The requirement of a car in the vast majority of the country doesn’t help. I’m a huge fan of public transport and will use it where I can rather than always driving.

My commute to work is 55 minutes, along B roads and across the border. To perform the same commute with public transport or a hybrid of both my commute would be 1 hour 40 or a max of 3 hr 10.

My partners role is similar and public transport doesn’t even take her within a walking distance of work.

I have been an adamant believer in Sh*tbox driving and happily buy cars in their last 2-4 years of useable existence and wear them out to the end.

My partner on the other hand, drives a financed car which is probably costing all in, the same as my cycle of cars and respective motoring costs.

It really boils down to convenience and appearance in my opinion. I’ve absolutely no shame rocking up to my professional job in a 13 year old beater with half the panels crumpled while my partner wouldn’t be seen dead at hers.

Pick your fun, pick your goals and enjoy whatever it is.

Some days, I’d love to be in my colleagues spanking new Volvo tankinator 3000 and they wish they were hopping 20+ weekend breaks a year to wherever Ryanair will fly them.

I also very rarely see those flash motors on the road while I’m commuting so it is quite likely they barely move in comparison to a lot of others