Opportunity cost of newer cars

System

I'd do cycling if the route to work was flat, I walk when car is being repaired (quicker than bus) - I'd walk everyday if my job wasn't so early (the sleep is worth paying petrol for)

When I did last cycle I found cars that should give way weren't, had a close encounter...

I do sometimes walk in the cycle lane just to laugh at how aggressive they get

Glen_Clark

Perhaps not quite what the OP had in mind, but the opportunity cost of a new car might be you could have had a camper van. Now I've got used to having my own toilet, shower, kitchen and bed with me, I wouldn't want to go back to having a car. Why would I envy someone with a Porsche? They may still be uncomfortable because they need the toilet, a wash, some food, a bed, or whatever else I've always got with me.
As for the image factor - well I don't condone crime. But when, for example, people walk past homeless people on the street flaunting a £10k Rolex what do they expect?

bigadaj

Glen_Clark wrote: »

Perhaps not quite what the OP had in mind, but the opportunity cost of a new car might be you could have had a camper van. Now I've got used to having my own toilet, shower, kitchen and bed with me, I wouldn't want to go back to having a car. Why would I envy someone with a Porsche? They may still be uncomfortable because they need the toilet, a wash, some food, a bed, or whatever else I've always got with me.
As for the image factor - well I don't condone crime. But when, for example, people walk past homeless people on the street flaunting a £10k Rolex what do they expect?

Ah, the pride of driving around knowing you're carrying your own !!!!! in the back...

Glen_Clark

bigadaj wrote: »

Ah, the pride of driving around knowing you're carrying your own !!!!! in the back...

What might you be full of when you don't have a toilet with you

Ray_Singh-Blue

I'm with MrMoneyMustache. Cars are to be avoided where possible. How inefficient to use 1000kg of metal to transport 70kg of person. And every minute stuck in traffic, that person is sedentary and getting a little bit fatter, a little higher blood pressure, a little bit more out of shape.

Much better to organise your life so that you don't need to use a car. Live near your work, your friends, your kids school. Walk or use a bike, if you can. Use public transport when possible.

However - even having done that, I find I need to drive about 3000 miles per year for work and choose to drive about 1000 miles per year in my free time. So I have a car. But it's a total beater, 15 years old, cheap brand, 1 litre engine, entry level model, no frills - deliberately chosen to remind me that driving is not my preferred mode of travel.

I have some great bikes though & am working on an electric bike project. Because we live very near a station I sub unlimited train travel for my family, with the money which would otherwise have been spent on cars

System

I heard once in America someone with a campervan put it into cruise control on the motorway and went out the back of it to make himself a cup of tea. He crashed unfortunately, but successfully sued the caravan maker for not providing a warning that you can't leave the drivers seat while driving

ruperts

If you're an employee, another thing to throw into the mix is your professional image and how that links to your perceived ability and subsequently into your salary.

Having driven both bangers and brand new executive saloons into office car parks over the years, I'm in no doubt that turning up in a nice car has a significant positive impact on people's perception of your professional ability over turning up in a banger.

bigadaj

Glen_Clark wrote: »

What might you be full of when you don't have a toilet with you

Or radically stop when you need to go at a suitable services, restaurant or town, it's really not that difficult.

Many people see, to spend significant five figure sums on camper vans and RVs when that could pay for accommodation for holidays for years to come, maybe it's a lifestyle choice but I don't get it, at least not in the uk and much of Europe.

Glen_Clark

bigadaj wrote: »

Or radically stop when you need to go at a suitable services, restaurant or town,.

And 'suitable services' are always available when you have spent your 'five figure sum' on a car instead?

bigadaj

Glen_Clark wrote: »

And 'suitable services' are always available when you have spent your 'five figure sum' on a car instead?

Yeah, pretty much unless your in the Australian outback, rural Scandinavia or North America.

Worked on a rural project a few months back where the site guys used welfare vans rather than cabins due to the number of locations and distances. Use of facilities for number twos was rapidly banned by the occupiers of the vans, presume you'd suffer similar problems carrying waste around for any length of time, unless you like the o'dure.