Two cars, or not two cars, that is the question.

JGB1955

We have 3 cars - one is a classic (Morgan) that I have never driven because it needs real muscles (no power steering) and I can't work out where the bonnet ends, the others are both Fords - Galaxy (with 250K on the clock) for DH and Fiesta for me.  The Galaxy is almost time expired and although we would not consider reducing to 2 cars, we DO have to think about the replacement for it.  I hate being away, on holiday, and I can't drive 'his' car - I feel limited by it, although it's more of a 'me' problem rather than a 'car' problem. Far too big for me to consider driving.  He's happy to drive mine, I'm just not happy to drive his.

I don't envisage giving up 'my' car until I am no longer allowed/able to drive.  I value my independence above most other things.

Savvy_Sue

missile said:

Deleted_User said:

Grumpy_chap said:

Why not run a trial period?  Put one of the cars on SORN for a month and see how you fare.

I didn't know that this was possible just for a month?
If it was - people could SORN their cars when they went on holiday to save a few £'s

Not many go away on holiday for more than a month without their car. Those that have off road parking could SORN.

You can only SORN for complete calendar months, so it doesn't usually work for holidays, but is a good way to test out whether or not you really need a particular car. 

Langtang

Silvertabby said:

Langtang said:

Annie1612 said:

I get that your partner would prefer to drive a smaller car. I would too but i understand it’s not really practical for us. In fact we are going to upsize to an estate soon. But I think it’s pretty easy to adjust to driving something larger once you get used to it. 

The few times my wife did drive my CR-V, I think she secretly liked it. However, she is quite short in stature compared to me and finds it difficult to get the seat position right so that she can both reach the pedals AND see out of the windscreen.

We dropped to one car over 5 years ago, and it's never been a problem.  Our current vehicle is a VW T-Cross, being a small suv (on the Polo chassis, but with chunkier bodywork).  I am also vertically challenged, but love driving the T-Cross - it's higher up, so I have a better all round view.  

That's interesting. I'd never thought about the T-Cross, and now that I know it's based on the polo chassis it may be worth a look. OH was looking to go from Fiesta to Puma, as they're apparently based on the same chassis.

Langtang

It's been great reading all the responses to my question, thanks very much. A divided opinion it would seem.

I think, whilst we can still afford to, we'll continue with 2 cars. Perhaps around SPA (2030) we'll look to change to a forever car that we both feel comfortable driving.

By then of course, the new electric rules will be in operation. I hope by then that the charging situation is better than it is at present.

missile

Langtang said:

It's been great reading all the responses to my question, thanks very much. A divided opinion it would seem.

I think, whilst we can still afford to, we'll continue with 2 cars. Perhaps around SPA (2030) we'll look to change to a forever car that we both feel comfortable driving.

By then of course, the new electric rules will be in operation. I hope by then that the charging situation is better than it is at present.

I intend to ensure I have a nearly new combustion engine car(s) before they are banned.

mark55man

missile said:

Langtang said:

It's been great reading all the responses to my question, thanks very much. A divided opinion it would seem.

I think, whilst we can still afford to, we'll continue with 2 cars. Perhaps around SPA (2030) we'll look to change to a forever car that we both feel comfortable driving.

By then of course, the new electric rules will be in operation. I hope by then that the charging situation is better than it is at present.

I intend to ensure I have a nearly new combustion engine car(s) before they are banned.

Think about how hard it might be to get Petrol at the end of that new cars lifespan - might be more difficult than it currently is to get a charge,  Although I have to say my thinking was a little along your lines, so it might be difficult either way

Savvy_Sue

To add a different spin to it, I was chatting to an old friend who was saying how liberating it is to no longer have a car at all! No-one expects you to travel to them, no responsibility for maintenance, insurance, fuel etc. 

They are older than us (probably 70s) and live fairly centrally in the city, they still cycle to most places (despite the hills). Clearly that wouldn't suit everyone: DH for example has never been a cyclist, and I don't think I'll ever return to it. 

matelodave

WE are both in our mid 70's and have two cars and as we do different things at different times we still want two. One is a diesel S-Max automatic (the one I usually drive although my wife is more than happy to drive it) and it's what tows the caravan.

The second is a petrol Citroen C3 Aircross which is our "run around" which is effectively my wifes car although I drive it as well. Actually the Aircross is a suprisingly large car and goes a lot better than you think it should. She went away to stay with out daughter last weekend and I'd have been stuffed without a car

Public transport isn't an option, a bus on Thursday mornings or a railway station four miles away so it'll be a long time before we give up one of them.

One problem we've noticed with many couples who give up one car is that one of them tends to do most of the driving and the second (usually the wife) ends up as the passenger and loses the confidence to drive - especially long distances. It's happened to several people that we know.

[Deleted User]

mark55man said:

missile said:

Langtang said:

It's been great reading all the responses to my question, thanks very much. A divided opinion it would seem.

I think, whilst we can still afford to, we'll continue with 2 cars. Perhaps around SPA (2030) we'll look to change to a forever car that we both feel comfortable driving.

By then of course, the new electric rules will be in operation. I hope by then that the charging situation is better than it is at present.

I intend to ensure I have a nearly new combustion engine car(s) before they are banned.

Think about how hard it might be to get Petrol at the end of that new cars lifespan - might be more difficult than it currently is to get a charge,  Although I have to say my thinking was a little along your lines, so it might be difficult either way

The cost will be prohibitive 

Langtang

missile said:

Langtang said:

It's been great reading all the responses to my question, thanks very much. A divided opinion it would seem.

I think, whilst we can still afford to, we'll continue with 2 cars. Perhaps around SPA (2030) we'll look to change to a forever car that we both feel comfortable driving.

By then of course, the new electric rules will be in operation. I hope by then that the charging situation is better than it is at present.

I intend to ensure I have a nearly new combustion engine car(s) before they are banned.

This is my thinking, also. 2030 sees the new law come into force, along with my normal retirement age. It’s a sign. 

I am a geek at heart, and love new gadgets, so I would have thought an electric car would have been right up my street (a colleague, who has a Tesla, has said that once I drive an electric car I will be hooked) but I can see the practical drawbacks. 

Heavens, there’s plenty of places in the uk still struggling to get a decent broadband signal, decades after fast internet was announced. I envisage the same with charging points. 

 I’m not entirely sure on the new rulings though. Will it be entirely combustion cars that are banned, or will you still be able to get hybrids. Through all my searching online, I never did find a definitive answer. 

mark55man said:

missile said:

Langtang said:

It's been great reading all the responses to my question, thanks very much. A divided opinion it would seem.

I think, whilst we can still afford to, we'll continue with 2 cars. Perhaps around SPA (2030) we'll look to change to a forever car that we both feel comfortable driving.

By then of course, the new electric rules will be in operation. I hope by then that the charging situation is better than it is at present.

I intend to ensure I have a nearly new combustion engine car(s) before they are banned.

Think about how hard it might be to get Petrol at the end of that new cars lifespan - might be more difficult than it currently is to get a charge,  Although I have to say my thinking was a little along your lines, so it might be difficult either way

I can only imagine that it would be available, but at a premium (no pun intended) There’s so much more than cars that rely on it. Some of our neighbours have vintage cars, and they’ve been talking about not being able to use the new fuel mix that has become the norm. 

matelodave said:

One problem we've noticed with many couples who give up one car is that one of them tends to do most of the driving and the second (usually the wife) ends up as the passenger and loses the confidence to drive - especially long distances. It's happened to several people that we know.

That is exactly what happened to my MIL. 

So much so, that she reversed the car out of the garage after a long time of not driving and forgot to close the door before reversing out of the garage. The door buckled back on its hinges, left the garage, careered down the driveway almost hitting a neighbours house. She was in such a state of shock, she completely went blank on what to do to stop the car. 

Luckily, everyone was safe and uninjured. She rarely drove again after that, although she was very reluctant to give up the car/her licence. She felt it would mark a point in her life, and that it would be all downhill from there (again, no pun intended)