Brian T

Ok, I havent driven my car since November. Should I sell it and commit to car free or keep it? I commute by bike full time already. The wife has a car for her and the kids, so were just talking about me.
I'm on the fence about taking that car free leap? Comments?

fender1

Sounds like it is a matter of convince rather than need as far as th second car goes. I would wonder though if you work situation were to changed would you be able to find employment comparable within riding distance?

Brian T

I'm in the military and I live on one base and work on another base. R/T is 22 miles.
The car sits for seven months at a time during deployments. I dont have any plans to move until 2011. I guess I have already made up my mind. I just needed a third party opinion.

Rob_E

Seems like leaving your for that long could create problems, like the battery running down. If you're creating a situation where, in the rare situation that you would need a car, it wouldn't work, then you might as well not have it. I've found that's not too expensive to keep a car that you rarely use, but there are expenses. Instead of paying X dollars a month in insurance and Y dollars a year for taxes, just put that money aside for a rental car if you ever find yourself needing one.

littlewaywelt

Same situation. I've been commuting for ~6-7 years and I sold my car two years ago. I don't regret it one iota. I save 13k a year not having my own car. I hated watching something expensive just depreciate, unused in my driveway. When I need one due to scheduling I rent from enterprise. (maybe 6 times per year) I get something fuel efficient for $18/day. My wife was initially against it, but over the last two years we've simply taken steps to make it work and gotten used to it with regard to carting kids around, etc. The financial savings lock it in. Personally I can't imagine having a 2nd car now or wanting one. As an added bonus (due to the scheduling) I get to bike commute with my kindergartener almost every day before I head to work.

jterribili

just over two years ago, I sold my car and made $1000 and then bought my bike and my gear for commuting - have never regretted it. My family has been living with one car ever since. You have to make some adjustments (appoinments with dentist/doctor/etc. can be hard sometimes) but you figure out how to make it all work.

DataJunkie

I was fine car lite for a couple of years. Then I discovered the joys of organized rides and group rides. That and my wife working a distance away and my son being watched at my mother in-law's 10 miles away when I work 20 miles from there did me in.
You can do it if you choose. I chose not to. My van sits 4 days of the week but I find it very useful on occasion.

HardyWeinberg

Going down to one car isn't that big a deal. I would ditch it. Buy trail-a-bikes and burley trailers w/ the savings so you can take the kids when they need taking.

idcruiserman

Only if you can get by when your one vehicle breaks down.

BigDaddyPete

We have one car, mostly because we would rather not spend the money. Between another car payment, insurance and gas we save $7800. I'm using the numbers on what we are paying on our current car, insurance, etc. Then there's the maintenance money, didn't even factor that in. The joke in our house is that the car belongs to the kids, and they have first priority, I'll ride my bike and the wife can take public transit.

Of course, if the weather is nice, and it isn't too far, I'll take the kids in the trailer too.

It's doable, you just need to know what your options are.

climbhoser

My truck has been sitting in the parking lot un-insured and un-registered since last August. I have turned it on twice just to keep the engine from gumming. My wife wants me to get it re-registered and re-insured so we have it, but I have no intention of using it and feel a bike serves me just as well.

My plan: Sell it and put the money into some mid-long investments. If you want to go safe put a chunk into mid-term investments and the rest in a money market. You could even buy a beater car to have around with the extra if it's worth it to you, but the best would be just to invest wisely and let it grow.

Then, when you decide you do need a car or are ever in a financial pinch you'll be glad you did this because the money appreciated instead of depreciated.

I want to do this, but I've got some work to do before my wife will give it up!

Brian T

Thanks, I dont really have a need to invest it right now. I do have long term investment, as well as a CD ladder for short to mid. This is not a high end car, it's an 1986 volvo. Thanks everyone for the opinions, I think I'll be selling it, and put the money into better commuting gear.

climbhoser

ooooohhhh......well diversified, too? As in, you got one in each bank in town?

Joking aside, I didn't mean to lend advice where it wasn't asked (i.e. your financial plan). That's just my plan. You wanna spend it and go get a new bike, awesome. You wanna buy new furniture, awesome.

One thing, though....CDs might just be the most terrible investment choice available.

craigdurkee

Im in a similar position i havent driven my car for what seems like ages, both myself and gf ride to work but we use it during holidays. Is it worth keeping a car for a few weeks a year i dont know. On the plus side for me i only drive an old thing and its all payed for so not monthly payments etc to help me make my mind up

ItsJustMe

If the car really does just sit there, mechanically it's probably not hurting it much. I recently had a repair bill on my car due to the fact that when I do drive it, it's only for 15 minutes at a time, just to run into town and pick up a bunch of groceries or something. That's hell on the engine. Now I try to drive it about once every 2 weeks, and I let the engine idle for an hour or so then to burn the water out of the oil.

Brian T

ha ha ha Diversifed! not me. I dont mind the advice. I thought about just putting the money up. But the temptation of a new bike is nice too, and I dont even have to tap the savings account.
Thanks