Does anyone have a 'fun' car in addition to their daily runaround?

[Sonolanona]

I'm perfectly aware that this is a very self indulgent thing!
I used to have a little sports car... nothing expensive; a Smart Roadster...and I LOVED it. Totally impractical (and leaked like a sieve).

Now I have a practical little Fiat Panda 4x4. Fits the dog in the boot, fits the dgs's car seat, even though it's small. It's 10 years old and I'll keep it til it conks as it's cheap to run.

BUT... I want a roadster again. I just WANT one. They are 20 years old now and rare, but one has come up for sale near me, 3K . I don't have expensive hobbies (mine are all free), or go out, I have a part time job and do Granny care the rest of the week, I walk the dog... that's it.

DH is currently spending money doing up an old van.. costing far more than the car, and says we can afford for me to have it. But I know it's 3K we could save....
(we aren't wealthy by any means but we've just finished the mortgage yay)

I know I shouldn't but I WANT to...

An MX5, two Audi TTs and a Cooper S convertible. Then I needed space for grandchildren.

Life isn't just about buying things that have practical utility. Or saving as much money as you possibly can. It's also for having fun, buying things you fancy because they will make you happy, being frivolous and impractical every now and then. Buy the car!

It depends how much leisure time you have. We have a sports car in the garage snd never drive it because we have kids now and don’t get the chance to ‘go out for a drive’ (or if we did we’d probably choose to do something else). My advice would be - get the funnest car you can for your everyday driving, because that’s the one you drive most, unless you’ve got lots of time for dedicated ‘fun drives’ at the weekend.

I had a 2 seater Porsche along with the family car and "my" car (a small, old VW I share with my eldest)

But I never ever used it I only did about 1000 miles in 18 months which isn't good for Porsches they need to be run out more. so it became a very expensive driveway ornament

So I sadly let it go recently (I still keep thinking I'll get another one one day)

But yanbu to get one ! Do it !!

Test

I have fun cars in addition to sensible ones. I say do it

If it helps you can think of it as still having the savings, just not in the bank. If you needed the 3k you could sell the car (and it won’t really be depreciating much more). In car circles this is known as ‘man maths’ to allow us to justify buying fun things, but I’ll let you in on the secret…

Yes, we have a bright red convertible as a play thing. We only tax it for 6 months a year, and just keep it in the garage during the winter months.

It's another thing to look forward to when spring comes around.

Fair point about regular use, and Porsches

i try and use the fun cars for regular trips so everything gets used. You don’t just have to go for a drive. Go to the dentist in a Lamborghini. Sainsburys in a Porsche, take the Maserati to the tip…

Go for it if you can afford it, you can always sell it when you’ve had some fun. I’d have nowhere to park it & couldn’t be bothered with extra car admin /maintenance so would be a no for me.

DH would love to but we live in a city, parking is on-street, we barely use the one car we have, traffic is horrendous, never get above 30 and mostly 20. If we had a second car it would never get used, would basically be a very expensive street decoration.

We have a Saab convertible, we use it most weekends as we live in a southern European country. Then a more sensible car for every day. Go for it, life’s too short

We have an MX5 can hardly get in and out of it but love it

Same idea but slightly different.

Our main family hatchback car isn't a "fun" car as such, but it was bought brand new, stills looks immaculate, low mileage, etc., and we only use it for days out and then only park it in "safer" places such as a half empty car park etc. More than happy to walk a bit further and park it in the furthest corner of a car park, or a different less busy car park! It's great for motorway runs etc.

For going to the shops and anywhere else locally where the car has more chance of being scraped or dinted in cramped car parks, we have a 15 year old small car which we regard as almost "disposable", which we also use for tip runs etc. I use it to go to work on very bad weather days - wouldn't dream of taking our "nice" car to work as I'd have to park on the narrow office driveway which is a "right of access" for neighbouring properties who don't care about scraping a car with their wheelie bins etc.

The alternative is to buy something fun that doesn't leak, so you can actually use it. After years of super safe estate cars (usually Volvos) I now have a Cooper S Convertible. Sure, it's inconvenient for anyone in the back seat, but they're only there if I'm doing them a favour anyway! DGD's baby seat was chosen and fitted by the specialist car seat place in Essex, and works fine (if a little back-breaking in and out). The dog sits on a covered bit of the seat if he's allowed in. It's fun, I use it all the time, and love it.

My only car is an MX-5. It’s a hard top though, so no worries about using it all year round.

I love all these responses thank you !
Yes it costs to tax (£150) but insurance for me is peanuts.. under £150 so not a biggie. It has just been MOT'd and serviced and is kept under a cover. I'm WELL aware of the leak potential and will be checking under the carpets etc and for those in the know, the SAM unit has been resoldered and sealed.

In the past I have had an MX5.. fun but I preferred my leaky Smart , and also a Mini Convertible which to my surprise I did NOT enjoy and got rid of quickly.

3k is a fair amount of money...but not a fortune. I don't do nails, or hair colouring or makeup or any 'regular' expenses that add up.. my weakness is cars, but we only buy what we can afford and run them til they are no longer economical to keep going. We aren't frivolous generally! If I don't think it's sound, I will walk away... but... I'm not getting any younger and I want a bit of fun and wind in my (greying!) hair

RandomMess
Tell me more about the Renault Wind... never heard of them before (but had a dear little Twingo a few years back)... and just spotted one for sale....

I think it's the Twingo/Clio in a hard top cabriolet.

Join the Wind Facebook group - very small, friendly, helpful group (rare)

1.2 or 1.6

You need the all leather heated seats

Check the cam belt was down at the 12 year mark. Only sold for 2 years in the UK so all hitting the 12/13 age bracket.

MASSIVE boot, very roomy inside 2 seater.

I want need a vw van and / or an original beetle. One day I will get that dream. Get the roadster op!

Yes, we have a fun “toy” car. It is a 19 year old Audi TT 3.2. It has only done 500 miles during the past year and is about to be taken off the road for Winter. My husband loves it, I rarely drive it as I have a 5 door Mini Cooper S which in my opinion is just as much fun. The TT lives in the garage and is covered in a duvet cover. It is washed and polished almost every week and does put a smile on our faces when we go out in it. Every year we consider selling it as we do not need 3 cars between the two of us but it is really my husband’s hobby as well as he does all the mechanical upkeep himself and is a member of the Audi TT forum and advises other owners on any mechanical problems.

I wish I gave up my toy when we had DS. Have you seen streetka's similar size but without the water leaks of a smart. One day we will have a old Porsche as a toy one day!

My only car is a Mini Cooper, I love him, he's fine for me, and 99% of the time I'm in him on my own.
He's my wee cocoon car, I especially love doing long night drives in him.
I just had a more roomy, practical and newer Corsa as a courtesy car, but it was ugly and no fun to drive at all.

We got a Mini 5 door as a fun car and now it's our everyday car. Way too much fun to keep for special occasions, I love every drive I do now! The 5 door hatch is practical enough for our two teens as well as husband and me, and it is so much fun to drive and you can personalise them like no other car! Go for it.
Oh and OP get your Roadster if you have the money, it sounds like you would really love it too. Happy driving!

This you can always sell it again if you change your mind

I just bought myself a T5. DH says she's a shit tip on wheels but I love her and don't care anymore. I have an illness that means I'll have to give up driving at some point so it's now or never. Practical? Absolutely not but sod it, she can be a festival van for the kids soon enough.

My dream was never a sports car / two seater - always the van/camper route instead !

Op if you can, do it! Life is simply too short.