Changing from a sports car to a mundane car - any thoughts?

[RobM77]

A bit of a What Car thread here, but I'm mainly interested in people's experiences...

I've currently got an Elise S2 111S and a BMW Z4 Coupé. The Elise is utterly brilliant and I love it, and the BMW is for motorways, bad weather, carrying stuff around and when I just feel like a change from the Lotus. My Dad's going to be changing his BMW 320d ('07 model) for something else very soon, and I've got the option of selling my Z4C and buying his car off him cheap if I want it.

The benefit is that I'll have cash in hand after selling my Z4 Coupé, the 320d is much quieter on the motorway, the mpg is better (54 vs 34 average) and I get a roof rack to carry my bikes and kayak around; plus I can get my cello in there and a passenger or two at the same time.

The downside is that it'll be the heaviest, slowest and easily the most boring car that I've ever owned. Has anyone else done this? Any regrets? I should imagine it's quite a common type of change if people start a family. My other option is to buy a third car for about £2k that does these practical things, but then that's a bit extravangant for me having three cars!

Any thoughts? Anyone made a similar change?

[Waugh-terfall]

Look at it this way:

Do you need the extra cash in your pocket?
Would you be happier to continue with the Z4C or happier in the 320d?

I carry many things in my car including dogs and people, but I'd gladly swap it for something impractical but fun right now

[davepoth]

do you need two "fun" cars?

[Mr Darcy]

davepoth said:

do you need two "fun" cars?

everyone needs 2 fun cars.

[ewenm]

Nothing wrong with having three cars Rob. In fact, for me it's a necessity:

• Track/blat car
• Interesting mileage car
• Utility car

I do find I use the utility car a lot more than perhaps is entirely necessary and there are two reasons for this.
1. It's on the drive, blocking the garage and at 7:30am it's usually too much hassle to move it, get the Caterham (or Mustang) out, put the Volvo back; and
2. It's easy, no thought or planning required.

It does mean the annual mileage on the Caterham has plunged although I suspect that will change once the sprog arrives next month as the OH will need the sensible car somewhat more than she does now.

Edited by ewenm on Tuesday 3rd August 16:56

[8400rpm]

I actually enjoy having a boring car that's frugal, alongside the Type-R.

Makes me appreciate the Type-R a lot more when I get to drive it.

[RobM77]

Waugh-terfall said:

Look at it this way:

Do you need the extra cash in your pocket?
Would you be happier to continue with the Z4C or happier in the 320d?

I carry many things in my car including dogs and people, but I'd gladly swap it for something impractical but fun right now

Well, obviously I'd rather drive a 1380kg 265bhp two seater than a 1650kg longer wheelbase 4bhp diesel , but given that I need to carry my bikes and kayak around, I guess the question is really would I rather pay to run three cars in order to keep the Z4C?

[kambites]

If you had the Elise, the 3-series and the Z4, just how much would you use the Z4?

[RobM77]

ewenm said:

Nothing wrong with having three cars Rob. In fact, for me it's a necessity:

• Track/blat car
• Interesting mileage car
• Utility car

I do find I use the utility car a lot more than perhaps is entirely necessary and there are two reasons for this.
1. It's on the drive, blocking the garage and at 7:30am it's usually too much hassle to move it, get the Caterham (or Mustang) out, put the Volvo back; and
2. It's easy, no thought or planning required.

It does mean the annual mileage on the Caterham has plunged although I suspect that will change once the sprog arrives next month as the OH will need the sensible car somewhat more than she does now.

Edited by ewenm on Tuesday 3rd August 16:56

Interesting, thanks. "Interesting mileage car" is a very good description. As you've no doubt found out, the truth is that you often come across some of the best driving roads purely by accident, and to be stuck in a heavy diesel at that moment isn't really what you want in that situation Plus there's holidays where you drive for hours on end on a motorway to get to Scotland, the Lakes or Snowdonia, and when you arrive you want something decent to drive, not some great big lumbering bus like the 320d (relatively speaking).

[braddo]

If the 320d rides well you might find it a refreshingly relaxing alternative to the cars you have now and in the recent past, where it discourages spririted driving and encourages you to take it easy and relax (which is far easier when there's still an Elise parked at home!). If the 320d is an M Sport or something, it might just feel like a gutless variant of the Z4 and quickly annoy you.

I've had a similar experience in the past year where after a few years of a classic Alfa and an Elise, we also purchased a Merc 190E for my wife to learn to drive in and to use as family transport for the first few months. The car is supremely comfortable and gutless (manual 1.8) and its controls appear designed to discourage giving it a thrashing. Instead, it became a pleasure to take it easy and punt around London and on the motorway in.

[RobM77]

braddo said:

If the 320d rides well you might find it a refreshingly relaxing alternative to the cars you have now and in the recent past, where it discourages spririted driving and encourages you to take it easy and relax (which is far easier when there's still an Elise parked at home!). If the 320d is an M Sport or something, it might just feel like a gutless variant of the Z4 and quickly annoy you.

I've had a similar experience in the past year where after a few years of a classic Alfa and an Elise, we also purchased a Merc 190E for my wife to learn to drive in and to use as family transport for the first few months. The car is supremely comfortable and gutless (manual 1.8) and its controls appear designed to discourage giving it a thrashing. Instead, it became a pleasure to take it easy and punt around London and on the motorway in.

That's an extremely good point and at the core of my decision really. I may actually enjoy driving the 320d because it excels at what it's supposed to do. The RS4 and M3 I test drove (roof rack and performance), annoyed me because they were compromises, but the 320d isn't a compromise - it just does what it does really well. I enjoy driving my girlfriend's Yaris for this reason - it excels at being a small practical smooth uneventful drive, and I get enjoyment out of seeing it do so well at that task.

I think I need to swap cars with my Dad for the day to see what I think. He's never driven anything anywhere near as fast as the Z4C (the 320d is the fastest car he's owned or driven I think!!), so I'm sure he'd enjoy a swap too

[bikemonster]

Rob, you race cars.

Not sure how it is for you, but since I've been racing, "performance road cars" are just not what they used to be.

Sell the Z4, keep the Elise and use some of the proceeds to fund your racing habit hobby.

James

[300bhp/ton]

RobM77 said:

A bit of a What Car thread here, but I'm mainly interested in people's experiences...

I've currently got an Elise S2 111S and a BMW Z4 Coupé. The Elise is utterly brilliant and I love it, and the BMW is for motorways, bad weather, carrying stuff around and when I just feel like a change from the Lotus. My Dad's going to be changing his BMW 320d ('07 model) for something else very soon, and I've got the option of selling my Z4C and buying his car off him cheap if I want it.

The benefit is that I'll have cash in hand after selling my Z4 Coupé, the 320d is much quieter on the motorway, the mpg is better (54 vs 34 average) and I get a roof rack to carry my bikes and kayak around; plus I can get my cello in there and a passenger or two at the same time.

The downside is that it'll be the heaviest, slowest and easily the most boring car that I've ever owned. Has anyone else done this? Any regrets? I should imagine it's quite a common type of change if people start a family. My other option is to buy a third car for about £2k that does these practical things, but then that's a bit extravangant for me having three cars!

Any thoughts? Anyone made a similar change?

Why not try it. If it's not for you head back to the drawing board. You already know the Z4C isn't the answer, so you don't really have much to loose.

[RobM77]

bikemonster said:

Rob, you race cars.

Not sure how it is for you, but since I've been racing, "performance road cars" are just not what they used to be.

Sell the Z4, keep the Elise and use some of the proceeds to fund your racing habit hobby.

James

That's partly why I want to free up some money, to spend on racing (not just the initial capital, but the money saved on mpg too).

I do still love road cars though, just not for their performance, more for the feeling of driving them.

[The Lukas]

You will still have your Elise? It sounds more practical if you get a 320d, but I can't help but feel slightly jealous of you having two seater sports cars on you drive

[RobM77]

300bhp/ton said:

RobM77 said:

A bit of a What Car thread here, but I'm mainly interested in people's experiences...

I've currently got an Elise S2 111S and a BMW Z4 Coupé. The Elise is utterly brilliant and I love it, and the BMW is for motorways, bad weather, carrying stuff around and when I just feel like a change from the Lotus. My Dad's going to be changing his BMW 320d ('07 model) for something else very soon, and I've got the option of selling my Z4C and buying his car off him cheap if I want it.

The benefit is that I'll have cash in hand after selling my Z4 Coupé, the 320d is much quieter on the motorway, the mpg is better (54 vs 34 average) and I get a roof rack to carry my bikes and kayak around; plus I can get my cello in there and a passenger or two at the same time.

The downside is that it'll be the heaviest, slowest and easily the most boring car that I've ever owned. Has anyone else done this? Any regrets? I should imagine it's quite a common type of change if people start a family. My other option is to buy a third car for about £2k that does these practical things, but then that's a bit extravangant for me having three cars!

Any thoughts? Anyone made a similar change?

Why not try it. If it's not for you head back to the drawing board. You already know the Z4C isn't the answer, so you don't really have much to loose.

And I guess if I sell the 320d I won't make a loss and no, I don't love the Z4C; I don't mind letting it go. I only bought it because I was told it took a rook rack. I'd probably rather have a Boxster or a 911 for that money instead to be honest.

[otolith]

Is it just you, Rob? We've got an Elise, a 350Z and an old non-turbo Impreza estate and they all get used, but the mrs commutes in the Z, I use the Elise as much as possible and the Impreza does all the stuff involving bulky loads, dodgy parking, unmade roads or appalling weather.

[RobM77]

otolith said:

Is it just you, Rob? We've got an Elise, a 350Z and an old non-turbo Impreza estate and they all get used, but the mrs commutes in the Z, I use the Elise as much as possible and the Impreza does all the stuff involving bulky loads, dodgy parking, unmade roads or appalling weather.

Just me at home you mean? Yes, I live on my own. My girlfriend lives in London and has just learnt to drive, so I've had her Yaris at my place for six months now, and I've used that to carry stuff about and take the kayaks to the coast etc. Hopefully if she can get the confidence up to drive on her own then the Yaris will be going to her place soon.

[The Lukas]

I'd do it then. No point having the Z4 and an Elise if you don't love them both.

[otolith]

RobM77 said:

Just me at home you mean? Yes, I live on my own.

In that case, I think you might struggle to get the benefit from three cars.

Have you considered asking your dad to swap cars for a few weeks to see if you can live with it?