Car dilemma - do you manage without one?

[marctt]

If you don't use the car often then suggest disconnect the battery between use by undoing the earth (negative / minus sign) cable from the battery and the battery will then last longer between use.

Remember, central locking, alarm, clock, etc won't work with battery disconnected and wit ours I have to lock the doors with central locking before disconnecting battery as only have key on one door (leave bonnet open before locking doors).

Hope this helps

 

[beansprout]

Doubt you would have got much change out of £150.00 for battery and certainly having forked out for it, best to use your car.

I recently sold  my car via webuyanycar.com - very pleasant experience & was roughly what I was expecting. Pop your bangers reg jnto their website to get an idea of price - they do send e mails once a fortnight/month just as an aid for you. Easy enough to delete - don’t even have to read valuation. They literally buy any car - if you can’t get it to them, they will charge you to get it there or recommend a co that will do it for you. Must say, mine was a 2014 reg and whilst a bit suspicious, paid extra to get money into my account as needed it for next car but was assured funds had I not gone down route I took would be in my account within 5 days.

I now live in the country - every time I have been back to Dulwich and surrounding area, normally get a fine for driving at wrong time or parking at  wrong time so if I drive now, park in West or East Dulwich and do everything else by public transport and walking. 

Were I still to be living in ED then before I left was pondering this very issue but since I have been back regularly for health reason I no longer drive but take the train and then buses, walk or Uber. Much cheaper than running a car and had I stayed, that would have been the course I would have taken. I don’t go out everyday, have an allotment or job to go to or family so in my case, would be cheaper not to have a car. 

Was truely shocked   at the cost of second hand cars…..but where I now live only has a smattering of buses so no choice but to have wheels to get from A to B etc.
 

 

 

 

 

[Sue]

22 hours ago, beansprout said:

Doubt you would have got much change out of £150.00 for battery and certainly having forked out for it, best to use your car.

I recently sold  my car via webuyanycar.com - very pleasant experience & was roughly what I was expecting. Pop your bangers reg jnto their website to get an idea of price - they do send e mails once a fortnight/month just as an aid for you. Easy enough to delete - don’t even have to read valuation. They literally buy any car - if you can’t get it to them, they will charge you to get it there or recommend a co that will do it for you. Must say, mine was a 2014 reg and whilst a bit suspicious, paid extra to get money into my account as needed it for next car but was assured funds had I not gone down route I took would be in my account within 5 days.

I now live in the country - every time I have been back to Dulwich and surrounding area, normally get a fine for driving at wrong time or parking at  wrong time so if I drive now, park in West or East Dulwich and do everything else by public transport and walking. 

Were I still to be living in ED then before I left was pondering this very issue but since I have been back regularly for health reason I no longer drive but take the train and then buses, walk or Uber. Much cheaper than running a car and had I stayed, that would have been the course I would have taken. I don’t go out everyday, have an allotment or job to go to or family so in my case, would be cheaper not to have a car. 

Was truely shocked   at the cost of second hand cars…..but where I now live only has a smattering of buses so no choice but to have wheels to get from A to B etc.
 

Yes, at least in London there is good public transport!

I once lived in the middle of nowhere. There was one bus a week which took people into the nearest largeish town to shop in the morning, then brought them  back in the afternoon.

Another world! 

I never actually used the bus, because I had a (different) car!

[Maxm]

My mums in a very similar position. We worked out how much she’d pay annually in ULEZ fees and compared that to the likely costs etc of changing cars (she’s concluded to keep her car till it claps out) 

Oh - and I’d suggest asking around if someone has a mains powered battery charger to try to resuscitate your dead one (50/50 if it’ll work) 

[Sue]

16 minutes ago, Maxm said:

My mums in a very similar position. We worked out how much she’d pay annually in ULEZ fees and compared that to the likely costs etc of changing cars (she’s concluded to keep her car till it claps out) 

Oh - and I’d suggest asking around if someone has a mains powered battery charger to try to resuscitate your dead one (50/50 if it’ll work) 

I did use a mains powered battery charger. It didn't work. The battery was completely dead.

My garage also tried, with presumably a stronger charger. That didn't work either.

That was why I had to either bin the car or get a new battery 😭

I decided in the end to get a new battery and keep the car.

[Pugwash]

My car was registered in 2004. Automatic, ULEZ compatible.  Used to use it daily for work until 2016 when retired. Still used 3-5 days weekly after that as was doing voluntary work. My mobility has gradually declined and  it is painful to walk.. Family live in Kent, Essex and Sussex - so need car to visit them. My car battery is 2 years old - when had to call out RAC to assist at home as it was dead, they found it was the original battery installed in 2004!! My car is essential - shopping each week, being able to go to garden centres, or DIY stores, taking the cat to the vet and  other social activities.

I now only half fill with petrol every 3- 4 weeks, so save that way. I am careful  with my finances and would be lost without the car. It is regularly maintained (Turners).

[Sue]

1 hour ago, Pugwash said:

My car was registered in 2004. Automatic, ULEZ compatible.  Used to use it daily for work until 2016 when retired. Still used 3-5 days weekly after that as was doing voluntary work. My mobility has gradually declined and  it is painful to walk.. Family live in Kent, Essex and Sussex - so need car to visit them. My car battery is 2 years old - when had to call out RAC to assist at home as it was dead, they found it was the original battery installed in 2004!! My car is essential - shopping each week, being able to go to garden centres, or DIY stores, taking the cat to the vet and  other social activities.

I now only half fill with petrol every 3- 4 weeks, so save that way. I am careful  with my finances and would be lost without the car. It is regularly maintained (Turners).

I'm glad you are making good use of your car, but bemused how you are saving on petrol by only half filling every 3-4 weeks?

Unless this prevents you using the car as often as you would like, surely you would use just the same amount of petrol, and spend the same amount of money, if you filled it up completely every 6 - 8 weeks?

Have I missed something here? 

Edited June 2 by Sue

[vladi]

My car is even older and I also only keep the tank half full because if someone siphons it, the maximum I loose is half.

[se22]

Driving a car with a full tank of petrol adds to the weight which causes it to use slightly more petrol!

Also most new cars are no longer supplied with a spare wheel, partly to reduce weight and petrol consumption.

[Laddy Muck]

Update to my 2nd post of 27th May.

The Trickle Charger has worked a treat and it has resurrected the car.  Well worth the c£35.  Took 6 days.

[ianr]

3 hours ago, Laddy Muck said:

Update to my 2nd post of 27th May.

The Trickle Charger has worked a treat and it has resurrected the car.  Well worth the c£35.  Took 6 days.

Was that the the time it took before reporting something like 'Fully charged'?  If so, had you tried checking from time to time before then whether the battery was effective?   It might also be interesting trying the charger again after a week or two, to see how well the battery is maintaining charge.

[Pugwash]

The only time I fill the petrol tank to its' capacity is if we go to visit family in West Sussex and stay in the nearby Premier Inn for a few days. There is no bus service between family home and the Inn - so around 8 miles round trip each day plus outings.

I can afford to fill up completely, but choose to half fill in case car stolen/petrol syphoned.