We arrived in Honolulu a few minutes ahead of schedule Tuesday night.
I have a scheduled meeting with my Honolulu oncologist next week to set up the schedule for chemo and immunotherapy. That’s where the rubber hits the road, I guess.
And now a series of new decisions have thrust themselves into my immediate attention.
Here’s an example.
Our lease on a 2024 Nissan Leaf expires in September, which entails a choice. We can buy the vehicle outright at a price set in our original lease. We can sign a new lease on a new vehicle, which the dealers are always happy to
accommodate. Or we can just turn the car back to the dealer and walk away. Or, of course, shop for the best deal on a new or used EV from other dealers.
And here’s the problem.
I can no longer assume that I’ll be around to see the end of a new 3-year lease, as things could take a bad turn for me during that time frame. I’ve been handling our financial affairs, including keeping track of car expenses, etc., and I would want to leave the least possible mess for Meda to have to deal with if I were not here or no longer able to manage these affairs.
Buying the car would not be wise, since EV prices have dropped since 2024 and today, meaning we would be paying too much if we purchased pursuant to our original lease contract.
So do we need a car or not, given the uncertainty about my own future? We don’t drive much at all, not more than 4,000 a year. But we do have good friends in Kaneohe and in Kaaawa, and having a car makes it possible us to visit them somewhat regularly.
To complicate things, Meda basically stopped driving several years ago as I took on our routine chauffeur duties faster she retired from UH. So if I were gone, leaving a car in the garage would create a big headache for Meda to sort out.
We could go carless, but it’s not a simple decision. At least one of our closest friends made this move several years ago. With ride share and delivery services, and our central location in Kahala, it would probably work, although I’m not sure how we would continue to see our windward friends.
I haven’t done even a rough assessment of whether going carless would save or cost us money compared to a new lease or purchase of another vehicle.
And giving up a car is a wrenching rite of passage to a different lifestyle with lots of psychological and social implications.
Meanwhile, the clock on the soon-to-expire lease is ticking.
Next step for me is to solicit your advice. Please feel free to share by commenting here or via email ian(at)ilind.net.
Then I’ll likely talk to the dealer and find out how they see our options.
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Uber or Lyft . what i do. as I too don’t drive . Also. Plus I still own a car for friends and family . Crazy.
I have lived without a car for seven years now in Honolulu. It helps to next to a good bus route or two. It helps also to have a friend who will take you grocery shopping once a week, to the bank or the drugstore, etc. As a result of going without a car, I’m in much better physical shape because I do more walking.
However, if I was in a weakened condition, getting in and out of The Bus might be cumbersome. Also sitting at a bus stop in the sun on a hot dayis not a great idea. I travel in the mornings as a result.
I augment my bus rides with occasional Uber or Lyft rides.
I’ve had no problem shifting my mindset and I do appreciatethe people watching.
But in light of all this, I think I would hang onto a car if your wife would be willing to take over some driving responsibilities.
Experiencing the same dilemma, only my wheels are sentimental, having owned it for 15 years. Not knowing where your health is going, makes it difficult to decide.
You might look at a golf cart from your location.
Aloha Ian,
This Rolf Nordahl (the MacMouse guy.)
I gave up my car about two years ago after suffering an injury that led me to worry about my driving skills. When doing the calculations that you are now considering, I decided that I would be money ahead by renting out my parking stall and using Uber or Lyft and catching rides with friends.
I loved driving and had a 24 year-old Mercedes coupé CLK320 with 59,000 miles. It was silver with silver gray seats; I loved that car. The psychological aspect of the transition to no longer driving was a bit of a challenge. AS I was getting psyched counseling form Kaiser from my injury, I broached the “giving up the car” thing with my counselor.
I could not be happier about making the change, now. I started getting delivery from Safeway and Target for groceries and other items and continued shopping at Amazon.The biggest challenge was visiting friends in Waimanalo and Portlock. It was easy to get an Uber out there for $40–50. Coming home was more difficult. On occasion I was not able to get a driver to accept my trip and had to go to their limo service paying a couple of times as much as $90 for the trip home. Overall I am still ahead of the game financially. As friends realized I was no longer driving, I was offered rides to places where we both were going.
The reduction of stress is substantial. Traffic these days is frustrating. Uber drivers are good drivers and their cars are mostly newer and comfortable. For $4 more I can take my dog, Victoria.
I encourage you to consider giving up driving and your car. If you have questions or want to chat with me about the transition, please call me.
Mahalo for all your posts; I look forward to seeing your name in my mailbox.
Aloha
Rolf Nordahl
808 554 5540
rolf@aloha.net
Many of us are facing a similar problem. For those born in the’40s a car means freedom. But with fewer and shorter trips, Lyft is a terrific option. Much better choice economically. But Kaaawa becomes a real challenge.
it’s great you are thinking about all the possibilities and options. what you decide now may not be permanent.
if you let go of car, you could still stick around and want to get another one in a year or two. if you get treatments on a frequent basis, you may not want to be the one to drive back home.
i went for almost 10 yrs w/o a car and organized long trips/big shopping, etc. for one weekend and would rent a car for a couple days.
meanwhile, you clearly have lots of friends who can help with rides, dropping stuff off, etc. please count me in as one of these (while i’m still driving!)
I was reminded of another option–Extending the current lease for an additional 6 months to a year.
From what I read you are extremely independent. Keep the car, or lease a new one.
Having to depend on others (Uber, Lyft, theBus) is a pain and quite difficult to do on a regular basis.
Being able to get in the car and go is something I encourage you to continue with until you absolutely can’t do it.
Worst case scenario Meda could turn in a new lease early.
Check out eligibility for Handi-Van at https://www.honolulu.gov/dts/thehandivan/
I’d buy out the lease on current car. Maintaining friendships and connection. Your activity range would diminish without the car. You could always sell it down the road if your circumstances warrant it. You have more than enough money that you don’t have to compare cost of buyout vs. cost of using Uber. Keep things simple, keep the car.
The problem is that the contracted price to do a buy out is probably $5,000 or more above the car’s current value because EVs have experienced more than usual depreciation in the past several years. So a buy out would depend on the dealer offering additional price concessions or incentives. Otherwise it makes no financial sense.