Car maintenance costs.

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I am wondering, is it worth it to have a car while on a benefit.

I am on a benefit and living with my parents, but when the expenses for my car come, my bank account is cleaned right out.

I like having a car but sometimes when I look at it I wonder if I would be better off selling it and moving to another city which has good public transport. I live on the suburban outskirts of a city that is just houses, roads, shopping malls... great if you are a parent but not so great if you are not married and living with parents, or living alone even... a car is really needed here.

Does anyone maintain a car on a benefit? Or is a car not an option. I remember when I went to a sort of meeting held at the welfare office, most of the other people there on benefits didnt have cars.

The only time something incredibly expensive happened to my car, I got lucky and my grandmother, who bought me the thing, paid for the repairs. But I know they can be expensive. If you need the car, you'd be good to check around, especially at repair shops, and find out what commonly brings certain models in. I have a Generic Motors Chevy, so damned near anything I need can be bought cheaply at an auto zone instead of a dealer. Mum has a Kia, and for whatever reason, the parts are expensive.

I'd actually recommend my car. Chevy Cavalier. Cute, borders on sporty, and with proper maintenance will run for 150,000 with very minor issues. The main problem I have is that now, at 125,000 it looks like the timing chain is slipping causing misfires and a sluggish car. But thats a 30 dollar part, more than affordable. And my car was NEVER maintained by the previous owner, so I'm still fixing things he could have prevented. You baby these cars, and they will run well.

Depends on the car, how much your insurance is. And if you can do the work yourself. I had a car on benefits, but I knew how to do all the work myself which is an added bonus

Have you thought about getting a motor scooter?

Thanks for your replies. I would like a chevy but there are not a lot of them here, they are hard to come by.

It is mostly japanese cars, and european.

They are very handsome-looking though. We do have a number of Fords here though.

I wish I could do the work myself! I can change the tyre and put oil and water in it...

As for motor scooters, there are a lot of crazy, insane car drivers here... sometimes it is like being in a blender... there are more motorbikes... Im a bit scared to do that though...

Thanks for the suggestions, guys, it is interesting hearing what sort of transport other people have.

I'm currently looking to get rid of the car I have (an Opel-Chevrolet Vectra), a gas guzzler.
And the maintenance costs are way too high.

the Toyota Yaris is a very good car, it was recently named of the the best cars in JDPower (I think).
Other top car is the Prius.
I also did some research in cars the size of the Yaris, and the Yaris came at the top in many aspects, also the Honda Fit is very good, but it doesn't call my attention.
I'm just waiting to sell mine and get a Yaris

I do. I haven't had any really hefty repair bills yet, but it is somewhat of a drain financially. I'm not sure what the rules are in your neck of the woods concerning travel allowances on social assistance, but I can claim a small percentage of my gas and receive an annual payment of around $800.00 Cdn. for travel costs.

Cars for us are essential though, or at least those of us with extreme social anxiety. I wouldn't leave the house to go anywhere if I had to take the bus. Did that for a year at university, never again.


No offense, but the Yaris is hideous I wouldn't take one if it was given to me.

Thanks for your replies guys.. yes it is good to have an economical car that has lower gas costs.. and if such a car is identified, why not get it?

Anyway taking a board break... ((((hugs)))) to everyone.

Balance maintenance costs against the benefits of having the car. In order words, the cost/benefit ratio. I have a car that rarely requires maintenance or fuel because I hardly ever drive it. I use it once or twice a week to go to the library and market; otherwise, I walk to where I need to go. I lived for most of my life without a car, but got one when I moved to the Seattle area because of the rain and distances. Walking everywhere or using public transportation as I did in other places just is not possible here.

I'm planning to leave Seattle next year, and one of the parameters in my combinatorial optimization for selecting my new home is public transportation and life without a car. It's a secondary parameter, however, not as important as other factors like cost of living, number of cloudy days per year, and good medical facilities. I find owning and maintaining a car is about at the limit of what I can handle socially, so I'd like to live in a place where one is not required.

If possible a bike is best for health and wealth