It's okay for this winter...we have a prepaid season of storage already arranged.
We will be using the little blue car to get from here (the middle of Saskatchewan) to Ottawa next month. A 3,000 km (1,800 mile) journey. But then we will be flying to Halifax on October 15th, and the little blue car will be put away in storage.
Or, we could sell it.
The problem is that by parking it in Ottawa, when would we retrieve it, and for what reason?
The little blue car in New York state.
Okay, so let's say we put the car into storage this winter. Our current plan has us arriving at Sherman, our motorhome, in March of 2014, and driving north. If we are offered this job again, we will be driving Sherman back to Saskatchewan and of course the little blue car will still be in Ottawa...a long way away. What would we do for transportation here next summer? Don't know. Maybe we could work a deal where we have use of the camp truck for grocery runs into town during July and August. Not sure, but it's a possibility.
And then what? We have a problem looking that far into the future. It's strange enough for us to have all of this travel planning figured out for the next eight months or so!
The little blue car in Jalisco, Mexico
Or, maybe we don't take this job and find something in Nova Scotia closer to our daughter and her growing family. Well, then perhaps we drive the motorhome back to Ottawa and pick up the little blue car on the way so that we have it for use out there.
Or, we sell it and be done with it. But, it's probably only worth $3,500 at the most. And we've had it since new so we know the car inside out.
And in Colorado this past April.
I think we'll just keep it in storage. Even though it's entirely possible that it will just sit there for at least two years.
The car owes us nothing. It has 186,000 kms (115,300 miles) on it. Almost all on the highway. Original brakes and clutch still! And it's been such a good little car. That's it, I think I've talked us in to just keeping it!
Heading up to the Toluca Volcano in Mexico.
nice when you talk yourself into something and make your own decisions without some outside influence!
ReplyDeleteSometimes writing it out can do wonders.
DeleteDonate it to your son. Just sayin'...
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather never owned a car. He said he could afford to buy one, but he couldn't afford to own one.
DeleteHaving said that, maybe we could "lend" it to our son! But even if we do that, has our son figured out how much gas, insurance, and maintenance will cost?
We think Alex needs a car......... Ha ha
DeleteYeah, give the car to Alex! Look what happened with Tioga George---you do not want your children mad at you.
DeleteWe would never just give it over. Our daughter Lindsey was never given our old car but we did sell it to her at good price and we would do the same for Alex but as Kevin said we could "lend" it to him but we would have to look after everything that would be involved with keeping it up.
DeleteHow much will the storage be for 2 years?
ReplyDeleteWe paid $400 for two years of storage. We've already used one of those years, so we have a prepaid year waiting for us.
DeleteExcellent deal, stay with the storage.
DeleteWell, since you're well versed in the ways of car storage, I tend to think that keeping it is the way to go. Yes, it will depreciate, but only in consideration of whether or not you'd then sell it at some point after 2014.
ReplyDeleteWe were faced with the dilemma of car rental vrs purchase for those times when we would come home on a visit from Austria. Just couldn't bring ourselves to tie up money in a car that would sit here until the next time we came home.
Now, if we already had an older car just sitting around? That might have been another story.
Yep, I think that we should at least keep it in storage for another year is the way to go, seeing that it is already paid for. Then we can look at things again next year and figure out what our future plans will be and if the car fits into them, if not, then maybe at that point we will reconsider selling it.
DeleteYep thinking storing it would be a good idea especially if you can have inside or at least covered storage. As long as it does not cost you more than the car is worth.
ReplyDeleteStore it for 30 years and will be worth a whole lot more,,lol...
When you said you were flying to Mexico, I wondered what you were going to do with the car.
ReplyDeleteThat is a dilemma. With uncertain plans it is tough to decide. If it is inside storage it might not suffer to month. I once left a Mustang in outside storage for just three months in Texas during the summer. Bad idea, it was never the same again and finally sold it for a less than than I could have if I would have sold it right away.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is inside storage.
DeleteSince you know the car and it runs well, you might get a lemon if you sell it and buy a different used car in the future. I vote for finding a job closer to the grandchildren next year and picking up the car on your way. I don't know how much you were paid for your job this summer, but it sounded like too much work unless you were paid VERY well. I'm sure there are other jobs out there that will include pay where you wouldn't have to work so hard.
ReplyDeleteI've just been going through the dilemma of what to do with 'things' when I don't know when I'll be getting back to them. I had planned to give my 2004 Toyota Camry to my granddaughters, Malia and Samantha, for their 16 th birthday - in 3 years. Well, now I've purchased Petunia Smart Car and don't have plans to drive the Camry again; so, I've given it to them now. They can decide if it's too long to keep it waiting for the magic 16. I would say it's probably worth $6-7K although I'm really not sure of that figure. I just don't want to pay insurance, registration and storage on the off chance I might be able to use it at some later date. And, the more I drive Petunia, the better I like her.
ReplyDeleteFor you, though, you have a car that you know inside and out - and you'll need a car later - I say KEEP IT.
I wondered about the car too. If you'll ever need a car again it's unlikely you can get one as reliable for the money you'll sell the little blue for. But it's a tough puzzle to figure out.
ReplyDeleteI vote for Nova Scotia next summer with Sherman AND the little blue car.
dont know what fees are involved in canada but here if you sold a car and later bought one the taxes would be more than the storage and if you had to rent something in the mean time seems the $ amount would add up.
ReplyDeleteKeep it. I get a kick out of high mileage. I sold my 98 Pathfinder with 365,000 kms on it. 80,000kms towing. Best SUV we've ever had and the Durango now has 248,000 kms on it.
ReplyDeleteKeep it. Between selling it, paying taxes, etc and buying another one....you might as well keep it if you think that you'll need it in a year or so......
ReplyDeleteWhat make and year of car is the "Little Blue car." Would you sell it now and fly to Ottawa. I'm just asking ????
ReplyDeleteIt's a 2006 Pontiac Wave. Exact same car as the Chevrolet Aveo, just different nameplates.
DeleteWould you sell it now and fly to Ottawa.
Hmm. Never really thought about it. It will cost us about $300 in fuel to do the trip, versus about $480 if we flew. Plus, we're actually looking forward to the drive. Love road trips!
If you loan the car, you must still have the insurance in your name. At least this is U.S. Insurance law. If it were me, I'd store it and have transportation when I get home. Why not fly back to the LBC then drive it to meet Sherman this winter?
ReplyDeleteYes, we would need to maintain insurance coverage if we loaned it to someone here. Our African flight returns to New York City and we already have flights booked for onward travel into Mexico. Plus, Sherman is not set up for towing and so we would essentially be driving two vehicles north if we were to do that.
DeleteHave someone drive it to Mexico for you, or tow it there behind their RV if they are in your area.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Sell it, even maybe sell it before you leave if you can get a better price than next year and at least you would be on the spot to deal with it. Free storage it may be but the logistics may make it more difficult to deal with next year and of course the car will be a year older. We've learnt that if you aren't using something sell it.
ReplyDeleteActually on a similar subject why are you hanging on to Sherman when you have hardly used it for so long ?????
ReplyDelete