Car vs. Computer

[Andalusa]

Well, considering I have a motorbike to get me from A to B and I really don't need to go that far anyway, the fact that my current computer is a pile of steaming turd.. I would have gone with the PC

 

[Malyc]

I'd have gone with the car (which I did), gotten a job (which I did), and then used the money from said job to buy a gaming computer (which I did. As a bonus, I got my rig right when the next version was coming out. Instant $350 dollars off).

EDIT: As a sidenote, insurance and car payments are only running me 100 bucks a month combined. Yes, I realize that that comes out to 1200 bucks a year, but my job is paying me enough to afford that after 1 month of work, and be able to save enough to pay for school out of pocket.

 

[Vanbael]

I settled for a car, then I got an actual job, then I worked to get a new PC. Then I proceeded to continue to get awesome things.

 

[thomaskattus]

If you live in a place with really good public transportation then definitely the PC was a better choice. Especially if you are in a big city and have to park the darn thing. I lived in San Francisco for awhile and had to pay an extra $150 a month to park the thing in my apartment building. The only thing it was good for was big grocery expeditions and road trips.

Of course in America once you get out of the big cities then a car becomes a necessity instead of being just a painful luxury to maintain.

 

[Syzygy23]

About 18 months ago it was my 17th birthday, and my older brother had gotten a car for his birthday when he turned 17 so one would assume I would be given the same treatment. Up until this point in my life, I had never had a proper "Gaming PC" (well I did have one, but we got ripped off and it was only like £400) and my friends all had one to some extent.

So I decided that I'd ask my father to get me a Gaming PC instead of a car, to which he was first hesitant but then was like "if that's what you want". So here I am 18 months on with my gaming PC, and I was just reflecting on my decision and have come to the conclusion that I made the right choice. I have had thousands of hours of enjoyment out of it and I haven't had to waste tons of money on car insurance (it's like £1800 for a year of insurance here).

So escapists, which you would prefer: a Gaming PC of approximately £1000 ($1600ish) value, or a car of similar value?

EDIT: I'm currently in full time education so if I was to get a Car, I could only get a part-time job to support the costs of said car.

It's a trap!

I can build my own PC on par if not better than most off the shelf gaming PC's at 600-800 USD. Should've gone with the car, Pal. How are you going to pick up chicks without a car?

Also, I gotta throw this out there, but who the HELL "expects" to just be GIVEN a car? I was lucky to be given CAKE on my birthdays.

First world problems...

 

[Mafoobula]

I think you made the right choice. It sounds like you aren't quite comfortable enough financially to enjoy the most out of a car. Besides, you never mentioned what kind of car your brother got, or whether he got to pick it out or not. Better to have a sweet rig now, then get the sweet ride later when your bank account can support it better while still allowing you some pocket money.

Regarding the topic question of which I would prefer: I'm a guy who's used to getting the good stuff - I paid $3,200 for my laptop, $350 for my earphones, the list goes on. A true unbeatable god box PC with all the trimmings (3 30" monitors among them) would cost at least $7,000. An equivalent costing car would probably not be too stellar. Thanks all the same, but I'll stick with the rig.

 

[bojackx]

Car - sooner you start paying insurance the quicker the cost reduces and your no claims build up (presuming you drive like a dick).

My gaming PC cost three time that of my car - I didn't start driving till I was 30 and really wish I'd done it at 17 (instead of buying a component hifi with the money).

You may not regret it now, but in a decade..

I actually am learning to drive right now, but I won't be getting a car until after my university years. I'd like to get a car as soon as I get a job after uni so that's why I'm learning now, but I still feel the computer was the better purchase.