Never compromise - have two cars

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa) 05/31/2016 at 11:38 • Filed to: None

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As a gearhead, only owning one car can in many cases be more expensive than owning two. One car has to both reliably get you to work and back, be fun enough to your enthusiast pursuits, and be practical enough for whatever life throws at you. Finding one car that can do all of this severely limits your options. Practical, fun, cheap. Pick two. The solution that some people overlook or put out of their mind is to just buy two cars. No compromises. A reliable, comfy, fuel-sipping commutermobile, and a balls-out nuts project car/weekend toy. It’s also worth noting that if you only have one car you can’t really do any major projects that have the potential to leave you carless when it’s time to go to work the next day (or at the end of the weekend) which also limits the fun-factor.

My situation is what made me realize this was so ideal. I’ve got my Miata, a fun little runabout with two seats, hardly any trunk space, spine-crushing suspension, and a colander for a roof. It’s fun on sunny weekends, but pretty miserable to do 40 miles of commuting a day at 4000rpm with water dripping on your pants. So after zipping around in my money pit project car all weekend it’s unbelievably nice to settle down into the soft leather expanse of my Buick (bought for $650 with another $250 in parts stuffed into it), set the cruise control, crank up the tunes, and float to work while averaging 25mpg in serene 90s luxury.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 11:45

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Why stop at 2!

Having more than that really opens up the options for doing your own maintenance.

If one dirt-cheap car breaks, you’ve got two others to fall back on while you fix it. Just try getting all of them on the road at one time though :S

It's very nice if you have the space (which I'm lucky enough to have). Currently at a count of 9 in my personal possession :S

CB > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 11:46

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But what if you only have one parking spot? Or only want to pay on insurance for one car?

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > CB 05/31/2016 at 11:49

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Insure one car at a time and store the other one off site.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > CB 05/31/2016 at 11:49

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Then buy a Miata and a truck, and park the Miata in the truck.

I use Miata as an example because I have one and they’re the cheapest car to insure in the “sports car” segment. The second cheapest is a Corvette.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 11:50

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Two car setup is the best. I have a truck for daily use that’s 100% reliable and capable and that leaves me to have a fun classic car as a second vehicle.

CB > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 05/31/2016 at 11:52

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Then you have the problem Doug had, where his GT-R was stored far away. I don’t want it to be a chore to go get my car, I want it close and easy to access to either work on it or drive.

Invinciblejets > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 11:53

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Yup buying a daily was the best mod I ever did to my rx7.

CB > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 11:53

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... your advice is bad and you should feel bad.

EL_ULY > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 11:55

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yes!!!!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > CB 05/31/2016 at 11:57

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I tried the “one car jack of all trades daily driver/sports car” thing. It sucked anus. Then I bought a shitty Buick and now my soul is free~ and the combination of Buick and Miata is still cheaper to insure than the Mustang.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > EL_ULY 05/31/2016 at 11:58

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Hnng, dat Z4 ass tho. Favorite BMW possibly second to the i3.

CB > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 11:59

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Maybe you bought the wrong car for the duties? Didn’t you buy a used and very borked V6 automatic Mustang convertible for that role?

jariten1781 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 12:02

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Yup, that’s what I consider the sign of ‘coming of age’ in automobile enthusiast modifications.

Youth: Drive whatever you have (POS you bought with your HS job, hand me down, penalty box mom got you, whatever) and do stupid shit to it to make it cooler/faster/whatever

Adolescence: Get a decent ‘fun’ car and try to make it everything. All the mods add up to make it a horrible unreliable daily but you’re enamored

Adulthood: Finally realize that nothing is everything and partition your buys. Fun car for track/weekends (or offroad/camping if that’s your bag), Reliable thing for commuting, hauler/cargo for doing those things

Old-age: Stop modding, buy factory niche or in-house tuned. Hire people to do your hauling

Hospice: Buy a pre-done museum piece. Drag it out to sit on the grass at shows and stare at it.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 12:04

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I agree with you completely. My perfect two car garage is a Ecodiesel Ram Limited and an Alfa 4c. However being in college currently I can only afford insurance on one $8000ish car. So I am looking for the best of both, in a Sporty wagon.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > CB 05/31/2016 at 12:05

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Well, I had a Civic and tried to make it a jack of all trades. Sort of worked but it was very far from what I wanted. Then I got the Miata and tried to make it do everything but the short gears and leaky top and poor fuel economy on the highway made it an impractical daily for me. Then there was the Mustang, which was adequate at everything but so mediocre as a package that I couldn’t see myself living with it. Then I got a cheap-ass Buick and now I’m free to make the Miata even more impractical, get rid of the Mustang, and have freedom.

There’s also mods. I like a bangin’ stereo, but 200+lbs of sub, amp, speakers, etc. is a poor idea in a sports car. I also like to float down the road, but any car that floats on the highway is gonna suck ass in a performance driving situation. Automatic transmission? Yes please in my daily, but keep that shit out of my “fun” car. Convertible? Love the novelty and cruising around, but I prefer the quietness of a coupe. Then there’s safety, etc.

JKER > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 12:06

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My version of two cars

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Flyboy is FAA certified insane 05/31/2016 at 12:07

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$8k can get you a lot of car. Hot hatches are a good inbetweener.

CB > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 12:08

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Fair enough. To each their own, I guess. I just think putting the “two cars best” idea as a catch-all can do no wrong is a little silly and not for everyone.

The cars are too damn large > EL_ULY 05/31/2016 at 12:10

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You have an e85? Awesome I love mine. 3.0?

Jayhawk Jake > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 12:11

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Yeah because you bought a shitty one for that.

I have one car, it’s great. Well except for Ford quality, but the car itself is fine.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 12:12

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Yes, that’s what I’ve realized. However, I prefer my Front-wheel drive cars to be boats.

Decay buys too many beaters > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 12:16

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Or you can have TWO enthusiast cars! That way at least one is always operational.

BigBlock440 > CB 05/31/2016 at 12:17

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Then you’re shit outta luck and stuck with a compromise car.

CB > BigBlock440 05/31/2016 at 12:19

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Damn. Because every “compromise” car is terrible.

EL_ULY > The cars are too damn large 05/31/2016 at 12:21

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the 2.5 is quite spiffy . The 3.0 i know drives ultra rad!

adamftw > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 12:21

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I agree. But why stop at two?

EL_ULY > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 12:24

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especially in ///M

qbeezy > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 12:24

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Glad I have a second car as well. Great for when you accidentally put one into a guard rail after hydroplaning!

The cars are too damn large > EL_ULY 05/31/2016 at 12:28

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Mine is awesome. I have an 03 3.0 and I love it to death. It was a daily driver for some time but I have an x3 for daily driving now.

Urambo Tauro > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 12:28

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Totally agree. I never thought I would be a two-car guy, but it’s surprisingly affordable once you get past the initial purchase price. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had to use one car to make a parts run to get the other back on the road.

But I had to draw the line at two. Three cars was too much for my parking situation, and I start to feel guilty when one car sits for too long when it’s not a repair-in-progress.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > jariten1781 05/31/2016 at 12:30

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Wow, I thought I was at mid-life crisis, but by your definitions I am at old age.

I’m okay with that.

EL_ULY > The cars are too damn large 05/31/2016 at 12:33

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sweeeet set up!

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 12:34

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I thought GTI (or as others have said, FiST, FoST, maybe WRX) gave you everything in one (except ground clearance). That’s how I voted with my wallet last week.

I decided that I’d rather rip through a couple of corners on my way to the regular workday commute instead of only enjoying driving on the weekend.

Shift24 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 12:38

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Why have 2 when you could have 4?

Missing is my DD. 00 E39 M-sport

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 12:42

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Yep this is what I’m doing right now. Twingo as a reliable modern daily driver that basically only requires servicing but is still fun to drive. BMW as my old small RWD project car.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 05/31/2016 at 12:47

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Did you get the BMW fixed?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 05/31/2016 at 12:48

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A hot hatch comes very, very, close, but for my commute I don’t want to screw with a manual, and you still have the ride quality differences (soft floaty boat with overstuffed leather seats vs sport-tuned German suspension with recaros)

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Decay buys too many beaters 05/31/2016 at 12:50

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Eh, I like my highway sofa with an automatic transmission and overstuffed leather couches, none of which are things that work well in an enthusiast car.

Decay buys too many beaters > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 12:55

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I thought that way too until I got my E39, it does so many things well! Touring, commuting, trackdays, drifting, highway slog, and enough power to scare Mustangs from a dig.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Jayhawk Jake 05/31/2016 at 12:57

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There are still compromises.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 12:59

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Its getting prepped for a partial respray at the moment so its in pieces. Mechanically fine though.

The cars are too damn large > EL_ULY 05/31/2016 at 13:06

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Thanks. I haven’t had the x3 for long but got a sweet deal. The m sport and all the options with 14,000 miles certified pre owned for around $38,000. It’s a 2014 too! The z4 I got in spring of 2008, actually my dad got it then and I actually got it in summer of 2013 when he decided he was done with small sports cars . I love both of those cars.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 13:10

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I intended to get a manual, but didn’t want to deal with that in my commuter in the end. The DSG is pretty damn sweet, so I don’t think it is a compromise there.

I loved the GTI seats on the one lengthy trip so far - if you want overstuffed with no bolsters for a commute, this isn’t it, though.

And I went with the adjustable suspension (DCC) . . . and the comfort mode gets it like my wife’s Mazda3 S. That’s comfy enough for me.

So, shockingly, it may come down to individual preferences and needs. :)

BigBlock440 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 13:17

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And the whole needing it for work thing means it absolutely has to be put back together for Monday.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 15:12

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nah 3 cars is way to go. need a race car too

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 15:46

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Having two cars is awesome. It also helps when one has a warranty.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 05/31/2016 at 16:18

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Personal space for n>4 cars enables the very best of bad ideas.

190octane > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 17:06

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This is the debate I’m having now. Buy a new car next year like a M2, a Cayman, or an F-type and piss off my wife because getting a two door two seater pretty much confirms that we aren’t having kids, or get my sedan paid off asap and buy a coupe or a roadster for weekend fun.

I think I'm leaning towards the two car route for maximum customization and wife happiness.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > 190octane 05/31/2016 at 17:20

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My girlfriend loves two-seater coupes and never wants kids. She wants a ‘97 Boxster. All of these things are good news.

190octane > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 17:47

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They are, but is she closer to 25 or 35? If she’s closer to 35 you’re good, if she’s closer to 25, don’t be surprised if the Boxster becomes a Cayenne and no kids becomes just one or two. I’m not saying this because I think she’s being disingenuous with you, I'm saying it because women seem to change a lot around the age of 30 and what becomes important to them changes also. It happens in men also, but more so in women from what I've seen.

BayAreaMiataBoi > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 18:36

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Two cars is the best choice if you have parking space and enough budget. . .

C62030 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 05/31/2016 at 21:16

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‘97 Boxster, eh? When does she get her new glasses?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > C62030 05/31/2016 at 21:46

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1st gen Boxsters are great looking cars. And cheap, because dumbass intermediate timing bullshit.