Is a car worth it?

[wstevens]

If I'm leaving around San Isidro or Vicente Lopez and working in Martinez, is it really worth it to have a car? In some of the places I have stayed at, it's sometime cheaper and easier to coordinate transport (to and from work) as well as other travel (grocery shopping etc...) with a local "transportista", a sort of private cab. What do you think???

Thanks a lot!

 

[el_expatriado]

I live in the city and I used to think it was easy enough to not have a car, but it is nice not depending on anyone and be able to just go wherever you want whenever you want to. Finding a cab when it rains can be very difficult. No idea what the cab/remise situation is like in GBA.

If you can afford a car, I would get one. You can always sell it if you think it wasn't worth it later. Used cars hold their price really well in Argentina.

 

[ElQueso]

I'm with El_Expatriado.

I lived here for about two years before I bought a car. I did it because I was moving to the 'burbs (Tortuguitas, about kilometer 39 on Panamericana route 9) where it was nearly absolutely necessary. Could be done without a car, but a real, real pain in the ass.

I moved back into the city about 2 1/2 years ago. I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep my car. I did look for an apartment with a parking space just so I didn't have to be in a hurry to get rid of it or find a garage to park it in while I decided what to do.

I love having a car. As El says, you can just hop in your car and go when you want to. I can go out to Wal Mart when I want to, go to the movies and park in spaces nearby (Alto Palermo and Recoleta both have huge parking garages) and there are tons of parking garages scattered throughout the city when you go other places.

Get a used car, I'd say - the newer the car the more expensive insurance, taxes (if a car is over ten years old you don't pay the "luxury" tax) and when it gets scratched or dinged you don't feel so bad.

However - if you are a cautious driver and don't feel comfortable with a bit of chaos when on the road, take everything I've said with a grain of salt - that could weigh heavily against having a car unless it's absolutely necessary.

I know an expat guy who is the worst driver here - worst than most Argentinos simply because he is a poor driver and can't get out of the right lane, pull out into streets, etc., because of his fear of the other drivers. You have to be able to flow with the traffic and understand the stupid things that will happen all around you so you can anticipate problems, every time you drive.

 

[earlyretirement]

I live in the city and I used to think it was easy enough to not have a car, but it is nice not depending on anyone and be able to just go wherever you want whenever you want to. Finding a cab when it rains can be very difficult. No idea what the cab/remise situation is like in GBA.

If you can afford a car, I would get one. You can always sell it if you think it wasn't worth it later. Used cars hold their price really well in Argentina.

Yeah, if you live all the way out there in the sticks I'd say definitely having a car would be worth it and helpful. Public transportation can take forever and a pain I'd think when there are strikes. I had a lot of employees live out there and they mostly depended on public transport and it would take forever in commuting.

But if you live here in the city I don't think it's worth it. Yeah, it's nice when it rains and I'd use it on the weekends and great for Christmas Eve or New Years Eve when getting a taxi is almost impossible. Also, it was great going to the store and not worrying about the delivery service from the stores taking forever.

The things that were a pain is that the drivers over all in the city are horrible, you can easily get dinged or your car hit in parking lots, parking is a major pain and expensive or non-existant in many areas, insurance isn't cheap for newer model cars and also you have to deal with paying rent for a garage if you don't own a garage and the rents have steadily been going up over the years.

Also, keep in mind if you get an imported car it will be expensive and also the annual license plate fee is fairly expensive each year depending on the make/model.

 

[Noelle]

El queso, the best and funniest answer ever. Driving in BA a total chaos. Going with the flow, priceless.

 

[cbonanni]

Yeah, if you live all the way out there in the sticks I'd say definitely having a car would be worth it and helpful.

I love the fact you refer to Martinez and San Isidro as the sticks !! It really is quite nice and peaceful. As opposed to the hectic , traffic clogged , expensive , unsafe , robbery prone , no parking , etc.... you nice city folk have to deal with. When we give directions way out here , we simply "take a left at the black and white cow" or " right at the second eucalyptis tree" or" if you pass the hipodromo you went too far !" also we keep the river to the left going to town , and the right on the way home. It's a country mile to the Coto !!

 

[Rich One]

If you will live in the city and never go out of the city it`s not worth. In 2011 I spent $6000 for cochera, $1200 for plates, $6000 for insurance, $2500 for maintenance, aprox. Total $16,000 pesos. On a 2009 Gol. Not worth at all, can use taxis ...!!

 

[earlyretirement]

Yeah, if you live all the way out there in the sticks I'd say definitely having a car would be worth it and helpful.

I love the fact you refer to Martinez and San Isidro as the sticks !! It really is quite nice and peaceful. As opposed to the hectic , traffic clogged , expensive , unsafe , robbery prone , no parking , etc.... you nice city folk have to deal with. When we give directions way out here , we simply "take a left at the black and white cow" or " right at the second eucalyptis tree" or" if you pass the hipodromo you went too far !" also we keep the river to the left going to town , and the right on the way home. It's a country mile to the Coto !!

Hey, I didn't mean any disrespect by the sticks comment. I do consider that area as far out. If you work every day in the Capital that is a long distance to travel and commute for the typical expat.

Absolutely nothing at all with living all the way out there. Some people love it and some people will hate it. It all depends on your personal situation. For me personally, no way I'd ever live all the way out in the sticks. It's just too far for me and I live being right in the city where my office is.

Sure, some people don't mind commuting 2 hours back and forth every day. But others will hate it. Neither is right or wrong.

Just like if I worked in Manhattan and had my office there.. I'd consider NJ as the sticks and wouldn't have any desire to live all the way out there.

 

[Ceviche]

In many countries, car is a necessity.

In BA, its not.

Then , it just becomes a luxury to own one.

If you can afford this luxury, why not?

 

[earlyretirement]

In many countries, car is a necessity.

In BA, its not.

Then , it just becomes a luxury to own one.

If you can afford this luxury, why not?

Exactly. If you live in the Capital (especially Recoleta or Palermo) then having a car just comes down to it being a luxury. No better way to put it.

Absolutely for some it is worth it. For others it isn't.

I still say the "why not" answers would be hassle of finding parking spots, getting your car hit or dented parking on the street or even in garages (happened to me several times), horrible drivers, etc.

But yes, like Ceviche mentioned...it was a luxury having a car. Even with the hassles, I could easily afford it so just kept it.

And el expatriado is correct that the cars hold their value very well. It only took me a few days to sell my car. DAYS. I just gave it to a broker and I think I agreed to give him 2% commission. He sold it for the asking price and I got paid in dollars as I had an imported car. They paid the cash at the closing. I didn't even have to go. I signed a power of attorney for my father in law to sign. And the broker took care of all the paperwork.

It couldn't have been easier selling it. So from that aspect it was simple.