Vehicles Facts and Notes

As a young teen, I used dream about what kind of car I would be driving one day. I don’t think I could have predicted that I would soon be getting around in a 1990 Honda Accord with over 200k miles in it. Yes, I own a beater, by any definition of the word.

Yes, I certainly have a beater. It is fairly reliable, working most of the time, but issues to crop up from time to time. I seem to loose coolant hoses quite a bit, which can be irritating. I’ve had to replace an alternator. The car as a whole leaks, shakes, and does not generally inspire much confidence.

If this is the case, why I am so glad to own this car? The reason can be summed up in a word: cheap. This car gets me around everywhere I need for next to nothing. It’s even survived a few long road trips (though those were slightly scary experiences at times). To sum up, it works.

At almost no cost to me, my vehicle fills all my transportation needs. I paid under $2000 for the car 6 years ago, which is very little. Even factoring in the repairs I’ve had to do, its still amazingly cheap.

That’s not the whole picture, of course. I have to pay insurance, which in my case is extremely cheap. I have the minimum amount of insurance required by law, which is quite inexpensive overall. This saves me even more money month after month.

Compare this to a new car. A newer car would cost me in payments, higher insurance, and more. Of course, I would probably spend less in repairs, but any way I look at it, I am saving a small fortune over the years by driving the beater around.

Of course, this isn’t going to work for everyone. Some people need better, more reliable cars. However, most people don’t realize how much money goes into their cars, money that I save by driving a clunker. Think about it yourself, and you might just save yourself a bundle.