in order to remove as many stressors from my life as possible, i think i might actually dump my money-pit of a vehicle.
as i’ve previously posted, i have spent a total of twice the purchase price of the car on repairs in the two years i’ve had it and shit just keeps on breaking! things which need replacing as of today:
– transmission (i can only reverse if the car is warmed up)
– all four wheel bearings (oh, the howling)
– rear brakes (thank goodness the front ones are still good)
– right front cv joint covery thingie (i’ve seen the rip, but it doesn’t seem to be doing bad things)
– slow coolant leak (i pour water in every other month or so)
– valve cover gasket (the engine eats oil like college kids eat twinkies)
– the oil dipstick tube thing (it just broke off today. no kidding!)
each time i get in the car to go somewhere, i have honest doubt that i’ll make it to my destination. that doubt is making me crazy and miserable (among all those other things making me crazy and miserable, of course). something has to change.
so, i find myself listing the pros and cons of dumping meine deustche auto. and, since this is the internet, sharing them with you:
pros
– no more worrying if my car will get to where i’m headed
– $200 extra every month i can use to pay down my debt faster
– heck, ANOTHER $100/mo i can use to pay down debt since i won’t have to give it to ICBC
– did i mention no more car-related anxiety?
– paying off my debt more than eight months earlier than planned!
– incidental exercise
– more fresh air
– commuting stories to blog about
– opportunities to do things downtown since i’ll have to go through it to get home anyway
cons
– public transit
– winter without a car is a scary thought
– losing two hours a day to commuting (on public transit)
– how will i get things home from ikea or walmart or [insert place with big heavy things here]?
– getting anywhere will require more effort, time and planning
– getting some places will be impossible without imposing on others or paying for cabs
– scary transit stories to relate to officers of the law
– sore feet
if i’m going to dump the clunker, i really have to get going with it, but… as with a lot of things in my life right now, i’m kind of stuck in indecisionland. it’s been a very long time since i’ve been car-less and i don’t know how i’d adapt to going back there, even if it’s only for a little over a year.
GAH! part of me actually wants the car to just not move anymore to make the decision for me, but i’m hardly ever that lucky.
who wants to do this for me?
I’m not sure whether you live in Toronto or a smaller city, but I know Zipcar is available in Toronto. Maybe your city has a similar community car program.
The idea is that you pay an annual fee (around $50) and can reserve a car online when you need one. You pay per hour or per day. Mileage, insurance and gas are included. And that way you have a car available for hauling stuff home from shopping trips, and for the occasional odd-location drive.
another one for the pro list: getting stuck in the winter weather, stranded with a broken down car. I think you’ll have better peace of mind without worrying about all the car stuff.
You might also want to consider if the car co-op (http://www.cooperativeauto.net/) could work for you. Let me know if you want to hear more about our experience with it! :)
If you don’t want to sell the car, if it’s 95 or older, scrap-it and get a credit for co-operative auto network (I’m a member), zipcar, a transit pass, or a bicycle! http://www.scrapit.ca
I was quite relieved when I got rid of my car, transit isn’t that bad – you have time to read on the bus or listen to music or audio books, walking’s good for you but now I actually ride my bike everywhere. I wouldn’t go back!
I can’t do this with you, but I can help on the Ikea front – I’d gladly take you with me for some Swedish love!
Really, the car co-op is perfect for ikea, etc. and any planned or spur-of-the-moment car-ing. And so much cheaper than an actual lemon…they do all the maintenance.