Quote:
Originally Posted by dculkin
I drive older cars and do most of my own maintenance and repairs.
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But that is not how it is calculated. It is calculated with the idea that you DON'T do your own maintenance and repairs. For the first couple of years of my ownership of a new car, when I want to calculate the costs of the car, I would plug in the shop rates. So, if the oil change costs me $80 and the dealership, that is what I add in the column of expenses. I don't say "Well, oil and filters cost me $40 so ....". Otherwise, a skilled mechanic can tell you the car costs $100 to maintain whereas my wife would say it costs $4000 to maintain since she doesn't have the discounts, tools and abilities to fix it herself.