Why I Drive A Clunker
As a teen, I always wondered what sort of car I would wind up with. For a while, I hoped for something at least slightly fast and sporty. 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 blow coolant hoses left and right, requiring seemingly simple yet annoying repairs to get working again. As I drive, the whole car shakes, rattles, and leaks liquid randomly.
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.
Yes, my car does everything it needs, at a very low cost to me. I paid $1500 in cash for the car back when I was 16, and have been driving it for 6 years now. Even with repairs, thats just a couple hundred a year for all my transportation needs.
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. While I would probably spend less in repairs, I still save a lot of money over time by keeping the clunker.
I realize that this approach isn’t for everyone. I even wish for a better car at times, but when I think how much freedom I have in my finances because of the clunker, I smile a bit to myself and continue driving.