Second Car Dilemma

g0g

Ok I'll try keep this brief so I hopefully get some replies! I bought a 2011 Skoda Superb Combi high spec around 18 months ago as the main family car. Absolutely love the thing, but now with 3 young kids we can never all travel in it as a family. My wife also got a 5008 since then which has become the main family car. So now I have a car that I love, but:
1) I commute by bike to work most of the time now
2) At most it gets used for short spins and maybe creche run (very close to home)
3) I reckon it's still at a point in its life where it's depreciating faster than the value I get from it
4) Seems mad using such a big diesel car for tiny spins

So my thoughts:
a) Do I just keep the thing and plod along
b) Am I a prime candidate for an electric car? If so, how cheap can I get into one of those
c) Most obvious option seems to be to swap to a much smaller car. If so, can anyone think of something reliable and gadget-filled that'll be cheap to run and not depreciating too fast?

_Brian

Wow, can the superb not take three seats across the back ??

g0g

_Brian wrote: »

Wow, can the superb not take three seats across the back ??

Nope, poor design. You can absolutely wedge them in but it doesn't look safe. The obvious place for high back booster is middle slot which isn't at all wide enough so the child would have to reach under their seat to put in the belt. It's a very common problem in cars I've found - 2 wider main seat then the middle one is tiny in the middle. There's also a bucket-effect or whatever you want to call it in the back side seats, so yeah basically only good for two. It'll be grand for us in around 4-5 years, but I'm thinking it'll have lost so much more value by then plus it seems like terribly inefficient use of a diesel car.

bazz26

It's a bit unfair to be saying that the Superb is a poor design because it cannot take 3 seats across the back. It was never designed for that, most standard type family cars aren't designed for that either. If they were then there would be no need for the MPV market.

kindalen

Might be worth keeping an eye out for a multimac on adverts or donedeal. Pricey, but might suit you.

https://multimac.co.uk/home

g0g

bazz26 wrote: »

It's a bit unfair to be saying that the Superb is a poor design because it cannot take 3 seats across the back. It was never designed for that, most standard type family cars aren't designed for that either. If they were then there would be no need for the MPV market.

Well it's my opinion anyway and your time spent replying hasn't really helped me at all with the question! My comment wasn't directed just at the Superb, it's a frustration I (and no doubt countless other families with 3 young children) have found with so many cars on the market! It's also not the only reason for the thoughts of changing it.

kindalen wrote: »

Might be worth keeping an eye out for a multimac on adverts or donedeal. Pricey, but might suit you.
https://multimac.co.uk/home

Thanks for the tip, yeah I had been thinking the same originally, but with my wife's car being sufficient for the kids I'm also questioning the need to have two "family" cars in the first place. Right now the Superb spends a LOT of time just sitting in the driveway costing me depreciation, insurance, tax etc.

Blazer

sell it completely or get a nissan leaf etc..but will that be sitting in the driveway too?

g0g

Blazer wrote: »

sell it completely or get a nissan leaf etc..but will that be sitting in the driveway too?

Definitely still need something for the crèche run and weekends if we both have stuff to do. That was why I was thinking get something older.

jon1981

I could have wrote this exact post OP. Similar dilemma, i have a 1.8tdi 2008 focus sitting in the driveway most of the time, i cycle to work all the time and also as a hobby. The convenience in having a second car is too much to give up. Been thinking about a used nissan leaf..
Might be the best option.

g0g

jon1981 wrote: »

I could have wrote this exact post OP. Similar dilemma, i have a 1.8tdi 2008 focus sitting in the driveway most of the time, i cycle to work all the time and also as a hobby. The convenience in having a second car is too much to give up. Been thinking about a used nissan leaf..
Might be the best option.

Please post here whatever you decide - I'd be interested to hear! My thoughts on Leaf were:
1) Will it just end up costing me as much or more than my current car to buy and then setting up charge point at home?
2) Are second-hand Leafs around my price point or lower going to be ancient and older technology?
3) It definitely ticks the box for gadgets, lower tax and I would guess lower insurance!

grogi

jon1981 wrote: »

I could have wrote this exact post OP. Similar dilemma, i have a 1.8tdi 2008 focus sitting in the driveway most of the time, i cycle to work all the time and also as a hobby. The convenience in having a second car is too much to give up. Been thinking about a used nissan leaf..
Might be the best option.

The depreciation of 08 Focus will be different than 11 Superb though.

If the Focus is grand and not causing issues, I would keep it. But I would sell the Superb if in Op's shoes.

mfceiling

g0g wrote: »

Please post here whatever you decide - I'd be interested to hear! My thoughts on Leaf were:
1) Will it just end up costing me as much or more than my current car to buy and then setting up charge point at home?
2) Are second-hand Leafs around my price point or lower going to be ancient and older technology?
3) It definitely ticks the box for gadgets, lower tax and I would guess lower insurance!

I don't think you'll need to set up a charge point. A standard lead will charge them easily overnight.

grogi

mfceiling wrote: »

I don't think you'll need to set up a charge point. A standard lead will charge them easily overnight.

How convenient is it, to do it every night?... Granny cable ain't cheap either...

mfceiling

grogi wrote: »

How convenient is it, to do it every night?... Granny cable ain't cheap either...

Most electric cars have the lead. Going by the posts on the electric vehicles thread it's about 1.50 - 2 quid a night....seriously cheap motoring.

Lantus

grogi wrote:

How convenient is it, to do it every night?... Granny cable ain't cheap either...

Given the range of the leaf is about 100km unless your driving that every day you won't be charging every night.