Best way to experience different unrentable cars?
Discussion
Hi all
i am a big fan of japanese performance cars from the 90s and am going to buy one. I'm interested in civc r, integra r, subaru r/ra, evo
5/6, skyline and supra. All of these cars are super cool and I'm spoilt for choice so I was thinking I might buy one then change to
another every year. However repeatedly buying and selling just to experience and find if its worth keeping might be a bit arduous and inefficient so I'm wondering if there's a better way to get to experience these cars and that may help me narrow my choices/keep one for longer and avoid changing/regretting.
A 1 minute test drive isn't really experiencing it and obviously these car aren't available for rent in the UK.
1. Somebody mentioned car clubs is a good way to get to experience cars between friends but i don't know much about car clubs. Is it the case I have to join a club, go on cruises with my own car, make friends with people over time and then ask them if they'll let me drive theirs? If so that sounds like it will take time before i could get into someones car but in any case can anyone recommend a club close
to london which which might be good for me to look into for aformentioned cars?
2. Another thing I was thinking was that maybe I could message people selling cars online or ask anyone on relevant forums if I could rent
their car for an hour/day(with them in car as passenger and me being insured) and maybe i could pay them something they're happy with for their time and car usage.
Do you think that's a reasonable thing to do or might they get offended/should I expect to get shout at?
For anyone here with above cars that might be willing to help me out please pm me, im willing to travel outside of london.
Thanks!!
i am a big fan of japanese performance cars from the 90s and am going to buy one. I'm interested in civc r, integra r, subaru r/ra, evo
5/6, skyline and supra. All of these cars are super cool and I'm spoilt for choice so I was thinking I might buy one then change to
another every year. However repeatedly buying and selling just to experience and find if its worth keeping might be a bit arduous and inefficient so I'm wondering if there's a better way to get to experience these cars and that may help me narrow my choices/keep one for longer and avoid changing/regretting.
A 1 minute test drive isn't really experiencing it and obviously these car aren't available for rent in the UK.
1. Somebody mentioned car clubs is a good way to get to experience cars between friends but i don't know much about car clubs. Is it the case I have to join a club, go on cruises with my own car, make friends with people over time and then ask them if they'll let me drive theirs? If so that sounds like it will take time before i could get into someones car but in any case can anyone recommend a club close
to london which which might be good for me to look into for aformentioned cars?
2. Another thing I was thinking was that maybe I could message people selling cars online or ask anyone on relevant forums if I could rent
their car for an hour/day(with them in car as passenger and me being insured) and maybe i could pay them something they're happy with for their time and car usage.
Do you think that's a reasonable thing to do or might they get offended/should I expect to get shout at?
For anyone here with above cars that might be willing to help me out please pm me, im willing to travel outside of london.
Thanks!!
Edited by SpeedySpeedBoy on Sunday 19th November 12:34
Think of it the other way though. You're selling a high performance, older imported (most likely) car worth considerable money and someone messages you not to buy, but to ask to rent for a day or 2.
I know what 2 words I would be saying.
Regarding asking mates to drive their cars. People are very protective of their cars, especially us enthusiasts, the last thing we would want is anyone, especially a mate wrapping it around a tree or into a barrier.
If you want to experience what they're like, either try and find some at dealers selling them (which I wouldn't recommend) or see if someone is willing to rent them.
Otherwise, If you're that hell bent on driving all of these cars, buy them. You shouldn't lose much, if any money (may even make a little) but asking someone to rent it is a big no no.
I know what 2 words I would be saying.
Regarding asking mates to drive their cars. People are very protective of their cars, especially us enthusiasts, the last thing we would want is anyone, especially a mate wrapping it around a tree or into a barrier.
If you want to experience what they're like, either try and find some at dealers selling them (which I wouldn't recommend) or see if someone is willing to rent them.
Otherwise, If you're that hell bent on driving all of these cars, buy them. You shouldn't lose much, if any money (may even make a little) but asking someone to rent it is a big no no.
Nanook said:
Blanchimont said:
Regarding asking mates to drive their cars. People are very protective of their cars, especially us enthusiasts, the last thing we would want is anyone, especially a mate wrapping it around a tree or into a barrier.
This is a good point. I'm a bit funny about letting people drive my car. Other than my wife there are 3 mates that I'd let drive my car. One's been driving buses and coaches and HGVs and all sorts since he was 18, and is generally a very good driver. The other 2 both have a fair amount of racing experience, one is also a mechanic, the other is now a stunt driver.
My car's nothing special, and it's in good shape mechanically, there's no reason that absolutely anyone wouldn't be able to drive it.
But I'm irrationally funny about it.
Nanook said:
This is a good point. I'm a bit funny about letting people drive my car. Other than my wife there are 3 mates that I'd let drive my car. One's been driving buses and coaches and HGVs and all sorts since he was 18, and is generally a very good driver.
The other 2 both have a fair amount of racing experience, one is also a mechanic, the other is now a stunt driver.
My car's nothing special, and it's in good shape mechanically, there's no reason that absolutely anyone wouldn't be able to drive it.
But I'm irrationally funny about it.
This is an interesting(1) point. You'd trust your stunt driver mate to drive your car more than, say, a random, hugely overweight, female office worker type (you know, the ones always sat far too close to the steering wheel of their poorly maintained Peugeot while doing 60 in the middle lane of the M6). You know full well which one will take more care of your car. Yet if you were to ask the Meerkats which would be the better insurance risk and thereby attract the lower premium, big fat fatty would pay much less than your 'high risk' friend. (2)The other 2 both have a fair amount of racing experience, one is also a mechanic, the other is now a stunt driver.
My car's nothing special, and it's in good shape mechanically, there's no reason that absolutely anyone wouldn't be able to drive it.
But I'm irrationally funny about it.
1 - not interesting at all.
2 - shush, Twig, we don't need you to explain it to us again, we know.
Nanook said:
I can't help really, but what I will say is that if I was selling my Impreza/350Z/anything else, and someone phoned up and said:
"I don't want to buy it, I just want to test drive the s
t out of it for an hour, what do you think"
I'd politely tell them to get fking lost, I think.
Actually its more like 'I don't want to buy it, I just want to test drive it for an hour with you in car, how much ££ would make it worthwhile for you for an hour?"I don't want to buy it, I just want to test drive the s
t out of it for an hour, what do you think" I'd politely tell them to get f
king lost, I think.Personally, if I could make a £100 for an hour like that, provided he wasn't a dangerous driver and I could watch him, I wouldn't mind at all. The conditions being he doesnt abuse it(hence i'm with him) it and the money is worth my time).
In any case, I think a fellow enthusiast is more likely to be understanding than someone trying to sell their car.
Speedy, my view is for you to do less planning. My gut feeling is that you're relatively young. It's a long ol' life. If you need a car, you might as well buy one you like and that fits your circumstances.
The trick to it is to know your requirements, get a list together, then see what is the best example you can get for your budget. If you can only get leggy, poorly specced examples for your money, look elsewhere. If you know the cars well, you'll know what to look for.
For example, I knew I fancied a GT car with a bit of oomph. A DB7, an XKR, a 4200GT that sort of thing. I knew exactly what I wanted to spend and I knew what spec/colour etc I wanted in each. The Aston was a bit pricey, so the only ones in budget were less than pristine. The Maseratis were impossible to find with the combination I wanted.
Today, I have on my drive (probably) one of the best XKRs in the country. I could have had a slightly st DB7, but that would have been silly and I'd have been much less happy.
I did once buy a CLK on a bit of a whim and it has somewhat spoilt it for me, because it wasn't a great example (it was good, but not exceptional) so now I don't know whether I don't enjoy owning a Mercedes or whether I simply didn't enjoy owning *that* Mercedes.
The trick to it is to know your requirements, get a list together, then see what is the best example you can get for your budget. If you can only get leggy, poorly specced examples for your money, look elsewhere. If you know the cars well, you'll know what to look for.
For example, I knew I fancied a GT car with a bit of oomph. A DB7, an XKR, a 4200GT that sort of thing. I knew exactly what I wanted to spend and I knew what spec/colour etc I wanted in each. The Aston was a bit pricey, so the only ones in budget were less than pristine. The Maseratis were impossible to find with the combination I wanted.
Today, I have on my drive (probably) one of the best XKRs in the country. I could have had a slightly s
t DB7, but that would have been silly and I'd have been much less happy.I did once buy a CLK on a bit of a whim and it has somewhat spoilt it for me, because it wasn't a great example (it was good, but not exceptional) so now I don't know whether I don't enjoy owning a Mercedes or whether I simply didn't enjoy owning *that* Mercedes.
Blanchimont said:
If you want to experience what they're like, either try and find some at dealers selling them (which I wouldn't recommend) or see if someone is willing to rent them.
.
Why wouldnt you recommend a dealer who sells them? I thought that was the better option since sometimes they give 3 months warranty..
Why do you suggest dealers, would they give me an extended test drive?
I might just have to buy all of them at some point. But honestly, the iconic subaru rumble and blue.. the mean foglights of the evo 4, the curves of the supra etc..can you blame me??
ferrariF50lover said:
Speedy, my view is for you to do less planning. My gut feeling is that you're relatively young. It's a long ol' life. If you need a car, you might as well buy one you like and that fits your circumstances.
.
Well actually im not young but I'm very child like. The problem is I like All of these cars and they're all within budget but I just dont want to go to the hassle of repeatedly buying, selling, repairing etc. The point is I might drive them then realize I like a some better than the rest in which case I'd just stick with those simplifying my shopping list. Anyway even if I have to buy them fine, just not ideal circumstances. Doesn't help either that they're so old now as I might have to deal with a lot of age related problems with each car change..
Edited by SpeedySpeedBoy on Sunday 19th November 14:30
Edited by SpeedySpeedBoy on Sunday 19th November 14:31
SpeedySpeedBoy said:
Why wouldnt you recommend a dealer who sells them? I thought that was the better option since sometimes they give 3 months warranty.
Why do you suggest dealers, would they give me an extended test drive?
I might just have to buy all of them at some point. But honestly, the iconic subaru rumble and blue.. the mean foglights of the evo 4, the curves of the supra etc..can you blame me??
Can you just imagine a dealers viewpoint on it? Why do you suggest dealers, would they give me an extended test drive?
I might just have to buy all of them at some point. But honestly, the iconic subaru rumble and blue.. the mean foglights of the evo 4, the curves of the supra etc..can you blame me??
Young (by the sounds of it) guy calls up asking for an extended test drive on a car he has no intention of owning but wants to rag it about. I can't imagine you'll want to drive it sedately. How long do you think it will be before the dealer stops crying with laughter?
In all seriousness, a decent condition twin turbo manual Supra is what, 15-20k? If you were to stuff it (big power, old school turbo, RWD car so it's possible) and write it off, would you be offering the 15-20k to compensate them for the car?
I was speaking to a dealer looking to spend 20k on a Focus RS last year, and In order to drive it on my own (personal preference) I would've needed to stump up the lot in one go.
Not only that, I got a quote for a DC5 Integra Type R the other month as I wanted a change, and I couldn't get insurance for less than£1800. Compared to the Megane which is more powerful, newer, arguably rarer, and even more expensive. Yet the Megane was £650 for the year, £1200 cheaper. Also when you factor in I'm 23 with a clean license and 6 years NCB, so it's not like I'm 18 and just passed.
I can appreciate you're keen to drive the cars, but without buying them, I think you're more likely to hear a rocking horse do a plop.
Edited by Blanchimont on Sunday 19th November 14:36
The "Too many cars : too little time" conundrum.
I started a thread asking how so many PHers seemed to have experienced so many cars. The general consensus was money and time, working in the motor trade, or having good mates who trust you with their cars.
You just gotta get out there and buy one of your short-list cars, doing your best research to find a decent one. If it ticks the box, great. When you get tired of it, try something else. Your tastes might even have changed by then.
I started a thread asking how so many PHers seemed to have experienced so many cars. The general consensus was money and time, working in the motor trade, or having good mates who trust you with their cars.
You just gotta get out there and buy one of your short-list cars, doing your best research to find a decent one. If it ticks the box, great. When you get tired of it, try something else. Your tastes might even have changed by then.
SpeedySpeedBoy said:
Actually its more like 'I don't want to buy it, I just want to test drive it for an hour with you in car, how much ££ would make it worthwhile for you for an hour?
Personally, if I could make a £100 for an hour like that, provided he wasn't a dangerous driver and I could watch him, I wouldn't mind at all. The conditions being he doesnt abuse it(hence i'm with him) it and the money is worth my time).
In any case, I think a fellow enthusiast is more likely to be understanding than someone trying to sell their car.
You haven't completely thought it through. You won't be insured to drive any of my cars.Personally, if I could make a £100 for an hour like that, provided he wasn't a dangerous driver and I could watch him, I wouldn't mind at all. The conditions being he doesnt abuse it(hence i'm with him) it and the money is worth my time).
In any case, I think a fellow enthusiast is more likely to be understanding than someone trying to sell their car.
You may be willing to risk driving uninsured but I'm not going to aid and abet that and put myself in the frame as well.
Even if you could prove to me that you had current valid policy with DOC cover I'm still at risk for any damage to my car.
You would need to have a lot more than a couple of hundred ££ in your wallet I'm afraid.
As for dealers, ones selling 20+ year old Jap metal aren't exactly thick on the ground.
Gassing Station | Japanese Chat | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff