Three for the Road (Third car a trend?)

NewsWeek via MSNBC ^ | 11/23/2003 | Keith Naughton

[PeteFromMontana]

For today’s American family, two cars just aren’t enough. We need a nice ride for every occasion. Date car, anyone?

Dec. 1 issue — Robert Baller is an American everyman. The earnest 40-year-old software engineer works out of his stucco-style home in suburban Sacramento, Calif. He has a wife, a 13-year-old daughter and an 80-pound Labrador. But inside his three-bay garage is nearly a hundred grand worth of heavy metal: a Honda Civic, a Toyota minivan and a racy Nissan 350Z. “The Z is our date car,” he explains. That’s fine, but isn’t three cars for two drivers a bit much? “Some people might think it’s excessive,” says Baller, “but our friends haven’t said anything.”

[knews_hound]

Well lets see, Wifey drives a Ford MiniVan, I have a full sized Chevy Van that the company gives me, a 75 Ford F250 Van in surgery in the garage and an 89 Mustang droptop that I am transplanting a 351 Windsor into.

I suppose I can be faulted for excess but they really do all have their place. I cannot drive the company car other than actual work, the Van is likely to be pieced out or converted to a Camper and the Mustang? Well I have to have one vice in life and I keep telling Mrs. knews hound that its cheaper than a blonde mistress.

Well, almost cheaper....


Cheers,

knews hound

[Old Professer]

Paid for it with all that money you saved on books, I see.

[LurkerNoMore!]

I have two cars and a horse.

Does that count?

[CalvaryJohn]

One pickup for work, one Acura for errands and play, and one Heritage Softail for my ego, I guess. I'll be cosolidating the two four wheelers into a nicer pickup soon- Upkeep on three vehicles is a bit much, and the Harley's not EVER going on the block.

[TheExploited]

This may not count, but we have three cars. One is a BMW 330 that I drive. The wife drives a Chrysler Minivan. We also have an older 1987 BMW 325 that my 18 year old son drives to school and around town. When you have a High School Senior, you need that extra set of wheels!

[Gone_Postal]

I don't know I have a Blazer I use for work while my wife drives a Chevy Lumina, then we have a Ford Van for trips, while I ride my motorcyle for nothing but the wind in my face

[texas booster]

Not mentioned in this article is that to be truly compliant with our tax laws, it makes sense to have a car that is only used for business purposes.

Now, that may mostly apply to the self-employed or to people who drive a lot for their job.

A friend who has a couple of offices that he owns got tired of the recordkeeping required to properly share a personal vehicle/work vehicle.

Traded his family car for a Mercedes that he only uses for personal driving, and has a Navigator for all business driving. Makes life much simpler for him, and he has a nice new toy to drive around.

[archy]

Always keep a spare SUV on hand. Ya never know...

Well, sort of a SUV....

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[teancumspirit]

Thats what I call a S.U.V. Right on.

[Lead Moderator]

Hi.

Articles which are from MSNBC/Newsweek are part of our settlement with the Washington Post and LA Times. These must be excerpted when you post them- at most a few lines.

Thanks, and Happy Thanksgiving.

[PeteFromMontana]

Thank you, and Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

[snowtigger]

Grandpa,(Me) has a 2003 Grand Am for work. Grandma has a 95 Suburban for whatever Grandma's are called on to do. 75 Chevy Pick-up for hauling whatever. 26 ft motorhone because we wanted it. 74 Suburban for hunting, fishing, pulling the boat, snowmobile, etc. Last and most fun; 1957 Chevy 1/2 ton with 454 Rat motor for hauling A$$.
Anyone who don't like it can stuff it.