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Agreed with Viper here. If it were me, it would be the BEST $4,000 I ever spent. I'm sorry but I can't imagine flying to a state I've never been more than a few times... first thing I do when I arrive is the incredibly laborious chore of finding a cheap used car to buy... searching on CL or local ads, driving to multiple places in areas I've never been to, dealing with complete strangers... then finally finding the "right" car which I feel I could recoup all or close to what I put into it during the inevitable sale of the car just 3 short months later... giving a $4,000 check (which I can't imagine would get me an incredibly reliable ride) to a complete stranger, getting title/registration/licensing/insurance/etc/etc all figured out in a totally new state for the first time ever. Praying daily the transmission doesn't blow out... then having to deal with this ridiculously laborious chore all over again, but worse trying to time the sale juuuust right before I leave so I realize maximum "savings" and dealing with a half a dozen low-ball hagglers that don't want to give you even $2K for it. Then worrying the $2K check is a fraudulent one as I go to a bank I've never banked with.
Being pressured with time when you buy and when you sell reduces any leverage you would have. You'll end up saving very little for an incredible amount of work.
Why would you need to get the whole $4k back? If you are going to freely spend $4k for renting a car for less than 4 months, then buying a car for $4k and fire sale the car for $2k still puts you ahead. Anyway, it sounds like money is no issue for your friend so the issue is moot. Best of luck
Consider that not only is there the cost to rent the car, there is also the cost of the gasoline, plus the cost and lost time which come with finding a place to park.
Unless he's going to be spend a lot of time on the road, he might be better off riding The Bus or Dial A Ride for routine stuff, and getting a cab when necessary. A cab goes door-to-door, the driver knows the fast way to get there, and your friend can relax and enjoy the scenery, rather than having to concentrate on pavement and taillights that look pretty much the same as he sees on the mainland. Cab drivers are also a good source of local info on places to visit, eat, etc. He can also call the companies and ask if any have any special offers for frequent flyers.
A friend of mine used to commute from La'ie to downtown on tour buses (I forget which company). They would drop off a tour group every day for PCC then deadhead back to the airport, dropping my friend off on the way. In the evening, he rode with them when the sent the coaches around to make the pickups when the show was over.
There are a lot of options which might be better than dealing with a car.
I rent reliable cars independently for $600 a month ($20/day). I only rent to long term renter (30 day minimum) which would apply to your friend in this case. Price includes all fees, roadside assistance, and a collision-liability waiver (means renter is not responsible for any damages). If renter is unsatisfied with the vehicle, renter can return the vehicle at anytime and receive a refund for the remainder of the reservation. All rentals are with a written signed rental agreement that spells out all the terms mentioned in writing.
I have rented via car sharing sites and have over dozens of positive reviews. PM for details.
Care to elaborate on that a bit? What is "independently"?
A bit surprised of the bad advice by members that usually provide good feedback.
Why would someone rent from the big co's longterm is beyond me. Ok, forget about the "complicated" buying process....how about this?...
Last year in Maui i rented a Nissan Maxima from a dealer in Kihei. They had a shuttle service which would pick u up from the airoport. They have regular rentals but also have "blend with the locals" cars. I remember paying about 250 for almost 2 weeks of using their car. Yes, the paint was falling off in some places and the car had been used and abused but in mechanical good shape. Bet u can find a dealer like this on Oahu.
Pricing 3 (or 4) separate rentals would also be a good idea. The 30 day rate is often much cheaper than the 31 day rate. A few extra trips to the airport might be worth the effort.
Note: I once bought a $3000 car instead of renting a car for 3 months. It became a $6000 during those 3 months, and I found myself unwilling to part with it for only $3000 at the end of the 3 months. It's been sitting in my sister's garage for a couple of years, and is now a $2000 car.
Thanks for all the input. He ended up going with Enterprise. Came out to $3,700 all in. He got a mid sized car so it was a little more than the cheapest economy option. $32.50/day for a newer car isn't bad considering the hotel charges $30/day just for parking
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