5 cars and 2 drivers - Am I crazy?

JEB · 03-03-2003, 07:42 AM

Ok - here's the deal - I need the collective Pelican car wisdom on this.

I have a '97 Land Cruiser
My Wife has an '01 Pontiac Montana - which is my company car
We also have the '79 930 and a '69 TR-6

I am thinking of buying a '99 A4 1.8T quattro

My family is my wife and I and a 6 year old.

Is this overkill?

My wife and I are both tired of driving large vehichles everywhere and it would be nice to have a small snappy sedan around. I had been thinking of a sedan for a while then the A4 fell in my lap.

I can't be without real 4wd (quattro doesn't count 'cuz I can't get to my camp in it).

I always have a company car. I drive it and then give it to one of my salesmen when they need one. I don't have a salesman who needs a car and probably won't for a year.

Here is my thinking. The Land Cruiser is holding its value well - the Van costs me nothing, the P-car and the TR have classic plates and cost almost nothing. So, while I have 4 cars they cost me little.

I can buy the Audi for 12 -12.5 (I figure it is worth 14+). I can insure it relatively cheaply. Parking is a small inconvenience, but not an insurmountable problem. Gas milage is also a plus with cost where it is. I can keep it a year or so - loose little if I sell it - then re-evaluate my wife's van for an A(S?)6 Avant.

Is 5 cars too many? Is it good to have the right tool for the job

Thoughts? Good idea - bad idea?

Jeb
'79 930 - and others

Rob McKibbon · 03-03-2003, 08:18 AM

I started with one child - wound up with 5!
I started with one vehicle - wound up with 8!
That's how it happens, one by one.

Seems you've justified it to yourself - go for it, it's not leased or borrowed and you probably spend less on vehicles than most do on beer? I'm at 4 right now, and 4 boats too.

sneak a pic of your TR? Thx

carnut169 · carnut169's Garage

930 is a great car, as is the TR6 and the Land Cruiser. The Montana... what the heck, its free!
Get the Audi! Not crazy at all!

masraum · 03-03-2003, 08:44 AM

the only problem that I see is that you only have the one Porsche, you need some more.

thabaer · thabaer's Garage

Whatcu talkin bout lewis!

Sounds like you have driver contention and not enough wheels

'61 lunatic
'68 GT6+
'79 911Sc
'83 urQuattro
'84 4000S quattro
'90 CBR1000F
'91 200q20v quattro sedan
'91 200q20v quattro avant
'02 GMC 2500HD Dmax-6spd

and that's just the stuff that runs on aged hydrocarbons, the '61 is the only one that runs on single-malts and caffeine

The 1.8Tq sounds like a good idea to me!

VincentVega · 03-03-2003, 08:48 AM

Car #4 arrived on Saturday and it's only me. Only 1 Porsche though, hopefully that will change sooner than later. If you have the room....

racemor · 03-03-2003, 08:48 AM

Sounds perfectly normal to me. I'm single and have the 911, a Miata and a '76 TR6. The only problem is shuffling them around in the driveway by myself.

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Hmm, that is a lot of cars, but I'm one to talk. At least I can justify my cars by writing books:

- 74 914-6 conv (used for engine book)
- 82 911SC (101 Projects)
- 92 BMW 318is (101 Projects/BMW)
- 93 BMW 325is (101 Projects/BMW/Wife Car)
- 1988 Nissan Pathfinder (Parts Hauler)
- 1983 944 (Future project car)
- 1960 356 (not sure what to do with this one)

Bottomline is, I wouldn't buy anything you don't really need. Cars are a very poor investment...

-Wayne

thomschoon · 03-03-2003, 08:54 AM

You are not the only one, how about 3 cars in Rochester NY where I work, one car in Alexandria VA where I actually live. So to make it a little worse, I buy another P-car to keep in NY. The advantage is my wife really doesnt care, at least until she sees how they seem to multiply all by themselves. But then again I am so car poor I can't afford a girlfriend.

Enjoy the life you have, after all you only get one!

Harold_89_911 · 03-03-2003, 08:59 AM

I would say go for it. I'm in the same family situation (wife and 1 kid) and we have four cars.

Her 02 VW Passat Wagon which is our primary family car
My 91 Saab 900 which is my main driver
Her old 89 Saab 900 which is now my mountain bike/surf car
My 89 911 which is my toy car

Three would probably be enough but it's really nice to have a choice. Also, when you work on the car and the project is longer than anticipated because of missing parts, you don't have to find a car-pool on Monday to try and get to work. The cost of the additional car is pretty small and the resale value is not high enough to justify selling it.

I guess the only drawback is that I don't drive the p-car enough.

ErVikingo · 03-03-2003, 09:48 AM

Similar problem here; 2 adults; 5 cars + a bike + a trailer and looking for another car

'99 Lexus GS400
'78 911SC
'69 911 S
'69 911S race car
'03 Chevy Avalanche (hauler)
'03 ATC Trailer
'56 BSA Road Rocket (precursor of crutch rockets)

Looking for a 356 Speedster or Convertible D; considering an F355 Spyder or a 360 Modena Spyder. Coming soon, V-Rod.

Time for them, not enough but its great to step into the garage and see all that hardware while I ponder which will I take out today....

rudy sanchez · 03-03-2003, 09:57 AM

sounds like a solid plan to me! but then again we currently have 8 cars, and two drivers. one bmw will be sold by the end of the week though. and I have one 3.5 y.o. daughter and a 3 week old son!

73 bmw 2002tii
73 bmw 2002tii
73 bmw 2002tii
72 bmw 2002 hot rod project
68 porsche 911 (driving parts car)
70 porsche 911 (in need of assembly)
72 porsche targa (take posession of this un on two weeks)
isuzu rodeo parts and family hauler

this is the 911 parts car!

03-03-2003, 10:07 AM

YES you are a loonie!!! Send the 930 over to me asap!

In a way I have three cars (one car costs the same as three) so I guess I'm crazy too.

Bill Douglas · 03-03-2003, 10:09 AM

How much $$$ do you guys in your particular states/country pay for vechile registration each year. In New Zealand we pay $220 (about US$130) per car.

JEB · 03-03-2003, 10:22 AM

I really love this board

. Good thing this isn't Alanon - I can hear it now "Sure - go ahead - one more drink won't hurt you a bit

. I think we are all a bunch of enabelers.

Rob: I don't have a pic of the TR right now - but as soon as we loose a couple of of feet of snow I will post one.

thabaer: Very nice selection - I LOVE the urQuattro's. I had a Coupe' GT back when. The GT-6's are great cars. You should consider comming cross-country to The Roadster Factory's summer picnic. It is a great place for LBC's. About an hour from my house.

Thanks Guys - you make my obssion seem mild.

Jeb
'79 930 (and others)

85944na · 85944na's Garage

that's the nicest parst car I've ever seen

jsmarcus · 03-03-2003, 10:46 AM

Hey JEB, you want to buy my Audi? '95 Quattro Sport 5Spd, LOADED, a blast to drive and cheap to insure because of it's age. E-mail me.

Josh

gregk1 · 03-03-2003, 10:47 AM

Well let see I have 7 Porsches, 57 chevy, 66 dodge Charger, 96 Olds, 93chevy duley, 2 Harleys, 3 snowmobiles, 30'searay sundancer, and a 28'chris craft 260 Stinger offshore, Oh and no wife, no kids

jakermc · 03-03-2003, 11:04 AM

We also have 5 cars and 2 drivers:

'01 Boxster S
'93 968
'83 911 SC
'97 Chevy Blazer
'98 Nissan Altima (for sale)

I agree with everyone here, the real issue is you don't have enough Porsches.

thabaer · thabaer's Garage

Rudy!

Shame shame shame, hoarding tiis!

You should really give me one to help ease your conscience...

nice fleet!

JEB: I don't want to make you sick but the urq's in pretty good shape and it was only $5K last March, talk about an easy scratch for decades of itching

(hint-hint, nudge-nudge)