Flashman's what car thread - abandon hope if kids arrive.
Discussion
So chaps, the end of an era is nigh. Having got married this year and renovated (well, almost, sort of) a family home, Lady F and I are planning to have sprogs and get a dog. Middle age has punched me in the face, nicked my fun, and run off laughing.
Luckily, Lady F is not the sort to (directly) dictate things, meaning that, amongst other things, I still get to have a fun car. Whilst I could keep the Morgan and Aston, it seems pointless as frankly they will, as 2 seaters based in London, never get used after a baby arrives, and are of no use for taking us + hound out to The Mothership's house in Surrey when we want to ditch the spawn and scarper off to get wrecked somewhere fun.
For various reasons I don’t particularlywish to lease, so these are mostly second hand and for outright purchase. I shall list negative (perceived) attributes of each steed.
Option 1.
4 seat convertible (I like convertibles, you see) + estate barge/cheap lease
- Maserati Gran Cab – not very fast, a bit rapey?
- Some sort of 911 – I think baby seat space will be an issue, frankly, dull to look at/hear. Although 997 Turbo...?
- V10 M6 – likely to explode, appalling gearbox for London
- Bentley Continental GTC. A good car, I'm sure. But a bit vulgar.
Plus a 10 year old E-Class/A6 or something, or some sort of dirt cheap leased Mondeo etc (urgh!).
Option 2
One quick estate/saloon
- Latest RS6 – still a bit pricey and with a way to fall
- Old V10 RS6 – don’t know anything about these, but they are about £20k, Which for almost 600bhp seems absurd
- C63 (old one) I like it, but a bit small for an only car
- E63 – both generations look like minicabs
- M5 V10 Touring – likely to blow up, awful box for London
- Late Bentley Arnage Mulliner T. This is my current favourite choice in this category, I have to say. Which is a bit stupid. Possibly a bit pompous/callous given that there are poor people near my manor (South London), and I don't wish to make them restive or, god forbid, rebellious/uppity.
Option 3 (very unlikely to happen as it seems silly)
2 seater sports car and barge. This basically means the sports car needs to be depreciation-proof and reliable as there is likely little opportunity to actually drive it.
- R8 V10. I am a bit gutted, as this was the plan to replace Aston + Morgan. It could still be – but genuinely, you dads out there – would it ever get driven?
- Keep the Morgan
Thoughts, fathers (and others laughing at my situation)?
Honestly, I do love Lady F. But I never thought this day would actually come.
Luckily, Lady F is not the sort to (directly) dictate things, meaning that, amongst other things, I still get to have a fun car. Whilst I could keep the Morgan and Aston, it seems pointless as frankly they will, as 2 seaters based in London, never get used after a baby arrives, and are of no use for taking us + hound out to The Mothership's house in Surrey when we want to ditch the spawn and scarper off to get wrecked somewhere fun.
For various reasons I don’t particularlywish to lease, so these are mostly second hand and for outright purchase. I shall list negative (perceived) attributes of each steed.
Option 1.
4 seat convertible (I like convertibles, you see) + estate barge/cheap lease
- Maserati Gran Cab – not very fast, a bit rapey?
- Some sort of 911 – I think baby seat space will be an issue, frankly, dull to look at/hear. Although 997 Turbo...?
- V10 M6 – likely to explode, appalling gearbox for London
- Bentley Continental GTC. A good car, I'm sure. But a bit vulgar.
Plus a 10 year old E-Class/A6 or something, or some sort of dirt cheap leased Mondeo etc (urgh!).
Option 2
One quick estate/saloon
- Latest RS6 – still a bit pricey and with a way to fall
- Old V10 RS6 – don’t know anything about these, but they are about £20k, Which for almost 600bhp seems absurd
- C63 (old one) I like it, but a bit small for an only car
- E63 – both generations look like minicabs
- M5 V10 Touring – likely to blow up, awful box for London
- Late Bentley Arnage Mulliner T. This is my current favourite choice in this category, I have to say. Which is a bit stupid. Possibly a bit pompous/callous given that there are poor people near my manor (South London), and I don't wish to make them restive or, god forbid, rebellious/uppity.
Option 3 (very unlikely to happen as it seems silly)
2 seater sports car and barge. This basically means the sports car needs to be depreciation-proof and reliable as there is likely little opportunity to actually drive it.
- R8 V10. I am a bit gutted, as this was the plan to replace Aston + Morgan. It could still be – but genuinely, you dads out there – would it ever get driven?
- Keep the Morgan
Thoughts, fathers (and others laughing at my situation)?
Honestly, I do love Lady F. But I never thought this day would actually come.
As a father, something with 4 doors and a big boot is a must for the logistics of transporting baby. And once you have one, it needs a friend so budget for 2 kids 
Am keen on that new TESLA Model X with the gull wing rear doors for rear access for straping the kid into the rear facing baby seat.
Am keen on that new TESLA Model X with the gull wing rear doors for rear access for straping the kid into the rear facing baby seat.
We don't have kids, just dogs, so the issues are slightly different. For instance a day out without the dog is perfectly acceptable even if no-one else can look after him. Plus my budgets are much lower...
However, I run an estate (Seat Leon FR, quick and capable but still cheap enough to cope with) for every day use and keep a Caterham in the garage for days out. It doesn't get used that often, but it's not depreciating much and is great for the odd weekend or week away when we can.
However, I run an estate (Seat Leon FR, quick and capable but still cheap enough to cope with) for every day use and keep a Caterham in the garage for days out. It doesn't get used that often, but it's not depreciating much and is great for the odd weekend or week away when we can.
(Disclaimer as I don't live in a city) There are plenty of times as a dad of 2 I drive without the family, out to meet friends, to shops etc without making any special effort to go for a drive as my car doesn't instill that desire...
My advice, get the car you really want and a big estate.
My advice, get the car you really want and a big estate.
Thinking a step further than with my last post - I'd suggest not jumping in to any major car purchases pre-emptively.
If you were going to buy an R8 anyway then crack on. Family planning may or may not happen when you want it to. Everyone's expectation is to welcome their first born in to the world 40 weeks after deciding to start a family. For many people, it doesn't work like that. It took us 5 years until my wife got pregnant with our first and the second was born 2 years after the first.
Your priorities are going to change. Some aspects will be negative - i.e. you have new duties to fulfil but mostly they will change through your own choice. You won't want to abandon your children and go out playing with cars as much as you think you will now.
Young children don't always like convertibles.
What I'm saying is that you should cross that bridge when you come to it. Get the right car for the circumstances you are in, not a car for circumstances you might be in in X years time.
I'm serious about parking the dog idea too. Many animals don't like being demoted when more important children are born. Walking a dog twice a day with newborn children to tend to will wear thin too. My advice is to decide what you both want to do with respect to a human family, and if after having children, changing T-shirts due to baby puke, comforting them at 3am then taking them to whatever activities in evenings or primary school homework you still think your life would be better with chewed furniture, a stinking house and car, early morning walks in the rain and picking turds up off the ground then think about getting a dog.
If you were going to buy an R8 anyway then crack on. Family planning may or may not happen when you want it to. Everyone's expectation is to welcome their first born in to the world 40 weeks after deciding to start a family. For many people, it doesn't work like that. It took us 5 years until my wife got pregnant with our first and the second was born 2 years after the first.
Your priorities are going to change. Some aspects will be negative - i.e. you have new duties to fulfil but mostly they will change through your own choice. You won't want to abandon your children and go out playing with cars as much as you think you will now.
Young children don't always like convertibles.
What I'm saying is that you should cross that bridge when you come to it. Get the right car for the circumstances you are in, not a car for circumstances you might be in in X years time.
I'm serious about parking the dog idea too. Many animals don't like being demoted when more important children are born. Walking a dog twice a day with newborn children to tend to will wear thin too. My advice is to decide what you both want to do with respect to a human family, and if after having children, changing T-shirts due to baby puke, comforting them at 3am then taking them to whatever activities in evenings or primary school homework you still think your life would be better with chewed furniture, a stinking house and car, early morning walks in the rain and picking turds up off the ground then think about getting a dog.
D'you know what - as the longest trip I do is to our family holiday house in Norfolk, and I live in London and have a garage/driveway, a Tesla would work.
And I would not want it as the only car, for sure, which means I'll need a sports car too.
In which case sweet Jesus, the cost of the damned things. And they don't lease them, I think?
And I would not want it as the only car, for sure, which means I'll need a sports car too.
In which case sweet Jesus, the cost of the damned things. And they don't lease them, I think?
Edited by Harry Flashman on Thursday 3rd November 13:57
snobetter said:
(Disclaimer as I don't live in a city) There are plenty of times as a dad of 2 I drive without the family, out to meet friends, to shops etc without making any special effort to go for a drive as my car doesn't instill that desire...
My advice, get the car you really want and a big estate.
It's a good comment, and appreciated - but in London, I never use a car for these things. Uber is my friend.My advice, get the car you really want and a big estate.
jamieduff1981 said:
Thinking a step further than with my last post - I'd suggest not jumping in to any major car purchases pre-emptively.
If you were going to buy an R8 anyway then crack on. Family planning may or may not happen when you want it to. I'm serious about parking the dog idea too. Many animals don't like being demoted when more important children are born. Walking a dog twice a day with newborn children to tend to will wear thin too. My advice is to decide what you both want to do with respect to a human family, and if after having children, changing T-shirts due to baby puke, comforting them at 3am then taking them to whatever activities in evenings or primary school homework you still think your life would be better with chewed furniture, a stinking house and car, early morning walks in the rain and picking turds up off the ground then think about getting a dog.
OK, I don't actually know anyone on PH except for a couple of folk who I know won't tell Lady F I disclosed: she is pregnant, so this is a real thing now, hence my planning. As we are in early phase, have not told anyone yet as any number of things could go wrong. But I am secretly very excited, and really trying to make some decisions now.If you were going to buy an R8 anyway then crack on. Family planning may or may not happen when you want it to. I'm serious about parking the dog idea too. Many animals don't like being demoted when more important children are born. Walking a dog twice a day with newborn children to tend to will wear thin too. My advice is to decide what you both want to do with respect to a human family, and if after having children, changing T-shirts due to baby puke, comforting them at 3am then taking them to whatever activities in evenings or primary school homework you still think your life would be better with chewed furniture, a stinking house and car, early morning walks in the rain and picking turds up off the ground then think about getting a dog.
As for dog, both of us absolutely love them, and part of moving to a decent sized house next to a park was to have on in ours (and the bay's) lives. That is non-negotiable, even though it messes with my car choices. That said, this decision has not been revisited after finding out Lady F is pregnant. We assumed we would have a puppy and then eventually conceive. This happened a lot faster than we thought it would. Revisiting dog idea is actually a good call as newborn and puppy seems like a hellish workload. Good advice, thanks.
Mind you, hound will be dealt with like mine were - trained to sit in a footwell, rather than being pampered and transported in cages ion the back of Range Rovers (London is ridiculous for this sort of thins). My old man famously drove my sister, my mother and a Weimeraner around the place in a UR Quattro in the mid eighties. I honestly believe that my love of cars stems from this.
Edited by Harry Flashman on Thursday 3rd November 14:06
I live in SW London and have sold a (IMHO) very nice TVR Tuscan to be replaced with a Maserati Quattroporte V. 2007 model.
Its still an event to drive and can easily land me with some horrendous bills. Win :P
My friend says with a BABY go 4 door and bigger. Then with a toddler that needs less stuff when you travel a big Coupe ( Maser GT perhaps ) .
We already have less stuff at 3 months. I imagine by 6 - 9 months it will go down again.
Its still an event to drive and can easily land me with some horrendous bills. Win :P
My friend says with a BABY go 4 door and bigger. Then with a toddler that needs less stuff when you travel a big Coupe ( Maser GT perhaps ) .
We already have less stuff at 3 months. I imagine by 6 - 9 months it will go down again.
Edited by BluePurpleRed on Thursday 3rd November 14:13
My neighbors have a "Final Edition" Arnage T as their main car. They never seem to have any problems with it and it lugs their two kids along the school run etc. without too much trouble.
Personally I think you can't go wrong with an Arnage for most things, it's very much classic Bentley vs the current crop and a lovely place to be.
Personally I think you can't go wrong with an Arnage for most things, it's very much classic Bentley vs the current crop and a lovely place to be.
I'm a few years ahead of you and was in a similar situation. I kept my TVR Tuscan as it would be stupid to sell it. (many moons ago I remember going on a hoon around Surrey with you and a few others not long after you got your Morgan).
It doesn't get driven much anymore and lives in my parents garage these days. But I'm happy that I still just have it and it stops me from getting miserable because I'm yearning for another silly car, or feel the need to have to make a compromise for performance with another car. It's also all the more special when I do get to take it out and give it a blast which was a feeling that had gone away with regular use. As a result of the low use the running costs are next to nothing, and as it's quietly appreciating a fair bit better than the equivalent amount of cash in the bank would, makes it all the more justifiable.
Family duties have fallen to an Audi A8L. You need something with good rear cabin space for all the various bags and child seats that seem to take up a ton of room. And as mum will now almost exclusively ride in the back with baby, you want her to be comfortable too. On top of that, it's super comfy, super safe, all weather friendly, is plenty fast enough, and has plenty of understated class. And the boot is massive and by volume larger than that of an A4 Avant!
Only other viable alternatives I've considered to replace the Audi would be a different LWB luxury saloon like an s-class, XJL, 7-series, or Panamera Executive LWB. Not a fan of SUV's as for the size and bulk, they're nowhere near as roomy in the back for passengers as a full size LWB saloon car. The only exception being FFRR LWB which would be the only SUV I'd ever consider.
We also have a Mini Cooper S which just about fits a child seat in but is good for whipping around the city in, and is mum's daily driver.
It doesn't get driven much anymore and lives in my parents garage these days. But I'm happy that I still just have it and it stops me from getting miserable because I'm yearning for another silly car, or feel the need to have to make a compromise for performance with another car. It's also all the more special when I do get to take it out and give it a blast which was a feeling that had gone away with regular use. As a result of the low use the running costs are next to nothing, and as it's quietly appreciating a fair bit better than the equivalent amount of cash in the bank would, makes it all the more justifiable.
Family duties have fallen to an Audi A8L. You need something with good rear cabin space for all the various bags and child seats that seem to take up a ton of room. And as mum will now almost exclusively ride in the back with baby, you want her to be comfortable too. On top of that, it's super comfy, super safe, all weather friendly, is plenty fast enough, and has plenty of understated class. And the boot is massive and by volume larger than that of an A4 Avant!
Only other viable alternatives I've considered to replace the Audi would be a different LWB luxury saloon like an s-class, XJL, 7-series, or Panamera Executive LWB. Not a fan of SUV's as for the size and bulk, they're nowhere near as roomy in the back for passengers as a full size LWB saloon car. The only exception being FFRR LWB which would be the only SUV I'd ever consider.
We also have a Mini Cooper S which just about fits a child seat in but is good for whipping around the city in, and is mum's daily driver.
Edited by dvs_dave on Thursday 3rd November 14:17
poppopbangbang said:
My neighbors have a "Final Edition" Arnage T as their main car. They never seem to have any problems with it and it lugs their two kids along the school run etc. without too much trouble.
Personally I think you can't go wrong with an Arnage for most things, it's very much classic Bentley vs the current crop and a lovely place to be.
This post fills me with joy.Personally I think you can't go wrong with an Arnage for most things, it's very much classic Bentley vs the current crop and a lovely place to be.
If it really were an only car, maintenance will not be as much as running Morgan and Aston currently.
Although if I bought the Bentley, I would be tempted to keep the Morgan, as it would just feel somehow right to own those two cars...
ETA
Oh my word.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
Edited by Harry Flashman on Thursday 3rd November 14:24
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