How can people afford cars?

mmcarthy has a big lambo on his shoulder.
And he can't even afford a haircut!

They can afford nursing homes AND cars?!!

Some shop in Waitrose. I've seen them. They know I know who they are.

Coming back to the point about if transport is changing in London. I do think things are changing it is just going to take a while. I live in Fulham and have never been able to justify buying a car. However there are times when you must have a car to do something.

Borrowing a car for a day has got even easier thanks to zipcar and streetcar. If you haven't already take a look either of these services.

And he can't even afford a haircut!

This is true!

Coming back to the point about if transport is changing in London. I do think things are changing it is just going to take a while. I live in Fulham and have never been able to justify buying a car. However there are times when you must have a car to do something.

Borrowing a car for a day has got even easier thanks to zipcar and streetcar. If you haven't already take a look either of these services.

Go on ?

Dogging. They don't like it when you turn up on a bike. I've tried.

How can people afford houses?

Bank loans. Same thing as with the cars.

I always suspected that they just turned tricks. Couldn't see how else it was possible. But bank loans make sense.

I never thought about that. Being fucked by a bank or being fucked by randoms.. which is worse?

The real term cost of motoring has fallen hugely in recent decades, this is why the roads are so full! So if you don't do too many miles (because petrol is so pricey) they're actually very affordable. I could buy a fairly modern people carrier for less than my bike cost in total.

Edit: What bluequinn said, basically.

But my short answer to this thread is I have no idea.

bump, how can people afford cars? seems like a clear cut case of addiction to me,
however high the price goes, they still keep buying it.....
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/7450106/Petrol-to-hit-120p-a-litre-as-motorists-mugged-by-oil-companies.html

Bank^^ there used to enjoyment in being fucked by randoms.

Remembers student days fondly.

I never thought about that. Being fucked by a bank or being fucked by randoms.. which is worse?

Hard to know.

The bank will fuck you in a predictable way, but clientele might just be crap. Or fat. Or both.

Yeah, they get bank loans don't they.

It's hard to avoid using a credit card when you have three kids, it's Christmas and your boss fucked you about with your bonus again.

Bank loans. Same thing as with the cars.

That was the point ;)

Banks like to finance the purchase of physical goods, because they can always repossess them. It's easier than a loan.
I managed to get a car on HP before I even qualified for an overdraft when I came over to this country.
I was self-employed and had few bank statements. I could actually go back home and never pay it back. They'd still make their money from the high interest (I was a high risk, but needed the car for work) and the PPI. Also chuck in the extras like a useless car warranty and a GAP insurance. Voila!

Sad but true.

@Manc Ronnie - Pick someone up from the airport, drive out of London to visit friends, things like that. I know you could get a cab in the case of the airport, or take the train if going out of London. But with a fair bit of luggage this gets uncomfortable fast.

I had a meeting in Cardiff today.

I drove, on the way there I tucked the nose of the car under the bumper of an hgv.

As a result my 2.3 litre, 5 cylinder high pressure turbo petrol engine did 38.5 mpg for 145 miles- take that Hans Diesel!

On the way back I wanted to get home so went 40 mph faster than before.

Total result- 300 miles travelled, 30.8 mpg in total, approx £50 in fuel at today's prices.

I challenge anyone to do what I did today for the same cost with another form of transport.

Bear in mind you must arrive in a suit.

Always wondered if it was possible to draught vehicles, when I tried it didnt seem safe enough to be that close....

can you define the times of the meeting please, and how long it took to drive,?
im getting £60 off peak on the train advance buy which takes 2 hrs 1 minute each way.
this is all academic of course.

£50 + cost of car + insurance +MOT + servicing.

that's the real cost and it's a lot and keeps on getting higher.

can we deal with the hire car idea, seriously, what is the best way of making the trip described, I want to find out.

You could probably do it on a train if you bought your tickets about a year in advance.

Dylan is of course correct, luckily the costs of the car are filed under "hobby" with the bikes.

MF- car hire would be say £8 per hour, I was in the car for 7 hours plus an hour and a half meeting, so to give somemargin for error you'd need to hire the car for 10 hours, so say £80 before you'd turned a wheel.

O.k, so you could easily have done it cheaper on train, with heaps of time either side. just checking, and yes, Im biased, and yes, a train geek.
(car hire is cheap as these days, have paid £40 a weekend before, its transumerism)