Modern Buddy

i am curious what people have done with their cars-(if owning one previous to buddy)..did ya' keep it? sell it? abandon it?
i'm curious, because i have a dependable 85' corolla that runs like a tank, but future maintenance may become a $$ burden.. finding street parking for it Thurs.s & Fri.s may become a burdensome routine....just curious!

-s.

My '03 PT Cruiser is nearly new, having only 73,000 miles or so on it. There are times when the Budd just isn't practical, so I'm keeping the Cruiser. At the same time, I've been looking at a Chevy Cobalt supercharged SS. Sometimes the Budd just isn't fast enough.

ECS

Yes, we gave up one of our two cars for a scooter. I donated my commuter vehicle ('89 Honda) to our church's car ministry and bought a Buddy. My wife works out of our home so depending on the weather, I'm able to choose between the scooter or Subaru. Works well for us. Don't think we would've done that had my wife needed a car everyday.

No way would I give up my MCS! At least not for another year or two...

While having a two-wheeler as your only transportation can be done (just ask hermitgirl), it may not be ideal for all situations. However, living in LA the weather shouldn't be a problem for you, and if you only need a car ocassionally you could always rent one or try something like car sharing.

If you do decide to dump the car, I would keep around for a bit just to make sure you really can do it...

If I sold my cars, I would have no way to get to out of state scooter rallies. Namely the Vice City rally in Florida this Feb. Plus I would get really bored on top of parking garages.

got b125 on saturday, took riding test on monday, sold car 1 hour later...

ScooterDave wrote:If I sold my cars, I would have no way to get to out of state scooter rallies.

...um, ride your scooter?????

ScooterDave wrote:If I sold my cars, I would have no way to get to out of state scooter rallies. Namely the Vice City rally in Florida this Feb. Plus I would get really bored on top of parking garages.

Nice car. Those came out just before the summer I lived in Houston, and I saw tons of them there.

I would love an M6 Convertible, preferably in Interlagos Blue with gray top and interior. However, I find it a bit ridiculous that a car that starts out around $105,000 doesn't automatically come with the super special keyless entry system, head up display, or the HD radio option. Granted, if I could afford a car in that price range, a few more grand really wouldn't matter. But shouldn't a car like that just come with that stuff already? Shouldn't someone that wealthy be spared the inconvenience of having to ask?

[quote="ScooterDave"]If I sold my cars, I would have no way to get to out of state scooter rallies. Namely the Vice City rally in Florida this Feb. Plus I would get really bored on top of parking garages.
quote]

Where can I find more info on the Vice City Rally?

And I would love to sell the car, but need it as the back up for rainy days. I have the Cavalier and the wife has the Prius. Next year, SmartCar comes to America and I will get the ForTwo as my back up rainy day car and sell the Cav. Also, cosidering getting a Yamaha V-Star or FZ6 soon. The Buddy will stay though. You can have fun on that in the neighborhood.

GalacticFattPatt wrote:Where can I find more info on the Vice City Rally?

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea ... =135687532

Bryce-O-Rama wrote:I would love an M6 Convertible, preferably in Interlagos Blue with gray top and interior. However, I find it a bit ridiculous that a car that starts out around $105,000 doesn't automatically come with the super special keyless entry system, head up display, or the HD radio option. Granted, if I could afford a car in that price range, a few more grand really wouldn't matter. But shouldn't a car like that just come with that stuff already? Shouldn't someone that wealthy be spared the inconvenience of having to ask?

But you are gettting a 507hp V10 engine. I have not driven a M6 but I did get a chance to drive a M5. Do not turn off traction control.

I haven't had a car since I left Texas, and I hope to never have to buy one again. The insurance alone runs about $400 a MONTH! I grouse about Philly's SEPTA, but it really does get me where I need to go...if I plan on waiting 45 minutes for a bus. Ahem.

There's a car share service (http://www.phillycarshare.org/) here that my friends seem to enjoy, but I haven't used it (yet?) since I don't really need to. About once every three months a friend & I rent a car from Alamo/National for the weekend to go to New Jersey to get tattooed and run errands.

I sold my car over two years ago, since I was using it only for my 7 mile commute to work and the bus stops right across the street from my house. Like many others, I have gotten tired of the limits of the bus schedule and the fact that it turns a 15 minute drive into a 45-60 minute torture session.

I got the Buddy in early October, now I only ride the bus when the clouds are spewing stuff from the sky.

We do have a Subaru Outback as a family vehicle, I don't see how we could do without that. Anybody with a kid in the picture needs a car in a city like Cincinnati.

I find the idea of the SmartCar fascinating too, but the concept and uses would have too much overlap with the Buddy for me to make financial sense now. It would be a great commuter vehicle, but that's what I have the Buddy for. If the SmartCar had been available in 2006, I might not have gotten the scooter. I'm glad I did though, since it's so much fun and very cost effective. If the bus system wasn't available to me then the SmartCar and a Buddy would be a really good commuting combination. The scooter for decent weather and the SmartCar for rainy days and when you need to transport a little more than the scooter could handle.

polianarchy wrote: The insurance alone runs about $400 a MONTH!

Ouch! I'm at ~$100/mo for car and two scooters (all with full coverage)

vitaminC wrote:

polianarchy wrote: The insurance alone runs about $400 a MONTH!

Ouch! I'm at ~$100/mo for car and two scooters (all with full coverage)

Dude, I know! I pay $104 a year for my scooter. My friends here are soooo jealous!

lobsterman wrote:I sold my car over two years ago, since I was using it only for my 7 mile commute to work and the bus stops right across the street from my house. Like many others, I have gotten tired of the limits of the bus schedule and the fact that it turns a 15 minute drive into a 45-60 minute torture session.

I got the Buddy in early October, now I only ride the bus when the clouds are spewing stuff from the sky.

We do have a Subaru Outback as a family vehicle, I don't see how we could do without that. Anybody with a kid in the picture needs a car in a city like Cincinnati.

I find the idea of the SmartCar fascinating too, but the concept and uses would have too much overlap with the Buddy for me to make financial sense now. It would be a great commuter vehicle, but that's what I have the Buddy for. If the SmartCar had been available in 2006, I might not have gotten the scooter. I'm glad I did though, since it's so much fun and very cost effective. If the bus system wasn't available to me then the SmartCar and a Buddy would be a really good commuting combination. The scooter for decent weather and the SmartCar for rainy days and when you need to transport a little more than the scooter could handle.

I hear that! The SmartCar is going to be 15k anyway. I have no kids and would use it as my rainy day vehicle, since the wife dominates the Prius.

vitaminC wrote:No way would I give up my MCS! At least not for another year or two...

While having a two-wheeler as your only transportation can be done (just ask hermitgirl), it may not be ideal for all situations. However, living in LA the weather shouldn't be a problem for you, and if you only need a car ocassionally you could always rent one or try something like car sharing.

If you do decide to dump the car, I would keep around for a bit just to make sure you really can do it...

Yep, I'm still only-scooter. To tell the truth, my heart pines for a mini, so you've made me rather jealous!

To me, it's the Buddy of the car world.

ScooterDave wrote:If I sold my cars, I would have no way to get to out of state scooter rallies. Namely the Vice City rally in Florida this Feb. Plus I would get really bored on top of parking garages.

Hey, that doesn't look like the car I saw you in at the light on 9th street yesterday...

hermitgirl wrote: Yep, I'm still only-scooter. To tell the truth, my heart pines for a mini, so you've made me rather jealous!

To me, it's the Buddy of the car world.

Yeah, even my dad had to copy me and go by a MINI! Of course, his is faster and more expensive...

They are fun, but in my 6 months of ownership, I've only put on ~3.5k miles, and a lot of that was over the holiday when we drove down to SoCal. I just tend to not put a lot of miles on my vehicles, whatever they may be.

I didn't sell my car and wonder, in hindsight, if I should have. My poor VW was wasting away in the driveway; it didn't even run for some of the time because I'd let the battery run down. I then put over $1300 into it for various repairs.

Now I drive it to work a couple times a week just to keep it running. But I'd rather, of course, be riding the scoot.

Selling is still an option at some point, though.
I love the Smart ForTwo — actually saw one a couple months ago. But as inexpensive as it is I can't figure out how to justify buying another vehicle I'll hardly drive.

yeah, I don't have a whole lot to add. I've only got the scoot, never even had an actual license, don't know if I'll get one. We do have the best garage on the block though. A mini S, my buddy, a Vespa GT250 and soon a GT60 *drool*

When we decided to "go urban", it meant giving up my A4 because we only have one parking space in our building. I never drive during the week so my two bikes are all I need. If the weather is bad (like today, snowy and -1, yikes!) I catch a ride with my wife or take the bus. Cars are an enormous waste of money, even if you drive them every day. I'd drive maybe once a week so I don't miss it at all. In fact, driving a car isn't much fun anymore.

I could probably fit another scooter or small bike in our one parking space though. Especially if we switched to a smaller car, which I'll be campaigning for as we come up on our lease expiration. I was seriously considering a GT-60, our local dealer says they'll get 10 of them. But then I saw the new BMW G650X. For just about the same price, I think the BMW might be more fun.

gt1000 wrote:But then I saw the new BMW G650X. For just about the same price, I think the BMW might be more fun.

Those new 650 BMW's are nice, but wow they are asking top dollar!

I've tried going without a car, and I just can't do it. As soon as it's gone, I can't keep myself from shopping for another. Pretty dumb when one considers how few miles I drive annually. Oh well. It's the same with a motorcycle too, of which I will likely be picking one up soon (make/model undecided), even though a car, a scoot (actually, two scoots at the moment), and a motorcycle is certainly overkill for my transportation needs!

I don't have a class C driver's license, just a class M. No car for me. I did spend a lot of time looking at the wee smartcars when I was in Spain, though. Someday they might be what push me to finally get a class C license.

Those new 650 BMW's are nice, but wow they are asking top dollar! Shocked

Yep, BMW bikes will always be expensive, just the nature of the beast. When you compare any of the 650's to other motorcycles, they don't do too well price-wise. My point is when you compare the 650's to a GT-60 Vespa, you have to say "hmmm". Especially this G650x, which seems to be set up for city riding. A 650 city bike that can also hold its own on dirt roads is awfully tempting in Colorado.

That's why I'd like an '80s R65 (or bigger). Great bikes!

We've rarely kept a running vehicle since 1995 or 96 thereabouts. We've ridden bicycles most of that time, and there USE TO BE an excellent trailer, with 4 point harnesses, full roll cage, etc. for bicycles that we put our two daughters into. (eldest was 5 at the time, youngest was a year, or little more).

We had moved on base (military family) and rarely needed a vehicle. We've owned 4 vehicles (including the Jeep Wagoneer we have now) since then, and the only one I still wish I had is the 83 Chevy CrewCab Duelly. (I LOVED IT!) Technically speaking, all vehicles ran fine, but we didn't go anywhere often enough to even keep the batteries charged in two of them. (Wagoneer has a dead battery at the moment)

Since our eldest is now 17, and with her Grandparents awaiting her ship date for the Navy (there's been a kink, and she now has to waite a bit longer), and our youngest will soon be 12, we just bought her a helmet, and she rides with me.

Although, right now, I have a trailer for the bicycle to haul groceries, traffic on base is a mess, they hate bicycles and pedestrians, even though the base has a HUGE population of both.

I've also had a fairly recent incident that has me skittish of driving cars, even though I can still take a bicycle into traffic and hold my own. I had a cortisol seizure (excess cortisol from medical therapy I was doing) and when I hit a traffic light, in heavy traffic, I get panic attacks now.

I opted to go for something in between, and have since been out on town more often than ever before on my Buddy. I'm hoping to get my confidence back with a car with it. Occasionally, I've rented vehicles to get all my running around done in just a day or two. Usually 2-3 rentals per year and I'm good, but I'm a stay at home, homeschooling, military family Mom, so it works for me.

Hubby still rides his bike to work, and we ride rain or shine. And, over hte years, my vehicular driving has improved due to the bicycle riding. You really become more aware of your surroundings when you realize you don't have this big giant metal box to "supposedly" protect you. I think all bad drivers should be sentenced to predetermined amounts of time commuting on bicycle or scooter as punishment for bad driving. But that's my two cents worth.

Personally, I'd love for my Hubby (aka: Spooky) to get a scooter too, and we just dump the cars totally. We can dump the gas and just load them into the moving trucks when we move, and never have to deal with purchasing/selling another car again.

NOT TO MENTION THE MONEY SAVINGS! WOOOHOOO!


Yep, got long winded again. I'm notorious for giving half my life story with half of what I say!

I missed this thread – had to keep my car – the Buddy doesn’t work in the cold, snow and ice and taking a bunch of stuff any distance is really tough when on the scoot – so the car stayed. Were expecting more snow in a couple of days bahhaaaaaa.
Like vitaminC I have a MCS but mines Pepper White – it’s a very fun car just like hermitgirl said, the Mini is a car version of the Buddy, but a lot warmer in the winter.
Here’s a picture of her when the weather was so, so much better.