Weekend Challenge for Alfa Spider

One of Great Escape Classic Car Hire's Alfa Romeo Spiders took on a challenge last weekend (23rd and 24th July) put down by a classic car motoring journalist. Phil Wheedon of Classic Car Buyer and Classic Car Mart borrowed our 1992 burgundy Alfa Romeo Spider Series 4 for a trip to Scotland and back over 48 hours, via his home in Peterborough, for a forthcoming feature. We were happy to oblige because we were 100% confident in the car's reliability.

The 19 year old Alfa Romeo Spider performed faultlessly throughout the journey, which included Phil returning from Scotland with the hood down all the way. Although we will be checking the car on the ramp following this epic journey, there are no reported faults on the 65,000 mile car.

At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we work extremely hard to improve the reliability of our fleet of cars, of which the average age is over 30 years old. We operate a strict maintenance regime for every vehicle and we have invested in an in-house workshop at our main Worcestershire site. This has improved vehicle turnaround and enables us to ramp check every car on a regular basis. Our other sites have similar arrangements with local garages.

"Our breakdown rate is less than 2%," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape Classic Car Hire. "That is pretty remarkable considering that our cars cover over 5 times the average classic car mileage and very nearly the average motorist's mileage."

Every Great Escape classic car is covered by full nationwide AA breakdown recovery. Unlike some classic car hire companies, Great Escape does not charge for vehicle repair and recovery from anywhere in the UK.

For more details on the Great Escape fleet visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.

Simple, honest pricing

It's a fact - classic car hire is a rapidly growing leisure experience in the UK. After all, what can be more enjoyable and memorable than a day out in the great British countryside behind the wheel of a beautiful be-chromed classic car?

Classic car hire appeals to people who adore classics as well as people who just like them. It's the simple way to find out whether the car you like is a car you could own - or a cheap and fuss-free alternative to actually owning one or more classic cars.

The popularity of classic car hire has led to a growth in companies offering classic cars for rental across the UK. These companies generally offer a small fleet of 3-6 vehicles, although some like Great Escape Classic Car Hire are much larger. The advantage for customers is that this means much greater choice, plus the advantage of dealing with people who share the passion.

But there is also a downside. The wide choice of classic cars for hire from different, generally small companies means that the prices and package on offer vary significantly. Quite simply, what you get for what you pay is not always the same.

I have been running Great Escape Classic Car Hire for 5 years. It is now the largest classic car hire company in the UK. Here's my advice for anyone considering hiring a classic car or buying a classic car rental voucher as a gift. I've tried to make it as objective as possible and it's definitely not a sales plug for Great Escape. Because what every customer wants from their package will vary.

Classic Car Hire Checklist

1. Hire periods

Some classic car hire companies offer 24 hours hire and others offer AM to PM hire. Many 24 hr hire companies will also offer AM to PM at a discounted price if requested. Decide which works best for you. 24hr hire enables you to make a break of the trip but you need to make sure the car is securely parked overnight.

2. Insurance

Most classic car hire companies include insurance within the hire price. An excess usually also applies - some companies request this in full as an insurance deposit, others just take card details as security. As the sum can be large this is an important consideration. You should check what the insurance covers and any additional liabilities you may have. These are usually contained in the terms and conditions and can include liability for loss hire income in the event of the car being damaged. At Great Escape we used to include this clause but removed it after feedback from customers. We have separate insurance cover for this liability so the customer is not charged.

3. Vehicle condition

The cost of classic car hire varies considerably. Classic cars are by their nature old vehicles that require continuous maintenance. So experienced classic car hire companies carefully balance the price they charge against the maintenance they incur - too cheap and the car will be very popular and wear out quickly, increasing the risk of breakdown for customers. Too expensive and nobody will hire it! I recommend being wary of companies that appear too cheap - experienced classic car hire companies do not make this mistake because it does not benefit their customers. I believe customers would prefer to pay a little more to hire a car that is in good condition, properly maintained and above all reliable

4. Reliability

Don't be afraid to ask a classic car hire company to prove how reliable their cars are. At Great Escape we hire out our cars hundreds of times every year and we have spent thousands of pounds getting our cars to a reliable standard. As a result our breakdown rate is less than 2% of all hires.

5. Breakdowns

Classic cars by their very nature are less reliable than modern cars. For some customers, this risk is all part of their experience. For others it is a significant inconvenience. If the worst should happen, what will your classic car hire company do? You should ask this question when you book. Some classic car hire companies offer breakdown cover but you should check their terms and conditions to see what this covers - several companies only provide free breakdown within a certain radius of their site and they may charge you if you misuse the service. Great Escape, along with all other HCHG members, provides full nationwide AA cover - wherever and however you break down, we will sort it out free of charge

6. Mileage limit

When comparing prices between classic car hire companies it is very important to consider mileage limits. Some companies, like Great Escape Classic Car Hire, provide all inclusive prices with unlimited mileage. Other companies offer mileage limits, which can often be as low as 100 miles per day. Where a mileage limit is offered you should consider how you plan to use the car - excess mileage charges of £1/mile are not uncommon.

7. Beware short hire periods

Some classic car hire companies offer half day hires for low starting prices. Customers should take care when buying these type of packages because of the high cost of maintaining these cars. Over 35% of all our hire income goes into maintaining our cars. When you also take into account VAT and insurance it is easy to see why classic car hire can be expensive. To offer a low half day price at Great Escape we would have to find savings in how we maintain the cars. And we don't want to make that short cut

8. Time in Business

When you book your classic car hire experience you should ask how long the company has been in business. Many of the companies involved in classic car hire are small businesses and they can come and go relatively quickly. This is particularly important when buying vouchers, which are usually valid for 12 months - you don't want to find the company has gone out of business before you can redeem it. Great Escape is part of the HCHG and we put all voucher sales into a secure separate bank account.

9. Vehicle unavailability

It is a sad fact of classic car hire that sometimes cars breakdown and cannot be made available for your hire day. When you book your experience, check what happens in the event that the company cannot provide your car. At Great Escape we have the UK's largest fleet of classic cars so we are well placed to provide an identical alternative or a very similar vehicle. If we can't provide the car you booked then we will give you a free day in another car and let you rebook the original car free of charge.

Classic car hire is all about a great day out. But like anything, you get what you pay for. By following some simple checks on insurance, hire periods, breakdown cover and vehicle condition, you can guarantee a memory that will last a lifetime.

For more details on Great Escape Classic Car Hire or for advice on hiring a classic car call Graham on 01527 893733 or email graham@greatescapecars.co.uk

Breakdown not break down

The trouble with old cars is that they like to play up. No matter how much money you spend on them and how many new parts you fit, you can only ever reduce the risk of breakdown, you just can't eliminate it.

We can only go so far to guarantee the reliability of old cars, some of which are over 50 years old. We also believe that when you hire one of our cars you should be able to enjoy it to the full, so we offer full 24 hour hire and unlimited mileage. That's why at Great Escape Classic Car Hire we provide full AA nationwide breakdown cover with all of our 50 classic rental cars. So wherever you go and wherever you are, you're in safe hands.

We commit to never leaving you stranded. So we back up our AA breakdown service with local mobile phone support seven days a week. If we can get to you we'll bring another car. If we can't we'll keep in touch with you and the AA to ensure the problem is resolved swiftly and easily.

Our support services were put to the test this weekend when our trusty Aston Martin DB6 decided to play up. This car travels thousands of miles a year and has had over £10,000 spent on it in the last 6 months. So we were surprised to receive a customer's call late on Saturday night when the alternator on the car failed on Saturday night. The customer was in a very remote location in the Welsh Borders and obviously concerned. A combination of AA cover, a very helpful AA patrol man (who followed the car back to our unit) and our phone support meant the customer was sorted out quickly and with the minimum of inconvenience. We even went out to the car that night to check the customer was ok and to assist with any transport requirements.

We hate breakdowns but the real issue is how you deal with them. Some classic car hire companies do not provide full nationwide breakdown service and make extra charges for recovery outside a given area. Had the Aston customer broken down with such a classic car hire company they could have faced considerable costs to recover the car. A breakdown like that is our problem - and our responsibility.

Driving a classic hire car with confidence

At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we've just spent several thousand pounds renewing our AA nationwide breakdown cover. This covers every one of our 50 classic cars for hire and every hirer. It means that wherever you go - and with our unlimited mileage package, it can be virtually anywhere - you're guaranteed of full breakdown support, whatever happens.

When you're hiring a classic car for the day or weekend we're pretty sure you want complete peace of mind After all, it's a big day - our cars are often hired for weddings, anniversaries and birthdays - so you want everything to go as smoothly as possible. So while the level of breakdown cover offered by your hire company is often easy to overlook - or you naturally assume it is in place - it remains a very important consideration when choosing a classic car hire company.

The reliability of our classic car fleet is vital to our business. So at Great Escape Classic Car Hire we spend at least 35% of all hire income on maintaining our cars. In 2011 we're even setting up our own in-house servicing department to further improve the levels of reliability. Our cars cover very high mileages for classic cars and our breakdown rate is very low. But no matter what we do and how much we spend we can never guarantee 100% reliability. That's why we invest thousands of pounds every year in providing full nationwide AA breakdown cover with our cars.

Unfortunately not every classic car hire company offers full nationwide breakdown support. While every member of the Historic & Classic Car Hirers Guild (including Great Escape) offers full breakdown cover, hidden in the small print of some companies' terms and conditions are clauses that make the customer responsible for recovering a broken down car. Some companies offer no cover at all while others only offer limited cover within a certain distance from their sites. If you venture outside a given distance from the collection site you may be liable for the recovery cost. You may also be liable for the breakdown company's call-out charge.

"Classic car hire is a real treat for those lucky enough to experience it," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape Classic Car Hire. "We want everything to go as smoothly as possible. But, along with every classic car hire company, we can't guarantee the reliability of old cars.

"That's why we provide full nationwide AA breakdown cover with every car. So if there is a problem, wherever our customer is they'll get full support. We believe it is wrong to expect the customer to be inconvenienced or financially penalised if the car breaks down.

"It is our responsibility to look after the customer."

The Great Escape Classic Car Hire AA recovery package is also supported by the company's own local recovery system. If a customer experiences a problem with a Great Escape car near to base, Great Escape is committed to attending quickly and where possible bringing an alternative car to the customer, so that they can then continue their journey.

"If we can we'll take a car out as quickly as possible to local customers," explains Graham Eason. "We then wait for the AA so that the customer doesn't have to Or we'll recover the car using our own trailers."

Great Escape is the UK's largest classic car hire company and has been named as one of the Heart of England's best tourism experiences. The company operates 50 cars from 6 UK locations. For more details visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.