What do you think...or maybe you actually know?...?

Question

..Lets say we get a new car every 5 years. Think of the initial cost of the car, the fuel you will use in the 5 years you own the car, plus other costs (insurance, tyres, tax etc).
Now think of the not owning a car in those 5 years and using public transport all the time instead.
Which would cost the least over the 5 year period?
or maybe you would think it unpractical to just use public transport?

Thank you for your answers, very interesting comments.
Really what you guys said kinda confirms what i was thinking too but i was interested to know what others thought. :)
In short, having your own vehicle is more convenient but public transport would work out cheaper.

Thanks again.

As for choosing best answer, i wish i could choose more than one lol I will let the public vote and decide. :)

Answer 1

It depends on what form of public transportation you plan on using, the state in which you live, place of employment, so on and so on. For example, If I lived in Michigan, sure it's cheaper to use the bus for five years. This would save a bus load of cash. However, if I lived in N.Y.C. and had to cab it everyday to a job over 30mile out, then I might as well get a note. Average monthly fare could be 250-350 dollars.. So again it depends.

Most places, public is cheaper.

Answer 2

Financially it would cost less to use public transportation, in most cases. However, unless you are in a area where there is a safe and very efficient public transportation system, money is not the only cost. Using public transportation requires you to adapt your schedule to the transportation, With a car, the transportation adapts to you. If you want to stop on your way home from work to get something at a store, you can easily detour with a car.

You have to consider the value of your time and privacy. Money is not the only cost. There is no way that I would consider using public transportation as a full time solution to my needs. I seldom use in now.

Answer 3

there are a lot of variables here, too many to give a difinitive answer.

The variables are:

Cost of the car you buy every year.
Maintenance costs of the car - beyond oil changes, etc.
Gas prices
Cost of public transportation
Most importantly the reliability of public transportation.
And finally - the coverage of public transportation - if it doesn't go where you need to, it doesn't do you much good...

In general, if looking only at dollars spent, public transportation will generally wind up cheaper. However this comes with a number of trade offs, depending on where you live; You can't get anywhere quickly, you will often be waiting for long periods of time for the bus or train to show up, you have to rely on someone else's timeliness to be on time yourself.

Answer 4

Public transportation can be a pain but you would save money. Not just in the cost of the car but you would actually go less places. And when you did go out, you would consolidate your trips to get more done at once. Don't forget, bicycles help too.

Answer 5

Public transportation in the US -- outside of any of the major cities -- is a JOKE!

You want to see real efficient public transportation, check out Germany!

Answer 6

It's depends on you.
If you are very flexible Person (not well time management done) better have a car.
if you are very planned, then don't buy a car...
Anyway, Better have a car, it helps a lot than public transport.
don't think of cost, see your convience...and comfort, that matters most.

Answer 7

public is cheeper. but if you live somewhere really really cold, you might not like waiting at a bus stop 4ever.

Answer 8

public transportation is better

Answer 9

I live out in the country,and travel a lot for work. It wouldn't work for me