Time to go down to one car???

**Preston** · 05-18-2009, 05:23 PM

I'm in a situation and I need some advice.

My wife and I are in the process of buying our first house. The closing time should be happening around mid-June. At this same time, our autopolicy will be due. At the beginning of July, our cars come up for registration.

I hardly drive my car -- It's a 98 Ford Taurus with 193k miles on it and it's toward the end of its life. I do not know if it has another year on it with regular driving. It leaks oil, the tires are nearly bald, it shakes at high speeds, the suspension is going bad, and the dashboard doesn't light up. I doubt I could get much for it if I were to sell it.

My main mode of transportation is my bike(s). I currently ride 14 miles to work (wife and I have the same employer but she works 10 hours and I work 8 and we get out about the same time...so I usually get a ride home.) My new commute will be 18 or 18.5 miles depending in which route I take (I will have to go through a flood plain). I believe I will be able to go round trip if I need to, as I have in the past.

If I really need a car I could always use my wife's or have her drop me off where I need to go. There is mass transit nearby but it doesn't go to our employer.

I am honestly thinking about dropping the car but I want some honest feedback. If it lasts me another year it will cost me about $300-350 to own (NOT including gas). HOWEVER, it has also been a reliable backup for my wife's car when hers is in the shop. But her car is prone to problems as well, as it is 10 years old and above the 100k mile mark.

Should I park it in the garage and disconnect the battery? Give it to charity? Try to sell it?

At this point, I could be car free, but I'm a little worried about the winter time (biking on 55 mph roads is not fun) and also if I am feeling ill... Or should I just try to carpool and bring a book on those days?

All opinions will be appreciated!

**PplAmanda** · 05-18-2009, 06:44 PM

Can you keep the car, park it and drop it from your auto policy? Then if you find that you need it then you can always add it back onto the policy. If in say, 6 months, you haven't really needed it, then decide how to dispose of it then. Just a thought

**Mckeekitty** · 05-18-2009, 07:36 PM

Our stories are SO similiar...right down to the Ford Taurus! My husband had the Taurus, and it was just falling apart...leaking anti-freeze, leaking oil, rusting out...just becoming unsafe and beyond repair. So two weeks ago we turned in the plates and registration to the insurance company, cancelled our policy and became a one-car household.

We don't have children to consider. We will share my old Toyota which is so easy since I work from home, so I will let him take the car when I don't need it. I can easily take him to and from work, and should my car need to go in the shop, he can easily get a ride (he works only 4 miles away from home).

Really, we could have, should have done this years ago. We both brought our respective vehicles into the marriage eight years ago. It is SUCH a relief to not have a second car to register, insure, maintain, gas up, inspect, etc.

I really feel that it was a blessing that his Taurus fell apart. Our initial feeling was that we would HAVE to replace his vehicle...it was just a knee-jerk reaction that we each NEEDED a car. But we discussed it and decided that one car would suit our needs just fine. It just takes a bit of planning when scheduling appointments, grocery shopping, etc.

Even if your wife's car had to be in the shop for an extended period of time, it will be much more econmical to rent a vehicle now and then rather than the costs associated with keeping a second vehicle on the road.

Just my personal perspective and experience!

**Preston** · 05-18-2009, 08:17 PM

Would it be maybe a good idea to NOT renew the plates on the Taurus but stick it in the garage. The state of Ohio says I have six months after expiration to renew registration if I need to. So I don't register, drop the insurance and put the car in the garage and see how it goes.

If it turns out I need the car, I can just renew the tags and add the insurance back. If not, then I guess I can sell the car or give it to charity.

Good idea?

**Grainlady** · 05-18-2009, 08:34 PM

I'd hold onto it for a bit yet. You can put liability insurance on it, if you have full coverage, or up your deductable to lower the price of the insurance - talk to your agent for options. If there is a $3,000 Government voucher for trading in your car on a newer, more economical model, you may benefit from trading in this car for something with less miles and using your wife's car as a second car. Just a thought.

**miss_cas** · 05-19-2009, 01:03 AM

Ditch the 2nd car. How far is the mass transit stop from work? How long does it take to get home? What is the cost? Hanging around with a library book is free. Maybe the boss will offer some overtime for you.

**freebs** · 05-19-2009, 07:10 AM

Originally Posted by Preston

Would it be maybe a good idea to NOT renew the plates on the Taurus but stick it in the garage. The state of Ohio says I have six months after expiration to renew registration if I need to. So I don't register, drop the insurance and put the car in the garage and see how it goes.

If it turns out I need the car, I can just renew the tags and add the insurance back. If not, then I guess I can sell the car or give it to charity.

Good idea?

This is what i do with our back up car! I dont renew the plates and drop from insurance till i need it!

**peanut** · 05-19-2009, 11:15 AM

A couple of thoughts.

1) Don't repair shops in the US offer loaner cars or courtesy cars for the duration of the time they have your vehicle to repair? They do here in Canada. Maybe you just need to insist on getting one when your wife's car is in for repairs?

2) Don't buses in the US have bike racks for people who want to bike and ride, or ride and bike?

3) How far is your place of employment from the nearest bus stop. If it's less than a mile, maybe go for a walk every morning?

The only thing that makes me nervous is if you are feeling under the weather. I know my DH takes the car whenever he isn't feeling 100%. Otherwise he bikes. But as a wife, I worry when he's sick if he's on the bike. Our one car stays at home most of the time. I walk and DH bikes places.

**Metro2005** · 05-20-2009, 09:33 AM

Hey preston, i saw the same question on bikeforums

If you have two cars and you can get by with one car i would definitly ditch the ford. I've been thinking of gettid rid of my car too but it's the only one i have and it comes in handy sometimes so i decided to keep it but when i'm going to live with my GF i would go with just one car.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 05-20-2009, 10:38 AM

I would not renew the registration on the Taurus. I'd simply wait around for your wife to get off of work and/or find someone else there who can drop you off for a few bucks for gas.

**itlw8** · 05-20-2009, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by peanut

A couple of thoughts.

1) Don't repair shops in the US offer loaner cars or courtesy cars for the duration of the time they have your vehicle to repair? They do here in Canada. Maybe you just need to insist on getting one when your wife's car is in for repairs?

2) Don't buses in the US have bike racks for people who want to bike and ride, or ride and bike?

3) How far is your place of employment from the nearest bus stop. If it's less than a mile, maybe go for a walk every morning?

The only thing that makes me nervous is if you are feeling under the weather. I know my DH takes the car whenever he isn't feeling 100%. Otherwise he bikes. But as a wife, I worry when he's sick if he's on the bike. Our one car stays at home most of the time. I walk and DH bikes places.

1 around he there are no loaner cars at dealers you can rent a car if needed they will call the rental company now if it is their fault they may pay for the rental.

2 bike racks not around here and for us riding 10 miles down the highway and across a bridge is not a great idea granted down hill most of the way but that hill home would be a bugger

No busses here until you get to the next town and then only until 5:30 PM

Things are so different all around the country.

What would I do ? I would keep it can't see riding a bike in the snow. I am interested in hearing about this voucher I must have missed that.

**redhead68** · 05-20-2009, 01:26 PM

We ditched our second car in January. After five months, we are convinced that this is a doable lifestyle. The only issue has been groceries. Although not necessarily frugal in the classic sense of the word, I've found that a delivery service has solved the problem.

**Preston** · 06-13-2009, 09:22 PM

Just an update to this thread.

I sold my Taurus for $600 on craigslist.

I went car free... and that lasted a week.. was ready to go longer

But a couple I know at work was talking about junking their car... a 2001 Chevy Cavalier. They sold it to me for $100. It needed tires and a new catalayic converter so after all that it will cost me about $300 to get it ready as a reliable commuter -- excellent on gas compared to the 8 cylinder my wife drives. I'll drive it for a year and when it comes up for renewal I will probably sell it at a profit... or keep it depending on how much I like it.

This is actually the perfect car for me though. It's small, economical, and there are no frills -- Just basic transportation and that is all I want.

**peanut** · 06-13-2009, 10:27 PM

Sounds like a good deal Preston! Have you seen Dave Ramsey's how to buy a car? He buys clunkers, fixes them, drives them a year or less, then sells at a profit, and buys another slightly better. Does the same thing with each car and eventually works his way up to a brand new car. Interesting idea.