Cars are stupid.

[zoom-zoom]

If you're having trouble pulling the trigger, I strongly recommend parking it for some period of time and seeing how you do. Figure out how you are going to handle bulky loads and groceries and how you're going to get to the doctor if you're too sick to ride or stand at the bus stop. Proving to yourself that you don't need the car is very different from thinking that you might be able to get along with out it, and it makes the decision easier.

For us the issue is living in BFE. DH has to have a car to get to work a half hour away and we have no public trans. We don't need 2 cars every day, but I'd say we need 2 at least a third of the time. If we were close to his work and our kid's school (which is near his work) it would be a non-issue. We could definitely live with just one, then.

[zoom-zoom]

I find that cars are much more reliable today, than say, 20 years ago. The last 2 cars I've had required almost no repairs, except for regular maintenance. I find that a lot of people do not maintain their cars, and then end up paying more in the end. Not saying that you do that, but, around here, it seems common.

My last car was the most reliable car ever to sit in our driveway--a '97 Ford Escort. When it was about 9 years old the A/C died...which was partly a design flaw. Ford had some sort of thermostat that prevented the A/C from being used if it was <50º, which meant that it went unused for months at a time in MI. An unused A/C system ends up with seals that don't get lubricated from use.

That was the ONLY issue we had with that car in over 200k miles of use. When we sold it it was ~11 and we really only got rid of it because it was becoming too small as our kid grew. We essentially gave it to a friend who hit hard times as both she and her hubby were in college.

[tulip]

Sounds like a no brainer to me! Do it!

We also have an older Ford F150 (1998) that we may sell soon. We recently moved closer to my workplace, my DH is retired and has been biking or taking the free buses everywhere, only drives his truck about once a week. If I were to take the bus to work once a week so that he could use my car (a 2004 Honda Element), we could be a one-car family. It's hard to pull the trigger, but something I know we'd feel good about if we can do it!

There are Zipcars where you live...that would make it easier to have just one car.

[WindingRoad]

[QUOTE=zoom-zoom;524888]My last car was the most reliable car ever to sit in our driveway--a '97 Ford Escort."

I have to say that was a pretty good car, I had one of those too! LOVED that little wagon, unfortunately my ex got it when we went our separate ways. I took the Saturn which was newer and imploded about a year later, ugh. Since becoming a frugal college student I now have a 1990 Honda Civic and strangely it hasn't had any issues since I bought it about 4 years ago. I expect it's planning something catastrophic! Little does it know, I have a kick a$$ commuter bike to take it's place when it does.

Zoom sometimes cars are just insane, I feel your pain. It's like you want them to just freaking do what they are supposed to and inevitably something else goes wrong. I'd say if you can consider doing without the extra car then you probably don't really need it anyway. You may have to plan grocery and errand buying a little more carefully but that's not so bad is it?

[Melalvai]

Try being a 1-car family for a few months and then decide. If you hate it, you can always buy a 2nd car.

[zoom-zoom]

As much as we'd LIKE to go down to 1 car, it's just not possible at this time. DH works a half hour away and our kid goes to a charter school without transportation. So I am either driving carpool or having to drop-off/pick-up at the carpool meeting point when DH is already at work or not yet home.

[malkin]

Our mechanic's shop is right across the street.
Because of this, I hate our cars much less.

[Melalvai]

Our clutch has been worked on 5 times in 2 years. Last time was 4 months ago. AAAAnd we have to take it in because it's doing that thing again. Bah. I mean, I planned to replace it this year because my daughter is learning how to drive on it, but sheesh, 4 months? And she hasn't really driven it all that much either, so I don't think it's her, I think it's that the parts are made in a country renowned for shoddy parts.

Wish we'd go all the way car free, instead of just me car free!

[zoom-zoom]

I think it's that the parts are made in a country renowned for shoddy parts.

Here...?