What to do? Sell or SORN?

[Peter C]

I've been into MR2s for about 10 years now. A couple of years ago I bought my 5th MR2, a dream spec Revision 3, red, tin-top (no sunroof or T-Bar), air conditioned and automatic. Since buying the car I've spent a bit of money on making it 100% and installed a very decent ICE system. This is it:

 

 

I've had my Merc W123 230E since 2009 and last week I bought a W126 300SE:

 

 

The W123 is a classic weekend toy, which I am keeping for good. I've spent money on it and couldn't bring myself to part with it.

 

The W126 is a perfect daily smoker for my 11 mile cross country commute to the office and also makes for a decent family car.

 

The MR2 is too small (2 seater) to enjoy with my wife and son and I am starting to feel uncomfortable driving around in a little loud red sports car. I am 36, a chartered surveyor and the MR2 doesn't really do it for me anymore.

 

If I sell the MR2 I will lose hundreds of pounds that I invested in it over the past couple of years. Now that I have transferred my insurance from the MR2 onto the W126, the MR2 will be left SORNed on my drive. To keep it sweet I will take it for a quick spin around the village on Saturday mornings and keep it washed and polished - the bodywork gleams! But what's the point? If I don't intend to drive it I might as well sell it. Trouble is, being an automatic it won't suit 99% of potential MR2 buyers and I am unlikely to get a decent price for it. I don't need the extra money but I don't like seeing a good car go to waste.

 

Any ideas?

[Cheggers]

I guess for me the point would be why keep it?? - It isn't going to be any more appropriate for a 38-year-old chartered surveyor than it is for a 36-year-old one, the interior space/ seating capacity isn't going to increase with age and, as nice as it is, I really can't see it gaining in value. If all it's going to do is fill the driveway, move it on!!

[Peter C]

I guess for me the point would be why keep it?? - It isn't going to be any more appropriate for a 38-year-old chartered surveyor than it is for a 36-year-old one, the interior space/ seating capacity isn't going to increase with age and, as nice as it is, I really can't see it gaining in value. If all it's going to do is fill the driveway, move it on!!

That's an honest and sensible response.

[Cheggers]

Most unlike me...

[Mr Lobster]

Agreed, sell it. If its not likely to see much further use then the best thing would be to get it sold. Yes you'll lose money on selling it but you have already spent it anyway and it'll only get worse if left sitting around.

[AnthonyG]

I would sell, if it's going to live on the drive. If you had nice dry storage for it I might be inclined to say keep it, but if you don't think you're going to be really driving it much any more, then the most sensible thing to do is sell.

 

Then you could put the cash towards a top-notch 560 SEL (or at least, the fuel costs!!)

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Defo sell. No point keeping it if you're not using it and if it has to live outside - it will just degenerate and depress you and annoy your wife!

[Station]

Someone will buy that, it looks very well kept. Esp with ICE, make that a selling point.

[lancashireclamper]

Would have to agree with everybody else about selling it soon,

I've always found it easier to sell cars when I'm not desperate to get rid of them rather than needing space on the drive yesterday, you don't have to suffer the time wasting underbelly of automotive society offering you a half eaten happy meal and £1.77 come giro day and can hang on untill a serious potential buyer turns up.

[pandamonium]

Much as I love my Mercedes, I'd like to be able to keep a cheeky little sports car too. I'd look at shifting one of the Benzs on. Just my 2p worth.

[Rocket88]

Or.............sell the w126, use the MR2 for your commute?

[Peter C]

Or.............sell the w126, use the MR2 for your commute?

That's what I've been doing until last week, when I bought the W126!

[dollywobbler]

I am struggling to see the point in two Mercs, but SORNing the MR2 seems a little pointless, as has been said. If both Mercs should stay, the MR2 should probably go. Looks a nice one actually...

[pompei]

Could you/would you use it for work? I'm also a CS and gave up on the company car thing years ago and (with the exception of the current motor) have used all sorts of heaps but your MR2 looks eminently suitable.

If it's not going to get used, then I'd agree, it's best to sell it, particularly if it goes to someone who'll cherish it. You've probably just got to accept the financial hit. It pains to sell a car that's been loved but unless you're going to hanker after it and regret moving it on, then I'd do that.

[Pete-M]

Or.............sell the w126, use the MR2 for your commute?

That's what I've been doing until last week, when I bought the W126!

I'd definately keep a W126 for the commute. Small buzzy sports cars tend to be bloody awful at urban trundling.

 

Personally, although an auto MR2 would be less irritating than a manual one for the commute, it'd annoy me on the few occasions I'd want to go playing in it as for that I'd want a manual one.

 

My solution would be to sell the MR2 and the W126 and buy a W126 560SEL. They're bloody quick when finances allow. The 560 is also the one that will be properly sought after in the next few years as values of good ones rise.

[pogweasel]

11 miles a day commuting?

 

What I would give for that.

Surely any old merc would eat that up rain or shine and still be 'showable', so 3 cars seems very unneccessary to me.

[Guest]

My old office was a round trip of slightly under 5 miles each day. Those were the days!

[pogweasel]

Bluddy hell.

 

Even "working locally" my office is a 25 mile round trip a day, then generally out to site etc.... I've done 27,000 miles in my shitty, uncomfortable Kangoo since June last year.

[Pete-M]

Heh, my commute is around 11 miles a day. Round trip.

 

I do around 1000 miles a week on average, the majority of which are done in new stuff. Diseasel Skoda Superbs mainly, they do it well.