Ways to avoid having to rent a car?

   Have any of you ever just outright bought a cheap car to avoid having to
use a rental car over a several week period?

  My wife, I and our two toddlers are going to be out in the Seattle area
for 24 days from mid July through early August.  I was shocked at the rental
prices I was able to find, because they were between 2 and 2.5 times the
rates I got in Florida just 6 months ago.

  The main purpose of our trip is for us to get away from the summer heat.
We would also like to explore State parks and national parks in the area.
Plus, a drive up in to British Columbia would be nice.

  A friend of mine once said his brother just bought a beat up car for $200
instead of renting one.  Then he just gave the keys & title to some guys at
the airport when he left.  It ended up saving him over $400.

  I can't seem to find a car rental for under $600 with taxes included.  A
number of places won't even let me see the prices, because they say that the
period I want is "non standard". (I.E. - too long a period, evidently)

  I got on Craigslist, and found a LOT of old cars on there for sale under
$600.  Many are described as "good daily drivers", with high miles but no
problems starting or driving.

  Have any of you ever taken this approach before?  What are the positive
and negative aspects?  If we do this, are there ways we can avoid ending up
with a problem vehicle?  We are coming from Ohio, so would need to get
something lined up weeks in advance, with no chance to check things out in
person ahead of time.

                                                    Thanks!

 

it's an interesting concept, the biggest bugaboo would be insurance
and registration

 What's to keep you from renting one week, turning the car in in Seattle
and then renting another week.  There's probably an extra fee for not
returning the car to the same destination.  Or do you even need a car in
Seattle?  If not, you'd only have to rent a few days while you are making the
trip.

I wouldn't want to put my wife and two small kids in a beater on a 1000 mile
trip to save a few hundred bucks.




On Mon, 4 Jun 2007, jdoe wrote:

 jdoe wrote:


One unexpected repair would be a great way to spend one's vacation.

Hint - no one sells a problem free / working car for under $1k.

I've sold two for junk / parts for nearly $1k each.

 
cars on there for sale

Not necessarily, just discard it and buy another.


Wrong, those who buy and sell cars for that short term use clearly do just that.


Irrelevant to what happens every day.