Cheapest Way To Run 2 Cars

DNA_628

I'm current running 2 cars in my family.

I've a 1.9 diesel saloon and my wife has a 1.4 petrol mini MPV

I use mine driving to work daily (35 miles/day) and some motorway at the weekend.

My wife use her for food shopping and taking the 2 children to play groups etc. (unless then 5000 miles per year)

My wife thinking to sell her car to save some money. Is ok when the weather is nice and sunny but I'm feeling sad and sorry for her and my kids when they walking about in cold and wet weather in UK. (Most of the year)

Please can anyone suggest the cheapest way to cheapest way to run 2 cars??

I'm think to sell both cars and get a bigger MPV or a diesel estate for her to out and about plus some motorway for the weekend.

For me is either get a cheap car with a small engine, low road tax and cheap maintenance or lease a small car with 8000 miles per year.
I can ask my work to get me a small company car with my own insurance but I have to pay for it out of my wages plus tax. I don't do many company mileages so I don't think is worth it, right?

What about the pay and go car rental? ie. Street Car or City Car Club

PLEASE HELP!!!

jaydeeuk1

DNA_628 wrote: »

I'm current running 2 cars in my family.

I've a 1.9 diesel saloon and my wife has a 1.4 petrol mini MPV

I use mine driving to work daily (35 miles/day) and some motorway at the weekend.

My wife use her for food shopping and taking the 2 children to play groups etc. (unless then 5000 miles per year)

My wife thinking to sell her car to save some money. Is ok when the weather is nice and sunny but I'm feeling sad and sorry for her and my kids when they walking about in cold and wet weather in UK. (Most of the year)

Please can anyone suggest the cheapest way to cheapest way to run 2 cars??

I'm think to sell both cars and get a bigger MPV or a diesel estate for her to out and about plus some motorway for the weekend.

For me is either get a cheap car with a small engine, low road tax and cheap maintenance or lease a small car with 8000 miles per year.
I can ask my work to get me a small company car with my own insurance but I have to pay for it out of my wages plus tax. I don't do many company mileages so I don't think is worth it, right?

What about the pay and go car rental? ie. Street Car or City Car Club

PLEASE HELP!!!

Play fuel light bingo. Run the car till its on fumes, and then let wife borrow it. She has to fill it, and you get the cheapest car to run.

Ok, being serious. Do you need 2 cars? Shopping can be done online. If play group isn't far can she walk when nice, get taxi when not/ask other parent for lift and offer petrol money?

DNA_628

Well she is willing to give up her car and give it a try during this summer. I think it will take her 30 mins walk to her play group but I just feel bad for her and the kids when weather is bad!

I think taxi will be too expensive and issue with car seats and getting a lift with other parent maybe work as long as they one has 1 child plus same issue with 2 car seats.

That's why I would like to find out is that a cheapest way to run 2 cars. Is a pity that my work to too far for me to bike it or maybe I'm not fit enough to ride 30 mileages daily.

vikingaero

Can you travel by public transport to work? Your wife and kids will suffer in the winter if they have a 30 minute walk to the playgroup.

BillScarab

Sell your cars and get one as you suggested then buy yourself a 125cc Scooter or Motorbike.

Your wife and kids will be fine and you'll have a very cheap and economical means of transport.

benjus

DNA_628 wrote: »

What about the pay and go car rental? ie. Street Car or City Car Club

I'm a member of both of these, and also Connect By Hertz. I was a member of Zipcar but I let that expire.

I liked using them when I lived in an area where supply exceeded demand, so I could use the cars pretty much whenever I wanted. Now I'm in the opposite situation - I can never get hold of a car close to me when I want one (unless I book it well in advance).

If you like you can send me your postcode and I'll check the availability over the next few days.

DNA_628

I have tried public transport once and it took me 1.30hrs to get to work with 2 bus changes over. I will use more if their services are good as Birmingham, Manchester or London.

Hmm.. Scooter or Motorbike would be nice. Do I need to an additional license or exams?? Can I use my current drive license?? Maybe I can try a electric bike and I can charge it at work for FREE plus no more motor insurance either!!

DNA_628

Most of Connect and Zipcar cars are operating within London

cyclonebri1

It really is a simple answer:

You either can afford/or need 2 cars? Yeah.

The answer to both is the same.

Get shut if you can't/dont need, or join the rest of us;)

Tucker

There is no cheap way of running two cars, unless you are able to do all the servicing and maintenance yourself.

We have had a second car at times and others done without it. When we have had a second car we've had one that fell into the £30 tax bracket, to remove that expense. I service them both and do repairs that I can carryout and my car runs on LPG (67p a litre).

However, you will still have the two sets of insurance and running costs to contend with.

You say that occassional taxi's would be too expensive. If she just used them when the weather was bad, I bet it will be a darn sight less expensive than the weekly cost of running her car??

Add it all up, monthly repayments, tax, insurance, fuel, servicing, repairs, maintenance and work out what you spend a week on that car. If you spend half of that for taxi's when they are really necessary, then you are still a big winner!

Inactive

If either the OP, or his Wife could not drive they would have to manage with one vehicle, so there must be a solution.

Find a Play School nearer to home? ( Is Play School essential? ).

Use one car for shopping?