How many cars per family?

We've always lived pretty rurally and DH has always commuted atleast half an hour. He had a motorbike to get to and from work and I used our hilux and we were gonna get a more family friendly car at the end of the year as well as what we have BUT the bike was written off in an accident a week ago so we might have to go car shopping sooner. I would so not be ok with not having a vehicle at my disposal, I feel trapped if I can't get out of the house easily even when I don't WANT to get out of the house. Weird yes but luckily DH is an understanding guy

we had one car for about 6 or 7 years between us, DH would just catch the bus to work, and I'd take the car to work. Then my parents gave us their old car a few years ago... now DH drives to catch a (much cheaper) shuttle bus to work and I have the wagon with the carseat during the day. We could cope with one, and if our second car gives up the ghost, we probably wouldn't replace it in a hurry... its much easier having two, but without two, DH would just catch the normal bus from just outside our place - cost more than shuttle but less than buying a new car.

Oh I should say before DD I didn't drive until I was 23 so it is possible to do public transport if you have a normal 9-5 job but I had no life as I couldn't go see friends unless I bussed and that meant going from home wherever that may be to city which would take an hr then have to go from town to where I wanted to go so upto if not more than 2hrs for a half hour car ride at most.

We now have 3 cars I got my new car yesterday and DP still has his car and the other one which he is using as its more comfortable, he's only allowed it for a few weeks till we sell it though (trying to clean it up etc) He will notice how much he uses on gas its a 2.5ltr.