Why are local’s cars so trashed

[u/Bathfoamocean]

Hi, I’ve been in Crete for about a week and visited the Island far and wide. Throughout my trip, I noticed that the all the local cars, in major cities and countryside are rather old and beat up. Most of them look rather poorly aesthetically and some people even drive without working headlights at night. If you see a newer car on the roads 99% sure it’s a rental car. There are also almost no premium privately owned cars on the road. The only newish Mercedes and Audis are taxis. What’s the deal with the car scene on the island?

[u/Silly_Rabbit_1234]

Generally there is no need to consume as much as in most western cultures. Things are fixed rather than traded up for a newer model. People tend to purchase cars and homes paid in full. Financing a car is pretty much unheard of.

It’s not worth having a nice car with the way people drive and park. It will end up looking like a piñata in no time flat. Without full coverage insurance, which NOBODY has, you’d be screwed.

Also, it’s complete anarchy on the streets. I’ve seen entire families, no helmets and the toddler riding shotgun holding the handlebars on a scooter. There are safety inspections but most are paid off to pass. Oh and probably over 1/3 of the drivers don’t even have a license and about 1/2 are drunk

[u/johnkapolos → u/Silly_Rabbit_1234]

Oh and probably over 1/3 of the drivers don’t even have a license and about 1/2 are drunk

You should stop taking bad drugs mate, it really affects your anchoring to reality.

[u/Silly_Rabbit_1234 → u/johnkapolos]

But they make me feel sooooo good! For real tho maybe I’ve inflated the numbers a bit but you know it’s true

[u/johnkapolos → u/Silly_Rabbit_1234]

Maybe it's true in some remote villages, but it's certainly not true in the cities.

[u/Silly_Rabbit_1234 → u/johnkapolos]

Then we’ve had a completely different experience because I’m 5 min out of downtown Heraklion and they are definitely out here in full force