"Cost of Living With A Trophy" - Rush Magazine article.

[photo_ed]

A nice little piece from @Craig196 on the costs of keeping a Trophy.

Counting The Cost of Living With a Trophy Wife

Daily driving an appreciating, modern classic hot hatch seemed like such a good idea at the time. Some say there is a fine line between insanity and genius...12,000 miles later, Craig adds up all the bills and crunches the numbers. Images by Ben MidlaneSome of you might recall a column of mine...

www.rushmagazine.co.uk

 

[James__H]

Very good! I think I went in with the exact same mentality, and have probably spent the same in the last 7 months

I just wish the weather was better already...

 

[marrow]

A nice little piece from @Craig196 on the costs of keeping a Trophy.

Counting The Cost of Living With a Trophy Wife

Daily driving an appreciating, modern classic hot hatch seemed like such a good idea at the time. Some say there is a fine line between insanity and genius...12,000 miles later, Craig adds up all the bills and crunches the numbers. Images by Ben MidlaneSome of you might recall a column of mine...

www.rushmagazine.co.uk

It's a very good read, thanks for sharing Ed.

 

[NickReilly063]

What a great article Ed - I Love that Craig is being so honest and I’m sure most people who drive these as a daily driver can relate too - my question is - should they be used all year round now that they are an 19yr classic - parts are expensive and hard to find - values are rising and with money now expensive could they rise even more due to people looking for a great car but with less outlay.

However I take my hat off to the hardcore drivers who use these things as intended

 

[CS 1969]

I’m not a daily driver but I did take a personal loan out to buy mine due to low interest rates . Still need the Sachs done from the day I purchased it though

 

[Titan]

Top class article there Craig.

Loved the line "justification limbo that is quantum car mechanics"

I think as car enthusiasts,we've all gone over that particular threshold more than once...unfortunately!!

 

[photo_ed]

...my question is - should they be used all year round now that they are an 19yr classic

This is an interesting conundrum this isn't it Nick. I guess it's each to their own really isn't it, and fair play as you say to those brave enough to keep on dailying (is that a word?) these cars.

I love getting behind the wheel of mine, but as you know, only during the months of the year when I feel it's more clement. I want to be able to keep doing that for a good while yet without having the expense and inevitable heartache of potentially have to start rebuilding the car from the ground up, from a parts supply which is virtually non-existent. Thus, I personally wouldn't use mine as a daily, particularly during the Winter months. I've seen enough rotted out front Sachs damper spring platforms now to know that many won't make it through many more road salt strewn Winter's or indeed another round of refurb blasting and powder coating. If I was using a Trophy during Winter, I'd be swapping it onto Cup dampers during the months when there's salt on the roads, in my mind it's just not worth the risk and expense of ruining the Sachs - which are really the signature item on the cars. And this is before we begin to think about the potential corrosion on body shells - we all know the weak points.

Perhaps I'm being too precious, but my aim with my car is a balance of enjoyment and preservation, and it's the same for the 200 Cup now and goes without saying the old Mini, which would probably only last 2 Winters before needing a complete restoration and at probably £50k plus to do that, it would be incredibly foolish of me to run that gauntlet! In a way, I also enjoy the good cars more when I use them sparingly, it's more of an event, a special moment to be savoured. As you know Nick, the cars/vans I choose to daily are the height of mundanity, but in that way for me they're perfectly fit for purpose, use the basic cars for the basic stuff, and the fun cars for the fun stuff.

Just my two-penneth, and in no way judgemental of others who choose to use their cars differently, that's their call and as we've said; perfectly admirable in a way!

 

[Craig196]

Thank you very much for the kind words all, really pleased you enjoyed the article. It has been generating a lot of positive response and goodwill. Tbh, the plan (as I alluded to) in the article was to have a small estate car by now, however, like the majority of us no doubt, the cost of living crisis has interrupted the best-laid plans

 

[Craig196]

For anyone interested, here is the latest update I've published on my car. Another costly one I'm afraid and some reflection is needed

Our Cars; Renault Clio 182 Trophy - Report 002

It’s been six months since my last update on the Trophy, and all has been quiet on the expenditure, and sadly, the adventure fronts. The twe

www.rushmagazine.co.uk

 

[Titan]

Good article Craig.

Its never easy when you keep getting bills coming at you and the feeling
that you might just finally have everything all sorted...and then something else
goes wrong, making funny noises or breaks.

There is no real getting away from it unfortunately, especially when said car,
starts heading for middle age.
It obviously doesn't help either your sanity or bank balance (in a lot of cases)
when it becomes a lot harder to even find the parts required.

I also read the piece on the BBL R34's and what is involved with them.

Seeing the increasing popularity of these restomods, I wonder if something
like this might happen for the Trophy, in the years ahead?
The likes of Tolman, seems to have found a market for the venerable 205, so I
guess it could be possible, at some stage in the future.
And the Analogue Lotus Elise, among many others.

I reckon a restomodded Trophy could be an interesting future prospect, however likely
or unlikely it might be to ever happen though.

The usual eye watering prices that are often required, is an obvious barrier to many I'd imagine.

 

[photo_ed]

For anyone interested, here is the latest update I've published on my car. Another costly one I'm afraid and some reflection is needed

Our Cars; Renault Clio 182 Trophy - Report 002

It’s been six months since my last update on the Trophy, and all has been quiet on the expenditure, and sadly, the adventure fronts. The twe

www.rushmagazine.co.uk

An insightful article as always Craig, thanks for sharing.

 

[NickReilly063]

Great article Craig - the joys of Motoring and like Francis has said age is not on there side especially when trying to find parts -

It would be great to have a Toleman Trophy which would then most definitely help prices to rise.

Could you imagine a 120k Clio Trophy resto -

 

[CS 1969]

Cheers for posting your great article Craig

 

[Ajracer]

Thanks Craig.
Another honest update on the trials and tribulations of owning a cherished RS car.

 

[Chipper]

All leggy cars are a conundrum, all I can say is I mot’d and taxed my Williams and the Trophy last month, nearly £400 for the two for 6 months. A run down the road to the shops in either pays for it instantly… responsive cam-my, visceral. I’ve had a m3 CSL and and Rs4 B7 which both have cost me an absolute fortune (wish I hadn’t sold them as they have went through the roof) but thats residuals!!! I just find the Trophy is a line hugging lovable wee bugger, often I feel I should put it up for sale, then I take it for a sharp run to the shop for a 4pk of Red Bull and it blows me away surely I’m not only one

 

[photo_ed]

All leggy cars are a conundrum, all I can say is I mot’d and taxed my Williams and the Trophy last month, nearly £400 for the two for 6 months. A run down the road to the shops in either pays for it instantly… responsive cam-my, visceral. I’ve had a m3 CSL and and Rs4 B7 which both have cost me an absolute fortune (wish I hadn’t sold them as they have went through the roof) but thats residuals!!! I just find the Trophy is a line hugging lovable wee bugger, often I feel I should put it up for sale, then I take it for a sharp run to the shop for a 4pk of Red Bull and it blows me away surely I’m not only one

You're certainly not the only one, I think we all go through periods of slight disenchantment with these machines - usually brought on for me by the ratio of expenditure to driving. But as you say, it only takes one good drive and all those £'s become worth it. I know at the beginning of the year my Trophy was starting to fill me with all sorts of apprehension, but having got it through the MOT and fixed a couple of niggles, the thing then delivered in spades with some delicious driving experiences.

 

[Craig196]

Thanks for the positive feedback gents. It's certainly causing some anxiety at the moment - throw in the cost of living and it's becoming increasingly hard to justify. A decision needs to be made for sure. Yet the car keeps teasing me with little moments that make me smile. It's like having a hot girlfriend who's bad news but you just can't help yourself.

 

[Titan]

Thanks for the positive feedback gents. It's certainly causing some anxiety at the moment - throw in the cost of living and it's becoming increasingly hard to justify. A decision needs to be made for sure. Yet the car keeps teasing me with little moments that make me smile. It's like having a hot girlfriend who's bad news but you just can't help yourself.

There's a pretty good bumper sticker in that quote I think

 

[Omega Red]

@Craig196 brilliant reads, those articals, well done