Any PHers who don't have a vehicle / don't drive?

[v15ben]

I currently find myself without a car/bike or any form of transport except my feet! I live in a big city in South Korea where traffic is horrific, most cars are dull Hyundais and there are car accidents everywhere. I live a 5 minute walk from work and the public transport system works well. Taxis are also very reasonably priced and reliable.

I have no need for a car and save plenty of cash not driving, but yet I still crave a car! Even a dull Hyundai to go on the traffic jammed streets near my apartment would be fine.

I haven't driven since the start of August and it is driving me crazy!

So does anyone else get by without a car for long periods? I'd be interested to hear the reasons why and how you cope!

[msheaven]

Ok well strictly it isn't the longest of periods, But my car has been away since December the 15 having some body work bought up to scratch and a new engine transplant. Roughly another two weeks to go until it will be ready. Ive been going crazy not being able to drive. Even though i walk to work as there is no parking its the little things i really do miss and the freedom.

[Bing o]

Another Ben without a car. I chopped in my S2 Elise 111S for an EZLink card, and the Singapore MRT and Bus system. Not turned a wheel in anger since the 23rd July 2010, apart from driving golf buggies.

I keep considering getting a car, but even a new Citroen DS3 is about £60k at current fx rates. Like you, taxis are cheap, if not abundent at peak times, and I can't justify a shopping car which would cost me the price of a luxury barge back home in monthly interest payments, tax and parking charges.

If anyone thinks motoring in teh UK is expensive, try paying a couple of grand (sterling) in VED - they even sting you for a car radio license!

Still, it's not all bad, I'm saving up for something tasty with all the tax I'm not paying to benefit thieving wastes of oxygen back home....

[sawman]

I didnt have a car for about a year when i first lived in canada. As I could walk, cycle or skate to work, I rented one for the weekend usually though!

[fareaster]

I lived in Korea for 12 years, drove all the time, only time I didn´t was when I lived in Bejing and it took me about 4 months to get a Chinese license. Felt very strange, restricted almost claustrophobic, for the first time since I was seventeen I couldn´t walk out of the house, get into my car and drive where I wanted, a real loss of freedom.

[vrooom]

I dont have a car, am between the cars. Sold mx5 recently. It is hell. but i couldnt justify the fuel cost. however i got access to the car.

[Tuvra]

Bing o said:

I keep considering getting a car, but even a new Citroen DS3 is about £60k at current fx rates. Like you, taxis are cheap, if not abundent at peak times, and I can't justify a shopping car which would cost me the price of a luxury barge back home in monthly interest payments, tax and parking charges.

If anyone thinks motoring in teh UK is expensive, try paying a couple of grand (sterling) in VED - they even sting you for a car radio license!

Holy Sh!t thats bad!!

DS3 for GTR Money - Iv heard it all now!! Suddenly I feel like I have been a bit dramatic about the 20.5mpg at £5.85/gallon.

[krallicious]

I went without a car for my first year at university but it wasn't too bad as everything was within 30 minutes walk and I don't think that an evening was spent without alcohol!

I use public transport now 95% of the time because it is cheap, punctual and clean. If I didn't have my car for the other 5%, I think that I would go insane.

[dvance]

Tuvra said:

Bing o said:

I keep considering getting a car, but even a new Citroen DS3 is about £60k at current fx rates. Like you, taxis are cheap, if not abundent at peak times, and I can't justify a shopping car which would cost me the price of a luxury barge back home in monthly interest payments, tax and parking charges.

If anyone thinks motoring in teh UK is expensive, try paying a couple of grand (sterling) in VED - they even sting you for a car radio license!

Holy Sh!t thats bad!!

DS3 for GTR Money - Iv heard it all now!! Suddenly I feel like I have been a bit dramatic about the 20.5mpg at £5.85/gallon.

Lol, at least it's not 20.1mpg

I did not have a car for about a year and a bit when I moved to the UK from Germany. Was kinda bad at first but then you get used to it, and then you start renting cars for the weekends, and then you end up buying one

[cmsd2]

dvance said:

I did not have a car for about a year and a bit when I moved to the UK from Germany. Was kinda bad at first but then you get used to it, and then you start renting cars for the weekends, and then you end up buying one

I moved in the opposite direction to Berlin. My bike is sornd in my parents' garage.
I wasn't planning to stay particularly long, and I still don't know when I'll be ready to call it a day, so I haven't taken the plunge with vehicle ownership here. I cope pretty well since all my journeys are well within the u-bahn area, and the public transport runs late enough into the night, or we stay out late enough that they're already running the following morning

Oh and the trains here are subsidised so heavily that they're around half the price of a somewhat comparable season travelcard in london where I lived before, and yet the service isn't as crowded and upleasant even at peak times.

cmsd2

[AyBee]

Have one - it's 200+ miles away though and I should probably sell it Moved to London in November and don't really think I need one, public transport is decent enough. Not sure what I'm going to do when I've saved up enough for something tastey though...I love driving and would love to have a Z4M or something similar but head would say "you've managed without for a good few years, why bother now"