Cars & motorcycles

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I just looked up the price at a local dealer, and it turns out I low-balled my estimate by a few percent. It actually appears a Camry goes for about $21,250, so that sounds like around $24,000 in Australian. So it's definitely somewhat cheaper in the US, although not by quite as much as it initially appeared. I can think of two reasons for this to be the case (and this reasoning would also apply to Canada). 1. Toyota sells so many more cars in the US than it does in Canada and Australia that it can afford to sell them at a lower cost. That's simple economics - you can reduce your profit margin per car if you sell more cars. 2. Most Toyotas sold in the US are built in the US. There are several Toyota manufacturing plants scattered throughout the US, and therefore it costs less to transport them. If there aren't similar plants in Australia, it may actually cost a heck of a lot more in transportation costs to get a Camry to a showroom in Australia compared to the US.

Oh, I wasn't suggesting that gas was more expensive in the US. Sorry if you interpreted it that way. My comment about the gap in the price becoming less was simply pointing out that the cost of gas today in the US is about double what it was 3 or 4 years ago. If I go back 10 years ago, I can remember when gas cost only a little over $1 per gallon. But I wholeheartedly agree that gas costs less in the US than it does just about anywhere else in the world.

It was gross - so you're right it would be more than half the net income. I would not want to guess what the tax rate would be here in the states, although your 30% seems like a good ballpark estimate. You won't pay 30% in federal income tax on a $45,000 salary (it will definitely be less), but there are state income taxes and local income taxes as well. However, state income tax and local income taxes vary widely from one place to another, so it's impossible to say exactly how much of that $45,000 is take home. It also depends on whether or not you are married and how many, if any, kids you have. But you do bring up a good point - cost of living should really be factored in here. If the take home pay is greater in Australia, then the difference in price will be not as great, whereas if it is less, the price difference will be magnified.

 

True, I wish I could arrange my life to be less reliant upon individual transportation.

 

Aldeth:

The price of petrol in Western Australia in mid-2004, when I first arrived, was around the $0.80+ to $0.90+ AUS mark, and now, it's $1.30+ to $1.40+ AUS. Rising prices of per barrel of oil have affected the whole world, unfortunately, though it's not as drastic here as it is in the US.

As you said, it's not possible to get an accurate tax figure for a $45,000 gross annual income in the US, so we can't do an accurate comparison according to the take-home pay.

But I'm sure we both can agree that operating a car in the US is cheaper than Australia, if we're just talking petrol prices.

 

I'm currently driving a 89 Ford Ranger. I'm also restoring a 68 Barracuda.

 

We own 6 "car-type" vehichles in my family. A manual Ford lynx (the only manual), another ford lynx, a ford e-150, a volvo v50 (iirc?), a hyundai tucson and a hyundai santa fe.

I can't really drive a manual as I haven't practiced since I learned how to drive on one, so thats out. I can't drive something as big as an e-150 either. And my dad wont let me drive the volvo so when I can't hitch with anyone and absolutely have to drive (yep, you guessed it, I'm a lousy driver and I hate driving) I choose between the ford lynx auto, tucson and sta fe. I usually drive the Tucson though.

 

I don't own a car o motorcycle. I don't need one, but if I do, I use my moms little shoppingcart: A Suzuki Alto. One of the newer types. Cheap, easy to park and clean.

I don't understand why people need such big SUVs if all they do is drive to work, all alone.

 

I've not had a car since I moved to Ediburgh (used to drive for 6 years before that). I don't really need one here, as I live in the city centre (so impossible to park) and I can easily take the bus to work. I only miss having a car in the summer, on a warm sunny weekend. It would have been nice to be able to take the car and just drive to somewhere nice outside the city for the day.

 

I have a 1.2L Renault Clio

It's nothing special, but it's reliable and cheap to run.

 

Some people use them as a status symbol. Why else would anyone ever buy a Cadillac Escalade? It's a very large SUV that you wouldn't dare take off road...

 

I think he's joking . . .
And this topic is old, but I just noticed it.
Car for me, a 2005 Honda Accord, bought of necessity after my last Honda went to Honda heaven in a wreck. Did what it was supposed to do and protected me from serious injury. On a motorcycle I would have died, and maybe been badly hurt in a less protective car.

No such thing as public transportation out in the sticks here - not even a commercial taxi service within three counties.

I see the lure of motorcycles and yearned for one when I was younger. But after doing some volunteer work at a trauma center I see why they're nicknamed "donor cycles" by the trauma staff. Even the best and smartest riders can't outwit an idiot in a car, alas.

 

I drive a 98 Jeep Cherokee Laredo. 4-wheel drive comes in handy, especially with the winter weather when College classes are hardly ever canceled.

 

Still driving my company's Iveco Daily 35S18. Recently got Opel Corsa 1.3 CDTI.