New Classic and Sportscar Hire Company - your views needed!
Discussion
Hi guys
First post on these excellent forums. Hoping you can help me with setting up a Classic and Sportscar Hire company based in North Wales, called GT Classic Touring. Idea is to allow people to enjoy the wonderful roads of North Wales, excellent hotels etc. in some iconic cars. You've probably seen these sorts of companies around and about, there are a fair few, but I want to mix up the older classics with a couple of more modern drivers cars.
My initial ideas - TVR Griffith, Jaguar MK2 3.8, Alfa Romeo Duetto, Caterham 7 as a starter.
What would you hire? I know, I know, if you are on these forums you already have nice wheels!
All polite and affordable ideas welcome!
Cheers,
Tom
First post on these excellent forums. Hoping you can help me with setting up a Classic and Sportscar Hire company based in North Wales, called GT Classic Touring. Idea is to allow people to enjoy the wonderful roads of North Wales, excellent hotels etc. in some iconic cars. You've probably seen these sorts of companies around and about, there are a fair few, but I want to mix up the older classics with a couple of more modern drivers cars.
My initial ideas - TVR Griffith, Jaguar MK2 3.8, Alfa Romeo Duetto, Caterham 7 as a starter.
What would you hire? I know, I know, if you are on these forums you already have nice wheels!
All polite and affordable ideas welcome!
Cheers,
Tom
Cobra, Elise, MG Roadster, Triumph Stag or TR6, Mercedes 500SL(K?)(the 80s ones), Atom, Honda S2000, Moto Guzzi/Harley type bikes.
Has it got to be Wales? Scotland would be better. Of course if you live there already it's a done deal, but if you're moving to set the business up.....?
Has it got to be Wales? Scotland would be better. Of course if you live there already it's a done deal, but if you're moving to set the business up.....?
Thanks - I live here (Ruthin - between the Evo Triangle and the wonderful Nant Y Garth pass) although agree Scotland would be great too.
Would consider Cobra and/ or Elise, just figure they might be a blast for a day but not cars to go touring in. But I may be wrong (and I haven't checked how big a Griffith boot is yet!)
Ta again
Would consider Cobra and/ or Elise, just figure they might be a blast for a day but not cars to go touring in. But I may be wrong (and I haven't checked how big a Griffith boot is yet!)
Ta again
Griffith boot pretty big! You need to pack intelligently for an Elise......
Good luck - don't forget to post a link if you get going. And I'm not anti-Welsh (was born there - tho further south than you) - just that Scotland is bigger and people take longer holidays there and drive further?
Good luck - don't forget to post a link if you get going. And I'm not anti-Welsh (was born there - tho further south than you) - just that Scotland is bigger and people take longer holidays there and drive further?
Sounds like a lot of work maintaining such cars. Hire cars as a rule do not tend to get treated with as much respect as if people owned them and if you are off the road for any significant period it could really eat into your profits.
Do not mean to be too negative as I think the idea is a good one but maybe you should be considering newer vehicles? Boxser, Elise, MX5, Audi A4 Cab ?
Do not mean to be too negative as I think the idea is a good one but maybe you should be considering newer vehicles? Boxser, Elise, MX5, Audi A4 Cab ?
Stephanie Plum said:
Cobra, Elise, MG Roadster, Triumph Stag or TR6, Mercedes 500SL(K?)(the 80s ones), Atom, Honda S2000, Moto Guzzi/Harley type bikes.
Has it got to be Wales? Scotland would be better. Of course if you live there already it's a done deal, but if you're moving to set the business up.....?
Has it got to be Wales? Scotland would be better. Of course if you live there already it's a done deal, but if you're moving to set the business up.....?
The classic car club already have bases in Edinburgh and Glasgow so too late.
Thanks for your input. There are a number of companies in Scotland already (Caledonian Classics and Motor Club) but North Wales is virgin territory, for now!
I'm interested in views on the fleet I should have in the context of spend (£35k budget for 4 cars) and the criteria (appeal, reliablity etc.). Other companies deal exclusively in classics, but I'm nervous that the market needs another E-Type available for hire (and of running around after it with a box of spanners!). Hence the idea of 'modern' classics such as early Griffith and Caterham.
Lots on these forums about Griffith reliability - which is nice...
I'm interested in views on the fleet I should have in the context of spend (£35k budget for 4 cars) and the criteria (appeal, reliablity etc.). Other companies deal exclusively in classics, but I'm nervous that the market needs another E-Type available for hire (and of running around after it with a box of spanners!). Hence the idea of 'modern' classics such as early Griffith and Caterham.
Lots on these forums about Griffith reliability - which is nice...
I'd probably go for:
90's SL500 (10 grand?)
Elise (8k?)
S2000 (10k?) or MX-5 mk.2 (7k)
and maybe a classic ish 911 3.0sc or a 3.2 (12k?)
Everything British I touched from the CCC broke, so you're right not to consider E-Types etc.
Obviously you can buy cheaper / high mileage vesrions examples of these as there's no point buying low mileage minters to effectively hire out.
90's SL500 (10 grand?)
Elise (8k?)
S2000 (10k?) or MX-5 mk.2 (7k)
and maybe a classic ish 911 3.0sc or a 3.2 (12k?)
Everything British I touched from the CCC broke, so you're right not to consider E-Types etc.
Obviously you can buy cheaper / high mileage vesrions examples of these as there's no point buying low mileage minters to effectively hire out.
TBH I think choosing the cars is by far the easiest part of setting up a business like this, the fleet choice is defined by avilability / insurability / reliability as much as consumer demand. If I were you I'd be trying to decide how big I want/expect the business to be and buying to suit.... FWIW I'd be looking at stuff with a good reliability/desirability ratio, '89 Merc 500SL, Porsche Boxster, Porsche 944 Cab....
Hi
Agree the choosing cars is the easiest bit (well it would be!) but luckily there is a fairly well established business model out there and several successful companies. Insurance etc sorted. Linkup to local classy hotel sorted (I think!). Storage not quite sorted! Launch Easter 07 with luck. I just want to attract a slightly different market than the typical string-backed glove brigade - hence the modern classic angle.
Lots of Porsche suggestions! Maybe more reliable than a TVR!
Rates - depending on car, from £140 a day, £200 for 2 days for an Alfa Duetto (the boat-tail one) to £240/£360 for the Griffith/911/E-Type/ Cobra. Approx! These are benchmarked with the 'industry' - have a look at www.hchg.co.uk
Thanks again
Tom
Agree the choosing cars is the easiest bit (well it would be!) but luckily there is a fairly well established business model out there and several successful companies. Insurance etc sorted. Linkup to local classy hotel sorted (I think!). Storage not quite sorted! Launch Easter 07 with luck. I just want to attract a slightly different market than the typical string-backed glove brigade - hence the modern classic angle.
Lots of Porsche suggestions! Maybe more reliable than a TVR!
Rates - depending on car, from £140 a day, £200 for 2 days for an Alfa Duetto (the boat-tail one) to £240/£360 for the Griffith/911/E-Type/ Cobra. Approx! These are benchmarked with the 'industry' - have a look at www.hchg.co.uk
Thanks again
Tom
Hi Tom,
Would you only hire the cars for short touring trips or also for one day blasts? I'm sure there would be a number of people willing to travel up to Wrexham (for argument's sake) in a big saloon and hire a proper sports car to drive around North Wales and drive back home in the evening... Just a thought anyway, it sounds less and less likely as I type...
Anyway, give me a shout when you get set up, i'd love to come and say hi as I'm only in Wrexham...
Would you only hire the cars for short touring trips or also for one day blasts? I'm sure there would be a number of people willing to travel up to Wrexham (for argument's sake) in a big saloon and hire a proper sports car to drive around North Wales and drive back home in the evening... Just a thought anyway, it sounds less and less likely as I type...
Anyway, give me a shout when you get set up, i'd love to come and say hi as I'm only in Wrexham...
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