Rent or drive my car? (rental, vehicle, fuel, MPG)

[Tennesseestorm]

I am taking my grandmother to visit relatives in South Carolina this weekend. Its a 4 hour drive to where we are going. I can go in my car (24 mpg highway, uses premium fuel), or I can rent a mid-sized car that gets about 31 highway, uses regular fuel for $101 for 3 days.

I was going to take my car, but with the fuel savings and no wear and tear (mileage) on my car, I may be better off renting?

Anyone else agree?

[htmlfamily]

Hi, I rent so I don't have to clean-up all the Bugs off of my car and as you said put the wear & tear on the rental. Have Fun!

[UpperPeninsulaRon]

Originally Posted by Tennesseestorm

I am taking my grandmother to visit relatives in South Carolina this weekend. Its a 4 hour drive to where we are going. I can go in my car (24 mpg highway, uses premium fuel), or I can rent a mid-sized car that gets about 31 highway, uses regular fuel for $101 for 3 days.

I was going to take my car, but with the fuel savings and no wear and tear (mileage) on my car, I may be better off renting?

Anyone else agree?

Here are the facts:

Your vehicle: 4 hour drive, so I assume a 200 mile trip

200 mi * 2 (round trip) / 24 MPG = 16.7 gal * $4.50 / gal premium = $75.15

Rent:

200 mi * 2 (round trip) / 31 MPG = 12.9 gal * $4.20 / gal regular = $54.18

$54.18 + $101 (rental fee) = $155.18 total cost

Rent Better / (Worse) Your Vehicle = $ (80.03), or penalty for renting

Therefore, if your depreciation / operating expenses other than fuel is greater than $0.20 / mile, you should rent.

[M3 Mitch]

You may be able to do better than $101 for a 3 day rental, did you check Enterprise? Does this include the "Loss-Damage waiver" which usually costs about $15 per day, and keeps you off the hook for any damage or theft of the rental car?

Recently rented from Enterprise for a weekend trip to Seattle, to me it was worth it to avoid the risk to any of my own vehicles. Also in the unlikely event of mechanical problems, with a rental the company will generally bring you out a different car and take care of fixing the breakdown with minimal hassle to you.

Ron is right, though, that it's almost always cheaper to drive your own car. The question is, do you get the $80 worth of value out of using the rental rather than your own car?

[trlhiker]

4 hour drive is nothing. I take a 17mpg vehicle on a 4 hour drive long before I would rent a car. thats money in my pocket.