Car Rental?
#16
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 50
Re: Car Rental?
Forgive me if I offended you - it wasn't my intention to hurt your feelings - but you did point out that you were averse to wasting money, at the same time talking about sacrificing the thick end of $800 on a car rental.
Despite used cars being significantly more expensive than in UK, if you look, rather than scratch the surface, there are plenty of reasonable cars available for dirt money - or that are easy and cost-effective to get that way.
Doesn't sound like obtaining credit for a new car is going to be an issue for you then? Is that the case?
I'd still negotiate hard on a beater and then sell it when I was in a position to negotiate on an upgrade, with the money or credit-score needed, so I wouldn't get laughed out of the dealership - in fact I'd chop the beater in against the new car.
As an aside, leasing is effectively renting too - in essence you are paying for the depreciation on someone else's car and have absolutely nothing to show for it at the end of the lease. Now that is REALLY wasting money.
Despite used cars being significantly more expensive than in UK, if you look, rather than scratch the surface, there are plenty of reasonable cars available for dirt money - or that are easy and cost-effective to get that way.
Doesn't sound like obtaining credit for a new car is going to be an issue for you then? Is that the case?
I'd still negotiate hard on a beater and then sell it when I was in a position to negotiate on an upgrade, with the money or credit-score needed, so I wouldn't get laughed out of the dealership - in fact I'd chop the beater in against the new car.
As an aside, leasing is effectively renting too - in essence you are paying for the depreciation on someone else's car and have absolutely nothing to show for it at the end of the lease. Now that is REALLY wasting money.
I appreciate the help and honestly wanted to reward myself a little for my hard work (I've worked my butt off to get where I am currently and done pretty well) but understand this may not be a reality.
I really don't want to chance it with a beater again. My last car died in the middle of LA and I had to pay $300 to get it towed. It was towed 3 times in the year and a half I had it. I'm no mechanic and I don't know cars so honestly I'd rather pay a bit more for something that should be reliable and good and make me feel safe, rather than chancing it with a car that I'm afraid to drive in.
#17
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2014
Location: Cambridgeshire
Posts: 20
Re: Car Rental?
Check insurances though, but I should think that if the vehicle is low-cost enough, liability insurance - that covers you for damage you cause, but not your actual vehicle - might suffice, and be cheaper than Full Coverage. I'd recommend a boring vehicle though to keep the costs of operating it and the insurance costs down. Think a 15-year old Toyota/Nissan.
#18
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
Re: Car Rental?
Here's some interesting info about liability insurance on rental cars, with extra links at the end of the article>
What car hire insurance is needed in the Americas?
What car hire insurance is needed in the Americas?