SB1501

Feeling really discontent about driving currently. I'm someone that has enjoyed owning a car, maintaining it and keeping it in great shape. I've even happily paid over the cheapest prices for quality parts, been OTT about servicing and taken a lot of great pride in the couple of cars I've owned in the last decade.

In recent years though, it's been a repetitive cycle of things... all combing to make me think "screw this, I want out".

Warranty work needed... disputes to get it taken on, and done, then done to a poor standard, then a long time without the car I put so much time and effort in to. I've ended up selling / trading them as even on the second attempts, most of the local car trade can't get it right.

Parking. A constant hassle. At my street, most households have multiple cars now, a few elderly folks have moved out or passed on (RIP) who didn't have cars, homes re-filled with new tenants who have a car, maybe two. It's a constant battle now. At my partners house, same thing, her neighbours kid moved back in, with his car, takes the spot outside (nobody has claims to them) and her new downstairs neighbour now also has a car. Constant luck needed to get a spot. Even at work!! They downsized the office floor space lease (post covid, new working from home) and as such, 90 car spaces now 30, and introduced a booking system, which inevitably leaves most people out of luck. when challenged, they said "we want people to cycle to work etc" , essentially using a good initiative, as an excuse for the predicament they've put a lot of us in. To top it off, a local shopping centre where I decided to park my car (at cost) for peace of mind over scratches or theft etc, has now increased prices going from £1 up to an hour / £2.50 up to 3 hours which covered me, up to £2.50 for up to an hour, and £4 for up to 3... Which just makes that unsustainable financially.

Then, around Easter, after spending an entire day (a nice day) polishing it, waxing it, really getting it in beautiful shape on a day off... Took it up to a resort town on my last day off work for a while only for an arrogant motorcyclist to cut in, stop, meaning I had to move around slowly. He then drove right into the back of me (crash for cash or sheer stupidity?!). Insurance agreed that it wasn't my fault (grateful for my front and rear dash cams). Now my car is in getting repairs, who knows how many weeks? They gave me a god awful courtesy car. Not enjoyable at all, and severely thirsty on gasoline. No estimated return date for my car, weeks potentially.

It seems to be one thing after another. There is no peace of mind. Enjoyment of car ownership and investment seems to be very, VERY short lived. So much to the point where I think, I'd rather cut my losses. Pay the £5,700 of negative equity off with a loan and take my company up for its offer of a £3,000 limit cycle to work scheme.

I've been on here many times over the years, giving it some serious thought and getting some stellar advice but never doing it. Clothing can apparently solve the weather issue. Cycle lights with car headlight lumens can hopefully solve visibility, even on a dark road. Hiring a car should cover a weekend or two per month of 'road trips' with my girlfriend. Surely I'd come out financially better off. No more petrol. No more insurance. No more repairs. No more servicing.

I live around 7 miles from work / 5 from the city. Right now, in winter at least, cycling in and out seems to be a no go. I could spend more time at my girlfriend's home in the city making cycle commuting to work in winter very easy and 20 mins max. A commitment I should probably already be making anyway... There are showers at work too. Unfortunately WFH isn't an option due to a recent change meaning I must be in for security purposes. I'm 28 and in the next two years should be moving out into the city anyway. Perhaps no £20,000 car loan / monthly payments on my credit record would free up so much more cash to get a nicer home in the city further cementing car free living into my life as a practical lifestyle.

I'm (as ever) seriously considering this. I don't hate cars, I hate the reality of owning one.

Any of you been where I am? Any advice or words of wisdom? Perhaps I'm taking the circumstances too personally / emotionally..

I-Like-To-Bike

This.
Advice: relax.

SB1501

Thank you. I have since had my car back, repaired. Enjoyed the weekend going out to stay at a remote AirBnB with it. Just in from washing it now, bank holiday here in the UK.

Still, when I think of the few-hundred a month I'm paying for it, I think I could advance my life a little further if that few hundred went towards a house or property. As it stands, it'll be tight to manage both per month whilst having money to live (well).

50PlusCycling

I work from home, and most of what I need is within 10 minutes walk from where I live. If you think driving and parking is tough where you are, try living here in central Tokyo. But I do have a car, a nice BMW 750i, which spends most of its time nestled comfortably in the garage. I got a nice car because I hate driving in Tokyo. On those occasions I get stuck in traffic, at least I am comfortably stuck. Maintenance and repairs are few and far between, I drive so little that a tank of gas can last 6 or more months. I continue to own a car because it remains a ticket to freedom, once you get out of the cities, Japan is a beautiful place to see by car. I also have kids in school, and I find it easier to go to school events, go camping, and take them other places by car.

There are different options when it comes to determining what you can afford. You can adjust your spending to live within your means, or you can increase your means so as to be able to afford more. The latter option is not as hard as many people like to think.