Do we really need a third car?
- Thread starter Maniac
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Anonymous
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Only read the first couple of pages, so I hope my input is still valid!
We have 3 cars, but until recently it was only 2. Deb has the 1'er cos she's a community nurse, and I have the Z4 as I am an IT Support monkey for the NHS and travel to different sites.
We have 3 dogs - before the Z4, we had two 1'ers - practicality wise, I can only have the Z4 cos we've also got the 1'er.
The dogs go in the 1'er, although I have a seat cover for the Z4 (donated by a member on here) incase I need an emergency trip (vets etc).
So until last September I was using the Z4 for work (which I knew I would have to do when I got it). However, Dr's surgeries carparks are dangerously tight places, and it was stressing me out the number of dinks I could get (luckily didnt get any).
So I bought a 2004 Citroen Xsara Picasso for work. It is a s**t car, but brilliant for work! LOADS of space, decent condition - but old enough to not really care about. It was just under £3k.
I was originally looking at a Van, but wouldve needed a new insurance with 0% no claims. With a car, my insurance have matched my 9years ncd for a 2nd policy.
It is an extra expense....but when tyres need replacing will be cheaper than Z4 tyres, and the savings in door dings and stress could pay for itself!
Only downside I've recently discovered is the Z4 doesnt get driven much now, and my battery got very low.
Dont think i'd go new though - part of the reason was so I didn't have to worry about it getting dinks in the car parks, and with a new car I'd be just as precious!
Focuses are good though - consider an older one?
We have 3 cars, but until recently it was only 2. Deb has the 1'er cos she's a community nurse, and I have the Z4 as I am an IT Support monkey for the NHS and travel to different sites.
We have 3 dogs - before the Z4, we had two 1'ers - practicality wise, I can only have the Z4 cos we've also got the 1'er.
The dogs go in the 1'er, although I have a seat cover for the Z4 (donated by a member on here) incase I need an emergency trip (vets etc).
So until last September I was using the Z4 for work (which I knew I would have to do when I got it). However, Dr's surgeries carparks are dangerously tight places, and it was stressing me out the number of dinks I could get (luckily didnt get any).
So I bought a 2004 Citroen Xsara Picasso for work. It is a s**t car, but brilliant for work! LOADS of space, decent condition - but old enough to not really care about. It was just under £3k.
I was originally looking at a Van, but wouldve needed a new insurance with 0% no claims. With a car, my insurance have matched my 9years ncd for a 2nd policy.
It is an extra expense....but when tyres need replacing will be cheaper than Z4 tyres, and the savings in door dings and stress could pay for itself!
Only downside I've recently discovered is the Z4 doesnt get driven much now, and my battery got very low.
Dont think i'd go new though - part of the reason was so I didn't have to worry about it getting dinks in the car parks, and with a new car I'd be just as precious!
Focuses are good though - consider an older one?
I'd rather have something new but I'd consider an older one for the right price. Most seem quite high mileage or have older less efficient engines. I'm looking at the 1.0 ecoboost 100hp version which pre-registered are coming in around £12,500. Drive the deal will do brand new (not pre registered) for the same money so I thought I'd use that when looking at a pre reg to see if I can get the pre reg closer to 10K. If I can, then I think that would be a bargain. low tax, low insurance and last for 10 years+ hopefully. That makes more sense to me than the worry of an older used car or 40K on a new merc and losing the Z. I figure I'll just sleep on it a bit more... which will likely mean I do nothing at all lol
I've been wrestling with the same issue for several months now. I've started doing more miles for work and wasn't enjoying the Zed as a daily driver and also found myself frustrated that for 95% of my commute, I couldn't go any faster than the car in front yet was probably getting two or three times less fuel economy. It wasn't so much about the money but you know when you get a thought in your head and can't shake it. Also having got two beautiful girls who need running around everywhere, there has been the odd time when the wife's 4x4 wasn't available and we had to compromise with our plans. It's been a real battle of heart against head. I knew the right thing to do but I'm not quite ready to give up my Zed yet.
Anyway after several months of making decisions and changing my mind within 24 hours (doing the right thing and being a bigger (less selfish) man vs life is about having fun), I have pushed the button on a very practical, sensible company car. But I'm going to keep my Zed and run it as BMWZ4MC has described - evenings, weekends and the odd time when the pull is just too much. I do wonder if this is the start of a long goodbye for the Zed as like you, I'm not sure I really do enough miles at the weekend just justify. But we'll have to wait and see.
My advice would be not to rush into a decision. The Focus will still be available in a few weeks so take your time. At the end of the day, if you go for a Focus and end up selling your Zed as you don't need 3 cars, it's better to have owned a Zed than not and at least it'll be your decision. Good luck.
Anyway after several months of making decisions and changing my mind within 24 hours (doing the right thing and being a bigger (less selfish) man vs life is about having fun), I have pushed the button on a very practical, sensible company car. But I'm going to keep my Zed and run it as BMWZ4MC has described - evenings, weekends and the odd time when the pull is just too much. I do wonder if this is the start of a long goodbye for the Zed as like you, I'm not sure I really do enough miles at the weekend just justify. But we'll have to wait and see.
My advice would be not to rush into a decision. The Focus will still be available in a few weeks so take your time. At the end of the day, if you go for a Focus and end up selling your Zed as you don't need 3 cars, it's better to have owned a Zed than not and at least it'll be your decision. Good luck.
Maniac said:So I know car insurance in Manchester is on the silly side of insane but I thought I'd get away with a couple hundred quid on top of my current insurance, alas no, insuring a new basic 12K focus on my policy, due to non sharing of NCB, DOUBLES the insurance to over a grand. Mental. No chance. Even a banger adds £300 a year based on a car around a grand in value. That makes the whole situation even more difficult to get my head around.
As for getting rid of the dog Sars... could you?
What a sweet schnauzer! I have a Yorkie and I put the seatbelt through her car harness. If I put her wool blanket on the seat, she just lies down on the seat, looking at me.
But, if we go somewhere muddy, I pop her bed on the seat so she can't reach the door sills or console.
A
Anonymous
Guest
I've got 9 yrs NCD which is used on the Z4. When I was looking to get a 2nd car, I did quotes online with 9yrs NCD and also with 0 yrs NCD, as a comparison and as I expected to have to start a 2nd policy with 0.
For the 2004 1.6 diesel Xsara Picasso that I got, for just under £3000, the insurance was over £2,000 with 0 NCD, or just over £200 with 9 yrs NCD.
I am 38 (I think the Z4 is about £260). Luckily, my insurer (AXA) agreed to match my 9yrs on a second policy. Its actually a discount for the 1st year, but as long as I don't crash, or leave them in that year, then apparently the full 9 years is official after 1 year, meaning I have 2 policies each with 9yrs NDC, and that I could shop around if need be.
For the 2004 1.6 diesel Xsara Picasso that I got, for just under £3000, the insurance was over £2,000 with 0 NCD, or just over £200 with 9 yrs NCD.
I am 38 (I think the Z4 is about £260). Luckily, my insurer (AXA) agreed to match my 9yrs on a second policy. Its actually a discount for the 1st year, but as long as I don't crash, or leave them in that year, then apparently the full 9 years is official after 1 year, meaning I have 2 policies each with 9yrs NDC, and that I could shop around if need be.
markeg said:
What Saab is that ? Been looking at 9-3 estates /1,9 diesel :? http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201310249428926/sort/default/usedcars/page/2/body-type/estate/postcode/bb120hr/radius/100/model/9-3/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/make/saab/price-from/4000?logcode=p
for a family workhorse but capable of a few french jaunts
in the right colour they look well & decent specs at £4k - £5k 08-58 plates2004 9-5 estate. Parts are interchangeable with GM/Vauxhall so can be picked up cheaper - in the time I've had the car it's only had the intercooler replaced and general service items. Just moving onto its second set of discs this year, currently at 130k mileage. Pretty bombproof motor TBH.
A
Anonymous
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Maniac said:
What was the middle one again?
We've been in 2 person 3 car ( and a motorbike) situation ever since I got my zed which will be three and a bit years now. I was supposed to sell the zed after 6 months but I loved it too much, and it's not that expensive to keep.
It does feel a bit excessive in the summer when the OH commutes on his motorbike and I have two sports cars and a 5 touring to choose from. But we do use them all regularly and have taken the sports cars on holiday for the last 3 years which has been so much fun.
It's also really handy at servicing time when you can just drop one off and leave it a couple of days.
I guess you need to work out how much the extra cost is and whether you could spend it better elsewhere. For us the insurance is an extra £100 on a multicar deal, so the whole cost isn't that much.
We bought the second zed after a family illness resulted in some "life's too short " thinking, and i don't think it's a bad way to live your life
It does feel a bit excessive in the summer when the OH commutes on his motorbike and I have two sports cars and a 5 touring to choose from. But we do use them all regularly and have taken the sports cars on holiday for the last 3 years which has been so much fun.
It's also really handy at servicing time when you can just drop one off and leave it a couple of days.
I guess you need to work out how much the extra cost is and whether you could spend it better elsewhere. For us the insurance is an extra £100 on a multicar deal, so the whole cost isn't that much.
We bought the second zed after a family illness resulted in some "life's too short " thinking, and i don't think it's a bad way to live your life
Compared to other countries, car ownership in the UK is cheap so for me it was not a big deal to keep my other cars instead of selling them.
Some might only get 400 miles a year, but to me the cars are like an art form - I like looking at them. Some buy expensive paintings, I buy cars
Some might only get 400 miles a year, but to me the cars are like an art form - I like looking at them. Some buy expensive paintings, I buy cars
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Anonymous
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Chris89 said:
I've found this too...driving the Picasso each day, and the Z4 at the weekend makes me appreciate it more!
Maniac said:
While not everyone's cup of tea you could trade the Z for an approved used M135i - incremental cost would be a lot less than a new focus (they seem to be available in the low 20's with sensible mileage) and only one set of running costs. Those pocket rockets are quicker than our 35i's - nowhere near as nice to look at mind, but the stealthiness because of this could actually be quite fun!
With a rear seat cover the dog would be well catered for too!
