The average american spends over $12,000 a year on car related expenses.
The average american spends over $12,000 a year on car related expenses
cars are really expensive when you think about it, that's why I haven't used one yet
may get a used car for ~5000€ at the end of the year, something like a 10yo Hyundai i20, Opel Corsa or Skoda Fabia. Used car prices have risen here too.. And then you need to pay car tax, insurance, and gas is expensive too.
Really wish not using one was an option here. Can't imagine how the younger generations deal with it when a decent used car is like $10k and they don't even have a job yet.
I mean it's quite possible to get by without one here in many places bc public transport is decent and you can cycle in many places too bc distances aren't that big, but a car definitely makes things much more comfortable. It is a bit weird to not have one at my age I guess, but I'm weird anyway so whatever. But yeah in the US it seems you're absolutely dependent on it.
When I turned 16 my dad bought me a new Acura RSX. Not having shitty poor parents helps.
Worth it. Nothing more sad than the sight of an adult with no car
I've noticed how often Americans like to shit on poverty and people in tougher situations for no reason, remarkable trait especially when you didn't achieve that status on your own. God bless.
I thought this sounded like a lot, so worked out my own. My overall expenses including purchase price, fuel, insurance and maintenance is about $9,000 a year. Without including the initial purchase price it's only around $2,250 a year.
So far I've managed to avoiding needing one of those moneypits, but we'll see going forward.
The one annoying thing is I like hiking and that usually requires a car to get places
The used car market in the US scares me. I've never paid more than €500 for a car here and never had any major issues.
During my roadtrip from NY to Florida I spent pretty much every night in the hotel scrolling market place and stuff.
Everything was so fucking expensive. Old shit like picrel was $1500+ (often more).
Meanwhile it's $400 here, car runs and drives, cleared inspection, just pay and drive.
Description
Inspected until January 2026
everything from the service brake and rear parking brake changed for the inspection parts for about 2000
New wiper blades
the car starts and works well, but it is an old car so there are flaws, crack in the windshield but on the passenger side so it passed the inspection, clear coat peeling and some scratches.
summer and winter tires
it is a little noisy on the 3rd and 4th gears, but works to drive (common non-issue with the model, just needs more transfluid)
electric windows and all other electricity works
timing belt changed by previous owner
Kek. It's always a V70.
I wonder how many of us drove one as our first car.
why do people get to have this but a shitbox car here is like 3,500 euro at a minimum
here it's even worse
I don't believe that, why would you spend so much?
It's a long drive from Sweden to Australia
What does those old renaults that are all over Argentina go for?
I guess I should be happy we're cheap fucks here when it comes to cars.
I put a limit on €500 (5000 kr) and clicked the "run and drives" box and here's some results.
Now keep in mind, most are gonna have some minor issues like flat tires, shitty paint, maybe worn interior, bad battery, rusty etc but they all run, they are inspected for at least 6 months.
This was just a few. Real shitboxes but they will get you where you need to go. For a while at least.
What do think the monthly for a brand new F-150 with 7% interest goes for? I know fuel is cheaper in the US but that's a fucking guzzler on top of the base payment
its a status symbol. people buy clothes they dont need even though their current ones are fine and they buy expensive jewelry, etc. It's all about dabbing on other people.
You will now piously reply implying that you are above that, but 99% of people are not which means that there's a 99% chance that you are lying, either to me or yourself.
having other people buy stuff for you helps
yes, that is true. too bad those same parents didnt teach you manners.
Does that include fuel?
The freedom you gain by not needing to use public transport can't be quantified. Bought my first car at 25 and can't go back.
The trick is to be in hipster social circles where the shittier your car is the higher your status is
true. What car did you get?
I'm surprised at how expensive used cars are in the USA too. My family usually purchases old shitboxes for £500-£1000. They're not amazing, but they run without needing any work done.
I live in Lithuania, I ride around 2200 miles on my bicycle every year, use rental car only to carry bulky items.
Exactly. I have a friend who lives like 30 minutes outside Leicester. When I visited him back in 2023 we spent the better part of a week in driving around in his 2002 Opel Corsa that he paid £650 for. Damn thing wasn't even in bad shape. Ran great. It's still his daily.
blame housing culture
imagine 1hrs to going supermarket
How? Unless you have a car payment?
I have a Mercedes-Benz C250 and a Toyota RAV4. Per year:
$3,600 - Gasoline
$2,400 - Insurance
$468 - Oil service
$450 - Other maintenance
That's about $6,920 for two vehicles. It makes me afraid to buy a new car even though I'm thinking about replacing the Toyota with a Ford Ranger or a new Japanese RWD small-medium SUV since Toyota, Nissan and Mitsubishi are all rumored to be planning to.
If you get a Hyundai, avoid the Theta engine family. Still have an old Hyundai Sonata. Engine exploded at 112,000 miles due to a manufacturing defect, is due for another engine replacement soon at 200,000 miles for the same reason. Sad because they're great cars otherwise.
imagine 1hrs to going supermarket
That's not a real thing here unless you live on some rural farm or a forest in the middle of nowhere.
Without including the initial purchase price it's only around $2,250 a year.
oh wow, your car minus the car only costs 2k?
Do they really...? How is that possible? That's much more than gas and rudimentary upkeep would cost you. Is this average taken from everybody, factoring in catastrophic accidents, or something?
It's not $9,000 a year. It's $2,000 a year. It's only $9,000 the year he actually buys the car.
It takes into account retarded boomers and women financing shitboxes at $700 per month payments and people who drive $80,000 HD trucks that use a lot of fuel.
Just buy a cheap efficient Japanese car dor reliable transport and whatever eccentric fancy car you want as your secondary. I daily a near base model Japmobile but also have a Mercedes for fun and an E-Bike. Might replace the Mercedes with an Rover V8 or a Jaguar 420G for shits and giggles. Doesn't matter since the Toyota is my fallback.
Rover V8
They sound absolutely nasty with proper exhaust and headers. With some simple bolt-ons you can easily make them rev to around 5800-6000 rpm.
My uncle had a 1969 Opel Ascona with a Rover V8 swap in it before he passed away.
$12,000
Literally 12x what my car cost to purchase.
Is it like monthly payments on a $300k mega-truck or something?
It's a new world thing. We have nothing else to live for.
The average american spends over $12,000 a year on car related expenses
This is why you get replaced by mexicans and central*ids who live in groups of 14 people in the same house and drive 20 yo shitboxes
What?