You All Drove Home Your Point

Dear Ann Landers: “Steamed in Seattle” needs a reality check. She thought it was tacky that her sister asked for gas money even though her sister drove her everywhere. Those occasional restaurant meals and spontaneous gifts to her sister will not offset the car expenses. Telling Seattle to take her sister out more often was ridiculous. People who don’t own a car don’t realize what it costs to run one.

When I bought my first car 40 years ago, I figured it cost 25 cents per mile to run it. I have not taken the time to do an analysis since, but I was recently reimbursed 31 cents per mile by Uncle Sam for driving expenses incurred reporting for jury duty. At that rate, every trip downtown, which is 10 miles, costs at least $3.10 just to get there. A few errands in any city can rack up 10 miles easily.

It is not tacky to ask a relative to pay for gas. What is tacky is that the relative didn’t offer. I was brought up in a poor, blue collar family, but we all paid our own way. And that’s the way it should be. - Evelyn in Benton, Ark.

Dear Evelyn: Your letter was one of several hundred that clobbered me for my dumb answer. Here’s another clop in the chops:

Dear Ann: Give yourself 50 lashes with a rubber gas hose. I couldn’t believe you sided with “Steamed in Seattle.” The cost of gasoline is only a small part of what it takes to keep a car running.

A new set of tires is about $400 by the time you pay for balancing, mounting, alignments and the charge for disposing of the old tires. Insurance is another $50 to $100 a month, depending on the car and the driver.

The more you drive a car, the faster it depreciates. Every mile you drive and every scratch you get in the parking lot make the car worth less. Seattle’s sister obviously goes out of her way to pick her up and take her “everywhere.” What’s downright tacky is that Seattle isn’t paying for all the gas in the first place. The spontaneous gifts and occasional meals should be bonuses to thank her sister for being a willing chauffeur and for the wear and tear on the vehicle.

Wake up and smell the gasoline, Ann. The fumes from your answer gave me a headache. - Ill in Illinois

Dear Illinois: If you have a headache, what do you think I have after the clobbering for my dumb answer? Pass the aspirin, honey. Here’s one more:

Dear Ann: I drive a mid-priced minivan, which I intend to keep for 10 years. I paid $28,000 for it or $2,800 a year. My insurance runs $1,200 a year with my good driver discount. My extra liability umbrella policy is another $350, and license plates are $500.

That comes to $4,850 a year, or over 48 cents a mile, if I put 10,000 miles a year on it, like most Americans. This is before I put in gas, change the oil or align, balance or change my tires. It also doesn’t include any repairs in that 10-year period, parking charges, washing and waxing or general maintenance.

Recently, relatives visited me, and in 10 days, I tallied 600 miles - from the airport and back, to Sea World, the Wild Animal Park, the San Diego Zoo, shopping centers and a side trip to Mexico. With the three tanks of gas, my costs for those 10 days totaled $358. In return, my relatives took me to lunch, which cost them $7.

Next time they visit, they can rent their own car or take a taxi. Relatives who think they are entitled to free rides are the tacky ones. Cars are not tacos at three for a dollar, and lunch just doesn’t cover it. - Steamed in San Diego

Dear S.D.: Hasta la bye bye, freebies! Bravissimo!