Hidden costs of motoring (when buying a new car)

Tragedy

I've been hoping/planning/dreaming of changing cars this summer, had an imaginary budget and been 'shopping' online for about 9 months. In order to figure out how much a car will really cost me each year and in to the future, I did up a quick excel sheet (I have petrol down as 1.659/l and diesel as 1.569/l)

Car Year Engine CO2 Fuel MPG Power (HP) Torque (lbs/ft) Price(€) VRT Tax Insurance 15,000 Upkeep Cost Per Year TCO 3 years 5 years
BMW M5 2001 5.0 346 Petrol 24.0 400 369 €9,000 €0 €1,683 €870 €4,714 €1,400 €8,667 €35,000 €52,333
Jaguar XJR 2003 4.2 289 Petrol 28.0 400 408 €8,000 €0 €1,683 €800 €4,040 €1,200 €7,723 €31,170 €46,616
Mazda 6 2.2D Sport 2009 2.2 149 Diesel 50.0 185 295 €9,750 €3,000 €330 €650 €2,140 €900 €4,020 €24,809 €32,849
MG ZT CDTi 2005 2.0 163 Diesel 45.0 129 221 €3,300 €900 €660 €600 €2,378 €800 €4,438 €17,513 €26,388
Peugeot 107 2006 1.0 109 Petrol 45.0 68 70 €3,000 0 €185 €450 €2,514 €500 €3,649 €13,947 €21,245


Difference between the cheapest car to run(6 diesel) and most expensive(M5) is €4,600 per year - over 30,000 miles worth of fuel. Pretty incredible and does show why so many older performance cars (e.g. cheap) end up badly maintained and fairly rough.

If anyone wants the full spreadsheet for ****s and giggles, let me know!

Timmaay

Ok so the Jag has 400bhp against the 68bhp in the 107 (almost 6times more!!!).

But only costs just over twice the amount for the 5years. Absolute bargain in my view!! :P

Eoin

I might be wrong, but I'd say 24mpg and 1400 upkeep per year on an M5 is pretty optimistic!

Tragedy

Eoin wrote: »

I might be wrong, but I'd say 24mpg and 1400 upkeep per year on an M5 is pretty optimistic!

I was just guessing with both, I've seen a lot of people having no issues other than general wear and tear over 50k miles+, others spending 3k per year. Reading the official figures, 24 is probably wildly optimistic!

focus_mad

You will not get 24mpg in th m5, trust me.

You also have to take into account that you may wish to "modify" the car...I.e. Alloys, a good radio/mp3 unit

Tragedy

Also, I got bored
Car Year Engine CO2 Fuel MPG Power (HP) Torque (lbs/ft) Price(€) VRT Tax Insurance 15,000 Upkeep Cost Per Year TCO 3 years 5 years
BMW M5 2001 5.0 346 Petrol 21 400 369 €9,000 €0 €1,683 €870 €5,387 €1,400 €9,340 €37,020 €55,700
Jaguar XJR 2003 4.2 289 Petrol 28 400 408 €8,000 €0 €1,683 €800 €4,040 €1,200 €7,723 €31,170 €46,616
Mazda 6 2.2D Sport 2009 2.2 149 Diesel 50 185 295 €9,750 €3,000 €330 €650 €2,140 €900 €4,020 €24,809 €32,849
MG ZT CDTi 2005 2.0 163 Diesel 45 129 221 €3,300 €900 €660 €600 €2,378 €800 €4,438 €17,513 €26,388
Peugeot 107 2006 1.0 109 Petrol 45 68 70 €3,000 €0 €185 €450 €2,514 €500 €3,649 €13,947 €21,245
BMW 530D SE 2005 3.0 208 Diesel 42 218 369 €10,000 €0 €1,683 €700 €2,547 €1,000 €5,930 €27,791 €39,652
BMW 320D SE 2005 2.0 153 Diesel 50 163 251 €10,000 €0 €660 €650 €2,140 €900 €4,350 €23,049 €31,749
Toyota Prius 2007 1.5 104 Hybrid 50 76 - €8,000 €0 €384 €600 €2,263 €600 €3,847 €19,540 €27,233
RS Megane F1 R26 2007 2.0 200 Petrol 32 230 229 €9,400 €3,500 €660 €700 €3,535 €750 €5,645 €29,836 €41,126

ShadowHearth

So old big engined cars are more expensive to run them modern small engine diesels!

Get this man a medal!!! I newer knew that!





Sorry op, I could not ressist

Ninap

ShadowHearth wrote: »

So old big engined cars are more expensive to run them modern small engine diesels!

Get this man a medal!!! I newer knew that!





Sorry op, I could not ressist

Yeah, but it's worth trying to quantify it, even if based on guesstimates. OP, are you assuming no retained value for any of the cars after 5 years?

Tragedy

Ninap wrote: »

Yeah, but it's worth trying to quantify it, even if based on guesstimates. OP, are you assuming no retained value for any of the cars after 5 years?

Yup. While most of the figures are guesstimates, trying to guesstimate depreciation is utterly pointless. What will happen to motor tax, NCT, fuel etc is impossible to quantify (e.g.M5 with 155k miles and motor tax up to €2,000 p.a. and petrol at €2.00 a litre?)

Best to go in to buying a car assuming you'll get very little back at the end of it imho!

AltAccount

Where's your second hand value? Are you depreciating to zero?