Nice car Plonkee. The one plus side is that you are saving a whole bunch of money NOT owning a car. If you invest the difference, you’ll be the richest M-network member in 30 years.

I’ve never been able to find a pair of DMs in my size (14), so I have serious “car envy.” I’ve actually been considering getting rid of our car as we rarely use it here in the city. But it’s paid for; my only expenses are fuel, insurance, and annual license and registration fees, plus maintenance and repairs which so far have been very cheap since it’s a relatively new Toyota. I only spend about $40 Canadian per month on fuel. But when it gets older and I start having to spend more money on repairs I do think we’ll get rid of it entirely and rent a car when we need to get out of the city.

That’s my kind of car too, weird! Although mine is green and looks like a sneaker.

I have to say, I have been hearing more and more about the no car life, and in some ways, it makes me a bit jealous. In areas like mine, it would be pretty difficult to manage–suburban sprawl and such. But much about it appeals. With cars, like all “things,” they just end up owning you.

I’ve never owned a car either. I hate the bloody things. Lower bills, better health, engage with actual people on your commute rather than talk radio, and less likely to get in some road rage argument with boy racers. What’s not to love?

Great post, Plonkee. I think I’ll join in this discussion from my blog.

I envy the car-free life a bit. Out in the Denver suburbs, a bike would probably do; walking would be tough.

And how would one do the no-car thing with three kids under 5 years of age? That’s one I’ve wrestled with. I haven’t found a good answer.

Add me to the no car club. Sometimes, I just can’t believe how lazy some people are about walking. They will pay for parking at $160/month CDN instead of getting 20 min. of exercise each way. And yeah, I’d do it in the freezing winter too! Did it as a kid delivering papers.

Hmmm. 3.86 liters to the gallon x 2.10 Pounds to the dollar… A little closer to $8 to the gallon. Either way, it’s still very expensive! Fortunately the cars in the UK are generally smaller and more efficient. The car I had in England was a 1.1 liter engine that got 40 miles to the gallon. Not too bad!

oooops. 2.10 dollars to the pound. That’s what I get for typing shortly after returning from the pub!

With kids you need to live somewhere with walkable schools and excellent public transit, Ryan. One of my best friends has a 5 year old and a 3 year old, and has never owned a car. They’re in NYC. I have neighbours here in downtown Toronto whose kids are on subways and streetcars day in day out.

Sadly, I couldn’t go without a car…I just like cars and driving way too much.

I do however own 2 pairs of Docs, and strongly feel they are the best quality shoes you can buy hands down. I’ve owned my first pair for 7 years, and they are just now starting to look a bit worn.

Them boots were made for walking! If I lived in a big city w/ good public transit I would get rid of my gas guzzler real quick!

I almost have to have a car, living in Los Angeles, although I drive it about 5K miles/year, which is less than half what most people do. It still sucks eggs, though; o, for a transit system like NYC, Chicago, London, etc. Or a “real” town, where things are within walking distance.

I truly believe that not having a car is a significant improvement in overall happiness. Since I moved away from Manhattan and needed a car I have significantly more headaches with parking, commuting, repairs, gas, taxes, licenses, inspections, yada yada yada. Never get a car if you can avoid it. For 8 years living in Moscow and New York City I avoided owning one and I was completely happy and never missed it for a second. Cabs and rental companies are there when you need a car. The rest of the time it’s great to drive the DMs (or Saucony sneakers in my case).

I also have never owned a car. It is a *big* money savings. (My transit pass costs me $65/month.) Like plonkee, I deliberately choose to live in a convenient location where I can easily get to work using public transportation, and also that is near to things like supermarkets and drugstores. I would not consider living in the suburbs (I hate them anyway). I am also well served by bicycle paths. Sometimes I have to have things delivered. I get groceries delivered about once a month (costs $3.50), the rest of the thing I carry them on foot. I am also willing to look ridiculous by carrying odd items in the metro. I spare myself all the hassles of car repairs, parking tickets, clearing snow and ice, etc. It does take planning sometimes to live without a car, but it’s worth it to me!

Dang! How would I like to dispense with my gas-guzzling Dog Chariot? Let me count the ways!

Not possible, though, with an 18-mile commute that takes 20 minutes by auto and 2 hours 10 minutes by bus (one way), and the nearest safe grocery store four miles away. If I had to ride the bus four hours a day just to go to work, well…I’d find a way to go on welfare.

Seriously, though: Can you rent a car for the times that you really need to haul stuff from, say, Ikea or a home improvement store? It’s always seemed to me that if you lived in a Real City (i.e., one organized so people can reach markets needed to supply food and basic necessities on foot and one that provides a usable public transport system), it would be reasonable to can the car and rent a vehicle for the rare times when you want to drive out of town or haul heavy goods.

Forty dollars Canadian a month. Darn! Just driving to work costs me $40 (U.S.) a WEEK!

[sigh] Wish it were possible for the likes of moi either to live in a small town where you can walk almost everywhere you need to go or a Real City where you can ride public transit to work and to market.

Yes, I can rent a car for the times that I really need one. I’ve done it to go and visit friends who live out in the sticks for example.

Actually, for trips to Ikea, I usually wait until one of my friends wants to go, it’s just easier to go with another person. The friend that I normally go with owns a car, so they drive.

Great Post. Here are a few more good resources for your readers:

www .edmunds.com
www .autotrader.com

and in the UK try

www .netcars.co.uk
www .autotrader.co.uk

Quite right! I once worked out I’d saved about £15,000 by not owning a car. And that as before you take into account compound interest or guilt about the environment.

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good topic, but when you will update?

Well you cant miss what you havent had, however you could look into leasing a car, this allows you to run cars you would never of imagined for a period of up to 3 years. Sometimes you will pay less than the depreciation had you bought the car outright!

I agree with you that is less expensive and healthier not to own a car. But what if you have to change you workplace, you want to go on vacation, you have an emergency and you have to get somewhere very fast? I own a car for some time and I can say that I can’t live without it for now. I am going to the gym 4-5 times a week and I don’t spend too much with the car.

nice picture but its not a car its a shoes.

btw, Dog Chariot is not too good, i like sedans

at least get a better pair of shoes.

Yea, nice is that shoes, maybe u should change a collor? Keep up!

It would be reasonable to can the car and rent a vehicle for the rare times when you want to drive out of town or haul heavy goods.