elgdav wrote:Insurance and tax is about £1000 a year for a decent car that's the same as 200 short taxi rdes
I bought my car, new, for £8000 in 2008. I travel 5000 miles a year - mostly long distance, as I have to travel to northern England once a month. I make 2 or 3 return childcare journeys each week in Cardiff. After 10 years the car will have cost me £20000;for initial purchase, fuel, MOT, service, insurance, repairs (only £90 so far), tyres and tax (£30 a year). So that's £40 a week. Six 4 mile taxi journeys in Cardiff would cost around £60 a week.
I've got a wedding to go to in Ely today followed by a reception in Fairwater. I'm debating whether to drive or get the train/bus from Penarth. I will probably drive - and break my rule - as it would be ridiculously expensive and/or time-consuming to use public transport for the multiple journeys I will make. Yes, I could get a day-to-go ticket on the bus but that will mean that I spend a lot of time travelling.
I agree that if you buy an expensive car then the sums don't add up but I'm proud to be the owner of a "city car". It has been very useful. And I've only owned a car for half my adult life - I spent 15 years moving kids around by foot, bike and public transport and believe me it is impractical, slow and, in the UK, expensive.