Do I or don`t I??.............bin my car

[speccy1]

This has probably been done before but I need a push to make a decision if anybody can sway me one way or another I would be very happy!!

I bit of background - home and work are 12 miles apart and I`ve cycled it every day this year so far without a problem, I live well away from the city but have everything local that I could possibly need, and I have a very good friend who has offered to help with transport should I ever find myself stuck.

BUT...........My car is a totally reliable and trusty Vauxhall Astra diesel that costs me next to nothing to run, I wouldn`t get much for it if I sold it, and its always there if and when I need it.

I do like the idea of losing the responsibilty of keeping a car though.

Can anybody see my difficulty here?!!!!

 

[MattHB]

If you have a fall back do it. I sold the motorbike in January and I've felt totally liberated since then.

It's particularly great when your cycling past fuel queues. It makes you realise how dependant on oil our society is and not being one of the tin-boxers, you feel kinda righteous!

 

[speccy1]

I know what you mean Matt, I love it in the mornings when I sail past all the tin shed lovers who are queued up in traffic jams, I am becoming more and more anti-car nowadays and am actually looking forward to the next fuel strike because it won`t affect me in the slightest.......

 

[Night Train]

How about finding somewhere off the road to store the car and SORN it, after a good service. It is then there if you find you do need it again, maybe next winter for example. If you don't need it then get rid.

 

[screenman]

I would hate to have to be dependent on anybody, let alone a good friend.

 

[MattHB]

I figured that for the odd week that I might have to have a car (due to illness or emergency) its cheaper to hire one than to run one all the time. I'm also lucky to have perfectly good buses around here.

 

[Night Train]

I would hate to have to be dependent on anybody, let alone a good friend.

I have a good friend, who I sold my Marin to, who is dependent on me for a car. That in itself is less trouble then helping him find a car to buy that is suitable for a gigging musician and family man.

 

[Night Train]

I figured that for the odd week that I might have to have a car (due to illness or emergency) its cheaper to hire one than to run one all the time. I'm also lucky to have perfectly good buses around here.

Overall it should be and a lot more sensible for some people.
My Dad thought about that as an option when he sold his last car. He only really needed one when he went on his annual holiday. In the end he never did get round to hiring. I just take him in my car.

 

[MattHB]

I've not needed any powered transport since October now longest ride is to see my mother (55 round trip). I only see her 4 or 5 times a year anyway and I've done the trip once so far which was fine.

With the Internet I don't need to shop for anything large that can't be delivered. Shopping for food is only 2 mins walk away although I've ridden 5 miles with panniers to go to other shops. It's amazing how you adapt once you give yourself no option, and how liberating that is.

 

[growingvegetables]

Just a fwiw - I got rid of my car 10 years ago. Never regretted it - the occasional hire/taxi is all I've needed.

It's only now that 2 of the kids have their own cars (and turn to Dad for all the little problems ) that I realise just how impatient and demanding the damned beasts are --- of time, effort, time, money, time, paperwork, time, and yet more money; it never stops.

Worse than two year olds. At least when a kid throws a tantrum, there are ways of calming him/her down. Not with a car - its "hissy fit" is going to involve a full stop; one small electrical failure ripples through the system - domino theory in action; the beast is now sitting in a garage - and we're all locked out, me, daughter, mechanics! Don't get me started on car electrics.

 

[amasidlover]

I had the same dilemma for a while - I barely (once, I think) used my car for 4 months prior to me selling it; haven't looked back since - occasionally borrow the wife's car, have rented a van and make more us of public transport (which suits my son who loves buses, trains and trams!)

Couple of things I would say:

1) My car wasn't costing 'virtually nothing' it was costing £200 in Road Fund Licence, £500 in insurance and £100 to £500 per year in servincing/MOT etc. I could have SORNed it and saved on most of that but...

2) even after 3 months of no use I had killed the battery, seized the brakes and this then made the ABS and engine management play up, which meant it was worth almost £1k less than if I'd just sold it when I stopped using it! In hindsight I should have either used it once a week just to keep it going or sold it straight away...

 

[leemo]

A) Google "Car cost calculator" and find out how much its really costing you.
B) Estimate how much you'd spend on taxis and hire cars (assuming you can get to the hire pickup --maybe you could cycle there) if you didnt have the car.

If A<B keep the car.

If not then it depends how much you value the spontineity of having a car on your drive: is it worth the difference A-B?

 

[screenman]

I cannot see the cost of running a vehicle in the OP. If the cost is hurting this brings in another perspective. Personally as long as I can comfortable afford to run our cars I will certainly do so, for many reasons but one being I have a large world to explore and time is limited for us all.

 

[Dave 123]

We have moved closer to Cambridge, my commute is 6.8 miles each way. My wife starts a new job in May, 5 miles away instead of 25 miles away and says she'll cycle 2-3 days a week. We have 2 cars. Do we-
A- Keep both cars, they are both paid for, mine moves on a weekend, but we're not reliant on just one car.
B- Sell them both and have a single "posher" car.
C- Stop worrying about nothing, it's hardly "do I have my arms amputated or my eyes removed.....?"