How often do you drive?

[JJQ]

Hey all, long time lurker here and just signed up.

 

I very nearly built an MK Indy back in 2021, stripped down an MX5, realised I had no way near enough time and sold the parts.

 

I’ve decided the way forward now is to just but a used version of what I wanted in the first place, which was a Westfield, so I’m sitting here waiting for the right one to turn up. 
 

THE question I have is this. I’m 38 with a 6 and 8 year old and a full time job; Those of you who are in/have been in this position, how often do you get to enjoy your car?  I imagine I’ll use it for every possible errand and some early morning blasts, but if I’m not sounding realistic please just let me know!

 

 

[Craigieboy]

Everyone's circumstances are different, but i get out in mine as often as I can weather permitting. I also have a slightly modified Mx5, but this thing is totally different, much rawer and communicative, makes the Mx5 feel soft. So I really crave drives in the Westfield and every drive is special. 

Another great aspect is when your not actually driving, they are easy to tinker with and I enjoy that, well when things to to plan I do.

Depending on where you are, there may be other owners to drive with and that makes a massive difference. 

 

I think you're making the right decision, just spent 2hrs today helping my mate trace electrical issues with his self build MK. The fact it's a chopped up old mx5 wiring loom just adds issues.

 

Nows a good time to get one, that's me 1 year of ownership and some brilliant drives. 

 

I should add, it's a brilliant community, lots of help and advice on hand and even a few jokers about @Flying Carrot Steve

[mega ade]

You've hit the nail right on the head get out every opportunity you can your be doing more errands than you ever thought possible decent light so evenings are then available and of course the children they love them my little 4 yr old grandson well 5 in the morning can't wait to get out in the westie obviously I drive very slowly with him in there but he's on my case to go out daily get your skates on get your car and get out there before summers over.

[Craigieboy]

Ironically it's the most impractical car I've ever owned, however last year i drove more miles than the previous two fun cars, GR Yaris and M2. Must be something in it...

[Flying Carrot Steve]

2 hours ago, Craigieboy said:

 

 

I should add, it's a brilliant community, lots of help and advice on hand and even a few jokers about @Flying Carrot Steve

 

Nah,... nah, nah, nah, nah ,nah, not me, never, honest guv

[DeanMegaS2000]

My 9 year old loves going out in mine. I took him to football practice a few weeks back and at the end all his friends were taking turns sit in. They loved hanging on the roll cage to climb in. 

[Craigieboy]

8 hours ago, Flying Carrot Steve said:

 

Nah,... nah, nah, nah, nah ,nah, not me, never, honest guv

 

Is that your reply to the question 'How often do you drive?'...... 🤣🤣🤣

[Stuart Davis AO - Devon Cornwall & Somerset]

Similarly here. Plenty of family commitments (eleven year old plus two grown up children) plus a full time job, so taking too much time out is not possible. I’ve managed quite a bit in May with Haynes, Cornwall and Malvern, but aside from those I try to take the car to our monthly meets which are nearly an hour away, and often take my daughter to her Saturday morning dance lessons in it too, just to get out for a bit. She tolerates it just to humour me I think 🤣

[JJQ]

Thanks for the excellent responses, already loving the community.

 

So it sounds like these are excellent cars to slot in to family life 🙃 I live in a fairly rural location so can’t wait to go for b road errands.

 

thanks all!

[mega ade]

Same here mine has b roads for breakfast,dinner,tea and sometimes supper as I love to drive after dark.

[eggontoast]

@JJQ I'm similarly aged but with 7 and 3 year olds, who don't enjoy staying asleep... 

I commute in mine when I can, as well as snatching evening blasts of a half hour or so. Plus have averaged a track day a year over the two I've owned the bought-built car. That's it, really. 

My experience of replacing the engine over the last ~year is that serious mechanical endeavours get strung out over a very extended period, as all my tinkering time is my previous evening driving time. Which isn't a lot. So buy built and working plus don't spank it, would be my advice! 

[LoneWolf]

I'm 42 with a 7 years old daughter and 4 years old son. I'm rebuilding mine so it's off the road, but before dismantling it I did take every occasion to be out on the road with the westfield, even for a quick grocery shopping trip. Early morning, afternoon (nap time for them) and late night weekend runs were common as well, basically any moment they are sleeping or busy with something else 😄 (and I'm not working obviously).

There is the occasional weekend full day meeting anyway, which gets plenty of planning beforehand.

[Dommo]

Mine got more use when my son was similarly aged than it does now he's in his twenties! It was a treat to pick him up from after school club - perhaps trickier to do with two children. I also used it for commuting during the drier days - it was ridiculously cheap to insure and run so there was some strong man maths element to it too. Never went as far as a daily driver though.

[Jason_B]

I’m 39 and have a 5 year old, I use mine as often as i can. I only work 3 miles away but would rather do 3 miles in the westy than 3 miles in a Tintop. I have recently fitted a child seat so I can take the boy out for a few little runs and he loves it.