Does having a dull daily make your second car more fun?

PMKeates · 6 Jan 2015 at 18:10

xs2man said:
This exactly. I can't imagine an MX5 being much more fun than the 535d. Sure, it'll go round twisties better, but then what? It is hardly what I would call special enough to be considered the "special weekend toy", when your daily is something like a 6 cylinder 5 series. Unless, of course, it's a purposefully stripped out, track only toy.

I agree with the "toy" having to be special. Along the lines of a 911, or building candy's R34 GTR. These ARE special cars. MX5's, CTR's, R32's and the like just aren't "special" enough to be running another car as a daily drive when they would work fine for this in most cases.

I think if you are the sort of person whose entire concept of motoring pivots around 'the twisties' then it might be great, but I think for a lot of people - including me - there's more to it than that. I do not want an MX-5/CTR/R32 at all.

I've looked at 911s - as 996 Turbos are cheap and reasonably safe in terms of value - but by all accounts, while supremely competent, limited fun factor as time goes on, putting them more in to daily territory... but then you'll hit resale value with mega miles.

Housey · 6 Jan 2015 at 18:19

PMKeates said:
I think if you are the sort of person whose entire concept of motoring pivots around 'the twisties' then it might be great, but I think for a lot of people - including me - there's more to it than that. I do not want an MX-5/CTR/R32 at all.

I've looked at 911s - as 996 Turbos are cheap and reasonably safe in terms of value - but by all accounts, while supremely competent, limited fun factor as time goes on, putting them more in to daily territory... but then you'll hit resale value with mega miles.

And I am the reverse as (I like to think) I am Senna and obviously he'd have chosen the MX5 over the Taxi.

NVP · 6 Jan 2015 at 18:26

Tom_ed1987 · 6 Jan 2015 at 18:40

Having tried the boring daily, fun weekend thing I have to say I didn't see much point.
My car is my hobby, I lavish it with lots of love and I quite enjoy driving it about all the time. Which is why I LPG'd my gt-four and do 20k/year. I also found having 2 roadworthy cars for myself quite annoying and expensive

I do want a motorbike to go alongside as 'alternative transport' though. Variety is cool.

dessimpson · 6 Jan 2015 at 18:56

I had a 1.1 peugeot 106 and an Evo.
I've now got a 2.2 diesel accord and the Evo.
I've driven the Evo twice in the past 2 months. You get used to the power if you drive it all the time and it takes a lot of the fun out of it.
I drove it to work for 2 months in the summer and putting £50 of fuel in it every day really takes the fun out of driving it

Ryan-3 · 6 Jan 2015 at 19:21

Housey said:
And I am the reverse as (I like to think) I am Senna and obviously he'd have chosen the MX5 over the Taxi.

Many people think like this, myself included, which is why the MX5 is so popular and there are hot hatchbacks. Twisties are fun. :cool:

Housey · 6 Jan 2015 at 20:56

Ryan-3 said:
Many people think like this, myself included, which is why the MX5 is so popular and there are hot hatchbacks. Twisties are fun.

I love the little things. Far from perfect and could be stiffer and with another 100 horses but it always puts a smile on my face. Pretty viceless and I think that's the route of its appeal. Makes us all think we are heroes.

NVP · 6 Jan 2015 at 20:59

Housey · 6 Jan 2015 at 21:14

NVP said:
Never driven an mx5 but its fabled fun has always intrigued me. Maybe one day

Go find one this weekend and have a go. Thems ace.

NVP · 6 Jan 2015 at 21:19

Housey · 6 Jan 2015 at 21:21

Where do you live?

NVP · 6 Jan 2015 at 21:27

The Running Man · 6 Jan 2015 at 22:28

When i had to drive my mums almera 1.8sve for a few days and went back to my MR2 it always made me appreciate it more.

Now i have more of a half way house but that's fun on most drives and doesn't have a leaky roof!

When you drive a car every day you notice the niggles more and often can't use the car properly due to traffic. Only using at the weekend, out of traffic able to give it a bit more welly and hey yes it feels more special and fun.

ChrisD. · 6 Jan 2015 at 22:34

Cars as per my sig, I actually enjoy driving the Accord but the S2000 never fails to put a smile on my face when I take it out. Winter has dulled the enjoyment somewhat I must admit.

chroniclard · 6 Jan 2015 at 22:42

There are a billion cars more fun to drive than a big diesel and all of them are probably "slower".

Minstadave · 6 Jan 2015 at 22:47

Conscript said:
I'm not sure that a 530d is that much more mundane than a 530i that it would make the latter much more special to drive at the weekends, would it?. Apart from petrol/diesel (and gearbox...is your 530d automatic?), one is just a new version of the same model.

Whereas the OP is going from a good, but mundane, hatchback to a powerful, sporty coupé...it will immediately feel very different.

EDIT: Just read that back, hope that didn't sound rude, I wasn't calling the 5 series a mundane car....you see what I mean, I hope

To be fair a 530D is a bit mundane, I've got one and I've never had anything more exciting than a 2.0T A3 which I found more fun.

It's very competent, surprisingly quick at times for its size but it's dull, it's meant to be dull.

Housey · 6 Jan 2015 at 22:51

NVP said:
Midlands

Wait... you're not trying to find me and give payback for that hairdressers remark are you!?

Me too. Happy to let you have a run in ours. Staffordshire here, middle of nowhere.

Jonnycoupe · 6 Jan 2015 at 23:09

Saloon considered as a weekend car? Lol wut? Or does PMkeates have to have something with DSC?

My boss is considering going halfs on an Ariel Atom. I will inform him tomorrow that I understand it does have LESS power than a mapped 530d.

PMKeates · 6 Jan 2015 at 23:15

Jonnycoupe said:
Saloon considered as a weekend car? Lol wut? Or does PMkeates have to have something with DSC?

My boss is considering going halfs on an Ariel Atom. I will inform him tomorrow that I understand it does have LESS power than a mapped 530d.

Where am I proposing a saloon as a weekend car? The only thing I've only suggested is a Ferrari so far, because I said I think something like an M5 or a 911 isn't worth it as a weekender.

So.. about the opposite of what you posted. An Atom would be a good weekender.

Jonnycoupe · 6 Jan 2015 at 23:18

PMKeates said:
I think if you are the sort of person whose entire concept of motoring pivots around 'the twisties' then it might be great, but I think for a lot of people - including me - there's more to it than that. I do not want an MX-5/CTR/R32 at all.

I've looked at 911s - as 996 Turbos are cheap and reasonably safe in terms of value - but by all accounts, while supremely competent, limited fun factor as time goes on, putting them more in to daily territory... but then you'll hit resale value with mega miles.

I think what you describe there is the argument for a weekend car.30k a year user in a personal car is quite rare in reality, and what you describe as motoring is actually smashing motorways commuting.

I would image the trade in running a 520d during the week and limited use of a 911 or maybe something else is another route a larger number of people actually go. The 535d is surely similarly effected by mileage depreciation?