Get rid of car ?

Guess it comes down to the value in the freedom to jump in a car at moment's notice to go wherever you want quickly. Big lifestyle change. If everything you want is in walking distance or you can wait for public transportation then why not? But it would kind of "shrink" your world, so to speak.

I live in a small town and need my car for work so not an option for me. Next door neighbor is a guy who works in town and has no car. Never asked him why and I offer him rides which he declines if it is nice out. He is in better physical condition than me so another factor to consider.

I knew someone years ago who was similar, he told me he had driven drunk and killed someone .... so he stopped driving (and drinking).

Used my "freedom to jump in a car at moment's notice to go wherever you want quickly" yesterday afternoon to visit the kids in Hamilton. After two hours we were still crawling under a blazing sun that poured in the windows defeating the AC that did it's best to keep the car comfy at 18°C, while we shivered in the drafts. TTC and a GO train woulda had us there sipping ice-tea in the backyard about the time our car-lifestyle got us to Burlington.

All that 'freedom' disappears when everyone tries to use theirs at the same time in the same place. We do a lot better under those circumstances, when we figure out the best way to do what we all want together. (There's more than one reason we call them political parties) Unfortunately, when all the people you want to share that concept with are locked-up, each of them alone in a steel box they paid big bucks for, it's hard to raise their consciousness-about any other possibilities.

But the rest of the First World — even bits of the USA — run bullet-trains where people want to go.

Since you ask, owning a car is not a dollar and cent decision (at lease for me) - I am a car guy and need to have a good fast car at all times, if I don't drive any given day I get withdrawal symptoms...

Zoot Allures said:

Car costs up to 10 k with depreciation, insurance etc

TTC, taxis and rental and bike would save over 5k per year without the responsibility of ownership and driving


It would also be safer as you greatly reduce risks of auto accident but if you plan on biking cars are safer

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Zoot Allures said:

Car costs up to 10 k with depreciation, insurance etc

TTC, taxis and rental and bike would save over 5k per year without the responsibility of ownership and driving


It would also be safer as you greatly reduce risks of auto accident but if you plan on biking cars are safer

Click to expand...

I think everyone understands the dollars and cents, hard to argue against the simple math.

Where you run into issues is the value of someone's time. If my time is worth say $100/hour then taking two hours to go shopping instead of one is a losing proposition. Who wants to save $5k per year if it costs them $20k in time?

On top of that, while mass transit works brilliantly with a high population density, it's unworkable at even moderate levels of density.

What is intriguing to me is Uber/Lyft/etc. I tend to live in suburban areas, and in most of those areas you could now survive nicely without a car due to access to ride-sharing. Of course regulation might kill ride-sharing, but if it doesn't I could see myself going car-less in 5-10 years.

KK

With a car, you have privacy. Public transits, you need to face public (drunken idots, smelly people, weirdos that want to touch you, etc). Both come with stress / cost, it becomes matter of what you can tolerate more of ..

Mine only costs me $9065 per year.

If you live and work downtown it would make sense to ditch the car. I lived downtown, uptown and around high park for many years and did not own a vehicle. I was able to bike, walk, transit or cab my way around quite easily. If I planned on getting out of the city, or needed a vehicle for a short term emergency, then it simple to just rent one.

When I moved out to the burbs I tried to survive without a car but it was difficult. I think I made it about a year and then got a vehicle.

Even when I went to University at a smaller city/larger town it made more sense to not have a vehicle.

If you think it makes sense from a economical point of view, then go for it.

Just don't be one of those sanctimonious assholes that like to bitch about others who may own a car who are in a similar situation like yourself. We all have different needs and it is important to respect that.

Zoot Allures said:

Car costs up to 10 k with depreciation, insurance etc

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For most people gas is far more than insurance, and depreciation is negligible unless you are buying / leasing a new car every 2-3 years

Zoot Allures said:

TTC, taxis and rental and bike would save over 5k per year without the responsibility of ownership and driving

Click to expand...

Are you kidding me? Taxi/uber are WAY overpriced, bikes are useless, and TTC/transit is slow


Oh and not owning a car will seriously effect your ability to reproduce

I gave up the car many years ago and saved so much money. I always have to option of renting a car when you want to go on those summer road trips.

I ditched my car 2 years ago when I moved mid-town to Yonge & Egger. I take the subway to work or ride my bike. What a huge savings not owning a car, payments$, insurance$, maintenance$, condo parking$, work parking$, just about anyware you go parking$. Plus riding my bike everywhere is getting me back in shape pretty quickly :boxing:

I also got fed up with traffic jams everywhere and sometimes for longg periods. I remember a few years ago I was driving from Bayview & Cummer down Bayview to Eg. At 4pm on a Wed it took me 50mins. Traffic was at a stand still and there was no accident or construction going on. This was normal traffic at that time. I dont want to get stuck in these traffic jams and have to focus on driving and avoiding being hit by a bad, impatient driver. Yes, if I am on the bus I am still in traffic jams but at least I feel much more relaxed because I do not have to focus on the road. I can just zone out with my headphones on listening to music surfing the net, watching sports, reading terb etc.etc

Its been 2 years now and I dont miss car ownership. If I feel the need to drive I'll just rent a car for a weekend to get out of the city

oldjones said:

Used my "freedom to jump in a car at moment's notice to go wherever you want quickly" yesterday afternoon to visit the kids in Hamilton. After two hours we were still crawling .

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Yah, I went from Etobicoke area to Niagara Falls probably same route that week and took like 3+ hours not including time stopped at Pure Gold on the way. Mostly 0-5 kph until just before Hamilton. Somewhere along the way I saw a commuter train zipping by (maybe the GO train?). There is also the 407 toll road option assume much faster. But I didn't get into heavey traffic until after I had the choice to ver off to the 407 as I recall. Fortunately left with extra time and got to the Oh Canada theater (highly recommend) just in time for 6:30 seating.

When I travel from Phoenix I use to use Supershuttle vans with other passengers. The last few years Uber cars also close to my home or airport for return and almost the same price as Supershuttle but no other passanger to pick up or delivery.

In Toronto I had to go from Etobicoke to a private meeting at a condo 100 Harbor (huge towers) lots of traffic, constant worry about lane changes (at least Google maps called them out but some still confusing) and cost $20 to park. When I got back to hotel I checked my Uber ap and would have cost me $28 (although each way) but saved the hassle of driving on Toronto highways!

I can also see the advantage of public transportation being able to relax, read, not be holding steering wheel so tight with treacherous driving etc if routes were near where I wanted to go. I need a t-shirt "I survived Toronto highways!

Zoot Allures said:

Car costs up to 10 k with depreciation, insurance etc

TTC, taxis and rental and bike would save over 5k per year without the responsibility of ownership and driving


It would also be safer as you greatly reduce risks of auto accident but if you plan on biking cars are safer

Click to expand...

You can't trust drivers not to run you down, even in bike lanes. I usually ride on the side walk and veer off the sidewalk, onto the bike lane when I encounter people trying to walk. Saw a long documentary recently about San Paulo, where a girl got the city to start action on making the city more bike friendly. 20 million people in sweltering heat driving on congested roads. The documentary also showed how Los Angeles was bicycle friendly at the turn of the 19th/20th century. also had the best transit system in the world. Electric street cars. GM took over and ripped up all the rails and switched to gas buses, not without public outcry from people who cared. The automobile is kind of like the goose who laid the golden egg, killing itself.

I’m in the same boat. I spend a butt load on my car and now that’s it’s all paid off, it isn’t worth anything.

I’m trying out public transit, Iner and car rentals for long-distance trips while my car is parked and I’ll see how much more inconvenient it really is. Of course I’ll be away from home most of the summer so that throws a monkey-wrench in my plans ��

I have a car, but live in an area where it's not entirely necessary. I paid in cash back in the day. My plan is to drive it into the ground, and once it's gone, I will not replace it. Considering it's an '08 and still has less than 100k on it, I suspect it'll be around for a while. While I certainly agree that going car-less is a lifestyle change, in a city like Toronto, a car is not a necessity, depending on your location of course. Now, if our subway system could get itself together, and run 24/7, as any large city should, then I'd consider ditching the car sooner than later.

I know people who moved downtown so they wouldn’t need a car. Now they pay a fortune for parking 2 cars.
I live in suburbia, a car is necessary, unless you work and shop close and are a homebody.
I like to get out, get away, or even play.
I’ve gone as far as downtown Toronto, or London or Kingston or Barrie to see special ladies. Sudbury once and Cambridge used to be a regular stop.
Piled up the KM’s on a few cars.

P.S. bike ride tonight, just for exercise.

A car is worse investment people make as value always goes down until it has no value.

If you must have car buy used. And let someone else eat the depreciation

Only real advantage of new car is the latest safety features, all else is superficial as a used car gets you around the same way.

Big Rig said:

A car is worse investment people make as value always goes down until it has no value.

If you must have car buy used. And let someone else eat the depreciation

Only real advantage of new car is the latest safety features, all else is superficial as a used car gets you around the same way.

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NOT and investment, its an expense. Was never meant to be an investment.
And, someone has to buy new cars, or else you wouldn’t be able to buy used.
I’ve bought new, I like new, I like full warranty. Then when it goes downhill I’ll sell it so someone else can have the headaches. Good luck.
See, there are different points of view to everything.

NorthernCrush said:

I spend a butt load on my car and now that’s it’s all paid off, it isn’t worth anything.

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LOL, I remember that feeling. Bust my tail to pay it off and when I did it was worth squat. Its like punch in the gut