £35k JCW Countryman would NOT have been a good choice for any of this HAHAHA

oh man, you would have cried!, imagine the first time a child was unwell in a 35k car!!!