💬 Public transport vs buying a car in the US, still not sure I chose right

For my whole first year here I used buses, trains and the odd Uber to save money while I worked out my monthly costs. In the city centre it was fine. Weekends were the problem. Outside downtown the buses get rare, and friends' places, a trail, a lake, were all short drives but long bus trips. Once I had enough saved I bought a used car, and the freedom is real. Weekend trips, easy grocery runs, no carrying 6 bags on a bus in the cold. I say yes to more things now. But it costs more than I budgeted. Insurance was a shock because I'm a new driver here, parking near my apartment is extra every month, and the used car needs more repairs than I thought. Last month the brakes needed work and I just stared at the bill. So I keep going back and forth. Were the no car years smarter, or is the better life worth the money? My wife says stop calculating and drive. If you waited before buying a car here, which way worked better for you?