to think cars are crap, expensive and rubbish?

[HookedOnHooking]

Mine is about 6 years old. It cost liads to buy. I'll be paying for it for another 3 years.

It needs 2 new tyres, wiper blades, MOT, service and something drastic is broken and needs fixing. Not to mention the billioms of litres of bloody petrol, costing ££££££, all the sodding time.

IABU to think a fairly new-ish car shouldn't need to cost hundreds of bloody pounds, that I don't have, every bloody year, just to keep it going?

Surely something that bloody expensive shouldn't break and need constant coaxing along just to keep going?

Badly designed and crap.

[BalconyBill]

Current car is 12 years old and has only needed basic maintenance. I consider tyres, services and wiper blades to be basic maintenance. If 'something drastic' has broken you may need to take it up with Mini under the warranty.

Do you consider washing powder for the washing machine and dishwasher tablets for the dishwasher unreasonable too?

[HookedOnHooking]

Washing powder doesn't cost £120 a shot.

[penisland]

If the OP considers motoring so expensive then I don't believe for a moment that she will have purchased an extended MINI warranty.

[SonceyD0g]

Subaru. Nearly 10 years old. Never had a thing go wrong with it.

[HookedOnHooking]

Like plugs. Far far more complicated than they really need to be.

[WorktoLive]

Minis are very overpriced for what they are. If you want a tiny car get a new citigo or similar on finance. no deposit or MOT needed and includes warranty and servicing and tax is only £20 per year.

YABU to expect to not have to spend any money on a car - there is always a certain amount in running costs and you should put money by to cover it.

[DadfromUncle]

Problem with new-ish is that they have got really clever at making cars that don't need too much unscheduled stuff in the first three years (warranty period for most) - after that you're in limbo land between nearly new and banger - and that's expensive. You can have trendy/cool reliable and cheap - but you can't have it all in one car.

YANBU, they are bad for the environment, too.
Almost everything done by the human race is bad for the environment.

I think it's high time a long lasting cheap tyre should be invented.
These exist - many cheap Chinese brands, and they are fine until you need to stop in a hurry, in the wet.

[MissDuke]

All part of driving I am afraid. This is why I cycle everywhere, much cheaper to run a bike! We share one family car.

[FuckingLiability]

It's part and parcel of owning a car and driving.

I have a runaround which I paid £600 for four years ago. The first three years it needed nothing doing, was peanuts to insure/tax/fuel but the last year stuff has started going wrong with it (alternator, starter motor, exhaust) and it's nearly reaching the tipping point of when I sell it for spares and move on to the next shed.

It's been great because it has loads of dents and scuffs (from the previous owner, not me) so I don't care if someone opens their door onto it but if it fails its MOT this year, it's a goner.

[PtolemysNeedle]

I get where you're coming from. Cars cost a fortune, and it's shit that they cost so much when they are an essential for so many people.

[alleypalley]

I live in an area where I am walking distance from everything I need, and also very good public transport to get around to other places. I'm so glad I don't need a car. On the rare occasion I do need one I just use a hire car.

[lampygirl]

Tyre size is something you can research the costs of before you buy the car. My DP can buy all 4 tyres on his car for the cost of one tyre of mine, but they do wear out quicker.

Windscreen wipers are a disposable item. I have Bosch branded ones because they are easier to fit and it's still only £30 or so a set. I replace them every October and February, because I like having new ones. My boss thinks I'm obsessed with them...

MOT about £45 and my 8 year old car has never needed any work. I stick to the routine servicing the computer tells me, at an independent specialist.

ive had one £500 set of tyres in 3 years, I try and get 30k miles out of the summers, 15-20k out of the winters, which I buy in summer as they are often cheaper and put them on spare rims.

All of the above are costs that should be factored in annually like insurance etc.

If you've got finance on a car look into a decent warranty, or buy a £600 banger and throw it away if the clutch goes and buy another.

[Misslgl88]

Fords are great my last 2 cars have been fords and ive had nothing wrong. Last one I had 4 years and nothing beyond wear and tear needed done.

Current ford ive had nearly 3 years and again nothing but wear and tear plus the parts are cheap as chips

[knittingdad]

Cars are miraculous. I can drive from one end of the country to the other on less than a single tank of fuel. That is near as dammit real life magic in my view.

I did just pay £100 for a new pair of tyres and fixing a puncture in another, but I saved more than that on my last long journey compared to the cost of train tickets.

[HicDraconis]

It all depends on the make of car. I have a 14 year old Honda Stream (estate / 7 seater) which I bought 6 years ago for $8000 (£4000 ish). It's not failed a warrant of fitness yet, does around 10L per 100k, hasn't needed anything other than wiper blades and new tyres once in the last 6 years.

I'd buy used Japanese every time, never on finance.

[steff13]

Our 10-year-old Kia Optima has 140,000 miles on it, and we've only ever had to do basic maintenance on it in the 8 years we've owned it.

[WanderWomble]

I bloody love my car. They cost money. It's the price you pay for the convenience of having them.

[MaidOfStars]

I think it's high time a long lasting cheap tyre should be invented

Do you understand how tyres work?

In theory, you could put on a tyre that lasts for years. Wouldn't have much grip, mind.

[Fleecyleesy]

If finances are tight then you've bought the wrong brand IMO. Minis are cool and therefore are more expensive than a similar uncool car. I drive an uncool car .

[SansaClegane]

YY to the tyres though. It costs me £140 a tyre for a reasonable quality, cheapish one (branded ones would be much more!). That's a lot of money at once!
As for the rest, you have to do the research before buying... Minis aren't great, and personally I'd still steer clear of anything French although I gather their reliability has improved in recent years.
Also, how common is the make/model; as this will determine how easy/cheap it is to get spares and repairs?

I agree though that cars are a huge expense. I live semi-rurally and need one as public transport is pretty much nonexistent (bus goes twice a day!), but I tried to go for the most economical and reliable one I could find (went for a large MPV rather than a plush 4x4 that seems to be the preferred method of transport around here!).

[DrDre]

Don't minis have self sealing tyres because they haven't got a spare tyre? I heard that's why they're so expensive to replace. They are basically a BMW, so therefore they are expensive to maintain.
Next time you buy a car, look into the running costs and get something cheaper! Replacing tyres and wipers isn't excessive maintenance, it is necessary to keep the car safe (and legal).