i've been lurking on here for ages now, ever since i first started thinking about getting a z, and i keep changing my mind as to just how sensible it would be to get one.

 

my sensible head says:

i'm 22 and i live in manchester - insurance companies tend to laugh down the phone at me when i call for a guote on practically anything

although i'd consider myself a reasonably practical chap, i possess approximately neither any mechanical skills nor a great desire to get any

i have no drive or garage so i can only really keep one car meaning the z would be my only car

 

my "but i want one" head says:

i've got a pretty good job so can probably afford it

i'm not a million miles away from gps

 

evil split personality says: fvck it - its only money

 

would i be fooling myself to think i could run a z as a daily driver, bearing in mind that my drive to work is 7 miles through busy traffic which takes around 30 minutes - would this knacker the engine?

would i be spending half my time back and forth to the garage and the other half without a car?

 

convince me....

The Z is not desigend to do 7 mile trips at a time and I presume that your trip is mostly in traffic which will not do the clutch any good too.

 

If you get a UK Z you can get it on Classic insurance which doesnt use any of your no claims bonus so you can have it on a 2nd little run a round. A condition of having classic insurance is that you have a 2nd car.

 

I have 2 cars, my Z and a 1.2 Corsa and it is a lot cheaper to get the Z on Classic and the Corsa Fully Comp than it is to just insure the Z fully comp on its own. I use my Z for fun things going out and driving for pleasure and the Corsa for going to and from town, my girlfriends and work. I save loads on fuel as 1 tank full in the Corsa lasts me about a month, plus the reduced number of miles on the Z makes tyres, clutches etc last longer.

 

Also you will be sick of the fuel bills of doing 7 mile trips. Little city trips you will be very lucky to get anything more than 15mpg. Think of it as every trip to and from work will cost you about £4 a day. Thats £20 a week, £80 a month on fuel without your other driving.

 

However it can be done. I used my Z as a daily driver, but it left me with little money to pay for maintance or any repairs that may crop up. I must say I was, and still am, only working part time.

 

Have you actaully been in a Z yet? I am only in Wigan and travel to Salford to University. I could take you for a spin in it if you wish some day.

 

Stuart

You can get classic insurance owning one car, trust me i've done it several times,

 

im 22 had my zed since i was 20, phone around and you will get a quote for under 1k TPF&F

 

Maintenance is as srrae says.

 

 

The art of good zed owndership is buying a good car in the first place :)

stuart - thanks for the offer, if i'm looking like actually getting one then i'll definately give you a shout!

 

i suppose the type of driving i do is my biggest worry - stop and start driving through traffic with a couple-of-hundred-mile round-trip probably every month or so.

 

i would be interested to hear how many others use their z daily or have it as their only car

I use mine as a daily drive, OMG the fuel cost!!!!!

 

Mike

Mines a daily driver (Auto) about 6 miles to work.....

 

But I let mine warm up to running temp before driving, it's mostly A roads to work and there is not much traffic and I get the chance to open up the throttle (not at the moment as it's wet and cold!) and when I get to work I let her idle for 4-5 minutes while I read the paper! :D

 

I don't find I use loads of petrol, I put about £40 each couple of weeks maybe another fill of about £10-£15 if I have been driving round at the weekend more than usual (i.e. football!)

 

Cheers,

 

Matty.

Me too..school run and everything

 

I decided sod the fuel costs it's just so much fun even though i drive around for an hour in the morning in rush hour traffic

 

I haven't got any other car....

 

I don't drink much or smoke so why not, I never get bored driving it, everyone else looks so miserable

I've had mine for 5 years and has been driven to and from work every day - that about 35 miles per day minimum plus any other trips running about in the vening and at weekends. So if you get a good one you can use it as a daily car.

Originally posted by MikeGroves

You can get classic insurance owning one car, trust me i've done it several times,

 

im 22 had my zed since i was 20, phone around and you will get a quote for under 1k TPF&F

 

Maintenance is as srrae says.

 

 

The art of good zed owndership is buying a good car in the first place :)

 

Can you recommend any companies for classic insurance Mike?

 

I am only 21 and am looking to get a Z and as it will be my only car and i have no ncb at the moment the quotes i am getting are very high, best so far is about 2k with elephant :cry:

 

Matt P

Originally posted by MikeGroves

You can get classic insurance owning one car, trust me i've done it several times,

 

im 22 had my zed since i was 20, phone around and you will get a quote for under 1k TPF&F

 

Maintenance is as srrae says.

 

 

The art of good zed owndership is buying a good car in the first place :)

 

Can you recommend any companies for classic insurance Mike?

 

I am only 21 and am looking to get a Z and as it will be my only car and i have no ncb at the moment the quotes i am getting are very high, best so far is about 2k with elephant :cry:

 

Matt P

Originally posted by Matt_P

best so far is about 2k with elephant :cry:

 

Two grand and an Elephant.......man that's steep!!

 

I only pay £257 fully comp and I don't have to offer any sort of animal either!

 

:D

 

Matty.

Originally posted by Matty

Two grand and an Elephant.......man that's steep!!

 

Matty.

 

I know.. I had kinda hoped riding the elephant to work some days would keep my fuel bills down...

Hi ste,

 

I also use mine on a daily basis which is about a 10 mile round trip.....

 

I have done this for the last 2 years with no problems and the fuel economy has been decent £30 every couple of weeks, maybe more if i use it at the weekend.

 

If you are interested in getting one then mine is up for sale at the moment.... :cry: regretably I might add, as I'm getting married next year and off course priorities have to change. I can send you pics if necessary.

 

Like people have said before the key to happy zed driving is to buy a sorted motor in the first place. ;)

 

Cheers,

 

 

 

Dean. :)

I also drive mine every day about 7 miles there. Might take the long ways sometimes as like to open her up but nice to watch peoples eyes looking at you whilst in traffic. Have to admit that I do drive a nice trip every week on Thursday about 100 miles so clears engine then, but been fine for 3 years now, after alot of work. Very expensive they are but worth every penny.

thanks for your comments, i think that was what i wanted to hear?!

 

i'm in the middle of buying a house at the moment after one abored attempt at buying what turned out to be an utter money-pit so i can't face selling my car and searching for a z until that is finished with.

 

maybe i should just stay where i am and get the z now

Found out today that our firm pay your mileage if you need to use your motor for work related stuuf, meetings etc, they pay a whopping 15p a mile FFS, i worked out that if the zed was doing 20mpg it would be costing 18p a mile for FUEL ALONE!!! let alone wear and tear on a zed!!!

 

Guess my car wont be doing many business miles!!

Since my daily drive got nicked, I have been using the Z as a daily driver until the insurance money comes through.

 

The only problem is that its a 108 mile round trip a day. :(

 

Fuel bill isn't very nice. But the car is solid. Its comfy and its fun :)

 

Even if I have to service it every fortnight! ;)