Cost of Ownership Musings - Page 4 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

pawoSD · #46 11-10-2010, 06:53 PM

I bought my car 7.5 years ago and have driven it just under 100k since then....total spent is probably in the 12k range....but I am anal obsessive about maintenance. Most people cannot drive an S-class for 7+ years for 12k.....so I think I'm not doing too bad.

300E has been good too, had it for just over 2 years and have driven it about 23k.....total into it, maybe 5.5k.......but its in excellent shape and has half the miles of the W126....so I also think thats not too bad.

Best part, I have two MB's in the garage in excellent working order, no car payment, and very low insurance and maintenance costs.

My dad/brother have done well with their W123 and W126's......my sister has had to spend a bit to get the 190E up to snuff mechanically, but the purchase price was awesome for a car in such good physical shape (1500). She's probably just under 3.5k into it and has had it a year or so...driven it only about 3,000 miles.

She only drives about 75 miles a week.

shertex · #47 03-24-2012, 01:41 PM

A year and a half after my original post, numbers are holding steady:

2002 Honda Odyssey purchased new, currently 150,000 miles, cost of ownership (defined as purchase price plus maintenance): 21.9 cents per mile.

1992 300D, purchased with 137,000 miles now 233,000 miles, cost of ownership: 25.6 cents per mile.

More significant are maintenance costs per mile above 100,000 miles for the Honda (6.2 cents) and since purchase for the Benz (19.0 cents).

But if you ask which is more fun to drive, the answer is of course easy.

Bio300TDTdriver · #48 03-24-2012, 04:40 PM

I suspect if you added in fuel costs the Benz could catch the Honda.

shertex · #49 03-24-2012, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bio300TDTdriver

I suspect if you added in fuel costs the Benz could catch the Honda.

Yep. It's a 7 cent per mile differential using today's fuel prices. So once I throw in fuel costs, the Benz is cheaper.

Tanksowner · #50 03-24-2012, 05:15 PM

Maintenance alone I'm well in the hole on my "investment". A lot of it was stuff I was picky about and wanted fixed due to the experiences I've had with my Dodge. But 11,000 dollars later, at least all the car needs now is the seats fixed up a bit. Anyone who disputes how much I've spent, I've got the maintenance records/parts purchase receipts to prove it. It's an astronomical number.

...For the record, it was worth it

bolzano · #51 03-29-2012, 01:30 AM

02 Odyssey is really not so low in maintenance and repair. The transmission is infamously prone to breaking at 70K miles.

Quote:

We bought our 2002 Honda Odyssey new and have driven it 134,000 miles. Over this time, we have spent $30,710 including the purchase price of $26,000 or so. We had an extended warranty through 100,000 miles, so overall maintenance and repairs have been really low. Anyway, that comes to 22.9 cents per mile.

MSRP: $24,250 -$30,250 in 2002. So not clear if $26000 included extended warranty. Maybe purchase price was more like $30000 if your state has sales tax. Had to pay sales tax on mine.

Hondacare 7 yr 100000K extended warranty probably cost not less than $875 in year 2002. Could have cost $1500 if the dealer was greedy. Most Honda dealers are greedy. Between 70,000 and 100K miles, many Odysseys and Honda V6 vehicles break their transmissions. Estimate $2500-6000 for repair. Not possible to prevent transmission breakdown with very frequent maintenance. If it breaks out of warranty, you spend $$$. Been there, done that.

Lots of old car breakdown stuff happens to Honda Odyssey near 100K miles like all 5 engine mounts, rear power window motors, power doors, struts, tie rod ends, control arm bushings, tensioner, brake switch, ignition switch, O2 sensor, evap system. Many of those are from personal experience. Transmission is the most expensive routinely done repair. Maintenance includes timing belt at 105K or 7 yrs. Should replace timing belt at same time as TB tensioner, tensioner pulley, water pump and idler pulley. About $1000 at the dealer. Maybe $300+ in parts for the DIY home mechanic. My TB tensioner was leaking and required replacement or else would get severe engine damage if the leaking tensioner failed. Valve adjustment should be done near 105K miles. More difficult than on Mercedes diesel. About $500+ at dealer. Probably should add the cost of an extra transmission cooler and transmission filter. Transmission needs it.

Overall, 2002 Honda Odyssey has not been low cost or low trouble compared to my very ordinary higher mileage older cars.

Bio300TDTdriver · #52 03-29-2012, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bolzano

02 Odyssey is really not so low in maintenance and repair. The transmission is infamously prone to breaking at 70K miles.MSRP: $24,250 -$30,250 in 2002. So not clear if $26000 included extended warranty. Maybe purchase price was more like $30000 if your state has sales tax. Had to pay sales tax on mine.

Hondacare 7 yr 100000K extended warranty probably cost not less than $875 in year 2002. Could have cost $1500 if the dealer was greedy. Most Honda dealers are greedy. Between 70,000 and 100K miles, many Odysseys and Honda V6 vehicles break their transmissions. Estimate $2500-6000 for repair. Not possible to prevent transmission breakdown with very frequent maintenance. If it breaks out of warranty, you spend $$$. Been there, done that.

Lots of old car breakdown stuff happens to Honda Odyssey near 100K miles like all 5 engine mounts, rear power window motors, power doors, struts, tie rod ends, control arm bushings, tensioner, brake switch, ignition switch, O2 sensor, evap system. Many of those are from personal experience. Transmission is the most expensive routinely done repair. Maintenance includes timing belt at 105K or 7 yrs. Should replace timing belt at same time as TB tensioner, tensioner pulley, water pump and idler pulley. About $1000 at the dealer. Maybe $300+ in parts for the DIY home mechanic. My TB tensioner was leaking and required replacement or else would get severe engine damage if the leaking tensioner failed. Valve adjustment should be done near 105K miles. More difficult than on Mercedes diesel. About $500+ at dealer. Probably should add the cost of an extra transmission cooler and transmission filter. Transmission needs it.

Overall, 2002 Honda Odyssey has not been low cost or low trouble compared to my very ordinary higher mileage older cars.

That transmission was covered up to 105,000 miles as a result of a class action suit. Yes even Honda has some hiccups. There is another class action suit on the Civic hybrid we used to own. Inflated mpg and or software issues related to mpg.

shertex · #53 03-29-2012, 07:15 AM

Our Odyssey tranny went out at just 40,000 miles and was replaced.

bolzano · #54 03-29-2012, 01:17 PM

Quote:

That transmission was covered up to 105,000 miles as a result of a class action suit. Yes even Honda has some hiccups. There is another class action suit on the Civic hybrid we used to own. Inflated mpg and or software issues related to mpg.

Not covered for my year. Checked the class action lawsuit in detail. Covers some other cars besides Odyssey.
But not my 2002 vehicle. With the early transmission failure, my 2002 Odyssey cannot be considered low cost or low maintenance.

Some details of the class action lawsuit. In December of 2006 a class action settlement was approved.
"Case number: RG03099677
Title: Collins VS American Honda Motor Co.
Case Type: Civil
Complaint Type: Mass Tort
Case Subtype: General Civil
Filing Date: 06/05/03
Filing Location: Rene C. Davidson Alameda County Courthouse

Stipulation and Order Re: Other Exparte Granted <12607095>

From Summary Notice of Pendency of Class Action and Settlement Hearing

If you own:

Accord 00-01
Odyssey 99-01
Prelude 00-01
CL 01-02
TL 99-02
certain CL, TL 03

and vehicle has less than 109k miles...on August 21, 2006, you may be entitled to receive benefits under Proposed Settlement. If the Court finally approves... Class Members will receive a warranty extension on their Class Vehicle AT extending warranty to 93 months or 109k miles... whichever comes first ."

Brian Carlton · #55 03-29-2012, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tanksowner

Maintenance alone I'm well in the hole on my "investment". A lot of it was stuff I was picky about and wanted fixed due to the experiences I've had with my Dodge. But 11,000 dollars later, at least all the car needs now is the seats fixed up a bit. Anyone who disputes how much I've spent, I've got the maintenance records/parts purchase receipts to prove it. It's an astronomical number.

...For the record, it was worth it

Which vehicle are we talking about here?

And, did the $11K include any labor or was it strictly parts? Any major work such as transmission or engine?