Should I or shouldn’t I buy??

MattWill

Junior Member
Messages
67
I’ve provisionally agreed a price to buy a fairly low mileage Spyder (not GS). It’s passed an inspection, is in great condition but I’m getting slightly cold feet. How sensible is it to spend quite a bit of money (& biggish sums each year) on a 15 year old gas guzzler that I may soon be banned from driving…or I won’t be able to find/buy the fuel. As a 2005 car I can’t drive it into London or Birmingham (or Bristol?) without paying through the nose. But I had a 4200 before and miss that glorious engine.
I probably need to commit today. Shall I say yes or take a cold shower and move on?
 

Felonious Crud

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
21,013
Mark's right.

Anyway, why the h3ll would you want to drive a car like that into London or Birmingham. When I drive into central London I take the Fiat 500. It's small, inoffensive and no one thinks you're a *****. A wonderful car like a Spyder is for the open road, not the choked up filth of a city. Unless you're some kind of YouTube wazzock, anyway.

Now, if you are some kind of YouTube wazzock you should still by the car but your motivations will be different. If you're not a YouTube wazzock you should still buy it and then head for the open roads, fast and accompanied by a delicious V8.

Enjoy the ownership experience!
 

ScottH

Member
Messages
216
Agree with the above, so it whilst we still can.
The last time I drove in Bristol (few years ago) it was quicker to walk so you wouldn’t want to drive it and from what I’ve seen of the (not yet functioning, despite the deadline) Birmingham one you wouldn’t really want to drive those roads anyway!
 

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,075
There’s at least 20 years of petrol cars in this country many more abroad and if you really want to you can drive it in Brum or London you just pay a charge. It’s not really going to cost you more than the depreciation on a new car.

You only live once might as well screw it up now you won’t get the chance again ;)
 

MattWill

Junior Member
Messages
67
Thanks all. I agree with all of these. Driving in a town/city is a pretty terrible experience in these. I asked my 21 yr old son who said it would probably be the last petrol car I would ever buy (true as my next mainstream car will have to be electric). And does 15 mpg matter if it’s not the everyday car. All true.
 

TKoos

Junior Member
Messages
50
Thanks all. I agree with all of these. Driving in a town/city is a pretty terrible experience in these. I asked my 21 yr old son who said it would probably be the last petrol car I would ever buy (true as my next mainstream car will have to be electric). And does 15 mpg matter if it’s not the everyday car. All true.
Your son is a keeper. :)
 

Phil H

Member
Messages
4,107
Maseratis are never sensible choices which is precisely why man-maths was invented, and Mr Crud is spot on with his advice. That first drive in the sun will be enough to convince you it was the right decision.......
 

Hawk13

Member
Messages
1,471
true as my next mainstream car will have to be electric.

I don't understand this comment?

It is over 8 years until NEW ICE cars are banned and nearly 15 until hybirds / PHEVs are banned ... currently. And I say currently as I simply don't believe that the electric infastructure will be in place by then.

And even then ownership will not be banned. Personally, I bought my car as I knew it was the last in the line of NA V8s and will continue to drive it until petrol (or any other fuel I can run it on) is no longer available .... which I expect to be well beyond my lifetime.
 

Scaf

Member
Messages
6,512
These may not be the most sensible cars to buy, but life is short and we should enjoy it whilst we can.
I a meeting at the park at the meeting at
I must be one QPq if those YouTube wazzocks because I love driving in London, especially the west end, the sound of a Maserati accelerating up Regents Street is quite something. I have a board meeting at London Bridge later this month and have every intention of taking the Strad.
 

FIFTY

Member
Messages
3,100
They won't ban your car or take your fuel away instead the powers at be will significantly lighten your wallet via taxation.
 

bigbob

Member
Messages
8,952
They won't ban your car or take your fuel away instead the powers at be will significantly lighten your wallet via taxation.
You cannot guarantee anything wrt emissions in either law or social acceptability. The world is changing far faster than we expected only a few years ago. That said to the OP I would buy the car 100%. Enjoy these sort of cars for weekends and high days and don't go anyway near a city in them. If you live in a city then rent a garage on the outskirts to keep it in but make sure that your hairdryer car fits in the garage for when you go away for the weekend. I'm working on the assumption that my Granturismo is worth nothing in 10-15 years time but will get my VFM out of it along the way.
 

philw696

Member
Messages
25,114
As the others have said one life live it.
She's passed an inspection so obviously a Good one.
Get out and enjoy it on a Euro trip when you can.
 

FIFTY

Member
Messages
3,100
You cannot guarantee anything wrt emissions in either law or social acceptability. The world is changing far faster than we expected only a few years ago. That said to the OP I would buy the car 100%. Enjoy these sort of cars for weekends and high days and don't go anyway near a city in them. If you live in a city then rent a garage on the outskirts to keep it in but make sure that your hairdryer car fits in the garage for when you go away for the weekend. I'm working on the assumption that my Granturismo is worth nothing in 10-15 years time but will get my VFM out of it along the way.

When I went to school through the late 90s I was taught that fossil fuel would run out by the 2030s... are we all gearing up for a "Mad Max" world? If we are then I look forward to buying a Ferrari 250 for 50p in a decade.
 

Tallman

Member
Messages
1,833
+1 on most of the above - and eventually the restrictions etc... will lift and you'll have the option to drive it to Italy and enjoy it topless (the Spyder that is) in the sun on nice curvy roads along the coast (dreaming of it already....)
 

bigbob

Member
Messages
8,952
When I went to school through the late 90s I was taught that fossil fuel would run out by the 2030s... are we all gearing up for a "Mad Max" world? If we are then I look forward to buying a Ferrari 250 for 50p in a decade.
Indeed, it is hard to predict the future and Covid will accelerate a lot of changes. Fossil fuels will never run out, the G20 is just deciding to use less of them. Its been discussed elsewhere on here in that some older cars will continue to do well and be really prized but that requires them to be rare. Trouble is little produced in the last quarter century qualifies...all IMHO.