How many is too many?

[Ewan]

To all you classic car collectors out there, how many cars is too many?

I ask this as earlier today I bought an old Ferrari from a chap with a big collection. He decided he needed to move a few on, to make way for some others.

When I arrived at the "garage" in central London to view the Ferrari, I was somewhat surprised at how big the place was. He had 120 cars in there, all under individual covers. Plenty of Aston's, Lambo's, Ferrari's, Mercs, Lotus's, Rolls Royce's, etc. quite an eye opener. Apparently he has another 250 or so cars overseas!

Of course, I didn't actually meet the owner - just the full time mechanic that looks after the UK part of his fleet.

Interestingly, the car I bought had been in his possession for 4 years. And the mileage in that time? Zero. Whether it'll start and make the 120 mile journey back to my warehouse in Dorset is open to question! I'm up for the challenge (but I'll have my AA card with me!).

 

[mjheathcote]

Guess it depends on how much free time you have.
But the more you have, the less time you have to spend with them, and the less connected you are with them.
So for me, apart from the daily driver, two's the limit! (although I'd have a go with more if I had the room)

 

[Classico]

How many's enough?

As many as you can afford to buy and keep.

Personally, two work well for me.

The Daily Driver and the Weekend Pleasure mobile.

 

[conaero]

I often feel a twelve car garage would be enough moving some on to make way for new ones.

Suppose I should list what those 12 should be really, ok, I'll keep it fairly sensible as its too easy to fantasise.

Maserati GranSport LE
Opel GT
Alfa GTV 3.2V6 phase 3
Citroen DS
Citroen SM
Maserati Bora 4.9
DMC Delorean (just an itch that needs scratching)
Ferrari Dino
Ferrari Daytona Coupe
Alfa 8C
Maserati MC Stradale
Alfa Tipo 33 Stradale (ok one fantasy car)

 

[spkennyuk]

I often feel a twelve car garage would be enough moving some on to make way for new ones.

Suppose I should list what those 12 should be really, ok, I'll keep it fairly sensible as its too easy to fantasise.

Maserati GranSport LE
Opel GT
Alfa GTV 3.2V6 phase 3
Citroen DS
Citroen SM
Maserati Bora 4.9
DMC Delorean (just an itch that needs scratching)
Ferrari Dino
Ferrari Daytona Coupe
Alfa 8C
Maserati MC Stradale
Alfa Tipo 33 Stradale (ok one fantasy car)

12 car garage ? thats almost a dealership
I would be happy with two or three to start off with. I have one and a bit at the moment and use of two others.

4200 on its way.
Alfa 159 2.4 Ti
A4 2.0TD wifes
Corsa 1.0 which is one of my sons. It's a bit of a project car for me at the moment.

 

[Andyk]

Never have ti many as long as you have the space to keep them...

 

[Mr.Cambio]

Car collecting is a matter of:
1. How much you love cars and can afford
2. How much money you have to show off.

I'm on the first category, as many of us.There was a period in my life when i had four at the same time. I believe it's not the number, but how many cars really make you feel special. Obviously it's the Maserati 4200 that does it.

 

[c4sman]

I would have thought that once you get above 3 or 4 fun cars it's no longer about driving them but more about collecting similar to art. The guy with 300 cars probably drives 10 or 20 of them for 1 day each year at the most. The only exception to this would be the likes of jay Leno who share the experience of his cars with many and has the time to use a lot of them as it is becoming a business in itself. For me, if I had unlimited funds, 4 fun cars and a couple of work horses would be the limit unless it was my business.

 

[rockits]

I think all cars should always be enjoyed regardless of it is for viewing only or occasional driving. Obviously the latter being the preferred but not always practical if you have quite a few. To have 100's locked away and never seen by anyone including the owner in my opinion is wrong and a crime to petrolhead humanity. I have always ran 3 often 4 or 5. They are always appreciated and driven/rotated where possible. Never has a car not been driven for anything more than a 3-4 month period (say over winter).
If I had a smidge more cash, a smidge more time and a smidge more space i would have about a dozen in a heartbeat. Hopefully in a couple of years I'll been in a position to do so and definitely will do.

I was running 5 until recently as just sold one with another due to go by the end of the month. Already looking to add another one maybe two so I would say 4 or 5 is a good number

 

[Contigo]

We have three cars at moment but had 4 up until very recently and it annoyed me having four and sometimes having two Masers does as it's all about using them, I hate not using them and leaving them for periods longer than a week as I feel it does them no advantage at all. I don't understand how people can buy them and not use them!

 

[Trev Latter]

I kind of feel the same a Phil. There are a few other cars I would like to get at some point, but can't justify have cars sitting there unused for long periods. I feel bad enough if I can't get out in the 3200 at least once a fortnight for a decent run. It feels better for more regular use than that when I can do it. It's my daily for this week, so I'll still be grinning like a loony at the weekend.

 

[VMSRTI]

How long is a piece of string?
Anything beyond one or two is a case of want as opposed to need.
If you can afford it and have the space and cars are your thing then why the **** not?
I now have a large garage that would hold several but unfortunately I have lots of other things to spend my money on at the moment so additional toys will have to wait.

 

[safrane]

Personaly any more than five/six is silly and the guy with all of these is just preventing lots of js seeing more lo ely cars...ask him to open it as a musean rather than hiding them away.

 

[zagatoes30]

We have 7 well actually I have 6, 4 Alfas & 2 Maseratis

and Mrs Z has the family bus.

That is plenty and it is hard to keep them all being used, which reminds me I need to get the QP out as it is looking a bit sad at the moment.

 

[dem maser]

Forgot you had a QP also, excellent

 

[Contigo]

We have 7 well actually I have 6, 4 Alfas & 2 Maseratis

and Mrs Z has the family bus.

That is plenty and it is hard to keep them all being used, which reminds me I need to get the QP out as it is looking a bit sad at the moment.

That would do my OCD in, 4 was bad enough, making sure they were all fuelled, serviced, detailed, run, and just ready to go and in fine fettle was a full time job!

 

[dem maser]

3 max
Not anymore but 3 was the most when the Mrs was around

 

[MAF260]

I think a dozen is a good number of cars to enjoy and use. I would want them to be as different as possible so that they offered a different/unique driving experience compared to the others - that way I think they would get used.
I have 5 currently and they all differ apart from the 2 GranSports, but even they are chalk and cheese from a visual/aural perspective.

 

[hilts uk]

I have 4 and that's close to my limit. Hassle of MOT, servicing, insurance and storage are biggest issues. Oh and Mrs H also puts her foot down.

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[spkennyuk]

I have 4 and that's close to my limit. Hassle of MOT, servicing, insurance and storage are biggest issues. Oh and Mrs H also puts her foot down.

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Buy the next one for Mrs H. That should solve half the problem. One for each day of the week is more than enough unless your looking at investment cars. insurance cost per mile would be very high if you only use a car a few times a year.