Sideshow Bob
Honorary Master
LOL. You must write story of your life when you spurned offer of being a doctor and chose an illustrious career.
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Immigrating to the UK
- Thread starter AchmatK
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AstroTurf
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Wife was offered some little 2 door Toyota for £500 but hesitant because cars are not just a once off purchase. I think she is still tempted though but the idea of insurance and upkeep and all the rest when she does not strictly need a car right now is putting her off.
Private sale? I'd be worried that there is a MOT check issue that could be expensive.
Paul Kemp
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You can do checks on the MOT history, tax status etc. You will without a doubt spend more on insurance.
If you don’t need a car don’t get one. They are handy if public transport is not reliable though.
For me, its insane that getting a car will end up be cheaper and faster than public transport. Daily train ticket costs me 12 pounds.
AstroTurf
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The current owner said she would get a MOT check done before the sale.
I also picked up a decent 2nd hand car for about the same price. MOTs add confidence as you can just look at the car history online at any time. I've been thinking of getting a nice new car, but I find it hard to justify with all things considered.
1 month in Aberdeen and we are missing home but settlign well.
I started week 3 of my new job here and so far, struggling to find work to do that really interests me.
It's all a bit too laid back.
I've gotten so used to juggling lots of things and being stressed at work that I'm finding the new job a bit boring...
Will stick it out for a few months and see how it goes though.
I started week 3 of my new job here and so far, struggling to find work to do that really interests me.
It's all a bit too laid back.
I've gotten so used to juggling lots of things and being stressed at work that I'm finding the new job a bit boring...
Will stick it out for a few months and see how it goes though.
killerbyte
Expert Member
I have to drive 30min to get to the nearest TFL underground station. I do that once a week. It costs me £20 in fuel for the month. Then the train from Chesham to Aldgate costs me £15.80 return.
For me to take the Chiltern rail train from Aylesbury to Harriw-on-the-hill would cost me £26 return, then another £10 to take the Metropolitan train from Harrow-on-the-hill to Aldgate and back.
One could argue that my cost of ownership of the car (insurance is £500 pa), MOT & maintenance makes owning the car more expensive than taking the train to work, but my car has given me freedom. I drive down to see my friends in Reading, I go play airsoft. In fact this weekend I am driving down to my mate in Reading, picking him up (so his Mrs has the car) and then we are going to an airsoft site near him and we will use my airsoft guns and have some fun. I can't take those on a train or bus... I would have issues.
Paul Kemp
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You have to dial it down a notch. 11 not necessary but I also found this useful just because we had so much to get done in our personal lives.
After almost 2 1/2 years I’m back up to juggling but that has more to do with the company’s evolution than anything else.
Paul Kemp
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Depends where you are at and need to be. No direct train to my office and while the bus is dirt cheap it’ll take 3 hours.
If I’m going in to London though, 3 hours by car. 1hr by train. Cost is a much of a muchness for that trip once you add in parking, fuel and ulez charges.
Lycanthrope
Honorary Master
I don't understand how people can live without having a car. Spent a few years in Sweden (with world class public transport) sans bilen and it was tolerable but awful, and ended up renting one every so often.
The UK very much is a car-loving country. We're always driving pretty much everywhere. We've family in Somerset who we visit every few months, other half has his HQ down south so we routinely head there for work things, and we love doing sightseeing, and exploring.
Even just going for walks having a car gives you quick and convenient access to your choice of spots.
Plus, your car is your own comfortable, convenient, luxurious, climate-controlled bubble. It beats public transport every single time.
The UK's public transport outside of London (heck, even in London) is awful, overpriced, and rarely a fun experience. Plus, I'm not much for playing sardines.
Even when we go to the theatre or whatever in London we stay at a lovely place in Hampton Court, then just drive through to family in Kensington, park up, and take a taxi.
My advice: Get a car, even a cheapie on third-party insurance that you can run into the ground and replace when it's given up the ghost. Do sightseeing and exploring. Even just simple shopping and grocery runs are more pleasant with a car.
It's independence.
The UK very much is a car-loving country. We're always driving pretty much everywhere. We've family in Somerset who we visit every few months, other half has his HQ down south so we routinely head there for work things, and we love doing sightseeing, and exploring.
Even just going for walks having a car gives you quick and convenient access to your choice of spots.
Plus, your car is your own comfortable, convenient, luxurious, climate-controlled bubble. It beats public transport every single time.
The UK's public transport outside of London (heck, even in London) is awful, overpriced, and rarely a fun experience. Plus, I'm not much for playing sardines.
Even when we go to the theatre or whatever in London we stay at a lovely place in Hampton Court, then just drive through to family in Kensington, park up, and take a taxi.
My advice: Get a car, even a cheapie on third-party insurance that you can run into the ground and replace when it's given up the ghost. Do sightseeing and exploring. Even just simple shopping and grocery runs are more pleasant with a car.
It's independence.
Yeah, I want to get a car eventually. Taking the bus from Reading to Costco is a pain
killerbyte
Expert Member
I do want to visit Costco at some point, I assume you need a membership like you do in the US?
Yeah. But imo worth it. Stuff is pretty cheap, bought my TV there recently. And of course the cheap hot dog and pizza
Y'all Qaeda
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We went car less for the first 1 year in the Netherlands. Partly to see if it is possible to not have a car. We survived ok, but after getting a car, we've seen so much more of the country and europe. It's great not needing to worry about trains getting cancelled or finding out that the last bus doesn't quite go where you need it.
Dave
Honorary Master
Yes, but it’s a pretty wide list for qualifying these days.
The biggest plus is actually having the cheapest petrol/diesel in their area.
Yeah, I didnt have a car for 2 years in Germany then got one. It just makes things easier.
For now, the walk to Reading station is only 10 min for me so its not bad. Train is quite. Just the cost is a bit much,
Will get a car within the year.
Out of interest, anyone here know of people that have sent their kids to daycare in reading?
Dave
Honorary Master
Yes, at a guess, a lot of parents who live in Reading…