What should i do?

[JayR]

I have had the 197 for a few weeks now and was happy as larry with it initially but have used it for all of three times (only one of those was when i actually needed to) so i am wondering whether having a nice car sitting in the garage (which it is) is really worth it when i could have a mint 182 (which does the same thing on a Sunday afternoon) in the garage instead!

The reason for my need of advice is that my mother has gone mentals - Doesnt see my point that having a car worth more than 12k in the garage is a waste of time as she just sees it as a nice luxury when compared to an old 182! Simon1 isnt helping as this noob cant see my point either so what would the majority do in my situation?

Cheers

Jay

P.S I dont want this to turn into a 182 is better than a 197 thread or vice versa as i couldnt give a rats ass about that! Having owned both cars one is newer, built better and looks better but they both do the same thing in reality when considering they are not used as a daily driver!

 

[Revels]

I wouldn't have either for the weekend jolly TBH. It's a lot of money that's just sat there and you barely use it.

It's a daily drive car (either of them) which is also fun. Not something you leave in the garage for fun.

In your shoes, I would either get a Ph1 if you wanted to stick with Clios. Still fun but practical. Gives you a fair chunk of your cash back. Orrrrrr, I would buy a VX220/Elise. Do the Sunday car thing properly.

 

[DrR]

I'd have neither if it's just a weekend blast machine.

 

[Gaz_]

hhhhmmmm toughy!

I'm REALLY mising my 197 at the mo

 

[ForceIndia]

In that situation, get a trophy. Great to drive, and if you keep the miles low (which you will) it'll keep it's value really well.

Or get an e36 m3, running costs aren't an issue when you do bugger all miles.

 

[JayR]

Sometimes it will get used for things like Alton Towers/Thorpe Park in the Summer, shopping trips and use it of a night if i need to go somewhere so i still want practical but these are obviously few and far between!

I wouldnt want a Ph1! To me the 182 is still cracking value for money and i can stomach having that much money tied into a car anyway - Its just doubling it thats abit hard to stomach for the the lack of use!

 

[W17GLE]

If its not a daily driver you could have something special sat there for the same money. I'd personally go buy an elise or buy a house so your mum can't tell you what to do.

 

[Jordi17]

How often do you use it? not use it for work during the week?

 

[MrTrick]

Im back at work tommorow :dapprove: so I too won't be driving mine as much, only at the weekends.

 

[Scott S]

Will the money you may lose on the 197 make selling it a viable option?

 

[Gaz_]

Paid for, or on finance etc?

 

[JayR]

How often do you use it? not use it for work during the week?

I commute by train during the week!

Weekends are abit hit and miss! I couldve been using the 197 to drive to Lakeside yesterday afternoon (instead i was in a car that crashed as per my thread in GC) but i was over the limit from the night before so decided otherwise!

I generally prefer a night or two on the social (which usually includes plenty of beerios) at the weekend than not so i can never guarantee when im gonna get use out of a car anyway.

Will the money you may lose on the 197 make selling it a viable option?

I will get what i paid for it (or there or abouts) a few weeks back no probs - This is why if im going to do it i need to decide now rather than 6-12 months down the line!

Paid for, or on finance etc?

Paid for mate.

The main issue i have is that it will be somewhat a step back in most cases - The 197 is a very nice car but for money purposes am wondering if thats enough to justify having it.

 

[Gaz_]

Fair do's. I know i dropped a major bollock selling mine. So much so that i'm 99% selling the Cup over the next month or so. Absolutley nothing wrong with it, but with having a MK2 for 3 yrs before the 197, i'm missing the refinement, done the whole MK2 thing i think. So will either get another 197 (lol) or EP3

 

[SteveS Cup]

I'd keep the 197 mate. They're a lovely car and if you can afford to have it sitting there then why not!?

Even as a weekend car I'd prefer to have a 197 to an elise. As a weekend car you still may want a bit of comfort / practicality!

 

[JayR]

Thats the thing the 197 is very refined and well built although im not sure that at just over 6.5k miles i can get a great idea as with miles it could become a shed for all i know!

Do you use yours daily mate? Is that why the way the cars built is quite important to you?

I'd keep the 197 mate. They're a lovely car and if you can afford to have it sitting there then why not!?

This is what im thinking but at the same time in two or three years the car is probably going to be worth f**k all so considering i covered just 16k in four years in my last 182 (which was helped along due to the fact i had 2/3 weeks every year to commute 120 miles round a day up until last August) i dont know if the lack of use (probably 1-2k a year max now days) justifys having a nice car in the garage thats worth alot of dollar.

 

[Gaz_]

Noooo they are solid as fook. Mine had 40k on it and was solid as a drum. I dont use it for work, but back and to the the gf's and going out etc. She has a 106 gti, so we dont have a refined car between us now, hense my new thinking lol

 

[ForceIndia]

Amazes me that people that do very few miles are so bothered about refinement. You boys would probably s**t bricks if you drove an old school hot hatch. Nowhere for your skinny latte's.

 

[SteveS Cup]

Well it's up to you.

If depreciation is a main concern of yours I'd go and get a trophy. A trophy with f**k all mileage will still be worth a fair amount of money.

 

[Fletcher]

TBH I thought you should have kept the 182 in the first place mate.

 

[JayR]

Amazes me that people that do very few miles are so bothered about refinement. You boys would probably s**t bricks if you drove an old school hot hatch. Nowhere for your skinny latte's.

LOL - I aint that bothered about it mate hence considering going back to a 182!

It is nice to have when you take some random bird out on date for the first time mind! There wasnt too many who like the 182 letalone the Williams hybrid before it! The 197 is a far more grown up car for sure!

Well it's up to you.

If depreciation is a main concern of yours I'd go and get a trophy. A trophy with f**k all mileage will still be worth a fair amount of money.

Depriciation per mile is a concern not the depreciation itself! Every car deprieciates! I think its just one of those thing - If i was using it (even as Gaz said for travelling to and from the birds) i wouldnt even be considering it!

Think i need to sit down and just think about it myself for a fair few hours!

 

[JayR]

TBH I thought you should have kept the 182 in the first place mate.

To be honest mate your probably right but i got good money for it and experienced the 197 so at least i can say i have given it a go!

The LY was too much for me after four years anyway (as nice as it was) so an RB or Trophy will at least be a little less in the face.

 

[pip.]

Don't bother with either. Get your license and get a quick bike.

 

[ForceIndia]

With miles/useage your doing, what about a vee?

 

[Kneel]

If your just looking to 'downgrade' so you dont have so much money tied up then I'd probably go all the way back to a late 172, all the same as a 182 except you dont have the twin exhausts but another £1k+ saved from a mint 182 to a mint 172. Personally I would keep the 197 but thats because I loved mine, and liked it so much more than my 172.

Saying that though, for the money you have tied up in the 197 if you use it so rarely and running costs arent a concern then I would probably look at changing it for something more special, maybe a TVR Cerbera or Griffith.

 

[JayR]

Thought about one before the 197 but any that were worth looking at were knocking on 14k's door (probably more for the better ones) so they were about 2k out of my budget.

 

[Kneel]

Chimaera should be in budget for a decent one

 

[ForceIndia]

If I did low miles, I'd be knocking around in an old Porka or M-car.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1472338.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1489803.htm

Much rather have an interesting old car given the chance.

 

[W17GLE]

i looked at some e30 m3's in the wrc place and trust me you wouldn't buy them.

 

[Šįk]

bet your kicking yourself you sold your old 182 to me now, hehe..

if u still want to stick with RS's you should get a trophy or petrol blue 182. rest of money put towards a deposite for a house or something

 

[JayR]

Na mate not at all! You give me decent dollar and it was time for change and a move away from LY!

I think i will go for either an RB 182 or Trophy and as you said the rest toward a deposit on a house if i do let it go! I fancy getting on the ladder sometime next year even if its just to rent it out! You know i have it easy at home!

 

[realnumber 1]

i looked at some e30 m3's in the wrc place and trust me you wouldn't buy them.

Why??

 

[W17GLE]

Not one of them was in good condition either inside or out and the owners were not even remotely helpful.

 

[realnumber 1]

But I'm sure there are some out there that are and also have helpful owners. Just a matter of taking your time choosing one. Same for any good classic car really.

 

[W17GLE]

But I'm sure there are some out there that are and also have helpful owners. Just a matter of taking your time choosing one. Same for any good classic car really.

I think you misunderstood i just meant i wouldn't buy one from wrc which is where that one is being sold.

 

[realnumber 1]

Much better than a Clio is it's just for the weekends!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1293089.htm

 

[realnumber 1]

I think you misunderstood i just meant i wouldn't buy one from wrc which is where that one is being sold.

Ah right, thought you meant generally lol.

 

[JayR]

Much better than a Clio is it's just for the weekends!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1293089.htm

LOL! I wouldnt wish that on my worst enemy letalone my own garage!

 

[danzel]

I'd keep the 197, if not, get a Nissan 200SX

 

[Jasey]

Sell it and buy an older car that will appreciate more the less you drive it.

Clio V6 or Focus RS would be a reasonable choice.

the 197 will just lose money pretty much irrespective of mileage.