So how are people supposed to get around, Tim? At least if you own your own car, you are safer than being in a taxi with no seat belt (assuming you are a good driver, which for the purpose of this post, I will assume you are). Not to mention the fact that some taxi drivers are reckless. I think I can also say that a car is safer than driving a scooter, or a bicycle. This is not to say that you are safe driving a car in Hefei (no transportation is safe here), but perhaps it is safer than most other forms of transportation.
The problems with owning a car here seem to be: cost, effort/time to get a car and license etc, and parking at your home or when you go out.
I personally will be replacing my scooter, which is dangerous, with a car rather soon.