Car vs. Computer

[pilkman]

PC was a good choice, you can end up putting on a lot of weight getting a car and not walking anywhere.

 

[SciMal]

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

At the age of 17/18, I probably would have chosen the car.

Today, at 26, the computer.

I just don't use my car. It's most useful when I'm in a pinch and missed the bus. I'm in an area where I can walk to pick up my groceries, public transportation is pretty good, and everything else I can get through Amazon.com if I want.

The most miles I put on my car are actually driving to my relatives, who insist on living in the middle of bumfuck nowhere (and who never visit me!). For Thanksgiving I put about 50 miles on it in a day, and on birthdays I can put upwards of 120 miles on it in a single day. However, even that will drop like a stone since I'm looking for graduate schools out of state.

98% of the time, I put less than 10 miles on it a month.

The result? I'm paying $440/year for car insurance and maybe $10/mo in gas to visit members of my family who can't stop asking if I'm "still dating that mixed gal."

Some people need cars more than others, but right now, I could easily get by without a car and have an extra $500 to spend on fancy cheeses or pants.

 

[Chalacachaca]

PC, less chance to have it stolen.

 

[n00beffect]

Are you kiddin' me, a PC is way better. Speaking as a complete and utter nerd-loser-n00b-fag, I'd say fuck these carbon-dispensing trolleys - the pc's way better! I love my PC, and I wouldn't trade it for the most expensive car in the world... Okay, I would, but that's only because I'll sell the car afterwards and buy 500 PC's of the same equivalent... Or 5, but made by Alienware. Yeah, that's what I am talking about!

Plus I like commuting, it's fun. The only use I can find for a car, is when I am too lazy to go to the Sainsbury's a few blocks away, and I don't want to strain my pussy-ass hands carying bags, so that's when the car would come in handy. But other than that, I'd say it's utterly useless, especially with all the traffic jams and stuff - subway rules!

 

[Guffe]

Depends a lot on for example life situation.
Many of my friends who live a bit out of town would pick the car any day (most of them have a car) while me who live pretty close to everything (10 min bike ride during winter) to most places. I think I would've gotten the PC.
A PC worth 1500 will last for some while and as you already mentioned it doesn't take up 1000 insurance money every year + gas.
But as I said first, pretty much depends on person you're talkig to.

 

[Jadak]

I'd definitely prefer the PC. 23 and I've still yet to own a car. Even being able to afford one myself, and occasionally wishing I had one, it's still not something I consider worth the costs.

But even more importantly, I'd rather have parents who arbitrarily gave me a ton of money on my 17th birthday...

 

[TheEvilCheese]

Completely dependant on where you live.

For me, a Car would be practically useless (Living in a city with some of the best public transport in the world.) And the running costs here in the UK are insanely high.

But A powerful computer would make some of the things I do much easier and more fun. So yeah, I'd probably have taken the computer.

Plus, you can't drink if you have to drive. Bus? No problem.

 

[M4t3us]

And I now feel the taste of smug superiority in owning both a Car which I bought brand new, payed upfront, a decent Laptop for gaming and a Netbook, both of which I payed with my money upfront, and I'm only 25! Woooot! Maybe if I hadn't alienated my parents when I turned 20 I might have gotten some financial aid in those investments but heh... I wouldn't trade the life I lead for family acceptance.

 

[Sampler]

Car - sooner you start paying insurance the quicker the cost reduces and your no claims build up (presuming you DON'T 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..

Insurance will go down a lot just due to age. Assuming you've already passed your test (I assume OP has) just being 21, and then 25 will decrease the cost a ton, with no claims simply aiding that.

You could easily not drive until 25 (assuming you passed your test at 17/18), and would have much cheaper insurance than a 20 year old with several years no claims.

I would say though that if you can't drive yet, don't buy you own car - learn to drive in your parents, and then a driving instructors. I am firmly of the opinion that learning to drive as young as possible is the best way to go, even if you tend to be more reckless as a 'kid'.

Missed an important word out there - but not much, my insurance being 30 is about the same as some of the kids at work, it may go down quicker but still, earlier you start the better off you'll be.

 

[satanslawer123]

id rather have the gaming pc theres more enjoyment out of it. and i rather cycle to where i want to go cars are just expensive

 

[silasbufu]

I would've picked the car because driving is one of my greatest passions (I already presume that's not the case for you so my post is subjective thus useless) . Also it could be extremely useful, but it depends on where you live and your lifestyle.

I love my car :]

Edit: Still..you would need to have a shitload of luck to find a good car at that price range

 

[jj90]

a PC as cost of running a car for that age guy in the UK is about £4000 excluding car cost

 

[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.