Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim B.
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The price of the gas at the pump is only one thing.
The correct caluculator should be the OVERALL COST PER MILE.
This includes insurance, cost of repairs, tax, license fees, purchase price of the new car, depreciation and many other things.
A sober flinty eyed car buyer could make a very cogent case for buying a 15 year old Ford Crown Victoria and running it for cheaper than a brand new Chevy Aveo, for example using the above approach
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I guess I'm doing okay with the big Buick, then. Insurance is the same as for my '97 C230; the previous owner took most of the depreciation hit; my note is actually lower than for the C230, and I'm paying it off as fast as I can. And after 9 months, the cost of repairs/maintenance (fluid changes, one tire, and a front brake job) has been more than reasonable.
I've got nothing on the horizon but a window-tinting (optional, of course) and feeding the big grey beast, and at that it does a solid 21-22 with 80% city driving, 31 on the highway. My monthly gas costs have gone from about $107 (last September) to $154, about a 45% increase, but my repair costs (for a younger car, remember) have dropped significantly.
If I could pay the Park Avenue off now, I'd be in clover.
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