Here’s the uncomfortable truth: we never really “buy” a car. We just make a down payment on a lifelong subscription to everything else.
The sticker price is a lie we tell ourselves so we can sleep at night. You pay for the car once, but you pay for its everything—gas, insurance, repairs, parking, and that mysterious “check engine” light that always blinks on a Friday at 5 PM—forever.
Insurance: The Silent Second Mortgage
Let’s talk about insurance. You pay a premium every month for the privilege of not going bankrupt if a deer jumps into your hood.
But here’s the kicker: if you actually use that insurance, your rates shoot up like a startled cat. So you’re paying for protection you’re terrified to activate. Brilliant, right? (I’m being ironic, obviously.)
Fuel: Where Your Wallet Goes to Vanish
Gasoline is the only product you buy that you literally burn away before your eyes. You hand over $60, drive for three days, and poof—it’s gone, replaced by nothing but a digital receipt in your email.
And electric? Sure, no gas, but now you’re paying for charging stations, home installs, and the emotional toll of watching your battery drop from 80% to 12% in a snowstorm. Everything costs something.
What is the 20/3/8 Rule for Car Affordability? | Money Guy
