Originally Posted by dynodonn
There is no Flexcar type of program in my area, and if there were, I use my SUV just enough to not make it financially viable to deal with the added inconvenience in acquiring and retaining a vehicle, plus risk any additional fees in which they may impose.
I seem to be in roughly the same situation you are in. Public transportation to my job is poor, but I have seriously curtailed car use. Last week it was 4 miles.
You used an analogy about the car as tool and I thought it was a good one. And I still think that if you don't use a ladder or a power tool very often, better to rent than keep it depreciating on your property. If you can eventually get your annual mileage to somewhere like 1000, I figure this would be a good break-even point. There also seems to be a good savings on insurance when you get under 5000 miles but I'm not sure if it would be worthwhile to look at the rent/buy option at that level.