Cheap Winter Runabout or just tough it out?

[seanlaurent]

I've an old NB Mx-5, have had it for years, really good condition Rust wise and I've spent a fortune on fixing it up/maintaining it. Also has a hardtop.
I had a sensible daily, which I sold. I then bought a Phase 1 Clio 172. Love it. Great little car.
Neither are ideal for winter. I'm more precious with the Clio, but I don't want to ruin either with rust and we do get the odd flood around here, the mx-5 is on the low side.

I've 3k to spend.
I could get a cheap winter runabout.. Going into the new year I'll be working abroad 3 weeks out of every month so I'd only really need it for the 2 hour spin home from the airport and back up again at the end of my week off.
But again, wouldn't love parking either the Mx-5 or Clio up in airport parking for 3 weeks at a time.

Should I just prepare either or for winter and struggle through or is a third car somehow the more sensible option?

[muppets_mate]

Watching with interest. I have a similar conundrum but with a smaller budget up to £1,500. I want to avoid the ravages of another winter's salt on my car. I am doing around a 400 miles a week so need to factor that in to my thinking.

[911Spanker]

The answer is always another car.

[texaxile]

I'm slightly biased but a 2009 onwards Mazda 6 HB is going to meet your shedding requirements.

I inherited mine, a 2.0 TS with cruise, climate and shod with a set of Turanzas makes for an great long distance / short distance commuter and with a brand new Yuasa will sit for weeks and still start with no issue.

Here's my shedding report:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Just did a 5 hour round trip on half a tank averaging 41 mpg in comfort and ease, they have good resale and are pretty much at the bottom of their depreciation curve now.

Edited by texaxile on Monday 26th October 22:16

Edited by texaxile on Monday 26th October 22:17

[OzzyR1]

seanlaurent said:

I've an old NB Mx-5, have had it for years, really good condition Rust wise and I've spent a fortune on fixing it up/maintaining it. Also has a hardtop.
I had a sensible daily, which I sold. I then bought a Phase 1 Clio 172. Love it. Great little car.
Neither are ideal for winter. I'm more precious with the Clio, but I don't want to ruin either with rust and we do get the odd flood around here, the mx-5 is on the low side.

I've 3k to spend.
I could get a cheap winter runabout.. Going into the new year I'll be working abroad 3 weeks out of every month so I'd only really need it for the 2 hour spin home from the airport and back up again at the end of my week off.
But again, wouldn't love parking either the Mx-5 or Clio up in airport parking for 3 weeks at a time.

Should I just prepare either or for winter and struggle through or is a third car somehow the more sensible option?

Does the £3K need to include insurance/tax for the period?

Loads of 10-12 year old smaller petrol cars with less than £100K around for that price - put your parameters in Autotrader leaving (make/model blank) and click down the marques to see what is around.

Edited by OzzyR1 on Monday 26th October 22:30

[A500leroy]

Don't discount it, but a ford Ka can be had for well less than half that.

[seanlaurent]

OzzyR1 said:

Does the £3K need to include insurance/tax for the period?

Loads of 10-12 year old smaller petrol cars with less than £100K around for that price - put your parameters in Autotrader leaving (make/model blank) and click down the marques to see what is around.

Edited by OzzyR1 on Monday 26th October 22:30

Nope that's just the car itself.

That's where I'm leaning, something cheap petrol and natural aspirated.. Probably not ideal for motorway driving though and anything with a big enough engine will just cost me more overall..
That being said, I'll be an idiot with 3 cars, can't have your cake and eat it too, so I'll just have to suffer that motorway jaunt.

[OzzyR1]

seanlaurent said:

OzzyR1 said:

Does the £3K need to include insurance/tax for the period?

Loads of 10-12 year old smaller petrol cars with less than £100K around for that price - put your parameters in Autotrader leaving (make/model blank) and click down the marques to see what is around.

Edited by OzzyR1 on Monday 26th October 22:30

Nope that's just the car itself.

That's where I'm leaning, something cheap petrol and natural aspirated.. Probably not ideal for motorway driving though and anything with a big enough engine will just cost me more overall..
That being said, I'll be an idiot with 3 cars, can't have your cake and eat it too, so I'll just have to suffer that motorway jaunt.

Alternatively:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606283...

What could possibly go wrong?

[Heaveho]

A Lexus IS250 is always the answer.

[MDT]

I would not be looking to buy a 10-12 year old car to leave it for 3 weeks at an airport, and expecting it to be a hassle free return to a car with a battery all charged up.

£3k
Plus long tern Airport parking. I would be looking at a Train / Taxi each way.

Hell I bet you could save a lot of £ by hiring a chauffeur and an S-Class.

[OutInTheShed]

MDT said:

I would not be looking to buy a 10-12 year old car to leave it for 3 weeks at an airport, and expecting it to be a hassle free return to a car with a battery all charged up.

£3k
Plus long tern Airport parking. I would be looking at a Train / Taxi each way.

Hell I bet you could save a lot of £ by hiring a chauffeur and an S-Class.

One return trip a month for 'winter' , 5 trips max?

Presumably other winter driving though.

I'd expect most cars to be OK sat for 3 weeks, unless the battery is on its last legs?

[Gad-Westy]

OutInTheShed said:

MDT said:

I would not be looking to buy a 10-12 year old car to leave it for 3 weeks at an airport, and expecting it to be a hassle free return to a car with a battery all charged up.

£3k
Plus long tern Airport parking. I would be looking at a Train / Taxi each way.

Hell I bet you could save a lot of £ by hiring a chauffeur and an S-Class.

One return trip a month for 'winter' , 5 trips max?

Presumably other winter driving though.

I'd expect most cars to be OK sat for 3 weeks, unless the battery is on its last legs?

Yep, can’t see a problem. In fact arguably older cars could be less troubling on batteries when left for long periods.

[Billy_Whizzzz]

I picked up a good Skoda Yeti 4x4 with cross climate tyres as a spare winter car for £1800 a few weeks ago. Highly recommend.

[LightweightLouisDanvers]

OzzyR1 said:

Alternatively:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606283...

What could possibly go wrong?

Yep 20 year old Range Rover, perfect reliable cheap commuter!

[DRE7]

By all means buy a new car but why don’t you use public transport to get to the airport rather than park it for three weeks?? Surely doable unless you live in the back of beyond.

[Derry Rhumba]

Another thread where someone thinks they have to shell out as much as £3K for a "cheap" car.

[sixor8]

Billy_Whizzzz said:

I picked up a good Skoda Yeti 4x4 with cross climate tyres as a spare winter car for £1800 a few weeks ago. Highly recommend.

That's nearly half the price of most of them on Autotrader, so has it got 'moon' mileage?

[TechnoKnows]

You've already got two 'cheap' cars.

No way I'd be spending 3k + insurance + maintenance + fixes for a car just to leave at an airport.
Cars are the best way to rid yourself of money so I'd think carefully before purchasing

I'd just use one of the two cars (leave a jump pack inside) alternatively use public transport or an Uber.

[Vroom101]

texaxile said:

I'm slightly biased but a 2009 onwards Mazda 6 HB is going to meet your shedding requirements.

I inherited mine, a 2.0 TS with cruise, climate and shod with a set of Turanzas makes for an great long distance / short distance commuter and with a brand new Yuasa will sit for weeks and still start with no issue.

Here's my shedding report:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Just did a 5 hour round trip on half a tank averaging 41 mpg in comfort and ease, they have good resale and are pretty much at the bottom of their depreciation curve now.

Edited by texaxile on Monday 26th October 22:16

Edited by texaxile on Monday 26th October 22:17

I’d have to disagree I’m afraid. They have the old Mazda habit of rusting like a bugger, and can throw up some expensive bills - clutch/steering rack for example. Also, the brake calliper pins seize for fun. The petrol engines are decently reliable enough though.

I find mine (2.5 Sport estate) neither fast enough to be fun or exciting, nor comfortable enough to be a decent cruiser. The 2007 Mondeo I had before was better in almost every way. All just my own opinion, obviously.

[The Mad Monk]

seanlaurent said:

I've an old NB Mx-5, have had it for years, really good condition Rust wise and I've spent a fortune on fixing it up/maintaining it. Also has a hardtop.
I had a sensible daily, which I sold. I then bought a Phase 1 Clio 172. Love it. Great little car.
Neither are ideal for winter. I'm more precious with the Clio, but I don't want to ruin either with rust and we do get the odd flood around here, the mx-5 is on the low side.

I've 3k to spend.
I could get a cheap winter runabout.. Going into the new year I'll be working abroad 3 weeks out of every month so I'd only really need it for the 2 hour spin home from the airport and back up again at the end of my week off.
But again, wouldn't love parking either the Mx-5 or Clio up in airport parking for 3 weeks at a time.

Should I just prepare either or for winter and struggle through or is a third car somehow the more sensible option?

Where do you live?

Wilds of Scotland, or leafy Surrey?