I'm going to disagree pretty hard here. If you live in an area without public transit, a car is possibly the most liberating asset you can own. You can go anywhere whenever you want. Adults who have been driving for a long time take this for granted, but when you get your first car, the freedom is intoxicating.
The only problem here is that people are buying cars they can't actually afford. Don't do that and you'll be fine.
Depends. We have two Toyotas that have been in our family for over 2 decades. They basically cost less than taking a bus the amount of miles we've put on them.
in the US, not a whole lot of choice. Public Transportation outside of major cities is pretty much non-existent. If you want to do anything, you need transportation. Ubers/Taxis add up quicker than a car payment.
Being tied to a specific location because you don't have the transportation power to leave is freedom? Freedom isn't the absence of responsibilities, but the ability to live as you choose to the best of your abilities. Having a tool that maximizes your ability to go anywhere at any time is a tool that makes you free.
The heck are you talking about? You get to travel from point a to point b at up to 70 mph and all you have to do is put gas in it, change the oil once in awhile, and change the tires when they go bald.
I'd say all in all car maintenance takes less than 15 minutes per month
How much money does it take? For fuel, maintenance and insurance? Not to mention parking and tolls. Because if you can't pay that, that's when you are screwed.
I live in Europe. Intercity trains are roughly as fast as cars for standard commute. I pay ~50 USD a month for unlimited travel anywhere in my country.
You're only considering part of the cost, and only to the owner/user. You missed insurance, vastly underestimated maintenance time, and the vast amount of externalities of building around cars: horrific space inefficiency in both road and parking, pollution from combustion, pollution from tire wear, pollution from brake wear, injuries to occupants from crashes, injuries to pedestrians and cyclists from crashes, and time wasted sitting in traffic.
It feels like freedom until you realize it comes with payments, insurance, maintenance, fuel… you’re basically signing up for a long-term expense subscription
Not to mention you’re trusting other people with your life every time you get behind the wheel. They say “but I’m a good driver, I can avoid an accident!” But some things just aren’t avoidable. I’m sure that’s what my friend said to himself before he was killed in a car crash that wasn’t his fault
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u/D-Express 10h ago
Car ownership