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The Real Cost of Owning a Car

startupceo.co.za

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Re: The Real Cost of Owning a Car

#71

Post by bps4484 »

mattmichielsen wrote: post #28
Goladus wrote: post #13

Yes cars are extremely expensive. But for many the ability to live within driving distance of work is worth it. I know people who don't have cars. They really miss them. I can drive 250 miles to see my family on a whim. It takes 4-5 hours. Taking public transit requires 7-8 hours, and only gets me within 25 miles of my parents' house (which is pretty good compared to much of the US). And something like reliability is…

My strategy is to own a few $500-$1200 cars (might be different in your area) that work buy might not look very nice. When one breaks down, drive one of the other ones until the best one is fixed. Of course, sometimes they sit in my garage or driveway broken for months at a time. But it's always a learning experience (and a little time away from the keyboard). Also, I'm not going to be impressing any clients with any…

you keep insurance on a few cars at a time?

Re: The Real Cost of Owning a Car

#72

Post by pmccool »

barrkel wrote: post #7

I find it difficult to believe that a Ferrari would consume 100x on all of fuel, fines, insurance and licensing costs. But I would rather consider your choice of car beyond basic requirements as consumption, much like food. I'm sure one wouldn't consider fine cuisine a good investment either under these circumstances, but that doesn't justify living off ramen your whole life.

True, but I bet the servicing costs are terrifying. I once saw an ad for a used Ferrari that featured the words "engine-out service". That can't be cheap.

Re: The Real Cost of Owning a Car

#73

Post by heresy »

reitzensteinm wrote: post #25
Goladus wrote: post #13

Yes cars are extremely expensive. But for many the ability to live within driving distance of work is worth it. I know people who don't have cars. They really miss them. I can drive 250 miles to see my family on a whim. It takes 4-5 hours. Taking public transit requires 7-8 hours, and only gets me within 25 miles of my parents' house (which is pretty good compared to much of the US). And something like reliability is…

Anecdotally, for the first time in 6 years I don't have a car and I'm loving it. I'm living about 10 minutes walk from the CBD. To visit anyone I'd fly anyway, and the airport is only 15 minutes away by bus. Walking everywhere is much more satisfying, and not having to worry about breakdowns, oil changes, registration - not to mention the cost - is very nice. On the occasion that I decide to take a road trip, I can r…

Miss Wellington, couldn't do that in Auckland.

I tried for around 2 years, got too frustrating just not being able to get around without bumming lifts or using the very spotty bus/train coverage.

CBD rents of $400-500 p.w. also suck the big one, for something not that great either.

Re: The Real Cost of Owning a Car

#74

Post by Goladus »

warp wrote: post #34
Goladus wrote: post #13

Yes cars are extremely expensive. But for many the ability to live within driving distance of work is worth it. I know people who don't have cars. They really miss them. I can drive 250 miles to see my family on a whim. It takes 4-5 hours. Taking public transit requires 7-8 hours, and only gets me within 25 miles of my parents' house (which is pretty good compared to much of the US). And something like reliability is…

I prefer 7-8 hours on a train with a laptop or a book compared to 4-5 hours of driving. Driving is either boring (freeway) or annoying (cities), whereas I can usually either be productive or relax on public transport.

I prefer to be able to read a book or use my laptop than drive, but I'd rather spend those extra 4 hours with my family. If it was 6 hours instead of 8, it would be more worth it. But 8 hours is essentially an entire day of travel. I could drive home, visit, and drive back in the same day if I wanted to.

And it's not just the elapsed time, either. I have to be at the train station at a specific time (preferably having purchased the ticket in advance), and then need to do the same thing for the return trip. I have to pack everything I want to bring in baggage and make sure not to lose anything. With a car, I can decide to go home and be there 5 hours later with no other planning at all. A few changes of clothes may already be packed inside.

Not to mention that when I get to the destination, I'm stranded and dependent on people, because there's essentially no public transit where my family lives.

Believe me, I am not a car person. I avoid driving whenever possible, the bicycle I bought a few weeks ago already one of the best purchases I've ever made. But for me, it's worth having a car, and I often choose to use it.

Re: The Real Cost of Owning a Car

#75

Post by Goladus »

mattmichielsen wrote: post #28
Goladus wrote: post #13

Yes cars are extremely expensive. But for many the ability to live within driving distance of work is worth it. I know people who don't have cars. They really miss them. I can drive 250 miles to see my family on a whim. It takes 4-5 hours. Taking public transit requires 7-8 hours, and only gets me within 25 miles of my parents' house (which is pretty good compared to much of the US). And something like reliability is…

My strategy is to own a few $500-$1200 cars (might be different in your area) that work buy might not look very nice. When one breaks down, drive one of the other ones until the best one is fixed. Of course, sometimes they sit in my garage or driveway broken for months at a time. But it's always a learning experience (and a little time away from the keyboard). Also, I'm not going to be impressing any clients with any…

That would be a huge pain for me in Cambridge. Parking is a major expense and hassle here. And by this point, I don't really care to learn much more about cars. There are tons of things I'd rather be doing than auto maintenance.

Re: The Real Cost of Owning a Car

#76

Post by Goladus »

reitzensteinm wrote: post #25
Goladus wrote: post #13

Yes cars are extremely expensive. But for many the ability to live within driving distance of work is worth it. I know people who don't have cars. They really miss them. I can drive 250 miles to see my family on a whim. It takes 4-5 hours. Taking public transit requires 7-8 hours, and only gets me within 25 miles of my parents' house (which is pretty good compared to much of the US). And something like reliability is…

Anecdotally, for the first time in 6 years I don't have a car and I'm loving it. I'm living about 10 minutes walk from the CBD. To visit anyone I'd fly anyway, and the airport is only 15 minutes away by bus. Walking everywhere is much more satisfying, and not having to worry about breakdowns, oil changes, registration - not to mention the cost - is very nice. On the occasion that I decide to take a road trip, I can r…

I'd love to not need a car. I live in a very pedestrian friendly area myself and rarely drive anywhere except to commute to work (oddly, while I live about a 5 minute walk from MIT and lots of tech jobs, I work in the suburbs).

But, since I do have one for commuting, I have to admit that it comes in handy other times as well.

Also anecdotally, a friend of mine is buying me dinner because I'm driving her to a wedding this weekend.

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