Should we get rid of the car?

shar46y

We bought our car - a 4 year old mini-MPV (6+1 seater) - when our twin DDs were babies and it was more convenient than using public transport with a double buggy and all the baby-related stuff. I also used it to drive to work sometimes.

In the past few months, things have changed a lot. We have moved city, house and jobs such that we now walk to work. DDs are bigger too, good walkers and seldom need a pushchair so we can go places by public transport easily.

As a result, the car sits unused by the roadside for 5-6 days each week. We generally go out somewhere by car on Saturday or Sunday, but in part this is to 'give the car a run' so the battery won't die.

I am tempted to sell the car but am worried about the inconvenience of having to hire a car, the loss of spontaneity when we want to go somewhere etc. Is it crazy to hang on to the car for optional outings once a week?

s_b

ive voted but not going to tell you which way i went:D

mancitychick

s_b wrote: »

ive voted but not going to tell you which way i went:D

I have voted the same way as you!



OP do you use it to go grocery shopping in or anything else other than the family outings at a weekend? How often do you think you would you need to hire a car?

shar46y

mancitychick wrote: »

I have voted the same way as you!



OP do you use it to go grocery shopping in or anything else other than the family outings at a weekend? How often do you think you would you need to hire a car?

We don't even need the car for grocery shopping as we shop online and get it delivered. We sometimes drive to a supermarket at the weekend, but mainly for the rotisserie chickens

I imagine we would hire a car for long distance trips like visits to friends or the in-laws.

hartcjhart

how much does the car cost to run
tax/insurance and mot not fuel
then divide that by 52 (assuming usage once a week)
and let us know

WestonDave

Where I live there are a number of cars run by City Car Club - http://www.citycarclub.co.uk/ - which are used for short duration hires as people want them. Might be worth looking into to see if there are any where you live and whether one could be used for the odd occasions you need one for short trips, along with maybe a normal hire car for holidays etc.

shar46y

hartcjhart wrote: »

how much does the car cost to run
tax/insurance and mot not fuel
then divide that by 52 (assuming usage once a week)
and let us know

Tax is £210 :eek:
Insurance is about £350.
Can't remember how much servicing and MOT is.

But I would expect the biggest expense is the depreciation?

missprice

its a do the maths thing I think

I don't have a car of my own because I live so close to town but if I lived in the wilderness (country) I would probably have one.

OH has a car but it gets used on a weekend only (works van mon to fri )

So the maths I figured out was a taxi for the shopping (you don't need that)
taxi to train station or airport and back
trains for days out
travel to work
at the time I did this its was around £550 a year for public transport/taxi and train
the car at that time cost around £1.5k inc repairs, servicing, petrol, insurance, tax. parking
so for me a no brainer
and I have lived happily without it since however I do now take OHs car for shopping but just because its there and I am cheeky:)

shar46y

WestonDave wrote: »

Where I live there are a number of cars run by City Car Club - http://www.citycarclub.co.uk/ - which are used for short duration hires as people want them. Might be worth looking into to see if there are any where you live and whether one could be used for the odd occasions you need one for short trips, along with maybe a normal hire car for holidays etc.

I've just searched and there does not seem to be a car club in my city Shame as that would have been a good solution.

We live within 2 miles of the city centre/railway station.

pendulum

Considered a bike?
Insurance is £120 (vs £450 for my car), £35 tax vs £245 for my car, better on fuel, sometimes free to park, cheaper MoT and servicing... makes sense for me as I just need something to get around on, that's why I'm learning to ride (plus the fun factor of course). The downside of course being the lessons/test fees and if you listen to some, certain death.

hartcjhart

shar46y wrote: »

Tax is £210 :eek:
Insurance is about £350.
Can't remember how much servicing and MOT is.

But I would expect the biggest expense is the depreciation?

the big part of the depreciation has already happened,

so if we say apx

£700 pa,=£14 apx a week that would probably equate to 2 taxi fairs let alone car hire

at that cost I would keep the car