Going car-less... anyone done it?
Discussion
Hi. Well I waved goodbye to my Impreza STI at the weekend... I went to look at a Focus ST170 straight after but it was a bit of a dog, so I decided I shall just get the bus to work whilst I think about what to get next.
Thing is, do I need anything next!? A bus ticket (discounted for working for the NHS) works out at £220 for a year, my Impreza was costing me around £4,500-5,000 a year to run (taking everything into account including depreciation) I have my mum's car which I'm insured on should I need to drop my girlfriend home in the evening, other than that, tbh, I simply don't need a car. We're going away next month but renting a car for 5 days comes in at £80.
I'm rambling but has anyone gone car-less and is still happy lol? At the moment tbh I can't get the smile off my face for the money I'm saving. I'm sure something else will sap my money, but even running a 'normal' car for 7-8 years (when I'd be looking to move out) I could have saved £25,000 by using the bus... I guess the true test is the winter!
Thing is, do I need anything next!? A bus ticket (discounted for working for the NHS) works out at £220 for a year, my Impreza was costing me around £4,500-5,000 a year to run (taking everything into account including depreciation) I have my mum's car which I'm insured on should I need to drop my girlfriend home in the evening, other than that, tbh, I simply don't need a car. We're going away next month but renting a car for 5 days comes in at £80.
I'm rambling but has anyone gone car-less and is still happy lol? At the moment tbh I can't get the smile off my face for the money I'm saving. I'm sure something else will sap my money, but even running a 'normal' car for 7-8 years (when I'd be looking to move out) I could have saved £25,000 by using the bus... I guess the true test is the winter!
kayzee said:
Hi. Well I waved goodbye to my Impreza STI at the weekend... I went to look at a Focus ST170 straight after but it was a bit of a dog, so I decided I shall just get the bus to work whilst I think about what to get next.
Thing is, do I need anything next!? A bus ticket (discounted for working for the NHS) works out at £220 for a year, my Impreza was costing me around £4,500-5,000 a year to run (taking everything into account including depreciation) I have my mum's car which I'm insured on should I need to drop my girlfriend home in the evening, other than that, tbh, I simply don't need a car. We're going away next month but renting a car for 5 days comes in at £80.
I'm rambling but has anyone gone car-less and is still happy lol? At the moment tbh I can't get the smile off my face for the money I'm saving. I'm sure something else will sap my money, but even running a 'normal' car for 7-8 years (when I'd be looking to move out) I could have saved £25,000 by using the bus... I guess the true test is the winter!
NopeThing is, do I need anything next!? A bus ticket (discounted for working for the NHS) works out at £220 for a year, my Impreza was costing me around £4,500-5,000 a year to run (taking everything into account including depreciation) I have my mum's car which I'm insured on should I need to drop my girlfriend home in the evening, other than that, tbh, I simply don't need a car. We're going away next month but renting a car for 5 days comes in at £80.
I'm rambling but has anyone gone car-less and is still happy lol? At the moment tbh I can't get the smile off my face for the money I'm saving. I'm sure something else will sap my money, but even running a 'normal' car for 7-8 years (when I'd be looking to move out) I could have saved £25,000 by using the bus... I guess the true test is the winter!
I love cars and feel lost without it
I love driving places for no reason. I love hooning. I love buying things for it. I love getting corners and grear changes 'right'. I love the freedom just to get a few miles away. I need it for getting to the golf course. If my car was to go bang I would get one of the first cars I seen until I found what I really wanted or to get a deal on it.
The only people I know who've gone car-less are folks who live in very central London, and either walk or take the tube everywhere - and then hire a car whenever they need to do any sort of distance to visit family or whatever. Seems to work for them.
If you don't need a car then no point in paying for it! Not sure I could face the thought of having to get the bus every day though personally!
If you don't need a car then no point in paying for it! Not sure I could face the thought of having to get the bus every day though personally!
I did it back after selling the Pork back in February. I live in the centre of a city, commute on foot and client trips are either plane or train. The only thing I missed was the fun of driving, so 6 months after I bought a toy that purely for entertainment. Difficult to justify when it's used so infrequently and only for pleasure, but a PH vice.
It was the first time in my 15 years since passing my test I have been without a car and I must admit I didn't find it a problem at all.
It was the first time in my 15 years since passing my test I have been without a car and I must admit I didn't find it a problem at all.
I am personally about to go road car-less, I am selling my Road/Race car and will be buying a race only car, I have a push bike and a motorbike to get to and from the station on and the rest of the commute is done by train.
I do have access to another car as the wife has one that I use as a tow car so no that bad but the feeling of not needing one is quite nice I have not really used my car on the road all this year and don't miss it.
I do have access to another car as the wife has one that I use as a tow car so no that bad but the feeling of not needing one is quite nice I have not really used my car on the road all this year and don't miss it.
my dad never had a driving lisence and hes never moaned once, although there was always someone in the family to do the driving if needs be. If you have access to your mums car, then you should be fine. You would have to delete your account and join greenpeace if you followed through with this though 
Yes. I sold my cars when I moved to London as I couldnt justify not driving them and paying inflated insurance costs. I used my Mrs' company car (Focus ST, then a Golf GTi). When we split up I never bothered to buy another car - it's always been on my 'to do' list, but holidays and generally expenditure seem to have forced it into the back seat.
In London its pretty easy. The only times I really miss a nice car is on a crisp day when I'm up early and could head out for a Sunday drive. Thats what has stopped my buying one too - the fact that the other 6 days (minimum) it would just sit, depreciating, on the driveway.
In London its pretty easy. The only times I really miss a nice car is on a crisp day when I'm up early and could head out for a Sunday drive. Thats what has stopped my buying one too - the fact that the other 6 days (minimum) it would just sit, depreciating, on the driveway.
Sounds like your life allows (or even encourages) you to do this.
Mine wouldn't.
I live 25 miles from the office, often out on client sites, sometimes needing to fly places - I could use taxis everywhere, but that would be stupidly expensive. My wife has a car, but that's cheating really, so assuming neither of us had one we couldn't drop the girlfriend home (not sure the wife would be too happy me using her car for that anyway!
).
Public transport to work would require a bus to the station (I suppose I COULD cycle) and then three trains, probably costing me more per mile than the RX8 does!
Aside from the practicalities I find I miss driving if I don't do it for more than a week.
Longest I've not driven was 3 months when I broke my knee and I couldn't wait to get back behind the wheel
If I was crazy enough to live in central London, though, I'd probably just get on one of these rental schemes.
M.
Mine wouldn't.
I live 25 miles from the office, often out on client sites, sometimes needing to fly places - I could use taxis everywhere, but that would be stupidly expensive. My wife has a car, but that's cheating really, so assuming neither of us had one we couldn't drop the girlfriend home (not sure the wife would be too happy me using her car for that anyway!
).Public transport to work would require a bus to the station (I suppose I COULD cycle) and then three trains, probably costing me more per mile than the RX8 does!
Aside from the practicalities I find I miss driving if I don't do it for more than a week.
Longest I've not driven was 3 months when I broke my knee and I couldn't wait to get back behind the wheel
If I was crazy enough to live in central London, though, I'd probably just get on one of these rental schemes.
M.
Jimslips said:
Nope
I love cars and feel lost without it
I love driving places for no reason. I love hooning. I love buying things for it. I love getting corners and grear changes 'right'. I love the freedom just to get a few miles away. I need it for getting to the golf course. If my car was to go bang I would get one of the first cars I seen until I found what I really wanted or to get a deal on it.
+1 couldnt have put it better myself. I love cars and feel lost without it
I love driving places for no reason. I love hooning. I love buying things for it. I love getting corners and grear changes 'right'. I love the freedom just to get a few miles away. I need it for getting to the golf course. If my car was to go bang I would get one of the first cars I seen until I found what I really wanted or to get a deal on it.
Accept the golf bit.
VR
Currently car-less and have been for 6 months now!
Dont commute as such, and mainly go / from airports, so public transport is relatively OK for this purpose. Works fine. My boss did the same and he had a spell of nearly 9 months without a car!
No plans to buy a car (the car we have is the wifes really, but I do drive occasionally). Wife sold my car to get the "family" one so I bought a bike instead.
Will return to cars at some point, but cannot justify the cost, tax, fuel and space based on something that gets used maybe 3 times a week at most. Bloody hire one for less!
Dont commute as such, and mainly go / from airports, so public transport is relatively OK for this purpose. Works fine. My boss did the same and he had a spell of nearly 9 months without a car!
No plans to buy a car (the car we have is the wifes really, but I do drive occasionally). Wife sold my car to get the "family" one so I bought a bike instead.
Will return to cars at some point, but cannot justify the cost, tax, fuel and space based on something that gets used maybe 3 times a week at most. Bloody hire one for less!
I hate being car-less - it comes from growing up in a small village and needing a car to get anywhere, I guess.
I'm currently down to one car (usually have two or three at a time), and I always seem to buy a new car before I sell the old one, so being car-less is quite a foreign concept!
I'm currently down to one car (usually have two or three at a time), and I always seem to buy a new car before I sell the old one, so being car-less is quite a foreign concept!
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