As some of you may know, I am going back to school in January for a second bachelors degree and also working towards a masters in my original academic discipline. This is going to require me to move.

That being said, I have looked into a few different options, and would like your opinions on them. I did not make this a poll because I don't want people to vote and not make a comment as to why they believe that is the best option. When reviewing the options, please keep in mind that general living costs where I will be moving are very low.

Option 1: Apartment + Storage Facility. A large apartment would cost me about $290/month plus utilities. The storage facility is fenced in with a 24/hr guard tower. You must sign in and sign out at all times and be a renter in order to gain access. The rental cost for a 10x15 is $60/month, and the rental cost of a 10x20 is $70/month. Both are large enough to fit the car, the latter can also fit some additional equipment. On the downside, I would have to drive to the facility daily to ensure the car is there. Otherwise I risk not knowing the car was stolen until I go to drive it, which could be weeks or months.

Option 2: Rent a Home w/Garage. I could rent a home with a garage for $500-$900/month depending on location and size. If I rent a home, I would sublet/rent rooms, though I find that to be a security risk for the ITR hiding in the garage.

Option 3: Sell the caR. I am financially stable enough to keep the car, pay insurance, and go to school. I actually went out of my way to reorganize my finances to make sure I could afford everything without issue. Option 3 is for those that think the above 2 will not keep the R safe at all, and it will be stolen.

EDIT: I removed the purchasing of a home from Option 2.

Moderators: If you think this is too general, then move it to the location you deem best.


Modified by Mythias at 4:36 PM 11/28/2005

 

Option 3=

Two choices left...

 

Brad: Option 2.

Renting rooms to others gives you the ability to screne the people you rent too. If your not going to drive the R, simply throw it in the garage with a car cover. Tell the people that you chose to move in to never touch it or the rental agreement is nil and void.

 

this all I can say...

http://pic.templetons.com/brad...6.jpg

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ossabB &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">this all I can say...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well if I am gonna burn, I like this pic better (also courtesy of Mr. Templeton).
http://pic.templetons.com/cgi-...7.jpg

 

Things that make you go hmmmmmm ....

 

Personally, I'd rather risk the ITR being stolen than sell it out of fear of it being stolen.

However,

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mythias &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The storage facility is fenced in with a 24/hr guard tower. You must sign in and sign out at all times and be a renter in order to gain access.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I wouldn't let this give you a false sense of security. I remember more than a few stories here on the board of cars getting stolen out of "secure" parking lots even with a guards on duty.

Buying a house seems like the best idea in general, IMHO.

 

Out of your choices, I would opt for choice #1.

Is leaving the car at a friend/family members not an option? It would save you $$ and headaches.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Reid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I wouldn't let this give you a false sense of security. I remember more than a few stories here on the board of cars getting stolen out of "secure" parking lots even with a guards on duty. </TD></TR></TABLE>

To be honest, the private storage does not give me a sense of security at all, since I would have to check daily to make sure it was not stolen. That being said, its not a parking lot. Its like a complex of garages that are either 10'x15' or 10'x20'. Most people use them to store the stuff they dont have room for in their home. In my case, and said scenario, that item would be the ITR.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KayOs &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is leaving the car at a friend/family members not an option? It would save you $$ and headaches.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That is not a possible option at this point in time.

 

main question is.. if you're not going to have time to enjoy the car, then sell it. if theres time to enjoy it, then best security is having good insurance coverages. #1 sounds crazy to me, #2 isn't all that bad... can you afford a beater on the side so you can take it places where you don't feel secure? unless.. where you going live isn't goign to be secure.

 

Never sell unless you cant give heR a good home. You can always get a gaRage that you can lock and tell your renters its off limits. As yet anotheR layeR of secuRity, have ADT or someone come put secuRity on just the gaRage. That way if the alaRm is tRipped, they call you within 1 minute and if you didnt tRip it, the cops are dispatched on high prioRity. Thats my 2 cents...and I think the best for your R.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vtec.dc2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">main question is.. if you're not going to have time to enjoy the car, then sell it. if theres time to enjoy it, then best security is having good insurance coverages. #1 sounds crazy to me, #2 isn't all that bad... can you afford a beater on the side so you can take it places where you don't feel secure? unless.. where you going live isn't goign to be secure.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I already have a beater, and I will have plenty of time to enjoy the ITR. The main reason it would go into storage for weeks/months at a time is due to the harsh winters. I also have good insurance coverage.

 

where would you be moving?

is theft even an issue/ concern in that area?

 

You can bring the car to me and I'll keep a close eye on her for ya But of those options I would say 2. You get more with that option. You get the comfort/security of a house and you get to keep the R. Either way, don't sell it. I know what you just had to go through with that car.

 

Rent/buy a house.

Cover the car, make sure the garage is off limits to people renting.

Maybe even stick some parking post behind the car with some big *** locks. Unlock them to pull them out, otherwise it is through the wall to get the car out, which would be very noisy and risky for a theif if you live in a good neighborhood.

Or just get an alarm for the garage as said before and an interior dead bolt that only you have the key for.

 

I say #2. You'll benefit by more than just having a secure place to let the R snooze.

 

I have my car in public storage and I think it is relatively safe. Of course it depends on who sees the car being placed in storage and the city of storage.

 

[QUOTE=davidnyc]I have my car in public storage and I think it is relatively safe. QUOTE]

Your car is real safe Dave. I'm so close I'd hear it scream for help and come running anyway.

 

i just had to make the same decisoin. moved to an apartment and the itr is at the parents house, chained to the house in the back yard.

 

Brad, this is a tough decision. However, anytime that ownership is an option, ownership should be your choice. Buy a house, plop the R in it and be done with it.

I hope to be able to do the same soon. I think we all take this caR business too seriously sometimes.

A house is a house. It's all yours and can only bring you more money than what you paid for it if you choose to sell it in the future. If the house/garage is truly a feasible option I would go that route. Screw the caR, you'll have your own house! Tons of time for R's in the future, at least that's what I'm hoping for

 

Personally, if I lived in the US and had to store my car for a long time I would do the following regardless of the option.

1. Put the car up on blocks, store the wheels at a friends house.

2. Take the spoiler, front lip off.

3. Remove the steering wheel and store that too, shift **** as well.

4. Possibly remove stickers and seats.

Removing those parts should prevent it from being stolen i think

 

Aussie's R funny

 

Search!



Don't buy a house for your car. Buy a house because it makes you happy and is a good investment. (Note, don't forget to add in property tax and extra utilities when checking to see if a house is a good investment. I pay 9K a year in property taxes, for instance )

My vote? Get the apartment, and leave the car parked with no battery. Sure it can get towed/stole, but you can also drive it on that freak 60 degree December day if you want. My car spent 2 years living outside an apartment in Fort Worth, and 2 years in Chicagoland (partially in an apartment Garage).

It's an 8 year old Integra. You're allowed to park it like one if you want. If it gets stolen, you can find another or get a different go-fast car (s2k, evo, sti).

Option 3 is silly. Don't sell scared. Not EVERY caR gets stolen, it's not that bad to roll the dice once in a while.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Black R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">where would you be moving?
is theft even an issue/ concern in that area?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I am moving to a small town in Western PA. The number of students at the University is nearly twice that of the surrounding town. It's more likely that the car will be broken in to and have CD's stolen or the car to be vandalized that it is for the entire car to be stolen. Most crime involving vehicles is due to drunken college students who want to break things.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by davidnyc &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have my car in public storage and I think it is relatively safe. Of course it depends on who sees the car being placed in storage and the city of storage.</TD></TR></TABLE>

This public storage facility is down a long no-outlet road outside of town. The only people who would ever be on that road are the people going to/from the public storage area.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Splat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I say #2. You'll benefit by more than just having a secure place to let the R snooze.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have decided to rule out the purchasing of a home in Option 2 for the time being. The main reason is the initial cost due to the down payment, closing fees, etc. While still affordable, it would push my budget to the limit since I will be paying a minimum of 12k/year in tuition, plus an additional 1k or so per semester for books and supplies. That being said, I am still considering renting a home and subletting a room or two.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dave_B &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You can bring the car to me and I'll keep a close eye on her for ya </TD></TR></TABLE>

If you are moving up here, then sure. But I don't want to have to fly to Florida every time I want to get a dose of vtec.


Thanks everyone for your replies, suggestions, and comments. It is greatly appreciated.

 

Rent a house with a garage Brad. You'll be able to keep the R safe and be able to drive if you want, without having to go through the headache of buying a house. Do that after school is done.
If you're are worried about roomates messing with your car, get female roomates. They will probably say your car "is pretty" and never even think about it again.