What would you do? Buying or Renting for 4 months?
 

I am doing a co-op job in Ottawa for the summer, and decided not to ship my car over because it cost $1350 one way... (maybe a stupid move, I don't know)

Here's the thing, I tried taking the bus for the past 5 days and I have been driving for 8 years.

I don't think I can do the transit system. e.g. I went to T&T and Wal-mart to pick up groceries, IT TOOK 5 HOURS, in pissing rain.

now, in my situation, there are two choices, what would you pick.

1. buy a used car for $1000-$2000, in Ontario, I have to get it Safety tested (VI) and Emissions tested (Aircare)

costs:
- insurance (unknown)
- parking at my apartment (waiting for response)
- gas
- may be difficult to sell the car at the end

good:
- I can explore the city whenever I want
- no restrictions

2. rent a car on the weekends

costs:
- $30/day + $30/day insurance + gas

good:
- gauranteed quality
- can get the under 25 surcharge waived because I work for the gov't

what would you pick?

couldn't you get your company (in this case, the govt) to compensate you for relocating?

Anyways, you probably need to change your BC Licence to Ontario to get insurance and register your car.
SO you are probably better off just renting a car from time to time. Enterprise is cheap.

I hear that Ontario's transit system is really efficient, but I also heard that there are different bus companies with different fare systems.

Personally, I'd buy the cheap beater and get it safetied and e-tested. The GTA has a lot of cars in that budget range. CL is your best bet, but if you need to, I can find you an older Toyota on another forum I visit that has a large member base near Ottawa.

no, they only pay for my flight + my taxi ride home because I am a co-op student.

however, if it's a permanent job, then of course I will ship my car here.

as for licensing, I read that I can just get it transferred to a Ontario equilevant license.

the Ottawa/Gatineau transit system is very well planned. they even have roads built exclusive for buses. I will be busing to work everyday since there are dedicated buses that runs from where i live to the door of my building. :)

the problem is, during my stay, i want to explore the city + outside the city as well. transit will not cut it and i won't be able to get the full experience of the city. :(

How about driving there?
Roadtrip!

haha, too late. I'm there already.

they were going to pay up to $1000 for me to drive there (if i choose to), but gas+time+hotel is going to be well over $1000 when I can just fly there in 4.5 hours and pay $450.

In that case, why not buy a REALLY cheap car that doesn't need very much work and take out day permits as needed? However, it all depends on how long you're in Ottawa to offset the cost vs renting. The market for cars under $1000 is probably much bigger than the market we have here.

Have you looked into zip car or similar car-sharing program? I wouldn't buy a car for 4 months. There's a lot of headache with buying and selling a car in Ontario with having to worry about switching your license, safety and e-testing a junker, shopping around for insurance, getting your insurance history, licensing and registering the car and then having to get rid of it in 4 months.

exactly. buying/selling a used car in Ontario is a PITA. and people don't work work on saturdays so that's another challenge to get all the plates done.

getting rid of the car should be that hard. i'm planning to sell the car as-is for like $1000.

zip car/car sharing is more expensive than renting a car. it's something like $8/hr and $0.45 per km. in that case, i'd rather spend $100 a day and not worry about kms.

that's exactly what i am planning to do. plus when i leave, it's beater hunting season (september) so i'm sure i can somehow sell it.

the problem is that i don't know how insurance is going to cost, since i will have to shop around but i only have limited time. i work mon-fri 9-5

from what i know, you can't get temp permits like icbc.
you can however, get a 10 day permits but they are more for getting your car safety certified and emissions tested.

and insurance is more expensinve in ontario.
you can try belair or statefarm. i'm with statefarm and they are OK. icbc is wayyyyy cheaper though.

I did co-op in Ottawa. Have several friends who did co-op in Ottawa. None of us ever needed a car. We saw everything. Had a blast. Thousands of people live without cars. You can too. All it takes is some planning and organization.

If you really feel you need a car once or twice, then just rent. Avis on Albert St was cheapest I found.

Can't help but think you're one of those spoiled kids who...

Never mind.

For cheap car rental give priceline.com's name your own price feature a try - one of my profs managed to rent an economy car for $10 a day in Washington DC during off-peak season. I used it recently in LA and got $30/day for an economy car - INCLUDING the young drivers fee.

yup. I have to admit I am spoiled. However, there are places that buses do not go to. Also, busing is a waste of time.

buy an older ae86, beat the crap out of it, send it off a cliff. then profit.

Duuuuude, if you rent a car, do NOT get the rental company's insurance!! I used to be a rental CSR and I'll be the first to tell you there are better options out there. I recommend you find a credit credit card that comes with the insurance. The coverage automatically kicks in when you use the card to rent the car., and some of these cards are even free. I know the CIBC Platinum card provides this with no annual fee.

First off, you're spending too much on a car. Find a volvo for $500 and rock it, take it on some logging roads, do some donuts (cuz they spin the proper wheels), put some dents in it. When you leave, get a tow company to give you $300 for it.

what? you mean that I can buy car rental insurance with a CC and not have to use theirs?!

sorry, first time renting a car. :\

yes you can.

And for 4 months u might as well buy something shitty. An old Corolla or Civic for under 800 dollars will love you long time.

I hope you are no in Guelph working for R○M coz they sweet talk you into not driving and my friend says you are going to be a real shut-in without a car.

He drove his Jetta there and drove it back and never regretted it.

Coop, for 4 months in the summer? Figure out where your workplace is and bus.

just hire a zipcar in the off chance you need a car.

hk2000:
Ottawa is no Guelph.. what kind of drugs are you on?

I found insurance to be cheaper in Ottawa compared to Vancouver. Toronto may be a different story....

oh yes Guelph is Ontario LOL. I was high on Best Motoring. on my other monitor.

of course im busing to work. i have no problem with that. i just want something to drive in the weekends or when im holding shitloads of groceries and supplies.

i think i will rent a car in the weekend instead and buy a bike to explore the city. the shitty process of buying a car is not worth it for only 16 weeks.
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..or you can just use $800 for taxi money and save all that hassle?