How many cars is too many?
Discussion
If I had the space for more than one 'toy', I would likely have the funds as well, and had that been the case in my younger days, I almost certainly would have.
Most I ever had was a classic car plus a classic motorcycle, and an interesting daily driver, plus the now ex-missus's daily driver.
Now, as another poster has said, quality rather than quantity is the order of the day, and the though of looking after more than one 'toy' plus a daily is not something I'd entertain, so one 'special toy' and a daily driver is my limit, and especially now as that's all I have space for anyway.
Most I ever had was a classic car plus a classic motorcycle, and an interesting daily driver, plus the now ex-missus's daily driver.
Now, as another poster has said, quality rather than quantity is the order of the day, and the though of looking after more than one 'toy' plus a daily is not something I'd entertain, so one 'special toy' and a daily driver is my limit, and especially now as that's all I have space for anyway.
We’ve got eight cars and a motorcycle in the household at the moment. It’s definitely too many. I hate not using cars!
I’ve got my Toyota Aygo, which is the best daily in the world and weirdly my favourite car to grab the keys to. We also use it for grass autotests.
My girlfriend has a Toyota Corolla T Sport for her daily. We still have her previous Toyota Yaris, which is going to the scrap yard next week.
There’s then our mk1 MX-5, which is used for Autosolos and track days, plus a bit of weekend use.
I have a rally prepared MG ZR, which is one of my candidates for moving on. Needs the alternator replacing first though.
I managed to buy one of my attainable dream cars last year, a BMW Z3M Coupe. We’re going to Le Mans in it in a few weeks. I don’t use it enough to justify keeping it, so it may be moved on after Le Mans.
A very affordable Vauxhall VX220 came up for sale earlier this year and I couldn’t say no. That’s awaiting a new windscreen. Will get it back on the road, experience it and then sell.
And finally, a Porsche 924 has just arrived. It was in a school friend’s parents’ garden since 2006. It’s not the prettiest project car, but I managed to get it running last night. Hoping to get it back on the road.
Oh, and there’s a Kawasaki ER6F motorcycle which I’ve not had any motivation to get out so far this year.
There’s definitely at least three or four vehicles to go. But they’ll probably be quickly replacing with a tow car and race car (I want to build a city car cup).
I’ve got my Toyota Aygo, which is the best daily in the world and weirdly my favourite car to grab the keys to. We also use it for grass autotests.
My girlfriend has a Toyota Corolla T Sport for her daily. We still have her previous Toyota Yaris, which is going to the scrap yard next week.
There’s then our mk1 MX-5, which is used for Autosolos and track days, plus a bit of weekend use.
I have a rally prepared MG ZR, which is one of my candidates for moving on. Needs the alternator replacing first though.
I managed to buy one of my attainable dream cars last year, a BMW Z3M Coupe. We’re going to Le Mans in it in a few weeks. I don’t use it enough to justify keeping it, so it may be moved on after Le Mans.
A very affordable Vauxhall VX220 came up for sale earlier this year and I couldn’t say no. That’s awaiting a new windscreen. Will get it back on the road, experience it and then sell.
And finally, a Porsche 924 has just arrived. It was in a school friend’s parents’ garden since 2006. It’s not the prettiest project car, but I managed to get it running last night. Hoping to get it back on the road.
Oh, and there’s a Kawasaki ER6F motorcycle which I’ve not had any motivation to get out so far this year.
There’s definitely at least three or four vehicles to go. But they’ll probably be quickly replacing with a tow car and race car (I want to build a city car cup).
I rather enjoy 3rd world problems 
IMO, 3 to 4 is plenty, naturally depends on finances and undercover space to park. Currently I have 2 plus an “everyday” car both totally opposite hence I love them both.
Did have 3 but had to sell up a load of stuff due to that POS in the kremlin.
However, say with a large abundance of finances I think I would have around 6 to 7 but first a pukka workshop with ramps etc etc etc.
IMO, 3 to 4 is plenty, naturally depends on finances and undercover space to park. Currently I have 2 plus an “everyday” car both totally opposite hence I love them both.
Did have 3 but had to sell up a load of stuff due to that POS in the kremlin.
However, say with a large abundance of finances I think I would have around 6 to 7 but first a pukka workshop with ramps etc etc etc.
In my view storage and finances are the two main issues.
I love old cars - much more so than the insipid offal dished up as new cars. The two constraints above are the two things that constantly limit me. Like the OP, I seem to relish the chase as much if not more than the using, though I look back and, over the years, I have had a few classics that I have used quite a lot. They are in something of a minority though.
I peaked at 11 classics, excluding moderns and motorbikes (there were a few of them too), but that was some years ago, and things have moderated nowadays.
These days it's two classics, two moderns, and one bike. The classics are about to both be sold, to be replaced with a single classic that is suitable for going out as a family together (which neither of the current pair are). Selling one of them will be easy, as I have never gelled with it; the other will be a real wrench - but it will be sold nonetheless.
If the OP has the space and the money, I see no reason to cut back personally. If that's his passion, so be it.
I love old cars - much more so than the insipid offal dished up as new cars. The two constraints above are the two things that constantly limit me. Like the OP, I seem to relish the chase as much if not more than the using, though I look back and, over the years, I have had a few classics that I have used quite a lot. They are in something of a minority though.
I peaked at 11 classics, excluding moderns and motorbikes (there were a few of them too), but that was some years ago, and things have moderated nowadays.
These days it's two classics, two moderns, and one bike. The classics are about to both be sold, to be replaced with a single classic that is suitable for going out as a family together (which neither of the current pair are). Selling one of them will be easy, as I have never gelled with it; the other will be a real wrench - but it will be sold nonetheless.
If the OP has the space and the money, I see no reason to cut back personally. If that's his passion, so be it.
Less is definitely more and keeping track of them is a pain. I currently have 3 cars (one more arriving next month) and a motorcycle (not used for 18 months and needs selling) that I am currently responsible for.
I would love to cut the number of cars down. However the Mini is the wife’s car, my daughter uses the Alfa and the 4th car arrival is for my work.
I would love to cut the number of cars down. However the Mini is the wife’s car, my daughter uses the Alfa and the 4th car arrival is for my work.
I'm not sure it matters how many cars someone has, people collect all sorts of stuff and if you have the space & money why should cars be any different ?
I like to maintain classics myself so it comes down to my time, and for me that works out at around 3 + 2 moderns. Even then I don't use all 3 classics, I'll keep them all road legal and moving but tend to use one more than the others and rotate years. That way I'll pick up any work needed and have a few jobs for the next winter.
If the cars in the garage (whether driven or not) bring you more pleasure than the money in the bank, regardless of what anyone else thinks, you're doing it right.....
I like to maintain classics myself so it comes down to my time, and for me that works out at around 3 + 2 moderns. Even then I don't use all 3 classics, I'll keep them all road legal and moving but tend to use one more than the others and rotate years. That way I'll pick up any work needed and have a few jobs for the next winter.
If the cars in the garage (whether driven or not) bring you more pleasure than the money in the bank, regardless of what anyone else thinks, you're doing it right.....
I have four (perhaps soon to be five) in the shed, one at home in the garage and one daily. My main bug-bear is the cost of renting somewhere to keep them. The garage at home isn't massive - it's a sixties house with an attached single garage, and it's not that roomy before all the shelving, central heating boiler and so on went in. The location of the boiler makes it tricky to put a door on the back, even if I wanted to replace the back garden with more garage space, and that area isn't really big enough. Somewhere bigger around here is too expensive, so I have to put up with it. At least I'm on a decent place with good security and minimal public access.
I have four.
Mustang is the garage queen.
MX5 RF is supposed to be the daily but we have two Panda 169s (always best to have an interchangable backup with a Fiat) which tend to get used more.
Fortunately, the length of the RF means I can get that and a Panda on the drive and the other Panda on the road outside.
Mustang is the garage queen.
MX5 RF is supposed to be the daily but we have two Panda 169s (always best to have an interchangable backup with a Fiat) which tend to get used more.
Fortunately, the length of the RF means I can get that and a Panda on the drive and the other Panda on the road outside.
LuS1fer said:
I have four.
Mustang is the garage queen.
MX5 RF is supposed to be the daily but we have two Panda 169s (always best to have an interchangable backup with a Fiat) which tend to get used more.
Fortunately, the length of the RF means I can get that and a Panda on the drive and the other Panda on the road outside.
This opens up another question. Where I live there is a growing problem of overspill parking. So many houses have one (or more) cars above the number of off road spaces available, meaning they end up on the street. Case in point: my neighbours have a car each plus one for their 17 year old son. Their garage is full of crap (like most people's), so one car on the drive and two on the road.Mustang is the garage queen.
MX5 RF is supposed to be the daily but we have two Panda 169s (always best to have an interchangable backup with a Fiat) which tend to get used more.
Fortunately, the length of the RF means I can get that and a Panda on the drive and the other Panda on the road outside.
I'm lucky in that I have the corner plot, and I had my front garden paved, so our two dailies sit on that (with a space to spare, if needed) while the classic lives in the garage.
While I'd love another, I've reached the limit on space so it's not fair on everyone else.
Less is more but 1 classic isn't enough I have found.
8 sounds a lot but I don't know how much free time your have. If I didn't work full time I am sure I could find use for 8 classics, as long as finances allowed.
Lastly it depends where they are stored. If you are paying for storage I would get rid. If you have no indoor storage I would also get rid. However if you have a barn like structure, can afford the upkeep, have no issues elsewhere in life with money or space then why not?
I have 1 at the moment but have good indoor space for 2 so plan to buy something else at somepoint.
8 sounds a lot but I don't know how much free time your have. If I didn't work full time I am sure I could find use for 8 classics, as long as finances allowed.
Lastly it depends where they are stored. If you are paying for storage I would get rid. If you have no indoor storage I would also get rid. However if you have a barn like structure, can afford the upkeep, have no issues elsewhere in life with money or space then why not?
I have 1 at the moment but have good indoor space for 2 so plan to buy something else at somepoint.
I've never managed to get past two. One small city car and one large long distance one. Living in London it's hard to get the former past 2k pa and the large one past 5k pa.
Much though I'd love to add a coupe of some description, I suspect I'd use it so rarely it would be virtually pointless.
Maybe, if and when I retire, I might move somewhere else. Then I might go for a third car for a bit of fun.
Much though I'd love to add a coupe of some description, I suspect I'd use it so rarely it would be virtually pointless.
Maybe, if and when I retire, I might move somewhere else. Then I might go for a third car for a bit of fun.
Turbobanana said:
LuS1fer said:
I have four.
Mustang is the garage queen.
MX5 RF is supposed to be the daily but we have two Panda 169s (always best to have an interchangable backup with a Fiat) which tend to get used more.
Fortunately, the length of the RF means I can get that and a Panda on the drive and the other Panda on the road outside.
This opens up another question. Where I live there is a growing problem of overspill parking. So many houses have one (or more) cars above the number of off road spaces available, meaning they end up on the street. Case in point: my neighbours have a car each plus one for their 17 year old son. Their garage is full of crap (like most people's), so one car on the drive and two on the road.Mustang is the garage queen.
MX5 RF is supposed to be the daily but we have two Panda 169s (always best to have an interchangable backup with a Fiat) which tend to get used more.
Fortunately, the length of the RF means I can get that and a Panda on the drive and the other Panda on the road outside.
I'm lucky in that I have the corner plot, and I had my front garden paved, so our two dailies sit on that (with a space to spare, if needed) while the classic lives in the garage.
While I'd love another, I've reached the limit on space so it's not fair on everyone else.
As you say, many don't utilise their garages and, round here, some don't even use the drive ( a combination of a steep slope, short drive and a fence that makes it difficult to open a door ).
I have 4, Mrs Moroni has 1 (i.e the 'family' car). 2 of mine are in long term storage both on a SORN but insured & MOT'd should I get the desire to get them out & pay for 6 months tax and put them away when the desire wanes.
I've currently got my eye on something else that is going to auction in a few weeks time. I know it's not going to be cheap plus needs a total restoration. I know I'd never get back what I've paid out. I can't even justify buying it using man maths.
Frankly, 4 is pretty stupid; 5 would be ridiculous
Yes, I'll probably be getting #5
I've currently got my eye on something else that is going to auction in a few weeks time. I know it's not going to be cheap plus needs a total restoration. I know I'd never get back what I've paid out. I can't even justify buying it using man maths.
Frankly, 4 is pretty stupid; 5 would be ridiculous
Yes, I'll probably be getting #5
lowdrag said:
Well, I suppose that Dr James Hull must be up there with the best. He sold his collection of 543 cars to Jaguar in 2015 for £60 million. I tracked those they sold off and they only raised £6 million. This was mine back in the nineties
Nice collection Tony. But then, you still have some nice Jaguars 
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