A question for Click&Clack

[rebeccmeister]

The hilarious hosts from Car Talk, one of the best shows on NPR, are retiring this October. I'm writing this partially in response to scrottie's recent blog update, partially just based on my own experiences and frustrations. I don't think I'll actually send it over to the Car Talk guys.

Dear Click and Clack,

I've grown up listening to your show. I grew up in Seattle, in the middle of the city, where it's possible to get around relatively easily, even if a person doesn't have a car. I rode my bicycle, walked, and took the bus. When I turned sixteen, I had other things to do besides learn to drive a car, so it wasn't until I was on the verge of moving to Arizona at the age of 22 that I got a driver's license. I thought I'd buy a car and road-trip my way down to Arizona, but I only had a couple thousand dollars to my name, and didn't know much about what I would be able to get for that kind of money, so I put off the decision.

Now I've moved to a small city in Texas, where it's hard to get anywhere without a car. The closest big cities are Houston and Austin, each at least a hundred miles away (that's an eight-hour bike ride in good weather), and the only "public" transit goes to Houston and is inconvenient and expensive. I know that the manufacture of brand-new automobiles is resource-intensive. I still don't have a lot of money. What should I do?

Sincerely,
Rebeccmeister

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Dear Rebeccmeister,
You should search local auto dealers and craigslist ads for a used car. If you find one in the 2000-3000 range, you can get financing where the car will cost maybe 120 a month for a minimal downpayment. The dealership or your local credit union can help you obtain financing. You can find a very serviceable car in that price range. Your friend Emily has experience finding used cars that will not blow up- talk over your prospects with her once you find a few ads.

Sincerely, Click & Clack

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

Used Civic or Corolla. They'll still have hundreds of thousands of kilometers in them and are, as you say, much less resource-intensive than buying a new car. Get it checked by a mechanic before purchase. Given your habits, I strongly suggest a hatchback: far easier to get a bike into. (and about which: don't put the bike on a roof rack or a trunk rack: you will end up running it into something and damaging it horribly.)