Yes, I was going to make the same point. I'm not sure this was a conscious decision on Orwell's part, the idea of freedom and autonomy would probably not have b

Yes, I was going to make the same point. I'm not sure this was a conscious decision on Orwell's part, the idea of freedom and autonomy would probably not have been linked to car ownership for him back then, as it is now. And there are other, stronger reasons mentioned elsewhere in these comments, impracticality, cost, privilege etc. But viewed in retrospect I think this is valid.