Driving a car is very expensive.

[Peakster]

I drive a cheap car, no question about it. I don't have car payments to make, I get better fuel economy than most Canadians with their 'normal' cars. Heck, even my vehicle insurance is some of the cheapest in the nation.

Yet driving a vehicle is still a very expensive way to get around in a larger city. Check out how my 'fuel miser' stacks up in terms of basic monthly cost:

Required Registration and Insurance: $73
Maintenance (everything from oil changes to new tires): $55
Repairs (everything from a new battery to a shop repair): $50
Parking (both permits and street meters) $50
Gasoline (basic travel within the city, with a monthly trip to another city 5 hours away): $167

Total transportation expense: $405
(and that's assuming one doesn't ever get a traffic ticket, or other surprise cost of driving)

That's a lot of money considering there are half-decent bachelor apartments that rent out for less in Winnipeg. Yet going car-free is virtually impossible without using a very good mass transit system (which very few cities have). I'm beginning to ponder if I can afford owning a car once I graduate from university and live independently.

What is your total expense of using your vehicle and how do you cope with the cost? Do you imagine that you might have an uncomfortable monetary squeeze of owning your vehicle in the near future?

[01_fast_ride]

I agree, besides the enormous upfront costs of vehicles, the operating costs make cars a foolish lifestyle necessity. The overall expense makes me wish I were back in college when I could get to everywhere I needed by biking. I think college towns are ideal anyway because of the older layout and being pedestrian-friendly, so I wouldn't mind moving back.

Averaged monthly ins+reg = $94
Averaged maintenance = $10
Repairs = $0
Parking = $0
Gas = $42

I'm kind of in the sweet spot of vehicle ownership - old enough to be paidoff and yet new enough to not require repairs. The averaged maintenance (done myself) includes cost of spark plugs, fuel filter and 3 annual oil changes divided by 12. You can see my fuel costs are minimal, not because I get 100mpg, rather I drive about 100mpw (miles per week).

I've been fortunate to almost always live nearby my work. For two years I lived AT work (dorm). Gas can last a long time that way.

[Erdrick]

0. My company pays all costs.

[Peakster]

Holy smokes, theclencher. That's some cheap insurance! What kind of coverage does that buy you? My province requires $1,000,000 injury liablity and $200,000 property damage liablity.

Where do you buy $6 oil? The non-virgin cheap oil I buy at Walmart is $16 for a gallon, plus tax. That's why I get the $23 oil change there. Maybe I need to find a highschool shop class that will change my oil for free (but I hate waiting times, sigh).

[theclencher]

Originally Posted by Peakster

Holy smokes, theclencher. That's some cheap insurance! What kind of coverage does that buy you? My province requires $1,000,000 injury liablity and $200,000 property damage liablity.

Where do you buy $6 oil? The non-virgin cheap oil I buy at Walmart is $16 for a gallon, plus tax. That's why I get the $23 oil change there. Maybe I need to find a highschool shop class that will change my oil for free (but I hate waiting times, sigh).

that's liability only, 30k bodily injury/person 60k/accident, 10k property, 20k med exp, 20k economic loss, 30k un/underinsured motorist. this is legal min in my state. p.s. plus i get accident free, multi-car, homeowner, and discounts

oil change: 5 qts @ .69/qt = $3.45 + $2.50 filter. .69 was the last price i paid for dino oil on sale after rebate. i just scored 120 quarts synthetic free after rebates so next changes will be even less!

[omgwtfbyobbq]

fatwallet/slickdeals ftw?

[QDM]

Insurance on my Swift is just under $20 per month. License about $3 per month. Gas cost varies but just for my 28 mile daily commute would be about $40 per month. I do all my own maintenance, even mounting tires, so it doesn't cost much.

In the summer time I ride the motorcycle or motorized bike which is even cheaper.

Q

[bowtieguy]

expensive...

relative, is it not? look at california or new york housing compared to florida or tennessee.

i know, we're talking cars. so compare a single mother(no car payment) vs a realitor w/ new suv(but no repair costs). WAY dif perception.

my total car expense(wife not included) minus maintenance costs(haven't figured it precisely, but it's not much) is < $200/month.

my mortgage is just over $500(OLD 3 bdrm, 2 bath house).
utilities(family of 5) avg ~ $150.
these may seem INexpensive to some, but my gas alone(for both our cars) exceeds $200/month. THAT prolly seems expensive to many.

[GasSavers_Red]

My monthly looks something like
Insurance - $50
Licensing - $11
Gas - $135
Fluids - $15
Parking - $5

Grand total $216

[theclencher]

hard to believe yet true!!!