5 years of same car or 5 years of 5 "classics"

Rolandtheroadie

I've a bit of a dilema.
I hate having the same car for too long but realistically will probably have to keep my current one for at least 5 years.
It's a 4 year old FSH 40 k miles ghia-x mondeo tdci.
I love the car, but i'm thinking if I dont start on my "cars i've always wanted" list now, I'll never do it.

So basically, should i get shot and start on the list, or be sensible and keep it.

We buy any cars quoting £4750 unseen but honestly described and I recon i'll be able to get 5 years worth of cars (minimum) out of that.

Cars I'm wanting include a mini, a capri, perhaps a rover p5b v8 and a big old jag. Finally something American and over 5 litres.

They wont be immaculate, might not even be pretty to look at. As long as they are road legal and safe, that's all that matters.

So would you keep the mundaneo, or get something with a bit more character.

creased-leach

Go for the classics!
Our DD's first car, a mini traveller is sitting on the drive atm awaiting tlc- and it's reignited a passion throughout the house.

Do try to maybe keep the funds from the sale for car A as a repair contingency fund for car B though.

Sounds like you're like me- you get bored easily. If you're mechanically minded and can do some work on them, you may even make money out of the endeavor.

emmell

It depends how many miles you do. I have a classic mini and wouldn't like to use it for big mileages or getting anywhere quick. Mine is just purely kept as a toy and I like buying things for it to make it look pretty but I wouldn't want to use it all the time. The mondeo sounds nice and I bet it's comfortable you can't say that about my little mini, my husband struggles to fit in (6' and size 12 feet).

sebdangerfield

Definately change them. From your previous posts you're obviously a huge car fan and what you're suggesting is a dream for many of us.

The fact the cars may be a bit tatty too should only add to the fun!

goldspanners

an idea might be (providing you have the space) keep the mondeo, buy one of the cheaper classics you want, but buy one that might need a little work to make it good,like an unfinished project some folk sell them needing very little to finish.
you buy it finish it off and enjoy it for a bit and then sell it just as the summer comes in (when the prices will go up a little bit) giving you a notch on your classic bedpost and some profit to plough back into the next one. it might take a little longer to acheive but as another poster said classic cars are great fun but not to be relied upon for essential journeys,because when they do breakdown it will be at the time you need it most and will sour the taste of your dream.
i had a capri which was and still is one of my dream cars,but working on it day and night just to keep it on the road was a bit of a chore. owning a classic car should be enjoyable and fun and done at your own pace,not forced to lie under a rusty lump in the pi$$ing rain. it should be done in a nice heated double garage (another dream for me at the moment) when it suits.

Inactive

goldspanners wrote: »

i had a capri which was and still is one of my dream cars,but working on it day and night just to keep it on the road was a bit of a chore. owning a classic car should be enjoyable and fun and done at your own pace,not forced to lie under a rusty lump in the pi$$ing rain. it should be done in a nice heated double garage (another dream for me at the moment) when it suits.

Agreed, it is all very well buying these " classics " however they do require almost constant attention, which without suitable facilities can very soon make them somewhat less attractive.

Rolandtheroadie

I work 8 miles from my house. We have 2 cars(at the moment). I will probably buy a motorbike on Sunday (watching one, here's hoping). My wife has a car to ferry the kids around in.
I dont really need the Mondeo. It would be considered a luxury if we wernt all so materialistic (2 cars). Theres too much money tied up in it (cant afford to buy anything without selling it really).

The garage is heated and would probably take a mini and a capri nose to tail but not side by side (previous owner of house ran a business from the garage, it has a loft conversion !!!!!!).

Hintza

I got up this morning to suggst what Goldie has suggested,,,,,,,,,,,,,:cool:

stumpjumper

have a look on pistonheads- theres pleanty of threads extoing the virtues of Bangernomics - as well as the 'shed of the week'

if you can find something like an old jag for £1000 that has fresh enough tires and a 12 month MOT then you can some cheap motoring for a year

BillScarab

Go for it. I've had a Mini, two Capris and an old Jag and my dad had a P5B Coupe when I was young, it was a fantastic car. I'd love another Capri one day.

The cars you're talking about are simple vehicles and easy to work on (except maybe a Jag) and if you live 8 miles from work you could get a cheap scooter or even a push bike to travel to work.

Rolandtheroadie

I'm going to pop into the Bellshill car buying place this week sometime and get a firm offer on the car. Take it from there.
I've got a budget for a motorbike already (just paid out on a writeoff) but that's definately for a bike. Thinking more superblackbird than scooter though lol.

As far as £1000 for 12 months running, I'd be over the moon with that. As your not doing a big mileage, a big engine doesnt matter as much for fuel costs either.

I've bought cars for less and took the 9/10 months MOT out them then got shot. An SD1 I paid £600, spent nothing (except tax and insurance obviously), ran for 9 months then got £250 back on it.