Cobra & Caterfields - Would you hire one?

[disco1]

Hi guys,
I've been discussing the merits of a very small one or two car hire company with other guys on abother forum and throught the best place for consumer advice would be you guys.

The plan has been modified somewhat and now thinking about kitcar style car rentals, things like Cobra replica, Caterfield..etc..etc..

As kitcar lovers (and possibly not owners) would there interest in this sort of thing? I've searched the web and can't find any cobra reps for hire but plenty of old jags!

Would hiring these types of car to take out into the Brecon Beacons/Black Mountains/Mid Wales be of interest? Weekend trips way with the missus? single day hoots?

Prices would be much cheaper than the car clubs, i.e £150 a day all in, minimal deposits, Weekend deals, even half days! I could supply route maps with gastro pubs/petrol pumps/things to see..etc...etc..

Any consumer feedback most appreciated

Thanks guys
D1

[gingerpaul]

Caterham do this and I think it's quite popular.

[disco1]

Did check their site, they have locations in Surrey and Leicester. I also believe a radius applies? Could be wrong...

I aim to offer a a very simple process, you drive down to local area, I meet you, swap cars, I take your back to storage, you go for a blast with the wife for weekend down the coast or to the mountains. No limitations to miles, you just ensure there is fuel at the end.

Would people go for Cobra reps? I went on the Cobraclub forum search are there seems to be a bit of interest with no one offering the service.

[alex_p]

Can I book your Cobra replica for the 22nd of May 2010? I'm getting married and had all but given up on finding a Cobra to hire to drive from the ceremony to the reception!

[disco1]

alex_p said:

Can I book your Cobra replica for the 22nd of May 2010? I'm getting married and had all but given up on finding a Cobra to hire to drive from the ceremony to the reception!

Goodman alex_p

As mentioned, the cobra club forum has quite a few similar requests..e.g wedding days but funnily enough not one person has been succesfull in their goal.

Ready made market, back to the cashflow template I thinks!

[gingerpaul]

Sounds like you might have found yourself a nice little niche, particularly if you wanted a Cobra anyway.

Edited to ask what is the insurance situation like? Presumably this is the biggest hurdle.

Edited by gingerpaul on Thursday 21st May 13:46

[disco1]

gingerpaul said:

Sounds like you might have found yourself a nice little niche, particularly if you wanted a Cobra anyway.

Edited to ask what is the insurance situation like? Presumably this is the biggest hurdle.

Edited by gingerpaul on Thursday 21st May 13:46

I'd need to speak to specialist broker, I spoke to one a few days back about insuring a small fleet of Lotus Elises on hire out basis, cost roughly £2k each per annum any driver providing 25+

Kitcars could be loads less but on the flip side loads more. Kit cars generally are less to insure. On a cobra I'd simply try to get a daily rate agreement for the hirer. Save me £££

[Toltec]

I hired a Caterham or a weekend a couple of years ago, so the answer is yes. A friend and I have knocked the idea around of starting a company on the same basis, kit cars, maybe an Elise or Esprit, possibly TVR. I thought there might be a market for interesting but not particularly expensive cars, ones costing a few hundred rather than several hundred or thousands to hire.

A good way to make your toys self financing if nothing else.

[offshorematt2]

Try googling for Open Road Hire in Perthshire, Scotland.

He rents out several Caterham Sevens on a daily/weekend basis. I rented from him last year and I think his prices were around about what you were suggsting. However, if I recall he had to put his prices up later last year as he was struggling to break even so maybe not the gold mine it may appear to be on the surface...

Plus if you are down south, you may have people renting them from you then taking them on the track (not such a problem up in Scotland where that would be found out pretty quickly). Mileage charges can also work against you - people need to away to the decent quieter roads without using up their allowance before they've started. So you need to price accordingly without making it too attractive to folk wanting to do 800mile thrashes in a day

[disco1]

offshorematt2 said:

Try googling for Open Road Hire in Perthshire, Scotland.

He rents out several Caterham Sevens on a daily/weekend basis. I rented from him last year and I think his prices were around about what you were suggsting. However, if I recall he had to put his prices up later last year as he was struggling to break even so maybe not the gold mine it may appear to be on the surface...

Plus if you are down south, you may have people renting them from you then taking them on the track (not such a problem up in Scotland where that would be found out pretty quickly). Mileage charges can also work against you - people need to away to the decent quieter roads without using up their allowance before they've started. So you need to price accordingly without making it too attractive to folk wanting to do 800mile thrashes in a day

Hi Matt,
Yeah, picked up on his site a few weeks back. I don't see this as a money machine, it will be more of a labour of love!

Luckily where I live within 5 - 10 mins you can be out on the country roads of the vale of Glamorgan on the way to the beaches or you could be well on your way to the Brecon Beacons and scenic mid Wales. Allowances won't apply, I want people to enjoy themselves and come back again and again.

Just imagine

You and missus

This


and roads like this