One "do it all" car or several "different usage" cars (ownership preference)

[Rupert]

I guess if you paid $500 for a 3 cylinder Metro you would end up saving money...

[MrH]

I just have the Miata for now, but will be getting something to compliment it at some point in the next few years.

[Rupert]

I just have the Porsche and Explorer for now, but will be getting a Rolls in the next few years.

Not to be a complete ass (just 9/10s), but that's basically what future car plans that are super vague in type and time sound like.

[MrH]

I just have the Porsche and Explorer for now, but will be getting a Rolls in the next few years.

Not to be a complete ass (just 9/10s), but that's basically what future car plans that are super vague in type and time sound like.

It's not like I keep it a great big secret like some people around here.  I'm just considering everything from a Honda Element to a GTI to a Kisashi.  Didn't want to bother listing them all.  I'll be getting something right out of grad school likely (May or August 2012).

Is that better? 

[Rupert]

Yeah, sorry. I don't mean to pick on you. It's a common pet peeve of mine. It's like, put up or shut up.

[Laconian]

I wouldn't mind having more VTECs in the TSXwaggen. It'd be perfect with a V6.

Ugh, did I just say that?

[Rupert]

Just don't forget to smoke Ferraris in the quarter and double-clutch a lot.

[CALL_911]

Well, when you're in my situation, you look for one car that can do it all.

For me, I think that car is a Honda S2000.

[MrH]

Yeah, sorry. I don't mean to pick on you. It's a common pet peeve of mine. It's like, put up or shut up.

Me too.  Hey, I'm one of the few real enthusiasts here who put up and drives an actual enthusiast car

[Cookie Monster]

Me too.  Hey, I'm one of the few real enthusiasts here who put up and drives an actual enthusiast car

I do too, I just bitch and complain about it a lot.

[the Teuton]

I don't live 5 minutes from home. I need a car that'll carry at lease three laundry baskets of various shit at this stage of my life. Sorry.

At least I upgraded to a stick car in the process.

[Cookie Monster]

I don't live 5 minutes from home. I need a car that'll carry at lease three laundry baskets of various shit at this stage of my life. Sorry.

At least I upgraded to a stick car in the process.

I just stuff all my laundry into trash bags and stuff those in the trunk.

[Eye of the Tiger]

several

[the Teuton]

I just stuff all my laundry into trash bags and stuff those in the trunk.

And keep the top up? Aw, hells naw.

If you have a car like that, the Openometer has to be all the way on the open side.

[Cookie Monster]

And keep the top up? Aw, hells naw.

If you have a car like that, the Openometer has to be all the way on the open side.

Why would the top be up...?

With the top down you can stack things even higher!

[SVT_Power]

Why would the top be up...?

With the top down you can stack things even higher!

Like a fridge in the passenger seat right? 

[Cookie Monster]

Like a fridge in the passenger seat right? 

That's how my roommate and I got his table home. Stuck it straight out the top.

[MrH]

And keep the top up? Aw, hells naw.

If you have a car like that, the Openometer has to be all the way on the open side.

Top doesn't impede on trunk space at all in Miatas...

And I can fit 3 laundry baskets easy.  I think you're underestimating its trunk.

Like a fridge in the passenger seat right? 

I imagine you're referencing me?



Coldest drive of my life.  Was about 5 degrees, and had some nasty wind.  Totally worth it.

[CALL_911]

I don't live 5 minutes from home. I need a car that'll carry at lease three laundry baskets of various shit at this stage of my life. Sorry.

At least I upgraded to a stick car in the process.

I live like 4 hours from home. I......do my laundry at school.

[the Teuton]

I live like 4 hours from home. I......do my laundry at school.

Holiday break?

I bring home my desktop, my portfolio, and a ton of clothes, as well as all of my holiday shopping for the family.

It adds up.

[Cookie Monster]

Top doesn't impede on trunk space at all in Miatas...

And I can fit 3 laundry baskets easy.  I think you're underestimating its trunk.
I imagine you're referencing me?


Coldest drive of my life.  Was about 5 degrees, and had some nasty wind.  Totally worth it.

I don't know about the cloth tops but you're not supposed to use the vinyl one when it's that cold.

[MrH]

Vinyl will crack when it gets really cold and is forced to bend.  Cloth just gets stiff and a little tighter on the frame.  It's fine for the most part.  I made sure to heat it up on the way over to pick it up too.

[Rupert]

Me too.  Hey, I'm one of the few real enthusiasts here who put up and drives an actual enthusiast car

[Rupert]

Holiday break?

I bring home my desktop, my portfolio, and a ton of clothes, as well as all of my holiday shopping for the family.

It adds up.

Two points: That will fit in a lot of cheap sports cars. Put up or shut up.

[Rupert]

I think one thing that's changed a lot over the past few decades is people's perception of what makes a practical car, and what the minimum amount of practicality is. People used to strap skis to the roof of their 911 or TR6, and they used to take their Pontiac Tempest on rough mountain roads regularly, without thinking that they needed an SUV and super-duper AWD. I think that, except for extreme cases, college kids can do just fine with a two-seat sports car, and outdoorsy people can do just fine with a mid-size sedan. This is to say that "practicality" is just an excuse for not having the balls to drive what you really want.

[sportyaccordy]

The more cars the better.

However, saving on gas is almost never a good excuse to buy another car. Second car = $4000 + $600/yr insurance (at least), gas savings for a year for a 30 mile commute going from 15 mpg to 35 mpg at $4/gal= $1140.

Yea but the way I see it, if I was gonna spend $15K on 1 "do it all car", I feel like I could get more bang for the buck getting 2 older cars that are less compromised. The savings are probably minimal because of insurance, but you get more bang for the buck. I.e., instead of an EVO, I'd get an old Eclipse GSX and like a Honda Fit or something. Same cost, "more" car, lower fuel/maintenance costs.

[sportyaccordy]

Oh and I agree that people can make do w/normal cars. My dad drives his M45 on shit low pro 18s day in and day out, rain, snow, sleet, shine. I will have to ask him if he's ever got stuck... I don't think he has though and we've had some monster blizzards. You throw a set of winter or snow tires on anything mainstream, the only thing that can stop you is if the snow is a foot tall on the road or its turned to ice. We make too many excuses

[SVT666]

I think one thing that's changed a lot over the past few decades is people's perception of what makes a practical car, and what the minimum amount of practicality is. People used to strap skis to the roof of their 911 or TR6, and they used to take their Pontiac Tempest on rough mountain roads regularly, without thinking that they needed an SUV and super-duper AWD. I think that, except for extreme cases, college kids can do just fine with a two-seat sports car, and outdoorsy people can do just fine with a mid-size sedan. This is to say that "practicality" is just an excuse for not having the balls to drive what you really want.

Can't tow with a midsize sedan.  Besides a Pontiac Tempest had 14" of ground clearance and a new Ford Fusion has 5". 

[SVT_Power]

I imagine you're referencing me?

Coldest drive of my life.  Was about 5 degrees, and had some nasty wind.  Totally worth it.

of course 

[mzziaz]

the more the merrier, however the answer is a function of available cash and space.