25k = Car for me + Car for the wife.
 

I've got £25,000 to spend on 2 cars.

My wife works in the city centre and uses public transport during the week, therefore she doesn't use a car until evenings/weekends (i usually drive anyway :( ). I on the other hand have a 30 mile round trip to work Mon. - Fri. where a car is definately req'd. Fortunately my trip to the office only takes 20mins. and is split 1/2 on A46 dual carriageway and 1/2 on B roads.

What we hope to do is sell our current car, Leon Cupra R, and buy 2 cars, 1 FUN and the other SENSIBLE and practicle. We then would have the best of both worlds and could choose our chariot dependant on conditions, journey type etc.

Below are a few of the possibles for the 2 cars. Which IYHO would be your preffered combination and why. As always, running costs must be considered but hopefully the practicality issue can be cast aside.

FUN CAR
_______

TVR Griffith 500 (my prefered choice)
TVR Chimera
Porsche Boxster
Porsche 911
S1 Lotus Elise 111S
BMW M Coupe / Roadster

SENSIBLE CAR
____________

SMART Car (wifes prefered choice)
Ford KA
Ford Focus
Peugeot 206

I'd have at least a focus as a sensible car if the other's going to be 2 seats. Never have I been so frustrated as owning a scoob saloon and the inability to put furniture etc in it.

I did this last year....HUGE mistake (for me)

I got a TVR for £18 and a runabout.......soon realised the TVR was a bag of ****e and who wants to be in a £6k runabout when you have just spent £25k????

I sold both cars and spent £25k on one decent car (540)........90% as fast as the TVR, 400% more reliable, 500% better allround.

If you need two cars that different...but buying two INSTEAD of one doesnt give you the best of both worlds...it gives yo the choice of either...slightly compromised...worlds.

T

no question,get a s/h 330 and stick the missus in a Ka (or anything for that matter)

Thanks for the input guys.

I agree that choosing a 4/5 seater hatchback as the wife's car would be a better option than the 2 seater Smart. We had a Honda S2000 as our only car in 2003 and had several occasions when we req'd extra carrying capacity for people or loads, very frustrating.

Tiggs, I've read numerous posts relating to your TVR experience and whilst I hear what you are saying, you do come across a little bitter and blinkered regarding TVR ownership. As an active member on Pistonheads, I am fully aware of the problems relating to most TVR's. However, they are relatively simple beasts to work on if they go wrong. I will not be using the FUN car as my only car, daily driver, and would have the option of using the SENSIBLE car on the bad days. I wouldn't limit myself to simply using the SENSIBLE car during the week and the FUN car at weekends. This, as you point out, would make spending the money on the FUN car seem pointless.

dba, I take it you are reffering to the BMW 330ci. If so, it is not an option. I have a friend who owns one and i've driven it many a time and found it v.boring. The only BMW I would consider is the M3 Coupe/Roadster.

I second your opinion on the 330ci, mine lasted 15 months before the tedium made me swap it for a scoob.

TVR :( another poor effort for me..... 5k rebuild was needed so sold it..... within the next week i shall ha a SPEC 'C' as my fun car...... :D:D

Whats wrong with keeping the leon and getting the Mrs her prefered choice then going to St Lucia for 4 weeks !?!?

I also spent hours on Piston Heads and came to the same conclusion...........when it over heats and refuses to start after filling up with fuel you wont care how easy it is to work on! .....as you push it away from the pump!

There is NO need to spend that money of a car with THAT MANY possible faults...not in 2005.

T

ps- There are many great things about the TVR and if they worked id have another....as it is im getting a Corvette C5 instead.....soft top, BIG engine but General Motors build quality :D

just seen Tuscans post....so you now have two TVR owners on your post and two who had problems.......not a good sign!

MK4 Golf tdi - miles per gallon

STi 5 Type R - acceleration

No contest.

or from your list,

Smart and M Coupe.

Golf GT TDi Mrk V and an MX5?

borrowed a vectra estate today for a few hours what a great car if u want a run around i know there a little big but i thought it was good looking and massive inside?

I have a TVR Cerbera 4.2, what can you say fun car real head turner, never let me down but as with any TVR have some money ready just in case, PistonHead's is the perfect place for Griff info. Also have a bug eye STi which has been back a couple of times for warranty work !, not all TVR are bad, if you do get one do get it checked out at a dealership or a good indy, go in with both eyes open and you wont be disapointed. Servicing cost for a Cerby usualy turns out between £500 and £1K a year so far not bad for a super car.