by nickchild » 07 Aug 2004, 13:59
Yes, Maureen and I have used the Car Club and were instrumental in getting one placed down in Porty. We are among a dozen or so locals who do. Please join us and see what it's like. You can also access the other 14 cars around Edinburgh too.
Because we've been members for so long, we don't have the uptodate details for you, but we really don't think it's correct to say that it costs £200 a year or that there aren't reductions for dual membership.
Anyway, we absolutely love it. It now really couldn't be better or easier to use (as long as you have, as you do, internet access for booking). We used to have two cars of our own, we now have none - admittedly that's because there's such a good bus service through Porty and our kids are grown up! Cost is something like £2.30 an hour, and 17p per mile. For longer hirings you get a car delivered and picked up at your door on cheap rates. Of course you'll want those wonderful LRT bus travel cards for £330 or whatever a year that do everything bar take off at the airport for you!
The cost argument is wierd when you look at it. How much do you pay to run your own car? Several thousand a year at least - when I commuted and was paying a loan, it was £6000 per year. Remember to include all the expense and hassle of parking, of insurance, of road tax, of cleaning it, of servicing, of repairs, of worrying about vandalism, of depreciation in value etc etc. I would still think it was good selfish value to be a Car Club member at £2000 a year, never mind saving the environment and the world!
And you're bothered about whether it's £100 or £200! Car's are necessary for some purposes and people (kids for example!), but they do drive us into irrational financial logic, don't they!