Economics affecting your car ownership?

Post by **matthew1** » 17 Nov 2008, 13:36

How is the worldwide financial meltdown affecting your car ownership?

I've put off the inevitable move to a P2 car for at least a year.
My driving habits haven't changed: frugal right foot mixed with the occasional 0-60 full throttle blast.
A garage support beam at my apartment hit my 850's front fender and I got $1200 to fix it. I kept the money instead of having it fixed. The dent is palm-sized. I don't know if I'll need that money to live.

How are you affected?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 17 Nov 2008, 14:50

Hasn't had an effect on me although I cringed every time I had to buy gas when it was up over $4 a gallon. Btw, my wife came in from work today with a huge smile on her face...cost her $1.88 a gallon- $25 to fill up the V70 (don't know how low it was).

Post by **billofdurham** » 17 Nov 2008, 15:27

No effect on me, yet, as my pension is secure.

Basic foodstuffs are slowly coming down but not as fast as they went up!

cost her $1.88 a gallon

My nearest low price fuel is about 6 miles away. Yesterday it was £4.18 ($6.27) per gallon. I really cringed when it hit $10+ a few weeks ago.

Bill.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 17 Nov 2008, 15:31

Right...we are spoiled here in the States. I've heard it's much worse world-wide.

Post by **billofdurham** » 17 Nov 2008, 15:48

We are used to paying through the nose for fuel in the UK. The government takes about 75% of every gallon. Now that the fuel companies are starting to reduce the price our beloved leader has plans to stick another tax rise on as his take has been reduced.

When we visited the US and Canada we were amazed, and pleased, at how low your prices were. It meant that we could do in excess of 7,000 miles in 4 weeks and not worry about the cost.

Bill.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 17 Nov 2008, 18:53

A bad month to ask.

Our registration renewals (and tax) are based on the first letter of your last name and November is my month for renewals - all 5 of them.

I guess I should feel lucky since we don't do the Smog/MOT thing here and all I need to do is go write a big check after standing in line for a few hours at the DMV office. Somehow my insurance renewals always manage to fall in the same month.

To the point: I am forced to limp the Platinum around on the (brand new) bad axles and keep dumping Dex III in it for another month or so since the bad axles messed up the seals when - Oops, my son's tuition and frat house fees are due.

Otherwise everything is peachy keen. On the plus side I am self employed and business is actually up quite a bit.

I just need to figure out how to apply for some TARP money and enjoy the $1.79 (89) mid grade premium in the area at the moment!

...Lee

Post by **matthew1** » 17 Nov 2008, 21:33

Ozark Lee wrote:I just need to figure out how to apply for some TARP money ...

Me too. How about this: MVS is now a bank.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 18 Nov 2008, 16:54

Matt, hope you're not saying it's a money pit.

Post by **matthew1** » 18 Nov 2008, 16:57

MadeInJapan wrote:Matt, hope you're not saying it's a money pit.

If I get a few billion from the government, does it matter?