Have a car?

[Silverback]

For those of you who live right in Toronto, do you have a car? I'd like to get a place downtown (buy/rent) but that AND a car, I just can't do it. How the hell do others do it? I make a fair amount of money but it's not enough.

Curious how others manage it.

 

[416]

Screw getting a car dude. All my friends downtown you have a car don't use the silly things more then once a month. Big waste of cash.

 

[The Watcher]

If I had to pay for my car... I would not live downtown.

Fortunately... my dad owns 3 car dealerships so my car is free.

So in conclusion... unless you own your car outright it's way to expensive to Lease/Finance a car and live downtown. Unless you make a pretty coin

-Nick - My Dad Rocks! And so does my Car

 

[Cheeka]

I do - but I work in mississauga so I kind of have to.
It isn't so bad... get a 5 year financing plan and it's entirely doable
I bought a honda civic coupe a few years ago.

 

[Soundstream]

Originally posted by Cheeka
I do - but I work in mississauga so I kind of have to.
It isn't so bad... get a 5 year financing plan and it's entirely doable
I bought a honda civic coupe a few years ago.

Hey, we are tied again (1800). Well not after I post this.

Cheers ... Ian

 

[pr0nstar]

I live in North York... I own a car. I don't drive it to work that often.

Parking is insane downtown... I have a friend who pays I think.. $200 a month for parking.

pr0nstar

 

[Cheeka]

help help soundstream is stalking me

 

[mcbee]

I live downtown and i have a car.

it is very hard to afford it all. its crazy.

i love my car but i'm seriously thinking of getting out of my lease. (lease is up in october of 2003) anyone interested in a 2000 vw golf and a parking spot downtown??

sarah

 

[Silverback]

I will more than likely own the car come december. So all I have is repairs when they come and insurance/gas. But That's still probably about $300 a month (gas/insurance, I pay $250/month for ins.). Still a hefty portion of money, and if something goes wrong it puts me in a pinch.

So it would appear most don't live RIGHT downtown and own a car. I've had a car since I was 16, I don' t know if I could get rid of it and start taking public transit everywhere I go. Even going away places, I'd have to find people to drive or takes buses .. (sounds snobby, but when you love your car and the personal time you have in your car and the freedom of your car, it's hard to fathom the idea of public transit )

 

[Jazz]

It is definitely do-able... but really depends on how much you make, how much your rent is, and what type of car you want... I've been living right downtown for over 3 years and have had a car the whole time... But expenses for my car are really, really low... parking is $60 a month at my building, my insurance is very low because I have a honda civic, I don't use much gas because I work from home, and repair bills are low because I don't drive the car that much (because I live downtown/work from home)

 

[R4V4G3D_SKU11S]

Originally posted by Silverback
So it would appear most don't live RIGHT downtown and own a car.

No. Read mcbee's post. and 416. and Cheeka.

If 300 dollars is a fair amount of money to you, then having a car downtown when you also work downtown, and stay within downtown most of the time, is an unnecesary strain.

 

[Guest]

I have a car, and I live downtown - Hamilton, that is.

Although even here, I don't have proper parking, so I park on the street. This has lead to my car being keyed front to back (I have a 2000 Jetta) and uncountable parking tickets. And there are trees everywhere, so I have to deal with bird shit, and on a black car, that means a weekly car wash at the least.

I'm going to own it outright in October, so that will make it much more affordable to pay for the nuisances. Although I plan to be living in Toronto by then, so who knows what I'll do.

My friend has a condo on Church/Dundas, and he paid $15,000 for his S4's parking spot. Just remember that cars are way more expensive than the price tag you see at the dealership. Unless of course, your dad is the dealer and/or you have a massive inheritance not unlike my S4 driving buddy.

 

[Libradragon]

if you live downtown, having a car is utterly useless - especially if you have to pay for it.

i have a car (an old one that i didn't have to pay for), and even THAT's a headache. The maintenance fees alone cost an arm and a leg.

In fact, I'm getting rid of my car.

 

[Loopster]

Don't do it!!!

If you need a car for work, that's one thing ... (I live in High Park & have to commute to Mississauga ... no choice there.)

But - if a car is more of a luxury or cool accessory than a necessity, save yourself the financial & logistics hassle.

A car is great when it's 4:00 a.m. & you need to get home (provided you're in good shape for driving) & it's always a bonus to get to hear the music you love while venturing out. However, in TO (espeically if you live downtown ... & even if you live anywhere along the subway line) it's not absolutely essential ... plus the $$ involved (especially insurance & parking) & the fact that all your pals might see "DD" painted on your forehead every time you enter a room will be more than offset by any inconvenience at having to grab a cab &/or TTC.

The TTC certainly isn't comfy &/or glamorous, but the $ you save on not having the car will have lots of other places to go ... believe me. Maybe you could wait & see just how strapped (or not) you are before you make the final call ...

 

[Fir3start3r]

Originally posted by 416
Screw getting a car dude. All my friends downtown you have a car don't use the silly things more then once a month. Big waste of cash.

I guess if you have no life outside Toronto that would be ok...and does make sense considering parking fees / traffic / time.
Transit is the way to go then

I'd figure out how much you acually would need the car if you were to leave the Toronto area.
Personally, I'd be screwed without my car...but then, I don't live/work downtown Tdot.

 

[Silverback]

Originally posted by Loopster
If you need a car for work, that's one thing ... (I live in High Park & have to commute to Mississauga ... no choice there.)

I work right across the street from the airport basically. So using public transit isn't all that convenient, I would need subway and bus to get to/from work. I also already have the car, that is why I was asking about people who live downtown and cars. I want to move.

 

[Loopster]

Hmmm ...

I see your dilemna. Well ... I've taken Mississauga transit before while a student & know that it is absolutely no fun at all.

I guess my best advice to you is this - try to get an apartment with parking provided. In High Park, I've just got a permit, but it's pretty easy finding a spot since most of the folks in this overpriced area have their own parking spaces. Only us sorry renters need search for space ...

You could always make a few calls & compare the prices of places with parking to those without. Anyhow, good luck. Key thing is this ... Toronto's great fun ... if you're willing to move into the city & not be right downtown (i.e. on the subway line but far enough out to be less pricy, you just may be able to get the best of all possible worlds. Being on the outskirts is a good compromise - you can drive or TTC it socially, still drive to work (a necessary evil) & know that the choice is yours.

p.s. should've bought a Honda Civic!! (I love this site for picking up tips ... nothing beats it!)

 

[LivingRoomPornstar]

East Scarlem definitely warrants a vehicle...too much it seems.

I went last week without a car and I nearly cried myself to sleep at night.....a ten minute drive from my house to work, takes my 55 minutes by bus and subway....sounds ridiculous, but it depends on the bus routes and the distance from your house and the bus stop.

Good excercise, but sooo much time better spent on sleeping or running errands.

Why did it have to rain all week.

Mother nature is a slut when i'm riding the rocket.

Dan

 

[Uncle Bobby]

If you buy a car that you can own and not have to make payments on it can be really cheap. buy an older honda. they last forever.

UB.

PS. it also helps to tell the insurance company that you live in burlington!

 

[atomic]

I've got an old Prelude that I bought secondhand several years ago and I still love it. it's been totally dependable so most of what I deal with is just gas, parking, oil and insurance. Hondas are great!