Comments on: My Thoughts On Cars http://frugalbabe.com/2008/09/26/my-thoughts-on-cars/ A rich life without a lot of money Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:44:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: a.b. http://frugalbabe.com/2008/09/26/my-thoughts-on-cars/#comment-25359 a.b. Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:11:42 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=590#comment-25359 I think car safety is relative. I've been driving newer cars for the past six years, including trucks and SUVs and a Cadillac I borrowed while my car was in the shop. But I've never felt as safe as I did in my 92 Jetta GL. Most of the parts were crank instead of power so hardly anything ever broke; I would still be driving it but I fought a brand new Cadillac and lost. Even though it was a serious accident with a virtual tank, my car was totaled but I walked away with hardly a scratch. Airbags, shmairbags, that's what I call safe. I think car safety is relative. I’ve been driving newer cars for the past six years, including trucks and SUVs and a Cadillac I borrowed while my car was in the shop. But I’ve never felt as safe as I did in my 92 Jetta GL. Most of the parts were crank instead of power so hardly anything ever broke; I would still be driving it but I fought a brand new Cadillac and lost. Even though it was a serious accident with a virtual tank, my car was totaled but I walked away with hardly a scratch. Airbags, shmairbags, that’s what I call safe.

]]> By: deepali http://frugalbabe.com/2008/09/26/my-thoughts-on-cars/#comment-25331 deepali Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:59:44 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=590#comment-25331 I sold my car in March and haven't missed it. If you live within 10 miles of everything you need, you really don't need one. The only time I need a car is when I'm leaving town or need to carry something heavy like furniture. In that case, I have carsharing, so I just rent a car for an hour or day. Easy. I sold my car in March and haven’t missed it. If you live within 10 miles of everything you need, you really don’t need one. The only time I need a car is when I’m leaving town or need to carry something heavy like furniture. In that case, I have carsharing, so I just rent a car for an hour or day. Easy.

]]> By: Pete http://frugalbabe.com/2008/09/26/my-thoughts-on-cars/#comment-25314 Pete Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:47:52 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=590#comment-25314 Hi there, Great article! My grandpa always said that people won't be safe drivers untill they take seatbelts out of cars and replace airbags with giant spikes that deploy in an accident! I know I'd be safer... When I was at teacher's college in the UK I rode my trusty Brodie about 15kms each way to my school placements because the 'tube' was too expensive. Now that I'm back in Canada it's hard to get around without the car. I'm supply teaching and have to drive 40 or 50 kms some days. I'm really looking forward to a contract position that I can ride to again. On the Bike trailer topic - I've worked in the bike industry for about 15 years. There are several brands that convert from trailer to stroller so you can ride to the park and then go for a 'stroll'. Also, the child can ride in there as soon as they are strong enough to hold their head up while wearing a helmet. Yes folks - Your child NEEDS a helmet inside a trailer. Look for one with a flat back on it rather than the big 'lightbulb' shaped ones. And while I'm here I'd like to also say - Never use a Baby seat on a bike. They just aren't safe. There is too much weight up high, the plastic can fatigue over time and snap off, and the little guy/gal is pretty high up there if there ever was a tumble. So stick with trailers, use the dorky safety flag and have a good time! Hi there, Great article! My grandpa always said that people won’t be safe drivers untill they take seatbelts out of cars and replace airbags with giant spikes that deploy in an accident! I know I’d be safer…

When I was at teacher’s college in the UK I rode my trusty Brodie about 15kms each way to my school placements because the ‘tube’ was too expensive. Now that I’m back in Canada it’s hard to get around without the car. I’m supply teaching and have to drive 40 or 50 kms some days. I’m really looking forward to a contract position that I can ride to again.

On the Bike trailer topic – I’ve worked in the bike industry for about 15 years. There are several brands that convert from trailer to stroller so you can ride to the park and then go for a ‘stroll’. Also, the child can ride in there as soon as they are strong enough to hold their head up while wearing a helmet. Yes folks – Your child NEEDS a helmet inside a trailer. Look for one with a flat back on it rather than the big ‘lightbulb’ shaped ones.

And while I’m here I’d like to also say – Never use a Baby seat on a bike. They just aren’t safe. There is too much weight up high, the plastic can fatigue over time and snap off, and the little guy/gal is pretty high up there if there ever was a tumble. So stick with trailers, use the dorky safety flag and have a good time!

]]> By: Beeb Ashcroft http://frugalbabe.com/2008/09/26/my-thoughts-on-cars/#comment-25309 Beeb Ashcroft Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:02:51 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=590#comment-25309 I just stumbled upon your blog, and I've been having fun reading it. I love this post - especially the point about people in expensive cars with all the "safety features", paying no attention to the road while they text. I'm all for used cars - my daily driver is a 1960 Comet, so your '91 Civic seems brand new to me. :) I just stumbled upon your blog, and I’ve been having fun reading it. I love this post – especially the point about people in expensive cars with all the “safety features”, paying no attention to the road while they text.

I’m all for used cars – my daily driver is a 1960 Comet, so your ’91 Civic seems brand new to me. :)

]]> By: Francois Viljoen http://frugalbabe.com/2008/09/26/my-thoughts-on-cars/#comment-25289 Francois Viljoen Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:59:30 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=590#comment-25289 Hi Frugal Babe I only read this post now, that's why the late reply. The whole thing of "safer to drive a new car" is a bit of a myth if you ask me. People are very bad assessors of risk. The problem is that people don't factor <i>the effect of time</i> into the equation. If you drive an older car, the money you save will allow you to retire earlier. Thus, you will be removed from the risk of driving to work and back earlier. I wrote a post about it a few months ago... http://liberta.co.za/blog/safer-to-drive-an-old-fiat-than-a-new-bmw/ Hope you're well. God bless, Francois Hi Frugal Babe

I only read this post now, that’s why the late reply.

The whole thing of “safer to drive a new car” is a bit of a myth if you ask me.

People are very bad assessors of risk. The problem is that people don’t factor the effect of time into the equation.

If you drive an older car, the money you save will allow you to retire earlier. Thus, you will be removed from the risk of driving to work and back earlier.

I wrote a post about it a few months ago…

http://liberta.co.za/blog/safer-to-drive-an-old-fiat-than-a-new-bmw/

Hope you’re well.

God bless,
Francois

]]> By: MITBeta @ Don't Feed The Alligators http://frugalbabe.com/2008/09/26/my-thoughts-on-cars/#comment-25257 MITBeta @ Don't Feed The Alligators Sun, 28 Sep 2008 01:37:17 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=590#comment-25257 @ Kelly: You heard right about babies and bikes. The main reason for this being the fact that nobody makes helmets for children under 1. Though I suppose that if you put a car seat in a trailer it's an interesting compromise... As to the post, I agree with the author and add only that just last week Autoweek ran another in a series of stories about young driver's and highlighted the fact that many parents pour tons of money into car safety features, but not into advanced driver training, which is statistically more likely to keep ANY driver safer. @ Kelly:

You heard right about babies and bikes. The main reason for this being the fact that nobody makes helmets for children under 1. Though I suppose that if you put a car seat in a trailer it’s an interesting compromise…

As to the post, I agree with the author and add only that just last week Autoweek ran another in a series of stories about young driver’s and highlighted the fact that many parents pour tons of money into car safety features, but not into advanced driver training, which is statistically more likely to keep ANY driver safer.

]]> By: Frugal Trenches http://frugalbabe.com/2008/09/26/my-thoughts-on-cars/#comment-25252 Frugal Trenches Sat, 27 Sep 2008 11:24:12 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=590#comment-25252 GREAT post. I have never in my life had car payments and I've never in my life had a new car. I buy safe cars with good track records and make them last - honda's are brilliant for that. I also try to use my car only when necessary. I walk, bus and train it places where it makes more sense money wise or green wise to do so. I currently am not using a car and notice less strain on my finances. There is far too much obsession with cars in the western world, perhaps a reason so many people are in debt! GREAT post. I have never in my life had car payments and I’ve never in my life had a new car. I buy safe cars with good track records and make them last – honda’s are brilliant for that. I also try to use my car only when necessary. I walk, bus and train it places where it makes more sense money wise or green wise to do so. I currently am not using a car and notice less strain on my finances.
There is far too much obsession with cars in the western world, perhaps a reason so many people are in debt!

]]> By: Chloe http://frugalbabe.com/2008/09/26/my-thoughts-on-cars/#comment-25240 Chloe Sat, 27 Sep 2008 02:11:44 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=590#comment-25240 I completely agree with this post - I currently have a 2005 ford focus, try to drive it as little as possible, stay on top of maintenance checks, and plan on keeping it for as long as possible. My boyfriend and I will share the car because we have easy access to stores and our work places. Do you have any how-to posts on replacing spark plugs or changing the oil youself? Great post! I completely agree with this post – I currently have a 2005 ford focus, try to drive it as little as possible, stay on top of maintenance checks, and plan on keeping it for as long as possible. My boyfriend and I will share the car because we have easy access to stores and our work places. Do you have any how-to posts on replacing spark plugs or changing the oil youself? Great post!

]]> By: Kelly http://frugalbabe.com/2008/09/26/my-thoughts-on-cars/#comment-25236 Kelly Fri, 26 Sep 2008 21:51:17 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=590#comment-25236 Sold! I am going to look into getting a bike trailer and insulated bag. There should be enough warm days left...heck it is still 80 here. Thanks for the tip about the bike trailer and infant seat. We have one of those kind too, although our daughter is probably big enough now. She sits up and is over 18 pounds, so I think she can ride without the infant seat. And we would definitely get a two seater since we are planning on more babies! Sold! I am going to look into getting a bike trailer and insulated bag. There should be enough warm days left…heck it is still 80 here. Thanks for the tip about the bike trailer and infant seat. We have one of those kind too, although our daughter is probably big enough now. She sits up and is over 18 pounds, so I think she can ride without the infant seat. And we would definitely get a two seater since we are planning on more babies!

]]> By: Green Me http://frugalbabe.com/2008/09/26/my-thoughts-on-cars/#comment-25235 Green Me Fri, 26 Sep 2008 21:46:49 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=590#comment-25235 We've been biking and walking more and more...with son in the trailer or stroller. When it comes to food getting warm, I do use an insulated bag on days over 80, but most food is fine for up to 2 hours out of the fridge, so a 5 or 10 minute walk or bike shouldn't hurt it. We usually take our son, so we use extra space in the trailer or stroller for a few bags and sometimes one of us carries extras (if any). I've also seen people using those rolling baskets, such as this one: http://www.spacesavers.com/routca.html Which might be an option w/o kids! We’ve been biking and walking more and more…with son in the trailer or stroller.

When it comes to food getting warm, I do use an insulated bag on days over 80, but most food is fine for up to 2 hours out of the fridge, so a 5 or 10 minute walk or bike shouldn’t hurt it.

We usually take our son, so we use extra space in the trailer or stroller for a few bags and sometimes one of us carries extras (if any). I’ve also seen people using those rolling baskets, such as this one:

http://www.spacesavers.com/routca.html

Which might be an option w/o kids!

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