Pooks Posted April 19, 2007 Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 'Twas a few year ago now (maybe 3 or 4) that I bought a brand new car from Arnold Clarke in Aberdeen. I checked out the prices to get it shipped up and was quite surprised to see the differences. I tried phoning Northwards (I think) and they immediately told me that it would be cheaper on the ferry (Strange way to do business but I like honesty). I then tried the ferry. Like you say, the freight charge was astronomical. It worked out cheaper for me to go down on the ferry and bring the car back as it did to ship the car on its own. It ended up to be cheaper to buy my partners sister (who was at uni in Aberdeen at the time) a ticket up to Shetland with a valet service (so she didn't have to drive it on/off the boat) than it was to get it shipped on its own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frances144 Posted April 19, 2007 Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 I was told, and do not shoot me down for this as it is someone else's maths, that it would be cheaper per year not to own a car but to pay for taxis, even rent a car for a day, when you want to go anywhere. So, the money you would have spent on a car, ie running costs, insurance and tax saved up is more than a taxi a couple of times a week to Lerwick or wherever. Not sure how realistic that is, but it is a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMouth Posted April 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 There is certainly a lot to be said for the hire car idea. It is something that we have done up to now. One day though I went to pick up the hire car and when I pointed out that the fuel needle was only at just above 3/4 I was told that the gauge was knackered and that was as far as it went. When I filled it up at the end of the weekend the needle went to full. Although I have used that company since, they have lost a lot of business with that little scam. Through the winter if you live in Lerwick you really don't want to go far so a car is fairly pointless. It is also rotting away with all the salt that is in use and if you don't have a garage to put it in it is going to look rather shabby in no time at all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMouth Posted April 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 I was looking at running costs of a car to check on Frances' suggestions andcame up with the following: - This assumes the purchase of a car at £7,000 which after 3 years sells for£3,000. If anyone thinks the figures are out then please let me know. 3 Year period Cost 4000 Insurance 450 RFL 300 Maintenance 1200 Weekly costs Cost 25.64 Insurance 2.88 RFL 1.92 Maintenance 7.69 Total 38.14 Monthly Costs Cost 133.33 Insurance 15.00 RFL 10.00 Maintenance 40.00 Total 198.33 RFL is road fund licence. I have put that down as £100 for two reasons: Ihave no idea how much a tax disc is, I have guessed that £100 will beaverage between the cheapest and most expensive. I have allowed £1,200 for maintenance. This assumes £300 a year forservicing and £100 per year for other costs such as tyres and repairs. This may not be enough? I have not included fuel as that would be an expense whether you used a hirecar or not. I understand that you can get a hire car for about £35 a day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twerto Posted April 19, 2007 Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 it all boils down to how much you use a car.. if like me your using it every day of the year just about.. £6000 compared to the £12,500 it would cost you to hire a car for everyday of the year. most of your figures are about right.. I would maybe say £1500 for services and general must be fixed items. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMouth Posted April 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 Thanks Twerto. I must admit that my car sat on the drive most of the time. If I went shopping I would rather walk and take a rucksack. Colleagues at work had difficulty understanding why I walked to work when I owned a car. As I have said before nowhere in Lerwick is too far to walk. The onset of the good weather means that I would like to get out more frequently and further afield. Public transport provision is insufficient to meet my needs for most locations. The irony is that I am normally really decisive. If I want something then I know what I want and how much I want to pay. If it isn't available then I wait for it to become available at that price. Perhaps I have too many choices! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twerto Posted April 19, 2007 Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 well cars are always worth doing a lot of research on.. but no matter how much you wait.. you have to jump in at some point a face the fact that the following week you will find something better/cheaper if you haven't already i thoroughly recommend http://www.whatcar.co.uk/ for reading up on cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humptygrumpty Posted April 19, 2007 Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 Ive had loads of cars but mostly Citroens and have had excellent running out of all of them with very little bother , I do all my own servicing but I can highly recommend both Jims and Central garages to deal with. I wouldnt discount a higher mileage well maintained car either as Ive had several with between 100 000 and 200 000 miles and have served me well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMouth Posted April 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2007 Thanks for all the advice. We were concerned about the diminutive size of the C2 / Yaris / Aygo in the end, although we liked the idea of cheap fuel / insurance / tax etc. We have bought a low mileage Citroen C3. This should give us the best of all worlds. Thanks again one and all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moorit Posted April 20, 2007 Report Share Posted April 20, 2007 We have bought a low mileage Citroen C3. This should give us the best of all worlds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMouth Posted April 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2007 We have bought a low mileage Citroen C3. This should give us the best of all worlds. Perhaps that should have been the best of all worlds for the price!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostrider Posted April 21, 2007 Report Share Posted April 21, 2007 Look on the bright side, at least it's a Citroen C3, not a Yamaha C3.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMouth Posted April 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2007 A step up fro the Raleigh Wisp I once rode 8O Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostrider Posted April 21, 2007 Report Share Posted April 21, 2007 A step up fro the Raleigh Wisp I once rode 8O Ahhh....the Honda Express look-a-like....My sympathies, I know the feeling, having ridden a C90 for a few rather embarrassing weeks while inbetween better things.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMouth Posted April 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2007 To be honest GR it has been a long tale of woe: - Lambretta 100 CentoVilliers 123 ???James CaptainAriel ArrowHonda CB250 G5Honda CG125Suzuki GP125Suzuki GSX400-4Suzuki TS250ERHonda CX500Kawasaki GT750Raleigh WispRaleigh RunaboutYamaha V70Yamaha YAS3 ???Gilera Runner SP180Honda Goldwing GL1500Honda Africa Twin XRV750Honda Pan EuropeanMontesa 247 CotaHusqvarna CR500 (Super motard'd!)Suzuki (Beamish) RL250 Plus many other that will come to mind as soon as I press the Submit button Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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