Oh No! I'm in retrograde,- Help Me I'm Falling!

[Hudson Force]

It's true! After fifteen years of owning nothing that is not on our boat we're considering buying a car. No! I'll confess,- we are actually shopping for a car!

Our family remains in North Florida; Daughter and Grandson, Son-in-Law living aboard their own boat and our Son ashore. We're spending more time in the area and too often borrowing their cars.

We're looking at some cheap older Toyota Camrys that we can leave in Nancie's Brother's backyard while we're sailing away, but still come back to for times in the area.

We're planning on buying a "beater car" (euphemism for 'piece of crap') just to pick up groceries and get us about the local area when we're in port. 'better than continuing to rely on our children or pay for the rental cars.

So, is this the beginning of the end of our free, untethered vagabond life? Are we in retrograde? Is this the beginning of the end of our total freedom? No more rage against the machine? .... or is it just one more hedonistic joy? Stretching my carbon footprint? Taking more and giving less!

No,- silly of me,- we're just buying a car for the easy life of what it will offer when we are in port.

[Island Time O25]

After you figure in the initial acquisition costs, registration fees, insurance, annual excise taxes, an occasional repair or two (or three), gas, maintenance (tires, oil changes, etc) and depreciation for the life of such car (2-3-5 years?) it may be cheaper to utilize uber or some such for those short grocery runs or visits for a med. check ups, etc. and still have $$ left over for you favorite adult beverage kitty.

[Don C L]

What? No big ol' rusty Dodge van to act as storage too?

[dwedeking2]

I've had pretty good experience with Uber in the Jacksonville area. They show up pretty quickly and the cost vs purchase if you are only using it for once a week supply runs is a no brainer. I couple it with using the bus system and it keeps the costs down (I'll use the boss for a section of the ride and then Uber the rest usually when the bus system is not designed right for my location).

[Mike OReilly]

Have you considered getting a motorcycle instead? My Yamaha Majesty (maxi scooter) is cheap to buy, insure and run (70 mpg). It's easy and comfy to ride, and parking is never a problem. It carries a large load, and can take two people.


Why go fast, when you can go slow

[Sea Dreaming]

I have read of mant people doing this while hauled out in exotic places.
My own experience with beater cars is quite positive. "Maximo" is a 1997 Ford Aspire. I purchaes him for cash 10 years ago. Ive maintained his oil and fuel filters and his only want has been new tires. Registration just 60.00 per year in CO.
If you get a beater, see if your son will carry the car under his insurance. My x carried mune for years, liability only was not even a hundred bucks per year. Of course, I have an excellent driving record and we used the same insurer for 20 years, that helped.
But a beater car can be cheap!

Forgive the typeos. Not fixing...need coffee : )

[Dave22q]

If you are mostly in ports with level ground like Florida and much of the Caribbean you might consider an electric bike with baskets and panniers. Moderate initial cost , next to no operating costs/insurance/taxes and you can rig to carry a lot of groceries. My folding model was under $1000 at Amazon. Replace it every 3 or 4 years and still much less than the cheapest junker plus old cars tend to go (repair cost exceeding replacement) at the least convenient times. The junker strategy worked for me years ago when you could find a half decent car under $500 so you could keep a spare on hand. I think conditions have changed a lot since then.

[a64pilot]

I don't see how you have done without, I think I will always have one, maybe.
I'm likely going to keep our old Miata, stone cold reliable front engine rear wheel drive as all cars should be. Not worth selling probably so why not keep it?
A reason to keep it even if it rusts away is to have insurance for when we are away and rent something.
Buy something you can get rid of easily, depending on location Jeeps sell like hotcakes in Summer and can be had for much less in Winter when all the Yankees aren't down

Whatever it is, go ahead and buy something that is fun, and has a good air conditioner, why not have a little fun?
Geez, Camry's are for OLD people, your not old yet

[zeehag]

my last car was a beater. 2011, when i left, it had insurance that cost more than the car did, and bubble gum and baling wire held it together along with 200 mph racers tape...
great cars, but.... ye still need a source for dispo. that is hard part-- and when it dies, a car to get ye around..
naaaaw. fuggeddaboudid.. bicycle. with trailer

[reed1v]

Beaters have a habit of being in the garage a lot or on the side of various highways.

[Terra Nova]

An early Toyota pickup would be more like it.

[barnakiel]

I think a biggish Oyster can actually keep her car in the davits!

Wrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooooooooooooooooommmm mmm!

Happy driving! Get a convertible if it it warm where you live!

b.

[Shrew]

I would be very careful. We buy our cars used and own them for a minimum of 10 years. In some regards old cars are like old boats, the less you spend buying them, the more you spend keeping them running.

We get out of our cars when they are around 13-15 years old. This is when we start getting into the $1,000 repair bill range. Cars that sit for long periods are even worse.

[boatpoker]

A very slippery slope ..... beware of Dirt People.

[JPA Cate]

Hudson,

What happened with us was that when we left the car sitting for months at a time, it declined. Each new visit began with Jim on his back in the dirt fixing something. Also, the insurance company wanted to put him in the assigned risk category when he went to start it up again. All in all, we were fortunate to be able to give the car away. The situation is different, because our kids are spread out, living on both coasts and one family in the middle. When we do visit, we just go all over, whereas, if you leave your car with your kids, maybe they'll look after it for you, fire it up occasionally, etc.

Ann