Hyundai Getz

I really like this car. I had one about a year ago, until I sold it, as it was getting pretty old.

The great thing about this car is its size. I know, Americans love big cars and all, but this car is small, and good. It can be very easy parked, sometimes in places you can't imagine. Hyundai also eats little gas, and because its light, can still go far and fast while on it.

Many of my friends were surprised I'd go for such a small car, but let me tell you something: don't judge by the size. It's comfortable, economic, and did I mention it's easy to park?

All in all, Hyundai Getz - definitely one of my favorite ones. Well, maybe not on the same list as Jaguar and such, but among the ones I can actually afford J

Long trips on the road

You know what's fun? Going on a trip. And did you know you can do it with just your car?
I know, most people prefer to fly away to some resort, and spend their time in a hotel, however, you can have a different kind vacation if you choose to. Traveling the country by car. Upside, you'll end up spending much less, and having more freedom. Downside, this is an active vacation. Well actually, that's not necessarily a downside, I for one like those.
All you need to do is pack your car with the basics, calculate how much gas budget you've got, and then plan where do you want to go! You can always change plans, but have at least something to know for how long you'll be gone.  You can find plenty of motels to rest for the night on pretty much any road, and you'll see all the sites at your own pace, from your own beloved car, not cramped in a tourist bus.

Renting a car

If you can't buy a car, or you are traveling abroad, you can rent a car. I know, it's sometimes looked down upon, to rent instead of buy, unless you are a tourist, but there are benefits. Thou a rented car is not truly "your own", it allows you to have a nice selections of cars according to need. What am I talking about? I'm talking about the option to switch the rental car, which is many times possible even in long term rentals. If you suddenly want to plan a trip which requires a 4X4, then you can! Neat huh?

In the other scenario, if you are abroad then car rental is the clear choice. Who wants to spend their time bothering with local public transport and its limitations? And the interaction with taxi drivers can be rather costly and unpleasant in many a place. Having the comfort of driving in a private car will give you a much more flexible trip. Plus, it's fancier, and usually not much more expansive.

I still prefer car ownership to car rental at home. But hiring a car is legit, and definitely better than not having a private car at all. In the long run it usually costs more, so if you are like me, and must have a car for the feeling of freedom and the comfort, then rental will be an expensive option. But they do take care of the car if it breaks, and help you with a replacement, so if you are new to cars, and need a simple option, car rental can do the trick.

Taking care of your car

To enjoy a car for long, you need to take care of it. I'm not talking just about fixing it when it breaks; there are much more issues and handling your car need. It relays on you to treat it nice, so it can serve you well for long.

What does a car need besides fixing? Washing for starters. I saw many cars that are neglected and not washed. This will lead to a higher maintenance cost in the long run! Expect to repaint it more often, and forget about people being impressed with it.

Another thing I once encountered, which is really not cool: using the wrong fuel for your car. I mean, seriously? Why? The difference it cost will cost you much more in engine repairs. And I'm not even talking about the dangers here. Please don't do that.

Finally, don't drive your car like it's a tank. It's not. Really, I know you think it is, but you are wrong. Don't bump on sidewalks; drive off the road unless you have an appropriate vehicle, etc'. Just think about thinks before you do them, and ask yourself, "is it good for my car?".

Buying a car

To be a private car owner, first you buy a car. So, how better to start off posting than by talking about car purchase? Yeah, I know its best. Now let's go pick a car.

We start off by setting our budget, AKA how much we are willing to pay. This is important. If we don't set a budget, we might submit to salesman tricks and buy a vehicle we can't afford. So make a budget decision, and stick with it!

Then we decide about the features our car should have, like fuel consumption, speed, durability, etc'. Fuel consumption is related to budget decisions, or to be precise, future budget decisions, as if it's high, we pay more in the long run. As a rule of thumb, bigger cars, with larger engines, eat more fuel.

Consider buying a second hand car, a used one. It might seem less attractive, but with proper handling such cars can be really neat and they cost much less. Be cautious thou, because if the car has problems you are not aware of, fixing it might cost a fortune.

Oh, and make sure your car looks great. After all, we all like to show off our cars, and for that it must look nice.

I love cars

Yes, I'm a girl, and yes, I love cars. Suprised? You shouldn't be.
Sinse early age I've liked the idea of driving around, going wherever I want, freedom, independance, comfort, all those are given to us by private cars.
Man usually like big noise cars, I prefer the comfortable light ones. They are also easier to park.
Anyhow, that's why I've opened a blog of my own, to post about issues related to private car owening.

Enjoy :)