Blasted car!

'First World problem' So what. Different incomes and life styles different problems.

We live in a rural area. DH is still working and needs his car to get him to a variety of airports (Southampton, Stansted, Gatwick and Heathrow in the last six months) for work plus other needs. We simply could not manage without a second car. It is not how many cars you own but how often you use them.

Like you,*Ana*, we live out in the wilds with no public transport. We have to keep at least one in running condition.
In fact motor expenses are one of the biggest expenses of our budget. Only second to heating. We have a car and a van.
I don't think we could afford the option of leasing.
But luckily old cars seem to last a lot longer here. No salt on the roads.

Can you not afford even a cheap second or third hand car, mazza? DH and I always had our own cars (never from new) as this is a rural area and public transport isn't good.

DD leases but I always think it's such a waste of money - none of my cars have ever required extensive or expensive repair work. Just make sure you buy from a reputable second hand car dealer. It might be worth taking out a loan.

We have always in the past been a two car family and I always loved the independence of being able to up and go when ever I wanted and not to have to rely on OH,we made the decision to downsize when we moved here and OH sold his bigger family car and I kept my little sporty one and if we ever need to go anywhere of some distance we will hire a bigger car for a couple of days and for the comfort factor, apart from that we save the money we would have used for insurance/tax and diesel which adds up to a decent amount over the year.

I have always had my own car and can't imagine life without it but, of course, this is a first world problem. I'm feeling vulnerable because my OH has lost his mobile and our TV is on the blink, literally. It just feels like the last straw! We will sort it out and possibly lease but I was really canvassing opinions on leasing pros and cons.

We live in a small market town in the north and we simply cannot car share with anyone else and I suppose have become used to sailing off in our separate ways. There is no way I can go off shopping or lunching with friends without my car so I suppose life is going to change radically.

German cars are notoriously expensive to repair and service, so best steer clear if you want to save money!
Whether you could survive on one car depends on your lifestyle. Where do you live? For example we don't need a second car because we live in the capital and public transport gets us about quicker. Apart from saving us money, we also feel we are being more environmentally friendly.

First World problem maza!

Back in the mists of time when the children were tiny we thoughtbourslvesvlucky tomhave a clapped out Simca the DH somehow got given a company car and being a 2 car family was a real luxury. How quickly we become accustomed to taking being a 2 car couple for granted.
We "downsized" to one new car (trading both other cars in) about 4 years ago and it made eminent sense at the time as DH was ready to give up driving. So it really depends on how much you need to be in different places at the same time.
Could DH not arrange lifts with friends on one or more of the golf days? Leasing obviates repair bills but is an expensive and ongoing option.
If you really must have two,how about a basic "runaround" of the type your local garage can fix when it comes to minor repairs. The bottom line is of course what can you afford?

At the time of retirement, we both had our own cars, but after a few years DH car was getting on a bit, like him really, so he advertised it and it was snapped up. We still are a one car household, and have managed well, although I must admit to still thinking of it as " my" car. With a bit of foreward planning we find that one is enough, and it does save on tax, insurance and fuel.