Fleet Decisions

[simsimsim]

Currently the fleet is 1 x 182. As you may have noticed on the Newbie thread, I'll be on the hunt for a V6 soon.

Next decision is:

To keep the 182 or not?

I take it a few of you guys keep the "Vee" off road in the winter months? I'm in Central Scotland so the roads are salty and the like for most of November-Februaryish.

A very possible plan for me could be use the 182 Oct-Mar, and V6 Apr-Sep, which I think I read one of you chaps doing. Or alternatively, swap the 182 for a cheaper runaround to save possibly a grand for the 6 months on tax/insurance/fuel - to go into the piggy bank for V6 upkeep. Or exclusively (but sympathetically) run a V6.

Can anyone offer any insight into their own single/multicar experiences? Or direct me to a similar thread if it exists, had a search but did not find

 

[GTTurbo]

Hi matey

My daily is 182 trophy and the v6 is my special sunny day car

Insurance wise they are both through aviva Multi car at about £600 for both (I am old git though!)

The vee is sorn 6 months of the year.

 

[Matt]

Hi,

Quite an uptake in people using second cars now and keeping their vee off the road in winer. I bought a cheap but comfy and reliable civic vti w reg that I quite happily drive to work and back every day. Cheap to run and I'm not too bothered about parking it between two pensioners!!! Sold my 172 cup as I was too bothered about it - if that makes sense. Makes the vee more special for me when you get a nice sunny day! :approve:

 

[Matt]

Spooky mossy :race:

 

[simsimsim]

You guys are quick off the mark with the replies!

Mossy - I've just managed to get under £500 for my 182 - a bit of a life milestone for me!

Does the lack of running for 6 months cause any particular hassle for the car? Mine will probably be in a non-heated but pretty damp-free garage.

Matt - I know exactly what you mean Do you keep your Clio off the road for a lengthy period, or just use it sparingly throughout the year?

I'm thinking it will all come down to money. I think I can probably run Cheap Runaround + V6, 6 months each, for the same cost roughly as my 182 (initial purchase price on V6 excepted). Insurance and tax for a whole year for two cars might price me out of running the two simultaneously.

I was planning on running 182 winter months, V6 summer months, but SWMBO has clocked this thread and that has become less justifiable!

 

[Ed220V6]

I've previously rocked some awful £500 runabouts (Rover 214 automatic being my favourite). They were cool though as were cheap to run and could be left anywhere without a care in the world.

Have now gone full retard with a brand new Skoda Fabia 1.2. Shockingly slow car but actually very good with lots of mod cons (alloyz yo). This does all the donkey work at very low cost leaving the Vee in the garage for the perfect sunny day

I'd personally recommend always having access to an alternative car. Our summers are hardly noted for their lack of rainfall

 

[Matt]

Awful crap funabouts are the way forward :approve:

 

[Duncan]

Whilst the v6 is capable of doing the daily commute all year round, it would depend on your circumstances (route, distance, parking etc) if it was a good idea to do so. If your putting mega miles on it will cost you an arm and a leg in fuel, but you will learn the car and really bond with it if you drive it all the time.

Personally i think the best option is a something cheap & cheerfull to run for the mundane drives and the v6 for special occasions. It really highlights how mental the v6 is when you get back in it. Also keeps the cost right down on v6 consumables as stuff lasts longer!

 

[chunkv6]

if you can afford to then keep the 182 and run the v6 as and when you want to take it out. If not then a diesel runner is a great way for you to appreciate the vee more. Makes it feel that bit more special when you do take it out for a blast.

That was certainly how i did it when i had the vee

 

[Williams]

My v6's have always been second or third cars. It's totally impractical to use mine as a daily drive lol. Ive had a ph1 172 for my 'shopping'/ bad weather and less than armed guard parking facilities, for nearly 4 years now. I also have a Caddy for work. This set up seems to work well for me at the moment. All bases covered! :race:

If I were you, keep the 182 if you're able to. Even better if you have a garage of somewhere covered to keep the vee

Some people think it odd to have 2 Clio's. But the 2.0ltr varient and the vee really couldn't be much different to drive! Completely different cars.

Good luck with your search!

 

[roystinho]

My Vee does the 17 mile round commute every day. I have a scenic as well but the mrs uses that daily and we use it on a weekends as we have a boy. So it doesn't do mega miles, but I get to drive it most days which is a bonus. Though I've only had mine a few months, so still in the driving it whenever I can mode. I'll get a daily next year though as I can take Jnr to nursery in it, but number 2 is coming along in March, which would mean I'd have to take the Scenic and the Mrs have the Vee [smilie=icon_eek.gif] [smilie=icon_eek.gif] [smilie=icon_eek.gif] She works in a sh!t area and parks on the street, so it'll be a need of another car

 

[Brett]

Funds permiting keep the 182. Like Shaun says, they are two very different cars to drive yet both offer great fun, just in different areas. I've drove my vee all year round before but it has to be said that I've been caught out a few times in blizzard around the highlands and isles. In those situations a v6 would be the last car you would want to be in.

 

[Ali]

I use Admiral Multicar. I'm about 600 for the BM and 500odd for the vee for the months i have it on the road. When it comes off, i get a rebate, however they generally moan about discounts been factored in and thus give me pennys back!

 

[Matt]

Have you decided what you're doing yet Jonny?

 

[ColinG]

I have a twingo 133 as a year round car and my Vee is SORN at the moment, I just couldn't drive this one all year round like I did with my others,

Twingo is up for sale though if you fancy the fun of your 182 but a bit cheaper to run and newer

 

[MrBlueSky]

Hi Jonny, You have started an interesting thread here. I am also in central Scotland and the salt from late Oct till March plays havoc with anything metal. for the last 4 years I have taken the Vee off the road for winter. For two of those winters it sat on drive, but that was still a better option than exposing it to road salt. Have a Subaru Legacy specB estate which is the perfect family winter wheels. So if keeping the 182 proves too expensive perhaps acheap old base model sub would be an alternative. That said, I had a Williams alongside the Vee and they are very different Clio experiences and I would love a 182.

 

[simsimsim]

Hi all!

Most likely plan at present...

1. Get the 182 into tip-top saleable condition and keep this until March/April:

- sort a couple of scratches, a paint blemish on the front wing
- refurb an alloy wheel
- it's on 65k so will probably need The Belt Service in the next 6 months (will do this before sale methinks)

2. Come Springtime, I'll have the readies to purchase the first 255 that I find acceptable, so I'll hopefully buy one (as easy as that...)

3. Summer won't be mileage intensive, so I'll have a crack at using the V6 as my only motor

4. Will casually try to sell the 182, perhaps, but I still love it to bits so this could be difficult! I see some jokers are asking well above £3k for ones in worse nick than mine on Autotrader, which is encouraging...!

Is that an answer to "what's the plan?"

I think the short answer is - get the 182 in totally mint condition for an easy sale, buy a 255 once the winter has gone, sell/SORN the 182.

If my 182 finds a new home, and I enjoy my summer with the V6, I'll probably buy a winter hack come Autumn. Always wanted a Nissan Micra