Is a 2nd Car a good idea?

[911_AS]

I've had my 911 for four months now, and the novelty has not worn off one iota. I drive it everyday - short journeys to and from the station, around town, to the gym, to the shops etc. etc, as well as longer journeys where I can give the car good healthy run. She only has 24k on the clock too.

I have been thinking about purchasing a 2nd car. Literally a £500 run-around to "boot around" town for short-journeys. This is to preserve the 911, leaving it garaged when not used, and keeping it "clean" during the upcoming Winter.

My question is - Is it worth buying a 2nd car? I know some folks on here run a 2nd car, and was curious to know your reasons for doing so.

My thinking is that this is a false economy, hence I've talked myself out of the idea. Paying a 2nd car tax, Insurance, MOT, etc. will personally cost me a lot more than I wish to spend. Life's too short, so may as well enjoy the 911 every day. It's a car, built to be driven, and should be used as intended. Happy to hear what others think....

 

[MisterCorn]

Don't do it. Every time you drive the runaround you will wish you were in the 911. Life is too short.
MC

 

[freddie44]

I do (+ my girlfriend) about another 10k miles in our 2nd car (Cooper S)

If you work out we save 0.08 per mile = £800 saved + tyres, oil etc so as I guess our mini costs about 2k a year all in it is per year costing slightly more, I'd say.

I love the fact tho that I never got so used to the 911 that I took it for granted. I do live in London tho - slow - so this may not be such an issue the day I move to the sticks I guess.

It also keeps the miles of a 911 which as we all know is like gold when it comes to re-sale.

Personally I would love a 997 C2S cabriolet as a run around and my impending GT3 as the 'special' chariot but I do live in the clouds

The Cooper S is such a good 2nd car I think we'll keep her forever.

It doesn't sound like its worth it financially for you but perhaps in the winter it may just work out for the best...

 

[911_AS]

Thanks for the replies.

@Freddie - I reckon if I lived with my g/f (who also has a Mini Cooper, not the S though ), then maybe we'd use that as more of a daily runner. She is NW London and I'm in Essex, hence I do enjoy driving to her place in the 911 and would probably never do that journey in the run-around car. AS for a 911 as a run-around, AND a GT3 as the special car, well....that's is one big goal!

I'm veering stronger towards the "life is too short, drive the 911 daily", as opposed to running a 2nd car.

 

[davidjf7]

Interesting one...

I've had a 2nd car/shed for at least 10 years, whilst I ran an Elise and then a 993 as fun cars

Having now bought a 997.2, I was intending to sell the shed, but now I'm having second thoughts

The shed costs peanuts to run (£500 a year in tax and Insurance) does 40mpg and I do the servicing myself. It's probably now worth £1k max

I do quite a lot of miles (15k) a year, and it's good sometimes to have a car that you can use to soak up some of those miles and that you don't care about (leave it at the airport, use when it's snowing etc)

I think the same as above sometimes - sod it, just use the 911 all the time, but come winter when I'd probably want to buy winter wheels and tyres (£2.5k+) and will be driving past gritters etc I think again...

:dont know:

 

[pzero]

I have a dog, that goes in the second car.

 

[Chester J Lampwick]

I want a Skoda for the winter months, I reckon as rust is already my enemy, I shouldn't encourage it on salty roads.

 

[Goose]

I ran this as a "daily" car for a couple of years and can wholeheartedly recommend it as a lifestyle choice.

The benefits that I saw (not necessarily in order of importance)....

1) Cost - not only did the car not suffer any depreciation, the cost of running the two cars was slightly lower than running the Porsche on its own
- Overall fuel consumption fell
- The Porsche moved on to a classic limited mileage policy (which saved about £500 per annum)
- Mileage on the Porsche fell meaning (arguably) less depreciation and (demonstrably) less spent on tyres and brake pads

2) The Porsche felt more special when driven sparingly. Anyone who's tried to give up smoking will agree that the first one "back" is awesome :grin:. Message is, when you drive the Porsche inhale deeply and enjoy!!!

3) The Golf was far more practical and could, therefore, be used in more mobility situations (for example, taking the dogs for a run, storing shopping etc)

4) In certain situations, wait for this, the Golf was more fun. Not, I hastily add, more awsome or magnificent or involving - just more fun. Sometimes, the sheer nippiness of a car can bring its own kind of smile to your face.

Get one bought and change your life!!!

 

[911_AS]

Wow, some really valid points raised. I am quite partial to a MkII Golf, going back to my VW roots. Maybe there are benefits which I did not think about, after all....

watch this space ...

 

[T8]

My fleet of 3 cars does 12k miles a year.

Our Nissan Estate is used for everything where a big boot is needed or for any journey under 10 miles. The wifes (even though I drive it 95% of the time) Lexus is used for going anywhere half decent or for non motoring events more than 10 miles from home. MY 911 is used any time that I want to go for a blat or to go anywhere frequented by other petrolheads.

Multi-car Insurance seems to cost about the same as most people pay for a 911 +1 other. 3 x Road tax & MOTs are annoying but unavoidable.

The regular scrapes that appear whilst the Nissan is parked and the two proper dents that have been put in the Lexus would break my heart if they'd been on the 911 so my reasoning over the last 3 years has been vindicated + every journey in the 911 remains that bit more special.

 

[Fox Terrier]

I've got a BMW 320d that work provides. Any private miles cost me on tax though so when I use the 911 it's actually saving me money!

 

[steviec]

Fiat 500 for my run around, ideal for short journeys and keeps the mileage down. Any other journey where the engine is thoroughly warmed I use the 997 Gen2 Turbo.

 

[PeterS]

I have a second car, and a third.

Sometimes you just fancy a change.

:thumb:

 

[chimp911]

I'd love a fleet of different vehicles to pick and choose from to suit the particular driving occasion...but then again I'd still always pick up the keys to my porker anyway... :bandit:

 

[MisterCorn]

Whilst I wouldn't have as second car for the sake of keeping mileage down on the Porsche, we do have other cars in our household just because the Porsche is not the best in all situations. Whilst the Porsche is best for an early morning blast around quiet roads, or for a drive which on interesting roads when I'm not in a hurry. It isn't the best car we have for...

• Popping to the supermarket, short journeys around town and parking in tight spaces
  Carrying heavy / large loads or towing
  Driving long journeys on motorways with lots of luggage / people
  Thrashing around a race track without worrying about cost / damage

So I was in your position and really wanted to keep the miles down on my P&P I'd be looking for something which does one of the other things you do much better. That way, when you are driving the new car you won't wish you were in the Porsche, because the car you are in is the right one for the job. It might not work out cheaper (it doesn't for me), but it does mean you have the right tool for the job.

MC