What is your weakness or how often you change car?
Discussion
I have been thinking about this affliction I have had since I can't remember, of wanting to always buy cars. Over the years I tried to ignore it by buying something 'sensible' but always felt I was sacrificing something, and it was bloody boring. So now I have embraced this character, and try to keep a lid on the cost, although most people don't understand...
This serial car ownership affliction affects a number of people here i see and was wondering if you have any themes in the way you do it? Is there some car that you always come back to? Is there a timeframe that is regular as the seasons changing where you need something new? just interested
For some reason, I have owned 2 of a number of cars, never more than that, but I have owned 2 Datsun 180b SSS, 2 Mitsubishi Cordia Turbo, 2 Nissan Exa, 2 MX5s among other one termers.
Of the cars I have had, the one that I most missed and came back to was the MX5.
This serial car ownership affliction affects a number of people here i see and was wondering if you have any themes in the way you do it? Is there some car that you always come back to? Is there a timeframe that is regular as the seasons changing where you need something new? just interested
For some reason, I have owned 2 of a number of cars, never more than that, but I have owned 2 Datsun 180b SSS, 2 Mitsubishi Cordia Turbo, 2 Nissan Exa, 2 MX5s among other one termers.
Of the cars I have had, the one that I most missed and came back to was the MX5.
Over the last ten years I've probably bought/sold 20 motorcycles. Cars I'm a bit more conservative with, I've owned cars long enough to replace tyres and MOT them. A lot of the bikes I've owned for longer than a year but because you can fit more than one bike in a single garage I tend to own more than one...
I'm not the busiest person in the world but I coulnt have the hassle of changing more than once a year. I've had 8 cars in 23 years so tend to keep em for a while, shortest time was 9 months for a sierra in the days when I thought I could buy a car at an auction run it then get my money back ( I didn't) , I now intend changing the second car yearly in order to get through some nice cars whilst driving in the uk is still possible!
I'm on 15 in four years, which included 9 within about 18 months. Just like to try new things until I'm happy, most are bangers but generally I've bought and sold not losing any money, never really keep them long enough to have to worry about servicing etc, it actually works out to be a cheap way of motoring.
Fifteen cars in six years.
Three Rovers (414, 216 and 420)
Three Volvos (2x NA 850s and a T5)
Three BMWs (2x E30s and an E36)
Three VWs (2x Mk2 Golfs and a Scirocco)
One Ford (Fiesta RST)
One Vauxhall (Corsa SXI)
One Peugeot (309)
Very few of the cars cost much money. The Corsa was a huge finance bought brand new car mistake when I was 16 that I sold on to my Dad. Everything else has cost (way) under £1000 except the T5, which was a special treat and a novelty that soon wore off.
I'm never really looking for something else to buy, I just can't resist a bargain.
Three Rovers (414, 216 and 420)
Three Volvos (2x NA 850s and a T5)
Three BMWs (2x E30s and an E36)
Three VWs (2x Mk2 Golfs and a Scirocco)
One Ford (Fiesta RST)
One Vauxhall (Corsa SXI)
One Peugeot (309)
Very few of the cars cost much money. The Corsa was a huge finance bought brand new car mistake when I was 16 that I sold on to my Dad. Everything else has cost (way) under £1000 except the T5, which was a special treat and a novelty that soon wore off.
I'm never really looking for something else to buy, I just can't resist a bargain.
2 cars in three years but I can't help looking at stuff. Lexus LS converted to LPG is the last thing I looked at, so waft-tastic and LPG is still cheap too. I really want a barge at the minute 
If it isn't barges then it's kit cars, usually on the PH classifieds. I just love the idea of something so basic. An interior with just a few switches and dials is all you need for a fun car.
One extreme to the other for me - super luxury bruiser and spine breaking skateboard with seats and an engine.
If it isn't barges then it's kit cars, usually on the PH classifieds. I just love the idea of something so basic. An interior with just a few switches and dials is all you need for a fun car.
One extreme to the other for me - super luxury bruiser and spine breaking skateboard with seats and an engine.
Over fifty different cars and bikes over the last 23 years.
The last decade runs as follows:
Airportable S3 Land Rover
Caterham Seven
Turbo Esprit
Triumph Bonneville
Triumph Trident
Mini 1275GT
Griffith 500
Mini 998 Auto
BMW 328 Coupe
Ferrari 328
Esprit S3
Capri 2.8 Injection
Caterham Seven
Alfa GTV 3.2 V6
Moto Guzzi Lemans
Jeep Cherokee
Turbo Esprit
Alfa 156 V6
And a handful of little snotters, including two K11 Micras and a Fester.
I usually have three or four cars and a bike on the go at once.
Of that little lot, I have owned the Turbo Esprit twice, for a total of about five years.
I kept the BMW 328 for over four years.
The Griffith was a disappointment and only lasted four months, as did the S3 Esprit.
The Capri and the Jeep lasted 15 months each.
The Ferrari was a couple of years of bliss.
The Alfa GTV was sold on a whim after only about eight months, a decision I immediately regretted and have partially put right with the purchase of an old Alfa 156.
I am trying to settle down with just the Esprit, the 156 and an old Caterham Seven, but I find myself hankering after another Series Land Rover, a 2CV, another old Mini and an aircooled 911.
Too many cars, not enough garage space, not enough time and not enough money.
I'd far rather have a collection of interesting cheap old cars than just one supremely capable expensive one.
The last decade runs as follows:
Airportable S3 Land Rover
Caterham Seven
Turbo Esprit
Triumph Bonneville
Triumph Trident
Mini 1275GT
Griffith 500
Mini 998 Auto
BMW 328 Coupe
Ferrari 328
Esprit S3
Capri 2.8 Injection
Caterham Seven
Alfa GTV 3.2 V6
Moto Guzzi Lemans
Jeep Cherokee
Turbo Esprit
Alfa 156 V6
And a handful of little snotters, including two K11 Micras and a Fester.
I usually have three or four cars and a bike on the go at once.
Of that little lot, I have owned the Turbo Esprit twice, for a total of about five years.
I kept the BMW 328 for over four years.
The Griffith was a disappointment and only lasted four months, as did the S3 Esprit.
The Capri and the Jeep lasted 15 months each.
The Ferrari was a couple of years of bliss.
The Alfa GTV was sold on a whim after only about eight months, a decision I immediately regretted and have partially put right with the purchase of an old Alfa 156.
I am trying to settle down with just the Esprit, the 156 and an old Caterham Seven, but I find myself hankering after another Series Land Rover, a 2CV, another old Mini and an aircooled 911.
Too many cars, not enough garage space, not enough time and not enough money.
I'd far rather have a collection of interesting cheap old cars than just one supremely capable expensive one.
I've had three cars (technically I also had a fourth but I took it apart as it was a scrapper) since I started driving 18 months ago. In fairness I didn't plan on changing my second car after only a month but it was a right old bag of bolts.
Plan on keeping my current car for another year or so before trading it in for something faster.
Plan on keeping my current car for another year or so before trading it in for something faster.
I went through three cars in a year once, but I don't really want to change my Alfa for anything other than, for the time being at least, another similar Alfa. I've been thinking if I end up doing a job that means I don't have to commute by car (or can commute realistically by motorbike), I'll swap it for an early 164 V6, interest in which is increasing so hopefully prices will follow, but I haven't seen one for sale for ages - not even in the AROC classifieds.
I think I realise that if I own a car for a while, I can get to learn its foibles. For example, the battery went on the 155 the other day, and once a new one was fitted, the ignition ECU no longer recognised the key. The guy from the owner's club told me how to dismantle the dashboard, unplug the ECU with the key still in, leave it 15-20 seconds and reconnect it, resulting in a 'free' repair that an auto electrician might have charged me £60-odd for. You only get to (bother to) know things like that if you've had a car for a while, long enough to bother joining the owner's club and learning things about the way it all goes together, so I can see advantages to long-term ownership.
I think I realise that if I own a car for a while, I can get to learn its foibles. For example, the battery went on the 155 the other day, and once a new one was fitted, the ignition ECU no longer recognised the key. The guy from the owner's club told me how to dismantle the dashboard, unplug the ECU with the key still in, leave it 15-20 seconds and reconnect it, resulting in a 'free' repair that an auto electrician might have charged me £60-odd for. You only get to (bother to) know things like that if you've had a car for a while, long enough to bother joining the owner's club and learning things about the way it all goes together, so I can see advantages to long-term ownership.
Pat H said:
Over fifty different cars and bikes over the last 23 years.
The last decade runs as follows:
Airportable S3 Land Rover
Caterham Seven
Turbo Esprit
Triumph Bonneville
Triumph Trident
Mini 1275GT
Griffith 500
Mini 998 Auto
BMW 328 Coupe
Ferrari 328
Esprit S3
Capri 2.8 Injection
Caterham Seven
Alfa GTV 3.2 V6
Moto Guzzi Lemans
Jeep Cherokee
Turbo Esprit
Alfa 156 V6
And a handful of little snotters, including two K11 Micras and a Fester.
I usually have three or four cars and a bike on the go at once.
Of that little lot, I have owned the Turbo Esprit twice, for a total of about five years.
I kept the BMW 328 for over four years.
The Griffith was a disappointment and only lasted four months, as did the S3 Esprit.
The Capri and the Jeep lasted 15 months each.
The Ferrari was a couple of years of bliss.
The Alfa GTV was sold on a whim after only about eight months, a decision I immediately regretted and have partially put right with the purchase of an old Alfa 156.
I am trying to settle down with just the Esprit, the 156 and an old Caterham Seven, but I find myself hankering after another Series Land Rover, a 2CV, another old Mini and an aircooled 911.
Too many cars, not enough garage space, not enough time and not enough money.
I'd far rather have a collection of interesting cheap old cars than just one supremely capable expensive one.
Why were you disappointed with the Griff ?The last decade runs as follows:
Airportable S3 Land Rover
Caterham Seven
Turbo Esprit
Triumph Bonneville
Triumph Trident
Mini 1275GT
Griffith 500
Mini 998 Auto
BMW 328 Coupe
Ferrari 328
Esprit S3
Capri 2.8 Injection
Caterham Seven
Alfa GTV 3.2 V6
Moto Guzzi Lemans
Jeep Cherokee
Turbo Esprit
Alfa 156 V6
And a handful of little snotters, including two K11 Micras and a Fester.
I usually have three or four cars and a bike on the go at once.
Of that little lot, I have owned the Turbo Esprit twice, for a total of about five years.
I kept the BMW 328 for over four years.
The Griffith was a disappointment and only lasted four months, as did the S3 Esprit.
The Capri and the Jeep lasted 15 months each.
The Ferrari was a couple of years of bliss.
The Alfa GTV was sold on a whim after only about eight months, a decision I immediately regretted and have partially put right with the purchase of an old Alfa 156.
I am trying to settle down with just the Esprit, the 156 and an old Caterham Seven, but I find myself hankering after another Series Land Rover, a 2CV, another old Mini and an aircooled 911.
Too many cars, not enough garage space, not enough time and not enough money.
I'd far rather have a collection of interesting cheap old cars than just one supremely capable expensive one.
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