With the improvement of living standards, owning a private car is no longer an unattainable dream for many ordinary people. However, when the dream of buying a car comes true and the car keys are actually in their hands, some car owners gradually realize that this car, which was once regarded as a symbol of improved quality of life, seems to be becoming an unbearable financial burden.
Regarding the statement that "ordinary people only find out after buying a car, the car is a burden and cannot afford it at all", which sparked heated discussions on the Internet. So where does this phenomenon come from, and how should we rationally look at it and deal with it?
1. The deviation between the cost of buying a car and expectations
Buying a car is not a one-time purchase, but an ongoing expenditure involving multiple links. The purchase price of a car is a significant expense in itself, especially for ordinary consumers with limited budgets, who may need to take out a loan to buy a car, which means that they will have to bear a certain amount of monthly repayment pressure.
"Hidden" costs such as vehicle purchase tax, insurance premiums, and licensing fees cannot be ignored, and these expenses often add up to about 10%-20% of the total cost of buying a car.
However, many people tend to only focus on the price of the naked car when buying a car, and underestimate the subsequent additional costs, resulting in a higher cost than expected. In addition, the rapid depreciation of new cars after landing is even more troubled by asset shrinkage for people who have plans to change cars in the short term. Therefore, failing to adequately assess the overall cost before buying a car is the number one reason why many people feel that they "can't afford to keep a car".
Second, the cost of using the car exceeds the budget
Buying a car is just the beginning, and the expenses in the process of using the car are the real test of your wallet. Daily expenses such as fuel costs, parking fees, maintenance fees, repair fees, road and bridge fees, and fines for violations constitute the "basic plate" of car maintenance.
Taking an ordinary family car as an example, driving 10,000 kilometers a year, the fuel cost is about 5,000-8,000 yuan, and the maintenance cost is about 1,000-3,000 yuan.
To add insult to injury, there is a great deal of uncertainty about these costs. For example, fluctuating oil prices, soaring parking fees due to parking space constraints, and high maintenance costs due to vehicle breakdowns can all lead to actual car costs far exceeding budget. Especially for car owners who live in big cities or drive long distances frequently, the pressure of car maintenance is even more significant.
Third, the matching degree between lifestyle and car purchase demand is low
Car purchase decisions are often influenced by a variety of factors such as personal preferences, social attitudes, and family needs. Sometimes, people don't buy cars out of practical needs, but for face, to follow trends, or to have an overly idealistic vision of future life scenarios.
For example, single office workers may buy SUVs only because they like their atmospheric appearance, but ignore the disadvantages of such models as high fuel consumption and inconvenient parking, while young couples consider buying a seven-seater car for their future children, but do not welcome a "second child" in the short term, resulting in the vehicle being idle most of the time.
In this case, buying a car not only does not bring convenience, but increases the financial burden and changes the original rhythm of life. Mobility problems that could have been solved by walking, cycling, and taking public transportation have become complicated and expensive because of cars. In this case, the car becomes a "burden" rather than a tool to improve the quality of life.
epilogue
Behind this phenomenon, there is not only the lack of expected management of car purchase costs, but also the underestimation of the complexity of car costs, and the deeper mismatch between car purchase needs and lifestyles. Faced with this situation,
Buying a car is not a necessity of life, nor is it the only sign of happiness. Only when we are rational about the decision to buy a car and fully evaluate our own economic situation and actual needs, can we truly make the car a help to improve the quality of life, rather than an unbearable burden.