What car to be left unused and generally neglected?
Discussion
Hi all
My wife and I are in the fortunate position where we are considering buying a second home in Portugal.
We don't intend to let it out, but will let various family/ friends use it.
Anyway, my thoughts have naturally turned to transport. I think we will find it cheaper to have a cheap vehicle down there (maybe buy it here and drive it down) than hire a car each visit.
I won't get much chance to service it, perhaps once a year or longer maybe. Depending on the villa we may or may not have a garage but hope to be able to somehow get a trickle charger on it to keep the battery in good health.
It'll stand for months at a time though, with no petrol heads getting near it except me, so a lay up routine is out of the question.
So, it'll need to be:-
5 seats and a decent luggage space
Very reliable and easy to fix locally when it does break
Ideally have a bloody good air con system!!
Budget is very flexible but ideally around £3k and no more than £5k
I'm currently thinking some form of Japanese pickup or 4x4, just because they seem rugged/ hardy and engines seem simple to fix.
Or perhaps a hardy saloon or estate is the way forward?
Anyway, thoughts please!
My wife and I are in the fortunate position where we are considering buying a second home in Portugal.
We don't intend to let it out, but will let various family/ friends use it.
Anyway, my thoughts have naturally turned to transport. I think we will find it cheaper to have a cheap vehicle down there (maybe buy it here and drive it down) than hire a car each visit.
I won't get much chance to service it, perhaps once a year or longer maybe. Depending on the villa we may or may not have a garage but hope to be able to somehow get a trickle charger on it to keep the battery in good health.
It'll stand for months at a time though, with no petrol heads getting near it except me, so a lay up routine is out of the question.
So, it'll need to be:-
5 seats and a decent luggage space
Very reliable and easy to fix locally when it does break
Ideally have a bloody good air con system!!
Budget is very flexible but ideally around £3k and no more than £5k
I'm currently thinking some form of Japanese pickup or 4x4, just because they seem rugged/ hardy and engines seem simple to fix.
Or perhaps a hardy saloon or estate is the way forward?
Anyway, thoughts please!
Pesty said:
Shogun?
Like the Honda idea. I have an accord and know the engines well. Seem cheap too! Are they 2wd?Shogun is a great shout. I nothing of these really. Is the petrol v6 or the diesel the best for my budget? Which would be easiest to get fixed by a cheapo Portuguese mechanic? Or me when I'm there and desperate?
Also, anyone comment on availability of parts for various makes in Portugal. Is there one type of car that all the locals have and therefore is easier to get fixed and cheaper for parts??
Citroen Berlingo or Renault Kangoo MPVs. Avoid anything with a turbo or common rail injection and get an old school mechanically pumped diesel one. Both cheap to buy so you'll get a good one on a limited budget. Made for European markets and although all the plastic bits will fall off and the lacquer will peel they'll soak up abuse and just keep going.
There's millions of them in France and Spain so easy to get fixed and parts are readily available. Keep the battery strong, the tank full of clean fuel and it'll fire up first time after standing for months
There's millions of them in France and Spain so easy to get fixed and parts are readily available. Keep the battery strong, the tank full of clean fuel and it'll fire up first time after standing for months
Just returned from holiday over there and it seems the locals prefer European stuff like Renaults, Fiats and Seat.
You don't need a 4x4 as they have plenty of roads and the locals manage just fine (unless you fancy a 4x4 in which case go for it!).
Was a bit nosy when the missus was shopping and it seems second hand stuff is surprisingly expensive. Stuff that would barely make a grand here were going for 2-3000 euros. Might be worth buying a snotter over here and driving it down.
You don't need a 4x4 as they have plenty of roads and the locals manage just fine (unless you fancy a 4x4 in which case go for it!).
Was a bit nosy when the missus was shopping and it seems second hand stuff is surprisingly expensive. Stuff that would barely make a grand here were going for 2-3000 euros. Might be worth buying a snotter over here and driving it down.
mannyo said:
After 6 months the car must be registered locally to remain legal, so you may find it better to buy in Portugal. You'll also have the benefit of it being LHD which makes driving on the right a whole lot easier.
Personally I find it easier to drive on the wrong side of the road when in the 'right' side of the car if I'm honest. I know that can hinder visibility etcI'm not against a LHD car. Far from it. The 6 months rule in Portugal, will that lead to any tax on a uk vehicle? How are used prices in Portugal? To be honest, finishing a well looked after car is tough enough, never mind in another language??!!
What if I drove it out of Portugal for 6 months a year? Is there a similar 6 month rule in Spain?? Just over the border....
valiant said:
Just returned from holiday over there and it seems the locals prefer European stuff like Renaults, Fiats and Seat.
You don't need a 4x4 as they have plenty of roads and the locals manage just fine (unless you fancy a 4x4 in which case go for it!).
Was a bit nosy when the missus was shopping and it seems second hand stuff is surprisingly expensive. Stuff that would barely make a grand here were going for 2-3000 euros. Might be worth buying a snotter over here and driving it down.
I did have a cursory glance at classifieds and thought stuff seemed expensive. My only question is whether there is some kind of outrageous tax that makes that not feasible. You don't need a 4x4 as they have plenty of roads and the locals manage just fine (unless you fancy a 4x4 in which case go for it!).
Was a bit nosy when the missus was shopping and it seems second hand stuff is surprisingly expensive. Stuff that would barely make a grand here were going for 2-3000 euros. Might be worth buying a snotter over here and driving it down.
Portugal is EU, so no tax to pay when importing a car, just switch the headlights to LHD and speedo to KPH and you're away.
Buy something like what the locals drive is a good suggestion, maybe a Skoda Octavia or similar. Getting bits for an old Jap 4x4 is likely to be very tricky, especially if you don't speak Portuguese.
Buy something like what the locals drive is a good suggestion, maybe a Skoda Octavia or similar. Getting bits for an old Jap 4x4 is likely to be very tricky, especially if you don't speak Portuguese.
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