Driving in Hefei!

[terryd]

So I finally got my Chinese license and.... well driving here is pretty hectic!  Lets just say my friend wont be lending his car to me any time soon!!   

Yep, so I gave his car a HUGE scratch down one side and then half the door came off for good measures....

OOOPS!

[kaibo 开 博]

Oh bugger ... nice one Terry! Let me know when you are on the road as I will make sure I walk that day! Maybe your friend used to be your friend hey! It is advisable that unless you have many years of driving experience to stay off the roads up here as drivers do crazy things. I want a car but I don't want to pay for the on-road costs. I am thinking about getting one but not sure if I want to waste the money. An e-vehicle appeals to me these days.

[terryd]

HAHA well thats the funny thing, I do have a few years of experience but nothing could prepare me for what I did (which was nothing to do with Hefei traffic    I just tried to be clever and do a 3 point turn in a stupidly small part!)  DOH!

[Tim S. Mercurio]

personally i think having a car of course is great! but in hefei?
1.most drivers here in hefei buy their license
2. most cant see colors very well > ( this is what i assume )
3.too many cars as it is
4.cars are way too expensive, i.e insurance,car+tax,gas,parking,< both private and public,
5.hefei is too small of a city and too narrow,
6. if to buy a car why not just spend the extra for a good clean sound system and trick it out

[Virginia9742]

So how are people supposed to get around, Tim?  At least if you own your own car, you are safer than being in a taxi with no seat belt (assuming you are a good driver, which for the purpose of this post, I will assume you are).  Not to mention the fact that some taxi drivers are reckless.  I think I can also say that a car is safer than driving a scooter, or a bicycle.    This is not to say that you are safe driving a car in Hefei (no transportation is safe here), but perhaps it is safer than most other forms of transportation.

The problems with owning a car here seem to be: cost, effort/time to get a car and license etc, and parking at your home or when you go out.

I personally will be replacing my scooter, which is dangerous, with a car rather soon.

[Aussie Mike]

Try to find a good mechanic who can maintain your car to high standards...

My mechanics in Aus kept me informed 3 months in advance as what needed replacing when.

[Tim S. Mercurio]

So how are people supposed to get around, Tim?  At least if you own your own car, you are safer than being in a taxi with no seat belt (assuming you are a good driver, which for the purpose of this post, I will assume you are).  Not to mention the fact that some taxi drivers are reckless.  I think I can also say that a car is safer than driving a scooter, or a bicycle.    This is not to say that you are safe driving a car in Hefei (no transportation is safe here), but perhaps it is safer than most other forms of transportation.

The problems with owning a car here seem to be: cost, effort/time to get a car and license etc, and parking at your home or when you go out.

I personally will be replacing my scooter, which is dangerous, with a car rather soon.

well, Ive got a really nice motorcycle, cost me 5,4000 rmb plus custom exhaust,LED and am/fm/mp3 player with 3 speakers. soo... there are many ways to get around

[Tim S. Mercurio]

motorcycles/scooters for sale

1.honda - 800cc : 6,000 rmb
2.cfmoto - 300cc : 3,000 rmb
3.black scooter : 125cc : 3,000 rmb
4.satya's scooter : 125cc : 2,500 rmb

if anyone is interested i can email you pictures

send me message via phone 13675609007 or call sid at 185255139015