The Need For Speed

At the end of 2011 we took the plunge and invested in an in-house servicing and repair workshop at our headquarters in Worcestershire. Since we got the new facility fully up to speed in March we've been wishing we'd done it years ago.

By creating a fully functioning Great Escape Classic Car Hire workshop with ramp facilities we have been able to resolve simple and complicated repairs much faster. And lets face it, whatever we do and however much we spend, these old classic cars do like to breakdown occasionally. But now, when they decide to throw a wobbler, we can get them back on the road much faster. Which all means less inconvenience for our customers and overall a better customer experience.

Our new facility is managed by Tony Hunting, who has been working in classic car hire for several years. He still runs our Suffolk fleet at weekends but spends his week days in Worcestershire keeping our largest fleet on the road.

This week we've had some problems with our MGB V8 and normally trusty Jaguar E Type convertible. Thanks to our new workshop we managed to get these cars fixed and back on hire within a matter of hours, meaning that two customers had cars that otherwise we might have had to rearrange or switch to alternative cars.

For more details on our classic car hire visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733. We plan to extend our classic car servicing and maintenance facility to external customers during 2011.

Why buy when you can hire?

Buying a classic car can be the fulfillment of a dream, the chance to at last drive and own a car that you may have lusted after for many years. For many classic car enthusiasts there is no alternative to owning a classic. But for others the reality of owning and running a classic is not quite the dream they expected. Classic cars are inherently unreliable and expensive to maintain. They also tend to cover very few miles every year; we all lead busy lives and sometimes the run of perfect summer's days to enjoy a classic don't quite materialise as often as we'd like. If you're considering buying a classic or already own one and worry about how much use it gets and the cost involved, there may be another way to live your dream. There are now an increasing number of classic car hire companiesaround the world and in the UK particularly that offer a wide range of classic and vintage sports cars for self drive rental. These companies provide high quality classic rental cars on a daily, weekly or weekend basis. There are hundreds of cars available to hire from companies that provide very good coverage across the UK. The choice of cars includes MGs, Triumphs, Jaguars, Jensens, Alfa Romeos - in fact everything from Morris Minors to Aston Martins. Some cars are available to hire from small businesse with three or four cars, other cars are available from much larger fleets. For example, companies like Great Escape Classic Car Hire have large fleets of over 50 cars available to hire from multiple locations. Hiring rather than buying a classic car means that someone else has the hassle of servicing and maintaining the car. They also have the responsibility for storing the car, insuring it and taxing it. The typical cost to maintain a classic car over 12 months is around £250/month, equivalent to at least £3,000 per year. Although hire costs vary by car - from as little as £100 - you will undoubtedly find that even if you hire a classic car for as many days as you need during the year, the price will be significantly less than the storage, maintenance and purchase cost of a classic car. The investment of £3,000 - which excludes the cost of financing the car purchase - would buy, for example, 15 days in a Jensen Interceptor or 20 days in a MGB. Many owners of such cars do not use their cars that often. Based on typical annual mileages of 1,500-2,000 miles a classic car is used around 10-15 days per year. Hiring a classic car from any one of the many classic car hire companies in the UK can be like having your own virtual garage - on demand whenever you want it. If you like lots of different cars and don't want to be stuck with one, then hiring is a great alternative to buying - you have a massive choice of cars from the 1950s to 1990s available at the click of a mouse. Hiring a classic car also enables you and your partner to explore different parts of the country - without the hassle and uncertainty of having to drive all the way there in a classic car. You can simply choose the location you want to explore, find a local classic car hire provider and collect the keys. And if something goes wrong, you are unlikely to end up with a long journey on the back of a low loader and a ruined break - the classic car hire company will usually repair the car or provide an immediate replacement so that you can continue your journey. Classic cars are an ideal hobby or add an extra dimension to a weekend away. But if you don't fancy the uncertainty and financial risk involved in buying a classic car, hiring may be a safe and low cost alternative.

What to consider when buying a classic car

Buying a classic car is, for many, the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Whether buying a prize example of their first car 30 years on or reliving childhood holidays in a fine example of dad's old saloon, classic car ownership is about enjoyment and relaxation. But the sheer enthusiasm with which many people enter into the purchase can sometimes blind them to the harsh realities of owning and running a classic car.
I have bought and sold many cars in my years running the UK's largest classic car hire company. In that time I have learnt the hard way how to buy classic cars well. I bought my first classic car in 1993, a rare Alfa Romeo Alfasud Ti in black. It was my dream car, having cycled past an identical example every day while at school. I did my research, buying copies of all available Buyers' Guides and I knew exactly what to look for and what to avoid. Unfortunately, what none of these guides told me was the cardinal rule - buy with your head not your heart. I particularly wanted a black Alfasud and when I clapped eyes on the car this was the over-riding thought in my head. It blinded me to the reality of the car's obvious flaws, including suspect electrics and typically Alfa-esque rust holes. Floating on a wave of dream fulfillment I convinced myself that these were idle matters and coughed up the asking price to a probably flabbergasted owner.
When you go to buy a classic car bear in mind two simple rules. Firstly, it is not the only example of its kind in the world. Regardless of how closely its specification matches your desires, there will be another one out there. Secondly, picture the asking price as money in your hand - this will help you to appreciate the value of the purchase. Very often cars are bought and then paid for later, which gives plenty of time for circumspection! I strongly recommend that anyone buying a classic car takes along a friend who can be relied upon to be objective - they can reign you back when your enthusiasm takes ov er.
When I bought the Alfasud I managed to bring it back to a respectable standard, but it cost me to do so. That taught me another rule of car buying - objectively assess the cost of repairing the car before you buy it. Know the market value of any car you plan to buy - what is it worth in average condition and what is it worth in excellent condition? Objectively assess the value of repairing the car's faults by researching the cost of trim, bodywork, mechanical work and so on. Do not under-estimate the cost of apparently minor work - scuffs and scrapes on the paintwork can cost hundreds of pounds to put right. If a seller says something is an 'easy fix' you have to wonder why they haven't done it themselves.
When you go to view a classic car do your research first. Check the buying guides. Visit web forums and ask questions that are not immediately answered by your research - generally forum contributors are very happy to help. Talk to the experts - marque experts who repair cars on a daily basis are often very happy to offer advice because you may become a customer. Talk to people who own similar cars - a good place to start is with classic car hire companies who run classic cars over several thousand miles every year. I often get asked by would-be owners about the cars I run and I am always very happy to offer advice based on living with classic cars day in and day out. Before you view the car ring the owner first and run through a checklist of questions - this will save you a wasted journey.
Besides the actual car itself, there are two other areas to pay particular attention to when you view a car. Firstly, the owner - the old adage about buying a used car from a man like this obviously applies. If the owner is genuine, the chances are that the car is too. And of course, the reverse is true too. Secondly, have a look at the paperwork thoroughly - check that the contents back up the description of the car in the advertisement and from the owner. The paperwork should be well presented rather than a jumble of paperwork that is difficult to decipher - if the owner can't be bothered to organise this detail, what else has he skimped on?
Your test should include full inspection inside and out and underneath, ideally using a ramp (local garages are often happy to arrange this - the seller should be able to sort this out).
On the test drive you should start the car from cold - insist before arrival that the seller allows you to do this - and you should drive at least 5-10 miles at the wheel. Check for unusual noises on start up - particularly knocking - and monitor the dials throughout the test. Check that the oil pressure and water temperature perform as expected. Check the brakes - do an emergency stop. Rev the engine through the gears and test rapid gear changing. Drive the car quickly around a corner to test the suspension and steering. Test all of the switches, particularly the heating - failed heaters can be a costly and very inconvenient expense.
if you like the car you're looking at, buy yourself some thinking time. Don't be railroaded into a quick decision by the vendor. Often the seller will genuinely have a lot of interest in the car - if so, depending on how you feel you should ask for either overnight or at least a few hours to think about it. if you are serious you could offer a small deposit as a demonstration of good faith. It is better to lose £100 than several thousand through a rushed decision. I would recommend viewing the car at least twice in daylight.
This is inevitably not an exhaustive assessment of what to consider when buying a classic car but if you follow these simple rules you will stand a much better chance of buying the right car for you. Buy with your head not your heart and buy with a closed wallet. Then classic car ownership will be a hugely rewarding experience rather than a financial millstone.