Old age whimsy

bigjl

On the subject of the original Focus RS.

I had a choice between a new WRX or a nearly new RS.

The WRX is probably worth next to nothing now. The Focus RS however......

If you want something nice and want to get decent fuel economy then get yourself a 3 yr old Jaguar XJ, £22-24000 gets you something with sensible miles. The XJL has more rear legroom but they are a little less common and you run the risk of buying an ex Chauffeur vehicle which would be a bad move unless cheap.

marlot

You don't say what your annual mileage is. Let's say 8,000 miles.

At 50mpg, that's 160 gallons = £800
At 25 mpg, it would be £1600 - so £800 more.

Your focus RS costs 30k, and probably depreciates at £3k a year. Depreciation is the biggest cost for most motorists, not fuel.

marlot

PS. Did you know there's actually a bike out there with a Jazz engine in it.

Well half a Jazz engine. Including things like a 6,500 rpm red line.

http://www.visordown.com/road-tests-first-rides/first-ride-honda-nc750x-review/24458.html

David_Aston

Thanks for all your further comments guys. The classic car scenario would appear to have the greater possibility of unreliability problems attached, I would have thought. To be fair, the one car that has my full name on it might be considered a classic. A David Brown Aston Martin! Either no longer in existence, or a genuinely expensive collectors car I guess. On the motorbike side of things, I can't be doing with a chain, which does rather remove the sort of thing that Shakey hammers round on, from the equation. So only a Beamer or a Moto Guzzi, then.
The little Alfa Romeo is nice. Perhaps a Corvette, but they are a lot more expensive than the RS.
I suppose the only thing in favour of daft dreams which include the above vehicles, is that at least the money isn't up in Ferrari, Mclaren territory.

BeenThroughItAll

David_Aston wrote: »

Thanks for all your further comments guys. The classic car scenario would appear to have the greater possibility of unreliability problems attached, I would have thought. To be fair, the one car that has my full name on it might be considered a classic. A David Brown Aston Martin! Either no longer in existence, or a genuinely expensive collectors car I guess. On the motorbike side of things, I can't be doing with a chain, which does rather remove the sort of thing that Shakey hammers round on, from the equation. So only a Beamer or a Moto Guzzi, then.
The little Alfa Romeo is nice. Perhaps a Corvette, but they are a lot more expensive than the RS.
I suppose the only thing in favour of daft dreams which include the above vehicles, is that at least the money isn't up in Ferrari, Mclaren territory.

Buy an R1200GS then, all the bike you'll ever need.

Or, buy a Scottoiler. Last chain-driven bike I had was a VFR800 (until tomorrow, when I pick up my new S1000RR) and in 16K miles of use, it never wore a chain out and I never had to clean the chain with more than a wipe over with a rag dipped in diesel.

facade

David_Aston wrote: »

So only a Beamer or a Moto Guzzi, then.

I loved my Guzzi. Still miss it. You learn to love the side to side oscillation, and the way it tries to turn upside down when you rev it. :cool:

However, they are too fragile for Real Life.

What killed mine was riding it on a wet salty road once and not thoroughly washing it after. Pretty much disappeared in a ball of corrosion.
I was thinking of getting rid before though, they burn oil as they are aircooled (and it is expensive super-duper oil that normal shops don't stock) you can't buy even an oil filter except from a specialist, the electrics are a joke (my rear light fell apart inside, and I had to superglue all the contacts back in) and the engine casings are very brittle, you can knock a fin off by looking at it.

Richard53

facade wrote: »

I loved my Guzzi. Still miss it. You learn to love the side to side oscillation, and the way it tries to turn upside down when you rev it. :cool:

Oh yes. I had a V50 Mk 2 a long time ago. Not the fastest, but probably the nicest bike I ever had. And mine was reliable, too.

David_Aston

I guess I would have to go for a V7 stone. I realise an older BMW such as the R850R, might be small enough. To be honest, since my stroke a year ago, it is debatable if my balance would be up to managing a stationery or slow moving motorbike. I suppose I would have to sit on one, and see how it felt!
Given my general loathing for driving these days, which surely means I must drive less well, despite a 25 year HGV "career", should tell me to just give up on all motorised vehicles!

Nobbie1967

David_Aston wrote: »

I guess I would have to go for a V7 stone. I realise an older BMW such as the R850R, might be small enough. To be honest, since my stroke a year ago, it is debatable if my balance would be up to managing a stationery or slow moving motorbike. I suppose I would have to sit on one, and see how it felt!
Given my general loathing for driving these days, which surely means I must drive less well, despite a 25 year HGV "career", should tell me to just give up on all motorised vehicles!

Why not get a car that looks beautiful and is just a nice object to own and polish/look at. Driving it occasionally would be a bonus:)

facade

I went past a 3 or 4 wheeled motorbike the other day parked up- not a quadbike, looked like a proper 'bike as I went past.

Only thing like it on t'interweb is a CanAm Spyder, but they are serious money, semi-auto 1300cc though.

Seems worst of both worlds to me though, wide as a small car, get wet in the rain, bake in the sun, can't see a thing through the helmet in the dark/rain/mist.