The perils of car ownership.

[beelady]

It's that time of year again when we screw every penny we have "spare" into getting our car an MOT for the next year. I am happy to report that because of some prophylactic work we did a few months ago, it got through at about half of what we feared it might cost, needing only a replacement tyre (which frankly, could have happened at any time, and

Comments

[thealmondtree]

It's odd how people respond to such things. We had no car at all for several years in the mid-90s and managed just fine. Some things needed more planning but that was all and if it came to it there was always the option to hire a cheap car for a few days.

[katherineh]

I think people feel there is something 'respectable' or 'grown up' about having a car. When I got my first one my Mum told me she was relieved which seemed quite odd to me. My husband doesn't drive and that provokes horror from some. It doesn't bother us in the slightest because we're used to it but I get a lot of questions about how we cope especially when I was pregnant. I think there's an idea that not being a driver, or having a car, means you're helpless or something.

If I lost my car it would be fine. I already cycle short journeys and the bus is fine for town. There are some friends who would be hard to get to. It would make visiting my parents in the West Country hard because there's no direct route. I'd miss it, it makes life more comfortable and I think the worst thing would be telling my Mum!

[beelady]

It seems to be a bit like saying we don't have a tumble drier ( we don't) ...people just think it's some bizarre twisted way to live that we use like a hairshirt.

It seems to be about prestige as well, which is something I find disturbing in it's own right.

At the moment we are holding fire (for a variety of reasons) for at least the next 3 months, but I think it's something that is going to be revisited in the future. We both have reservations about the decision in both directions, but we got away lightly with the MOT this time and hope to keep the ol' motor running over the winter. If it ends up on the drive more than normal, that's ok for now. We need to be really really sure.