Viewing Thread:
"Cars - why bother?"

My girlfriend has it in her head to get a car. She can drive, I can't. BUt because I will be "reaping the benefits" of her being able to drive, she wants me to split the costs, 50/50.

Now, maybe it's just me, but the economics of running a car just don't seem to make good sense.

We have an option to buy a car to around the value of £3,000, spreading the payments over 3 years - interest free.

Great, I hear you cry.

But then you have to insure it. Quotes come in at the princely sum of £800. Immediately almost doubling the cost of the car over the three year payment period. But even once it's insured to drive, you can't *actually* drive the thing, because you have to tax it, too. Something to the tune of £120+ to get your little sticker. So far we're looking at just under £2,000 a year.

But still the car is not "roadworthy", as it can't drive without... ta da da da da daaaa - petrol. I'm told "it's nothing to worry about" and "about £20-30 a week". Ooh, some small figures. But let's read the small print here. £30 a week? That's £1,560 a year.

So, for the paltry, almost insignificant price of £3,560, we have a car for a year. Put in a better perspective, for only £10,680 we have the car for three years and it is fully paid for, by which time, we'll likely be bored of it and want a new one.

Now, I can either have a car, or go on holiday twice a year to the bahamas, throw money to the wind gathering useless possessions and betting on the lottery, and afford all the alcohol and takeaway food I could ever want.

Hmmmm. Decisions, decisions.

Somebody please tell me why on earth I would choose the car?

If IB's in the passenger seat and then mows down a drudgery of peons whilst "having a stroke", his sudden recovery is going to take some explaining to do. And also the fact that he was leaning out of the window weilding a sword screaming "Porntrooper brings judgement upon you wretched curs!"

Then remain a pedestrian and eat like you've never eaten before.

However, in a car you can always pretend to have a stroke and mow down crowds of peons. Then say "I'm ok now" when the rozzers arrive.

Perhaps it should be noted that I live 10 minutes walk away from work, 5 minutes walk away from town and only moments away from Chinese, Pizza and Indian takeaways...

Perhaps you could offer to buy the car and she pays the insurance and running costs. That way, if you ever split up, you get the car ;-)

How do IB, havent seen you about here for a while....

Depending on your current means of travel, the car isnt all that bad. a fiver in petrol gets me to work for about 2 weeks, but lasts 2 days on the bus, plus i get there in half the time.

there are a thousand insurers that will probably beat that, phone around. every year. No claims will bring it down every year too. also, go for a smaller engine which is cheaper on petrol and insurance. under a 1.3 is cheaper tax too.

the 50/50 thing is funny though. tell her where to go.

On the actual point of why you should or shouldn't buy a car, it all comes down to where you live and where you go.

I live in Glasgow. For a weekly bus ticket it is around £12. That only takes me around Glasgow, and some surrounding area. If I want to go to one of my favourite coffee houses for lunch (it's great, open fire and on the banks of Loch Lomond. Called the Coach House Coffee Shop. Women love it, you get the idea) how would I get there without a car?

You sound like you don't really need a car, but whilst I could survive without it, it would have a big impact on my quality of life. I would have a lot more time lost commuting, and in less comfort.

True it can be expensive, but get a small car then to cut your fuel, insurance and tax costs.

You might not want a car, but clearly your girlfriend does. Why? Could it be that she wants to live in a bit more comfort?

I doubt you will get her to change her mind, but if you really aren't happy paying half of the cost then simply a small donation. Or a fair bit of the purchase price but leave the rest to her.

Black Glove wrote:
> Tell her to get knotted.... heh, "get knotted".
> -Note: I have a random disregard for the welfare of other people's
> relationships.
>
> A motorbike and sidecar would be a better option.
> You could do a camp Biggles impression with a white scarf and a pair
> of goggles.

Well actually, the white scarf had a nasty ending a while back, I use a grey one now. But yeah I have the goggles. They are like the prototype of Aviator sunglasses.

Blank wrote:
> gamezfreak wrote:
> I'm getting a citreon saxo anyhows. Lowered suspension, 17"
> alloys, new body casing, decent sound system to thump out that bass
> ;)
>
> I don't understand that mentality at all. Instead of buying a small
> car and adding loads of crap to it to make it look better, just buy a
> bigger car.

Thank you. That's what I always say.

If you want to mod your car then do so. But I personally would rather buy something bigger and more comfortable, not to mention more powerful. And then possible do stuff to it.

I repeat - It's a hobby/interest.

I'm not a "townie" or whatever you kids call it, its just something that i'm interested in. I read Max Power and all them things cause they interest me. Improving my car is something that i'd like to do cause I like it.

I guess i'm an "inbred" - I have "townie" interests like Graffiti art/Car modding, but I listen to Metal/Rock music, play the guitar and wear different clothes.

£30 a week for petrol? I drive to work and back every day (okay so its only a 10 minute drive), and I only fill my tank once a month, which costs me about £25 a month.

and £800 for insurance, Is that realy the cheapest quote you can get? Ouch!.

I find its really useful to have a car for grocery shopping. When you need to go to the supermarket and do a whole load of shopping. There is always too much to carry back on the bus, especially when you have arthritis and your boyfriend is allergic to carrier bags (true story).

But if you don't drive I think splitting a car 50/50 is asking a lot.