one car vs. two cars

[Vinsanity]

one car:

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=427988912




two cars:
 
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=431634924                              http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=434274629

[2o6]

What about just driving the Focus?


I can't see the point of having a payment on an NC when you'll likely just end up in the Focus all of the time. Or maybe if the Focus was not an ST - those ST's aren't comfortable, and I don't see the point of buying two "uncomfortable" cars.

[Vinsanity]

Sometimes I miss having a small 2-seat roadster. Sometimes.

[CALL_911]

Or just sack up and buy a Boxster

[2o6]

Sometimes I miss having a small 2-seat roadster. Sometimes.

Buy an NB with cash

[MexicoCityM3]

Depends a lot on your usage, man. The 5er you will enjoy every day at the expense of that special weekend drive. It is a MUCH nicer place to spend time in vs the Focus. But with the Focus you'd get the chance of that weekend roadster drive.

Only you can decide on the trade-off. Very personal.


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[2o6]

Split the difference - 528i Msport.

[Cookie Monster]

Two cars for sure. You're in California. You'll be able to enjoy the NC almost year round and you have amazing roads to drive on. The ST is also more practical than the 5 since it's a hatch and is very comfortable with the Recaros ( I didn't see if that one has the seats though).

Sure, the 5 will be incrementally nicer than the ST but you're giving up so much more in enjoyment. The ST has all the creature comforts you need and you're only giving up some small luxuries from the BMW.

Plus you probably end up driving the NC a lot more anyways and the BMW can't compare with the top down pleasure.

The only thing I'd recommend is getting an older NC and saving some cash. You can save $4-6k by going with an older one. An '09-10 is the same car as what you're looking at other than some small cosmetic changes. You could go even cheaper and spend half that on an NC1 but you'd be giving up the forged engine.

Either way you could save $5-6k over that 5 by getting an older NC2.

[MrH]

Two cars for sure. I've played this game over in my head a million times. I always end up at two cars.

Don't pick a focus ST as your practical ride. It's harsh and not all that roomy. Get something good for road trips and lots of space.

[CaminoRacer]

Two cars. But get a roadster and an old beat up SUV. Miata can be driven every day, SUV for utility reasons.

[Eye of the Tiger]

One car that runs kinda okay, and two or three in various states of repair or disrepair.

[Raza]

Two cars for sure. I've played this game over in my head a million times. I always end up at two cars.

Agreed.  Two cars is the way.

Don't pick a focus ST as your practical ride. It's harsh and not all that roomy. Get something good for road trips and lots of space.

Just don't be like this soft little bitch and get some rolling mattress for your daily driver.   

[Vinsanity]

Two cars for sure. I've played this game over in my head a million times. I always end up at two cars.

Don't pick a focus ST as your practical ride. It's harsh and not all that roomy. Get something good for road trips and lots of space.

There's a certified 320i for just under 2 grand more than the FoST. I know I said this is purely hypothetical, but this is a tempting idea.

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[Rich]

You're going to have a loan on both cars?

Nah

[68_427]

Two cars but not something like the Focus for a daily.  It's too compromised as far as comfort goes and too much overlap with a potential Miata.  Buy something like a GS400/430 and then a Miata.  Get something comfortable but something that will make you crave that fun and exciting weekend car.

[Vinsanity]

You're going to have a loan on both cars?

Nah

IF...I were to entertain this idea, it would probably be financing something like a 320i or Infiniti Q50 for 3 years, then buying an ND Miata after.

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[Eye of the Tiger]

Focus ST not a good daily? Maybe for massive, bleeding pussies.

[Soup DeVille]

Focus ST not a good daily? Maybe for massive, bleeding pussies.

Just already a compromise between commuting and actual driving, that's all. If you have two, you can get more specialized.

You know, like an Ariel Atom for fun, and a USSV Rhino for zombie apocalypse.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Just already a compromise between commuting and actual driving, that's all. If you have two, you can get more specialized.

You know, like an Ariel Atom for fun, and a USSV Rhino for zombie apocalypse.

Then get a Kawasaki Ninja 1000 for commuting and a Focus ST for driving.

[12,000 RPM]

One very important thing you left out is your motorcycle. With that in the mix, a sports car is redundant, especially in CA if I remember correctly. Bike + 528i is a pretty good combo, but if you plan on riding a lot, like any day the weather permits, something like a 335xi or S4 would probably be worth a look too.

[Vinsanity]

One very important thing you left out is your motorcycle. With that in the mix, a sports car is redundant, especially in CA if I remember correctly. Bike + 528i is a pretty good combo, but if you plan on riding a lot, like any day the weather permits, something like a 335xi or S4 would probably be worth a look too.

Yeah, the existence of the bike makes this pretty much just a thought exercise, but I would conceivably be driving the roadster nearly as much as the practical car.

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[12,000 RPM]

That's the thought, but when I had the Civic + 350Z + bike the Z rarely got driven. It was still fun and a nice "night out with the wife" car, but it didn't do the daily grind as well as the Civic or make my hairs stand on end like the bike.

[Vinsanity]

Well, besides a ride height that leaves you staring straight into minivan bumpers, I don't see how a Miata would be that much worse to commute in than a Focus ST.

A 320i, I would imagine to be considerably better, though.

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[12,000 RPM]

Miata is cramped and loud. I just drove a regular Focus wagon around France for the past week.... those things are refined AF, I doubt the ST would be much rougher.

But for the daily grind I would damn near want a Lexus or something if I had a bike.

[CALL_911]

Rented a Focus Titanium hatchback for two weeks in July. It's a seriously nice car with a shitty transmission (which wouldn't be an issue if you got the ST). Comfortable, all the creature comforts I could ask for, and practical. I really like that car.

[Cookie Monster]

Two cars for sure. I've played this game over in my head a million times. I always end up at two cars.

Don't pick a focus ST as your practical ride. It's harsh and not all that roomy. Get something good for road trips and lots of space.

Two cars but not something like the Focus for a daily.  It's too compromised as far as comfort goes and too much overlap with a potential Miata.  Buy something like a GS400/430 and then a Miata.  Get something comfortable but something that will make you crave that fun and exciting weekend car.

You guys for real? A Focus ST is too uncomfortable for DD'ing? When did this turn into GrandmaSPIN?

The ST is not uncomfortable at all. My friend had one and it was a very nice place to be. The only downside with the one in the OP is no Recaros.

Miata is cramped and loud. I just drove a regular Focus wagon around France for the past week.... those things are refined AF, I doubt the ST would be much rougher.

But for the daily grind I would damn near want a Lexus or something if I had a bike.

Depends on how tall Vin is, but the NC is not cramped nor loud. It would make a great DD if you don't need a lot of space.

It is redundant with the motorcycle, though. Sometimes I wish I had a hatch or wagon but I love the NC too much to get rid of it ever.

[12,000 RPM]

You guys for real? A Focus ST is too uncomfortable for DD'ing? When did this turn into GrandmaSPIN?

Your frame of reference is different. You are OK with commuting by motorcycle in bad weather 100% of the time.

I think a Focus ST being uncomfortable is a bit of an exaggeration, but I also think it's too compromised to fit in a multiple car garage. It's made for people who want a little of everything. Every vehicle in a multiple car situation should compromise as little as possible to the end goal. So if one of the cars has to be a comfy daily driver, it should be as comfy and daily driverish as possible. I'd say a regular Focus would be a better choice for example. If someone wants a thrill ride, obvious choice is motorcycle, but if it has to have 4 wheels, I'm thinking something like an Elise, Cayman S, Z4M Coupe or a kit car or something. Has to go as far as possible in the direction of the intended purpose.

[Raza]

If I can daily drive a Z4 year round in the northeast, you can daily drive a Focus ST. You guys all went soft.

[12,000 RPM]

If I can daily drive a Z4 year round in the northeast, you can daily drive a Focus ST. You guys all went soft.

You can't though, that's why you're getting an SUV

[MrH]

I daily drove a Miata for years then a brz. It's not a matter of going "soft". If you're going to spend the dollars to get two cars, why have a sports car and a sort of sporty, compromised hatchback too?