WWYD - Should I keep my car?

[wonderings2]

We've just moved closer to DD's school so we now walk the school run and I work from home (I have 3-4 non mandatory in person meet-ups a year)

My car is 13 years old, costs around £600 a year in tax and insurance, I put £40 worth of diesel in at the end of August and it still has 1/4 tank.

The MoT is due at the beginning of January and it wouldn't surprise me if it'll cost too much in repairs to get it passed, the garage mentioned last year that the car had only done just over 2000 miles since the last MoT so I imagine it will be far less this year given Im not driving the school run.

The thing is, I've always loved having the freedom of driving and being able to go wherever I want. We're now in a village a few miles outside a city but that city has terrible public transport and the one local shop is awful. Logistically we could probably get round most things by sharing DH's car, shopping deliveries, Deliveroo etc. with a bit of planning. He needs his car each day for work but if I needed it the odd day here or there we could do that.

We said we'd see what happens when it has it MoT and if its not worth getting it through the MoT we'd look to get a little run around but realistically we're going to need a spend a couple of grand and we have things we want to do in the new house. I honestly never thought Id contemplate not having my own car but it hardly gets used, I got in it today and got a cobweb in the face 😂

This was me 15 years ago. I clung to my car because it represented my independence, but when it failed its MOT, I had no real choice but to let it go. DH and I now share one car. About twice a year, we have to be creative because we need to go in opposite directions at the same time, but otherwise it's fine.

Definately just share your husbands car. It’ll probably take a bit of getting used to, having to organise who
gets it when but then you’ll be used to it. Put that £600 to an upgraded holiday or few nice days days out!

I'd definitely see how it does in the MOT.
I don't know how old your DD is, but if you live in a village you may well find she wants to do clubs further away, or see friends who live nearby,
during the time your DH is at work. We live near a city, and all that offers, but with the nearest (rubbish) public transport being a mile and a half away on country lanes, it would not be practical to not have a second vehicle.

Never ever give up your own car. It's your way to freedom

My mother told me this 35 years ago. It turned out to be very true.

I gave up my car once, I regretted it instantly. 4 years later I got a new car and I'll never ever be without again and I wfh and my ds school is around the corner.
It's just so handy if you fancy popping out.

A diesel engine needs regular long journeys to burn off the particles in the filter. Thats why people have diesel engines, because they do long journeys and diesel is cheaper. Just sitting around doing low miles is going to clog the filter and they’re expensive to fix. I’d sell it and put the money in a taxi fund.

Funny you mentioned that I got a warning light come on for a that a few weeks ago so I run it up and down the motorway.

My journeys now are less frequent but longer, more like 20-30 mile round trips, I imagine the previous 1-2 miles each morning and afternoon were doing it no good at all. 🙁

Its tough isn't it, I struggled to pass my test and was so proud of myself and loved the freedom. My mum also struggled through her test at 40 and it transformed life for her so it was always important to me.

I did, but neither of us drive to work. As the kids have got older the times they want to be in different places at the same time have increased, but we live in London so usually at least one of the places is walkable or relatively easy by public transport. Something to bear in mind as you live more rurally.

I’ve also got a diesel and since I’m not doing the school run any more it’s just not getting the long runs. I do love my car though and was thinking about swapping it for a petrol version. Unfortunately I’ve just lost my job so that will have to wait.