[OJFord]

I don't understand why this is so controversial - you compare the cost of the owned car to the cost of alternative way of doing whatever weird and wonderful requirements exist - if there's literally no other way then call it infinite.

I don't think anybody and certainly not I ever said 'a standard taxi or bus will do for everybody in all circumstances'.

To me it's a helpful comparison to make (even though I'm not very good at obeying its advice) because I have the need so little that however exorbitant a taxi or hire car might seem at the time, it beats year-round insurance, tax, depreciation, etc. hands down.

(I obey it in the sense that I don't own a vehicle, just not in justifying taxis as readily as I ought.)