Having a Car? (Seattle, Bellevue, Renton: to rent, insurance, transfer)

[hawaiiboy]

Ok, so this isn't another one of those......however, by my username I will be transplanting so I am asking this question: Is it worth shipping/buying a car?
Early next year I will be moving to Seattle via Hawaii. (WHAT? Leaving the sunshine for.......clouds. haha) I am hoping to be transfering job locations... highend retail management. There are about 5 shops in the state, so I don't know which location yet they will put me in. Yada yada.......Anyway, would getting a car be worth it? Is the public transportation reliable? I've been to Portland and loved theirs. My thought is get a car to be able to drive out and do sight seeing, catch public transportation to work. Thoughts?

[azoria]

We have been here since March, without a car. Our goal is to never get sucked into the car culture again (.....we'll see how that goes.....)

To live in this area without a car it is best to stay within the Seattle city limits. Outside of Seattle and in the area there is connecting transportation, Sound Transit. However it operates shorter hours, fewer routes, and with less frequency. We specifically rented within Seattle to stay in the Seattle Metro Transit bounds.

To my mind, paying a higher rent in the Seattle city limits is still financially more lucrative than all the costs associated with owning a car. I figure owning/operating a car minimum, runs about $500 a month. I could move to Renton or Lynwood and save a couple of hundred dollars a month on rent, but it's hard to live in those suburbs without a car. We're ahead paying higher rent in Seattle, but I think saving money in the long run.

Plus I let the bus driver worry about all the a$$holes on the road. Not my problem anymore.

For unusual outings, there's always Zipcar. Rent by the hour, day, week. Not cheap, but an option.

Outside of the Seattle city limits, anywhere in Washington, you will be hard pressed to survive without a car.

(Lots of Hawaiians in the PNW)

[Ira500]

I'll agree with some minor quibbles:
If you live near downtown Renton, your transit options will be quite good, better than some in city Seattle 'hoods...From the Renton Transit center there are frequent buses to both Seattle and Bellevue.

[obsidian97]

Originally Posted by azoria

I figure owning/operating a car minimum, runs about $500 a month.

I commute via car every day to work. Probably about 16 miles round-trip each day. It costs me maybe $225/mo to operate my car.

My car is long since paid off and in good condition, gets about 28-30 MPG (bought long ago), on Eastside, with it parked at my home.

Don't get me wrong, if you can make life work without a car, great, but $500/mo is a pretty high estimate.

I would recommend having a car here if you plan to sight-see. There's lots of places to see and go to that are not served by public transit (the national parks for instance).

[hawaiiboy]

Thanks for the replies! I was guess-timating I would spend an extra $1200/year if I did have a car........(gas/maintanence/insurance) If I knew exactly where I'd locate to I would do the whole bus thing.
Unless....would it be reasonable, say....you live downtown and commute by bus to alderwood area or bellevue. I know it sounds crazy........backwards from what others do right?? Those are the two areas outside of downtown that my company is located at. Worst case senario.

[azoria]

"but $500/mo is a pretty high estimate."

Ya think? My last car was a Ford Focus with a $258 monthly payment. Full coverage comprehensive insurance cost just under $200 a month (we're up to $458 already). That was in 2003 before gas was 4 dollars a gallon, yeah.....I bought a set of winter tires that cost me $500.

I think running a car for $500 a month is actually a very conservative estimate.

Conversely, a Seattle Metro monthly bus pass is about 60 bucks.

[Ira500]

The reverse commute to Bellevue won't work, because lots of people work in Bellevue and the traffic is bad in both directions.

[obsidian97]

Originally Posted by azoria

"but $500/mo is a pretty high estimate."

Ya think? My last car was a Ford Focus with a $258 monthly payment. Full coverage comprehensive insurance cost just under $200 a month (we're up to $458 already). That was in 2003 before gas was 4 dollars a gallon, yeah.....I bought a set of winter tires that cost me $500.

I think running a car for $500 a month is actually a very conservative estimate.

Conversely, a Seattle Metro monthly bus pass is about 60 bucks.

I was not including the payments on the car itself because that's going to vary according to each person. I'm just talking about the cost of using/maintaining the car, not the cost of buying one.

It also depends on how far you are commuting and how efficient your car is, etc., what the cost of gas is, which is why I gave those numbers as well.

I still think $500/mo is high for a considerable number people to simply drive their car around, given that they have average fuel efficiency and don't commute all that far.

Back that $258 out of your calculation for the cost of buying, not maintaining, your car (to make it apples to apples with the numbers I was giving) you're well back under $500.

If your focus was using 24 MPG in the city and gas is $4.50/gallon, that's an extra 45 miles a day (1376 per month) you could drive for that $258/mo. Alternatively, you could buy a new set of tires every two months (using your figures) with that money.

Yes, Seattle Metro is probably cheaper, but take Seattle Metro to North Cascades National Park for the weekend. You can't? Oh. You get what you pay for. If you don't need what Seattle Metro provides often, then great. If you do, then not so great, and the cost of just having a car sitting in your driveway for those non-Metro trips isn't exorbitent.

As always though, YMMV.

[azoria]

With my already-paid-for bus pass and $6 for the ferry, I spent a beautiful last Saturday at the Blackberry Festival in Bremerton.

Just as soon as they install a ferry line to the North Cascades National Park, I'll be going there too.

[obsidian97]

Originally Posted by azoria

With my already-paid-for bus pass and $6 for the ferry, I spent a beautiful last Saturday at the Blackberry Festival in Bremerton.

Just as soon as they install a ferry line to the North Cascades National Park, I'll be going there too.

Sweet.

BTW- I totally encourage more people to use mass transit. It'll make the traffic for my commute a lot easier.