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Three for the Road (Third car a trend?)
NewsWeek via MSNBC ^ | 11/23/2003 | Keith Naughton

Posted on 11/23/2003 3:48:22 PM PST by PeteFromMontana

Edited on 11/27/2003 6:09:50 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

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.”


TOPICS: Culture/Society
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To: PeteFromMontana
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
41 posted on 11/23/2003 6:41:52 PM PST by knews_hound (Out of the NIC ,into the Router, out to the Cloud....Nothing but 'Net)
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To: Schwaeky
Paid for it with all that money you saved on books, I see.
42 posted on 11/23/2003 6:55:27 PM PST by Old Professer
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To: PeteFromMontana
I have two cars and a horse.

Does that count?
43 posted on 11/23/2003 7:00:23 PM PST by LurkerNoMore!
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To: LurkerNoMore!
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.
44 posted on 11/23/2003 7:46:40 PM PST by CalvaryJohn (What is keeping that damned asteroid?)
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To: CalvaryJohn
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!
45 posted on 11/23/2003 7:55:08 PM PST by TheExploited (R-Illinois)
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To: PeteFromMontana
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
46 posted on 11/23/2003 7:55:20 PM PST by Gone_Postal
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To: PeteFromMontana
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.
47 posted on 11/23/2003 8:00:58 PM PST by texas booster (Rush - 1, liberal hypocrites - 0. Oh, I forgot, to be a hypocrite you must belive in something.)
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To: Libloather
Always keep a spare SUV on hand. Ya never know...

Well, sort of a SUV....

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48 posted on 11/23/2003 11:54:40 PM PST by archy (Angiloj! Mia kusenveturilo estas plena da angiloj!)
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To: archy
Thats what I call a S.U.V. Right on.
49 posted on 11/24/2003 7:50:52 PM PST by teancumspirit (Stand up for what you belive, or you will fall for anything.)
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To: PeteFromMontana
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.

50 posted on 11/27/2003 6:12:50 AM PST by Lead Moderator
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To: Lead Moderator
Thank you, and Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
51 posted on 11/27/2003 8:00:25 AM PST by PeteFromMontana
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To: PeteFromMontana
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.
52 posted on 11/27/2003 8:26:56 AM PST by snowtigger
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