Chances are, if you’ve been reading my blog posts over the last few months, you’ll know that:
- I don’t own a car
- I keep thinking I want an electric bike, and on occasion;
- I think I’d really rather have a vespa, or some similar gas scooter.
In May, I was waxing on about how inexpensive it was for me to be carless, and how I really didn’t need one in the city with good public transit, and easy access to super convenient car rental solutions like AutoShare. When I did “the math” back in May, my average spending on car rental, fuel and parking was $107/month. That’s pretty darned cheap.
Lately, I’m cruising the classifieds on Craigslist again, looking for an affordable set of wheels.
Perhaps it’s the leaves changing colour and the re-emergence of the “hat and mitten bucket” from the basement to the front door. Perhaps it’s the recent need to take a few more cabs due to my daughter’s illness. Maybe it’s the pending Thanksgiving weekend with a dinner in Waterloo and another on Georgian Bay. Maybe I’m just feeling a bit overwhelmed because it’s been a bit of a hectic month?
A friend passed along the name of one of her friends who is selling a gas scooter for $1000. Cheap, for sure. The trouble is, it’s 14 years old, although an awesome model (Yamaha, 200 cc) and well maintained. As I sat down to think about it a bit, I knew a little runabout like this wouldn’t help me take my daughter to SickKids. It wouldn’t help me with that 7 kg box of cat litter, and nor would I be terribly motivated to get on it in the driving rain or bitter cold. I started to think that my hankering for an ebike or a scooter was merely a distraction to try and get some wheels in the most economical way.
A different friend happen to mention last night that the new Jetta’s are leasing out at $199/month for 48 months right now. In my fantasy mind, I drive a Jetta. Honestly. I could actually use a portion as a write-off. Still, it’s coming up with the $200/month. Then there’s insurance, maintenance, gas, blah, blah, blah.
I may take a bit of time while I’m still on holidays this week to take a look at it and what it means to lease a vehicle. Who knows what will come of it.
Perhaps I just need to rest up a bit more and let my head clear from a busy month at work and a stressful few weeks at home.
Thanks again to all of you for your on going thoughts for my youngest. We’re heading back to SickKids today to check back in with the specialist. She’s much better than she was a week ago, but still a little ways to go.
Middle Class Mom in Toronto's Blog 
Posted by Jacq @ Single Mom Rich Mom on October 6, 2010 at 9:40 am
Hey there! A friend of mine has a scooter. She really loves it.
Have you thought about maybe buying one in the states and bringing it up with you? Wow, what a cool trip that would be if a person could drive it up. But they can be delivered too. I just say that because I know you’re thinking of going to Florida and when we were down there, I saw lots of scooters for cheap cheap. Or you could pick one up just across the border too. I bought my RV down there for about 60% of what I’d pay up here for the same model.
I don’t know about the leasing – I’ve worked for a few companies where they do leases for employees and there’s usually a big lump sum payout at the end – or you turn it back in, but it has to be pristine I think. It would be cheaper to pick up something – maybe at an auction?!? LOL