Car for 1 to 4 Months

[supersteamer]

I have need of a car for up to 4 months. What's the cheapest option....?

[1] Rental is simple but seems expensive

[2] Lease hire slightly less expensive but ties you into the full 4 months (and it might be less)

[3] Buy/sell old banger - bit of a faff and might end up with high maintenance costs if its a wreck

[4] Buy/sell decent car - bit of a faff and high depreciation

This is mainly for work but tempted to do whatever privately do avoid the pain of BIK and just claim 40p/mile. The vehicle does not need facilities to attract women, perform heavy agricultural duties or to combust its own tyres (as I can do all these things myself for free ). Just need some basic A to B transport.

Thanks!

[swamp]

[3] Buy an old(ish) banger for £300+. Don't worry what it looks like, just make sure it works: give it a good road test, make sure it's got an MOT for at least six months, check tyres legal etc. Ideally go for a large car with a big petrol engine that nobody wants.

Also get AA or RAC Gold++ super-mega cover just in case

Drive around for four months and sell on eBay, Autotrader, Pistonheads for at least £200. If the car doesn't sell (or you simply can't be bothered) take it to a scrap heap and collect £150 or more (depending on car's size).

Four months' motoring for perhaps £150 loss, and you may even make a profit

This is 'bangernomics', and the golden rule is ditch the car at the first sign of trouble, though in the last few weeks you really only need to make sure it starts and stops.

[HeliCraig]

For bangernomics to work you must spend nothing more on the car than the initial outlay. Get shot at first sign of trouble.

Other than that you can drive around for 4 months or so for the price of 1 months rental!!!

[BolshieBastard]

Got to be an outright purchase.

Wouldnt go too cheap though else you'll end up with a heap of trouble.

[FarmerPalmer]

Buy a W124 Mercedes for £1000, and sell it or scrap it when you've finished with it.

[MPwannadecentincome]

You do not have to buy a banger, if you have enough cash upfront then an alternative is to go to a good auction where ex fleet cars are disposed of, buy a good looking clean car with full service history etc. When you win the bidding take it for a thorough inspection and buy RAC or AA cover and look into investing in independant warranty cover. If you get a good one then after 4 months if the warranty is transferrable you should get your money back and might even make a small profit.

Alternatively go to a car supermarket pick something not too big but big enough to be good value that will not depreciate much.

Good Luck and let us know what you end up doing!

[swamp]

You do not have to buy a banger, if you have enough cash upfront then an alternative is to go to a good auction where ex fleet cars are disposed of, buy a good looking clean car with full service history etc. When you win the bidding take it for a thorough inspection and buy RAC or AA cover and look into investing in independant warranty cover. If you get a good one then after 4 months if the warranty is transferrable you should get your money back and might even make a small profit.

Alternatively go to a car supermarket pick something not too big but big enough to be good value that will not depreciate much.

Good Luck and let us know what you end up doing!

Incredible deals to be had on petrol luxury 4x4s. Think Range Rover Vogue, Porsche Cayenne, or even VW Toureg. Prices have fallen so far they may even bounce back (a little.)

[NotAllThere]

A few years ago I was working on a bunch of overseas projects. One team member would buy a sporty car - 2 year old Porsche Boxster kind of range and style. At the end of each 9 month project,he'd sell it, and get pretty much what he paid for it.