My World in a Car

Longtime readers of this journal know that your humble observer finds it difficult to part with his old cars. Apparently, there are enough of us "jalopy drivers" around to merit a study:

Clinging to a car isn't just about money. Here's what one automotive research firm discovered when it surveyed consumers who held on to their cars for 10-plus years:

They like to travel overseas

They look for security in their relationships

They have a college degree

They tend toward libertarian political views

They like to garden and do their own home repairs

Source: Strategic Vision, Inc.

The study appears to be about people who can afford a new car ("like to travel overseas" infers that "like" means "being able to") but choose not to buy one. Those who drive beaters because of economic limitations may well have a different profile.

In my case the Strategic Vision description is about 80% accurate. The overarching characteristic of us jalopy-by-choicers appears to be that we subscribe, consciously or not, to the 1970's small-is-beautiful ethos. We don't throw away stuff if it's working, we ignore markers of social status, we value our independence, and we buy what we need, not what we want. These are all principles that we break from time to time because of ego, social pressure, and convenience, but our lives are better off for having followed them.

On the other hand, sometimes an old car is just a clunker. © 2013 Stephen Yuen

Our van qualified for the 2009 cash-for-clunkers program. We're still driving it.