2nd vehicle for full timers - Montana Owners Club

Lstierw · 05-07-2006, 11:27 AM

Last year when we started full timing we sold our 2nd vehicle thinking all we really needed was our truck. We spend about 6 or 7 months in Spokane and travel to Arizona for the winter. We are thinking that maybe we made a mistake considering the present gas prices. Having a 2nd economy car would make sense when we are in Spokane. What do you do?

jrgwdenner · 05-07-2006, 12:01 PM

It is certainly a feasible. We have met others who travel with their fifth wheel and an extra car, especially if they work along the way and both have to drive to work.

Lstierw · 05-07-2006, 12:10 PM

Thanks Judy, but what we want to do is not travel with a 2nd vehicle, but simply leave it in Spokane and have the cost savings for the 6 or 7 months that we are in Spokane........Les

Imp · 05-07-2006, 12:36 PM

We have our economy car while we are here in Texas. Of course we have a place to park it while we are gone. It sure makes a difference for running to the store and day trips.

Mac · 05-07-2006, 12:40 PM

This is a little off topic but I'm curious if anyone has ever ridden a scooter.

I'm thinking about buying a little Vespa style scooter just to drive back and forth to work right now. I only work about three miles from the house and I could probably ride it a month between "re-fueling". Of course it won't do me much good outside of this little town but...

mac

Lstierw · 05-07-2006, 12:46 PM

Just curious how long you are gone from Texas and how long your 2nd car sits without using?

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Imp

We have our economy car while we are here in Texas. Of course we have a place to park it while we are gone. It sure makes a difference for running to the store and day trips.

rlwhit · 05-07-2006, 01:18 PM

Have no idea how much you are willing to spend on an small run around car. Just take a few minutes and figure out how much you are willing to spend to save how much. Does that sound confusing? Some people who have car payments can trade in and down size for better mileage without a big diff in payments. It is all what you want and are willing to spend. Just enjoy your Monty!!!!

CountryGuy · 05-07-2006, 01:24 PM

Les and Sue,

We leave our van and our Escort for 3 to 4 months each winter when we are able to get out of Michigan and go Winter Texan(ing)

Al puts stable (not sure that is spelled correctly) in the gas when we leave, last tank and run it thru a bit. I believe he has also on occassion put some dry gas in the tank.

So far we have not had any trouble with the Escort, baby starts right up, cept that the tires get a "flat" spot on them that takes 40 to 50 miles to drive out, makes a thumping noise, real bad at first, then less and less as we drive it. Also the brakes will squeal a bit.

The van, we have trouble with the battery, we have come to the conclusion there is some small drain on it, and it was dead this year when we got home, even had some ice in it?? Can you believe it?? He was able to charge it and then it took off and ran fine. Gonna have to consider taking that battery out and putting in the basement I guess. We did have mice get in the engine, last year, cause it was parked on the grass. Won't do that again (park on the grass). But then, mice got in the house this year and had a field day. Don't tell Al, but I think I would rather they chew on the van?? NAHHHHHHH, take that back, rather not have ANY mice problems.

Maybe your kids could drive the car once or twice a month. That would probably be enough to keep er running smooth.

Just remember, the savings in fuel has to surpass the expense of insurance, and upkeep.

Ohhh, that reminds me, we suspend all coverage cept fire and theft on the vehicles while we are gone, that mounts up to a nice hunk of change.

Give the yorks a hug. Carol

jrgwdenner · 05-07-2006, 02:07 PM

We have kept our minivan in the garage during our two long trips so far. After we came home from five months to Alaska and back the battery was a little flat 'cause I had left one of the doors open. Okay, I was rather excited about leaving! But after recharging the battery, the van started right up and hummed like a top. Same after our trip to the valley. We also stop our driving coverage insurance while we're gone and instruct the children to not drive it.

Les, I would be willing to keep an extra vehicle on hand if I was going to be in one place for seven months. Just for the convenience.

Montana Sky · 05-07-2006, 03:39 PM

I looked into doing this as well since the price of diesel is rising. I did the old cost vs. savings comparison and found that it would take me 9.75 years of driving my "average" mileage per year worth of diesel to justify the cost of buying a new Honda Civic. If you can find a quality used car for much cheaper I guess it might be worth it, but for me after looking at the cost of insurance, gas, service, and repairs, I found it to be easier and cheaper to drive the truck. Just what I had found out while looking into this very topic.

bob n pam · 05-07-2006, 03:40 PM

Mac, Bob used to work about 3 miles from home and he rode a Honda 80 everyday. It worked great. I used it to shop and run around town. We lived on an island across the bay from San Francisco, and the scooter was just the ticket. You know some people ride a Harley hog, but we had a Honda piglet!!

Mac · 05-07-2006, 03:46 PM

Pam,

VERY good, I could use a little piglet of my own!

mac

richfaa · 05-07-2006, 04:24 PM

When Helen retires we will get rid of one of our Honda's.That will be a big savings in Insurance and fuel, Etc. even though the V-10 is a fuel hog I don't see us driving a lot of miles when we get to where ever we are wintering.We think the savings of getting rid of one Honda will offset the cost of running the gas hog.

adelmoll · 05-07-2006, 05:48 PM

I just can't imagine how long it would take to justify another vehicle for the increase in gas (diesel) prices. Even with the huge increase in fuel it would take a long time before the cost of the vehicle and additional insurance would pay. If you already have a small vehicle that is a different story but I sure wouldn't buy one. Just my accountants opinion for what it's worth.

Helen

CountryGuy · 05-08-2006, 02:11 AM

Rich,

Depends on what kind of camper/vacationer/RVer you are. Last year in RGV, Al and I barely put on 1300 miles IN the valley. We know people there basically same amount of time that put on well over 7000 miles.

We got to Fredericksburg, stayed, what 4 days, did 220 miles. We were in the Valley 3 months.

HMMMMMM???

patodonn · 05-08-2006, 04:26 AM

If you already have a second vehicle with current registration and insurance, and a free place to keep it in Spokane while you are elsewhere, it might be "do-able" from an economic standpoint. It certainly would be convenient to have a smaller car available, wherever you are.

If, however, you are talking about buying a vehicle (new or used), adding insurance, registering it, storeing it 6 months out of the year...I can't even imagine a "break even" point financially, no matter what the gas prices go to.

It is really a matter of how much extra you are willing to pay for the convenience of having a small car vs driving the truck wherever.

JMHO

Lstierw · 05-08-2006, 04:40 AM

Good imput. I know for sure that if we do get a second vehicle, it will definitely not be new. We do travel alot while we are in the Spokane area and it could be stored at either of our daughter's home when we head south.......Les

richfaa · 05-08-2006, 05:41 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by CountryGuy

Rich,

Depends on what kind of camper/vacationer/RVer you are. Last year in RGV, Al and I barely put on 1300 miles IN the valley. We know people there basically same amount of time that put on well over 7000 miles.

We got to Fredericksburg, stayed, what 4 days, did 220 miles. We were in the Valley 3 months.

HMMMMMM???

We would be a lot closer to the 1300 miles than to the 70000 mile figure.. Tne Honda we will let go is costing 800.00 per year in insurance and 280.00 per month lease..total $4,160 per year or 346.66 per month. Add that number to our camping expense account and we will be OK.

CountryGuy · 05-08-2006, 08:34 AM

OK, Rich, one of us is confused, I know I am.

Concerning the quote of 1300 miles in 3 months, that was RGV, with Big Butt. The Fredericksburg quote of 220 miles was also in Texas, on the way back to the cold north country, and that was also with Big Butt.

Sorry, my original post was probably not clear, either too late in the day or too early.

Neither number that we drove had anything at all to do with our escort, or second car or any of this stuff. I was commenting about your post that you did not think you would drive a lot when you got to Arizona.

My point was, I think (HAHAHA) that we had friends that stayed in the RGV, same time frame, same place, etc. and they drove 7,000 miles while we only drove 1,300. (note that is seven thousand, not seventy thousand) So, we can be sitting in the same place, same time, same length of time and you will drive different totals than we will. You might be big into sightseeing, and Al and I will be sick or tired or bored and NOT move from our campsite.

I think that was what I meant!

FulltimeFollies · 05-08-2006, 12:20 PM

We spend mar,apr, may on our piece of property in Tx, June, jul, aug somewhere where it is cool. Then sep, oct nov back in Tx (where we always keepa car) and dec, jan, feb in Az (where we also keep a car in storage.
We have cars that are not expensive to drive, or insure for liability only. Not only do we save money by driving them, we also save the MILES that would be put on our truck, thereby making it last 5 times longer. I , for one, can assure you that the miles NOT put on the truck and the savings in gas, ease of operation, etc , far exceed the cost of a semi clunker and the storage that we pay in az 35.00 per month. The insurance is dropped and added as we need it. It works for us, may not for others that just go helter shelter.

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