How cheaply can you run a tidy car legally and safely ?

Sandals and Shorts

I believe the cheaper you can live the more free and independent you can become.

Depending on where you live, a car can offer added independence, but at a cost.

So taking all costs into consideration including depreciation, parts, tyres etc., doing average mileage, how cheaply can you run a car legally and safely for every year ?

And I'm not talking about some smellly heap. A clean tidy car.

djimi

How long is a piece of string? A lot of variables to be taken into account. How big of a car do you need? How many miles per year do you do? What kind of roads do you drive on? Do you live in a city or in a rural area? What is your age profile and driving history? All of these will affect how much it costs to run a car.

If you are in your 40s with a clean license and full NCB, driving a 1 litre car and doing 100km a week then it would cost next to nothing to run a car.

Toyotafanboi

car purchase 1500 say for a god condition 2000-2001 k11 micra
service costings say 400 per year
tax 200 per year
insurance 500 per year
nct 50 per year
fuel 1800 (35 euro per week)

so 4450 the first year (85 per week) including the cost of the car, 2950 (55 per week) the second year.

assuming you want to drive modestly but legitimately a couple of hundret km's top per week and you already have a license and aren't a male aged 17.

Anan1

djimi wrote: »

If you are in your 40s with a clean license and full NCB, driving a 1 litre car and doing 100km a week then it would cost next to nothing to run a car.

Even at that you're probably looking at a couple of grand a year, all in.

djimi

Anan1 wrote: »

Even at that you're probably looking at a couple of grand a year, all in.

True. I should have said relatively speaking next to nothing! All in my car probably costs me close to €500 a month to run...

Cee-Jay-Cee

I have an 05 legacy. I own the car and have no loans or debts on it. I do 12k kms a year. It costs me €50 a week in fuel, €710 p.a in tax and approx €400 in insurance. I service it myself which costs €60 (Every 12 months) I've owned it since April 2012 and never had to spend one penny on it other than the above. It's highly reliable, will get me anywhere, comfortable and looks good. It needs absolutely nothing as tyres have at least 70% life remaining. It got a new clutch and flywheel just before I bought it and so its relatively maintenance free.

Honey-ec

Sandals and Shorts wrote: »

I believe the cheaper you can live the more free and independent you can become.

Why's that now? Once you're living within your means, how does the actual amount spent make any difference whatsoever to your freedom and independence?

Someone spending €100 a month running a car isn't necessarily any more independent than someone spending €800 on theirs.

challengemaster

CJC999 wrote: »

I service it myself which costs €60 (Every 12 months)

Oh dear

keithsfleet

challengemaster wrote: »

Oh dear

Is an oil change not a full service....

Sandals and Shorts

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

car purchase 1500 say for a god condition 2000-2001 k11 micra
service costings say 400 per year
tax 200 per year
insurance 500 per year
nct 50 per year
fuel 1800 (35 euro per week)

so 4450 the first year (85 per week) including the cost of the car, 2950 (55 per week) the second year.

assuming you want to drive modestly but legitimately a couple of hundret km's top per week and you already have a license and aren't a male aged 17.

That's the kind of thing I'm talking about. I'd say your € 400 for maintenance is about right, because something like a clutch, or full set of tyres, or exhaust etc. will be needed from year to year. I'd also add in depreciation (about €250 per year for that car maybe ?) and the fact that 4450 in the bank would net you about €120 year in interest. That's another cost people often forget. I'd be thinking with that value of car to go third party insurance only though, so might be able to get the insurance down to € 300-400. Interesting exercise, especially for any home considering a second car.

dr.fuzzenstein

Sandals and Shorts wrote: »

That's the kind of thing I'm talking about. I'd say your € 400 for maintenance is about right, because something like a clutch, or full set of tyres, or exhaust etc. will be needed from year to year. I'd also add in depreciation (about €250 per year for that car maybe ?) and the fact that 4450 in the bank would net you about €120 year in interest. That's another cost people often forget. I'd be thinking with that value of car to go third party insurance only though, so might be able to get the insurance down to € 300-400. Interesting exercise, especially for any home considering a second car.

You can subtract a third from that, because of DIRT. And the fact that virtually all savings products available to the end user are next to worthless.

Sandals and Shorts

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

You can subtract a third from that, because of DIRT.

I'm not going to start arguing exact savings rates, but just like the NCT fee, if you're on a budget, it still should be factored in though to get the true cost. And the fact that cars can loose somewhere around 20 % per year on top of that again. It's not a great place to place a lot of money, and that's leaving out the borrowing % rate costs if you get a loan.

djimi

I think factoring in the interest that you didnt get from having the money in the bank is a step too far when calculating the cost of running a car if Im being totally honest.

dr.fuzzenstein

djimi wrote: »

I think factoring in the interest that you didnt get from having the money in the bank is a step too far when calculating the cost of running a car if Im being totally honest.

Don't forget wear and tear on the driveway!:P

Sandals and Shorts

djimi wrote: »

I think factoring in the interest that you didnt get from having the money in the bank is a step too far when calculating the cost of running a car if Im being totally honest.

That's up to you, but if you're factoring in the total annual cost of things like the NCT fee, and motor tax, in some cases it can be actually more than those expenses.

Remember the OP is 'how cheaply'

cluelez

me 03' jap car. medium engine, same car past 4-5 years:

20,000- 30,000km's on motorways per year, fuel cost is in the range of 2,500-3.500 euros per year.

servicing on oils cost about EUR75-150 per year.

tyres cost about 250-350 a set per two/three years.

other servicing varies between 150-400 every year (there are years there is nothing and there are years there is 150 +300 or so, it just depends on the age, mileage, type of the car etc)

insurance with Full NCB cost about 300-350 per year

55 for nct

tax cost me about 450 a year but again it depends of the type of car your own.

OP the least you drive the cheaper you will pay

you can always get the car, go for NCT then repair it on your own (if you have tools and skills)

parts you can search online or s/hand if needs be... there are ways... but consider do you really need the car.

djimi

Sandals and Shorts wrote: »

That's up to you, but if you're factoring in the total annual cost of things like the NCT fee, and motor tax, in some cases it can be actually more than those expenses.

Remember the OP is 'how cheaply'

Those expenses are directly related to motoring though, and as such are a direct cost of running the car. Its a bit much to include money that you never had in the first place. Each to their own, but adding things like that is not giving you a realistic figure imo.

MadYaker

Sandals and Shorts wrote: »

That's the kind of thing I'm talking about. I'd say your € 400 for maintenance is about right, because something like a clutch, or full set of tyres, or exhaust etc. will be needed from year to year. I'd also add in depreciation (about €250 per year for that car maybe ?) and the fact that 4450 in the bank would net you about €120 year in interest. That's another cost people often forget. I'd be thinking with that value of car to go third party insurance only though, so might be able to get the insurance down to € 300-400. Interesting exercise, especially for any home considering a second car.

Cars like that don't really depreciate much, sub 1000 maybe after a few years. But you'll always get close to a 1000 for a micra unless its an absolute wreck.

Anan1

djimi wrote: »

Those expenses are directly related to motoring though, and as such are a direct cost of running the car. Its a bit much to include money that you never had in the first place. Each to their own, but adding things like that is not giving you a realistic figure imo.

A direct cost of running the car is not being able to employ the money elsewhere if you already have it, or having to pay to borrow it if you don't.

Cee-Jay-Cee

challengemaster wrote: »

Oh dear

Explain?

Oil €40
Oil Filter €6 (bought 5 of them for €30)
Air filter €14

Spark plugs are 60k platinums and were done 22k kms ago so don't need replacing for quite a while. That's all that's needed for a small service. The cars gets what it needs when it needs it so explain your comment please.

Sandals and Shorts

djimi wrote: »

Those expenses are directly related to motoring though, and as such are a direct cost of running the car. Its a bit much to include money that you never had in the first place. Each to their own, but adding things like that is not giving you a realistic figure imo.

Actually they are part of the cost. Of course if you put a grand into a micra it's a small/negligible loss, but if you put 40,000 into an Audi, it's a large loss of capital interest. They both get you from A-B, but at two entirely different costs. And if you didn't have the money in the first place, and you have to borrow that sum, then you're costs are even higher as you must pay interest on the capital to someone else instead of receiving it. Of course you're free to ignore these costs, but they are still there none the less.

Dr.Rieux

The 4450 in the bank will net you the 120 a year if you have the 4450 in the bank the whole year. If you put the purchase price 1500 in the first month and approx 250 per month after that you'll get less interest.

To me if you count the interest you would have gotten as a cost of ownership it sounds like the only thing you would do with the money saved is leave it to accumulate interest.

Sandals and Shorts

Dr.Rieux wrote: »

The 4450 in the bank will net you the 120 a year if you have the 4450 in the bank the whole year. If you put the purchase price 1500 in the first month and approx 250 per month after that you'll get less interest.

To me if you count the interest you would have gotten as a cost of ownership it sounds like the only thing you would do with the money saved is leave it to accumulate interest.

For people on a budget, the € 120 a year is just as important an expense as the NCT fee or the motor tax. And the more expensive the car the more you have to factor in that loss, which will be far more than € 120. If €120 does not matter, why bother counting other expenses like the NCT fee or the lower motor tax ? To me it all adds up. Even more so if you are going to borrow the cash to pay for the car.

Just saying. Yes it's just one expense of many. People can and do ignore that particular cost it if they want to, but as it's there, I'm going to count it in. That's my choice. It helps focus the mind, and is yet another personal reason for me not to tie up too much already scarce personal capital in a car.

My OP is about running a car as cheaply as possible, so I like to compare all costs. I understand that's not for everyone, but so be it.

Some people like Bangernomics, some people don't. Some people get a thrill from of spending money, some people get a thrill from managing just as well without having to have, or spend a lot of it, and the independence and self sufficiency that brings. Some people like "working for the man", some don't. That's life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa8jpV_uLdw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37oJqWp4rJM

dgt

And where would the saved money from skimping on your car go? What would you skimp on? Wan li tyres? Gem oils? Quentin hazel filters and pads? That timing belt change it needs?

How cheap I can run a car is a sickening disease of an attitude to have. Cut corners to have what, that extra 5gb on broadband, the sky tv, booze?

Anyone cutting corners on motoring costs find out their car won't function right and we have to listen to sh*te on why it won't work how rubbish it is etc.... Caused by cheapness

Spend the extra few quid needed to do it right or just don't bother

Dr.Rieux

Sandals and Shorts wrote: »

For people on a budget, the € 120 a year is just as important an expense as the NCT fee or the motor tax. And the more expensive the car the more you have to factor in that loss, which will be far more than € 120. If €120 does not matter, why bother counting other expenses like the NCT fee or the lower motor tax ? To me it all adds up. Even more so if you are going to borrow the cash to pay for the car.

Just saying. Yes it's just one expense of many. People can and do ignore that particular cost it if they want to, but as it's there, I'm going to count it in. That's my choice. It helps focus the mind, and is yet another personal reason for me not to tie up too much already scarce personal capital in a car.

My OP is about running a car as cheaply as possible, so I like to compare all costs. I understand that's not for everyone, but so be it.

Some people like Bangernomics, some people don't. Some people get a thrill from of spending money, some people get a thrill from managing just as well without having to have, or spend a lot of it, and the independence and self sufficiency that brings. Some people like "working for the man", some don't That's life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk6xLX-C7_U

Then surely the cost of alternative transport should be subtracted from the cost of ownership for the total difference?

Sandals and Shorts

Dr.Rieux wrote: »

Then surely the cost of alternative transport should be subtracted from the cost of ownership for the total difference?

If alternative transport is an option, then sure, but for many people it's not.

You should introduce some Bob Marley to your vehicle and chill man, drive at a more chilled out speed and increase you're mpg at the same time. You're working too hard and you're too stressed working for da man and his money. Try bangernomics. A nice cheap motor doesn't have to be a banger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffCmFDzaYyQ

Sandals and Shorts

dgt wrote: »

And where would the saved money from skimping on your car go? What would you skimp on? Wan li tyres? Gem oils? Quentin hazel filters and pads? That timing belt change it needs?

How cheap I can run a car is a sickening disease of an attitude to have. Cut corners to have what, that extra 5gb on broadband, the sky tv, booze?

Anyone cutting corners on motoring costs find out their car won't function right and we have to listen to sh*te on why it won't work how rubbish it is etc.... Caused by cheapness

Spend the extra few quid needed to do it right or just don't bother

Check the first line of the OP dude, it says legally and safely. Play some Bob, drive slower, pick up some tips, you'll save dough, and you'll feel better instead of getting road cage rage.

Dr.Rieux

Sandals and Shorts wrote: »

If alternative transport is an option, then sure, but for many people it's not.

You should introduce some Bob Marley to your vehicle and chill man, drive at a more chilled out speed and increase you're mpg at the same time. You're working too hard and you're too stressed working for da man and his money. Try bangernomics. A nice cheap motor doesn't have to be a banger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffCmFDzaYyQ

What the...?

There would always be an alternative, it might be a €100 taxi charge every time because you're way out in the middle of nowhere. Or even a bike which needs to be bought, safety gear bought. if counting lost interest than for a bike more food needs to be bought since using more energy cycling.

dgt

Sandals and Shorts wrote: »

Check the first line of the OP dude, it says legally and safely. Play some Bob, drive slower, you'll save dough, and you'll feel better instead of getting road cage rage.

Every part I've mentioned is legal and therefore safe in the general motorists eyes. Doesn't make them safe to me.....

That attitude is fine and dandy untill it causes an accident and your left picking up the pieces..... Wondering why you didn't speed up out of that junction, speed up on the motorway to catch the last few mins of someones life. But its ok, I was driving slowly :rolleyes:

The rsa does a good enough job of brainwashing people to drive slower. Making people into dummies, puppets on strings. Oh no, I'll keep my hot head and stand up for what I believe in

So don't brainwash me with that crap, save it for another brainless sheep

Sandals and Shorts

dgt wrote: »

Every part I've mentioned is legal and therefore safe in the general motorists eyes. Doesn't make them safe to me.....

That attitude is fine and dandy untill it causes an accident and your left picking up the pieces..... Wondering why you didn't speed up out of that junction, speed up on the motorway to catch the last few mins of someones life. But its ok, I was driving slowly :rolleyes:

The rsa does a good enough job of brainwashing people to drive slower. Making people into dummies, puppets on strings. Oh no, I'll keep my hot head and stand up for what I believe in

So don't brainwash me with that crap, save it for another brainless sheep

Dude, I'd get that road cage rage seen to if I were you. The first line of the OP says legally and safely, buy legal and safe tyres when you need to, buy legal and safe parts when you need to, and drive at a legal and safe speed. Put on some chillaxin sounds, you'll live longer and you'll be happier. Pull over now and then and have a picnic in a senic picnic area and admire the view. :cool:

dgt

Sandals and Shorts wrote: »

Dude, I'd get that road cage rage seen to if I were you. The first line of the OP says legally and safely, buy legal and safe tyres when you need to, buy legal and safe parts when you need to, and drive at a legal and safe speed. Put on some chillaxin sounds, you'll live longer and you'll be happier. :cool:

I haven't tried to ram my opinion down someones throat.... So why should you try to change a natural thing in someone else? A smiley, cheery happy front is just that, hiding an underlying dormant/ suppressed emotion: anger, fear, depression.... How do you know the other person you're advising isn't menatlly ill or psycotic? A message like that might just tip them into a crazy rage but it's ok because they're mellow....

What's legal to industry standards isn't good enough to me.... But that's the way I am....

Chillax man, don't get cage rage because I'll never agree with that attitude.... Just makes me even more hot headed, keep it up. Lock in the cage and go bananas with marley like :cool:

scwazrh

Sandals and Shorts wrote: »

Dude, I'd get that road cage rage seen to if I were you. The first line of the OP says legally and safely, buy legal and safe tyres when you need to, buy legal and safe parts when you need to, and drive at a legal and safe speed. Put on some chillaxin sounds, you'll live longer and you'll be happier. Pull over now and then and have a picnic in a senic picnic area and admire the view. :cool:

It might be time for you to say no to your next joint.

If you want to drive around in a vw bus chillaxin thats your choice but asking how cheaply can you drive for is different for every person.Some people take pride in driving a 15 yr old car that costs them nothing and others wouldn't be seen dead in anything other than a new car.

dgt

scwazrh wrote: »

It might be time for you to say no to your next joint.

If you want to drive around in a vw bus chillaxin thats your choice but asking how cheaply can you drive for is different for every person.Some people take pride in driving a 15 yr old car that costs them nothing and others wouldn't be seen dead in anything other than a new car.

The cage is locked in a splitty vw and the rage is cold turkey with no bob marley :pac:

166man

dgt wrote: »

I haven't tried to ram my opinion down someones throat.... So why should you try to change a natural thing in someone else? A smiley, cheery happy front is just that, hiding an underlying dormant/ suppressed emotion: anger, fear, depression.... How do you know the other person you're advising isn't menatlly ill or psycotic? A message like that might just tip them into a crazy rage but it's ok because they're mellow....

What's legal to industry standards isn't good enough to me.... But that's the way I am....

Chillax man, don't get cage rage because I'll never agree with that attitude.... Just makes me even more hot headed, keep it up. Lock in the cage and go bananas with marley like :cool:

The above part in bold is hitting the nail on the head, you have to define ''safely and legally''. It's not illegal or technically unsafe to have have brand new Wanli tyres on a car then it is to have bald Michelins, but I know which I'd rather have.

Wanli's are cheap and crap, they're the only thing holding you to the road and to scrimp on tyres is quite silly IMO. The same with engine oil, you can buy Gem oils ''legally and safely'' but they won't do anywhere near as good a job as Millers oil for example, catch my drift?

Also I can promise you, there are cars out there you could buy for €1000 today and sell next year for as close as make no difference €1000. On ANY car you have to maintain tax and insure it so if you're looking to drive the cheapest safely and legally then buy a ''popular'' €1k car, something desirable in the Irish market, drive for a year and sell on for what you paid and you'll be doing it as cheaply as is possible.

OP, there's your answer, now drop the ridiculous posts aimed at dgt please and thank you.

Sandals and Shorts

Man you can just hear those cages revving into the red and see those white nuckles gripping those wheels in fury and the veins popping out of their heads. lol

Lads if you don't like value for money motoring and bangernomics it might be best to select a less stressful thread for yourselves. The clue is in the title, cheap, but legal and safe. If you don't like Bob try some Bobby, its easy on the MPG and the veins and the knuckles as well :P:cool::P

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-diB65scQU

166man

Sandals and Shorts wrote: »

Man you can just hear those cages revving into the red and see those white nuckles gripping those wheels in fury and the veins popping out of their head. lol

Lads if you don't like value for money motoring and bangernomics it might be best to select a less stressful thread for yourselves. The clue is in the title, cheap, but legal and safe. If you don't like Bob try some Bobby, its easy on the MPG and the veins and the knuckles as well :P:cool::P

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-diB65scQU

Yeah dgt does hate bangernomics driving alright and neither of us contribute to the thread on the forum either....:rolleyes:

dgt

Heh heh I think someone's coming down....! Dude I'd lay off that crap whatever it is.... Does strange things to people. Before you know you're trying to marry a turkey, get a job as a dustbin and speak in tongues to passers....

You'll be in a rage in a cage with no mellow picnics or choons, choose a different path before it's too late, lay off k-jah!

Knuckles are not for fisting....

We have our own ways of value for money motoring, not to everyones tastes. Chillax dude, listen to some mellow moods while you read it....

Sandals and Shorts

Mr Mike

I agree with the comments about the Nissan Micra, but another economical car is the Toyota Corolla.

I have a '95 one of these and it is much more comfortable and reliable than the Micra, but with a more fuel consumption.

On a wet day in January I calculated the cost of running the car for 2012.

Petrol 9300 miles = 1310€
Tax 358
Insurance 265
4 new tyres 220
Servicing 110
Depriciation zero

Total = €2263

Is two grand a lot for running a car for a year with average mileage?

longhalloween

I have a 1 litre opel corsa. Cost 1500 to buy, just over 400 to tax and 200 to insure. Spend maybe 40 a week in petrol and 50 a year on service.

Great little motor.