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Old 08-12-2018, 04:17 PM   #41
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As long as we both can drive we'll have two vehicles. Right now DW's car is the 2014 Honda Accord but it is also the daily driver when we both go out, so between her running around with babysitting and being used most, it gets about 15k miles a year on it. The Honda gets almost twice the gas mileage of the truck.

The other vehicle is a 2003 GMC 4WD pickup truck we bought new when we retired. It just recently turned over 100k miles so it gets about 6k miles a year. Although it is also garage-kept I do try to make a point to drive it at least once a week since more than one mechanic has told me that the worst thing you can do to a vehicle is not drive it.
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Old 08-12-2018, 04:19 PM   #42
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Originally Posted by Texas Proud View Post
One of the things I wish people would put down is how close anything is located to their location... we are out in the burbs and nothing is really in walking distance (say 1 mile) and the closest grocery is about 1.7 miles or a 3.4 round trip that would take an hour.... vs 10 to 15 minute round trip drive...


So unless one never wants to leave without the other then you need two cars... now, not sure how good Uber is around here but there are no taxis without calling them and waiting...
Apparently not for us. We’re also out in the burbs and no retail or restaurants around here. But we do have bicycles. We just don’t need to go somewhere in the car very often. Exercising we do locally. Errands we tend to run together.
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FIREing on one or two cars? - if you do not consumer more than 6K-8K miles a year?
Old 08-12-2018, 04:24 PM   #43
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FIREing on one or two cars? - if you do not consumer more than 6K-8K miles a year?

We have 3 cars. A smaller fun Mercedes for me, an E Class, and a new GMC SUV Terrain to carry stuff to Florida and just to have more space on our drives there. Always will. We live in the suburbs so you have to drive.

We both have lives! We both are independent and do lots of different things. I’ll go to the tennis club for 2-3 hours, she goes shopping with her sisters, daughter. No way am I going to sit around the house without transportation, unable to go anywhere until she gets back! And believe me....how many times have I heard...”Going to shop with my sister, probably be back in a few hours”. 6 hours later she calls....”We are at XYZ for dinner and ran into whomever so we will see you later.

Don’t know how many times I’ve gone to play tennis, then we ended up grabbing something to eat, then one of the guys wants help moving a table or whatever out of his den. 2 hour time frame turns into 5 hours. Who wants to be like a kid.....sorry I have to go home now.

We are the opposite of homebodies.

We are 63 and have active separate lives. Perhaps in our 80’s, but I doubt it.
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Old 08-12-2018, 04:28 PM   #44
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We dropped from two to one car when we retired. Helping with that was the VW diesel buyback. The paid off VW golf diesel was purchased back by VW, so we sold the paid off Honda fit, and used the proceeds from both to pay cash for a VW Tiguan. We don't need two cars anyway, but the Tiguan is the nicest vehicle we have ever owned.

The reduced maintenance and insurance of only one care is a part of our retirement spending plan.
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Old 08-12-2018, 04:30 PM   #45
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Originally Posted by Texas Proud View Post

One of the things I wish people would put down is how close anything is located to their location... we are out in the burbs and nothing is really in walking distance (say 1 mile) and the closest grocery is about 1.7 miles or a 3.4 round trip that would take an hour.... vs 10 to 15 minute round trip drive...

.


Our one car living setup:

Gym 1.4 miles
Starbucks .5 miles
Dunkin’ Donuts: .25 miles
Small coffee shop: 120yds
Supermarket: .6 miles
Target: 3.7 miles
Walmart: 3 miles
Best Buy: 2.2 miles
Restaurant 1: 100yds
Restaurant 2: 110yds
About 10 other restaurants: .40 to .80 miles
Almost forgot!
Brewery: 500yds
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Old 08-12-2018, 04:59 PM   #46
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4 cars (2 Prius, 1 Rogue, 1 CRV) - one for each family member. 2 of the 4 belong to <21 yrs so paying insurance through the nose But everyone is happy and independent
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Old 08-12-2018, 05:05 PM   #47
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DH and I had one car for the first 11 years of our marriage. We'd moved from NJ to KS for my job and my car had over 200,000 miles on it so we donated it to charity. DH was retired and if he needed the car for the day he drive me to work and picked me up (about half an hour each way). We decided that my work schedule was getting hectic in early 2014 and bought a second car. Ironically, I got fed up and ER'd 4 months later.

We ended up keeping both cars but after DH died I sold the older one. When I take my car in for servicing I then jog/walk to the gym, do a shorter workout and jog/walk back and by that time it's done. Uber would be an option if it needed to be kept overnight. Far cheaper than maintaining and insuring a second car "just in case".
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Old 08-12-2018, 05:51 PM   #48
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As a car guy, with 6 old classic vehicles 1937-1968, and 4 newer daily driver type vehicles, I could never imagine having only one. Or even two vehicles with one for me and one for DW. Given that we live out in the country a bit, there is no walking option or safe bicycle riding option. All of my vehicles are paid for, so the incremental cost for reg is not much, and insurance is not too bad since the old classics are on lower cost classic vehicle insurance.


Yes I could save money by getting rid of some, but for now its an acceptable expense. Heck, I have had 2 or more vehicles myself since I was 18 years old.
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Old 08-12-2018, 06:26 PM   #49
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We have 2 paid for cars with low miles. They should last another 10 years and when 1 dies we will try sharing a car and using Uber.
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Old 08-12-2018, 07:20 PM   #50
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One adult driver, five vehicles: One truck (2015 F150, 30K miles), one car (2006 Subaru Outback, 143K miles), one semi-classic car (94 Camaro, 27K miles). One RV. One Tractor (1988 Kubota L seriess). Also a 20' trailer to carry the Tractor.

DS just got his permit. I don't really want him driving the truck, but the others are all manual transmission and thus not a good vehicle to learn on. So I am in a bit of a quandary as to what to do.

I need a bigger garage.
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Old 08-12-2018, 09:01 PM   #51
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DW and I have 3 vehicles... '97 Ford Ranger, '01 Chevy Suburban, and '06 BMW 325i. DW drives the BMW money pit. I mainly drive the Suburban. I use the Ranger for hauling stuff that I don't want in the back of the Suburban, like a yard of dirt, a load of rock, or a new washing machine. The kids borrow it for moving stuff.

They're all old and high mileage. But we are comfortable in them. They each serve a purpose. We only drive about 6-7K miles per year, combined. If we go on a road trip (rare), we rent a car. Cost of keeping the 3 is very low... just insurance, registration, and inspection. Maintenance is minimal, but occasionally we'll spend $800 on something or other.

At some point, we'll sell the Ranger and go to two. Or maybe two plus a trailer. And as our miles continue to decline, and Uber/Lyft become more widespread, I can see one vehicle working just fine for us. For now, based on our lifestyle and needs, three is the right number.
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Old 08-12-2018, 09:30 PM   #52
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Two, both 2015 Toyotas: 1) Highlander, hauls people, 2) Tacoma, hauls stuff. Did both with the Highlander until recently, but my wife has a rock landscaping hobby and the carpet in the rear was starting to suffer for it. Tacoma is also our camping/fishing vehicle. Wife hauls grandkids places, so Highlander 'seats 7' is important. We'll probably drive this line-up well into our '70s.

Also of note is we serendipitously have a good walking situation; work moved near me, and the expansion of our nearby public university has fomented really nice shopping and dining development. Our nearest grocery store is a Trader Joe's, at which I'll stop for stuff when walking home from work.
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5 cars
Old 08-12-2018, 11:25 PM   #53
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5 cars

The Mrs's 2014 Mazda 5
My 2009 Chevy Malibu and 1999 Mazda Miata (aka "garage queen" and former mid-life crisis car).

Plus 2 beaters - a 1996 Suzuki Sidekick (reconstructed title with a slightly crumpled fender) and a 1998 Toyota Camry. These cars sons #2 and #3 are learning to drive on, and will use once they get their licenses.

Sadly, I used the Miata less than 1,000 miles each of the last 2 years (since I retired). I've owned it for 16 years now, so I don't see it leaving the stable. I'm a firm believer everyone should have a "fun" car (if you're a car person). I smile just looking at it in the garage hibernating.

Every car has a purpose, including the Suzuki for quick runs to get coffee and groceries. I can park it anyway without worrying about door dinks, etc.

Too many cars at the moment, but hey if you aren't confusing and annoying the neighbors, what's the point??
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Old 08-13-2018, 06:27 AM   #54
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We had two cars briefly to enable the kids to drive while living with us. Other than that we have always kept a single car. If we ever really need two at once we will rent. We live in a city center with good public transportation plus Uber, Lyft, and multiple car rental options. I can imagine keeping two if we lived in a remote area where options were limited.
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Old 08-13-2018, 06:40 AM   #55
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From an availability and redundancy perspective we are keeping our 2 cars. Both have been reliable and have aged well. The additional cost is worth the ability to use a car at the spur of the moment without having to coordinate our schedules. We have budgeted for a 3rd SUV for road trips and the stuff I like to haul around, but are not in a rush to add it.
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Old 08-13-2018, 07:00 AM   #56
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Assuming your DW can’t drive and never will,
With 1 driver, I would think 1 car should likely do. I could see exceptions.

For us we have 2 and 2 drivers.

We deal with DMIL medical appointments, our normal trips and I use the one with a trailer hitch to put the boat in. So instead of having DW stuck at home when I sail or one of us being stuck when the other is taking DMIL where she needs to go... the second care is useful.

I could see with one had a big truck with a purpose like pulling a 5th wheel and wanted a smaller vehicle for more normal trips.

This is how I would handle it in my case. If only one of us drove, I would likely have one car.
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Old 08-13-2018, 08:09 AM   #57
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So I got a question for you folks who FIRED and do not drive more than 6,000-8,000 miles per year. I only drive about 5000 - 6000 miles per year - most vacations are by air travel. Would you keep 2 cars, or just keep 1 car and sell the other and keep the Money + save on insurance and car property tax?
I have 4 vehicles and plan on keeping all of them
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Old 08-13-2018, 08:22 AM   #58
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One of the things I wish people would put down is how close anything is located to their location.
41 restaurants within 6 blocks of our house
2 grocery stores within 3 blocks
4 breweries within 6 blocks
Gym within 2 blocks

Our normal walk distance is 3km, so 100+ restaurants.
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Old 08-13-2018, 08:39 AM   #59
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One of the things I wish people would put down is how close anything is located to their location...
4.5 miles - small grocery and beer store
4.5 - McDonalds
10 miles - Walmart
10 miles - small town hospital
10 miles - a few restaurants
11 miles - home improvement store

So we have to drive a lot
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Old 08-13-2018, 09:05 AM   #60
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Thanks for putting down the info...


As you can see, davebarnes need for a car is much less than Ronstar.... so comparing them does not give much useful info IMO...


I am not quite as bad as Ronstar, but much closer to him than davebarnes..
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