Budget Buster - GRRRR! DH's commuting vehicle was stolen!

[Sarah_Rose]

In April, DH bought a 2009 49 CC Honda scooter that he used to commute the 2 miles from our house to the train station - he then takes the train downtown to work. On Friday, his scooter was stolen from the parking garage at the train station while he was at work. This is so frustrating! Scooters under 50 CC are not required to have insurance and DH had elected not to purchase insurance on it. Stupid, probably, but he was quoted $100 a month for insurance and the scooter was only worth $1800 brand new.

A police report has been filed and DH is checking Craigslist for his scooter, but we have almost no hope that it'll be found. From what DH has seen on Craigslist, the scooter has probably already been stripped to sell for parts.

The 2 mile route is definitely not walkable or bikeable - most of the route is along a very busy stretch of road with no sidewalks or shoulder. We only have one car and we have a 3 month old son... me waking up a sleeping baby to drive DH to the train station, and then bundling him up again at 6:00 to pick up DH after work is not an option for more than a few days.

So, we need to replace this vehicle. WWYD?

Option #1: Another scooter. DH would buy a "less desirable" (read: off-brand) scooter this time, but we're a bit gun-shy after having one scooter stolen.

Option #2: DH buys a "clunker" that can survive the 20 miles a week that it would need to survive, and drive it until it's wheels fall off.

Option #3: We embrace our "want" (not "need") for a decent second car so that DH can drive to work some days so he can go out (to go rock climbing, out for drinks, etc.) with his work friends that live in central Seattle. Since DS was born, I've been very bad about sharing my Prius lmao - I like to be able to get out during the day - shopping, mom's groups, baby activities, swimming, etc., and I need the car for this. I absolutely need a car just to get out of our subdivision (remember the part about the busy road with no shoulder or sidewalks?), so I'm worried about being at home alone without a car, just in case DS gets sick and needs to go to the doctor, or something. Yes, I could call a taxi in the unlikely event of an emergency on a day that DH has the car. No, I don't need the car every day. Hence, the "want" and not "need". DH would be buying a decent subcompact car like a Honda Fit or a Toyota Yaris. Nothing too flashy or expensive, but it would result in a car payment.

What would you do? All of these options could fit our monthly budget with no real hardship. We have an emergency fund and could spend up to $6000 right now, without dipping into credit or other savings. If we bought a decent car, we would likely put $5000 down on it and then take out a loan for the balance.

 

[SandrA9810]

is there any way to better secure a scooter if he went thought route again??

I would think getting a car would be the best choice, so he can take the baby out too. And winter right around the corner?? He'd freeze on a scooter.
Another thing... what's his commute on the train? If he had one of those little cars, would it save any money for him to drive all the way to work?

 

[herdtoDisney]

For $5000, you could buy a decent commuter car-like a small used sedan or something. Two years ago, we bought a 1997 Chevy Cavalier for $3000 and it's still going strong, with no repair other than the alternator (which can go on any car). I plan on driving it till the wheels drop off, too

With the scooter-can dh chain it up in the station to keep it from being taken? Or did they actually physically take the entire thing?

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I don't really have an opinion on your options, but I do want to mention that I have a Honda Fit and I love it! It's very comfortable on the inside, and holds a LOT of stuff. I joke it's like Mary Poppin's handbag because people don't believe the amount of stuff that can fit inside. Also, people (adults) have commented on how comfortable the back seat is. They look at the outside and think they will not fit well, but it's quite roomy.

 

[Cindy B]

Cant you drive him to the station? 2 miles is walkable, bicycle-able, and it can be done. Was the scooter chained up?

We had the same situation and managed on one car for 2 years. I drove him in to the station, he walked to the station, rode a bike, etc.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

is there any way to better secure a scooter if he went thought route again??

I would think getting a car would be the best choice, so he can take the baby out too. And winter right around the corner?? He'd freeze on a scooter.
Another thing... what's his commute on the train? If he had one of those little cars, would it save any money for him to drive all the way to work?

There is really no place to chain up a scooter in the parking garage - it's all just regular parking spaces. Also, we figure if someone showed up with the tools to either break the lock and hotwire the scooter, or a truck and a buddy to hoist the scooter into, then cutting a lock would be no problem for them, either.

DH's company pays for a transit pass that covers the cost of the train, so the cost of his commute is effectively just the gas it takes to get him to the train station (with the scooter, it was about $5 a month). The freezing to death part? Well, that's DH's choice. I would personally buy a car, but I'm also not male. We also live in Seattle, so the weather here is pretty mild year round.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

For $5000, you could buy a decent commuter car-like a small used sedan or something. Two years ago, we bought a 1997 Chevy Cavalier for $3000 and it's still going strong, with no repair other than the alternator (which can go on any car). I plan on driving it till the wheels drop off, too

DH is stubborn and will not buy a car made by an American car company. He wants a Honda, Mazda, Toyota, or similar. As he put it, "I have a deep mistrust of GM."

Again, not my opinion. His family only buys Toyota, Volvo, or VW, and he's been very influenced by this.

 

[Cindy B]

DH is stubborn and will not buy a car made by an American car company. He wants a Honda, Mazda, Toyota, or similar. As he put it, "I have a deep mistrust of GM."

Again, not my opinion. His family only buys Toyota, Volvo, or VW, and he's been very influenced by this.

You can tell him to either get over that or enjoy walking on his american feet.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I don't really have an opinion on your options, but I do want to mention that I have a Honda Fit and I love it! It's very comfortable on the inside, and holds a LOT of stuff. I joke it's like Mary Poppin's handbag because people don't believe the amount of stuff that can fit inside. Also, people (adults) have commented on how comfortable the back seat is. They look at the outside and think they will not fit well, but it's quite roomy.

We had a Honda Fit until it was totalled in an accident last September. The car was destroyed, but I walked away with only a sprained wrist from the air bag. I LOVED our Fit, as well! It is really a fantastic car for the price.

Cant you drive him to the station? 2 miles is walkable, bicycle-able, and it can be done. Was the scooter chained up?

We had the same situation and managed on one car for 2 years. I drove him in to the station, he walked to the station, rode a bike, etc.

If it was just me or we had an older child, I would have no problem with it. But waking up a 3 month old while it's still dark out to take him on a 20 minute (it takes 10 minutes to drive the 2 miles because of traffic) outing with him screaming in the backseat (he hates his car seat right now)... and then doing it again 10 hours later? Really? Not happening.

And no, the 2 miles is not walkable or bikeable. Not in the dark (pre-dawn and after dusk) along a very busy road with no shoulder or sidewalks.

 

[Millermom0606]

He does realize Toyota is made in the US right???

 

[Sarah_Rose]

You can tell him to either get over that or enjoy walking on his american feet.

You know, that's not really the issue. It's not a question of buying a GM car or walking. It's not like he's insisting on a BMW to commute with.

We owned a 1988 VW Golf a few years ago and got a lot of use out of it before it finally completely fell apart. He would rather do this again than buy a 10 year old Chevy.

 

[tinker&belle]

We had a Honda Fit until it was totalled in an accident last September. The car was destroyed, but I walked away with only a sprained wrist from the air bag. I LOVED our Fit, as well! It is really a fantastic car for the price.



If it was just me or we had an older child, I would have no problem with it. But waking up a 3 month old while it's still dark out to take him on a 20 minute (it takes 10 minutes to drive the 2 miles because of traffic) outing with him screaming in the backseat (he hates his car seat right now)... and then doing it again 10 hours later? Really? Not happening.

And no, the 2 miles is not walkable or bikeable. Not in the dark (pre-dawn and after dusk) along a very busy road with no shoulder or sidewalks.

I understand about the baby in the backseat thing, but when making this decision I would keep in mind this part of their life is quite short (although having a crying baby doesn't feel like it while you are living it). Six months from now will be much different. I don't know if I would go THOUSANDS of dollars in debt based on that alone. If i had your set of circumstances I would share the car for the next few months and save up for something you want.

 

[Cindy B]

We had a Honda Fit until it was totalled in an accident last September. The car was destroyed, but I walked away with only a sprained wrist from the air bag. I LOVED our Fit, as well! It is really a fantastic car for the price.



If it was just me or we had an older child, I would have no problem with it. But waking up a 3 month old while it's still dark out to take him on a 20 minute (it takes 10 minutes to drive the 2 miles because of traffic) outing with him screaming in the backseat (he hates his car seat right now)... and then doing it again 10 hours later? Really? Not happening.

And no, the 2 miles is not walkable or bikeable. Not in the dark (pre-dawn and after dusk) along a very busy road with no shoulder or sidewalks.

I hear you.. I drove a newborn and a two year old got them up early in the car seats down the 30 minute drive to drop DH off, 30 minute drive back home.. do it again 10 hours later. Been there done that for two years... when the newborn got to be about 6 months old, I then went to work with my two kids (I worked at a YMCA so the kids came with me) immediately after doing the hour commute to DH's job. So it became in the AM take DH to work, drive towards my house, take kids and myself to my job, work, come home, get dinner started then pack everyone up and go back and do it again for the PM pick up and drop off.. for two years we did this.

Personally the scooter should have been insured.. would it be considered part of your belongings on your home insurance? Just wondering...

As for walkable, is it like a four line highway? Or is it just uncomfortable. I live fairly near a commuter station and I see tons of people walking on the highway with a reflective vest on or riding a two wheel bicycle with the reflective material on.

 

[Cindy B]

You know, that's not really the issue. It's not a question of buying a GM car or walking. It's not like he's insisting on a BMW to commute with.

We owned a 1988 VW Golf a few years ago and got a lot of use out of it before it finally completely fell apart. He would rather do this again than buy a 10 year old Chevy.

It sort of sounded like an import or nothing.. if he absoleutely had to drive there... how about a motorcycle?

Is there a ride share or a commuter group that can do things to get this resolved? Can he drive (you not have a car a few days a week?.. we worked this out as well having a one car for two years type thing- there was never any emergencies and I liked being home-- I never felt stranded)

 

[kaytieeldr]

we have a 3 month old son... me waking up a sleeping baby to drive DH to the train station, and then bundling him up again at 6:00 to pick up DH after work is not an option for more than a few days.

Respectfully, you're dismissing this option out-of-hand, without even trying it. If you've driven your husband to and from the station once in a while and had this reaction from the baby, you may get an entirely different result if this becomes the normal routine.

And it's cheaper and and safer than any of the alternatives.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I hear you.. I drove a newborn and a two year old got them up early in the car seats down the 30 minute drive to drop DH off, 30 minute drive back home.. do it again 10 hours later. Been there done that for two years... when the newborn got to be about 6 months old, I then went to work with my two kids (I worked at a YMCA so the kids came with me) immediately after doing the hour commute to DH's job. So it became in the AM take DH to work, drive towards my house, take kids and myself to my job, work, come home, get dinner started then pack everyone up and go back and do it again for the PM pick up and drop off.. for two years we did this.

Personally the scooter should have been insured.. would it be considered part of your belongings on your home insurance? Just wondering...

Your commitment to the cause is obviously much stronger than mine. I can't imagine doing that if I didn't financially have to do it. And we have the cash to pay for an older car or another scooter right now, without going into debt or delving into savings that aren't delegated for this kind of emergency. We have no debt other than our mortgage... the Prius was paid for with cash (combination of our insurance check from the totalled Honda Fit and an inheritance from DH's deceased grandmother) last year. I just can't imagine torturing myself for 40 minutes a day (even if it's only for a few months), if I don't have to.

And yes, hindsight is 20/20 on the insurance on the scooter. My DH just couldn't see paying $100 a month for insurance when he only paid $1200 for the one year old scooter.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I love you Budget Board peeps.... you don't like any of my options, so you're giving me back the ones that I've already dismissed. No disrespect meant, I really do love you guys. Coming up with the cheapest option is what you guys do best.

I want my Prius (I don't stay home all day by myself very well). I cannot imagine dragging myself and my baby son out in the dark in the winter, twice a day, to make this drive. I'm a new SAHM and we're cutting other corners to help save money, but this is not one I'm going to do. And, though my DH has already offered to bike the 2 miles (he biked 5 miles to and from work when we lived in central Seattle), but I am so not comfortable with my husband on a 4-lane busy 50 mph stretch of road where bikes are not expected to be, in the dark. I love my husband and would like my son to grow up knowing his father.

Forget I asked. I asked for opinions on options, and you guys would clearly all do something different. That's fair enough and I respect it, but it's not making our choice any easier.

 

[mrsklamc]

I'd want him to get a car because motorcyclists/bikers keep getting killed by idiot motorists here. Also, the high insurance price was probably indicative of how likely it was to get stolen and that wouldn't change with another one.

Even with his anti-GM stance you should be able to get a serviceable car for less than 5 k though.

 

[Marionnette]

In April, DH bought a 2009 49 CC Honda scooter that he used to commute the 2 miles from our house to the train station - he then takes the train downtown to work. On Friday, his scooter was stolen from the parking garage at the train station while he was at work. This is so frustrating! Scooters under 50 CC are not required to have insurance and DH had elected not to purchase insurance on it. Stupid, probably, but he was quoted $100 a month for insurance and the scooter was only worth $1800 brand new.

A police report has been filed and DH is checking Craigslist for his scooter, but we have almost no hope that it'll be found. From what DH has seen on Craigslist, the scooter has probably already been stripped to sell for parts.

The 2 mile route is definitely not walkable or bikeable - most of the route is along a very busy stretch of road with no sidewalks or shoulder. We only have one car and we have a 3 month old son... me waking up a sleeping baby to drive DH to the train station, and then bundling him up again at 6:00 to pick up DH after work is not an option for more than a few days.

So, we need to replace this vehicle. WWYD?

Option #1: Another scooter. DH would buy a "less desirable" (read: off-brand) scooter this time, but we're a bit gun-shy after having one scooter stolen.

Option #2: DH buys a "clunker" that can survive the 20 miles a week that it would need to survive, and drive it until it's wheels fall off.

Option #3: We embrace our "want" (not "need") for a decent second car so that DH can drive to work some days so he can go out (to go rock climbing, out for drinks, etc.) with his work friends that live in central Seattle. Since DS was born, I've been very bad about sharing my Prius lmao - I like to be able to get out during the day - shopping, mom's groups, baby activities, swimming, etc., and I need the car for this. I absolutely need a car just to get out of our subdivision (remember the part about the busy road with no shoulder or sidewalks?), so I'm worried about being at home alone without a car, just in case DS gets sick and needs to go to the doctor, or something. Yes, I could call a taxi in the unlikely event of an emergency on a day that DH has the car. No, I don't need the car every day. Hence, the "want" and not "need". DH would be buying a decent subcompact car like a Honda Fit or a Toyota Yaris. Nothing too flashy or expensive, but it would result in a car payment.

What would you do? All of these options could fit our monthly budget with no real hardship. We have an emergency fund and could spend up to $6000 right now, without dipping into credit or other savings. If we bought a decent car, we would likely put $5000 down on it and then take out a loan for the balance.

We had a Honda Fit until it was totalled in an accident last September. The car was destroyed, but I walked away with only a sprained wrist from the air bag. I LOVED our Fit, as well! It is really a fantastic car for the price.



If it was just me or we had an older child, I would have no problem with it. But waking up a 3 month old while it's still dark out to take him on a 20 minute (it takes 10 minutes to drive the 2 miles because of traffic) outing with him screaming in the backseat (he hates his car seat right now)... and then doing it again 10 hours later? Really? Not happening.

And no, the 2 miles is not walkable or bikeable. Not in the dark (pre-dawn and after dusk) along a very busy road with no shoulder or sidewalks.

I dont understand why its necessary for your husband to compromise with a clunker, a putt-putt scooter or a sizable car payment so that you can have a car at your disposal round the clock. You ask what I would do? I think this: You could certainly let him take the prius for his short commute most days. And then just drive him on the rare day when you need the car for doctors appointments or a mothers day out. It wont hurt the baby to make him take an early morning ride to train station once in a while. But if you can afford the new car then go ahead and spend the money. Its only an issue if you cant afford to take on additional debt right now.

 

[SaraJayne]

I love you Budget Board peeps.... you don't like any of my options, so you're giving me back the ones that I've already dismissed. No disrespect meant, I really do love you guys. Coming up with the cheapest option is what you guys do best.

I want my Prius (I don't stay home all day by myself very well). I cannot imagine dragging myself and my baby son out in the dark in the winter, twice a day, to make this drive. I'm a new SAHM and we're cutting other corners to help save money, but this is not one I'm going to do. And, though my DH has already offered to bike the 2 miles (he biked 5 miles to and from work when we lived in central Seattle), but I am so not comfortable with my husband on a 4-lane busy 50 mph stretch of road where bikes are not expected to be, in the dark. I love my husband and would like my son to grow up knowing his father.

Forget I asked. I asked for opinions on options, and you guys would clearly all do something different. That's fair enough and I respect it, but it's not making our choice any easier.

Since you're unwilling to give up "your" car for him to drive it, and you dismiss the bike/walk option, I guess you're stuck getting a second car, aren't you?

And yes, I've been where you are (only one car with a newborn). We did not have the means to buy a second car, so I sucked it up at home all day and did what I needed to do using the car either on weekends or at night after DH got home.