Why I have (foolishly) been renting a car for three years
It was less of a hassle. And there seemed less commitment involved in just coughing up monthly rent. But perhaps it’s time to bite the bullet (since I’m not upping and leaving)
To buy a car, or to not buy a car? That is my question — and has been for over three years now. I’ve been Dubai-based for four-and-a-half years but I still don’t own a car. I drive one, I just don’t own one. That’s because for the past threeand-a-half years I’ve been renting one on a monthly basis (Dh1,400 a month or so).
When I reveal that information to people, the general reaction is a kind of ‘recoil in horror’ expression on the face, followed by the hugely repetitive sequence of words: “But... Why don’t you just buy one?”
When I answer, I get the feeling my reply just isn’t convincing enough: “Because if something goes wrong, I can just give it back.”
Yep, it’s your standard girly reply to a question about cars. But it’s a hassle-free approach to driving; and I like hassle-free. However, my bank balance would tell me otherwise.
I stupidly did the sums by way of my smartphone calculator the other day to work out just how much I’ve paid out in car rental since taking to the UAE’s roads. Big. Mistake.
Pretty quickly, my screen started to fog up from the tears (not literally, that’s just for effect). That’s because the five-digit number staring up at me from the phone was a damning realisation that I could, by now, have been the proud owner of a pretty nice car. But by recklessly passing the buck in a bid to avoid getting the odd car servicing done, I own nothing, nada, not a zip. My conclusion; I’m a bit of an idiot.
I then started to wonder if that stupidity was caused by my hesitancy to commit. I never took the plunge into becoming a car owner because I didn’t want to tie myself down to a long-term stint in Dubai. Not because I don’t like the place — I do — but because I have a slight fear of settling. By not committing to staying here longer than “just another year,” meant bye-bye to any notion of me owning a car.
It made me ponder on other life choices too, and I came to the conclusion that I’m definitely a commitment-phobe.
As that painful five-digit number stared up at me, it gave me a push to front those commitment issues head-on. I’ve decided I’m finally going to say ‘yes’, and soon enough I’ll be signing some nuptials; a contract binding some four-doored beauty and me to at least three years of ‘togetherness’.
I’ve given up pretending I’m going to elope to some exotic land to pursue a simple life of writing as and when I please, about as and what I want; it’s a sad realisation, but I’m good where I am. I think I’m finally happy to settle in Dubai (for now at least).
Every time I go back home to the UK, my friends tell me the same thing: “We love you Kel, but nothing ever changes here, stay where you are.” And though I usually respond with a crinkled up face alluding to a severe pining for home, my mindset has changed. Why not just enjoy this stint of my life while it lasts, before I have to properly commit to the whole husband and kids thing?
I’ll use my shiny new car (or preloved car, I haven’t decided yet), as my stepping-stone on the commitment ladder. If we can stand each other long enough, then who knows what will follow. I’ll use this as my transition into adulthood. Yea, I’m about 13 years late, but I’m here — responsibilities in tow — and that’s all that matters.
Instead of tall, dark and handsome, I’ll settle for a dependable, reliable, 5-speed model for now — one that regularly withdraws cash from my account. I’d say that’s a pretty good test drive for when the real commitment comes — the husband and kids one — because let’s face it, relationships are all about ‘what’s yours is mine, and what’s mine is yours,’ right?
So yep, my plunge into purchasing a set of brand new wheels has somehow turned into a personal testing of the waters to see if commitment really is for me. And if not, I’ll settle for 10 cats and a tub of ice-cream instead. Either way, I get a car or I get icecream; it’s a win win. kelly@khaleejtimes.com Kelly writes about education and other important stuff. She finds it endearing that people call her Kel
I did the sums by way of my smartphone calculator the other day to work out just how much I’ve paid out in car rental since taking to the UAE’s roads. Big. Mistake.