Can't agree that as children grow up, the family doesn't need the car.

This is more what I know.

1. Kids before primary 1: bring them to kindergarten/child care. In fact, most families will choose one near their homes, so they don't need the car for this. The car is more for weekends visits to grandparents. Depending on how many kids, this phase can last a good 10 years.

2. Kids in primary school. Got school bus, so actually no need to ferry them to school. Again car only needed for family outing during weekends

3. Kids in secondary schools. No more school bus. Some more kids now got CCA that can end quite late. Most parents would send / pick up their children from these activities. Now tuition classes become more urgent

4. Kids in JC / poly. They are bigger now, and they want to go out with friends, so actually don't need car, but again for weekend outings, it is definitely more convenient and comfortable to have family car. In fact, at this stage we actually purchase a weekend MPV in addition to my compact saloon car. Need the MPV now because grandparents gave up their cars and need to fetch them for outings too.

5. Kids in uni / working. They don't need the car, but you want it because you getting old and less mobile to fight with crowd when going to and coming back from work. Main thing is once you are used to owning and driving a car, it is damned hard to give it up.