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Other people want or need vehicles that offer more than a conveyance of themselves: Kids, gear, livestock, boats, ATVs, lumber, etc. It's easy to own a 'beater
by lolsal 8y ago
Other people want or need vehicles that offer more than a conveyance of themselves: Kids, gear, livestock, boats, ATVs, lumber, etc.
It's easy to own a 'beater' if you only use it to drive from your house to your job, to the grocery story and back for 40 years.
- KozmoNau7 8y agoThe vast majority of people grossly overestimate their needs, though. Rental vans/trucks exist.
- lolsal 8y agoFair point, but renting a vehicle most weekends could easily make owning more cost effective.
- KozmoNau7 8y agoIf you truly need it every weekend, that's a very legitimate reason to buy such a vehicle, if you can't afford the money/room for a smaller commute-friendly vehicle, or similar reasons. I'm talking about the people who maybe need it once or twice a year, or like to imagine themselves needing it, when in fact they really don't.
- z0r 8y agoThe vast majority of people are airily dismissive of the logistics of other peoples lives.
- KozmoNau7 8y agoSome people do have a legimate need and reason for owning such an overly large vehicle. Most people dont. They have a desire, not a need.
- throwawayjava 8y ago> livestock, lumber The latter two sound like business uses. The article is about personal use of personal vehicles. > Kids, gear Even then, a sedan or utility/mini van can do the job at much lower costs. > boats, ATVs Boats and ATVs are also good examples of money pits that prevent people from saving for retirement. (Especially boats. I looked into buy one, and quickly noticed that I'd have to be on the lake like half of in-season weekends and/or use all my vacation during the summer before ownership beat renting. But I'm only on the lake a few weekends a year, and even then only need/want something other than a kayak maybe every other visit.) And again, the conclusion of the article is "But if you’re one of the many people who are woefully unprepared for retirement or any of your other saving goals, a good place to start would be cutting back on any unnecessary spending on transportation." If you're on track to retire, go ahead and buy that nice car/boat/etc. But if not, maybe consider cheaper alternatives.
- s5fs 8y agoMy kid is in 4-H, she shows goats and rides horses. Most folks have big trucks to pull their big trailers. Not all livestock and lumber is for business, rural communities still exist!
- tom_ 8y agoLumber you might need if you're into DIY, I suppose, or you're collecting it for your fire. Livestock? - well, which person here has the unusual edge case, I wonder...
- lolsal 8y agoLeave the major metros on the coasts and you might be surprised at what you see being hauled around that isn't a backpack or grocery bags!
- lolsal 8y ago> The latter two sound like business uses. The article is about personal use of personal vehicles. They are personal uses. > Even then, a sedan or utility/mini van can do the job at much lower costs. Sure, if your gear is a stroller and grocery bags. Sedans and utility/mini vans can't go offroad easily. I don't mean something like slopping through mud or a river - I mean traveling through mountain passes or campground roads can be a huge pain in the butt (if not impossible). > Boats and ATVs are also good examples of money pits that prevent people from saving for retirement. They definitely can be. Not all boats are massive ski boats - even towing 8ft john boats and kayaks (which can both be had for less than $1000) is easier on a trailer which can wreak havoc on sedan transmissions (if they even have a tow hitch at all). ATVs are super useful for maintaining property, animals, fences, etc, not just riding dirt trails. > And again, the conclusion of the article is [snip] And I totally agree with the article. I was providing real-world examples of things that folks use vehicles for that a sedan/beater/minivan would not be a great tool for for the original parent.
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- Retric 8y agoPlenty of 'beater' pickup trucks or even old minivans around.
- lolsal 8y agoVery good point. For some reason my brain equates a beater with an old or abused sedan. Seeing a beat up truck makes me think the truck was used well vs a beat up sedan that was not taken care of. My bias showing through, sorry!