The elusive perfect fleet

[Tickman]

Has anyone achieved the perfect fleet?

I've tried many ways to get there and failed so keep chopping and changing in the hope that the perfect fleet is attained.

I've the C1 from @davehedgehog31 for economy, the SLK via @Jim Bell for quick and fun, the Minor for the still not done restoration and a void for the practical load lugger, tip run, trailer pulling duty.

I've previously tried to lump these together to cover multiple roles but that hasn't worked out.

I don't think I'm missing anything else...

[GeordieInExile]

A slightly borked 535d estate would seem to be the car to tick all of your boxes...

[320touring]

@Tickman you are missing:

7 seater - for moving plenty people

Barge - comfort is key on the long run

Track Car - excuse for a 172/182..

Nemesis - the one that always fights you all the way..

 

[SiC]

I think this chap has it close to a perfect fleet for me:

https://www.drive.co.uk/the-rodger-dudding-classic-car-collection/

But that's not going to happen.

At the moment I'm pretty content with my moderns. Civic is the main lugger, Boxster is the fun and the Fabia is the local runaround. Except the Fabia may go for a more fun runaround, such as a Puma. If I can find a decent one at the right price.

Classics wise, I can see my Moggie going soon. I intended that as a local runaround but tbh a modern is better for that. I'll either use the money to sort the MG Midget (part of my perfect fleet), or more likely as cash towards something like a Triumph Spitfire. That car would make my perfect classic fleet (for now). 

[Soundwave]

Honestly, my wants/impulses/needs/feelings change with such exhausting frequency, I don't think a perfect fleet is even possible. At least not for any serious length of time.

[sdkrc]

For the perfect fleet you need at least 2 non-runners that you will never* sell despite them serving no purpose

[Tickman]

1 minute ago, 320touring said:

@Tickman you are missing:

7 seater - for moving plenty people

Barge - comfort is key on the long run

Track Car - excuse for a 172/182..

Nemesis - the one that always fights you all the way..

 

So 3 and 4 there are taken care of in one Clio sized package and 1 can be taken care of by being a miserable bastard who nobody wants to be around which as a byproduct takes care of number 2 as you don't get invited anywhere!

So just a fast Clio then...

[Tickman]

1 minute ago, sdkrc said:

For the perfect fleet you need at least 2 non-runners that you will never* sell despite them serving no purpose

Been there and had a moment of strength/weakness and sold stuff!

[Jim Bell]

You need a 4x4 too. In case of occupation by invading forces, so you can escape to the far end of a sloping, wet field, where you cannot be pursued. 

[tooSavvy]

I have a 'perfect fleet*' of 1....

No Rust, 1st time starter, 5doors/flat floor, badermatic, low tax(ish)+ >>>> commencing E10 odyssey!

A rag bag of delights.... All on one Stick 😎

[sdkrc]

Closest to a perfect fleet for me:

* Interesting but impractical and scary to drive

* Big for family trips 

* Modern for when the others break

 

The missing components are luxury and disposability

[AnnoyingPentium]

I have the one car. An underpowered, temperamental piece of czech nuggetry.

Does it tick all of the boxes? Not quite, but it's close.

[Tickman]

12 minutes ago, sdkrc said:

Closest to a perfect fleet for me:

* Interesting but impractical and scary to drive

* Big for family trips 

* Modern for when the others break

 

The missing components are luxury and disposability

Perfect pictures showing off their capabilities

[Bren]

People on autoshite do not possess " fleets."

They have a selection of turd motor cars in various states of disrepair.

[HMC]

I will probably Look back and laugh at my remarks in this post in a month…. But

Having too many cars drains my money and enthusiasm- plus I’ve not got storage. Storage is a blessing and a curse.  Plus as I’ve been helpfully*  told many times in the past I can only drive one at once. So one “modern” that avoids being a boring appliance and one hopeless older car that I don’t worry about too  much and looks good overheating in a lay by suits me fine right now

2003 Jag s type r

1961 rover 80

 

[Cento16v]

I think if I had a non shabby Activa, the V60 and the XF I'd be happy enough.

I'd quite like a CBR 1000 to go with them, but a metal femur will apparently bend quite well if I come off a bike, so I'm unsure whether or not it's a good idea 🤔

[Bren]

I have the 545. My SD1 which is the longest project in history. And my busa.

[vulgalour]

3 hours ago, sdkrc said:

For the perfect fleet you need at least 2 non-runners that you will never* sell despite them serving no purpose

I win!

 

Oh.

[DVee8]

Yep I think I can cover it. By @Tickman's law.

For economy N01 son's Fiat 500, yes it's his but I use it.

for quick and fun MrsV8's Bini Cooper sport, yes it's hers but I use it.

for the still not done restoration . Sort of My Daimler 250 V8 does require some paint work.

practical load lugger, tip run, trailer pulling duty. My Nissan X-trail.

7 seater - for moving plenty people. Not needed.

Barge - comfort is key on the long run..My Nissan X-trail.

Track Car - excuse for a 172/182..  Mr @gm's  mighty MX5, yes it's his but I have driven it around a track in anger..great fun..

Nemesis - the one that always fights you all the way...They all can.

[Supernaut]

Being single, living alone, and not needing to commute every day all mean my needs are fewer.

I have the smol economical car for local running about, and the slightly less smol car with a tad more power for longer journeys and generally driving like a tit.

 

Before buying the 205 I was in the market for something a bit bigger for load lugging, but I've since realised that a 205 can be surprisingly capacious with the seats folded down.

Also, the 205 is actually far better for driving like a tit.

[Broadsword]

My "best" fleet was a little big but for a while it was all perfect:

*VW Lupo SDI (still have that) for super economy

*Range Rover P38 diesel (workhorse, now replaced with a 4.0 V8 P38)

*Jaguar XJR6 signal red auto (was a really nice example, sold due to needing the money)

*Jaguar XK8 4.0 V8 LPG (was also a really nice example, but likewise sold due to needing the money)

At one point I had all four of these and they were all sorted, it was really, really nice.

 

Now that most of the fleet is sold and I have just paid my house deposit, I can build back better. My future dream fleet is the following:

Lupo SDI (wishing to keep the current one going as long as possible, and replace with a Fiat Panda diesel when it dies)

Jaguar XJR6 factory manual (had an auto converted to manual at one point, but it never worked properly and again needed to be sold for final push towards house deposit). Just missed out on a leggy example yesterday. 

A decent Range Rover P38 (I still have the 4.0 V8, so that is all cool)

Three cars is a manageable amount for me.

[Out Run]

My fleet works well for me and I have no intention of replacing any of it, any time soon.

TDCi Mondeo estate for smart enough and quick enough daily duties, road trips etc. A car I still like to keep looking good, but never a project.

MR2 turbo fills the keeper/fun/summer toy/classic/project void.

Rexton for dirty load lugging jobs, towing, MTB transport, green laning, cheap running on veg etc.

I have owned the Mondeo for four years, MR2 eight and Rexton five. They are all well behaved and each different enough to justify their position, IMO.

All three see a lot of use and suit me down to the ground.

[cort16]

I always thought reliable and economical, fast and old was a good combo. I also thing 3 is the magic number, any more than that it starts to hurt financially.

Something reliable and good on fuel for doing family duties in my case (Juke/Kia Optima/Citroen DS3)

Something fast for when you want to go for a blast or do a track days (Z4, Megane RS)

Something old to spend all your remaining money on (Cortina/P6/Granada)

I found when I had something reliable and something fast I never drove the old car. I like owning them so I can look at them but never drove them.

 

 

[TrabbieRonnie]

My fleet is maybe just a wee bit too much just now, although if all were running, I'd have every occasion covered...

Workhorse... Toyota Hilux Surf

Barge/School run daily... Audi A8

Fun/nice to look at... Audi Coupe

Holibobs on tiny twisty-roaded Hebridean isles... Hiace Camper

Project/Classic/Love of my life... Trabant!

Back-up for above, permanent garage shelf/table/storage unit... 2nd Trabant!

Recoveries/Collecshuns... Iveco

Offspring owned shite... Mazda 323

 

First two in daily use, Mazda awaiting engine repairs (parts now in, mojo being gathered!).

Audi Coupe needs exhaust, camper needs sunshine/time off, Trabbi needs to release its own welded on brake drum while I'm not looking!

I swing between thinking "this is a bit much", and "sod it, they're all bought and paid for, I'll get to it when I'm ready".  Thoroughly enjoy the mechanic-ing when time allows, and they don't eat much.

 

 

 

[Out Run]

18 minutes ago, cort16 said:

I always thought reliable and economical, fast and old was a good combo. I also thing 3 is the magic number, any more than that it starts to hurt financially.

Something reliable and good on fuel for doing family duties in my case (Juke/Kia Optima/Citroen DS3)

Something fast for when you want to go for a blast or do a track days (Z4, Megane RS)

Something old to spend all your remaining money on (Cortina/P6/Granada)

I found when I had something reliable and something fast I never drove the old car. I like owning them so I can look at them but never drove them.

 

 

Three is definitely the magic number, for a few reasons.

Re the reliable and fuel efficient one, it also needs to be reasonably modern, IMO. It just makes everything easier.

[eddyramrod]

I think I peaked in the second half of 2008.

1962 Cadillac for "best" - couldn't drive it without grinning, and having bench seats and 4 doors made it very good for carrying passengers too.

1991 Chevrolet Lumina sedan for an enjoyable change

1987 Volvo 740GLE estate for trailer towing, load lugging, Bus duty (7 seats) and commuting

2006 Suzuki Ignis for MrsR, very handy for localish work but surprisingly good on distance too.

And I hadn't long seen off my project/garden ornament, my 1983 Plymouth Gran Fury police car.

I also had my stripped-out caravan for car-boot work, and a small open trailer for those occasions when nothing else will do.  The Volvo did 95% of the towing, but the Ignis also did some.

[gm]

 I think I had most needs covered here

the Bini takes care of daily duties and has acceptable mpg, cr-v for shifting big stuff and peoples, mx5 for hooning and track day use (when not being thrashed by various members of the @DVee8 family) and the exo lives in the garage - it's almost finished, I promise  

but the cr-v is now gone, the Bini is up for roffle and is soon to be replaced by tickmans alfa147 at the weekend 

 

 

 

[brownnova]

Perfect fleet: 

One to lug the family and commute in, one for the weekend, one for the wife, and one to work on (that you never actually work on… but it’s a nice idea)

So that’s the Volvo, the 2CV, the MG and the Yugo….

Not quite sure why I have the other 6 then… 

But I wouldn’t be without the Pontiac, or the other 2CV. So… likely my perfect fleet is that. Until I get distracted by something else… which has already happened. 

[hairnet]

how does this work if you live in the west of scotland and like volvos?

as long as it starts with a v its perfect no?

@svm are ya stil awake

 

[AnnoyingPentium]

If I had a "perfect" fleet then I'd have the following:

Daily - Vauxhall Vectra B CDX Estate (2.2 DTi)/P11 Primera of some sort, oh, or a B5.5 Passat Highline Estate. Or something (shudders in disgust) n-new... 🤮 . Regardless, it has to be a bit of a battleship.

Backup Daily - Skoda Fabia Mk1 Elegance estate (2.0 8v or 1.9 PD100) w/rear 'leccy windows.

The things to piss away my money on - Probably my current Fabia, since it's my first car. Maybe throw a better engine at it or something if I had the money. Plus my father's old Vauxhall Nova, which is somewhere in Northamptonshire allegedly.