h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

In the late 1980s the motor car ceased to be a useful form of transport and our average distance/time has been falling ever since. This means that we are destined to spend more and more time in our cars not going anywhere....therefore the most important thing to think about when buying a car is "does this look good on me?"

In that case don't buy a car and travel by public transport instead

Not at all.

Buy a car to drive it *occaisionally* on sunny days around in the countryside....driving can be a very pleasurable activity. Get something interesting to drive, like an MX5, Triumph Spitfire or a Lotus 7.
Telecommute to work. Cycle/Walk/Jog to the shops. If you want to go off road, use a horse.

If you want something interesting to drive, get a motorbike.

I still stand by my original thought of using public transport more though.

I have a GT6 that hasn't moved an inch in just under 2 years
I use public transport (and my bicycle) a lot.

I don't have a car any more (it was an old fiesta). I use public transport to commute to work (the joy of the tube).

So the GT6 still needs some work doing then?

I need to replace the gearbox and clutch which means I need the two rarest things in Ireland - a sunny day and an engine hoist.

So you've got the gearbox to put in the car then. It's a start

I think the hoist is on the wedding present list?
I agree, however, with Dunx' original post on this one and thinbk I would add "Buy a car as near as possible to your own age. Unfortunately this means I should be looking for a Land Rover or a Rolls, as I don't think much else has lasted as long as I have. So a combination of lottery tickets and bus tickets, then.

I hate public transport and love my car! I know thats not green an but its true. In my defence, to get to my workplace would involve 3 train journeys and a short stint on a bus, so you can see why a car is the only real alternative.

Also, I love driving. Even the commute too and from work, I enjoy every bend, every braking zone. Accelerating out of the bends......drool.

Sad really.

I'd love to own a Lotus Elise as weekend motor and go driving around the peak district but I'm about 20 grand short!