I don't understand why people spend big on cars

[blunomore]

My husband used to work almost exclusively for clients in the Limpopo/Mpumalanga area where the roads were horrendous and a normal sedan just did not cut it, so when the time for a new car came, he bought a VW Tiguan, which made manouevreuing(sp). the roads much easier.

A few months after that, we lost all those clients and now he is stuck with that vehicle .... on the oh-so treacherous JHB roads

[Conack]

Since no one's really keen to pipe up for the OP...

A well known but still apt quote:

"I was part of that strange race of people aptly described as spending their lives doing things they detest, to make money they don't want, to buy things they don't need, to impress people they don't like.”
― Emile Gauvreau

I only spend a couple of minutes a day on average in a car, so when I decided what to get in 2003 a friend and I did a lot of research comparing maintenance costs, gas consumption, etc. Bought a 1.4i Citi Golf.

Now, it's 2012 and I still drive a Citi Golf which is still in perfect condition and don't give a ****. The only expenses I've had with the car is the standard services (R400-600 a service) and 2 new tires last month. (Back tires are still the stock ones, although I'll probably need to replace them by the end of the year)
Other than that, I haven't spent a cent on it other than the basic consumables. (Gas, oil, etc).

I rather spend cash on stuff that I really spend time with / that I find important: Housing, food, PC, chairs at projector / PC.

[Naks]

Do you buy midrange every year or top of the range every two years?

I buy something and only replace it when it breaks and cannot be repaired. I'm weird like that

[The_Unnamed]

Some people spend more time in their cars each day then they do anywhere else. Then it makes sense to get something fun / comfortable to drive.

[Naks]

Now, it's 2012 and I still drive a Citi Golf which is still in perfect condition and don't give a ****.

Not to be mean, but that is one of the most unsafe cars you can drive. If you value your and your loves ones' lives, get rid of it and get something safer.

[Slootvreter]

Because car allowances.

[Scooby_Doo]

Not to be mean, but that is one of the most unsafe cars you can drive. If you value your and your loves ones' lives, get rid of it and get something safer.

True is true.

Jumps in 96 Golf 3...

[Garyvdh]

After just a few years, the car is worth a fraction of its original price, not to even mention all the interest that was paid for financing it. And not long after that, the car becomes mechanically unsound. You end up having basically nothing to show for all the hundreds of thousands of rands that you poured into the car. It's like hundreds of thousands of rands down the drain.

In the middle-class suburb I live in here in Pretoria, I see so many people living in really plain-looking houses, yet they drive luxury sedans and 4x4s. They should rather spend a bit more on their houses and at least have something to show for it a few years down the line.

For my next car, I'm think I'm going to get a newish second hand car.

Me neither. I'd rather put the extra money into my Bond.
I've always gotten by with lower end second hand cars. I've had three now over the course of twenty years.
Probably saved thousands and thousands of Rands in Insurance, expensive services, fuel, finance and actual purchase costs.

[Naks]

True is true. Jumps in 96 Golf 3...

I was at university in the 90s, when the City Golf was the most popular student car on campus. Seen far too many fellow not survive car accidents in those death traps, ditto for the Uno.

[Conack]

Not to be mean, but that is one of the most unsafe cars you can drive. If you value your and your loves ones' lives, get rid of it and get something safer.

Fair point - that's the only thing that bothers me. However I'm only using it in town (Not Cape town ) where the speed limit is 60.
Haven't been in an accident as yet. *touch wood*

[MickZA]

Buy second-hand, the first owner took the biggest depreciation knock for you.

In the UK maybe but SA used/demo prices are insane by comparison.

[Naks]

Fair point - that's the only thing that bothers me. However I'm only using it in town (Not Cape town ) where the speed limit is 60. Haven't been in an accident as yet. *touch wood*

Yep, as a city run around it's fine - just. Even at 60kmh, a garbage truck can do serious damage to a sedan. If it's a Citi Golf, you should pray for a quick death.

[akescpt]

In the UK maybe but SA used/demo prices are insane by comparison.

sometimes if you take the second hand price and go check what the price purchased was its most times close. its insane.

[JungleBoy]

If I was single with no kids I would also not bother with owning a big-ass house. I would rather live in a tiny bachelor pad and drive a super nice car. I guess it's a case of horses for courses. When I was single I hardly spent time at home and was forever on the road hunting for chicks, parties etc.

[akescpt]

for example. burger motors ad: 2011 kia soul 68,000km @ R180,000. thats excluding 'on the road costs'


a new kia soul retails @ R194,000