[John 070]

I know we've all been through the, "Do you have a beater," "Do you drive your BMW daily," etc. types of questions. But do you plan on accumulating multiple vehicles that you like as time goes on?

My strategy is to continue to get new or used cars, as time goes on, while keeping the old ones. This way, as time goes by, I will have more than one car that I like.

I think it's doable as long as a person is willing to drive the same car for a while. What's a while? More than 5 years, maybe 7.

If 7, I have two more years to go with the 335i, before adding a 3rd car. It's not looking so good for the Carrera 4S, I may need 5 more years to come up with the 80k needed for a 4 y.o. Porsche. But we'll see.

[Turb0Surge]

Hmmm. That's gonna be hard, and I get bored of cars fast. So far over the last 3 years I've had 12 cars and 11 bikes. (Buying and selling on craigslist) If you do the math that's about 1 car/ bike a month. Granted a lot of those cars I bought strictly to resell.

But for example I bought a '97 porsche boxster and was expecting to keep it, but I found a nice m3 so I sold it to buy that.

I was originally going to keep adding cars, but you have to calculate insurance, maintanance, and wear and tear. When you multiply that by every car and bike, that comes out to a lot.

[John 070]

Well that's why I figure the longer you keep something, the more doable it is. Every month of keeping something longer, is another payment not spent, and available for use somewhere, be it saving, spending, etc. For example, I said why not get another 1998 Nissan, mine's been trouble free for 14+ years? People still want between 2-3k for one, no way would I pay that! But it's a 100% reliable car for transportation, so I keep it. My Nissan was 9 when I got the 335i, and its reliability for 9 years enabled me to get the 335i. And to have a car to drive when the 335i was in the shop. Imagine there are some people who have leased 5 Nissans in the time I have owned mine, and would be getting ready to lease their 6th. 180 months of payments down the drain, and nothing to show. Some people have paid off a house in 180 months.

Anyway, I see that even a used Porsche that I like costs nearly 80k. That is a lot of money, so right now I don't see that happening in 2 years. But maybe in 5.

[rdub]

where are you going to keep all of these cars?

[Turb0Surge]

Originally Posted by John 070

Well that's why I figure the longer you keep something, the more doable it is. Every month of keeping something longer, is another payment not spent, and available for use somewhere, be it saving, spending, etc. For example, I said why not get another 1998 Nissan, mine's been trouble free for 14+ years? People still want between 2-3k for one, no way would I pay that! But it's a 100% reliable car for transportation, so I keep it. My Nissan was 9 when I got the 335i, and its reliability for 9 years enabled me to get the 335i. And to have a car to drive when the 335i was in the shop. Imagine there are some people who have leased 5 Nissans in the time I have owned mine, and would be getting ready to lease their 6th. 180 months of payments down the drain, and nothing to show. Some people have paid off a house in 180 months.

Anyway, I see that even a used Porsche that I like costs nearly 80k. That is a lot of money, so right now I don't see that happening in 2 years. But maybe in 5.

Yeah, I didn't factor in payments on a car, just because if i can't pay for a car upfront i won't buy it.

But it always has been a dream for me to walk out one day to my garage and have like 10 cars lined up, all buffed, polished, and waxed, just waiting for me.

I know exactly what you mean.

[John 070]

On the front lawn!

I hear you, with my wife's we've got 3, and that is a bit of good ol' American excess I guess. But no lie there are households with 5-6 cars in our neighborhood. One guy that I got into an argument with has a Carrera S, Cayenne S, 325i ZSP, Corvette, and A6. The argument ensued when I was parking my Nissan across the street from his house.

[Turb0Surge]

Originally Posted by John 070

On the front lawn!

I hear you, with my wife's we've got 3, and that is a bit of good ol' American excess I guess. But no lie there are households with 5-6 cars in our neighborhood. One guy that I got into an argument with has a Carrera S, Cayenne S, 325i ZSP, Corvette, and A6. The argument ensued when I was parking my Nissan across the street from his house.

Haha wow. Yeah we have a similar situation with out neighbors. Luckily we have a 3 car garage and all of our cars fit in our garage/ driveway.

[monza2t]

Ive been there already and pared it back. Always thought it would be great to have a fleet, and then I realized I couldnt drive them all and I had this huget pile of money tied up in stuff I couldnt really enjoy. That money is now making money.

I still have too many

[Turb0Surge]

Originally Posted by monza2t

Ive been there already and pared it back. Always thought it would be great to have a fleet, and then I realized I couldnt drive them all and I had this huget pile of money tied up in stuff I couldnt really enjoy. That money is now making money.

I still have too many

That's smart. What I've found out myself is that with more cars you still have a favorite that you end up driving the most. The others just sit.

[krhodes1]

I've had up to 7 cars at one point, though I have come to realize that the maximum I can deal with easily is four. I have a large garage/workshop that will be getting bigger as I am planning to add a new workshop bay on with enough height for a 2-post lift. At the moment I have 8' an 8' ceiling and a 4-post lift.

Currently I have:
'11 BMW 328i Wagon
'02 Jeep Grand Cherokee (wintah beatah and tow beast)
'86 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce
'74 Triumph Spitfire

The Spider will be for sale next spring, time for something new. I want something in a coupe or 2dr sedan, must be old enough for antique registration and historic car insurance. BMW 2002, MGB GT, Porsche 924S, early RX-7 are the short-list candidates. Maybe a Volvo 242 Turbo or 142GT.

[dcat151]

I would love to have a stable full of cars, but I think at most I'd get one fun/weekend car. I have a three car garage and I'm trying to convince my wife that it is a shame to leave the third bay unoccupied.

[kevinbahnz]

I would love to have a stable of cars but first and foremost I need a house with a garage. Then I have the 335 which my wife drives full time and the 97 Sc400 that i drive which might be going to my son in a couple of years then i'll buy either an SUV evoque for the family or a 2 seater for myself. I regret selling my 01 330ci for 5 grand but i needed the money for the down payment on the 335. I was hoping my sister would've kept the car long enough for me to buy back but she sold it for 3 grand because my niece didn't know how to drive stick..

[Turb0Surge]

Originally Posted by kevinbahnz

I would love to have a stable of cars but first and foremost I need a house with a garage. Then I have the 335 which my wife drives full time and the 97 Sc400 that i drive which might be going to my son in a couple of years then i'll buy either an SUV evoque for the family or a 2 seater for myself. I regret selling my 01 330ci for 5 grand but i needed the money for the down payment on the 335. I was hoping my sister would've kept the car long enough for me to buy back but she sold it for 3 grand because my niece didn't know how to drive stick..

330CI for 3 grand? WOW.

[kevinbahnz]

Originally Posted by Turb0Surge

330CI for 3 grand? WOW.

Yeah, I tore the car up to pieces. it had 160k miles and a SES light that wont go away. a brake light ,and DSC light 1st and 2nd gear was gone but it drove from MA to NC with no problems when i dropped it off. it was just sitting in her driveway when the landscaper asked to buy it.

[ChipB]

My neighbor's kids have asked me how I decide which car to take to work in the morning, as I alternate between an '11 E93 convertible, '08 Audi S5, and '07 Porsche Cayman S. The Porsche is my weekend/track car and is the least expensive car in the stable, the Audi is probably the most fun to drive around town (perfect blend of luxury and performance with an upgraded suspension), and the bimmer is for nice days with the top down. Maybe if the bimmer didn't have a slush box or run flats I'd be a bit more enthusiastic about it.

[Bronze]

It would be fun, but I have no room, and other things in the family that are much higher priority for my disposable income.

I did walk out yesterday from work and there was a guy with a silver Lancia in beautiful condition in our parking lot. He said he has some suspension work to sort out, but since it's been running well for him in the last month better than in the past two years, he's going to enjoy it before tearing into it. LOL

[MisterSkiMask]

I always planned on a stable, my dad always had a bunch of cars. As I get older I am less interested.

I am currently between cars myself, driving my work pick up, and the wife has the SUV.

My current plan is to add a fun sedan to the mix. Ultimately I want another Porsche in the mix.

[cmyk]

As much as I'd love to have a fleet, cars are depreciating assets (unless they're classics) and I don't have the time or disposable income available to invest in a bunch of cars and all their associated costs.

Of course, I do have my "list" of cars I'd love to have, and I might end up with one or two of them in the next few years. We'll see.

[Davin]

This has been my dream since i was a boy. since 16, i've had 5 cars, 2 of which i have kept. In the years to come, i'd like to add a few Older BMW's and AMG's to my stable and atleast one Ferrari. Building this kind of stable is a lifelong goal. I'm 21 now. i have a quite a way to go

[John 070]

Originally Posted by ChipB

My neighbor's kids have asked me how I decide which car to take to work in the morning, as I alternate between an '11 E93 convertible, '08 Audi S5, and '07 Porsche Cayman S. The Porsche is my weekend/track car and is the least expensive car in the stable, the Audi is probably the most fun to drive around town (perfect blend of luxury and performance with an upgraded suspension), and the bimmer is for nice days with the top down. Maybe if the bimmer didn't have a slush box or run flats I'd be a bit more enthusiastic about it.

I would like to have to face that decision in the morning.

But I do have to decide what car to take, since my wife and I have 3...though she does not drive the BMW alone (hey I bought it before we got married). But the next car which is maybe 2 yrs. away, she can choose it, whatever she wants (I mean within reason, like a new A6 or something). Somedays I don't really think I will buy a 4 y.o. Carrera S or 4S. Then again, there was a time I felt that way about a BMW.

[chromisdesigns]

If I could afford a "stable", it sure wouldn't be cars...maybe prime fillies? Cost gets high, though -- apartments, clothes, trips, dinners out...but we can dream, anyway, right?

[DriftDreamzSS]

Last year I had 5 cars, it was kind of a hassle.

66 VW beetle rag top slammed with 1776cc dual carb engine and a ton of other stuff (wife's toy)
93 rx-7 (track car)
02 grand Cherokee (towing and utility)
07 e90 328i (wife's daily)
07 e92 335i (my daily)

It was hard to drive them all seemed like the more they sat unused the more random things broke, with the jeep mostly. We have since sold the jeep, 328 and the VW and added a 2011 Audi Q5 and its a lot easier just having 3 vehicles. The only one I miss is the VW but we wanted the new Audi to have its spot in the garage and didn't want to park a rag top on the street.