Rent or Buy? Need some PH inspiration :)
Discussion
Hi all,
Hope you're all well??
I live in Abu Dhabi and come back to Blighty about 4 times a year, usually for between 10 days and 3 weeks each visit. I sold my beloved Z4M Coupe about 6 months in when it became clear I was staying over here for a few years and it was just costing me big finance payments.
So, each time I visit the UK I rent a car. I try to avoid having run of the mill cars, so usually go for something decent. Last time I hired a TTS from Avis Prestige. Time before that a BMW 335d from Thrifty. Prior to those (extravagant) ones, I usually went for Beemer 118/120ds or an Alfa Brera from Avis.
So the TT and 335d set me back about 1100-1300 quid each for 10 days...and the 1 series used to be around 600 quid for each 10 day stint. So even without the extravagant ones, i was spending a couple of grand a year on rentals...and this year, I've spent nearly 3000 already and am coming back for 3 weeks at Christmas which will set me back about 1600 because I've booked the 335d again!
Another thing is that I'm coming up on 3 years in April, and that means my No Claims (8 years) will expire and leave me with none when I return to blighty.
So I got to thinking, maybe I should cancel the 335d hire, and spend 5-6000 quid on something small and fun, and just leave it at my Mum's when I'm not there. Should pay for itself within 2 years, even with insurance factored in and even assuming it has no value at the end. And my NCD would be continued so it's still there when I do return to the UK for good.
Fuel economy and practicality don't matter and neither does depreciation. But it must make me smile when I drive it, and it must be quick enough to be useful. And I don't really want anything that's likely to destroy the economic argument by going wrong and costing a lot to repair.
It will likely be sitting around for months at time without being used, so it needs to be able to stand that. But I can get my Mum/sister to start her up once a month and drive it about until it's warm etc.
So I've been on autotrader, looking at 2004 Civic Type Rs and 2006 Clio 197s, Focus STs and the like.
Any other suggestions?
Ta,
J.
Hope you're all well??
I live in Abu Dhabi and come back to Blighty about 4 times a year, usually for between 10 days and 3 weeks each visit. I sold my beloved Z4M Coupe about 6 months in when it became clear I was staying over here for a few years and it was just costing me big finance payments.
So, each time I visit the UK I rent a car. I try to avoid having run of the mill cars, so usually go for something decent. Last time I hired a TTS from Avis Prestige. Time before that a BMW 335d from Thrifty. Prior to those (extravagant) ones, I usually went for Beemer 118/120ds or an Alfa Brera from Avis.
So the TT and 335d set me back about 1100-1300 quid each for 10 days...and the 1 series used to be around 600 quid for each 10 day stint. So even without the extravagant ones, i was spending a couple of grand a year on rentals...and this year, I've spent nearly 3000 already and am coming back for 3 weeks at Christmas which will set me back about 1600 because I've booked the 335d again!
Another thing is that I'm coming up on 3 years in April, and that means my No Claims (8 years) will expire and leave me with none when I return to blighty.
So I got to thinking, maybe I should cancel the 335d hire, and spend 5-6000 quid on something small and fun, and just leave it at my Mum's when I'm not there. Should pay for itself within 2 years, even with insurance factored in and even assuming it has no value at the end. And my NCD would be continued so it's still there when I do return to the UK for good.
Fuel economy and practicality don't matter and neither does depreciation. But it must make me smile when I drive it, and it must be quick enough to be useful. And I don't really want anything that's likely to destroy the economic argument by going wrong and costing a lot to repair.
It will likely be sitting around for months at time without being used, so it needs to be able to stand that. But I can get my Mum/sister to start her up once a month and drive it about until it's warm etc.
So I've been on autotrader, looking at 2004 Civic Type Rs and 2006 Clio 197s, Focus STs and the like.
Any other suggestions?
Ta,
J.
Hmm, it's not entirely clear if you are trying to save money or trying to improve the car you get to drive?
Either way I think the renting a car is the best option for you. Much as you don't want to factor in this cost, I am afraid depreciation is going to be the biggest part of where your money will go.
If you are trying to save money, just rent cheaper cars when you come over, or better still borrow a family members car.
If you want a nice car to drive when you are here, take the financial hit. a 5-6K car that has been sat doing nothing for 90% of it's life will probably not be the paragon of reliability, plus you have all the hassle of MOTs and arranging repairs. Plus you will probably get bored of it pretty quickly and it's not going to be as nice as driving a fairly new car of the type you have been renting.
If your NCB is the primary cause for concern, how about sharing a car with a family member, you own it and insure it, but put the family member as the main user (important otherwise it's illegal). Then you should be able to keep the NCB going.
Either way I think the renting a car is the best option for you. Much as you don't want to factor in this cost, I am afraid depreciation is going to be the biggest part of where your money will go.
If you are trying to save money, just rent cheaper cars when you come over, or better still borrow a family members car.
If you want a nice car to drive when you are here, take the financial hit. a 5-6K car that has been sat doing nothing for 90% of it's life will probably not be the paragon of reliability, plus you have all the hassle of MOTs and arranging repairs. Plus you will probably get bored of it pretty quickly and it's not going to be as nice as driving a fairly new car of the type you have been renting.
If your NCB is the primary cause for concern, how about sharing a car with a family member, you own it and insure it, but put the family member as the main user (important otherwise it's illegal). Then you should be able to keep the NCB going.
Why spend so much?
Half that amount and you still have a decent, fun car.
eg. Clio 172
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3244410.htm
Half that amount and you still have a decent, fun car.
eg. Clio 172
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3244410.htm
skoff said:
Hmm, it's not entirely clear if you are trying to save money or trying to improve the car you get to drive?
Either way I think the renting a car is the best option for you. Much as you don't want to factor in this cost, I am afraid depreciation is going to be the biggest part of where your money will go.
If you are trying to save money, just rent cheaper cars when you come over, or better still borrow a family members car.
If you want a nice car to drive when you are here, take the financial hit. a 5-6K car that has been sat doing nothing for 90% of it's life will probably not be the paragon of reliability, plus you have all the hassle of MOTs and arranging repairs. Plus you will probably get bored of it pretty quickly and it's not going to be as nice as driving a fairly new car of the type you have been renting.
If your NCB is the primary cause for concern, how about sharing a car with a family member, you own it and insure it, but put the family member as the main user (important otherwise it's illegal). Then you should be able to keep the NCB going.
You make some very good points. Re the depreciation, this one is a given, I agree...but it's no worse than just giving the same amount of cash (or more over 2-3 years) to the hire company. And, although I've discounted it having any value at the end, it probably will be worth something...even it's only 1000-1500 quid.Either way I think the renting a car is the best option for you. Much as you don't want to factor in this cost, I am afraid depreciation is going to be the biggest part of where your money will go.
If you are trying to save money, just rent cheaper cars when you come over, or better still borrow a family members car.
If you want a nice car to drive when you are here, take the financial hit. a 5-6K car that has been sat doing nothing for 90% of it's life will probably not be the paragon of reliability, plus you have all the hassle of MOTs and arranging repairs. Plus you will probably get bored of it pretty quickly and it's not going to be as nice as driving a fairly new car of the type you have been renting.
If your NCB is the primary cause for concern, how about sharing a car with a family member, you own it and insure it, but put the family member as the main user (important otherwise it's illegal). Then you should be able to keep the NCB going.
I guess what I really want is to have something really good fun when i'm at home and making a saving over a few years. To hire something that's really good fun to drive (like the TTS) is expensive...and I could hire something cheaper, but then all the long miles of driving I do when I'm at home visiting friends and rellies would be a chore. And very few of the hire companies have small cheap hire cars that are fun to drive. The nearest I've found was the 1 series...and they're still not cheap, although mightily cheaper than the TT/335d admittedly. Sadly, Avis seem to have stopped doing the 120d M-Sports now. Also, unless you go for the more expensive hire cars, you're not guaranteed a specific model...so I might end up with something really awful and dull.
It's all about fun for me, rather than 'niceness'. I guess I fancy buying something like a Clio 197 because it should be as much fun as the TT if not better, but will only cost me in total the equivalent of hiring the TTS for my 3 or 4 trips in a single year. Plus it will be new enough to be reliable (unless I buy a pup)! From that year on, only the insurance and running/repair/servicing costs will apply, which with any luck and the right car could be reasonable. And it could of course easily be turned into a trackday weapon when i come back to the UK permanently!!
Edited by jezzaaa on Wednesday 5th October 13:10
missing the VR6 said:
You could go for something like a Corrado VR6/MK2 Golf GTi 16V and not loose any money on them and probably make a profit when you sold them on in a few years.
Yeah it's a great suggestion...but I do worry about reliability etc of a car as old as that one. They're great cars, but I think a car that's only 4 years old would be a better bet, especially if it's being left unused for long periods. If I bought a lovely Golf mk2 etc I'd want a garage for it too, which i don't have. But thanks for the suggestion.GreatGranny said:
Why spend so much?
Half that amount and you still have a decent, fun car.
eg. Clio 172
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3244410.htm
Hi ya - yeah, it's a great suggestion. Just the age that worries really. Maybe I shouldn't, but it's a hangup I've got due to past experiences with a Golf GTI and a Nissan SX200 which both gave up on me!Half that amount and you still have a decent, fun car.
eg. Clio 172
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3244410.htm
jezzaaa said:
Hi ya - yeah, it's a great suggestion. Just the age that worries really. Maybe I shouldn't, but it's a hangup I've got due to past experiences with a Golf GTI and a Nissan SX200 which both gave up on me!
I have a 2002 172 on 90k miles... the gearbox will need replacing in the next 12 months but other than that, it's faultless. I've given it a bit of a hard time though so it's to be expected especially at that sort of mileage. If fun is what you want, why not get something like an Evo / Impreza? A lot of Evo's hold their money very very well, you're not doing big miles so servicing shouldn't be an issue, the amount of NCB you have I'm guessing insurance isn't much of an issue???
jezzaaa said:
You make some very good points. Re the depreciation, this one is a given, I agree...but it's no worse than just giving the same amount of cash (or more over 2-3 years) to the hire company. And, although I've discounted it having any value at the end, it probably will be worth something...even it's only 1000-1500 quid.
I guess what I really want is to have something really good fun when i'm at home and making a saving over a few years. To hire something that's really good fun to drive (like the TTS) is expensive...and I could hire something cheaper, but then all the long miles of driving I do when I'm at home visiting friends and rellies would be a chore. And very few of the hire companies have small cheap hire cars that are fun to drive. The nearest I've found was the 1 series...and they're still not cheap, although mightily cheaper than the TT/335d admittedly. Sadly, Avis seem to have stopped doing the 120d M-Sports now. Also, unless you go for the more expensive hire cars, you're not guaranteed a specific model...so I might end up with something really awful and dull.
It's all about fun for me, rather than 'niceness'. I guess I fancy buying something like a Clio 197 because it should be as much fun as the TT if not better, but will only cost me in total the equivalent of hiring the TTS for my 3 or 4 trips in a single year. Plus it will be new enough to be reliable (unless I buy a pup)! From that year on, only the insurance and running/repair/servicing costs will apply, which with any luck and the right car could be reasonable. And it could of course easily be turned into a trackday weapon when i come back to the UK permanently!!
Ok, I think I see where you are coming fromI guess what I really want is to have something really good fun when i'm at home and making a saving over a few years. To hire something that's really good fun to drive (like the TTS) is expensive...and I could hire something cheaper, but then all the long miles of driving I do when I'm at home visiting friends and rellies would be a chore. And very few of the hire companies have small cheap hire cars that are fun to drive. The nearest I've found was the 1 series...and they're still not cheap, although mightily cheaper than the TT/335d admittedly. Sadly, Avis seem to have stopped doing the 120d M-Sports now. Also, unless you go for the more expensive hire cars, you're not guaranteed a specific model...so I might end up with something really awful and dull.
It's all about fun for me, rather than 'niceness'. I guess I fancy buying something like a Clio 197 because it should be as much fun as the TT if not better, but will only cost me in total the equivalent of hiring the TTS for my 3 or 4 trips in a single year. Plus it will be new enough to be reliable (unless I buy a pup)! From that year on, only the insurance and running/repair/servicing costs will apply, which with any luck and the right car could be reasonable. And it could of course easily be turned into a trackday weapon when i come back to the UK permanently!!
Edited by jezzaaa on Wednesday 5th October 13:10
How about something hardcore and probably less susceptible to depreciation than most:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3294762.htm
Plenty of fun, and totally inappropriate for your requirement for driving lots of miles. In other words - perfect
Failing that, you are probably looking in the right place with cars in the hot-hatch bracket. Cars like a 1 series and a TT aren't really 'fun' cars in my book, they are firmly in the 'nice' bracket - daily drivers rather than hooners.
It sounds like there is more heart in this purchase than head - which I am sure will be to the approval of most on here, me included. In which case I'd think about what car you want that is (semi)realistically within budget, then worry about the rest later
dibblecorse said:
Just pointing out that with almost all insurance companies in the UK, NCD expires after 2 years, not 3, double check before you buy anything or it could be an expensive mistake.
Hi ya - yeah I think you're right...I left the country leaving my Z4M insured...and then finally sold it etc...which thinking about it must be many more than 6 months in because I remember working out that it would expire Jan 2012 skoff said:
Ok, I think I see where you are coming from
How about something hardcore and probably less susceptible to depreciation than most:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3294762.htm
Plenty of fun, and totally inappropriate for your requirement for driving lots of miles. In other words - perfect
Failing that, you are probably looking in the right place with cars in the hot-hatch bracket. Cars like a 1 series and a TT aren't really 'fun' cars in my book, they are firmly in the 'nice' bracket - daily drivers rather than hooners.
It sounds like there is more heart in this purchase than head - which I am sure will be to the approval of most on here, me included. In which case I'd think about what car you want that is (semi)realistically within budget, then worry about the rest later
Indeed, I did initially think it was a good opportunity to scratch my Caterham 7 itch!! How about something hardcore and probably less susceptible to depreciation than most:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3294762.htm
Plenty of fun, and totally inappropriate for your requirement for driving lots of miles. In other words - perfect
Failing that, you are probably looking in the right place with cars in the hot-hatch bracket. Cars like a 1 series and a TT aren't really 'fun' cars in my book, they are firmly in the 'nice' bracket - daily drivers rather than hooners.
It sounds like there is more heart in this purchase than head - which I am sure will be to the approval of most on here, me included. In which case I'd think about what car you want that is (semi)realistically within budget, then worry about the rest later
However, practicalities made an appearance, including the mentioned lack of a garage!!And if you haven't driven a 1 series M-Sport or a TTS, you might be surprised how much fun they are! They're also the best you can do with hire cars without getting into hiring R8s and F430s!! This is one of the reasons buying myself something choice is so attractive
Appreciate your thoughts...thanks.
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