Should I get a second car?

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Should I get a second car?

I have a 2006 E-Class 280 diesel estate with 120k miles which has proved an extremely reliable and comfortable car for our family use and annual long drive to south of france.

Due to house move the car is now used for more short, cold starts on school run and am concerned about possible dpf problems etc which could prove expensive/terminal

Considering two options

1 - purchase a second car, probabaly a Fiat 500 1.2 lounge, for all the short journeys and keep merc for weekend family / holiday journeys

2 - change Merc for new-shape E-class estate but get a petrol version - ie stick to 1 car and 1 set of bills.

Is there a clear winner here? If option 2 - are the 4-cyl petrol engines big enough for a car of that size?

Asked on 19 September 2012 by John

Answered by Honest John

I'd stick with the Merc for your distance runs and get a 500 to run about in. Mine has been 100% for four and a half years. Nothing whatsoever went wrong.

Tags: buying short journeys owning small cars

Dear Honest John,

Please help me choose my next car. I would like it to have:

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