Not sure on this one, but despite the fact the car's running okay at the moment, I can't help but feel that I'm spending an inordinate amount of money on it these days. So, I'm thinking, how can I keep a coupe as a weekend car only and get a 2nd car as a weekly commuter.

Over here in Ireland, there is no such thing as insuring two cars on one policy etc. I'd have to insure one, using my no claims bonus and start off with a new policy complete on the 2nd car.

So using my 7+ years NCB on the Coupe, my current policy is €1,200 fully comp per year plus €614 per annum road tax.
Starting off on a new policy for the 2nd car, I looking at about €1,100 for a 1.6 Focus plus €445 tax.

€3360 on tax and insurance per annum! That's just a crazy amount to spend

So what’s the solution?

Well I’m thinking of selling the coupe altogether and perhaps buying an 70’s Alfa 1750/2000 GTV as a weekend classic car. VRT if I import from UK is on €44, car tax is €50 and insurance will be probably <€400. I guess the car will be about £10k. The car can be stored in my parents big car port under a car cover. SO long as I take care of it, it should hold it value.

Then get a daily runner such as a Alfa 145 or a 147 Sportivo for daily hack.

It’s a bit out of left-field I know, but at the moment it’s just a notion.

But, an all Alfa affair with a 1750 GTV and a 147 would bring overall tax & insurance per annum from €3,360 to approx €1,295. €1,295 for two cars is €520 less than I pay for my Coupe alone as it is!!

Am I thinking striaght, or shall I be shot down by you FCCUk’ers in a ball of flames?

dair i say it.....looking at your costs, i would be thinking the same mate

Yeah, I guess I'm still just thinking aloud. I've always liked the 105 Series Alfas.
I saw a lovely 1750 last summer at the Ballynahinch show. It looks beautiful from the rear too!

I had a friend a number of years back who's father bought a 105 Series Alfa from the family of Arthur Guinness!! Dunno if it was a 1750/2000 GTV or GT Junior. It was subsequently dismantled into 1,000 pieces in my mates dads shed ready for restoration. Alas it stayed in a 1,000 pieces for a no of years until it was sold on to somebody else

What you are suggesting makes sense.

Dammit,

I was expecting some of the 'nooooo..... don't do it' brigadde to rush in and tell me I'm mad.

Now I think I might give this notion some further consideration.

I wonder how much I'd get for an LE in Ireland? 91k miles, new pro-alloy rad, clutch, turbo, suspension parts all in last year. Just had new 60k engine put in it with new belts etc. Bodywork (soon to be mint).... etc.

i just cant believe how much its costing you to keep on the road over there

i would love to be telling you to keep it, but at that cost, i wouldn't, your means are probably higher than mine however.

Someone will be making a good deal on that Coop though.

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo don't do it, ah go on if you want too

Thankfully, my running costs haven't been as big as yours ( touch wood ) but, they an expensive car to run over in Ireland.

How much do you think you'd get for it?

Dunno how much I'd get over here.... maybe €5,000? For somebody to bring a 98 LE over from the UK is €750 Import Duty + flights + about €150 for the ferry, so about €1,000 alone. I could put it up fr more, but I guess it would take quite a while to sell.

I'm still gonna mull over this one. First things first, it needs its 3rd full front-end respray in 15 months

It's disgusting how much a car costs to run over here. I was thinking of getting a 944 S2 but the road tax is €1,164 per year plus another €1,200 again for insurance

Hop onto Octane if your selling it and browse the used cars.

Don't talk to me about the road tax, I was looking at a 147GTA, but the road tax over 2.5-3L engines is horrible (same as that 944) and I wouldn't use the car any more than I use the Coupé, 12K max a year, so I can't justify it.

Re: the 147's, great car, 17" wheels are to big for Irish roads and tramline like crazy and the 1.6 Sportivo I had drank petrol, way more than the Coop, and used a lot of oil too !!

Mmmmm..... I may also look at a 145 Cloverleaf, maybe spend £1,000ish on one. A tan momo interior would be a nice bonus too! I've always wanted a 145 (I've had a couple of 146's)

Like you, I had also been looking at a couple of GTA's (156's) with the Q2 diff, but alas €1,566 road tax is just taking the mick!