Rent or Buy a Car? (Norcross: rental car, apartment, rental)

[mikelee324]

I live overseas and will be traveling to Norcross for business for 5-6 months. Should I rent or buy a used car? Renting for 6 months seems quite expensive, but if I buy a car how easy will I be able to sell it after 6 months?

I have lived in the states in the past for 5 years, so I know how the whole process of renting and buying cars work. Just need to figure out which option is more viable. I'm leaning towards buying a cheap car? Wht are your thoughts?

thanks

[Shagbark Hickory]

Well it will be impossible for us to crunch the numbers without knowing more information but I'd just like to answer your question about selling the car. It has never been more difficult to sell a used car. The market is flooded with them not to mention there is an over supply of new cars that they just can't GIVE away. Once they clear out the pontiacs, saturns etc it will be worse.

Another thing I will point out is that in Georgia we have very expensive ad velorum car tax that you will have to pay to register the car.

Check out Enterprise they have long term corporate leases.
With a rental even if you end up paying more, you won't have to deal with the risks... the risk that you can't sell the car and the risk that you need to do expensive repairs to the car. If a rental car so much as gets a flat tire you can trade it in for a whole new car. Hck they'll probably upgrade you for your trouble.

[Shagbark Hickory]

Another thing I left out is insurance.
If you currently have an auto policy that covers rental cars while you travel then you're already covered if you rent. If you buy, you will have to buy insurance as car insurance is required to drive here.

[mikelee324]

thanks for the advice

[JasonPaul]

Carmax will take pretty much any car you have. Now you might not get alot for it, depending on what it is, but they'll buy it (depending on the year of the car also).

If I remember I believe enterprise runs a week rental for around $600 or $700 for their economy car. Lets sat $700 x 6months = $4200, I'm sure there is some kind of discount in there for having it that long so you could probably get away for it under $4000. I guess the advantage to renting would be being done with it without hassle when your done with business but if you thought you could possibly make some money back when your business trip is done that would be beneficail of course also. 50/50

[Shagbark Hickory]

Originally Posted by JasonPaul

Carmax will take pretty much any car you have. Now you might not get alot for it, depending on what it is, but they'll buy it (depending on the year of the car also).

If I remember I believe enterprise runs a week rental for around $600 or $700 for their economy car. Lets sat $700 x 6months = $4200, I'm sure there is some kind of discount in there for having it that long so you could probably get away for it under $4000. I guess the advantage to renting would be being done with it without hassle when your done with business but if you thought you could possibly make some money back when your business trip is done that would be beneficail of course also. 50/50

$600 a week?
I think you mean per month.
Heck. The daily rate is around $20 for economy. That's $140/week

[mikelee324]

this is what i got from the enterprise quote online, since i'm just shy of 25, they are tacking a under 25 fee of $2295 which is a big killer. They also have $1000+ of facility charge and airport access fee, I think thats just wrong (wonder what these charges could be), if i don't rent the car at the aiport I could probably avoid these two charges. If i sign up for a corporate account, I could get at least 20-30% off. This won't include insurance, i'm pretty sure insurance will cost more than $100 per month for the rental. I read apartment reviews online (cause i will need to rent an apartment), many people have their cars broken into. So I'm also worry about that bit.

3 Days @ $ 27.60 USD = $ 82.80 USD
5 Months @ $ 548.95 USD = $ 2,744.75 USD
CONSOLIDATED FACILITY CHARGE$ 688.50 USD
VEHICLE LICENSE RECOVERY FEE$ 146.88 USD
UNDER AGE 25 DRIVER FEE$ 2,295.00

USDSubtotal$ 5,957.93

USDAIRPORT ACCESS FEE$ 585.43 USD
EXCISE TAX$ 175.64 USDSALES TAX$ 409.84 USD* Total Estimated
Charges $ 7,128.84 USD

Additional local taxes and surchages may apply.

[JasonPaul]

Originally Posted by mikelee324

this is what i got from the enterprise quote online, since i'm just shy of 25, they are tacking a under 25 fee of $2295 which is a big killer. They also have $1000+ of facility charge and airport access fee, I think thats just wrong (wonder what these charges could be), if i don't rent the car at the aiport I could probably avoid these two charges. If i sign up for a corporate account, I could get at least 20-30% off. This won't include insurance, i'm pretty sure insurance will cost more than $100 per month for the rental. I read apartment reviews online (cause i will need to rent an apartment), many people have their cars broken into. So I'm also worry about that bit.

3 Days @ $ 27.60 USD = $ 82.80 USD
5 Months @ $ 548.95 USD = $ 2,744.75 USD
CONSOLIDATED FACILITY CHARGE$ 688.50 USD
VEHICLE LICENSE RECOVERY FEE$ 146.88 USD
UNDER AGE 25 DRIVER FEE$ 2,295.00

USDSubtotal$ 5,957.93

USDAIRPORT ACCESS FEE$ 585.43 USD
EXCISE TAX$ 175.64 USDSALES TAX$ 409.84 USD* Total Estimated
Charges $ 7,128.84 USD

Additional local taxes and surchages may apply.

I think for 7k I'd look to buy.

[mikelee324]

buying a 10 yr old honda seems like a better option.

Anyone know how long it would take to drive from Georgia Tech to Norcross in the morning? I searched google maps, it says 25min. But adding the morning rush hour traffic, I was wondering how long it would actually take?

thanks

[mikepayne]

heck you can buy a pretty decent old used car or truck for 2-3 k!!