My FiL asked if it were possible for them to buy a car whilst visiting us from the US and then sell it when they go back after say 4 weeks, and would it be cheaper than hiring? I thought it certainly would be since I could buy, insure and sell it easily enough if he gives me the moneh. He suggested a figure of five grand or so which is way more than necessary.

The thing is, he’s into cars and likes unusual stuff, so I wondered what ‘interesting’ cars could be bought and sold for little or no loss?

I immediately thought of an older high mileage luxury car (Merc, BMW) but he suggested Rolls Royce… I may be thinking too sensibly…

S Type Jag?

Pick up? Navara or Hi Lux.
Saab 93?
Honda Accord?
Range Rover?

Found an old Bentley for £5k, but there are plenty of MX-5s, Porsches and SLKs for that price, or E-class for luxury. Jag not a bad idea either, he likes British stuff.

He’s American so unlikely to want to drive a pickup 🙂

Sell him yours 🙂

£5k will get you a bentley, porsche, ferrari or jag. might get an m5 for that money.

7 series would be nice.

look around the £2-3 k as there are loads of big mercs/ bmw that aren’t going to lose any money for a few years at that price.

Depending on his era, you could get a nice classic, MGB, Cortina, Capri, Escort, etc. I would ask your MiL what he used to drive and try and find something similar and surprise him. 😉

I think the biggest risk is if something breaks down during the month, so I suppose we should play relatively safe and get something with a good reputation for reliability. So an old Bentley might not be a good idea. But then again, he might be prepared to risk it. I hope he is 🙂 I found a Muslanne on Autotrader but there’s no way that’s fitting on our drive.

He spent his youth driving small British sports cars which was pretty unusual in 60s America, so a classic Austin/MG could be good too.

Rolls

TVR

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201407226019611/sort/priceasc/quicksearch/true/page/1/make/tvr/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/advert-type/Classified/radius/1501/usedcars/postcode/ch71gu?logcode=p

Old Porsche?

944S

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C504267

TR6? (hm, £10k) Alvis? old Jag or even old Rover.?

Go for something old, get RAC cover, then cancel it after the 4 weeks. 😉

Rangie, XK or XJ jag, 5 v8 disco’s.
Ex MOD defender. Rag top. what could be more fun? (don’t answer)
At the end off the day you’ve got to sell it. Cheap bently’s are fun but a mare to shift, if you go and view one you’ll get the good coffee.

What about a Reliant Scimitar?
A bit of grunt, simple ford mechanicals and space for the luggage.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201312040335923/sort/default/advert-type/Classified/make/jaguar/quicksearch/true/radius/1501/usedcars/postcode/sy50bu/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/page/1/model/xk?logcode=p
XK rag top £4.5k

Stag?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-Stag/141369532756?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D23982%26meid%3D8984207672995397334%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D9421%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D281407190355&rt=nc

Cheap bently’s are fun but a mare to shift

This is useful to think about.. and I think probably why I’d suggest something sensible but decent.

I did think about (assuming they come in summer) having him send the money over in January, buying a convertible, on the assumption that it might even fetch a little more money in August when it gets sold.

How will they insure it?

When are they coming?

I’d have to insure it for me – when I asked previously this allows them to drive 3rd party.

Wouldn’t you also have to own it to insure it? Isn’t 3rd party a bit of a risk, one bump and he’d be seriously out of pocket

I’d own it of course – he’s not going ot be able to register it. Basically he’d send me cash, I’d own and insure it, he’d drive it, I’d sell it.

I thought it was your own insurance that allowed you to drive other peoples cars? Ie I could drive your car Molgrips 3rd Party as I have my own insurance. The car still has to have a main insurer and keeper.

Would US insurance be valid 3rd party in the UK?

Hmm, not sure.. but he drove my car last time they came over and I phoned and triple checked with the insurance company and they said it was fine. Can’t remember on what basis. May have been an option when I took out the policy I dunno.

Don’t antipodeans do this a lot when doing European tours? I wonder how they register and insure the cars?

Fun idea, but almost certain to end badly…

BMW 5 series?

You ideally want something either quintessentially English ie Range Rover? Or something unusual in the US – Saab 900? Smart Roadster? Maserati 3200GT?

90s Alfa Spider?