Family

We now have cars!

Yesterday we purchased two cars:

2009 Nissan Sentra

2009 Nissan Sentra
2009 Nissan Sentra

and a 2009 Ford Focus SE

Ford Focus SE
Ford Focus SE

Both low miles, and good condition (I think), here’s hoping to a few years of trouble free motoring in the USA.

Any bets on which will falter first?

Comments:

Big Al 2010-02-17 16:25:12

I’ll put a dollar on the Ford giving you trouble first. Mike also picks the Ford.
Good to read how your going, given we havent heard much from you in a while (hint)
Nothing exciting happening back here in the cube to report. Learning WPF at mo, looks like you can do some really cool things visually, so should be fun.

Simeon 2010-02-17 18:41:01

Would it help the bet if I told you they are both US made cars. And the insurance for the Nissan was higher due to accident/repair costs being higher? But that might mean less accidents, but bigger costs…

Regarding the hints, I’m sure I’ll ring in soon… I promise….

Stu 2010-02-18 03:00:05

hardly anyone uses indicators over here.. driving is very different. we have a subaru and a small car of the same size os your two (saturn ion, aka chevy cobalt, pontiac g5). hope both of them are stick shifts, the automatics dont do them justice at their size.

Simeon 2010-02-18 04:16:51

No they are both autos. We decided, that we couldn’t be bothered to learn to drive stick with the other hand, just focus on not getting run over by the trucks, etc. Man they love to swerve all over the place.

“Over here”, where are you again? it seams nobody uses there indicator in the US, just drift lanes, well people use then when traffic is crammed, but when there is space (albeit small by nz standards) they just change lanes, turn corners, etc.

Simeon 2010-02-18 04:31:25

Oh the NZ located US guys said we would get “stung” on car insurance, well both cars will cost $1,800 USD for 6 months cover.

As our credit rating improves from “unknown” to positive that price will improve, also getting Illinois driver licenses will reduce that also by a little bit.

Also on costs, it only costs ~2,000 NZD a year to have better medical insurance cover (out of pocket expenses/deductibles) than the US ~20,000 USD. That’s for 2 adults and two children.

But electronics/food/cloths are cheaper.

Stu 2010-02-18 06:23:58

“over hear” == virginia. I didnt think much about ‘the other hand’ for gear changes. When I first started, I wanted to turn into the wrong lane when going left across the road at a T intersection. They give licenses to anyone, tests are really weak. In australia I had to roll start a manual in peak hour traffic, 3 point turns, parallel parking etc.. here nothing. My wife cant parallel park / reverse park. I do like the turn right when its clear even on a red signal thing but really miss roundabouts and i hate 4-way stop signs.

Simeon 2010-02-18 06:27:52

I love the free-right on red. And I love not having the NZ give-way rule.

Agreed on 4-way stops, well they are like a well controlled round-about, but again are silly at 12pm at night, when a round about are great!

I also like the driving on bigger roads, and not winding through back streets to get across town, but then it only took 8 minutes to drive the 8km to work, or 20minutes to bike it. Where-as I’d never bike here, as there is no room on the roads.

Stu 2010-02-18 06:32:05

don’t bank on the credit score going up by much any time soon. the numbers are glacial and require years of history.

find a “world market” or something so you can stock up on golden syrup + stuff. I miss meat pies :( I’m lucky me ma still sends stuff over :) hehe care packages rock when they let them in the country.

medical sucks, and nomatter what coverage you have you still pay most of the bill and there are places that wont even accept your coverage, the whole health care provider hospital deal thing.

Simeon 2010-02-18 08:35:48

Nod, I’ll be honest, I’m not expecting much from the US on the credit history front, nor the nice tasting bread, nor to have any money left if anybody gets sick.

But the people are friendly….