I can never understand why people are willing to invest such huge sums in having new/expensive cars. Let's say, for instance, that you pay $300 per month for a car payment, $100 for insurance, and $100 for gas. LOTS of people pay at least that much every month for their cars. . . many pay much more. If you net $3,000 per month (meaning, you make around 40k per year), you're spending about 1/6 of your income and working hours just on your car. To put it another way, t's not uncommon for people to spend 5-10% of their waking hours earning their cars.

Maybe transportation is worth, say, 5% of your life, compared to not having it. But that's not the choice! As you say, you can drop less than 2k on a perfectly functional vehicle, and while repairs are going to cost more, you're still undoubtedly paying a fraction of what you'd otherwise shell out. Let's say it were half as much time. You get 2.5% of your life back. . . 1.5 to 2 years for many people.

2 extra years of life that you don't have to be at work. . .

If you could have 2 weeks extra paid vacation time every year in exchange for driving an older car, wouldn't you do it?


Obviously all of these numbers can be shuffled, and many people enjoy their jobs and don't mind spending time at work. . . it's just something to think about. I don't think people often enough stop to consider money spent as hours of their lives that they won't get back.

Hell No. Be thankful that you have a car. It's not about status, but about taking care of your life which is hard to do without wheels.

At least you damn sure got your $1,200 dollar's woth.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

It's unfortunate how true that is for most people in this country.

I was carless for several months and loved it. . . I love living someplace where that's an option. Hopefully I can ditch the car again in the future.

Hope you're lovin' your ride, though.

SeattleInvasion said:

Oh hell no. In LA you need a car. No way round it.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I know. Peeps in LA are fucked if they don't have cars. It really sucks.

I did fine without one, for the most part, but it became tough when I wanted to leave Seattle for more than a couple of hours at a time.
[Edited 3/20/06 12:18pm]

DynamicSavior said:

You have great taste in cars my friend!

DynamicSavior said:

Look at my shirt!!!!!

East bound and down.
Loaded up and trucking
We going to do what
they say can't be done.
we got a long way to go
and a short time to get there
I'm east bound and down.
Watch old bandit run.

jerseykrs said:

Yeah boy!!

My first car was a Beige 1970 Firebird with a white top. I LOVED THAT CAR. It was a gas hogger though.


M

heartbeatocean said:

That really is hilarious dude.

My family went through a string of mid-late 80's Mazdas & loved them. The 323's and 626's actually had some decent balls for being 4-bangers.
keep it

heartbeatocean said:

You're not familiar with the term? It means spending more of your money (which a lot of folks DON'T have),in order to keep up with what your neighbors have.
In other words, tradin' in the PIECE of SH*T car for something you can't afford, jus cuz I'm driving a Mercedes...so to speak.

heartbeatocean said:

These Joneses?


You don't have Nazis gunning for you, do you?

SeattleInvasion said:

With the money I have saved by having my old car, I spent a month in India and 6 weeks travelling around the Middle East. Saving up for another big trip soon.

Revolution said:

Of course, I've heard the term, but never understood the mentality. Maybe it's time to start thinking about the Joneses.

I miss my old 1980 toyota T18 - dented, rusted but fantastic. We called it the yellow peril after a sculpture in my town that it resembled.

heartbeatocean said:

I'm midway between the two.

Good for you! I can't wait to be 40, actually.

heartbeatocean said:

no. If you drove an SUV and don't have 7 or more kids,then you should be ashamed though.


Mostly, you should ensure you have nice hair. Nothing is more embarassng than driving a nice car, but wearing whack ass hair.

Imago said:

Oh, I've definitely got it going on with the hair.

if it has a tape deck it's all good!

i wish i still had one in my ride, i've got some tapes just collecting dust.

sinisterpentatonic said:

No tape deck. Crappy radio though!

Mine has a tape deck and no CD player. My tapes are falling apart or degrading.

A CD player is going to be a requirement in my next car.

94' Corollas represent!

vroooom

AnckSuNamun said:

corollas don't go vrooooom they go putt putt putt putt.

sinisterpentatonic said:

My '91 Corolla recently died.

And then I got an even older car.

As long as your car take you from point a to point b who cares what others think!! i have over 22,000 right now and i keep hearing get another car, for what. nothing wrong with my mazda 626 1996 car. If i have to g oout of town i just rent a car. I go nowhere far!!! I am buying a HONDA element this summer though!!!

sinisterpentatonic said:

whatever...corollas take a lickin' and keep on tickin. They really do. Mine's been banged up 4 times....and it's still rollin'.

SeattleInvasion said:

damn....I hate when people tell me their Corolla died. I want them to be the longest lasting cars ever.

AnckSuNamun said:

wtf??!

i hate to have your insurance rates.