Hire or buy?

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zoon

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I currently have a trailer, but have to borrow my dads 4x4 to tow it as we don't have one. Plan was to sell my car and get a 4x4 as his is up for sale (older than I'd want to buy myself). I use the trailer once a month, twice at the most during summer and probably only a few times over the whole of winter.

I am moving house soon and will be 20mins away from a place that hires a nice 3.5t lorry. I've hired it before, horses travel well in it and it is nice to drive. I am wondering if it'll be better to sell trailer (only an old rice, so won't fetch much), keep my small economical car and just hire lorry when required. If I get a 4x4 and keep trailer I'd need to do my B+E or rely on my OH to tow for me. Plus tax, insurance and running costs of 4x4 would be higher. But is that going to be cheaper than hiring the lorry? I guess about 10 times per year max (£95 a time for full day) the plan for the future is to get my own 3.5t, but with current wedding planning, I am going to struggle with purchase at the moment.

Not sure what the best option is for me?
 
So to hire would cost you £950 per year,

a newiosh 4 x 4 will have road tax of £400 ish vs your small car of (randon guess) less than £100 = saving £300

An ecomonical car might to 450 miles to a tank of £60 while our 4x4 does 250 miles to a tank of £110 (but we mostly use truck for towing) What roughly is your milage per year to work out saving there.

4x4 will be more expensive on mot, service, insurance and tyres all each year. If you can have a look at what 4x4 you'd get and look at the costs of all of these I suspect you might find it cheaper each year to rent
 
We were looking at a sorento - spending around 8k on it. I'd get about 4-4.5k for my car. I do about 700 miles a month. That'll possibly decrease though, as although new house is further from work, my horses will be at home, so no travel to there twice a day. Thought it'd be cheaper to rent. And no worry about maintenance costs etc.
 
At 700 miles a month that would be say 1.5 tanks of petrol at £90 vs 2 tanks in a 4x4 at £200 so £110 a month more expensive just on fuel - even if I've over/ under estimates this over 12 months it is way more than your £950 - just in fuel alone with tax and insurance I suspect it becomes a no brainer
 
Rent for now, no maintenance, no tax, no worries! You don't travel enough at the moment to justify the expense of having your own transport.
 
I have two youngsters, so it'd be xc schooling, clinics and lessons for now, maybe the odd local show for experience.
 
I had my own box for yrs & yrs & when I gave up competing I got rid.
Then I had a break from horses......

Then I got BF 3 yrs ago & I hired for 2 years & was getting more & more frustrated as they were not always available even months ahead (and you are lucky - round here its around £125 - £150 for a day).

Brought last summer as it does mean I can go out when I want.
Several horsey friends have a habit of mentioning nice rides out :rolleyes::D for when they know its my day off (Thurs) so if weather ok that morning, we trundle off to meet for ride or schooling etc somewhere. If I had to hire, I couldn't do this on a whim :o

Disregarding purchase price, the tax MOT & Insurance come to a total of just under £600 pa.
I put aside £40pcm for 'replacements' & have also got a sum of £1k put aside for 'mechanicals'. Then there is Mr Credit card or the alternative of 'box rest' if a major problem....
I have budgeted around £50pcm for fuel all year round as most trips v local but its swings & roundabouts month by month.

At the end of the day, its your choice - I'm lucky enough that I dont have to pay to park mine up as its my yard, and also that OH is mechanically minded and can do most repairs/replacements/service work in his own time :)
 
Well can't just trundle off at the moment as I can't tow, so would be relying on my partner or dad. I'd have to do my B+E or buy a 3.5t
 
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