Very true mmkunmingteacher, all of our opinions should be respected.
You certainly won't see me walking into that Burger King... Honestly, how could they not have a drive-thru? All while ordering the 'food', I could be saving my legs, burning fossil fuels and keeping Sinopec in business.
@culture: buying a used car here is similar to anywhere else. If you choose a large dealer and buy a car with full '4S' maintenance (dealership service history in local speak), and have a pre-purchase inspection performed, then it is hard to go wrong. But that option may not suit every budget.
However, buying a cheap car, especially privately like I did, means that you can't expect a car that has been maintained fastidiously and never been crashed, so you just have to take it on it's current merits. If looking at cars below 10,000rmb, anything that starts, steers and stops and that doesn't smoke or overheat should have a reasonable chance at having a few years life left in it.
@Allen: the in-laws resented the traffic in town because they were limited to carrying their shopping across the busy roads to the bus stop. I agree with you, cars can be a problem if you are not in one and trying to share the road with them. They have given a thumbs up to the car as they no longer have to wait for a bus, then have to sit/stand in the filthy bus while it makes numerous stops to their destination, followed by a considerable walk.
As for the hot springs, it's a 30min bike ride of dust and coldness. I would have thought 5mins in the car, with an ability to do some food shopping on the way home, is being productive.
I understand there are too many cars (and people) in the city, but I rarely go there and am not about to criticize the choice of a person to either use public transport, or drive their car. People can hop on their pogo-stick naked for all I care.
Somebody asked a question here, and I felt there was a relevant comment to post in response. Yes, I am biased, as I love cars and made my living by selling them back in Aust. - so it is with great pleasure that I witness Chinese people (and even a few laowai) embrace the era of private car ownership.
@Allen: There seems to be a mutual consensus on the opinion that a car is not essential for town living.
The 'countryside' could be used to describe an area that is not part of a developed township. If one is living there, then you can imagine how one needs food to eat, and how often that means leaving the house and going to town.
Going to E'shan, a 30min bike ride past all the canola is very pleasant on a sunny day, but when a truck rumbles past leaving a taste of dust and diesel, or especially when it's an early morning ride in winter to the hot springs, a 5min drive with a heater and no dust seems to be a much better option.
When the in-laws (who can't drive) used to catch the bus to Yuxi, they bemoaned the ever increasing traffic and horns in town. Still not wanting to drive themselves, the car has certainly been given the thumbs up.
Driving in the city does complicate things, as you probably do need a licence (which you have), registration and insurance. Once the hassle of these requirements are dealt with, then you have Kunming's traffic to fight your way though.
I'm about 20mins from Yuxi and bought a cheap VW Santana a little while ago (found it on 58.com in Chuxiong), and haven't looked back.
A car is essential in the countryside, but after driving through Kunming on the way home from Chuxiong, it seems there are few benefits for city dwellers to own a car - especially with the pending subway system.
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