So, as noted elsewhere, I've found a maroon 1998 20VT down in sunny Norfolk, which the seller is willing to swap for my wife's Focus. It all seemed like a done deal, until last night ... when I talked to the wife.

While she'd agreed to me getting another coop, her plan was that I'd sell the Focus and use *some* of the money to buy a coop and give her the change to fritter on trivial things, like decorating and buying a new fridge.

Anyway, I'm now faced with a choice - I can go ahead with the coop deal, if I want, but I'll have to get rid of my other toy - my motorbike. To be fair I don't use it that much at the moment, I can't use it for commuting 2 days/week because I have to take the little 'un to nursery and I haven't been out on it for a weekend run in ages, I'd also decided to keep it off the road until next spring, while I do some jobs on it, but I've owned at least 1 bike at all times for the past 14 years and I'm not sure I could bear to be a non-biker.

So, today's the day I decide - coop driver or biker. Bugger, I hate hard choices.

Rent a garage around the corner and keep either the new Coop or the bike in there. Only keep one at home where the Mrs will be blissfully unaware, then when you want to use the other, drive around the corner and swap over. This you can only do when alone, and you will have to be careful to avoid detection

How much is the bike worth? Is it enough to cover decorating, a new fridge and a cheapo motorbike you could maybe work on until next spring?

Some serious man maths required here

The renting the garage idea, while bold and ambitious, is unlikely to fool my wife, who will want answers to questions like, "Where's the money you got from selling your bike?" or, if I keep the bike, "Where's my Ford Focus gone?".

The bike has its MOT coming up next month and has a few jobs that need doing before then - fork seals, new front tyres, oil leak fixing. If I could be bothered to do those then it would be worth about a grand. OTOH if I break it I'll get about a grand for the major bits and might get lucky with some other odds-and-sods, but I have to go through the hassle of taking it to bits and eBaying all of the bits.

So, not really enough to get another bike (or not one I'd want to ride, anyway).

Keep the coop and the bike, sell the Mrs!!

I doubt either the coop or the bike, good as they are, are up to the job of raising the kids.

Or cleaning the toilets, bath, emptying the wash basket and certain other services that a good woman can provide!

Well, quite.

I'd say you should probably stay a biker. You already have a car. The coupe will cost you money in the short - medium term and then you will be (i) missing the bike and (ii) skint.

Well, I guess you should consider yourself lucky that she lets you swap HER focus for something for YOU. You know if you don't do it, the same situation will pop up in a couple of years time. Thing is: there's a difference between A bike and A Coupe. Now seems to be a good time to buy a Coupe in the UK. There's good buys out there and the cost of maintaining one has dropped considerable. You can always buy 'a' bike somewhere in the future. Especially if you're not driving the one you have now + actually is going to cost you money in the immediate future.

What did you get the wife, I assume she has a new car if she is willing to part with the focus? did you or she pay for the new one as this makes a difference to your bargaining position.

If your swaping something of hers for something of yours, your up poo stream with out a paddle and will need to surrender something

If you have replaced her focus with something else and you get the focus as a offcast to sell and replace then its very much to do as you please!

If your thinking with your wallet, keep the bike, ride it more and steer away from the coupé
If its your heart, Buy the coupe and sell the bike

If you have a set, Buy the coupe ask her how she has the time to interfere with your plans when she should be in the kitchen * note "set" will be removed for her safe keeping after this statement

New parts prices, particularly for decent OE stuff seem to be going up rapidly though Kayjey.

Handbrake cables - £70. Remember when you could buy them and have them fitted for around that.

Just to explain - my wife has a Ford Focus and I have a Mazda 6. We got both cars at the start of the year, after getting shot of our Citroen C5 when it became clear we needed 2 cars.

However, we quickly realised that she liked the Mazda more than the Focus, whereas I was the other way round (the Mazda is a more comfortable drive, but the Focus is a lot more chuckable and fun).

So while it's technically her car I'm getting rid of she'd be formally taking ownership of my car, so I'd have the coop and she'd have the Mazda.

From my point of view on a "head" level the question is are you OK with the upkeep costs of the coupe and, if you sell the thing within a year or two, are you OK with not getting any of that back on resale.

You'd probably be able to upgrade to a nice bike with the maintenance that will go on a coupe.

Then she cannot ask you to sell one of your items, unless the focus is significantly more expensive than the Mazda....but thats not the question you asked.

Do the deal on the car. Keep the bike. Fork out of your own pocket for the decorating and fridge.

Easy

Get the Coupe mate. Having had one years ago and sold it for a neccessary family wagon I never got over it! I tried all sorts of other cars with my spare cash but always wanted another coupe which I remedied a month or so ago. It will put a smile on your face.

As for the decorating...keep what you have just now, it will come back into fashion eventually!

Well the wife wasn't keen on the deal, even if I did break the bike, so that would have decided it.

Then, first thing this morning, the guy selling the coop e-mailed me to say that if I let him know I want it he'll chuck in a cambelt change and a service.

Who the hell does a cambelt change on a coop as a freebie? So, I'm now thinking that there might be a bit more leeway in this deal.

Potentially some insane person???

I would make sure you get a receipt.

Ross

Maybe he was forced by his wife.

Hilarious.



Ross

Well, the deal is done. I pick up my new coop from sunny Norfolk on Saturday and I'll start getting the bike broken and on eBay on Sunday.

It's nice to be nearly back in the fold, even if the cost has been rather high.

Will the cambelt be done by then???

Ross

You may be disappointed.

It's getting done tomorrow

Well done Andrew and welcome back to Coupe ownership

Welcome back Andrew!!

Ah well then. Good good!!

As said before welcome back.

Ross

Thank you all, I'm really look forward to driving a coop again (although I could really do without the drive from Northumberland to Norfolk - why, oh why, didn't the government listen to my suggestion of arranging the counties alphabetically, eh?)

Best get my FCCUK membership sorted out, really.

Get some pictures up. Hope you enjoy the new car.