I got rid of my car in 2005. Biking is faster and more convenient within a 10 mile radius (unless a big load needs to be carried). Combo of bike and public transportation is convenient (but slower than car) within 20 mile radius. Also note that driving a car has 3 times the death/injury rate *per mile* of biking or walking. (Bus/train is 5 times safer per mile than driving a car.) Car accidents (not gun murders) used to be the leading cause of death, but now sugar/alcohol/opioid abuse/addiction takes the lead.

The only thing more dangerous than driving a car is driving a motorcycle - those are 5 times more dangerous per mile.

We keep a car for my wife - a one car family like in the 1950s.

Back in 2005, the cheapest used economy car was $400/mo (gas+insurance+maintenance+depreciation). Don't even think about borrowing for a car. Those factors change over the life of a car. As the car ages - maintenance goes up, depreciation goes down, you can drop collision from insurance.

I haven't done detailed pricing, but my impression is that today the cheapest used economy car is $800/mo.