I probably make 10 journeys on public transport for every journey I make in my car, so I don't feel at all guilty for owning a car. For getting into town, the train+tube normally suits me fine, but there are times when the public transport just isn't up to scratch. Apart from the obvious scenarios (heavy loads, large supermarket shops, elderly passengers, etc), public transport can be abysmal on Sundays due to tube and train closures. Trains only come every 30 minutes in the evenings, which is rubbish. And connections throughout south London are inconvenient and infrequent. Buses can involve waiting an unpredictable period of time (sometimes in bad weather), and many of us find the journey very unpleasant. In short I totally agree with SMG that most of us don't *need* a car (although the "europeans" statement is a generalisation of dubious accuracy) but owning one can be a huge advantage, depending on your habits and lifestyle. And I don't think there's any need to feel guilty about being a motorist in London, providing you use your car sensibly.