Cars are Becoming Too Expensive

[Governor Megachris%Participant 3584]

…At least for me for the time being.

I’ve been considering, in my minimalist approach, selling my car. I could probably sell it for about $900-$1200. It’s paid off. Problem is…it has endless problems now.

Paid $700 (my mother helped me cover that, sadly!) to fix the brake booster and master cylinder.

Two weeks later (about 2 weeks ago), the passenger side door panel literally broke off and it’s started rusting/deteriorating on the outside as well…all out of NOWHERE. I can’t even open the passenger side door without it nearly collapsing.

In the past week or so, my car has started stalling at every stop I make. “CHECK ENGINE” light came on and all. Had my stepdad help me replace the idle air control valve. Worked for a full night. Right after fixing it, my engine started buzzing and now it stalls again.

To have it diagnosed by the cheapest mechanic in town, it’s $90. I’m in the midst of trying to save my money, and THIS is happening.

I’m looking into a scooter/moped/trike, as they’re cheap, their insurance is absurdly cheap…but I’d have to take a class that costs $200-$300. But, I’d be seeing a savings of several hundred dollars just going down to something small like that!

I know it sounds silly, but I’m just feeling like cars are way too expensive. I know the hard labor people put into making the parts and whatnot, so I understand WHY they’re expensive…but goodness, when you’re someone like me making $12.47 an hour, it’s tough. I can live off of that if I could just cut my spending, and doing that seems like it would be a good start (the next would be getting that efficiency apartment nearby for $530 a month).

[FunInTheSunParticipant 8283]

I know what you mean. Three years ago, I spent $1300 on a car so it could pass an emissions test. I got rid of that car and bought a cheap, used car “as is” for $4000. BIG MISTAKE. This car had one problem after another. I’ve spent $3000 over the past two years getting this car repaired. I’m willing to spend $1000 on it just to get by for another year and then I’ll finance another car—with a warranty! I’ve considered riding a bike to work if I become totally broke. I’ve done it before. I’ve also thought about getting an apartment closer to my job so I can walk to work. That will really help me to save money!

"I saw that there comes a point, in the defeat of any man of virtue, when his own consent is needed for evil to win-and that no manner of injury done to him by others can succeed if he chooses to withhold his consent. I saw that I could put an end to your outrages by pronouncing a single word in my mind. I pronounced it. The word was ‘No.’" (Atlas Shrugged)

[sidecarParticipant 35837]

@Megachris%:
I would say it’s time to retire that vehicle. It sounds like it’s reached the point where it’s just a hole to throw money into. If you can get $1200 for it, go for it, and let it be someone else’s problem.

Also $700 for the master cylinder? I can only assume you had that done at a garage. An expensive one. For most models you don’t even have to lift them for a repair like that. Cars become a lot less expensive if you learn to do basic repairs like that yourself.

Governor Megachris% wrote:

I’m looking into a scooter/moped/trike, as they’re cheap, their insurance is absurdly cheap…but I’d have to take a class that costs $200-$300. But, I’d be seeing a savings of several hundred dollars just going down to something small like that!

Check into your local laws. In many places if the scooter has a displacement under 50cc you don’t need a 2-wheel endorsement on your license. In many places you don’t even need to insure it. That’s why almost every single scooter manufacturer sells a 49.999cc model. If you don’t need anything more than that, don’t pay for it. A lot of people waste money getting vehicles with capabilities they don’t ever use. Only pay for what you actually need.

Also, even if you do have to spend a couple hundred on a class, you should get an insurance discount for having taken it. And even the highway capable scooters get gas mileage in the 100MPG range, so you will more than make up for the cost of the class in fuel savings. I don’t know what your commute is like, but the average american commute is around 20 miles each way. At 2 dollars per gallon gasoline (and good luck finding that), a 100MPG scooter will save you about $450 a year over a 30MPG car just in fuel savings. And the more expensive gasoline gets the more you save.

[Antec80Participant 11]

What is you budget for a new one? It may be personal but is your credit good? Have you had a loan before? I am pretty sure there is something in your state that dependable and fairly cheap.

[MGTOWmonkey aka No More Fucks To GiveParticipant 6635]

Women make money now=drooling stealerships
Women dont negotiate salary or prices=inflation
Women needs a car to go to work=30k toyota camry

Never lose sight of what brought you here.

[MGTOWmonkey aka No More Fucks To GiveParticipant 6635]

MGTOWmonkey aka No More Fucks To Give wrote:

Women make money now=drooling stealershipsWomen dont negotiate salary or prices=inflationWomen needs a car to go to work=30k toyota camry

P.S. I was told something similar to this from a car dealership salesman.

Never lose sight of what brought you here.

[Governor Megachris%Participant 3584]

sidecar wrote:

Also $700 for the master cylinder? I can only assume you had that done at a garage. An expensive one. For most models you don’t even have to lift them for a repair like that. Cars become a lot less expensive if you learn to do basic repairs like that yourself.

I remember helping a friend of mine replace one of my ex’s master cylinders. Wasn’t a problem at all. The only reason this was added onto my bill with the mechanic was it was replacement of the brake booster, which was then discovered to have gone bad because of a leaking master cylinder, which was a couple of $90 diagnostics. The booster alone was going to be about a $300 repair or so (part included). Both parts were a good fraction of the overall cost on it. They do pretty cheap work otherwise (but they’re good at what they do, better than the other places around me to be honest).

sidecar wrote:

Check into your local laws. In many places if the scooter has a displacement under 50cc you don’t need a 2-wheel endorsement on your license. In many places you don’t even need to insure it. That’s why almost every single scooter manufacturer sells a 49.999cc model. If you don’t need anything more than that, don’t pay for it. A lot of people waste money getting vehicles with capabilities they don’t ever use. Only pay for what you actually need.
Also, even if you do have to spend a couple hundred on a class, you should get an insurance discount for having taken it. And even the highway capable scooters get gas mileage in the 100MPG range, so you will more than make up for the cost of the class in fuel savings. I don’t know what your commute is like, but the average american commute is around 20 miles each way. At 2 dollars per gallon gasoline (and good luck finding that), a 100MPG scooter will save you about $450 a year over a 30MPG car just in fuel savings. And the more expensive gasoline gets the more you save.

Texas law states that I CAN drive an under 50cc without a Class M license, but I need something that can pickup to about 45 MPH to keep up on the road I take to work…unless these are sidewalk-legal or something. Not too familiar with them, but I’ve heard from some people in the past that they’re big money savers.

Antec80 wrote:

What is you budget for a new one? It may be personal but is your credit good? Have you had a loan before? I am pretty sure there is something in your state that dependable and fairly cheap.

I did find a fairly good vehicle that was about $3500. I saw that my credit jumped 50 points about a week ago to almost the “good” range (it’s “fair” now). I tried applying, but was still denied for a loan regardless because my previous apartment complex I was evicted from still says I owe them over $1000. Seems like there’s always one thing or another preventing me from getting anything good.

MGTOWmonkey aka No More Fucks To Give wrote:

Women make money now=drooling stealershipsWomen dont negotiate salary or prices=inflationWomen needs a car to go to work=30k toyota camry

Maybe THAT’s why every woman I know with even rather poor credit history are getting approved for car payments more than myself! They’re easier to “sucker” in!!

[Governor Megachris%Participant 3584]

My whole thing on this is, though, that the more I think about it, the more cars feel like a materialistic thing than an absolute need. Let’s just say the car’s working fine and it’s paid for. We’re still talking about having to pay insurance/gas/inspection/registration/normal maintenance and upkeep. That’s hundreds, if not over $1,000 spent that could be saved, I suppose.

[SkeptiskParticipant 3679]

From a cost-benefit analysis I did years ago, I decided to not get a car (we have options here). It has saved me a ton of money, due to the fact I can get from A to B cheaper and not very much slower using alternative transportation (bus, subway etc.). And the local authorities has made a stink about banning all diesel run vehicles from large portions of downtown. Not sure if they’ll manage to succeed to get this voted into effect. But you get the gist, it’s getting worse and worse being an owner. The other day I was thinking of getting a Tesla, but they’ve said the incentives (lower taxes etc.) to get one will probably end next year, if not in 2017. You’ve got to know that the cost of purchasing a car, you need to at least double the base price due to taxes etc. That’s freaking expensive! Say you get a car in the US for $12.000. Here in Norway the price would be at least the $24.000 (converted to USD). You can get a cheap car in the US, here there no such thing as a cheap car, unless it’s full of rust and waiting for the dumpster.

"Expecting to find a decent woman on a dating site is like dumpster diving and expecting to come out with a gourmet meal." Won'tGetFooledAgain

[Anonymous 42]

Megachris, I save tons of money with my “knowledge” of automobiles, it started with emissions systems in the 80’s when they were relatively new, rather than cheat with alcohol to get by, I wanted to know how every component of all the various different systems worked, I bought thick book, and read it cover to cover, never failed emissions thereafter! The same with ECM (electronic control modules) while others were saying “ya cant fix cars anymore” I was learning tricks with a paper clip that would sent the computer into diagnostic mode and signal in binary code by the flashing of the ABS light. It’s something you should use a laptop to do, but can be achieved with a paper clip in the computer terminal. My whole point is “Knowledge is independence”, More often than not, I make diagnostics and repairs in the same time it takes an “independent woman” to drive her car to the shop!
As far as two wheels? Medical bills cost more than a brand new car! I like Bombardier’s trike, single rear wheel drive with two steering wheels in front, very “maneuverable”, If you do decide to get a bike, I recommend a dirt bike for maneuvering over curbs, potholes, and assholes, their very light and “maneuverable”.
If you do decide on two wheels, you’d better learn bike mechanics, and INSPECT IT LIKE IT WERE AN AIRCRAFT BEFORE EVERY RIDE! Another thing,,, the best rider on earth CAN”T CONTROL ROAD OIL! Once your tires hit oil, it’s all over, and so are you!

[sidecarParticipant 35837]

Governor Megachris% wrote:

Texas law states that I CAN drive an under 50cc without a Class M license, but I need something that can pickup to about 45 MPH to keep up on the road I take to work…

Texas may require you to limit yourself to 35mph (so watch out for speed traps), but if you’re not too heavy a 50cc should be able to get you up to 40mph at least. At that range every five lbs. of weight saved translates to a horsepower gained. Just don’t expect to be climbing any hills at that speed.

A weird thing about scooters is that the 150cc models not only have more power and speed (60mph) than the 50cc models (40mph), but they generally also get about 30% better gas mileage, too. I figure it has to do with being able to gear the larger engines higher so that once you get up to speed you can just throttle back and coast with the cylinder barely ticking over. Moreover, I understand (though without any personal experience) that the only difference between the 50cc models and 150cc models is the engine. If you were so inclined you can title and license a 50cc scooter, and then swap in a 150cc engine / transmission (they’re all one unit) when nobody’s looking. Or find a used “50cc” that someone’s already “repaired”, because the time and trouble of doing it yourself might not be worth the savings in licensing and insurance. Licensing is a one-time expense, and scooter insurance is insanely cheap (so long as you don’t get something fancy or expensive where you have to worry about it being stolen), and you probably want to take the rider safety course no matter what.

Not too familiar with them, but I’ve heard from some people in the past that they’re big money savers.

They are tremendous money savers if you can get by without a full car. Much lower fuel bills. Almost nothing in insurance. And they’re much cheaper to park, too, because most places will let you park them with bicycles, and if they do require you to pay for a parking permit you can usually get a much cheaper scooter permit.

[Crazy CanuckMember 4215]

I usually bike, walk or take the bus. Unless you live out in the country side there is no reason to have a car especially in the big city. Getting exercise has it’s benefits. On rare occasion I take a cab.

"If pussy was a stock it would be plummeting right now because you've flooded the market with it. You're giving it away too easy." - Dave Chapelle

[bachelor4goodParticipant 170]

Since I crashed my car a month ago I´ll take the tram, or in the moment I need a car, I use carsharing. Pretty easy to do. Nice new BMW or MINIs and you´re charged a few cents by the minute. Can get them anywhere in the city I live. Most of the time it´s only a short walk to get one. Carsharing is the future thing to go.

IDGAF

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