Choosing Our Family Car

Previously, I wrote an article titled “Choosing a Car (What You Want from a Car) Changes Greatly Depending on Your Family’s Situation at the Time”, and recently I’ve been feeling that more and more.

What our family looks for in a car has truly changed a lot since I started this blog three years ago.

Three years ago, when I started this blog, the cars we had were “Boxster GTS,” “Panamera Edition,” and “Audi A3.” Our criteria for choosing cars back then focused heavily on “solid, sporty driving performance,” while ride comfort, interior features, luxury, and cabin comfort were secondary.

Three years later, the cars we currently have are “Porsche Boxster GTS,” “Porsche Panamera Turbo,” “Porsche 911 GT3,” “Porsche 911 (964),” “Nissan Note NISMO e-POWER,” and “BMW 320i.”

And probably this fall, the “Panamera Turbo” will be replaced by a “911 Cabriolet.” (Production has finally started, apparently.)

…Though, seriously, there are only two drivers in our family, so what’s going on here? (-_-)

While I joke about that, my car-loving husband has been pursuing the elements of “sports cars” and “performance”, which has led to an increase in cars that satisfy those desires but each with different personalities and charms, bringing us to where we are now.

As a result, there was a time when my husband drove sports cars all year round—both for weekday commuting and weekend drives. I also regularly traveled long distances, so looking at the mileage on each car, they each clocked over 10,000 km annually, making for quite an active car life.

At the Opposite End from Porsche…

But recently, my husband’s attitude has shifted a bit. After enjoying sports cars for so long, he’s started feeling that “the car I drive every day doesn’t have to be that sporty. Rather, it might be better to have a car that’s comfortable and relaxing for everyday use.”

Also, our kids have grown up (our eldest daughter is 6, second daughter is 3, and we’re expecting our third child in August), and when we go out as a family, they’ve started commenting on the ride comfort. They seem to really admire big minivans, often whispering enviously, “I want that car too…” And with one more family member on the way…

It’s starting to feel like having all sporty cars in our garage might not be the best fit anymore.

And recently, my husband has been saying things like this:

Before we started buying Porsches like we do now, what I wanted from a car was “sports car performance” and “coupe styling,” and I couldn’t even imagine owning an SUV or a tall vehicle. But after driving the Boxster, the GT3, the 911, McLaren, SL… after owning a good number of sports cars, I’ve come to think it’d be nice to have an SUV that I can drive without pressure, one that doesn’t demand attention but quietly supports me and lets me relax.
Last year, when I was considering the Note NISMO for commuting, I thought, “It still needs to be somewhat sporty,” but now my thinking has shifted to “Since I have the ultimate sports car, the GT3, it’s okay if my daily driver isn’t sporty at all.”
That said, when I get behind the wheel of a Porsche, I’ll probably still say, “It’s gotta be a Porsche!” though, haha.

Indeed, I haven’t driven as many sports cars as my husband, but having had some experience, I find myself thinking, “I totally get what he’s saying lately.” If I couldn’t drive a manual now, things might be different, but after practicing and becoming able to drive the manual GT3 and Boxster, I’ve also thought, “My daily driver doesn’t need to be a car that puts me in battle mode.”

My husband also says this:

I like the Cayenne too, but recently I’ve started thinking that even the Cayenne is pretty sporty. It’s a Porsche, after all.
When I think about it, SUVs from Mercedes or BMW seem more relaxed and luxurious to drive, and they come well-equipped and with luxurious interiors right from the start, without having to add options one by one like with Porsche. The rear seats are spacious too, which seems pretty good.
Right now, I’m interested in the GLS or the X7.
Well, considering depreciation and all, I don’t have the courage to buy new, but maybe I’ll look for a used one at the right time.

And the BMW 320i…

Along with these changes, my husband’s company shifted to remote work for everyone starting late January due to COVID-19. After a few months, since things ran smoothly, he’s decided to continue working mainly remotely.

So, the Note e-POWER NISMO we bought for commuting at the start of the year is barely being used now, and we often talk about how “It’s such a great car, it’s a shame not to drive it more.” Plus, the kids love the Note NISMO, saying things like “The back is spacious! The air conditioning cools really well!” and they always seem eager to ride in it.

As for me, I bought the BMW 320i last spring to learn how to drive a manual, and I drive it almost every day. But the kids complain that it’s “super hot” (the windows have no sunshade or tint, and the air conditioning isn’t very effective, haha) and “the back seat is smaller than the Note’s.” (Sad, haha)

“I’ve achieved my original goal of learning to drive a manual, and considering our family’s overall situation, it might be best to sell the BMW and have me drive the NISMO more regularly.”

That’s what I’ve started thinking.

That said, neither of us has lost interest in cars. My husband still watches car reviews on YouTube and reads magazines every day, and I’m still aiming to “buy my own Porsche.” Our passion for cars remains strong.

However, after admiring Porsche as the pinnacle of sports cars, having Porsches come into our family, and driving them on various roads, it feels like we’ve come full circle…

Since we already have cars focused on sporty driving, our mindset has shifted to wanting a car for daily life that comfortably seats five family members. Looking around, many people I know who own Porsches also have an SUV for family use, and I now think,

“Ah, that’s how it is! That’s smart!”

It’s a realization that’s come to me a bit late.

I expect some changes to happen soon, but I wonder how our family’s car situation will evolve…