Commuting - What costed more - bike or car?

As I was driving today, which I don't do a whole lot, I had one of those weird thoughts. I wonder how many people paid more to acquire their last bike than they did to get their last car. I don't expect it to be a high percentage of people (except those who don't own cars at all), but what has your experience been? When answering the poll, I would hope you read this first and consider the costs of fully upfitting your bike for commuting (racks, panniers, lights, etc) just as you would include getting a fancy radio upgrade in your car. Obviously those of us who buy used cars are probably the only ones who could possibly say we spent more on our bikes, but let's see.

heh I own a 750$ truck I bought, my next bike is going to cost 1300+

My car cost $1300 and my Peugeot cost $10.00

I've not paid more than $25 for a bike ever - although by the time I've repaired/modified it, it usually comes out to about twice that or more. I've paid as little as $300 for a car, but have not yet purchased a bicycle which exceeded even that small ammount.

Okay, I'll say it. There's no such word as costed. Your poll should say, "My most recent car and bike cost about the same".

To answer your poll question, the last car I bought was about $25k. The last bike I bought was about $4k. If I didn't snowboard or mtn bike, I likely would not have purchased the car.

The family car is $17K and my bike is $1K

None of your categories fit me. My car cost $550. My bike was free.

My car cost more to buy, my bike costs more per mile to operate.

My car was about $14k new. That was 11 years ago though. My new bike this year, including fenders/rack/misc junk... about $450. (my new commuter/all around bike.)

Bike and car cost about the same to purchase.
Other than that:
Car: $45/month for full coverage insurance. $10/month for cheap tires. $15/month for oil changes and maintenance. About $15/month for gas. =$85 per month, or $1020 per year. (first time I've added that up, OUCH!!!) I could run a brand new nice bike into the ground every year for what it costs me to own and drive a beater 100-150 miles per month! And that's not counting purchase cost, or eventual breakdowns.

Yipe, yipe, yipe!!!

Until recently my bike was more expensive than any of the last 10 or so clapped out pos cars I owned. I always bought super cheap cars ($25-$500) cars because I rode more than I drove. Less than 4K miles on a car a year if that. But when i had to move 5 states further south I needed something reliable to haul my junk. So I took out the dreaded car loan and got a $3K Saturn that has full insurance due to the loan and has moved twice in 6 months.

Craig

Okay, I'll say it. There's no such word as costed. Your poll should say, "My most recent car and bike cost about the same".

To answer your poll question, the last car I bought was about $25k. The last bike I bought was about $4k. If I didn't snowboard or mtn bike, I likely would not have purchased the car.

Sorry, me no speakie english good.

None of your categories fit me. My car cost $550. My bike was free.
That falls under option # 2.

Voted "I do not own a car at all," although we have 2 cars.

I married into my first car. When we added a second car, I told my wife that I never want to own a car. We put it in her name.

I don't see us getting divorced, but she can have the cars...as long as I get the bikes!

My car cost more to buy, my bike costs more per mile to operate.
how do you figure?

What coasted more?

My car .... i put it on neutral going downhill ... it is a stickshift.

$80 for a Trek 610, and $75 for an 81 vw rabbit. :D

I bought a Civic 4 years ago from my parents for $5k. Then in Jan of 2003 while on a date with my girlfriend, we were hit head on by a Tahoe. Needless to say the Civic was totaled. Miraculously, we walked away. After insurance paid for everything ($3k for medical, $8k for the car, $3k for pain and suffering... the a hole driver of the Tahoe ran away) I bought another Civic (same year and model) and then my gf and I bought our bikes and went on a vacation together. Looking back now, I'm glad I got in that accident otherwise I probably wouldn't have purchased a bike at all.

The bike cost $1,950 and the truck(car) cost $400. But within 6 months the alternator, generator, and tires had to be replaced and the engine tuned to pass the smog test so it came out about even.

Car, about 50 times more. $18K versus $350. The bike gets about 10x the mileage these days though. And the car is 10 years old and paid off.

Significantly more.

Honda Odyssey: $31,000.
Garage sale Specialized Hardrock: $40.

My wife and I are leasing our latest car, it cost a couple thousand to get into. My latest bike I rescued from a local apartment complex the day before the trash collectors were to pick it up. I'm converting it to see what this whole fixed gear craze is about. So far I'm into it aobut $100

My car was about 25x more expensive than my bike which was $700. Funny thing was that a month or so after getting my nice car I started biking to work :p

My car cost more to buy, my bike costs more per mile to operate.


how do you figure?

I drive my car so little that the only incremental cost of driving is gas, about $0.10 per mile at current rates.

I ride my bike so much, in every weather, that the cost of repairs, maintenance, clothing and equipment is significant -- and the lifespan of cycling equipment is so short when used the way I use it that every mile imposes incremental cost. I don't keep track of exact costs, but the UPS man comes to my house at least twice a month, and it never costs less than $100 when he does. I figure about $0.10 per mile for replacement parts, and about the same for clothes and equipment.

Two vehicles in three years, three thousand bucks down the toilet.
The first vehicle was a '71 GMC 3/4 ton with 350 small block and a 2 barrel carb that got it 16 mpg I kid you not. Bought this one in January of 2004.
I loved this truck, but it was essentially an unfinished project I bought as well.
The wiring was real poor, yet I still drove it. The wiring finally caught fire after about six months of owning it.
The next was an '87 Bronco II with a 2.9 EFI and 4x4.
I bought this one in August of 2004 and it drove fine up until October of last year.
The transmission needed some work and the fuel injectors needed to be replaced.
I was going to save up some money and fix it myself, but my own mother had some trailer-trash try to fix it, and that guy screwed it up even more.
After chewing his a$$ out, I sold the thing to a mechanic who liked that particular vehicle.
As for a bike, I acquired a '99 Trek 800 for free. It was sitting in a drainage ditch outside of my stepdads place. I spent about $70 for shift levers and tires. The rest of the parts I just cannibilized off of junk bikes sitting around. As for gloves and riding gear, it's leather work gloves from Home Depot, and BDU pants/shorts from the surplus store. Those and light, yet sturdy, hiking boots run me about $50.
So, you figure after factoring in replacement parts, basic apparel, and another $50 for cyclecomputer and light setup, I've spent only $170 on my current transport solution.
So, in the end, cars could kiss my a$$.
They're ticking time bombs.

heh I own a 750$ truck I bought, my next bike is going to cost 1300+

hee..hee..same here.

Car's sitting in driveway again 'till i fix it (as long as my sock's don't need washing) :)

Car cost me $500

Trek 7500 cost me $900

CCM ICE mtb cost me $0 (donation from friend who move to LA)

Okay, I'll say it. There's no such word as costed.

There is now.. :)