Priced off the road?

mikey72

hubert_cumberdale wrote: »

mines up to about 240k mileage i be giving it some new brake discs but they are a whopping £8 each and the pads are £15

I do all the work my self which is the only way an old car can be cheaper i think as i have never taken a car to a garage in my 10 years of driving (only for mot's)

You must have bought tyres, brakes, filters, oil, etc by now though?

pinkteapot

Good for you OP! I had no car from the age of 23-28 and it was absolutely fine. I was commuting to work by train at the time and lived a short walk from the station. There was a supermarket on my way home so I'd do my shopping on foot. I used buses and trains to get about.

Had an argument not long ago on the House Prices and Economy board with someone who said that in the modern world driving is a necessity. Of course it's not.

Ebe_Scrooge

pinkteapot wrote: »

.... in the modern world driving is a necessity. Of course it's not.

Hmmm, what about those that live in very rural locations with extremely limited or no public transport available ? I totally agree in places like London - I visit London occasionally for work, and I'm amazed at how easy it is to get around via bus and tube. Don't get me wrong, I'd ditch my car at the drop of a hat if I could, but it's pretty much essential where we live if I want to get to work !

Dan_Gleebitz

powned wrote: »

My insurance expires in May and i have decided not to renew (been thinking about it for a few months), I will instead be selling my car and buying a decent bike. For long journeys I will use my local train station.

I mostly use bike/train. Sometimes the car isn't moved for a week or more.
Don't buy a mountain bike. You will regret it.
Look for a hybrid. light weight but sturdy and made for road/commute/canal path etc.
Look for a Trek or Giant. Get some mudguards fitted if not already.
Don't forget lights and helmet.
Best of luck. But be careful out there.
Dan.

Dan_Gleebitz

Oh and don't go to Halfrauds. Go to a local cycle supplier who will spend time discussing your cycle needs and will measure you to the bike.
Just a thought. Would your work place join the cycle to work scheme.
If yes then get a bike through that.
Dan

Arfa__

When I left Uni and ran my banger into the ground, I got a job in London and didn't bother getting another car. Went without for about 7 years. Yeah, its definitely doable, in some ways, not as convenient, but overall it was fine. Did bicycle for a year or so, but then moved into suburbs (to afford house), so its tube everyday now.

Kids were the big U-turn for me. I put up with no car with one child for 2 years. Then second sprog came along, the hassle on public transport was just too much. Got fed up with letting buses by because they had no buggy space, fed up of busy rush hour tubes, lugging buggy and sprogs up steps at every change, planning every central London trip via Kings Cross, Waterloo or Westminster (only decent stations with step free access), squeezing onto packed intercity trains with buggy, kids and suitcases, then scattering them around the carriage as we hunted down our reservations (none for kids though) and don't talk about nappy changing facilities...

Yes car ownership is going up like crazy, but I'm going to continue finding the cash, somehow, for time being anyway.

One thing I will say, think about your no claims discounts, after 3 years ish, they'll be lost. I had 45% discount at Uni. 7 years with no car and I had to start from scratch - cost a bomb. Dunno, maybe worth paying insurance on a super cheap sorn banger, just to keep you ncd's in. Worth thinking about.

Comstock

Arfa__ wrote: »

Yes (the cost of) car ownership is going up like crazy, but I'm going to continue finding the cash, somehow, for time being anyway.

Yeah I think that is what most people will do. Many people have a perfect good reason to own a car.


But I think many people will cut back on non essential motoring, so I wouldn't want to own a rural B and B, for example, at the moment.

Those who don't cut back on their mileage will have to cut back on other things, which won't be good for the economy either.

Martin will understand these things better than me, but is there a case for an emergency cut in fuel duty to help keep the recovery on track?

**************

A couple of random thoughts from me....


1) If you are cutting back your mileage, such as cycling to work, don't forget to reduce the mileage you put in when renewing your car insurance, which should reduce the premium.

One or other of the comparison engines (not sure if it is Go Compare or the Meerkat) has a box to tick if you don't regularly use your car at peak times or you could try and get social/domestic/pleasure cover without the 'commuting to a fixed place of work' bit if you are sure you can cycle to work everyday (even in sh*t weather)

2) Best sub £100 bike? Decathlon's Rockrider 5.0 IMHO. It's far better than owt from Halfords...

optimus_primera

hubert_cumberdale wrote: »

still cheaper than using a brand new car isnt it

bangers are the future if it has a serious brakage just scrap it and buy another one

Esp if said banger was made before sensors were fitted everywhere .............

Billy-no-Money

Lots of good constructive comments here - the tale of catching trains etc with kids brings back memories! We spent a year with no car, living in Wales, and had four kids under ten - very hard work, but it did mean that every journey was an adventure. Not much fun for the daily grind though.

That year was done by choice as a bit of an experiment, we might have felt differently if we'd been forced into that position. However, ever since I've only run or hired a car when I've needed one - currently it's cycling or the bus. I find living this way liberating - I can choose to use public transport, car hire, cycling, walking or whatever. There are plenty of people at work who drive for less than two miles each way - no kids to drop off, nowhere else to go, but they just can't think beyond the car. I'm no eco-warrior, I just do what makes sense.

It's opened my eyes to how ridiculous the car culture can be - e.g my neighbour across the road whose family has five cars - and no driveway. They just expect to be able to park their cars - imagine if everybody did that?

It's not the right answer for everyone, but if getting rid of the car is an option then I say do it - you can always buy another.

optimus_primera

As i have mentioned in another thread, i had to be without a car, and it was a nightmare for me.
Public transport is a joke for getting to work.
What we have to do is use the car as cost effectively as we can,we live 7miles outside of town,but i work in town, so anything we need in town i get while i am there, so no 'popping' into town at the weekend (wasting fuel etc)
What works for one won't work for someone else.