2nd Car - Is it worth it?

[jamesm]

I have had my 2002 WRX for about two months now which is used as my only car, so it gets used to commute in and to travel about locally for work. This works out at about 8000 to 9000 miles per year, with my non work mileage working out at another 7 or 8000 on top of that.  The commute is a mix of a potholed B road, quick blast along the motorway and then stop start into town. Despite working out what I thought the mpg would be before buying it, it seems to be going through petrol at quite a rate and I am slightly worried at the ever increasing fuel bill.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Now, I never bought this for the fuel consumption but given the amount it uses I was thinking about alternatives. Also, whilst the knackered B road didn't bother me in the old car, I am now less than impressed with the Scoob having to rattle over it twice a day. I have tried a couple of weeks commuting on the train but it takes twice as long and it isn't direct. So I was thinking about getting a cheap runaround and only use the Scoob evenings and weekends, which is what the previous owner did. 

I am sure there will be a number of you who run cheap second cars and my question basically is - is it worth it over a period of  say a couple of years?

By the time you take in to account buying something, insurance, tax, servicing etc would I see any difference other than keeping the miles off the Scoob and not running the risk of leaving the suspension in a Renfrewshire crater?

Budget would be an absolute maximum of £1k. Have seen a decent 96 Polo and 98 Colt in a quick search for that sort of money. Daewoo's, Hyundai's and similar seem to come in at about £600. But would something like that just be a never ending run of expense as things break and fall off?

 

[Guest]

buy a bike mate thats what im planning for the spring you could get a 1998 gsxr 600 for just over the grand mark!

 

neil

[RS Grant]

Cant go wrong with a 500-1000quid Honda Civic or a Nissan Micra as a commuting car... thats why I bought an Escort RS2000. lol []

Cheers,

Grant

[col666]

I was thinking about doing the same as I am doing a 65mile commute everyday albeit all on the motorway.

It aint much fun using a type r on the motorway believe me! luckily the exhaust is very quiet, i sit at exactly 70mph all the way there a back and get about 240 miles out a tank. By the time I bought a car,tax,insurance,repairs etc i decided not to bother. Had a go in a few 'cheap' motors and they were all death traps!

Neil54,

dont think a bike will be much good in the snow and blackice!

Col.

[SAB]

I drive a works van Monday to Friday and I know what your saying. You feel that it cost a lot to run the Scooby but on the whole even with repairs for wheel damage and new shockers a second car which I had (£700 pug 406 Diesel, very reliable) its not worth it. Spend the Grand a year you would spend on a second car on the Scooby. I doubt you will cause a grands worth of damage or deprecation every year.

I sit in my van and whish every day that I was in the UK300. You bought the car to drive, enjoy it and when you can no longer afford it sell it, but enjoy every minute of  it until then.

[Johnuk300]

Well I got a 2nd car as  I am so fed-up of other people who can not park thier cars in a  car parks without causing damage to other peoples cars..

[gus the bus]

Likewise! I use the wee saxo for every day use. Was gonna get rid of it when I changed jobs recently but still comes in handy to go the places I wouldnt be happy leaving the Subaru.

.............and it costs heehaw tae run too.

Gus

[thewelsho]

Yip, as said, drive it and enjoy it. Spend the cash on your Scoob as per the points made above. My wife recently bought a decent car with the idea that I would use it from time to time, but have hardly been in it. I did use it last Friday though when playing in a works 7-a-side tournament at Ibrox. Just as well as 5 cars were broken into and damaged.