In the inner cities of most larger European cities using a car often clearly is a pain in the ass. Lots of traffic and lack of parking space don't make it fun. Not to say that using public transport always is very enjoyable. It depends if you travel outside the big cities of course. With a car you are certainly more flexible than with public transport. I usually take the tram when I go downtown but the car when I go somewhere else.

What's scary is that with all those "no frills" airlines, today it's often cheaper to take the plane than to go by car or train, even on comparatively short distances.