What 2 (or 3 or 4) car garage? Help
Discussion
Having a bit of a dilemma, trying to figure out what to do.
My wife and I currently have 3 cars,
2018 Audi SQ5 Petrol.
3.0 V6 turbo, 350bhp, tow bar, tows her horse trailer, takes my bike rack, fits my inflatable kayak and tent and junk and stuff in the back, useful bus.
2025 BMW Z4 M40i.
Picked it up a couple of months ago, she spec'd it exactly how she wanted it, and she loves it.
&
2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo.
350bhp, 6 speed manual, been my daily driver for the last 3 years.
The Audi is hers, she had it on a PCP deal, when she paid it off, she decided she was keeping it, and wanted the Z4, so, the 370Z is going to go. Currently waiting on the DVLA sending me a new V5 (taking my plate off it) then the Nissan is going to get gone.
Then, the plan had kinda been for me to figure out what to put in the garage for weekends/hillclimbs/track days etc.
Been all over the place in my head, TVRs from £10/12k Chims up to £30/35k T350Cs, Mk1 Elise with a Honda K-series, VX220 NA with TBs and ~250bhp? Caterhams or similar, who knows.
BUT
Recently, we were camping, my wife has recently gotten into cycling a bit, I do a lot of hiking, we've taken the kayak out on the loch's a few times, and at the camp site we were staying in at Luss recently, we got to talking about alternatives to the tent, around the fire one night with a few sherbets.
One obvious answer is a caravan. I have somewhere away from home I can keep it, you can set up 'camp' and still have a fairly enjoyable thing to drive about in (her Audi), but, I hate towing caravans, and really don't see us as 'caravan people'.
They're really not that cheap though. I don't really think I want a caravan, I really don't think I want to spend £15k+ on a caravan!
And we live in Scotland, and have ideas of european road trips, I really don't fancy towing a caravan that far.
The other answer is a camper van, but to make that happen, i think we'd be selling the Audi to fund it. Which then leaves the Z4 and a van on the driveway. She can tow the horse trailer with the van, and it means she's got more room to get changed/cook/relax/stay in if she wants when she's away at competitions.
I only go to the office ~2 days a week, my wife works from home full time, but we do things at the weekends/evenings, she horse rides, I climb, play badminton, take my bike places to ride, and having a big boot for Costco trips/going to the skips etc is useful.
So then, I'd need another car. Probably something cheap and cheerful, not even necessarily that big, i could manage with a MK7 fiesta ST?? with the seats folder down when i need the space I suppose.
Which probably puts my weekend/track car on hold a bit longer, but that's ok. I think?
I really don't know! Anyone else found themselves in a similar position? What was the answer? And was it the right one?
My wife and I currently have 3 cars,
2018 Audi SQ5 Petrol.
3.0 V6 turbo, 350bhp, tow bar, tows her horse trailer, takes my bike rack, fits my inflatable kayak and tent and junk and stuff in the back, useful bus.
2025 BMW Z4 M40i.
Picked it up a couple of months ago, she spec'd it exactly how she wanted it, and she loves it.
&
2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo.
350bhp, 6 speed manual, been my daily driver for the last 3 years.
The Audi is hers, she had it on a PCP deal, when she paid it off, she decided she was keeping it, and wanted the Z4, so, the 370Z is going to go. Currently waiting on the DVLA sending me a new V5 (taking my plate off it) then the Nissan is going to get gone.
Then, the plan had kinda been for me to figure out what to put in the garage for weekends/hillclimbs/track days etc.
Been all over the place in my head, TVRs from £10/12k Chims up to £30/35k T350Cs, Mk1 Elise with a Honda K-series, VX220 NA with TBs and ~250bhp? Caterhams or similar, who knows.
BUT
Recently, we were camping, my wife has recently gotten into cycling a bit, I do a lot of hiking, we've taken the kayak out on the loch's a few times, and at the camp site we were staying in at Luss recently, we got to talking about alternatives to the tent, around the fire one night with a few sherbets.
One obvious answer is a caravan. I have somewhere away from home I can keep it, you can set up 'camp' and still have a fairly enjoyable thing to drive about in (her Audi), but, I hate towing caravans, and really don't see us as 'caravan people'.
They're really not that cheap though. I don't really think I want a caravan, I really don't think I want to spend £15k+ on a caravan!
And we live in Scotland, and have ideas of european road trips, I really don't fancy towing a caravan that far.
The other answer is a camper van, but to make that happen, i think we'd be selling the Audi to fund it. Which then leaves the Z4 and a van on the driveway. She can tow the horse trailer with the van, and it means she's got more room to get changed/cook/relax/stay in if she wants when she's away at competitions.
I only go to the office ~2 days a week, my wife works from home full time, but we do things at the weekends/evenings, she horse rides, I climb, play badminton, take my bike places to ride, and having a big boot for Costco trips/going to the skips etc is useful.
So then, I'd need another car. Probably something cheap and cheerful, not even necessarily that big, i could manage with a MK7 fiesta ST?? with the seats folder down when i need the space I suppose.
Which probably puts my weekend/track car on hold a bit longer, but that's ok. I think?
I really don't know! Anyone else found themselves in a similar position? What was the answer? And was it the right one?
Edited by thewarlock on Sunday 1st June 20:23
We live down on the South Coast / edge of the New Forest and recently I've seen quite a lot of cars with a Tentbox attached to the roof, although I appreciate that they aren't as practical as a caravan / camper van but that way it would leave you some money / space for a weekend toy...
It’s funny OP - a love of cars but also outdoors actually goes less well together than one first might think
I’m in a similar position, albeit I’m on my own and have nothing to tow.
My solution
- Campervan (which I converted myself) - much more useable/driveable especially on narrow Scottish roads, so I think your Audi needs to go
- Daily car. Until recently this was a golf GTI. Interchangeable with the van for getting to work etc
- Fun car - Elise S1
The Elise might be going soon because increasingly I’m finding I’d like to be able to use any one of the above at all times of the year
I’m in a similar position, albeit I’m on my own and have nothing to tow.
My solution
- Campervan (which I converted myself) - much more useable/driveable especially on narrow Scottish roads, so I think your Audi needs to go
- Daily car. Until recently this was a golf GTI. Interchangeable with the van for getting to work etc
- Fun car - Elise S1
The Elise might be going soon because increasingly I’m finding I’d like to be able to use any one of the above at all times of the year
Sell the Audi & Nismo 370Z (one of my favourite steers) a motorhome like this (that has a garage in the back to take the bikes kyak) & you can still tow:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/326608408783?_skw=race+...
Or just a normal one:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/326609383989?_skw=race+...
A great in between car while you wait a while to get your weekend toy is the Astra GTC VXR, big boot great steer:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505292...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412046...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/326608408783?_skw=race+...
Or just a normal one:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/326609383989?_skw=race+...
A great in between car while you wait a while to get your weekend toy is the Astra GTC VXR, big boot great steer:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505292...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412046...
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