Car useage, how much do you really need it?

Since my tax ran out on the Beetle i've been cycling or walking whenever i can and only used the van if i had to, i've so far done less than 30 driving miles this month and not purchased any petrol yet, i can confirm humans do not die without using a car, it's amazing really how lazy you can be if you have a car isn't it?

 

Wow, and good for you!

I have done so many miles per year for maybe the last ten years. Typically I do 30k per year. Currently I live in Derby but work in Worcester and Solihull. Prior to that I used to work in Leeds and commute it. Years before that I lived in Reading and worked in Cardiff, commuting every day. Not big or clever but I did get to see my family every day and pay the bills.

Next challenge was limited miles on my bus insurance. We went for 5k max and since renewal in Mid June we have done 1500 miles........

 

Living where we are it's a necessity to have a car, 8 miles to town, 2 busses a day (1 at 8.00am & 1 at 3.00pm). As for the rail system, don't get me started.

 

don't get me wrong i'm not going all hippy green, even using the bike and train combo to go to work is a ballache, i've had to swap shifts and start @ 9 instead of 9.30 to time it for the train, i have to leave home at 8.15 and now spend an extra hour out of the house doing my trip to work and back so i get that public transport is crap, what it's done though is made me think that i don't really need a car and the van if i'm prepared to make a small change, that's why i asked about motorbikes on another thread, what i really need is a reliable small cheap car i guess and get rid of the Beetle, £30 a week petrol and £260 a year tax is a bit daft for just coming to work.

 

Its 7 miles to the nearest bus route. Two buses per day.

 

Living in London I have no vehicle other than my bus - and have done without that for 14 months too :'(. An 8 minute walk to the tube then central London in 20 mins or so and also a bus stop across the road means that a car would be more bother than it is worth with parking, congestion charge and too much traffic . Having said that, I miss not having wheels (i.e. the bus) as public transport will not allow me to go camping , fishing, kiting or paragliding as they all entail carting too much gear to too remote places.

 

If you work from home like I do, then no, a car obviously isn't necessary - I can even walk the 2 miles round-trip to the nearest supermarket (although not when the temps are in the mid to high 30s!).

I have Harvee and a motorcycle, but the bike is up for sale as I hardly use it - my wife has a car as it's a 20-mile round-trip to work for her and even taking the bus would leave her with a 1 mile walk at the other end, so we'd use that for around town work mostly (although, as it's a 2.7 V6, it isn't exactly economical )).

 

I live in a City Centre, just 70 metres away from my work and feel real sorry for all those who have to sit in jams, day after day. Really, I do. Because it's such a waste of precious time. I got my mileage in the Touareg down to 4000 per year, mainly just weekend driving. But now, with the bus on the road (which will become the family's main weekend wheels for at least 6 months of the year) it's likely to come down to 2000. Such low mileage means I could afford to run a gas-guzzler. I seriously fancy an 8-year old 5 litre BMW M5 V8 or an AMG Merc CL55. A serious amount of motor for just 10 grand. Sod the 18mpg or whatever it is.

 

I'm trying to use the fleet less, walk to work and pick up various groceries on my way home as I walk through town. In fact the bus has done less than 2000 miles this year. It usually winds up close to 5000 a year.

But I couldn't down size the fleet to less than 2. The bus doesn't make economic sense as a daily commuter. And the big red bus makes even less sense. I'm quite sure it doesn't cost me £3 to drive to Purley/Coulsdon like it would on the bus.

 

Ive just bought another one coz it helps stop the weeds growing on the drive. ;D working from home is the way forward? live buy a river and canoe to the shops ?

 

I use my car quite a bit for work

















Well I am a driving instructor.

 

I have my chauffeur bring the Bentley round to the front of the house most days, if I have to go into the village.

 

I been using the mazda for work for the last 2 weeks do to having chest problems...
but since we moved closer to work, bigger house drive/garage. i have cut my yearly milage down by 9k,
and will be biking again soon as soon as im sure my bike wont get knicked from work.. 5 bikes were stolen last month one afternoon while everyone was there.

 

If you sorn your car do you keep it insured?? thread jack attempt :

 

I used to commute 40 miles a day each way, door to door, then I changed my habits, I drove 30 miles, parked up, got out my cycle, and then cycled about 18 miles to work thro' loverly countyside, (long way round depending on weather and if I was late) then work thro' lunch >, leave at 4.30 then cycle up to 25 miles back to the van , then drive home, I was a LOT fitter because of it. I think I would find it stress ful living too close to work. I think if i lived in London i wouldn't own a car.