General Panda as a second car… Should I?

[SB1500]

Speaking with my grandmother on Monday there. She confirmed indeed that her Panda hasn’t moved since I changed the oil on it a few months ago. Still reverse parked in.
Today I’ve been contemplating asking her to buy it. The only real use it has had this year was when my uncle / aunt needed it whilst their cars were getting work done (yes, both VAG products ;-)). Though they both have other cars in their immediate families too all the same. The only other guilty feeling I’d have taking it away is that perhaps some other kid in the family might acquire it as a first car. Though I think when asked / the idea is floated… they all have some collective shame over not wanting it. But that might just be the shame of having a car without remote locking in 2025 (as opposed to being a bright white Fiat). Sure enough… anyone we knew a decade ago with a car so old it had keep-fit-windows got a bit of a laughing at at the drive-thru. Though my mums car will sadly soon probably be offered out to anyone in the family looking, but probably not at first-car-pricing. With that out of the way…

What should I know about owning a second car? I would keep the CT as it’s paid off and use it when the gf or her daughter are in the car or for long trips. The Panda would literally serve only me and my little fantasy of owning one again and the novelty of that. Though I’d probably drive it to work and back etc too. I would leave the CT in the secure work multi-story or maybe even out at my uncles who’s got a bit of land. As I’d be taking it often and keeping it washed / presentable and not abandoned, I’m hoping he wouldn’t mind. Though they aren’t short on cars, it would also be free for them to use if needed. He’s just bought a new diesel van and nice as it is, it’s less refined than the Mazda 6 estate he had which had every feature under the its year. I could just drive out and swap the cars any time in either scenario.

Double insurance… double tax. And of course, petrol as much as it’s used. And an oil change once a year but that’s been costing around £60… and last year a couple of hundred as a one off when big things were due. Can’t see it needing much nor the point in suddenly using Fiat parts, and decent aftermarket never did my Panda’s any harm all the same.

Before making the commitment and asking… thought it would be worth asking here. Do I need it? Absolutely not. Do I want it? It’d shut me up as a lot of you have seen how much I’ve seriously contemplated getting back into a Fiat. Big stopper always being it involved trading my current car to do it. This sort of addresses that.

 

[StevenRB45]

I run and pay for 2 cars...

It's not that much more expensive than running one car all in all if both are paid for dependent on the cars involved.

Obviously insurance is the biggy in my case managed to get a mirrored bonus policy set up so despite 0 NCB got 3 years NCB which on the Toyota brought it down to 300 odd quid (can't imagine a Panda will be massively high risk).

Otherwise you're paying for 2 services a year and 2 sets of road tax but being a 2015 it'll be what 35 quid to tax?

Beyond that you can only drive one car...so things like tyres etc get reduced use, you use maybe the same amount of fuel but across both cars so it's not actually a massive jump in costs.

Between both cars I'm probably paying under a grand more in fixed costs than having one. However garage bills on the Citroën have dried up as it's not being battered so much so if anything barely noticed the difference.

 

[boozyjay]

It depends on your circumstances. I've owned more than one car for years, at one time I had four. Now it's just two Pandas, but for me it just works. If daughters car is off the road or the wife can't get a courtesy car, etc, then they use the spare Panda. Also Pandas are cheap to run and insure, so as a second car, they aren't that expensive, but I guess you already knew that.

 

[The Panda Nut]

My heart says go for it. Its always handy to have a spare,
but
My head says Do you really need this???? No you kin dont nor the costs and overheads, nor the depreciation. Financially you might as well burn £50 a week as I bet it will cost that at least.

Go on do it

 

[AnthonyH]

Do some sums?

For my 500X;

Insurance an extra £360 a year

Tax an extra £20 a year

I don't count the lump sum to buy it because that isn't an on going cost, just a one off.

I don't count depreciation because the car isnt worth much.

I dont count repairs because i cover the same miles just spread out over different cars.

Petrol is the same, because i cover the same miles just spread out over different cars.

So i'm paying an extra £380 a year "on going".

I'm ok with that.

 

[ClassicZoo]

What's the worst that can happen? You take it on, you find you don't use it, so you can give it back, or sell it. Seems pretty low risk to me, just enjoy giving it a go!

 

[Johnbee]

Firstly, I’d echo The Panda Nut’s comments. Secondly, I know you've always wanted to get back into a Panda and this seems like the perfect opportunity to.

For me, I actually save money running my Panda and Campervan and I’ve had a Panda as my daily, continually, since 2004.

My quote for insurance on my Campervan, as my only vehicle came in at £990! When I queried this, I was told it’s because the insurance company assumed I used my van daily as my only vehicle, which in their eyes (due to the value) is a high risk, even though they have the policy for my Panda too. Once they’d corrected their records, my van insurance fell to a more realistic £380 - A massive £610 saving. I have another 3 years servicing/breakdown free as part of VW’s 5+ promise on the van, so no costs there.

My Panda costs me £220 in tax and just over £100 in insurance for the year. Last MOT was with no advisories, so £50. I already have service items, as when I bought her back a second time in 2021 she had a boot load of items. So that £610 I saved has covered the running costs of Manda for this year and I’ve put nearly £300 in the Panda fund for when something needs attention.

It also keeps the risk of supermarket dents on the van down, as it’s yet to venture to Tesco/the tip/IKEA etc, so potentially saving me some more money there too.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Have you got it yet

 

[AnthonyH]

Come on fella, get the car! I want pictures too!

 

[TheBritishMatt]

I've got a Panda as a second car. I really don't need more than 1 car, let alone 3, but the Panda is just so much fun as a guilty pleasure.
Do it!
You only live once!