new car or hire car and taxis?

duchy

Depends where you live-and what you need it for.

A few years ago my car died and I decided to try life without one for a while to see how I got on. It was amazingly easy -I used cabs when I needed to-otherwise buses and trains and didn't miss it at all. I didn't miss the stress ofparking-rushing back to avoid tickets etc either.

After a year I did a cost breakdown and I was amazed at how much I had saved.

I've never gone back to it and looking at the price of fuel now probably won't (Never say never )
If it had made me miserable (which I half expected it to) I'd have gone out and got one

For me -it works -for others it wouldn't -and to be honest if I was retired/retiring and had the cash available I'd probably feel I'd worked all my life and wasn't going to start standing at bus-stops at the age of sixty plus when I didn't need to .

benjus

I was car-less for most of the last 4 years.

Living in London, it's pretty easy to get around on public transport and I wouldn't even think about driving to work. I joined several car sharing clubs to have a car around when I needed it (in theory).

However - in the end I just missed the freedom of being able to get up and go whenever I wanted to - whether to go to the local supermarket or to visit friends or family outside London. The car clubs were quite good when I lived in central London, but now I'm in zone 3 there aren't enough cars to go around so they are always booked when I want them. The fact that you're paying by the hour means that you get stressed about being stuck in traffic and getting fined for returning it late. The mileage fees for long journeys are expensive. Traditional car hire is cheaper for long journeys but a pain to organize, to find somewhere that's open outside office hours so I can collect and return the car when it's convenient for me.

So I bought a cheap used car. I love the sense of freedom it's given me.

Flyboy152

Have you considered "Car Clubs?" You pay by the hour and can have a range of cars to choose from.

ETA: Oops, some have already suggested this.

birkee

As we get older, life gets harder, and soon enough we will probably be dependant on assistance from others.

The thought of losing my car, and having my independance from other peoples transportation, would be more than I could bear. Costs, convenience, comfort, objectionable travelling companions on public transport (yobs) etc.
Never again the chance to pop out to the shops /cinema / restaurant / relatives etc etc. Everthing becomes much more a considered decision, and needs to be planned in advance.
I think 60 is a bit early to start closing your life down. Buy a cheap runabout.

benjus

It certainly depends on your priorities though. Car ownership is unlikely to be the cheaper option, unless you'd be taking taxis every day or something (which you probably won't - you tend to travel less when you're paying separately for each trip).

It's a question of whether you think it's worth paying for the convenience and freedom a car gives you. I wouldn't spend all the money on a car though - you can get something reliable and decent for a lot less than £8k

hartcjhart

jenny2009 wrote: »

You are correct, it is old. 16 years old, so it should be put out to pasture.

I mean, I have to keep up appearances, don't I? I have the oldest car in my street and the neighbours all point and laugh as they pass my drive.

And the rust from the bodywork is staining my block paving.

This will !!!! you off, I am going to pay cash for my nice shiny new car, you just made up my mind for me to buy one.

So off to the garage tomorrow with £8,000 in old banknotes to buy a shiny new car.

I wondered why I stopped coming to this site.

Now I remember.

well with that sort of attitude you will not be missed:wave::wave:

jenny2009

well with that sort of attitude you will not be missed:wave::wave:

You're just jealous because I can spend 8 grand on a new car.

And I think you are a very sad person who has to have an avatar of someone checking that they still have a p r i c k.

To ashamed to post the real you?

LandyAndy

jenny2009 wrote: »

You're just jealous because I can spend 8 grand on a new car.

And I think you are a very sad person who has to have an avatar of someone checking that they still have a p r i c k.

To ashamed to post the real you?

What are you going to buy, new for £8k? I don't think it's going to be anything to make most people jealous.

hartcjhart

jenny2009 wrote: »

You're just jealous because I can spend 8 grand on a new car.

And I think you are a very sad person who has to have an avatar of someone checking that they still have a p r i c k.

To ashamed to post the real you?

Ive spent more than that on a weeks p1ss up

yep the water was bl00dy freezing

thats right I dont want to scare people

but thats beside the point, I thought you were going to bu66er off and not come back