The costs and benefits of car ownership.

Happy Thursday evening, fair reader.

Two days ago, Shiffy passed a milestone that is impressive in one way, and disappointing in another.

It's fun because it's a unique number, but disappointing because it signifies Shiffy's age.  I've had her for about three full years now.  When Grandma gave me her car, it had about 50 000km on it.  After driving across Canada, it had about 55 000.

Now, it has 100 000km.  As we drove up a hill and waited at the traffic light on its crest, Carmella and I did a few simple calculations about car ownership.

We've had the car for three years, and put about 50 000km on it during that time.  That's just over 16 000km per year.

At approximately $100/month insurance, we've paid $3600 over our ownership.

Shiffy gets very roughly 10km to 1L of fuel.  That means we've bought 5000L of gas for her.  At about $1.25/L, that works out to $6250 in fuel costs.

We've had four $500 repairs: a muffler job; a transmission fluid change and brake rotor replacement; new tires this spring; and an O2 sensor replacement and EGR valve clean.  That's about $2000 in maintenance.  I'm not counting oil changes and the small things I do myself.

So, our costs are $3600 + $6250 + $2000.  That's just under $12 000 we've spent on our car in three years, or about $4000 per year.

That seems like a lot, but is it really?

A Vancouver bus pass costs about $80 for a monthly 1-zone fare.  A 2-zone pass costs about $110.  For easy calculation, we'll pay $100/month for transit.

Carmella and I would both need a bus pass, so we'd be paying $2400/year for transit.  Over three years, that cost would be $7200.  Which is still quite expensive.

So, car ownership has cost us $4000 per year.  Transit passes would cost us $2400 per year.  If we only took transit, we'd save $1600 per year, or $133 per month.

That's not too bad actually.  For an extra $133/month, the both of us get freedom to travel where and when we want, the ability to tote large items, and the ability to take trips.  It's worth it, I think.

The great thing here is that Grandma gave us this car, so we didn't have to spend any money on purchasing the vehicle, unlike most people around us.  So we've very thankful and fortunate for that!  Our car ownership costs would be much higher if we had to pay even $1000 for the vehicle.

Thanks Grandma! Here are some of Shiffy's greatest hits.

 

 This isn't Shiffy, but rather Carmella's car.  The BC AirCare emissions control program doesn't extend to rural communities, so Carmella was safe driving this vehicle in Whistler.  In Vancouver though, it would require thousands of dollars worth of work to make it road-legal.  Carmella traded it to the Scrap-It program, which encourages owners to take high-polluting vehicles off the road.  Carmella traded her car for a 9-month bus pass.

This '92 Mazda Protoge was belching black smoke from the back, and dripping constant oil from the front.  Here, the scrap yard worker paints "S-Hot" on the side.  The S indicates it comes from the Scrap It program, and Hot shows that it was driven in, and so the engine and components are still warm.  I guess the vehicle's temperature is important when one goes about crushing it into a cube.

Here I am three years ago, exchanging Grandma's Ontario plates for my newly acquired BC ones.  Exciting!  I seem to remember I had to leave my wallet as collateral at the insurance place in order to borrow their screwdriver. 

Here are all my worldly possessions, not counting bicycles and the many boxes in Mom and Dad's Ontario basement.  In this picture, I'm moving houses in Whistler, again.  I lived there for four years, and lived in 8 places.  I feel so stable having had the same Vancouver address for about 20 months in a row!

This is at a rest stop in Squamish, on our way to Pemberton for our wedding.  I have fond memories of this stop.  It was around here that Carmella and my phones began beeping with messages full of exclamations from the family as they arrived at our wedding venue for the weekend, before we did.

Also, I'm proud that Carmella and I drove the three hours up to Pemberton with a trailer.  We brought our sound system up, we brought our luggage, we brought music stands and instruments, the wedding flowers, everything.  And Grandpa's trailer hitch made it all possible!  That wedding weekend, we really tested the 4-cylinder, 2.2L, 115hp engine.  It's not meant to tow things, but we were able to finesse it through the mountains.

Here is Shiffy with Cindy's bug, at a great camping spot off a logging access road near Harrison Hot Springs, about two hours from Vancouver.  It was a great spot, and good times were had.  An ocean inlet wasn't far away, there was moss everywhere, and the trees were big.  We played Settlers in the big six man tent!

Thanks to Shiffy, all these things were able to happen.  Without Shiffy, we'd be stuck on the bus.  And without Grandma, we wouldn't have Shiffy.

Thanks again Grandma!

Shiffy's alternator, and other excitement

Last week, Carmella and I took Shiffy (our green car) to Richmond, to go to the public pool there that has a wave pool, water slides and a number of hot tubs.  We were going to meet three friends there for Friday night good times.

When we arrived at the pool, it was closed for yearly maintenance!  What a disappointment.  We decided to head back to Vancouver and go to a community centre that we liked just as well.

On the way there, the Alternator light went on in the car.  It looks like a battery, but it really means the alternator isn't behaving as it should.  We were lucky Wes was there, as he had some insight into what should be done.

We got Shiffy home, and the next day I went to Wes' garage (he rents a garage in an apartment complex, where's he's rebuilding his 50s Ford truck) and he took voltage readings to confirm that the alternator was misbehaving.  It was.

When you start your car, the battery does the work.  After it's started, the alternator takes over, providing power for your car's electrical system.  Radio, windshield wipers, fans and headlights are powered by the alternator.  If the alternator goes, you car will shut down wherever it is on the road.

So, I then went to Lordco auto parts to get a new alternator.  I didn't make it though.  It was raining really hard, and my windshield was foggy.  My radio started to die, and my wipers were sluggish.  I turned off my fan to save power, and opened my windows to keep my windshield clear.

Soon though, the wipers were barely making it across the glass, and I knew the car could die soon.  So, I decided to head for home.  After about fifteen tense minutes, I got the car home, and took public transit to the parts store instead.

I bought a new alternator, which wasn't as expensive as it should have been, because Wes has an auto parts account and let me use it.  He saved me $120!

YouTube is great, because there are many instructional videos dedicated to car repairs.  I was happy to find there was one that would be useful, below.  See that white, round ventilated part in the centre?  That's the alternator.

I took the alternator home on the bus (they're heavy, but only the size of a large baseball) along with some tools I'd need.  Armed with the YouTube version of the procedure on my tablet, my tool box, and head lamp, I got to work.  We have street parking in front of the house, so I did it as cars drove by about five feet way.  But I was proud to be a guy fixing his car.  So manly.  So independent!

I didn't get very far though, because I had trouble de-tensioning the serpentine belt that's connected to the alternator.  I called Wes, and he came over to show me how to do it.  After that, we were off!  We got it installed, and when I turned over the engine, it started with no problems.

I closed the hood, and went out for a test drive.  I made it about two blocks before everything shut down again, but this time very quickly.  I had to try and make it home again!

This time, the car died just as I was pulling into our spot in front of the house.  What was wrong?  I thought we had fixed it.

I was all set to bring the alternator back and exchange it for a new one.  Since the car is a 1998, the available alternators are re-manufactured, not brand new.  So, they sometimes don't work as they should.

As I was taking the alternator out of the vehicle, I noticed one of the electircal connections was severed.  So, maybe I didn't need a new alternator after all.  It probably broke when I shut the hood, since I hadn't tucked the wires down very well.  They were sticking up, and would have been compressed when the hood locked into place, breaking a connector.

I took the bus to Canadian Tire and got the small $2 part I needed, and then installed it.  With a turn of the key and a confident, throaty roar, Shiffy was back in action!

It took me the whole weekend, but I am proud that I fixed my alternator.  It would have cost much more to bring it somewhere and have them do it, and I was able to learn about our vehicle more.

I now know how to fix the EGR valve, which is a yearly problem. (I take it out, remove the carbon chunks from it, degrease it, and re-install) and now also the alternator.  Every time Shiffy breaks down, I get very stressed, but then through the repair process, I learn more about the vehicle and how to fix it.  It's great not being dependent on mechanics!  I guess Wes is a mechanic, and I was dependent on him. But it's different because he's not out for a profit.

So, Shiffy is back on the road, confidently transporting us around town.  I like being involved in keeping the car on the road, and it gives me confidence for the next repair.  My tool collection is growing (I mostly have sockets, wrenches, and many many bike tools) and so is my capability behind the raised hood.

First Day of School

As I ran to work today, I noticed what looked like a Civil War battle taking shape.  Lots of people in large different coloured groups on a large field.

Turns out it was just the frosh tour leaders getting ready for the first day.  School is back in session, and things are busy on campus again. 

Students were running around with facepaint and signs and their programs written on their legs.  They were so excited to get back at it!

It reminded me of being in my early 20s a little bit, although I was never one to become really engaged in school spirit activities like these people were.

While most of campus was happy and excited today, I'm a bit disappointed because I've been holding out at my job for more responsibility and more interesting projects, but they're not really happening.  It's not my workplace's responsibility to find me engaging work, but mine.  So I'll start actively looking, instead of recreationally.

I signed up for a Continuing Studies course today, which I get to take for free as part of my benefits.  It deals with computer HTML coding and language.  I've been noticing that a lot of interesting job postings ask for experience with various graphic design programs and web design experience, so I'm going to go towards getting that.  This course is a foundation for more in-depth ones, so I'll see how I handle the material.

The course is three three-hour sessions, and costs the general public about $450.  But all I have to do is click around, enter a course code, and register for free.  It's a great benefit, and I'm happy that I'm making use of it. 

I get about $1600 dollars per year in course fees paid for, and by the end of September, I'll have used almost all of it.  On October 5th, it resets itself and my burlap bag full of tuition credits get refilled, and I'll take more courses.  The tuition credit benefit is likely underused at the university, so I'm happy that I've almost maxed it out.  I'm taking steps at improving my skills and job outlook, which is positive.

That's it for now.  Happy September everyone.

Edmonton?

Carmella and I are no longer satisfied in Vancouver.  The rents are high, the job market is very tough, and it rains for most of the year.  It's time to leave!

We're applying for jobs in small BC towns, as we both like the idea of living in a close community with mountains not too far away. 

We've heard that Edmonton has a very strong job market.  This is likely because most people go and work with oil, so it leaves a lot of other positions open.  The University of Alberta is in Edmonton, and they have a very healthy amount of job vacancies posted.

Edmonton is not a small town, and isn't extremely close to any mountains.  Instead of rain all winter, they have -30C all winter, and equally grey skies.  But rents are cheaper there, people are friendly, and the job market is vibrant.  We think we might be able to live and work there for a few years, save up some money, get more job experience, and then see where we are after that.

Carmella and I are both educated, capable individuals who want more from our work than we're currently getting.  It's time to look outside of Rain City!

It's exciting to think about a new adventure together, so we'll see where life takes us.

Where I ran today

I've been running to work lately, and most of the time, running home also.  It's great to be getting out there regularly again, and I'm really enjoying it.

My route is always the same.  I run in the alley between two residential streets, where people's garages are, and where they put your garbage and recycling cans.  It works well if your streets are laid out in staid grid fashion, as they are in my neighbourhood.

I like the alley because there are no cars, I don't have to dodge pedestrians on the sidewalk, and I usually have the alley to myself.  I have a few checkpoints along the way, and I often time myself on the way to work, giving myself split times so I can see when and where I lost or gained time.  It is a great way to measure my progress, and I record it all.

When I started, I was going all out, and my time was just under 30 minutes.  My best happened last week, when I ran 26:13. It wasn't an all-out pace, but a relaxed yet hard effort.  So I've shaved almost four minutes off my time, which is excellent, and I think I could do even better.

Instead of running on my regular route last Friday, I ran along the ocean for a section of my run.  It's not the most direct route, but it's a pleasant diversion if I'm not in a rush to get home.  It's slow going because the rocks are the size of baseballs, so footing is never secure.  It's also the intertidal zone, so the rocks can be slippery.

I run to work with a backpack.  It's got my shirt and pants for the day, and essentials like my phone, keys, and wallet.  It'll usually have my lunch in there too, but I've been bad at making a lunch lately.

I'd like to take pictures of my runs more often, but unless I'm running to or from work, I don't bring anything with me.  Maybe I'll sacrifice and bring my camera or phone along, but I'd have to figure out a way to do that without bring along a bulky bag.

Here's Friday's trip home from work.  The route is much more hilly, and is about two kilometers longer than my standard.  Since I live so close to the ocean (about 16 blocks) I need to make a point of actually going there more often.  I bet sometimes a month goes by without me seeing it.

That's my run!  Now it's off to bed.

Random picture post (Las Vegas pictures too)

Here are some pictures from the past few months. Only captions (some are long) and not a lot of background.

Carmella rock climbing in Squamish, at a spot called Burgers and Fries.  (Climbers name spots like skiers and bikers name trails.  There are climbing trail maps of the area too.)  Squamish is very famous for its rock climbing.  I just watched and took this picture.  Carmella is the climber.

Carmella is barely in this picture, but that's OK.  This is a beach fire on Wes' birthday.  You're not really allowed to do this, but everyone does anyway.  It was a great night.  I'm not in the picture, but Tina and Wes are.

Carmella planned and threw a murder mystery party, so everyone is dressed up to participate.  Everyone has scripts to read, and clues are presented on the tape player.  Carmella found this game at the thrift store for a great price.  The hardest part was rounding up a working tape player.  We got one from the landlords upstairs.

We went to Las Vegas a few months ago.  It was a good price, and we were tired of the constant rainy weather in Vancouver.  Notice they don't have grass, just dirt and crushed pebbles.

Across from our hotel was one called New York, New York.  Our hotel played abrasively loud music all the time, so we went across the street to NYNY when we could, where it was calmer.

This is a famous sign for the hotel called Circus Circus.  We got 2 for 1 dinner coupons and drink coupons, and it was affordable to begin with.  At our hotel, the recommended we not make the journey because we'd have to go through a sketchy part of town.  It was not that at all.  I think they wanted to keep us in the area so we'd spend money at their chains of hotels.

The restaurant was called Rock and Rita's, and we weren't sure if it was made with a trailer park theme on purpose, or if they just thought it was nice.  We're still not sure.

Here's a pic of the drink menu, (you can buy a drink that is shaped with a toilet and comes with chopped up hot dogs floating around), some coupons, our cutlery in a Mason jar, and our wine in plastic tumblers.  While not the classiest place, it was a good meal, and very affordable!  

Circus Circus is popular with families because they have (in addition to the casino downstairs) a whole slew of carnival games.  I won a round of Camel Chase.

Carmella won this little rhino in the fishing game.  I hurried her to catch the red puck, and she got a yellow one instead.  But, you're a winner every time!

We found Las Vegas to be very loud and very jarring.  In the Bellagio hotel, we found a Dutch themed garden!  It has real tulips that smelled wonderfully, and soothing music. 

Here, a little sign talks about Dutch shoes, explaining they're called "klompen".  They look like the pair Carol had when we were little! 

They have slot machines in the airport too, right outside the gate.  The security lady in the background got upset with Carmella here, because she thought she was sitting down for a few rounds of slots just as our flight was boarding.  I guess people do that and miss their flights, so this woman gets passionate!

Another interesting thing is that the Las Vegas airport thinks it's 1987.

We went to a wedding

Hi Everyone,

It's two months since I've posted, and a lot has happened since then.  Instead of trying to write about two months of events, I'll just start from yesterday, and maybe post some random pictures down the road.

Yesterday Carmella and I went to our friends' Tony and Mary's wedding.  It was really nice and a great time.  After our own wedding, it's a treat to attend a wedding where you only have to begin preparations an hour before!

Tony and Mary got married at the UBC Boathouse, which is a rowing dock and also an acclaimed wedding venue.  It's not near UBC at all though, it's just where the team trains I guess.  It's in Richmond (the airport is also in Richmond) on the mighty Fraser river.  I've heard rumours of sturgeon in the river, but didn't see any.

Here are some pictures!

Weddings are always a good time for pictures!  No claw really, I've extended the fingers instead.

The Groomsmen and pastor.  The Fraser river is in the background.

The presentation of Tony and Mary Kwong.  I apologize for the head, but this is the best one I had.

While the family had pictures, we enjoyed the venue.  I liked the balloons.  They were quite large.  We were told we couldn't release them, because we were in the airport's airspace, I supposed because a crashing plane would obliterate the venue and cancel the rest of the wedding.

It was a fun wedding.  We left at about 1am, and there were still quite a few people there.  It's nice that Tony and Mary stayed at the party, because I find that once the main attraction leaves, the rest of the revelers start trickling out and the party dies.

A very nice wedding, and a great way to spend a Saturday.  Tony and Mary's wedding weekend was much like ours, almost a year ago.  Dark, cloudy weather for the whole preceding week, sun for the wedding day, and more clouds the day after.

Congratulations Tony and Mary!