> Sorry, you're claiming taxis and trains have lower costs than driving? Where the hell are you living? I'd love to be there!
Figure it like this - loosely, the IRS thinks fifty cents/mile is fair compensation. So for every mile you go, that's two quarters.
Taxis are higher than fifty cents a mile. Trains, at least commuter rail, are much cheaper.
If you really want to to dissect the IRS figure per mile, figure out the price you'll buy the vehicle for, the price you'll sell the vehicle, split the difference, and add up all expected maintenance (check the manual, then don't forget to add tires, suspension components, windshield wipers, etc). Add a few more thousands for unexpected repairs. Divide this by expected mileage, then add up the cost of gasoline per mile. This is close to your real cost in owning a vehicle. It's a lot higher than you likely think.
But most people in the US don't keep a financial ledger or a budget. We don't realize how much we pay for the privilege of driving.