Use moneysupermarket dot com to search for cheap car hire, if you only need something small you should be able to get a Corsa size car for less than £35 a day. If you book ahead with easycar you can get really good deals at half that rate. And it will be more reliable that buying a banger.
Buying a car comes with all the other costs, the tax, insurance, MOT etc etc. Even if you buy a car you've still got about £500 a year of costs to fund (£200 insurance, £150 road tax, £50 MOT, £250 repairs / service). When you add a bit of depreciation I reckon a 5-10 year old car costs about £1000 a year to keep on the road.
If you're only using it for the odd trip I'd try the rental route first and see how it pans out.
------------- Definately a fair weather camper. I don't like rain. Rain + Tent = Trouble.
2011:
July: Galpton, Devon
August: Duinrell, Holland
It depends on how many times you would need to hire - is it just for the one trip away or several different trip? Would you use the car more than for just camping if you bought one - make it worth while paying for tax and insurance.
So, you've already managed day to day for quite a few months without a car. Has that been OK?
If it has been, then try to estimate how many trips you'd need a car/van for camping, tot up the cost and see how that compares with the cost of buying a car, tax, insurance etc. Don't forget, a hire care will be maintenance free with no MOT or unexpected repair bills to pay.
Edited to add: Is there a local CarClub car sharing scheme you could join?
Post last edited on 03/04/2009 13:04:42
------------- Tackling life the Western District way
I read once that if you only use a car at the weekend then it's cheaper to hire for 52 weekends a year than keep a car on the road with everything that entails for 365 days a year. If you NEVER use the car other than your camping trips then I'd say, hire one. More reliable than an old banger and cheaper than a decent one on finance.
------------- If you have a problem stressing you, sort it. If you can't, there's no point worrying about it coz it won't make a blind bit of difference!!!! Jules
Let us know how you get on as it will be interesting to hear how much it cost you in all. I think that it would be cheaper to hire as and when you need to if you are only needing a car a couple of times a year. Hope you have a nice holiday...
We didn't have a car when we lived in London and hired one when we needed to. Worked out a lot cheaper than owning one. Came as a bit of a shock when we then had to buy 2 when we moved (not to mention the tax, insurance, service, MOT etc...). Unless you're going to use it for much else, stick with renting for the time being
I have to have a car for work but I've been thinking of getting a little car and hiring a big estate car for our camping trips.
We only get about 30mpg from the Passat and I'd get a lot more than that with a little car. I'd lose about 5p per mile on my mileage allowance, but then I wouldn't have to pay tax on it, and I only do about 3-400 miles a month anyway, so it's not a huge difference. And the tax and insurance would be a lot less.
HIRE A VAN, IF THERE IS MORE THAN 3 OF YOU GET ONE WITH AN EXTRA SET OF SEAT (CREW CAB) THROW ALL YOU STUFF IN BACK NO PROBLEM. ENTERPRISE HIRE OUT VANS
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: TO BUY A CAR OR RENT A CAR
