(23 Apr 2022, 8:13 pm)Adrian Bit of an old article, but I did find this: https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars...years.html
Interesting article.
On a personal level, I've been driving since 1999. Part of the decision to drive was long term employment prospects. The other was down to the price and reliability of public transport.
Granted I had my lessons to pay for alongside any bus fares, but once passed, finances changed slightly.
Bus fares had recently increased and the teen travel ticket wasn't an option.
My first car was 12 years old and cost approx £750 quid.
Unleaded petrol was 69.9p litre.
Road tax was £82.50 or £155 depending whether I bought it for 6 months or a year.
Insurance was £900 a year.
MPG was quite poor. But it cost me £20 to fill the tank and I got about 200miles for my £20.
I was on minimum wage (it was introduced in April 99 just after I passed my test).
Fast forward to 2022.
I was savvy enough to take advantage of the glut of cars registered before the April 2017 car tax hike.
Paid £11k for the nearly new car (saved almost £10k on new), pay £20 road tax for the year and my insurance is about £280.
Diesel at Costco was 165.9 last time I filled up. Costs around £75 to fill and I get well over 500 miles.
MPG is approx 65mpg.
I'm not on minimum wage.
I've not done the maths or inflation calculation, but I reckon it was more expensive for me to drive 23 years ago, than it is now.
It goes without saying, public transport was a lot cheaper 23 years ago.
On a practical level, I'm travelling 50miles in the car later on today and it's taking me under an hour. To do the same journey by bus, it would be 2 operators, 3 buses and the best part of 4 hours. There's 4 of us making that journey.
2 of us will make the return trip. So another 50 miles etc etc.
Cost or time. There's only one winner. However much I want to use public transport or however much I want it to work.
Obviously that is just me and there are many others out there in different situations and circumstances.
'Illegitimis non carborundum'
