I have heard many things in my life but…

Every time I hear people rationalizing their need for bigger car, I just find it too amusing to listen to these people telling themselves and most likely their wives about the seriousness of their need for a new car. There is nothing wrong about this but as it is cheating yourself, it does seem a bit ridiculous.


The stories I have heard range from a one piece of nasty rock that can be found on the cottage driveway to some other ridiculous reasons. The rock itself could be removed with the manpower of two but why bother when you can spend 50 000 euros extra for an SUV so that you don’t have to worry about it anymore. Other stories include things like getting a boat for managing a fleet of dogs. What is funny though is that they always seem to make sense. Whenever I hear someone lying to himself about the need for a bigger and better car, I go and browse the internet for one. Then I start the same drill. First, I tell myself many times how cool would a big fat car be like, then I decide to take it a bit further and say it out loud. Then it sounds a bit corny so I start to flavor it a bit and by flavoring I mean these stories about the rocks on the road etc.


When I’m done with all this, I usually go to sleep. If I haven’t figured out to out rule my mind while I was asleep, I always look out and see my pretty small car in the yard and remind myself: I just bought new set of summer tires (in Finnish: renkaat), so why change the car. The tires are actually a funny thing; I see my car’s value in its tires. I bought a new set of Nokia summer tires a month ago and I feel like the car looks almost like new even though it is actually almost ten years old. I can’t really tell whether it’s only in my eyes or if other people can see it too.

Small car can do the trick

When living somewhere arctic, like in Finland, one thing you come to realize is that how important it is to have a good car. Owning a car seems to be a status symbol but owning a good four-wheel drive car in the wintertime seems to be the symbol of wisdom. When you get many meters of snow during two weeks and you are struggling with your front wheel drive, you realize that it’s not even worth trying.


People make themselves believe that there are so many good reasons to buy modern SUVs. There is really only one good reason and that is heavy winter. To summer cottages you can actually almost always get with your two wheel drive, you can even tow a boat with a fairly small car these days but you can’t survive the winter with a toddler. Or can you?


I have had a small Hyundai Getz for a bit over a month now. It is the very heart of winter and I live in the very heart of the city. This equation means no parking spaces and semi-hard uphills with a lot of ice. The winter and all of its ups and downs can actually be managed with a really good set of tires (in Finnish: renkaat). With proper wheels on and great tires you can get along just fine even with a smaller car. I have travelled through hell and beyond this winter with my Getz and having a good set of Nokia Hakkapeliitta winter tires on makes it actually really comforting.


The thing about Finnish winter and the mentality towards it is that it always lasts too long, everyone seems to have their opinion about it and it looks like it is filling two thirds of our year with snow. Still the winter always comes as a surprise to the drivers.


Really, though, having a 4x4 is a great solution for the winter but if you can’t afford it or you are perfectly happy with your two wheel drive then just go for proper winter tires. They are better than a life insurance and cheaper than the first pole you’re about to hit with the old tires. Be smart.