Is a car worth it?

[cbonanni]

Earlyretirement,

No offense taken ! I live in Olivos and love it ! My wife and I share a 2005 Clio. Just did 2500 km to Cordoba and back. We need the car out here. I am from Florida , where "sticks" abound , and I have a southern heritage. Just throwing out a little humor !!

My office is 3 blocks away. I walk.

 

[earlyretirement]

Earlyretirement,

No offense taken ! I live in Olivos and love it ! My wife and I share a 2005 Clio. Just did 2500 km to Cordoba and back. We need the car out here. I am from Florida , where "sticks" abound , and I have a southern heritage. Just throwing out a little humor !!

My office is 3 blocks away. I walk.

Ah great cbonanni! And so wonderful that you live so close to your office. I was hoping you were being sarcastic but some of the people on this board seem to be a bit sensitive at times and I certainly didn't want to offend you.

So great that you can live so close to your work.

 

[cbonanni]

This board can certainly use some humor and for everyone to lighten up and be OMG , Be happy !! Have a great day everyone !! See if you can make someone else's day better too ! Smile.

 

[snowwhitebum]

Before this we lived in Singapore and cars are cheap here in comparison. my wife had a Fiat 500 that cost 89000 SGD new (approx 75000 USD) + the astronomical road usage fees and annual plate costs etc and additional 10-15 k. Here I can buy her the same car (exact) for 18,500 $ USD.

I try to justify buying one daily, but, it is simply not worth it living in the city.

 

[citygirl]

I hate having a car here but need it being outside of town. When I lived in Cap Fed, I never had one and never missed it.

Cars are crazy expensive. I paid 85000 pesos for a 2008 VW Bora with 40.000 kilometers on it last ,March. I spend about 5000 pesos a year on insurance. Plates and all of that were probably another few thousand pesos. I spend on average 200+ pesos a week on tolls. I spend at least 300 pesos a week on gas. Every service is over a thousand pesos.

To the OP - it really depends on where in San Isidro/where in Martinez. Plenty of places by the train lines/bus lines that wouldn't require a car. Plenty of places that would require one however.

 

[DavieW]

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 ...!!

This is the calculation that counts - you can get a helluva lot of taxis for $16,000 + what you'd spend on fuel!
I can't imagine ever being able to justify car ownership here - and I LOVE driving.

 

[Ashley]

You should come over here and try it out before deciding anything. Olivos/San Isidro and Martinez are literally a few minutes away from each other. They're connected by two train lines (the Mitre and the touristy tren de la costa) and also by a load of buses. It all really depends on exactly where you end up living. Having a car would definitely be convenient though for venturing into Capital for dinner with friends...its perfectly do-able with public transport but can be a bit of a hike. I have a friend that lives in San Isidro who takes about an hour to travel into capital each day by bus (off peak times). I think the same journey in a car is about 20 minutes. Cars here though are very expensive to buy (both new and used) and very expensive to maintain.

 

[GS_Dirtboy]

We live in the city and I have to say that I LOVE not having car expenses! When I first came to Buenos Aires I thought the buses and subways were for people who couldn't afford a car. It drove me crazy that I couldn't just get up and go whenever I wanted so I shipped my motorcycle here from the States. It was a total PIA! Since then, I have come to really like the convenience of the bus system and I get literally get anywhere in the city within 40 minutes for $1.20AR!

Once in awhile I think it would be nice to have a vehicle - like when I'm trying to get something large home from Easy. But the $100AR Flete charge is actually really cheap!

If I lived in the burbs I might feel differently.

 

[Rich One]

This is the calculation that counts - you can get a helluva lot of taxis for $16,000 + what you'd spend on fuel!
I can't imagine ever being able to justify car ownership here - and I LOVE driving.

Yes Davie W. My average cost of gas is $200 pesos per weelk or lets say $10,000 pesos per year!! yes USD 1580 (blue rate basis) I travel to the country every week... If you drive in the city only, figure out $2500 per year in gas-

In the City I use buses wirh tarjeta SUBE, for $1,20, always avoiding peak hours

 

[GeorgeAus]

From Vicente Lopez to Diagnol Norte Via One Train (Mitre) and Subte C (Retiro hasta Av. de Mayo) generally takes me 35-40 minutes and costs 2.80. So for under a dollar a day I get to work and back I have no need for a car.

Take the Collectivo (29) and your in Traffic 1 1/2 to 2 hours depending on Traffic and your arse is numb from sitting if your lucky to get a seat.

Car is just a luxury, and then you just need a Toyota Hilux with a Bull bar if your contemplating on a purchase just so you can ram your way through the shitty drivers.