Canadians 'drowning in debt': 47% will borrow to cover costs, survey says

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I don't know why people even upgrade to a larger vehicle because of kids. Unless they're giants, kids and their seats will fit in almost any 5 seater vehicle. Both of our kids were in our little Impreza from after they were born through to growing out of the car seats. It's weird that there is this misconception that small children won't fit where adults would normally be expected to fit.

I generally love small cars and agree with this...with the caveat that a lot of car seats these days are ginormous, and the backward facing orientation can be really tough to fit. You need a certain amount of gap between it and the front seat, which means you really need to push it forward. It's not a problem if you don't have a front passenger, but if you need to put it behind the drivers seat, you end up having to drive like the tall man in the Simpsons.

It's only an issue for a couple years till you swap the seat around, but I found it big issue with our small car.

That said, we didn't run out and buy a Canyonero because of it.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Tinder taught me this one!

It means "Dual Income, No Kids"

They have nothing on the DOINKS.

Double oil income, no kids.

[Red Potato Standing By]

I think all this Tech in vehicles makes some people lazy, I had someone back into my truck because their back up sensor never went off.( not sure how you miss a black truck in your mirrors)

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I generally love small cars and agree with this...with the caveat that a lot of car seats these days are ginormous, and the backward facing orientation can be really tough to fit.

People are ginormous these days.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Red Potato Standing By

I think all this Tech in vehicles makes some people lazy, I had someone back into my truck because their back up sensor never went off.( not sure how you miss a black truck in your mirrors)

The tech overall prevents far more collisions than it causes. The same kind of people who are likely to be so lazy that they rely entirely on the sensors, are the same that wouldn't look at all half the time anyways.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I generally love small cars and agree with this...with the caveat that a lot of car seats these days are ginormous, and the backward facing orientation can be really tough to fit. You need a certain amount of gap between it and the front seat, which means you really need to push it forward. It's not a problem if you don't have a front passenger, but if you need to put it behind the drivers seat, you end up having to drive like the tall man in the Simpsons.

It's only an issue for a couple years till you swap the seat around, but I found it big issue with our small car.

That said, we didn't run out and buy a Canyonero because of it.

Oh yeah, the rear-facing did take up some room, but neither my wife or I are giants either so moving the front seat ahead isn't a big deal. I am glad we had a 4-door. I think car seats would have been a PITA in a 2-door.

[HockeyIlliterate]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I don't know why people even upgrade to a larger vehicle because of kids. Unless they're giants, kids and their seats will fit in almost any 5 seater vehicle. Both of our kids were in our little Impreza from after they were born through to growing out of the car seats. It's weird that there is this misconception that small children won't fit where adults would normally be expected to fit.

In addition to what has already been said:

Perceived Safety.

As in, larger vehicles are perceived to be safer than smaller ones, and the occupants thereof are more likely to survive in a crash (particularly in a crash with a smaller vehicle).

[Fuzz]

SUVs are a paradox: while many people buy them to feel safer, they are statistically less safe than regular cars, both for those inside and those outside the vehicle. A person is 11% more likely to die in a crash inside an SUV than a regular saloon. Studies show they lull drivers into a false sense of security, encouraging them to take greater risks. Their height makes them twice as likely to roll in crashes and twice as likely to kill pedestrians by inflicting greater upper body and head injuries, as opposed to lower limb injuries people have a greater chance of surviving. Originally modelled from trucks, they are often exempt from the kinds of safety standards applied to passenger vehicles, including bonnet height. In Europe legislation is being brought in to end such “outdated and unjustified” exemptions.

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2...rom-our-cities

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2...rom-our-cities

A person is 11% more likely to die in a crash inside an SUV than a regular saloon

I'm only 11% more likely to die in a SUV than a saloon? I would have figured it was closer to 100%.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

I'm only 11% more likely to die in a SUV than a saloon? I would have figured it was closer to 100%.

You've been frequenting the wrong Saloons then.

[btimbit]

Screw saloons, I want more estates in Canada

[Azure]

Interesting to see how the conversation has shifted towards cars.

I agree, being smart about vehicle purchases can make or break most people.

Sadly, it seems to be breaking most.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Azure

Interesting to see how the conversation has shifted towards cars.

I agree, being smart about vehicle purchases can make or break most people.

Sadly, it seems to be breaking most.

That's the biggest benefit, in my opinion, of living in a dense urban environment. Everything is close to my condo, I walk, bus, or bike, and only use a carshare when I am absolutely lazy. I never have to worry about parking or traffic and I spend a cumulative $80/month on all of the above transportation options.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Azure

Interesting to see how the conversation has shifted towards cars.

I agree, being smart about vehicle purchases can make or break most people.

Sadly, it seems to be breaking most.

I haven't succumbed to it, but definitely see the pressure to have something faster and better.

It is amazing though, as most mid level cars are now exceed what we would have called luxury or sport type vehicles ten year ago. Yet, people continue to spend huge amount of money for the marginal upgrades that the next best thing provides. It's not good enough to go 0-60 in 8-9 seconds, it has to be 5-7 seconds. It's a huge price difference for a feature that is seldomly used.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by peter12

That's the biggest benefit, in my opinion, of living in a dense urban environment. Everything is close to my condo, I walk, bus, or bike, and only use a carshare when I am absolutely lazy. I never have to worry about parking or traffic and I spend a cumulative $80/month on all of the above transportation options.

Which is one of the reasons that living in highly dense urban areas is more expensive and takes up a larger portion of your income. Because it can.

It's almost like life is choices. And we live with the choices that we make.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by btimbit

It's a prevailing idea in Canada, anyone with money either did something wrong to get it, or is massively in debt. Success is frowned upon.

that's not true. people also say they were just lucky or their parents were well off. the jealousy is the same, though.


but you also see the attitude that if you're in debt and not doing well, it's because you're bad with money, live outside your means and just pissed everything away.
you then get comments like "just get a better job" or the classic "work harder"

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Azure

Interesting to see how the conversation has shifted towards cars.

I agree, being smart about vehicle purchases can make or break most people.

Sadly, it seems to be breaking most.

Cars are an interesting one because of the tendency to finance a depreciating asset longer, but also because its not as huge of a purchase and as such seems to often get relegated to a triviality.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by peter12

That's the biggest benefit, in my opinion, of living in a dense urban environment. Everything is close to my condo, I walk, bus, or bike, and only use a carshare when I am absolutely lazy. I never have to worry about parking or traffic and I spend a cumulative $80/month on all of the above transportation options.

I don't know if that's a totally fair comparison. Vancouver is easy to get around transportation wise and it is consistent. Most of my friends in Vancouver don't have vehicles. Even when I lived in Calgary downtown, I still had a car that I used regularly because the transit alternative was idiotic in comparison (ie: 15-20 minute drive to work vs over an hour by bus) and that duration could multiply in scenarios of bad weather.

Originally Posted by blankall

I haven't succumbed to it, but definitely see the pressure to have something faster and better.

It is amazing though, as most mid level cars are now exceed what we would have called luxury or sport type vehicles ten year ago. Yet, people continue to spend huge amount of money for the marginal upgrades that the next best thing provides. It's not good enough to go 0-60 in 8-9 seconds, it has to be 5-7 seconds. It's a huge price difference for a feature that is seldomly used.

Buying vehicles for the new tech is kinda dumb. I don't know anyone that does it though. Most people do it because it's a new vehicle and they generally claim they pay the premium so that they don't have to worry about the vehicle break down.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Buying vehicles for the new tech is kinda dumb. I don't know anyone that does it though. Most people do it because it's a new vehicle and they generally claim they pay the premium so that they don't have to worry about the vehicle break down.

I recently had the old radio/CD combo on my car replaced with a touchscreen faceplate with Android Auto and google maps/assistant. I also had the speakers replaced. It cost me about $800-900 with installation.

The difference to me is staggering. The sound upgrade is huge. Being able to connect to Google Maps and Music hands free is amazing. It's had a dramatic impact on my driving experience.

When I drive cars with rear-view cameras, I also notice the impact of that.

If you ever used a laggy and outdated navigation system, it's a nightmare.

I get what you are saying about some of the tech just being for show. But some of the basic tech changes over the last 10 years are really staggering and add a lot to the driving experience.

Edit: on top of the obvious, there are also all sorts of technologies that have gone into the actual driving, like lane assist, fancy new clutches, etc...In the 90s, you could get a 400-500 HP Lamborghini that was considered a "super car" and was very difficult to drive without being serious experience. Now any idiot can pick up an M Series BMW with similar power/acceleration and drive it straight off the lot.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by blankall

I recently had the old radio/CD combo on my car replaced with a touchscreen faceplate with Android Auto and google maps/assistant. I also had the speakers replaced. It cost me about $800-900 with installation.

The difference to me is staggering. The sound upgrade is huge. Being able to connect to Google Maps and Music hands free is amazing. It's had a dramatic impact on my driving experience.

When I drive cars with rear-view cameras, I also notice the impact of that.

If you ever used a laggy and outdated navigation system, it's a nightmare.

I get what you are saying about some of the tech just being for show. But some of the basic tech changes over the last 10 years are really staggering and add a lot to the driving experience.

Edit: on top of the obvious, there are also all sorts of technologies that have gone into the actual driving, like lane assist, fancy new clutches, etc...In the 90s, you could get a 400-500 HP Lamborghini that was considered a "super car" and was very difficult to drive without being serious experience. Now any idiot can pick up an M Series BMW with similar power/acceleration and drive it straight off the lot.

Where did you get that done.

My rear-view camera #### the bed and I am thinking of getting it replaced.