Comments on: No Car For Now

By: jeff covey

jeff covey — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 13:52:29 +0000

good for you! i’m coming up on one year since i sold my car and 1.75 years
since i stopped using it regularly, and i’ve never been happier.

By: Personal Finance Advice » Blog Archive » How Necessary Is A Cell Phone?

Thu, 15 Jun 2006 14:30:53 +0000

[...] The decision was made a few days ago that when looking at all the information, there was really no need for a car at this moment. While that has seemed strange to some of our friends and will cause some inconvenience, we think that the savings will be well worth any inconveniences involved (we haven’t had to rent a car yet, so we’ll see how that goes the first time that route is taken). [...]

By: Towards Better Life » Blog Archive » Do You Really Need to Buy A New Car?

Tue, 13 Jun 2006 14:18:03 +0000

[...] I am totally 100% agree with Jeffrey Strain’s strategy. [...]

By: Victor

Victor — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 13:21:43 +0000

Yes, being able to buy a car financially doesn’t mean that we need to buy a car. If there is not needed, then buying a car will simply become a luxury and waste of money as there are a lot of expense comes with buying a car like petrol, maintainance. If I can choose to drive a car and take a public transport to work, I will take the public transport. This is exactly what I did now.

By: Retireyoung

Retireyoung — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 02:14:41 +0000

I understand you totally. The train system in Japan is probably the best in the world. It is a shame the US government hasn’t done more to provide a reliable mass transit system. It may have also saved a couple of wars.

By: Max

Max — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 19:12:47 +0000

Nice. While I’ll never not have a car, I’ll try to have one bought and paid for. For that exact reason I’ve been forcing my wife to consider getting another German diesel – a Mercedes 300D, but she’s too much into little sporty compacts like Focuses, Civics, and Corollas.

Max: A what? You want a Corolla?
Wife: Yeah! I like that car!
Max: Why won’t you like a nice little diesel Benz?
Wife: Yuckey … Diesel … Phew … Besides, Corollas look cooler.
Max: Ok, I guess looking cooler is better that not having a payment or a maintenance bill. [sighs]
Wife: I think I can change your mind on this one.
Max: Oh yeah? How?
Wife: [censored]

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 18:31:59 +0000

Good for you! It takes a little guts to not own a car in a country where such a thing is assumed to be a requirement to living and often a status symbol to boot.

People like to put down public transit and walking with any possible, flimsy excuse but as soon as you list a few reasons to not buy a car they think you’re nuts.

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 16:38:40 +0000

We’re wrestling with this very issue now. We have two cars that are about the same age and mileage. Although either would probably last another 2-3 years before it would be necessary to replace them, we’re debating the merits of replacing one now rather than be in a position to have to replace both of them within a very short time somewhere down the road.

I know in a perfect world we’d all like to pay for cars in cash. But despite the fact that my wife and I are very good savers, I don’t see us reaching that point in the foreseeable future. What I’d like to do is get on a rotation, where one car is being replaced every 4 years or so. That means each car will last approximately 8 years, which means we’ll only have one car payment at any given time and we’ll always be driving reliable vehicles. And with any luck, we’ll be aggressive in paying down our auto debt and even be able to save up a nice chunk for the next vehicle. Maybe someday we’ll even get far enough ahead that we will be able to pay cash for a car.