There are plenty of places where not having a car isn’t even a possibility. If I didn’t have a car, not only would I be unable to work, I’d probably also starve to death, or perhaps have to eat gas station food the rest of my life.

Unfortunately this one depends a lot where you live.

I never owned a car but I live in Canada and public transit sucks. Our provincial government is actively cutting funds to cities’ public transit. And intercity routes are detained by VIA Rail or coach buses >!!<that sucks.

It’s easier for me to go to the airport and in another country than move in my own province.

VIA Rail trains are infrequent, always late, pricey and most employees are jaded. They also don’t take bikes. It’s a problem. Sometimes you can get stuck as a prisoner on the train, without food, water or toilets for multiple hours.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/via-rain-passengers-stuck-1.7311176

Another one was stuck for 12 hours last year.

Coaches are cramped and also have very limited intercity services. The city I need to go to frequently only has three coaches a day at inconvenient times. They are usually full and they charge $15 to bring a bike.

I’ve been car free for 20 years but I’ve come to hate taking the train or coaches here. I’m slowly realizing that my province really really wants me to get a car.

Mo’privilege, less’problems

That’s what you sound like.

That’s rough my dude 🫂

feelsbadman

Jeep gets you there, but Toyota gets you home.

Agreed. Bought a used toyota yaris back in 2018. Still runs perfect, and even if something would go wrong. It’s cheap so I’m not worried. Good speakers, mpg is decent enough and road tax is like £35 per year. Doesn’t make me look super cool, but I’d rather be financially sound.

I can’t trust a car no matter how Japanese it is, but… I watched a lil docuseries on dangerous roads, and it seemed like at least 80% of the vehicles (outside of heavy trucks) were Toyota. I dunno if it’s because they’re the most reliable, or because Toyota just has the market in many of these developing countries, but it was interesting.

Older German cars also are great. My Skoda from ~2000 is still going strong (never had any issues) and I also see a lot of other older VW/Skoda around (also Audi, Mercedes and BMW but those are more expensive). Don’t know what it’s like today but at that time at least Skodas got the exact same engines as Audis, just not as beautiful bodies.

Can’t comment on modern German cars, they haven’t passed the test of time yet.

Your repair costs more than the car I bought factory new wtf

I learned how to repair my own vehicles after I was quoted $2,600 to install a $40 part. I could’ve also had an entire rebuilt engine shipped and swapped it in myself for about half that, but I ultimately decided to go with the $40 + basic tools.

This is why the JK street in São Paulo is a fucking hell.

I feel bad for you, son.