I have actually never owned a car so I am not sure how much it costs. But I think where I live insurances are quite high. I have read something like 200 to 300€ per month that a car costs (where initial price and expected duration of ownership is factored in). I suppose if we were to take a trip every day of the weekend, it might be a breakeven.

Also I admit that at lest when I was younger, it seems the kids who owned a car were a bit more spontaneous. They take trips to the sea at a whim or whatever.

Since I have not yet sorted out the renting thing, I can't say how easy it would be to just jump into a rented car on a whim. I already ran into problems trying to organize holidays, for example going most of the way by train and renting a car at the destination train station. I had imagined there to be a much better infrastructure than there really is. Hoping that will improve, though.

I actually consider it a luxury that I don't need a car.