I spent too much money on my car (Passat TDI) last November to get it through its MOT, more than it was worth but will see it through for a few more years without needing parts/repairs. It's been a great servant, has hardly cost me much over the last 11 years - bought SH at 4.5 years old and I got it for £4k which was massively under book price so the depreciation hasn't been a big factor. annually over the last 6 years bar last Nov it's cost me roughly £900/year all in including fuel/ins/VED/MOT/parts, about 23p/mile (3 years with no replacement parts/straight MOT pass helps)
I declared the car SORN from 30th Jan this year, I've borrowed my sons car once (to meet friends across country 26 miles away) however as a volunteer for AGE UK the last 15 years and my family ties up in East Yorkshire there are times when getting to where I need to be by bike is not just simply impossible for me physically but in some instances utterly impractical, more costly and more stressful.
As an example I collect and distribute the charity's quarterly magazine, that's 15x 5kg boxes so I'd drive to collect from the local branch and drop them off near me by bike in multiple trips. More recently the local branch has closed and the magazines are now 14 miles away by the physically shortest route (by bike). there's 45ft/mile with an 8% incline on the way back as well as some fast downhill bits too. Aside from needing a suitable trailer I'm not even sure I could do it never mind want to do it and that's just one example.
Last year there were several family matters that meant I needed the car, immediate travel by train is hugely more costly and journey time door to door much longer, sometimes by 50% more.
I'll keep the car SORN until i really absolutely need it, in a way it's good because I'm not buying bike bits I don't need so has curtailed my jackdaw tendancies.
Those who can do without a car all year round I applaud the effort.