Random renting car quesions

What does it cost?

I swear there is a huge swing on what it costs to rent a car. i mean sure i'm not going to pay as much for the geo vs an evo.

also what do people require for a deposit? full amount of car, couple grand, nothing.

what are you getting with the rental? tires, fuel, .........


just sitting in class and was wonder, guess i should be paying attention, but it's booooooooring.

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"Rally racing makes a heroin addiction look like a vague craving for something salty"

When I looked into it 2011/12, it was always stupid expensive. Running the numbers you could buy a turn key car ($10k or under) run a rally, sell it at a 25% loss, add in your cost for the rally, and it would still be cheaper than renting. Damage is a wash since you're paying either way.

YMNV.

wowzer, that really sucks.

i mean i get it, there is a lot at risk, but man, still, that just sucks for anyone that wants to give the sport a try.

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"Rally racing makes a heroin addiction look like a vague craving for something salty"

It all depends on what you expect for the rental.

Usually you want to rent the car, a trailer, a tow rig, and somebody to drive said vehicle to the event and crew for you. And those costs don't change between G2 and Open.

Do you expect the rental to include consumables?

I could see it being much cheaper if all you want is the car, but very few owners are willing to just hand over the car...and even fewer cars are set up so that they can be turned loose and driven competitively by somebody who has no knowledge of the car.

I've been on both sides of a $500/day rental agreement for a G2 car. But that was after I was an established competitor, and was just for the car (no tires, normal wear & tear included, any damage added on top).

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NBS2005
When I looked into it 2011/12, it was always stupid expensive. Running the numbers you could buy a turn key car ($10k or under) run a rally, sell it at a 25% loss, add in your cost for the rally, and it would still be cheaper than renting. Damage is a wash since you're paying either way.

YMNV.

You're comparing apples to oranges. Of course a current, let's say, SP class Subaru is going to cost more to rent than a mild spec Mk2 VW Golf (something that would fit in your $10k or under turn key category.) Renting that sub $10k car is going to be far cheaper than buying it and selling it at a 25% loss. If not then talk to someone else.

I was quoted $5500 (going from memory) for a G2 golf. That was delivered to the event in ready to go condition. Crew was extra. A seocnd place quoted something along the same lines. After that, I gave up.

I'd probably rent my car with crew for 5k, with a damage deposit of course.

I'd love to rent a rally car for a rally sprint or a one-day rally (e.g., Mt Hood).

Just my 2 cents, but I think a fair rate for a mid-pack/entry-level G2 car (think Dodge Neon, older GTI, etc.) would be about $1000/day including crew. Of course, any repair cost due to driver error would be on top of that. I could also understand an additional cost for a long tow. This would be an "arrive and drive" deal for the renting driver.

For reference, $500-$1000/day is the normal range for renting the cheaper road racing cars at a sprint race. This is for Spec Miata, ITA, etc. $500/day is the no frills Spec Miata with the original 185,000 mile engine and $1000/day should be a shiny, newer build with strong motor and data acquisition.

Anyway, just my thoughts on renting a G2 rally car. Feel free to tell me if you think I'm on crack.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/30/2012 05:44PM by MikeColangelo.

$500/day is less than it would cost to put it on stage. Rental price is completely dependant on what is included, length of event how far the tow is, how many crew, how many days etc.

Tall Pines, for instance, we spent $200 on fuel for the truck, $200 on fuel for the rally car, $400 on accomodation, $50 on extra banquet tickets for crew, $150 on food over an above our sponsorship food. $60 on beer. Put the sponsorship food at another $200... This was for driver, co driver and 2 crew. 3 nights driver and co-driver and 2 nights for the crew. That's $1200 right there in fixed costs, and that's probably light. Tall Pines is a long 1 day event. What should be coverd by the rental fee? Regular wear items like brake pads? Rotors? fule pump/filter? Struts/shocks? Clutch? Oil change? Maybe all of these? Looking at prep cost I just replaced all of these before Pines (except clutch). Sure they don't all need doing again, but pads/rotors are probably 1/3 used up, struts and spherical bearings also 1/3 used up, oil gets changed every 2 events.. other items like ball joints, tie rods, bushings, rims etc. all need to be considered wear items too, they don't last for ever. Then there's tires... we took 27 mounted tires, we used 10, 6 brand new D-Macks - $1300, 4 almost new AO34's - $800. D-Macks are probably 1/3 worn (the best bit!), AO34's are 1/2 worn now and we only used them for 2 stages!

Most of these costs are pretty similar no matter what car you run... I doubt you'd want to do a 1-off rental and go out on a used up set of tires.

This is an expensive way to have fun, and you have to pay to play.

So what all was included in those $5k per event quotes you got?

-Martin
Nissan 240SX G5

Try renting an R2 for a WRC event. It comes with crew and spares, but no tires. I believe I was quoted $35 per event once I could prove the driver had the chops.

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Jason McDaniel

A one day road race should be pretty easy on the car. A one day rough gravel event can be pretty hard on stuff.

I think $1,000 for a single day event for car cleaned and ready for you at Tech is not nearly enough. I think the minimum I would let my car go for a one day event is $1500, and that is you picking it up at my house, and dropping it off with Zero damage, and just a simple re-prep required. That would require a 7-10K damage deposit, with an agreement for complete repair/replacement.

2 day national, say $2500 DIY. $5000 with crew, 1 new set of tires, logistics handled, like pick you up at the airport and go have fun.

Still a tough thing to think about, I am a bit of a perfectionist with the car, and would worry about some mechanical thing ruining your good time.

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phlat65
Still a tough thing to think about, I am a bit of a perfectionist with the car, and would worry about some mechanical thing ruining your good time.

This is my biggest hold back.
Dave Kern keeps talking to people that want to rent stuff for Pikes Peak. I've listed rentals before in the past and been contacted by champion drivers from Europe and Australia. It never makes it far because I realize the LEVEL of preparation that I feel like should be provided when you are talking about a $20k rental is above that which I am comfortable providing. I'm also always worried about getting sued. I could see someone paying me $20k then DNFing halfway through and taking me to court for the whole amount claiming the rental agreement was not fulfilled.
I also have realized I'm not comfortable renting a car from someone either. Though I do want to rent a car for Arctic Lapland some day. Just gotta get over there and meet the in-laws in Turku and find a relative with a rally car.

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Grant Hughes

A while ago I read a thread about Rally Anarchy building a Volvo 242 rally car for no0bz who want to get into the sport or people who want to run a rally but have no rally car to do it in. If the guys that are working on it (if they still are) have it done at some point, then you could talk to them about that. Also, I'm getting an Xratty this weekend if the owner (little old lady I work with) would be at home when I call. So maybe tomorrow. It's not like.....you know, running or anything, but it's a 5 speed Xratty.

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Something about something....dirt.

Martin,

I don't really disagree with the price I was quoted being unfair for all the reasons you mention. When I get back in town, I'll dig up the details.

My thought is for about twice that, I can own a car ( maybe not a gteat one) and run a rally. And thats what I plan on doing. Jeremy's car is for sale. There's a caged and booked Lancer available. And there s always the Lada :-).

J

The problem is cost of ownership goes way beyond that cost of the car. You need space to store and work on it, tools etc. Then, unless you drive it to the event, which some do to get started, you need a truck and trailer too with space to store them as well. Lots of people get started by borrowing trailer, and begging a friend with a truck to tow... I did that in road racing and stock car racing for many years, my best friend and crew chief had an old ramp truck, it was perfect, and he had his own business, so the car stayed there and I went and worked on it there. Eventually I worked my way up to having my own place with my own shop, and truck and trailer... it only took me 20+ years :-)

BTW.. I'm not trying to put you off, I'm just trying to make sure you know as many details as possible, so you can make an informed decision... you probably alreday do, but it never hurts to hear from more people.

-Martin.