What would your life be without your car?
By cristi12
@cristi12 (378)
Romania
April 19, 2007 8:06am CST
Recently my parents and I purchased a Dacia Logan, Laureate 1.4.:)
It's a simple, city car, good for short trips in and around town. I've noticed that, since I got it, i'm driving more than I'm walking!:)) I mean, the first week I went to school with it, even though it takes twice the time because of the traffic, and it's a pain finding a parking place... I've paid some visits to my grandfather, which I see only once a month or so, simply because he lives 50 km away. All in all my life is pretty much changed since I got this car. Now I'm starting to think what would I have done without it.:)) Just kidding.:P This week I decided that it isn't worth wasting gas in traffic every day, so I resumed my daily 4 km stroll to school.:) Plus when I get there I have to go 2 or 3 blocks down the street to find a parking space... which pretty makes the whole thing without purpose.
So what about you? Do you have a car? What would you do without it? I lived 18 years without one... and If I hadn't have got this one I'm sure I could have lived Without it!:P
7 people like this
35 responses
@jbshorty (66)
• United States
19 Apr 07
I lived without a car for over a year. It isn't hard to do if you live near everything you need. I lived within walking distance to a KMART (general goods store), major grocery store, McDonald's, Taco Bell and small shopping center with a nail salon. (necessity for me...gotta get my nails done twice a month!...)
I rode the city bus back and forth to work each day.
I also rode the bus to run "errands" but it took FOREVER!
I always tried to borrow a friends car if I needed to take care of a lot of business in one day.
Even though I have moved to a different area I could still ride the bus to work, but I don't live close to any shopping area, so buying groceries would be a little difficult.
I love my car and I am grateful I have it now.
@visitorinvasion (7709)
• United States
28 Apr 07
I went without a car for nearly six years.
It stunk having to pay for an hour and a half ride to work and another one back each day.
I'm glad to have a car again, even though I work at home and it's only a 30 minute drive (in bad traffic, 20 min. in easy traffic) to my school.
I hated having to constantly bum rides everywhere.
I feel grateful to be driving my own car again.
@Rabi0322 (188)
• Pakistan
19 Apr 07
i need my car every time i go out bcuz most of the markets and shopping mall that i regularly visit are too much far from my house so i need to go in car i can also go by taxi or some bus but i feel more comfortable in my car i dont know how to drive thats what my dad do pick us and drop us but its more convinient in our own car instead of walking or going by other convnce bcuz we just put our stuff in car and feel free but we cant left our things in taxi or other transport which we travel i also enjoy long drives very much we have two cars one is alto and another is toyota i dont think so i will feel easy to go out any where without my cars
@easymoney75503 (1702)
• United States
19 Apr 07
well it sounds like you are happy with your car. i have been without a car and it has been really hard. walking to work in the rain and cold was not great. going shopping was horriable 2 kids going down a busy road with lots of bags to carry that are heavy was not pleasant. i lived in lewisville texas at the time and there were no busses to ride and i couldnt afford a taxi. now i have been without a car in the country too and that was really bad when it is 20 plus miles to get to anykind of a store. thankfully hubby fixed the trcuk quick. i still live in the country and i dont use the car much. i use it to get to work and try to get everything while i am in town. the price of gas i cant afford to really go anywhere when i want to. if i didnt have a car i would be in trouble cause that is a very long walk to the store. lol enjoy your car but remember gas prices and also the joy of walking.
1 person likes this
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
19 Apr 07
Life is much simplier and more relaxing without a car. The only time when I wish I had a car was during festive seasons when the cabs and public transport are full of people. The tradeoff was the lack of parking lots, and we had to go round and round before we can finally get out of the car. This problem goes away if we do not have a car.
A car adds extra burden both mentally and financially. Without a car, I can say I am able to enjoy life much more than before. I am used to taking public transport now and found it fun too.
@cristi12 (378)
• Romania
19 Apr 07
True, having a car means a lot of responsibility, and of course expenses. I intend to work after high school, during college, so I'm willing to support these expenses. Here, the cabs cost a lot, too much to use them everyday, and I have my own issues with the public transport here. :P But anyway, I agree that a car is not a gain, but an expense. :)
1 person likes this
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
19 Apr 07
I would be lost without a car. I live on the outskirts of a small town. The closest store to me is about 5 miles away. MY kids have to take the bus to school because it is too far to walk. I use my car everyday to pick up my kids from school, take them to work. We have no traffic problems here, so it takes only minutes to get anywhere.
I have a family of 6 so when we go on vacation we always drive since we can't afford to fly.
If I didn't have a car, I would be spending tons of money on taxis!
1 person likes this
@cristi12 (378)
• Romania
19 Apr 07
It's nice without any traffic problems. In my City the population is about 350.000 and recently a LOT of people have been getting cars, so the traffic is... horrific. From 5 to 1 AM i hear a car pass by my window every few seconds at the most during the busy hours, or every minute during normal hours.
1 person likes this
@mannu123 (144)
• India
19 Apr 07
What has happened to you is very natural. A new car is always a thing of pride and to keep driving it means you have got addicted to it now. We have a family car..around 3yrs old now. I can handle my life without it but My husband is really mad about it at times. he is so much addicted to that car that he drives to my in laws place just 2km away. I have seen him how mad he was about this car when it was new. Life changes and one tends to get dependent on such comforts of life.
1 person likes this
@euniceeleanor (5967)
• Singapore
20 Apr 07
i have my own car since i was 18 years old, and i could never go anywhere without my car...or any transport whatsoever. Getting a public transport was unheard of. Until i came to singapore, where i have to depend heavily on public transport. All i can say is that, it's a such a relief not to be burdened by the increasing petrol rate and the car maintenance fee....i can live without my car but still i miss the convenience of a car.
@cristi12 (378)
• Romania
22 Apr 07
I hope I don't get so hooked with it too. :P Yes there's always a problem with cars when they get older, but If your the least bit interested in mechanics and have the support of an expert, you can easily fix your own car, or atleas know what's going on with it when you take it to the shop.
@zameertiger (7)
• India
20 Apr 07
A car is a luxurious asset, but one should not get addicted to cars and should not mend his lifestyle just because a new exciting thing has arrived in his life.
I too had a car with which I had accomplished a lot of things, but now I dont have one and the replacement fo the car was a cool bike, because the place where I live in is perfectly suitable for bikes as you dont have to waste your time in the traffic and I think u can save a lot of money on petrol with a bike.
@cristi12 (378)
• Romania
22 Apr 07
Bikes are better than cars in many ways: no pollution, no fuel needs, more exercise, etc. But there are also limitations: less comfort, less utility, etc. Plus the fact that using a bike in traffic these days is quite risky. Ive seen many people on a bike almost getting run over, and accidents like these are very common.
@roshnichaudhary (1160)
• United States
20 Apr 07
Yes increasing facility is making men lazy. If the climate is suitable then I think car is a luxury item. However most of the parts of USA has snow shower so for those areas car is necessity.
I don't drive and so I am not addicted to go everywhere by car. I walk too but I have to wait for summer.
@cristi12 (378)
• Romania
22 Apr 07
I used to walk to school too. I couldn't ( and still can't ) stand public transport, so, rain, sleet or snow, I'd walk the distance by foot. Most of the time I wouldn't even take an umbrella, even though my mom would warn me i'd catch a cold. :P I guess i'm just stubborn.
@Zelmarq (12585)
• Cebu City, Philippines
20 Apr 07
I dont have a car and Im used tocommuting and its comfortable the way things are now. I only walk the walk to work and when I need to go somewhere there are lots of jeeneys that are availabe in our place. And aside form that I cannot afford to buy myself a car.
@austere (2812)
• Philippines
20 Apr 07
well, i think i'll still be me even without a car!hahaha i dont have a ride. in our country most often than not, women or ladies rather of my age still dont have a car!hehe it's still a status symbol here in our country cause only those who are rich and affluent can afford the luxury or getting or buying a transportation. but am really planning to get one for myself someday. maybe after 3 to 5 years from noe, that's not so much of a goal to achieve. i think that is just very reachable as long as i'll work my effort out and work hard for it..:)
@cristi12 (378)
• Romania
29 Apr 07
Well cars are kind of a luxury... but everybody should afford getting one. In my country, people who want to get a cheap car usually go abroad, in Germany ore somewhere, and buy one from there. With a couple of hundred euros you can get a cheap, reliable, SH car. Lately, the goverment here set a "first registration tax", which sometime exceeds the initial price of the car! For example, you buy a VW golf 3 for 800 E, and you bring it here, to register it you would have to pay somewhere around 2000 E.
@shekaina24 (161)
• Philippines
20 Apr 07
Actually when I'am young got experienced commuting and take into public vehicles. So doesn't matter to me if one day I don't have a car. I'm a versatile person no matter what I'am into, I keep tryin and adjusting as long as I can...Due to my ways and means I have my own service and really thank for that.
@pvoegtli (55)
• Switzerland
20 Apr 07
Easy, as we have a very good public transport system in Switzerland. Statistically, every inhabitant lives 300 metres from a bus, train or tramway station. Or you can be member of "Mobility" where, with a simple phone call, you can rent a car by the hour. At about 2.50 dollars per hour for a medium size car. And then, if all this does not work, I will borrow my son's car.
@mom2chriskel (1060)
• United States
19 Apr 07
We live 20-25 minutes from the grocery store or a Walmart, so going without a car isn't an option for me. We live out in the country which I prefer more than living in the city but that means you really do need a car.
@SilentRose19 (1733)
• United States
19 Apr 07
I recently found myself without a car, because my husband is in the military and our old car just would make it from texas to georgia. I find that its much easier to get excersise, and somethings become more important than others. I just love having the ability of having some calories burned off while i'm walking to the store, also i get to see things I don't get to see in a car.
@dancediva24 (19)
• United States
19 Apr 07
My life without a car would be hectic, wouldnt be able to get my kids to the doctor, or go to the store, or take kids to er when needee, i would be couped up and go nuts, we dont have any buses or anything but a gas station close enough to walk to.
@kelandy (114)
• United States
19 Apr 07
Oh, believe me, I would be lost without my car. My family and I really rely on that set of wheels! Also, we live in a more rural area, where you pretty much need one to get around, what with looking for work, appointments, etc. I actually didn't get my driver's license until I was about 25 years old. I am now 39 with a husband and children. We need to get around on a regular basis. I'm sure that the people that I live around would feel the same way.
@cristi12 (378)
• Romania
19 Apr 07
Yes, when you live outside a big city a car is necessary, if you have business outisde your community. :) Most families in suburbs or rural areas need a vehicle just for that, because there's no other means of transportation viable enough for them to use.
@freestylersers (2)
• Israel
19 Apr 07
I think that the car is important thing in todays life.
It just shame that it is not helping to keeo our atmosifire safe.
