Winter home car

[bcgreen]

We will be wintering in AZ. for 5 mos. every year and will need a vehicle to leave there during the summer mos. I am the type of guy who likes something different but reliable, eg my daily driver is a MC40. I was thinking of a Honda S 2000 which seems to be quite reliable, not something you see every day and it might have a good resale. I belong to the PCA there but a P car would cost me more $ and require more of my attention than in the Honda S price level. It will be our only car and it will be stored in a gated resort car port.

[thamlin000]

Toyota Supra TT. Reliable, rare and good resale.

Or

Chevrolet SS 6-speed. The Australian-built 4 door Holden sedan, not a Camaro. Very rare. They haven’t really depreciated since the end of production in 2017.

[Ayles]

Originally Posted by bcgreen

We will be wintering in AZ. for 5 mos. every year and will need a vehicle to leave there during the summer mos. I am the type of guy who likes something different but reliable, eg my daily driver is a MC40. I was thinking of a Honda S 2000 which seems to be quite reliable, not something you see every day and it might have a good resale. I belong to the PCA there but a P car would cost me more $ and require more of my attention in the Honda S price level. It will be our only car and it will be stored in a car port in a gated Resort.

How tall are you? S2000s are tight! I am 6’4” and my knees were up against the dash...

[bcgreen]

Originally Posted by ayles

how tall are you? S2000s are tight! I am 6’4” and my knees were up against the dash...

5'10

[NYNick]

Been there done that...twice, with a garage to park it in no less.

First was a 65 GTO. Car was awesome and appreciated while I owned it. Completely impractical and simply a fun toy. Sold it.

Next was an 09 911 TT Cab MT. Great car, bullet proof, beautiful. It sat 6-8 months a year and depreciated. I drove it about 1500 miles a year. It was so fast I could never appreciate it for what it was. When you're doing 105 and you're still in 3rd with 3 more gears to go, you'll understand. We did take it on a few long distance trips and it excelled. However, I decided I was wasting my time and the car owning it. Sold it.

After I sold that one, I decided to rent a car while we're in Florida. No upfront cost, no depreciation, no insurance, no maintenance. We get a new car every time. We've become Hertz VIP's and they upgrade us every time we rent. I just rented a nice 2020 Nissan Milano SUV for 2 months and it cost me about $23 a day.

A $30K car I own for 5-6 years depreciates about $3k-$4k a year, plus insurance, plus maintenance plus being responsible for it. Until it costs me more than $4-5,000 a year, I'm renting. My toys stay home in the other house and I drive a new car in Florida.

For now anyway...

[MichaelB]

All very good ideas.

For me I have a 2003 (facelift) Boxster. 2.7, glass rear window, IMS upgrade, BBS wheels. Get in & out of it without using the door. Still a Porsche.

Depreciation curve is at the bottom.

Example: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-cars-sale/1050282-2001-boxster-s-25k-miles-ims-solution.html

[Matt Monson]

The 5 years my dad had my 86 Carrera it was his winter car. He’s got a patio home in St George UT, and it was his sole vehicle. He and my stepmother toured various national parks and went to Vegas in it. 20K mi over 5 years. Once the alternator stranded him, once the fuel pump, and once the DME relay. He knew what he was in for and took it all in stride. Now he’s driving a 2018 Honda pickup so he can drive more dirt roads to nowhere down there.

[sugarwood]

FRS/BRZ checks all your boxes.

[bcgreen]

Originally Posted by NYNick

Been there done that...twice, with a garage to park it in no less.

First was a 65 GTO. Car was awesome and appreciated while I owned it. Completely impractical and simply a fun toy. Sold it.

Next was an 09 911 TT Cab MT. Great car, bullet proof, beautiful. It sat 6-8 months a year and depreciated. I drove it about 1500 miles a year. It was so fast I could never appreciate it for what it was. When you're doing 105 and you're still in 3rd with 3 more gears to go, you'll understand. We did take it on a few long distance trips and it excelled. However, I decided I was wasting my time and the car owning it. Sold it.

After I sold that one, I decided to rent a car while we're in Florida. No upfront cost, no depreciation, no insurance, no maintenance. We get a new car every time. We've become Hertz VIP's and they upgrade us every time we rent. I just rented a nice 2020 Nissan Milano SUV for 2 months and it cost me about $23 a day.

A $30K car I own for 5-6 years depreciates about $3k-$4k a year, plus insurance, plus maintenance plus being responsible for it. Until it costs me more than $4-5,000 a year, I'm renting. My toys stay home in the other house and I drive a new car in Florida.

For now anyway...

Would not be financially viable as I am staying for maybe 5 mos. or a bit more.

[pmax]

And I thought the Canadian geese went extinct after 2016 !

Joking aside.... lots of choices when practicality is not a requirement, Miata.

[Alan A]

Friend of mine gets his car driven down from ct to fl every year (and back) for about $1100 e/w.
Guy picks it up - drives down and drops off a day or so later. My friend gives him a ride to the airport and he has his own car for sub $2500 a year.
Is that a possibility?

[bcgreen]

Originally Posted by Alan A

Friend of mine gets his car driven down from ct to fl every year (and back) for about $1100 e/w.
Guy picks it up - drives down and drops off a day or so later. My friend gives him a ride to the airport and he has his own car for sub $2500 a year.
Is that a possibility?

Would put too many miles on the wife's Macan. This year we will have the Macan S down there as we will be towing a UHaul, giving us the time to find something. Good thing when one is not rushed.

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by bcgreen

Would put too many miles on the wife's Macan. This year we will have the Macan S down there as we will be towing a UHaul, giving us the time to find something. Good thing when one is not rushed.

And the cost at 25-30c a mile or whatever vs insurance and depreciation is... Just saying.

[nathanbs]

E46 m3

[pingpong]

i am in the same position in Arizona, my choice is FJ 100 Land Cruiser / LX 470 bullet proof, no depreciation.

[NYNick]

Originally Posted by bcgreen

Would not be financially viable as I am staying for maybe 5 mos. or a bit more.

$25 a day times 150 days (5 months) is $3750. Five months of rent for a new car every year that you don't own, insure, maintain or have responsibility for is a deal in my book, but I already own too many cars.

Good luck with your search.

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by NYNick

$25 a day times 150 days (5 months) is $3750. Five months of rent for a new car every year that you don't own, insure, maintain or have responsibility for is a deal in my book, but I already own too many cars.

Good luck with your search.

For less I can get a $199/mo lease on a Golf or Impreza and have it there all the time.

[bcgreen]

Originally Posted by NYNick

$25 a day times 150 days (5 months) is $3750. Five months of rent for a new car every year that you don't own, insure, maintain or have responsibility for is a deal in my book, but I already own too many cars.

Good luck with your search.

The key word is new, and according to the OP is, that I am not wanting new but has a good resale and not on every corner.

[pingpong]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

For less I can get a $199/mo lease on a Golf or Impreza and have it there all the time.

Matt, its not the same a lease cost you at least triple in insurance maybe even more. Plus paying 12 month, drivng only 5, no that is not a good deal.

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by pingpong

Matt, its not the same a lease cost you at least triple in insurance maybe even more. Plus paying 12 month, drivng only 5, no that is not a good deal.

You must have a terrible driving record. I’m insuring 3 cars, two of them brand new VWs, for $177/mo with Progressive.