Yes, Western Europe is definitely "streets ahead" of the US in public transportation. One thing to note though is that costs can be drastically lower if you a)

Yes, Western Europe is definitely "streets ahead" of the US in public transportation. One thing to note though is that costs can be drastically lower if you a) buy used, and b) learn how to do most maintenance yourself. Most things that typically go wrong with a vehicle aren't that difficult to fix, and parts aren't that expensive, but a mechanic's hourly labor costs tend to add up very quickly.