AAA: The average cost of your car per year: $9100

[Bugeater]

Let's see here, 4 years ago we bought that Camry for $10,200.

In that time we've paid $2880 for insurance, roughly $3500 for fuel, $600 in repairs, and around $1200 in licensing/taxes for a total of $18,380, which averages out to $4595/yr so far.

And that is going to go down every additional year we have the car. If we keep it another 4 years with no major repair costs we're looking at $3320/yr.




Even better was my Caravan I just retired. I paid $2000 for it, drove it nearly four years, probably spent around $5,000 in gas over that time, around $3000 for licensing/insurance and $400 in repairs. Total operating costs=$2600/yr.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

In that time we've paid $2880 for insurance, roughly $3500 for fuel, $600 in repairs, and around $1200 in licensing/taxes for a total of $18,380, which averages out to $4595/yr so far.

And that is going to go down every additional year we have the car. If we keep it another 4 years with no major repair costs we're looking at $3320/yr.

Just curious - what goes down every year? The tax? Fuel and insurance aren't likely to change (hard to tell with fuel prices) and the chances of repair go up with age.

[jiveturkey]

Originally Posted by Frosty

Just curious - what goes down every year? The tax? Fuel and insurance aren't likely to change (hard to tell with fuel prices) and the chances of repair go up with age.

My taxes and insurance creep down every year since the car decreases in value.

Fuel is the long term unknown.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by jiveturkey

My taxes and insurance creep down every year since the car decreases in value.

Fuel is the long term unknown.

I've never had my insurance change due to the age of the car (which I think is bullshit). We don't have the property tax on cars here (yet) so I was wondering if that was what he meant.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Frosty

I've never had my insurance change due to the age of the car (which I think is bullshit). We don't have the property tax on cars here (yet) so I was wondering if that was what he meant.

If you have full coverage, your comprehensive and collision should be impacted by the increasing age of the car, unless its really old in which case you shouldn't have those coverages anyway.

Its possible that other things are happening in your particular situation which counters the impact of your car's age.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by alnorth

If you have full coverage, your comprehensive and collision should be impacted by the increasing age of the car, unless its really old in which case you shouldn't have those coverages anyway.

Its possible that other things are happening in your particular situation which counters the impact of your car's age.

Just curious, at what point would you drop those coverages? Would you carry them on a car worth $5000? $3000?

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by alnorth

If you have full coverage, your comprehensive and collision should be impacted by the increasing age of the car, unless its really old in which case you shouldn't have those coverages anyway.

Its possible that other things are happening in your particular situation which counters the impact of your car's age.

I think the incremental yearly rate increases negated any drop in rates from age.

[Chazno]

Originally Posted by Frosty

Just curious - what goes down every year? The tax? Fuel and insurance aren't likely to change (hard to tell with fuel prices) and the chances of repair go up with age.

The inital cost of the car(10.2k) is included in that total. The longer he drives it, that cost is divided by more years , making it smaller.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by Chazno

The inital cost of the car(10.2k) is included in that total. The longer he drives it, that cost is divided by more years , making it smaller.

I missed that he added that in.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Frosty

Just curious - what goes down every year? The tax? Fuel and insurance aren't likely to change (hard to tell with fuel prices) and the chances of repair go up with age.

We'd be spreading the cost of the car over more years. Taxes go down a bit every year as well.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by Frosty

Just curious - what goes down every year? The tax? Fuel and insurance aren't likely to change (hard to tell with fuel prices) and the chances of repair go up with age.

Bought my new car 14 months ago. Insurance costs from year 1 to year 2 dropped $300.

I bought new because I wanted to and I can afford it. Got my car for invoice price. Last car I had for 14 years and I only put about 10k/yr on them.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Let's see here, 4 years ago we bought that Camry for $10,200.

In that time we've paid $2880 for insurance, roughly $3500 for fuel, $600 in repairs, and around $1200 in licensing/taxes for a total of $18,380, which averages out to $4595/yr so far. .

Bull. You aren't spending only $150/year for all your repairs & maintenance. That's impossibly low. You spend that alone going to Jiffy Lube 4-6x per year, unless you don't change your oil. Tires cannot go more than 50K miles and be all that effective, so that's $600 right there every 3-4 years. You never repair a headlight, change air filters, get a new timing belt, or any other work on the car?


I've had Hondas and Acuras so I know foreign rice burners are good cars, but they aren't maintenance free. Not by a mile.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Bull. You aren't spending only $150/year for all your repairs & maintenance. That's impossibly low. You spend that alone going to Jiffy Lube 4-6x per year, unless you don't change your oil. Tires cannot go more than 50K miles and be all that effective, so that's $600 right there every 3-4 years. You never repair a headlight, change air filters, get a new timing belt, or any other work on the car?


I've had Hondas and Acuras so I know foreign rice burners are good cars, but they aren't maintenance free. Not by a mile.

Ok, I forgot oil changes twice a year and air filter once a year. That's another $60/year on both vehicles. And yes, a light bulb here or there, but those are negligible in cost.

So far on the Camry we had the timing belt replaced ($300) and tires replaced (another $300), and that's it. She only puts 6-7,000 miles on it a year.

As far as the Caravan, I replaced the fuel pump ($200), water pump ($50?), and put in a used starter that was $30. There's been spark plugs and some other little bullshit here and there along the way as well, and I drove the shit out of the thing.

I also have a 99 Dakota that I've had for 4 years, so far on it it's been battery ($60), 2 tires ($300), fan clutch (???), water pump ($60?) a couple sensors that were maybe $30 each. I'm not remembering the exact prices but it's still in that same $150/yr range. I've averaged about 5,000/yr on that one so it should be low.

So no bullshit.

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Ok, I forgot oil changes twice a year and air filter once a year. That's another $60/year on both vehicles. And yes, a light bulb here or there, but those are negligible in cost.

So far on the Camry we had the timing belt replaced ($300) and tires replaced (another $300), and that's it. She only puts 6-7,000 miles on it a year.

Timing belt replaced for $300? That seems impossible.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

Timing belt replaced for $300? That seems impossible.

Why do people think I'm lying about this stuff? It's not like I'm talking about my penis size or 40 time or how far I can throw a football.

But you got me, it may have been $317.83 or even $322.47 or something like that. I don't remember the exact amount and I didn't think it was important enough to dig up the receipt so I rounded it off.