To not want a car

[Roygrace]

My car has been written off with only £300 from insurance. This was a car I had since new and was in debt early on but paid off.

Looking at options now and I just can't believe the price and debt that I would need to get into to get a car.

My husband says you have a good job, treat yourself have a car. The reality is for a 7k car I like it would be £150 a month for 2 years then insurance and petrol.i can't stop thinking of the holidays I would have.

Is 200 a month really worth it for a car I comparison to £50 all in for a bus pass. I live semi rural and it would be a pain ishbut would keep me fit and encourage excercise.

Friends and colleagues tell me it's the norm to pay around £200 for the priveledge and freedom of a car?im just not convinced

Just buy a runaround second hand for a couple of grand. You don't need a new car.

It's you choice.

Just don't then act like a twerp and except your friends to ferry you around because of your choice.

YANBU. When our car died, we didn't replace it, but (big but), we were within 15 minutes' walk of two train stations (TfL zone 3/4 and 4), on a handy little bus route, and within easy walking distance of another three bus routes. For the occasional longer journey, we would hire a car, maybe three times a year - though the cost seemed to go up while the quality of car went down as time went on.

Now we're in the back of beyond, we have a car again, and probably need a second, but we're resisting that at the moment.

If you can manage conveniently without a car, carry on as you are.

I've never seen the appeal of debt with new cars buy second hand or try using bus for a few months then decide if it's worth it!

You can buy a car and not get yourself into debt for less than 1k? You don't need a new car, how ridiculous.

You can buy a completely decent, reliable car secondhand for £1500. Utterly jinxes continued reliable running of own £1500 secondhand car.

Does your DH have a car? My car was a big change for me and DH (had previously been using buses) and I don't regret the expenditure for the freedom it gives us both in terms of holidays, doing things at weekends etc. But if your DH has a car and you can go on his insurance to help out with long drives etc then I think it would make less of a difference IYSWIM, if you really were happy to get the bus daily for work.

(Buses are not always a magic bullet, though - waiting at the bus stop for a delayed bus, rubbish heating, slightly peculiar travel-mates etc will become part of your daily commute!)

Is there any rush to decide? How about seeing how you get on using public transport for a few months, meanwhile saving up a bit, so if you do decide having a car is useful after all you won't have to borrow so much to get one?

Why not use public transport for 6 months and in the meantime put £200 a month away in savings in a car fund.... Then if you change your mind you are half way to a decent cheap second hand car for around £2-3k.

Yep your right there is no rush to decide

It's not a new car I want it's a reliable car that lasts

Few months on bus then decide!!