Car ownership is now a luxury

[Anonymous]

In 20 years we will not be able (at least most us) to buy cars anymore once self driving car are widespread. If they turn out to be safer than a human driver good luck finding an insurer who will insure a human driver. If they do it will be more expensive than the price of the car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Car are actually so bad for us. Walking and biking area healthier. Metro and bus are better for our observational and social minds.

Cars are financially ruinous and terrible for the planet.

We drive 1x week to get groceries and 1X week to pick up kid (we carpool with other parents).

Americans don't like sharing their space. Our suburbs are built to facilitate and encourage car ownership. Our property taxes are already very high and now imagine significantly scaling up public transportation. Not in my backyard. Who is going to agree to have bus stops near their homes. And on and on...I am afraid cars will be with us for awhile...

Now it's true that Gen Z has the lowest rate of driver's license ownership than any generation. And with robotaxis and the like, I don't see them going down the path of car ownership

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cycle to work. It’s free, except for a few dollars on oil for the chain and occasional tune-ups. And it’s free exercise too.

Just stay out of my way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cycle to work. It’s free, except for a few dollars on oil for the chain and occasional tune-ups. And it’s free exercise too.

Just stay out of my way.

No you stay out of his way..and if you hit him by a accident, please have the decency to stay and call for help..Don't just run away in your metal on wheels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cycle to work. It’s free, except for a few dollars on oil for the chain and occasional tune-ups. And it’s free exercise too.

Just stay out of my way.

No you stay out of his way..and if you hit him by a accident, please have the decency to stay and call for help..Don't just run away in your metal on wheels.

As a pedestrian, I want both of them to please stay out of my way. Between the cars, scooters, electric bicycles and regular bicycles, I'm at my wits' end. No one knows how to give pedestrians the right of way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In 20 years we will not be able (at least most us) to buy cars anymore once self driving car are widespread. If they turn out to be safer than a human driver good luck finding an insurer who will insure a human driver. If they do it will be more expensive than the price of the car.

That actually works for me. I look forward to having a clean and maintained car to drive my senior butt around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't be shocked that if one really did the math of owning a car vs. taking reasonable public transport/ubers/zip cars/Turo...that car ownership would lose for many/most people.

The issue is that rural areas are not well served by any of the alternatives above.

+1

We have three kids and no car, and it's a delight. We rent a car probably 3-4 times a year for 4-10 days (vacations, mostly), and then we have a zipcar membership, and we probably rent a zip car a month. And we probably take an average of... 5? Round trip cab/uber rides a month. We both have a pre-tax employer match on our SmarTrip money, so that cost is almost nothing. We pay an absolute fraction of the costs of most people on transportation. That's less than $5k a year total for a family of five. Unbeatable. Plus never worrying about repairs, parking, saving for a new car... when we first went car free we thought it'd be a headache worth the savings but it's actually also a headache saver. And we walk a ton, which is fabulous exercise - good for mental and physical health. It's really been such an awesome switch (and we sold the last car before the birth of the first kid).

And we're not poor either - HHI roughly $250k.

That sounds great!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cycle to work. It’s free, except for a few dollars on oil for the chain and occasional tune-ups. And it’s free exercise too.

Just stay out of my way.

No you stay out of his way..and if you hit him by a accident, please have the decency to stay and call for help..Don't just run away in your metal on wheels.

You are preaching to the choir. This is a parenting site.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My perspective on cars has changed. I always thought that when I got older, I’d get an expensive luxury car. Now that I’m older, and can afford it, I no longer want that. I really just want a solid reliable car with maybe a little creature comfort (leather seats and warmers).

+1. Driving my 2017 Forester instead of buying a new luxury SUV because I don't want to deal with expensive, time-consuming repairs. I take it to a reasonable independent mechanic for regular maintenance and occasionally replace brakes and tires. I've driven Mercedes, Lexus, Audi, Infiniti and Tesla and they all cost more to own. My time is more important to me now than prestige.

Also, your insurance will be much lower with a 2017 versus a 2025

[Anonymous]

They always have been, just ask any teenager. Luckily, you likely have more options that just the bus like I did as a teen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yup....avg price of new car this year at $50K. If you live in Fairfax County, you will pay 6% car tax, the crazy insurance rates, etc which essentially has made new car purchases for the wealth. No different now vs homes, and other high price items where MC "realistic and best value" route is purchasing a used car. Hoping EVs will lower new car price, but EV prices likely contributing to the inflation here.

Or you could get a used Altima for $7k and pay the VA DMV a $500 fee for permission to drive without insurance. The working class can still manage to have a car.

YES..the working class will "options" but will not be "owners" of future new cars.

There's always car leases. You don't own but have a new one every 3 years

And that is rarely a good financial choice. Spend $40K get a fully loaded new HONDA CRV, keep it for 12-15 years (200K) you will spend much less and dont need "new"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:100% OP. In fact even higher income household are paying an absurd amount of money as a percentage of their fake home income for transportation expenses if they have a car note.

And cars are not getting cheaper. They come with far more technology than we need and are incredibly complex.

My car has been at the dealer for 2 weeks now. Only 5000 miles. The car just stopped working. And these expensive cars aren't designed to last for years.

I hope you demanded a free rental from the dealership while they fix the issue.

Why aren't they giving you a loaner of a similar model. I'd be citing lemon law soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My perspective on cars has changed. I always thought that when I got older, I’d get an expensive luxury car. Now that I’m older, and can afford it, I no longer want that. I really just want a solid reliable car with maybe a little creature comfort (leather seats and warmers).

+1. Driving my 2017 Forester instead of buying a new luxury SUV because I don't want to deal with expensive, time-consuming repairs. I take it to a reasonable independent mechanic for regular maintenance and occasionally replace brakes and tires. I've driven Mercedes, Lexus, Audi, Infiniti and Tesla and they all cost more to own. My time is more important to me now than prestige.

Also, your insurance will be much lower with a 2017 versus a 2025

True, and registration fees. But the best part is saving time.

[Anonymous]

It always has been.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't be shocked that if one really did the math of owning a car vs. taking reasonable public transport/ubers/zip cars/Turo...that car ownership would lose for many/most people.

The issue is that rural areas are not well served by any of the alternatives above.

Yes, we live in a neighborhood with a 99 walk score and have run the numbers. Even without public transport and relying on walking/biking and some combination of zip car and Uber it doesn't make financial sense to own a car. It's exoensive just to park it!