Author Topic: Have any of you ditched the car completely?  (Read 3880 times)

Ricky

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 842
Have any of you ditched the car completely?
« on: November 02, 2014, 11:58:12 PM »
I'm considering selling my car. I drive 20 minutes one way to work everyday and walking or biking is not feasible. But this wouldn't be an issue. I can carpool to work and I can also drive another car in our household if it's an emergency.

I live in such a rural area that it's not possible to be without a car completely. Eventually I'd like to eliminate ever having to ride in a car by moving to a dense city with great bike lanes and public transportation. Cars are just excessive money pits that seemingly get us places but get us no where at the same time. At any rate, I feel I have too much car for what I need, but I couldn't sell it and buy another and realize any amazing sort of gain. My car is 3 years old and worth $15k. Insurance is pretty cheap but I'd still save $50/mo, plus a lot of gas. I'm thinking I'd save $3-4k a year total. That's not accounting for any problems that may arise.

Another reason for wanting to sell is I am getting disgusted by how much I have been going out lately on the weekends. I have to drive a minimum of 45 min to get to any decent civilization. I would save even more by cutting this out.

So Im curious how many of you have done what I am thinking about doing and how it worked out for your situation?

surfhb

  • Guest
Re: Have any of you ditched the car completely?
« Reply #1 on: November 03, 2014, 12:15:43 AM »
Well, they're only money pits if you bought a new one like you did   :)

If it came down to 3-4k a year vs just staying home on weekends, I'd keep the car.   That's just me though.

terrier56

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 99
Re: Have any of you ditched the car completely?
« Reply #2 on: November 03, 2014, 01:53:32 AM »
I sold my car about 6 months ago. It is amazing to see how much it save you.

I drive my fiancee's car when i need to which is rare. My work situation also goes a long way to making this work, it's not for everyone.

lpep

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 285
  • Location: Hanoi, VN
    • My MMM journal
Re: Have any of you ditched the car completely?
« Reply #3 on: November 03, 2014, 04:54:18 AM »
I'm sort of accidentally doing a trial run of not having a car. I moved to Hanoi 9 months ago, and I planned to eventually get a motorbike, but I found a job really close by and there's everything I need within a short distance, so I get around on my cheap crappy awesome little Vietnamese bicycle. If I need to go somewhere farther, I take the bus or sometimes a taxi.

Everything seems simpler. No parking. No gas stations. No keys, even! Less stress for sure. If I weren't still paying for minimal insurance on the car I have at home, I'd be saving around $150 every month. But I can only do this because I live in a dense city and work less than 2km from home. It would be a lot harder back in the US.

alsoknownasDean

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2843
  • Age: 39
  • Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Have any of you ditched the car completely?
« Reply #4 on: November 03, 2014, 05:14:06 AM »
My car died back in December. I decided to wait and save money and repay my debts before I considered buying another (with cash of course).

By the time I saved the money, I was used to not having a car. I was looking at buying a couple of months ago, but I decided to move house instead. Now I can get most places either by walking, bike or public transit.

I still consider buying a car from time to time. However, I worked out that even a cheap car would set me back $350 a month. For something only used a few days a week, I figure the benefits aren't worth the costs.

The only real issue is that it's harder to get around when I'm off visiting my parents, as they live in a rural area. I've managed this long though, and I have a bike down there for shorter trips :)

Thegoblinchief

  • Guest
Re: Have any of you ditched the car completely?
« Reply #5 on: November 03, 2014, 06:46:35 AM »
"Drive 20 minutes" to work is pretty nebulous. Even at freeway speeds, though, that's 20 miles tops. You can bike that. It takes time, but you can definitely bike that.

My 20 minute commute was only about 9 miles. I've biked this for a year now and love it.

But if not having a car would turn you into a hermit, I'd keep it but start exploring moving closer in so that you can ditch it without crimping your lifestyle too much.

It's all a choice.

expatartist

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2269
  • Location: Hong Kong/Paris
Re: Have any of you ditched the car completely?
« Reply #6 on: November 03, 2014, 08:24:52 PM »
I've never owned a car. Drove my parents' for around 8 months while a teenager, but that's it. In most cities, a car for an individual is more of a pain than an asset: life is so much simpler without one. As a single guy in a rural area I could see how you'd want one - but driving 45mins to social events sounds like a hike. Can you move closer to where your social life is?

[Edited for grammar.]
« Last Edit: November 03, 2014, 09:43:05 PM by expatartist »