This is a follow on from my last article reviewing Beckbessinger’s book

Now, the author, in discussing the two biggest purchases of most people (ie, a house or a car), advocates strongly that you should buy neither. And actually, I agree with her about not buying a house, although my reasons are different. My experience has been that you just don’t know what the future will bring and a house is a massive expense you can’t easily shed. It is a great investment when you can buy it outright and it can make you a passive income. But if you need a home loan then it may prove too burdensome.

But that’s not what I wanted to talk about today. No, it is the author’s attitude towards cars. She outright insists that:

“You must not buy a car”

She says it repeatedly. And it is frankly aggravating.

Now I don’t know what idyllic paradise she is living in, but in South Africa, you need a car. Yes, I know that the vast majority of the population don’t have cars and they get on just fine.

Except, do they? Go find the nearest domestic worker, gardener, or security guard (any minimum wage job), I will wait. Now ask them how long their daily commute is. What time does he/she have to get up to get to work? How much money do they spend on taxi fees? How long on average do they wait around at bus stops? How do they get their kids to school and who looks after them? Not convinced yet? Now ask them about long-distance trips to see their family. I can simply hop in my car and get to wherever I need at the drop of a pin.

When you buy a car you are buying freedom

Let me tell you a quick story. I spend a few months teaching a 21-year-old girl how to drive. It was a cost in time and fuel I could really have done without. I started doing it because she’s stuck in a relationship with a boy with so many red flags hanging over him we could use him as bunting. But she is entirely reliant on this little shit for transport (they live in a very rural area). If she had her own car she would have the option of walking away.

How about another one? Many years ago I got a position with a temping firm. The first job, they called out of the blue and said they needed someone urgently on the other side of town (this was in London, a place with fantastic public transport). Even though I hopped to it, by the time I got there the rush was over, they no longer needed me. I never heard from that firm again.

Now I am sure the author is right in assessing that the cost of a car is prohibitive. I have honestly never sat and done the maths. As to whether it is best to get something secondhand, and then drive it forever, I’m not sold. I always felt the advantage of a new car was that you got a 3-5 year window with no maintenance or repair costs (if a service plan is included). Is that worth the extra money? Don’t know – didn’t maths. But a clever person could use that window to save up nicely for the eventual maintenance bill. Also, all cars reach a point where the repair costs start to vastly outweigh the vehicle’s value. Furthermore, I have to consider my safety – what is the likelihood of this jalopy stranding me at the side of the road in a dodgy part of town? One should also consider the insurance. They will pay out the value of the jalopy. It doesn’t matter if it is in pristine condition, it is not worth much if it is 20 years old, will the payout be enough to get you replacement wheels?

So, my takeaway is: Buy A Car (if you can afford one). But first, do the maths outlined in the book. Choose your car based on maths not looks or status. And ask yourself ‘Do I really need a fuel-guzzling double-cab? Will I still need it if I change my job/career path in a years time?’ Then go and buy the damn car.