What would you do for a car if you didn't drive much?

Trifid

Trifid

Trifid

Soldato
Joined
18 Feb 2006
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I essentially live on the doorstep of work and the usual local amenities, this combined with generally rubbish traffic levels means it is often faster, or at least no slower to walk, cycle or use the train everywhere. And so I do... As such, my car has done about 1500 personal miles and 1000 work miles in the past year... While it is tempting to not have a car, I will find it too restrictive to not have one waiting on the drive. Plus I do like driving once I get away from all the stop start traffic.


Currently I have a Megane RS on lease for £196/month (9+23), but this is over due back and time is ticking before they will start knocking down my door for the keys. I like this car and if they would let me keep it, I would. The lease market hasn't been very good since Covid and I somewhat reluctantly placed a order for the 2022 Peugeot 308 GT for £278/month (6+35) which is a fair bit above what I usually aim for in costs (£200/month). This car was expected in July but has yet to be built and I can cancel it with only a nominal cost as I haven't signed any finance agreements, only credit checks.


I have kept aside cash for a car since I've started leasing, but would probably do 50/50 cash/personal loan. Lets say a budget of around £20k, what would you get? It needs to be reliable when left sitting as I go weeks at a time without needing to drive. Not being able to transport my parents might be a bit restrictive too as they no longer drive outside the local area themselves and I'd rather not drive their VW Polo if I can help it.
 
In a similar position, own a car but doing very little miles now I work from home, not quite ready to get rid of my car, but I think if it died I'd try going without.
 
MissChief said:
Number of seats? Any prerequisites? No cabriolets for example? with such little mileage I’m thinking V8!

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If it wasn't for occasionally transporting my parents to family/hospital visits, I'd be looking at 2 seater convertible. I used to have a VX220 as my only car and was fine with that, but my parents were not reliant on me for driving back then.

throwaway4372 said:
In a similar position, own a car but doing very little miles now I work from home, not quite ready to get rid of my car, but I think if it died I'd try going without.
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I've tried no car and it was too limiting. I have also tried old car and the running around taking it to garages to keep it going was annoying. I'm thinking about 5 years old would be my goal for age?
 
Similar position too,
maybe use it every 6 weeks, covid reduced weekday travel, and petrol/accomodation prices too have reduced inclination to go far at the weekends (200mile round trips walking/climbing)
having a newer (real world) depreciating asset sat on the drive, doesn't appeal either , with further volatlity on the market incoming.

I've had good reliability from an older 10yr 3series/i6 I've had since nearly new, which now owes me little, so I wouldn't preclude an older car (reduced electronic systems + NA = reliable )
 
Have you got access to a garage or a trickle charger? The latter is probably the most important for cars that aren’t used so regularly.

I’d be looking at either a C63 of whatever shape you like or an e92 BMW if you absolutely need 4 seats.
 
In the same position, bought a cheap fiesta st. Huge grin when driving, wouldn't like to drive it 15k miles a year though.

Nearly bought an mx5 though. Get a vx220 or something.
 
get a cheap old clio for about £1000 and keep charging the battery every week and drive it a little to keep the oil and fuel moving a bit.

thats what i do

most people cars devalue more than my car is worth
 
I do very little driving. Less than 2k a year. I have an old e46 bmw 325 and it’s sweet. No trouble, pleasure to drive. Bit pricey to tax and insure, but cheap to run.

ive had it a long time, maybe 7/8 years. maybe longer. Cost me £1500…
 
Parking 20k on the drive to drive 2000 miles a year is a poor financial decision old doesn’t mean unreliable I’d be spending less than half your budget on something like the above fiesta ST or BMW and keeping it till it dies. It has done most of it’s depreciating already and the idea that cars get magically unreliable at 5 years old is just silly.
 
very un-motors answer but are there any of those car clubs around you? Would be tempted to just go with a subscription to Zipcar or the like and do away with a depreciating asset.
 
a1ex2001 said:
Parking 20k on the drive to drive 2000 miles a year is a poor financial decision old doesn’t mean unreliable I’d be spending less than half your budget on something like the above fiesta ST or BMW and keeping it till it dies. It has done most of it’s depreciating already and the idea that cars get magically unreliable at 5 years old is just silly.
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Indeed. I don't think there are many other things that people (apart from ocuk ballers) spend £20k to use a few times a year, especially something that will depreciate.

Fiesta ST seems like a good shout!
 
inogen said:
I do very little driving. Less than 2k a year. I have an old e46 bmw 325 and it’s sweet. No trouble, pleasure to drive. Bit pricey to tax and insure, but cheap to run.

ive had it a long time, maybe 7/8 years. maybe longer. Cost me £1500…
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Even if it cost you £1000 tomorrow. You're quids in compared to spending £20k. I'd avoid buying an old E46 now though, the chances of finding a good one are probably quite slim, and you'd need to be handy with spanners I reckon.
 
sigma said:
Even if it cost you £1000 tomorrow. You're quids in compared to spending £20k. I'd avoid buying an old E46 now though, the chances of finding a good one are probably quite slim, and you'd need to be handy with spanners I reckon.
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George Austers has a nice touring on YouTube atm. (Once the fueling issues are resolved).
 
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