How can people afford cars?

buy cheap car, take trip, sell car, and it still end up being cheaper than train.

shut up Ed, inane comment^^ when considering the actuality of doing what you said.

In fairness to Ed, I hitchhiked to Newcastle with two women who had done just this - they needed to get to a flight to Poland, so they bought an ancient Rover at an auction the day before, insured it and drove down. They were even up for giving it to me, so I could drive the rest of the way home.

In fairness to *m.f, though, the car broke down a few miles outside of Newcastle and all three of us ended up hitching.