Finally sold my car!

[MrsTuxedocat]

It has taken me forever to sell my Honda Civic... as in it was a running joke at work. I was surprised because it has low kms, a clean record and fun to drive. However, it is a standard transmission with no air conditioning. Having no a/c was never a big deal to me, because it is a safe and reliable car and I don't care about the fancy extras. I learned that potential buyers really care about a/c though!

I was under pressure to sell the car because Mr. Tuxedocat's car was just sitting in the drive way, depreciating in value. It feels so good to sell the car!

My co-workers seem surprised that we share a car even though they know how much insurance is in our HCOL. Do you share a car, and are friends/family/coworkers surprised?

[steviesterno]

I can comment on the no AC thing... My now wife drove a 1998 Jeep in PA. Family bought it new, and they drove it for 17 years. was great in PA, drop the roof, 4x4, etc. But then we moved to Texas. she was applying for jobs in august. if you drove that thing top down, you would get there wet and crazy haired, never get the job. so she would take my car, and I would take the Jeep. I had to leave early, in gym shorts. change at work,  Work, change, drive home, shower off again. it wasn't nearly as fun as it could have been.

I now see AC as mandatory. When you're stuck in traffic or something, it just swelters.

[CLB]

My wife and I have been sharing a car for the last three years. My wife works regular hours during the week, and I work an irregular schedule that is usually late afternoons and evenings. So it works for us. It's nice not having the extra car and all the expenses that go with all that.

Lately, I've been using my bike to run errands, most of which are within a mile radius, but I haven't used it for getting to work yet.

No one has really said much about our situation, which is unusual for suburbia -- at least in our little corner of suburbia. Most houses around us have three or four cars, and most of the time you'll only see one person per car when out and about.

[MrsTuxedocat]

I can comment on the no AC thing... My now wife drove a 1998 Jeep in PA. Family bought it new, and they drove it for 17 years. was great in PA, drop the roof, 4x4, etc. But then we moved to Texas. she was applying for jobs in august. if you drove that thing top down, you would get there wet and crazy haired, never get the job. so she would take my car, and I would take the Jeep. I had to leave early, in gym shorts. change at work,  Work, change, drive home, shower off again. it wasn't nearly as fun as it could have been.

I now see AC as mandatory. When you're stuck in traffic or something, it just swelters.

Thanks for the response! Eeek, sweltering in Texas heat does not sound enjoyable with no a/c. I was surprised, because I live in Canada and our summers are quite mild, yet everyone wants a/c. 

[DirtDiva]

We just sold our second car as well.  We bought a condo that is 0.7 miles from my job and 0.5 miles to hub's job in the opposite direction.  We both walk or ride our bikes to work, the grocery store, and to socialize.   After several months of two cars sitting around gathering dust, we sold the less practical one.

We both have full-time professional jobs, so it might seem a little weird to others.  Surprisingly, I've gotten almost exclusively positive comments both about my bike-riding ways and the reduction to one car.  But ultimately I don't really give a rat's ass about what people think.