I spent most of my adult life without a car and without a driver's license. I got to acutely and intimately experience, for decades, just exactly how car-centric our culture is and how profoundly society can't and won't accommodate you if you don't own or can't operate a private vehicle. When I finally sorted this out and got my license and vehicle, I felt zero shame or regret. I was done being a martyr. Yeah the future is public transportation but the present is what it is. There is no shame in being that person who says "we should improve society somewhat" while participating in society.

Must be hard in America when there aren’t many ways to get around.

Even taking the horrible toll of cars on the environment out of the equation, now is a terrible time to buy any car. Infrastructure is changing, charging standards are changing, and technology both in and outside of cars is changing. The whole thing is just a turn off.

Yep yep, good on ya. Getting an ebike? I'm up to almost 3k miles on mine over the past 15 months. I love it

I found myself feeling forced to move out of my closest city. Three years later, I finally caved and bought a car. I have been miserable ever since.

If you don't absolutely have to, do not buy a car. See if using taxi services and electric bike would cost less for the same result. Look at how often you would use it and how much distance you do with it. I would also maybe direct your attention to mopeds if you live in an extremely car dependant area. They are loud and a bit obnoxious, but at least they're cheap, don't use as much fuel, can easily be maintained by yourself and don't take up a whole street's parking. My years of owning one were some of the best of my life.

That's the case for me too, people scream to me I'm crazy when I tell them I don't really want a car. I used to like the idea of having my own car to drive around with, but the sentiment died out pretty quickly considering how little I would use it anyway.

I'm in the same mood but with replacing my car. My car is at the end of the life cycle. And I have no intention of prolonging it much longer. It would cost me money an buying a new car really threatened my budget balance. Gladly I live in a small European town and I don't need a car for work so everything should be ok for me. The only problem is that I want to use government credit for an ebike by getting rid of my car, the thing is that I live in a flat and I don't have a bike garage.

What about an electric sitting scooter, like a Vespa?

Also consider the financial realities. Cars depreciate right off the lot, and sales people will sell you anything if they can charge enough interest.

You might want to get a rate from a credit union before you go anywhere near a lot.

And of course there is rampant car fraud on craigslist, including non disclosure of salvage title.

You can do the math. Just choose wisely, and good luck!

I am definitely considering my own car, but even with it I doubt it would become the center of every form of travel I take - just something convenient for when I’m going someplace uncovered by trains or bike paths.

Otherwise, I figure I’ll just be victimized by long red lights like everyone else.

Having a car means freedom and independance. How happy I was having my car during crazy lockdowns.

Just get in the car and drive out of the city. No need for public transport.