Which Car for visiting to leave at home

Jude13

I travel back to Ireland quite a bit, I was spending a small fortune on hire cars the first few years. Then I got the use of my mothers megane for a year or so on visits back home. I no longer have this option.

So instead of hiring each time we are home we are contemplating buying a car to leave there, my mother can take it for a spin the odd time.

We are home 3-5 times a year for a min of a week each time. Up and down to Limerick from Dublin allot and the usual weddings around the place. We don't travel light, 4 big suit cases (had to use the back seat of the megane) and an 8 year old plus maybe another in the near future so it would have to have space.

So which car? I love estates but she hates them. I am not up on the tax system at home though. Petrol/Diesel, take the battery out when I leave etc?

Joeface

I will point one downside to this .

My sister does something similar , every summer for 6-8 weeks she comes home and has a car left here.
In the beginning it worked fine , but now it is a pain. Different members of the family having to sort the car out with NCT's because the Date is before she comes home, sorting tax for it. the Insurance company she deals with have been pretty good , they just let her /stop cancel the insurance each year by sending back the disk and refund her the money for insurance or off set it for the next year.

If you are doing this you need to get a 09 or better so your at least getting the 2 years out of the NCT .
and the cheaper tax bracket.

Jude13

Good point, it would want to be a newish car alright. I would just rather spend the money then give it to the rental firm and also have some more comfort on the drives around Ireland. The megane was tiresome with a 1.4 engine

colm_mcm

you can do an nct early. crazy paying for an 09 car just to get a 2 year nct

kay 9

If it's sitting too long brakes can seize etc. I'd tend to get Smth very basic for what you need. Or maybe even Smth vintage that doesn't need an nct

pablo128

Joeface wrote: »

I will point one downside to this .

My sister does something similar , every summer for 6-8 weeks she comes home and has a car left here.
In the beginning it worked fine , but now it is a pain. Different members of the family having to sort the car out with NCT's because the Date is before she comes home, sorting tax for it. the Insurance company she deals with have been pretty good , they just let her /stop cancel the insurance each year by sending back the disk and refund her the money for insurance or off set it for the next year.

If you are doing this you need to get a 09 or better so your at least getting the 2 years out of the NCT .
and the cheaper tax bracket.

Not necessarily cheaper. Some models are cheaper on the old system, both petrol and diesel.

colm_mcm

the ones that actually sold generally had lower tax

pablo128

colm_mcm wrote: »

the ones that actually sold generally had lower tax

You would think that. But there's a heap of post 08 Yaris 1.0s out there, which were more expensive to tax. 2.7tdi Audi's were in either the highest or second highest bracket.

I'm just pointing out that you would be as well to check first before buying.

Lellostag

What kind of budget do you have?

corks finest

Jude13 wrote: »

I travel back to Ireland quite a bit, I was spending a small fortune on hire cars the first few years. Then I got the use of my mothers megane for a year or so on visits back home. I no longer have this option.

So instead of hiring each time we are home we are contemplating buying a car to leave there, my mother can take it for a spin the odd time.

We are home 3-5 times a year for a min of a week each time. Up and down to Limerick from Dublin allot and the usual weddings around the place. We don't travel light, 4 big suit cases (had to use the back seat of the megane) and an 8 year old plus maybe another in the near future so it would have to have space.

So which car? I love estates but she hates them. I am not up on the tax system at home though. Petrol/Diesel, take the battery out when I leave etc?

Auto yaris import,cheap,reliable,easy to drive,maintain

Jude13

Budget would be about 6-8k preferably. I would love a vintage but I have the little one in the car with me so for safety they are a no go.

Jude13

I'm not going to fit our luggage in a Yaris though.

166man

I'd get something like a Toyota Prius tbh. Cheap to buy, reliable as anything, comfortable etc.

Tax isn't too expensive either so you could just pay for it yearly.

Jude13

Not too sure I would be happy with a prius, I think they are a sham. They massive battery (both in production and disposal) make my old v8 land rover look good.

biko

Could you agree with a family member/friend to purchase a car together that they use and you have access to when you're back?
To buy a car only to let it sit 45 weeks out of the year and cost you in insurance/tax/nct/maintenance seems a bit cumbersome.

Do the numbers on buying and owning a car and you may find it's equal to hire costs.

Jude13

Sorry I should mention that the OH will be home for most of the summer, approx 2 months each year so the numbers add up.

newacc2015

biko wrote: »

Could you agree with a family member/friend to purchase a car together that they use and you have access to when you're back?
To buy a car only to let it sit 45 weeks out of the year and cost you in insurance/tax/nct/maintenance seems a bit cumbersome.

Do the numbers on buying and owning a car and you may find it's equal to hire costs.

Depreciation will also be a big expense, you wont consider. It doesnt matter if a low car low mileage. A 10 year old car is still a 10 year old car and worth a lot less than the newer car with higher mileage

Jude13

Example: Euro 783 for our trip back at Christmas for 13 days. That's for a manual Passat.

Maybe a luxobarge may suit

colm_mcm

166man wrote: »

I'd get something like a Toyota Prius tbh. Cheap to buy, reliable as anything, comfortable etc.

Tax isn't too expensive either so you could just pay for it yearly.

AFAIK leaving a Prius sitting up unused is very bad for the hybrid battery.

Nekarsulm

What about an 04 passat? Room for the luggage and nice enough for longer trips. If a family member brings it for a run every couple of weeks, it will/should be always ready for you. Only half your budget to buy.

cerastes

Jude13 wrote: »

I'm not going to fit our luggage in a Yaris though.

Verso?

166man wrote: »

I'd get something like a Toyota Prius tbh. Cheap to buy, reliable as anything, comfortable etc.

Tax isn't too expensive either so you could just pay for it yearly.

Why pay the tax whe it can be sord-ed
Seems mad to buy a newer car on the basis of low tax, then depreciation will be more, maybe more than the tax difference, more of a concern if its not driven as much, I'd buy an older clean example of something in the size you want at an acceptable tax level. I definitely think it's a good idea overall,can't see how the cost could add up to being similar to rentals. Not sure how you'd tweak the insurance to get the best value there but that cost might be one of the lower ones plus you get to maintain an ncb.

Estates are immensely practical, what's the overall goal? If its for a practical lower cost and annual use compared to a car which is in daily use, if money was no object there might be no limit.
If the above I'd say a 1.6 avensis in estate if possible or hatch. Or maybe a Skoda Octavia.
What kind of miles will it do when in use? Petrol would probably be a better option if buying older anyway.not sure what the petrol Skoda engines are like.

Notch000

whos going ot pick you up from the airport or are you going ot bus amd taix it ?? or do you plan on storing it there, worth considering

cerastes

storing it at the airport, defeats the purpose of saving money, Im sure if they are considering this whole thing they must have a place in mind to keep it.

Lifts might npt be out of the question unless they will be residing so far from the airport that its impractical.
Id give lifts to some relatives to the airport or the bus station the odd time, I get the favour returned if I need it or they'll throw me a few euros for the fuel/toll.

Vic_08

Jude13 wrote: »

Good point, it would want to be a newish car alright. I would just rather spend the money then give it to the rental firm and also have some more comfort on the drives around Ireland. The megane was tiresome with a 1.4 engine

A Newish car for the sort of use you are going to have is crazy. You are just throwing your money away in depreciation.

A quality older car that has been looked after is what you should be looking at, one that is cheap because of it's age but still in good nick that you can easily get 5+ years of low mileage use out of.


Something like the high-spec cars colm_mcm posted here would be my advice, yes the tax will be high enough but as you want something big enough for your bags and found the Megane too slow you aren't going to find anything you like with low tax.

BTW that Volvo is lovely, it would be a great occasional use car, if I could justify it to the boss I'd be snapping it up myself.

Red Kev

€6-€8K is your budget ? Let's take €7,000 as a mean figure. Depreciation is probably €1200 a year.


Tax: As you say a 1.4 is too slow then a 1.6 or 1.8 is what you're looking for, maybe something post 2008 (might be difficult on your budget) so lets say €500 p.a. as an average figure.

Insurance: Even with constantly cancelling etc. you'd pay €200.

Add in NCT, servicing etc and you're looking at a minimum of €2000 per annum to run the car. Add in any interest you need to borrow €7000, or loss of interest if you have €7000 in the bank and you'll get a more accurate figure.

You come here 3-5 times per annum, flights and bags probably cost €200 each time, maybe less if you book well in advance.


to be honest I'd keep the UK car and take the ferry. it won't cost you anywhere near €2000 for 5 trips a year and you've saved the hassle of a second car. If it's too stressful with the kids then fly herself and the kids over and meet them here.

It also saves the hassle of someone looking after the car, or trying to borrow it when you're here which will eventually get messy in my experience.

316

A bag of sand on a diesel avensis, spend the other 6k on something else.

Marcusm

I would be shocked if, on a full disclosure of the facts, an insurer agreed to cover the car. Without full disclosure, the insurance is not worth anything. I speak from experience, I live in the UK and spend a week or so per month at my Irish property. Motor insurance for a non resident was not available even where the car was to be kept in a secure underground car park. My advice would be to work with a family member who needs occasional use of a car on which you can be a named driver.

Jude13

Notch000 wrote: »

whos going ot pick you up from the airport or are you going ot bus amd taix it ?? or do you plan on storing it there, worth considering

We get a courtesy car from the airport so that's handy

Jude13

Red Kev wrote: »

€6-€8K is your budget ? Let's take €7,000 as a mean figure. Depreciation is probably €1200 a year.


Tax: As you say a 1.4 is too slow then a 1.6 or 1.8 is what you're looking for, maybe something post 2008 (might be difficult on your budget) so lets say €500 p.a. as an average figure.

Insurance: Even with constantly cancelling etc. you'd pay €200.

Add in NCT, servicing etc and you're looking at a minimum of €2000 per annum to run the car. Add in any interest you need to borrow €7000, or loss of interest if you have €7000 in the bank and you'll get a more accurate figure.

You come here 3-5 times per annum, flights and bags probably cost €200 each time, maybe less if you book well in advance.


to be honest I'd keep the UK car and take the ferry. it won't cost you anywhere near €2000 for 5 trips a year and you've saved the hassle of a second car. If it's too stressful with the kids then fly herself and the kids over and meet them here.

It also saves the hassle of someone looking after the car, or trying to borrow it when you're here which will eventually get messy in my experience.

I don't live in the UK so a ferry is not an option.

cerastes

Red Kev wrote: »

€6-€8K is your budget ? Let's take €7,000 as a mean figure. Depreciation is probably €1200 a year.


Tax: As you say a 1.4 is too slow then a 1.6 or 1.8 is what you're looking for, maybe something post 2008 (might be difficult on your budget) so lets say €500 p.a. as an average figure.

Insurance: Even with constantly cancelling etc. you'd pay €200.

Add in NCT, servicing etc and you're looking at a minimum of €2000 per annum to run the car. Add in any interest you need to borrow €7000, or loss of interest if you have €7000 in the bank and you'll get a more accurate figure.

You come here 3-5 times per annum, flights and bags probably cost €200 each time, maybe less if you book well in advance.


to be honest I'd keep the UK car and take the ferry. it won't cost you anywhere near €2000 for 5 trips a year and you've saved the hassle of a second car. If it's too stressful with the kids then fly herself and the kids over and meet them here.

It also saves the hassle of someone looking after the car, or trying to borrow it when you're here which will eventually get messy in my experience.

Where are you getting 2k from? Nct isn't that expensive, if the car is clean ad is nought with a known history it wont need much predicted work over 3 years, tax maybe 700 ish for up to a 1.9 but maybe a lot less if its sorded on a few occasions which makes going for a bigger engine on an older cleaner example viable, even if older example means getting a petrol in pre 08 which could be cheaper as people seem opposed to bigger tax and petrol engines. I'd say looking at 1000 annually. Plus op gets to maintain an ncb which isn't being included here in the cost. I would consider it mad to buy a newer vehicle for it to be used very little as depreciation would just be a waste, but that cost is nil for comparison to any vehicle as all vehicles depreciate, at least the op has either a working vehicle at the end and something to sell off with lower mileage, with the rental option they have 100% depreciation, likely at a greater cost, is more money might be gone and none of it is coming back.

I did't think constantly cancelling insurance would be viable either, maybe it is?, some come with administration fees for that, still if the option of being a named driver on a relatives car isn't possible? And op wants own vehicle, is naming someone on ops policy an option to get more consistent use and cover running the car infrequently.

colm_mcm

Bit risky insuring a valuable car though when the insurance will possibly not pay out comprehensive in the event of an accident due to not being resident?