Soldato
You're not Howard without that MX5.
Bye bye MX5.
- Thread starter Howard
- Start date
I bought the MX5 in 2008 as a 'toy' to supplement my daily which was, at the time, a Honda Accord. I then upgraded from the Honda to the Mondeo in 2010 as I just wanted a better daily to sit alongside the 'toy'. Greedy, I know.
But lately I've just not been using the MX5 as much and the extra burden of double the running costs, etc, I feel has become less 'necessary' as a result of this. It's not ideal for my commute, **** for long journeys and I like the space, comfort and equipment offered by the Mondeo. If I had a different commute (i.e. mostly rural B-roads and whatnot) I'd probably have something different and more like a hot hatch or an Impreza or something. I just think the Mondeo offers the best balance of abilities for my use at the moment, and for the forseeable future.
I bought the MX5 in 2008 as a 'toy' to supplement my daily which was, at the time, a Honda Accord. I then upgraded from the Honda to the Mondeo in 2010 as I just wanted a better daily to sit alongside the 'toy'. Greedy, I know.
If I had a different commute (i.e. mostly rural B-roads and whatnot) I'd probably have something different and more like a hot hatch or an Impreza or something. I just think the Mondeo offers the best balance of abilities for my use at the moment, and for the forseeable future.
Suits you perfectly then. As good as the MX-5 is I've never been convinced it's 'special' enough to be a weekend toy/garage queen. I know yours had been modified but still not sure that changes the game at all.
No, if you're happy with the lack of practicality and general 'quality' then it's fine as a daily. I don't think there's any strict rules which stipulate which cars can and can't be used as toys though 
Soldato
I've got the opposite problem. I only need the practicality and cruising comfort of the ST220 some of the time and my commute is mostly urban driving with traffic.
I was thinking of having 2 cars like the setup you just come from. Was it really costing you double? From my perspective if I get a small petrol engined car, it should do double the mpg of the ST220 so shifting the mileage onto that would save me a grand/year right away in fuel. Insurance would be the same or less on a multi-car policy. Tax/MOT would be additional but isn't a lot. I would save a bit on tyres if I don't go with 18" wheels on the other car. Servicing would be a bit more but not a lot more.
Of course none of that takes into account of the cost of the 2nd car itself and the depreciation on it.
I was thinking of having 2 cars like the setup you just come from. Was it really costing you double? From my perspective if I get a small petrol engined car, it should do double the mpg of the ST220 so shifting the mileage onto that would save me a grand/year right away in fuel. Insurance would be the same or less on a multi-car policy. Tax/MOT would be additional but isn't a lot. I would save a bit on tyres if I don't go with 18" wheels on the other car. Servicing would be a bit more but not a lot more.
Of course none of that takes into account of the cost of the 2nd car itself and the depreciation on it.
No, if you're happy with the lack of practicality and general 'quality' then it's fine as a daily. I don't think there's any strict rules which stipulate which cars can and can't be used as toys though
Oh I agree with you there, it's just I think I would prefer something a little more bonkers as a toy as I wouldn't need the (relative) comfort and low running costs. Who knows though, when it comes round to it I might change my mind
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2 x insurance at roughly the same cost, 2 x tax, 2 x MOT, fuel for the MX5 (not as economical as you'd think, but it was a toy so irrelevant really). Plus servicing and modifications, and the equity from the actual car itself. All this added up to a reasonable saving after getting rid. To some people this is all probably small change but I don't earn a vast amount and thought that now I've had my fun, the money and priorities would be better placed elsewhere.
If you want a second fun car I'd absolutely not try and dissuade you, but different people have different priorities
Soldato
Obviously 2x insurance would be quite a lot. Was that because you had more than one driver?
It's been a while but when I had my Focus and got a quote for adding a 350z to my policy, it actually cost less than the 350z on it's own for both.
It's been a while but when I had my Focus and got a quote for adding a 350z to my policy, it actually cost less than the 350z on it's own for both.
It was because of my age I guess! That and the MX5 was modified. I had a multicar policy with Admiral when I first bought it but when I started modifying it, it quickly became something for which standard 'high street' insurance wasn't suitable.
When I've had 2 cars on a multicar type policy it's never worked out cheaper or anywhere close to having a single car. Usually a minimum of £200 extra, then there's 2 x the tax, niggly repairs, servicing etc. All quite small on their own but it adds up.
In saying that I was well aware of the costs and was prepared to pay that bit more but if you find yourself practically never using one of the cars (as I did) it just feels like a waste of money.
In saying that I was well aware of the costs and was prepared to pay that bit more but if you find yourself practically never using one of the cars (as I did) it just feels like a waste of money.
Soldato
Ahhh so it is still quite possible to get a 2nd car (unmodified) for no extra insurance cost.
Soldato
Wouldn't the insurance cost depend on which car you had first? i.e. if starting out with an ST220 which is on the high end of insurance and adding a cheaper car to insure (on it's own) the overall cost would be the same or lower no?
I understand there's a risk with having niggly repairs to deal with on 2 cars.
This all depends on whether you have another person on your policy I think. As an individual, you can't possibly drive two separate cars at once. With two people on a policy, you could both drive each car at the same time and thus (in theory at least) double your chances of having an accident.
The chance of theft is increased too, if you're covering two cars
Well done on the sale Howard, it wasn't on the market for very long considering
Soldato
A real shame its gone 
As we agreed though, my keys are available anytime
As we agreed though, my keys are available anytime
Soldato
There are very few FI'd MX-5's for sale.Well done on the sale Howard, it wasn't on the market for very long considering
That was a lovely motor, but all good things come to an end. Were any tears shed ?
Thing is, if you dont end up driving it much, its too much of a waste of a nice car, its better that someone else can make better use of it
Im going to be putting mine up for sale soon too, i've got a few bits of rot to sort and then its gone, I just dont drive it enough, and with a baby on the way, we wont be able to use it. I love it so much but needs must,
Thing is, if you dont end up driving it much, its too much of a waste of a nice car, its better that someone else can make better use of it
Im going to be putting mine up for sale soon too, i've got a few bits of rot to sort and then its gone, I just dont drive it enough, and with a baby on the way, we wont be able to use it. I love it so much but needs must,